[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
AND SO TONIGHT WE HAVE, UM, A HYBRID MEETING, WHICH IS MEANS THAT WE HAVE SOME STAFF AND SOME SPEAKERS AND MYSELF HERE IN CITY HALL ON THE, ON THE DAYAS BY MYSELF AND, UH, THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
AND WE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, SOME PRESENTER, SOME PRESENTERS AND OUR MUSICAL PERFORMER FOR TODAY ARE, ARE ALL REMOTE.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO LIKE FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THIS.
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME FOR A MUSIC COMMISSION DOING THIS REMOTELY.
SO A LITTLE BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE STAFF HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY NIMBLE, BUT WE'LL, UM, I THINK WE'LL BE FINE.
[MUSICAL PERFORMANCE]
BE GREAT.SO WE'RE GOING TO KICK IT OFF WITH, UM, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY SUSANA SHARP, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED, UM, THAT IT IS MY TURN, UH, FOR DISTRICT SEVEN TO CHOOSE THE, UM, MUSICAL ARTISTS FOR THIS MONTH, WE'VE BEEN GOING ONE DISTRICT AT A TIME.
UH, I FIRST SAW HER PERFORM, UM, WITH THE SAMBA POLICE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER AT CARNIVAL BRUSSEL ARROW.
AND I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS THE COOLEST LADY THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
AND, UM, ALL THESE YEARS LATER IT TURNS OUT I'M STILL RIGHT.
AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT AT THAT TIME THAT WE WOULD BE NEIGHBORS AND, UM, AND THAT BRAZILIAN MUSIC WOULD COME TO BE VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO SUSANA.
SHE'S HAS A REALLY COOL VIDEO TO SHARE WITH US, AND SHE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL.
SHE'S GOING TO SHARE ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK WE CAN HEAR YOU SUSANA.
I WAS LIKE, I THOUGHT THAT UNMUTING WOULD BE EASIER.
UM, I'M SUSANNA SHARP AND, UM, I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SHORT INTRODUCTION TO THE VIDEO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE.
AND ACTUALLY, I, I, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BRING THIS BAND INTO PLAY FOR YOU.
SO IT'S KIND OF COOL THAT YOU GET TO SEE IT.
THIS WAS RECORDED AT MONKS JAZZ, UH, WHICH IS A FANTASTIC VENUE.
THAT'S BEEN A LIFESAVER TO MANY MUSICIANS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS, UH, DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE PERSON WHO RUNS THE WHOLE SHOW.
UM, AND SO AS ANGELA MENTIONED, I DO BRAZILIAN MUSIC AND THIS, UH, SONG IS BY ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE BRAZILIAN COMPOSERS.
WHO'S HAD A STORIED CAREER FOR MANY DECADES.
HIS NAME IS SHIKA BARK AND YOLANDA, AND HE'S KNOWN FOR HIS, UM, SORT OF BITING SOCIAL COMMENTARY AND HIS LYRICS, UH, AS WELL AS JUST FANTASTIC SONGS.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR SONG IS CALLED THE HOMAGE TO THE HUSTLER AND, UH, THE HUSTLER IS SORT OF AN ARCHETYPAL GUY IN, UH, BRAZILIAN LORE.
HE'S HE'S LIKE A GUY WHO WEARS ALL WHITE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHITE SUIT, WHITE HAT, MATCHING SHOES, KIND OF A BOHEMIAN WHO GO GETS BY WITH CHARM WITHOUT ACTUALLY WORKING.
UM, AND THIS SONG, UH, TALKS ABOUT, UH, TRANSFORMATION IN THAT TYPE OF GUY.
UM, IT LAMENTS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CLASSIC HUSTLER OF RIO DE JANEIRO.
IT SAYS A FRIEND OF MINE, WHO'S A SCHOLAR, AND SUGGEST THAT THE TRADITION TRADITION OF THIS HUSTLING AND CHEATING, UM, HAS PASSED ONTO HIGHER ECHELONS OF SOCIETY.
UM, I WANT TO THANK, UH, MARK ONE TONIO SANTOS, WHO IS THE GUITARIST AND ARRANGED THIS PIECE AND THE FANTASTIC BAND, UM, THAT YOU WILL SEE BEFORE YOU, AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO'S IN THE BAND, I'LL, I'LL WRITE IT IN THE CHAT, IF THERE'S A CHAT.
[00:06:26]
YOU CAN'T REALLY HEAR IT.IT'S JUST WE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER VIDEO AND FIGURED IT OUT LATER.
UM, DID WANT TO REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYBODY LISTENING ON THE WEBEX, THE AUDIO AND VIDEO THERE'S ISSUES WITH IT COMING THROUGH ON THE WEBEX, BUT IT SOUNDS FANTASTIC HERE AND CHAMBERS, AND IT IS ALWAYS GOOD ON THE LIVE STREAM.
SO SOME OF Y'ALL MAY REMEMBER THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LIKE SWITCH OVER AND WATCH IT THROUGH THE LIVE STREAM, THE MUSIC VIDEOS FROM OUR PERFORMERS.
UM, BUT, UM, IT SOUNDED AMAZING.
AND SUSANNA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT.
UM, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL US, UM, I THINK YOU'VE KNOWN THE TALENTED SAXOPHONE FOR A LONG TIME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US WHO THAT IS? YEAH, THAT'S UM, THAT'S MY SON, PAT SANTOS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LISTENING TO THE BAD VERSION WITH ME, I ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYONE ON STAGE IS REALLY A GREAT MUSICIAN AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THEM.
BUT YEAH, PALO SANTOS IS MY SON.
HE'S A SAXOPHONE PLAYER, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, JAZZ AND OTHER, OTHER STUFF, MORE THAN PLAYER.
UM, AND THE REST OF THE BAND, UH, SEVERAL GREAT BRAZILIAN MUSICIANS WHO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
I WAS DNAS ON DRUMS GIULIANA SYLVETA ON PIANO, UM, SOCIAL SANTOS ON PERCUSSION, MARCO, ANTONIO SANTOS ON GUITAR AND A BASIS NAMED BEN BRADSHAW.
UM, AND YEAH, SOMEBODY DID JUST, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY, JUST SENT ME A TEXT AND WAS SAYING THAT THE VIDEO SOUNDED AMAZING OUT AND OUT, OUT THERE FOR THE PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME.
UM, AND ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT, UH, SUSANNA IS THAT SHE DID SUSTAIN THE MUSIC COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WITH A SERIES OF CONCERTS IN HER FRONT YARD,
[00:10:01]
WHICH WAS LOVELY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALSO A REALLY AWESOME GIG, I THINK, FOR THE MUSICIANS.AND, UH, IT TOOK SOME COORDINATION ON HER PART, UM, AND IT WAS JUST VERY GENEROUS USE OF HER TIME AND HER FRONT YARD AND THE NEIGHBORS ON THAT STREET WERE REALLY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT IT AT ALL AS, AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND YES.
NOW WE'LL PROCEED INTO THE LESS FUN PARTS OF OUR MUSIC, OR, YEAH, THANKS EVERYONE FOR INVITING ME IN.
AND I REALLY DO APOLOGIZE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT'VE WANTED TO ACTUALLY HEAR WHAT THE MUSIC SOUNDED LIKE, BUT I REALLY, IF YOU EMAIL ME, I WILL SEND YOU A LINK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CHARLOTTE FOREVER.
AND YOU, EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY CAN GO, THEY CAN GO WATCH THE ARCHIVE VERSION ON THE LIVE STREAM, THROUGH ATX LIVESTREAM.
UM, ATA ATX IN LIVE STREAM IS WHAT I USUALLY GOOGLE.
[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION]
ALRIGHT, AWESOME.WELL, WE WILL MOVE ON TO, UH, CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND I THINK ALL OF OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE COMMUNICATING WITH US TONIGHT ARE, UM, CALLING IN, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY? OH, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE EILEEN, WE HAVE A FEW.
SO WE WILL, UM, WE HAVE FOLKS SPEAKING ON DIFFERENT ITEMS, BUT SINCE WE HAVE PEOPLE WAITING, UM, ON THE PHONE, I THINK, AND WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE IN PERSON AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG MEETING.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUST, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO ALL THE ITEMS AT ONCE FOR THESE SPEAKERS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START, UM, WITH OUR THREE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON, UM, STARTING WITH EVER CALLED CALDERON WRONG.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE LOG MUSIC FUND.
SO BEFORE CORONA, EVERYTHING WAS A PHYSICAL IN-PERSON SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ACL BOOZE ON THE GRAINS DURING CORONA, WE COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.
EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN AND THERE WAS NO INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VIRTUAL SPACE IN VENUES LIKE EMPIRE CONTROL ROOM, THE PERSHING FLAMINGO CANTINA, CORONA PUSHED THAT AND BUILT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PAID FOR IT AS WELL.
SO VENUES HAVE THE CAPABILITIES OF BEING VIRTUAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL AT THE SAME TIME.
AND KRONE ALSO PUSHED ME AS A SMALL BUSINESS TO BECOME VIRTUAL AND I, MYSELF PRODUCE LIVE STREAMS FOR DJS, CHURCHES, AND NONPROFITS.
NOW, WHEN I VISIT VENUES AND I TRY TO PUSH A VIRTUAL CONCERT AT THE SAME TIME AS A PHYSICAL ONE, THEY SEE IT AS ANOTHER EXPENSE, UH, MORE COSTS, BUT YET THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARTISTS AND PEOPLE WHO PUT ON THE EVENTS AND THE VENUES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE CHARGED WITH THE EXTRA AMOUNT, EVEN THOUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY THERE, IT'S, IT'S A WASTE OF RESOURCES AND TO HAVE THE VENUES BE CAPABLE OF LIVE-STREAMING IT TO THE WHOLE WORLD, BUT NOT BECAUSE IT'LL, IT'LL MAKE THEM HIRE MORE PEOPLE IT'LL CHARGE THE INDEPENDENT ARTIST OR THE HOST MORE TO RUN IT.
IT'S NOT BENEFICIAL TO ANYBODY.
IT'S LIKE A WASTE OF RESOURCES TO NOT USE IT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.
AND I FEEL LIKE ARTISTS AND INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS COULD BENEFIT MORE FROM THE LIVE MUSIC FUNDS RATHER THAN VENUES AND LARGER BUSINESSES.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS AND YEAH, THE DIGITAL ASPECTS OF THIS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.
SO YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS VALUABLE.
AND THEN OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EILEEN BRISTOL FROM SAHARA LOUNGE.
ALSO SPEAKING ON THE LIVE MUSIC ITEM.
I SPOKE LAST TIME AND I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK AGAIN IN FAVOR OF DIRECTING MONIES FROM THE HOTEL TAX TO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND TO SUPPORT ARTISTS OF COLOR, UH, PARTICULARLY THE FIRST YEAR.
AND I KNOW IT COULD CHANGE OVER TIME.
UM, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE IT, IT SERVES THE VENUES AS WELL BECAUSE IF AN ARTIST GETS BETTER KNOWN AND HAVE BETTER PROMOTION AND BETTER VISIBILITY, THAT THAT WILL DRIVE MORE CUSTOMERS TO THE VENUE AND IT'S SUSTAINABLE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT GROWS AND GROWS THAT PEOPLE, PEOPLE CAN HEAR THE MUSIC LIKE IT AND COME BACK.
AND I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AUSTIN, UH, MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE WORLD THAT WE CARE ABOUT THIS.
UM, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
[00:15:02]
ALL RIGHT.AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND NOW WE'LL, UM, CALL ON OUR SPEAKERS THAT ARE REMOTE CALLING IN.
AND SO THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, JANE HARVEY, UH, SPEAKING ON THE LIVE MUSIC FUND ITEM THREE B, DO WE HAVE THEM, DO WE HAVE THE CALLERS QUEUED UP? OKAY.
SO JANE, ARE YOU THERE? JUST CHECK IN OKAY.
OUR, UM, STAFF IS JUST, UH, WORKING ON THAT REAL QUICK, SO WE'LL WAIT FOR A SEC.
WELL, STAFF IS, ARE YOU READY? OR SHOULD WE JUMP TO ANOTHER ITEM? OH, OKAY.
WE'RE GONNA JUST GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, BUT WE'LL COME BACK TO JANE.
SO, UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE DREW, DREW DONOVAN, LEO.
UM, HEY, UH, MY NAME DREW DONOVAN.
I'M A, I'M THE CO-OWNER AND FOUNDER OF A PRODUCTION COMPANY HERE IN AUSTIN CALLED THE WORD COMPANY.
UH, WE DO A BUNCH OF LIVE EVENTS AND SUCH, AND, UH, WE REALLY HAD THE BENEFIT OF WORKING WITH BOTH VENUES AND ARTISTS AND, UM, TALKING, UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, DIRECTING THESE FUNDS TOWARDS THE ARTISTS AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, OF MINORITY IN THOSE, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE QUITE THE CAPABILITIES, UM, FINANCIALLY.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS.
UM, ME BEING A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, ALONG WITH VENUES, OTHER COMPANIES, WE HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, WE CAN GET LOANS.
WE HAD ACCESS TO THE EDI L WE CAN SEEK INVESTORS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S ALSO JUST WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE AS A COMPANY.
AND I BELIEVE IF WE DIRECT THESE FUNDS TOWARDS ARTISTS, WE CAN REALLY CREATE A TRICKLE UP EFFECT.
AND IF WE PUT ART, UH, MONEY IN THESE ARTISTS HANDS, THESE ARTISTS, UM, WILL MOST LIKELY SPEND IT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS RECORDING, TOWARDS MARKETING, TOWARDS PRODUCTION, GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, UH, MERGE, PAYING THEIR OWN MEMBERS.
SO I THINK IF WE WERE TO PUT A DOLLAR PER DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT THAT ARTIST SPENDS ON DOLLAR TO A VENUE, I THINK THE DOLLAR FROM THE ARTIST IS GOING TO GO A LOT FURTHER AS FAR AS WHERE IT ACTUALLY GOES AND HOW IT TRAVELS.
UM, THAT ECOSYSTEM IS VAST HERE IN AUSTIN WITH, UH, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL TOOK A BIG HIT AND, UM, WE ALL NEED A LITTLE HELP, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITHOUT THE MUSICIANS, THIS CITY WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS.
UH, I KNOW MY COMPANY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AROUND.
I KNOW A LOT OF VENUES WOULDN'T BE AROUND AND WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THIS CREATIVE COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTING SINCE WE DID THE AUSTIN MUSIC CENSUS BACK IN 2016 OR SOME ODD WHEN WE STARTED DOING REPORTS STARTING IN 2010.
AND I THINK WE'VE REALLY MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OUR ARTISTS COMMUNITY AND THE SITUATION IS PARALLEL MORE THAN EVER WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY WITH, UM, I THINK ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS IS, UM, AS A CITY, WE INCENTIVIZE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, UH, TO COME TO OUR CITY OR STATE TO DO BUSINESS IN.
AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INCENTIVIZE SOME INCREDIBLE TALENT.
WE ALREADY HAVE AMAZING TALENT, AND WE DO HAVE AMAZING VENUES, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF STRUCTURE IN PLACE, UM, TO SUPPORT ARTISTS AS FAR AS WHEN THEY ACTUALLY GET ROLLING, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO, UM, DIG DEEP AND, AND REALLY HELP OUT, UM, THOSE WHO JUST DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THESE TYPES OF FUNDS.
SO, UH, I HOPE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL LOOK AT THIS AS A REAL BIG OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE THE CREATIVE SECTOR AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF EXCITING THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE,
[00:20:01]
UH, GIVE THESE PEOPLE, UH, SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND THE, THE BIGGEST, I THINK, QUALM WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DIRECT MONEY TO ARTISTS? UH, WE FORGET THAT THESE ARE ARTISTS ARE ACTUALLY BUSINESSES, THEY'RE LLCS, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, TH THIS, ISN'T JUST A PERSON WHO PUT UP A FACEBOOK POST, YOU KNOW, THINKING THAT THEY'RE AN ARTIST LIKE THESE ARE, THESE ARE LEGIT BUSINESSES.AND, UM, AND SO WE NEED TO, UH, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AS SUCH.
WE JUST HAVE SOME OTHER SPEAKERS, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND THE INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY ALWAYS WANT TO REMIND CITY GOVERNMENT ABOUT.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
UM, OKAY, SO NOW OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MERCEDES PERRY.
MERCEDES MAY STILL BE DIALING IN.
NO, I'M, I'M ON, I JUST DON'T PREFER THIS METHOD.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD OPTIONS FOR ENGAGING WITH THE COMMISSION TODAY, BUT WHATEVER.
UM, THERE, UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE LIVE MUSIC, FUN AND EXPLICITLY, UM, CHANNELING THAT MONEY FOR THE BIPAP THEATERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, JUST TO ECHO KIND OF WHAT WAS SAID BEFORE BY THE WORD, UM, THE GOOD, THE BITEABLE FROM WORDS, I JUST THINK AUSTIN AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AVENUES NEEDS TO BE EXPLICIT ABOUT SUPPORTING BLACK AND PEOPLE OF COLORS IN EVERY POTENTIAL WAY POSSIBLE.
UM, AND IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE EXPLICIT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE DISPARATELY IMPACTING BLACK AND BROWN ARTISTS ON PURPOSE CONTINUOUSLY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WITH THAT CULTURE IN THIS CITY.
AND SO UNTIL THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, I BELIEVE IN REPARATIONS, I BELIEVE IN ABOLITION.
AND UNTIL WE CAN MAKE THOSE EXPLICIT DECISIONS, WE CAN SEND HER RACE.
THEN I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE LIBRARY, THE CLINICS HERE WHO SUPPORT ARTISTS WERE REAL IN A REAL WAY, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE BULK OF THE ARTISTS IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD AND OUR GLOBE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
UM, AND THEN JUST THE ECHO ALSO THAT IT'S, IT'S A BUSINESS, IT'S A BUSINESS AND WE'RE ALREADY GENERATIONALLY ECONOMICALLY BEHIND.
AND THEN WE TEACH TO GROW AND BECOME CREATORS AND GIVE OUR ENERGY AND OUR LOVE AND OUR MUSIC AND OUR ART AND CREATE THIS TO STILL NOT BE ECONOMICALLY SUPPORTED, WHICH CONTINUES THAT GENERATIONAL ECONOMIC BIG GAP BETWEEN PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WHITE PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS FUND EXPLICITLY SUPPORT BLACK AND BROWN AND INDIGENOUS CREATORS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TONIGHT.
DOES IT LOOK LIKE SHE'S ON MAGGIE? OKAY.
HERE I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE VIBE MUSIC FUND.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT I'M GOING TO RESIST THE URGE TO CONVINCE BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT.
UM, AND I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA RESIST THE URGE TO BECK CAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT.
UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE FAILURES IN OUR COMMUNITY, AROUND AN EQUITY, UM, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHORT UP AND GET IT RIGHT.
AND SO AT THE VERY LEAST, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE FIRST YEAR, THE FUND REALLY SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO, UM, MUSICIANS, BLACK MUSICIANS, MUSICIANS OF COLOR IN THE SPACE, THE VERY ONES WHO HAVE KEPT THAT GOING AND ALIVE SPECIFICALLY DURING A PANDEMIC, THE ARTISTS FOR WHICH WE BENEFIT FROM THEIR PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS BLACK ARTISTS HAVE BEEN PAYING FULL PRICE FOR THE PROCESS OF BEING IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS NOT DONE RIGHT BY THEM.
AND SO THERE IS A CHANCE TO FIX THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT IT AND HEMMING AND HAWING.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT.
WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME AND MOST COMPELLING
[00:25:01]
TO ME ABOUT BLACK ARTISTS IN THIS COMMUNITY IS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO SHARE.AND WHEN THEY SHARE THERE IS A DIRECT INCREASE IN IMPACT SOMEHOW ALONG THE WAY, THERE'S A DISCONNECT IN THAT IMPACT.
AND SO WE DON'T DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND WHOLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE FUND SHOULD GO TO MUSICIANS OF COLOR.
AND I'M NOT SAYING IT BY WAY OF CONVINCING OR BEGGING.
I'M SAYING IT AS THE RIGHT THING TO DO WORDS TO LIVE BY, OR JUST WORDS IN THIS COMMUNITY, UNLESS YOU LIVE BY THEM.
AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO CLEARLY WALK IT, TALK.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, PAM.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE TERRY P. MITCHELL, GOOD EVENING.
I'M TERRY P. MITCHELL WITH THE BLACK LEADERS COLLECTIVE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK THE COMMISSION.
UH, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS FUND, BUT UNLESS THE FUND IS NOT EXPLICITLY AND INTENTIONALLY GOING TO BLACK ARTISTS, BLACK MUSIC ENTREPRENEURS, AND BLACK OWNED VENUE ARTISTS, THEN WE HAVE YET AGAIN, SORELY MISSED THE MARK.
WE ALL NEED TO GET CLEAR AND ASK OURSELVES WHAT IT MEANS TO TRULY BE AN EQUITABLE CITY, ASK YOU WHAT DOES EQUITY MEAN TO YOU? BECAUSE IF AUSTIN IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE GROWTH IMPACT.
THE MARGIN MARGINALIZED DESIGN HAS MADE ON, UM, HISTORICALLY BLACK COMMUNITIES AND AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AS A CITY AND ADDRESSING THESE, THESE ISSUES, THESE CHALLENGES, AND THESE WRONGDOINGS, BUT I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WERE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR CO-CREATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION, DOING THE, MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION AND MOVING THE BLACK, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND TOWARD BLACK ARTISTS, UM, AND BLACK VENUE OWNERS.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, MARIO PENTO.
OKAY, GO AHEAD AND CIRCLE BACK TO JANE HARVEY.
UM, MY NAME IS, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT.
I'M JOINING VIA CONFERENCE LINE.
AND MS. JANE HARVEY AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUNDS LIKE MANY OF THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
I AM COMING HERE WITH KIND OF A CO-CREATIVE TRI-CITY I MYSELF, AM WORKING MUSICIAN IN AUSTIN AND HAVE USED KIND OF MY EXPERIENCE AS AN INDEPENDENT CREATOR AND PROMOTER TO START A CAREER HERE.
AND, UM, I THINK LOOKING AT SOME OF THE FUNDING PRIORITIES AROUND THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, I WAS PERSONALLY VERY INSPIRED AND VALIDATED AND EXCITED ABOUT LIVING IN A CITY THAT MIGHT TRULY ASSIGN CULTURAL VALUES, WHO THE ARTISTS THAT LIVE HERE.
AND WHEN I HEARD THAT THAT WAS ON THE TABLE, THAT ARTISTS MIGHT RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
I THOUGHT, WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME.
AND THEN WHEN I HEARD THAT THAT FUNDING MIGHT ALSO BE EQUITABLE, I WAS LIKE, WELL, DANG, IT'S ABOUT TIME.
AND I THINK I COME TODAY IN THE HOPES THAT THAT PRIORITY IS NOT LOST AS THE VOTE GETS MADE ON HOW THIS LIVE MUSIC FUND WILL GO IN IT'S FIRST YEAR.
TO ME, IT'S JUST NOT A MATTER OF SUPPORTING VENUES OVER ARTISTS, THEY'RE ARTISTS THAT WERE VENUES.
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO REOPEN OUR CITY.
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO INVEST IN A GENERATION OF ARTISTS WHERE WE CAN SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND WE CAN PRIORITIZE MUSICIANS AND CREATORS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS WHO ARE ONE VALID BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SOME OF THE MOST DIVERSE CREATORS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THREE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
[00:30:01]
THE CULTURE THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY.AND FOR ME, I AM JUST, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THAT.
AND I AM SO CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT A FUTURE LIKE THAT COULD LOOK LIKE AND COULD SET AUSTIN APART FROM OTHER CITIES AND SPACES.
AND SO I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS FIRST YEAR OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WILL SUPPORT ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS WHO ARE BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND FEMME AS QUEER AND DISABLED, AND, UM, HAVE DIFFERENT IDENTITIES IN A WAY THAT THIS CITY HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE.
AND I THINK WE'RE IN A VERY UNIQUE MOMENT FOR THIS CITY AND THE CHOICES WE MAKE RIGHT NOW IN THIS PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT WILL, WILL REALLY DETERMINE WHO WE ARE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
AND I WANT TO BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE AROUND THIS AND ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO WHERE THIS FUND STANDS TODAY.
AND I'M JUST, I'M JUST HOPEFUL, I'M HOPEFUL.
AND I'M CURIOUS, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN HERE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT TONIGHT AND I THANK EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE MAGGIE LEE, I THINK THAT'S IT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS, UM, REALLY THOUGHTFUL.
UM, AND SO MUCH OF THIS, WHAT WAS STATED TONIGHT, UM, MIRRORS AND SUPPORTS THINGS THAT WE'VE, WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE AS A GROUP AND IN WORKING GROUPS.
UM, SO I'M JUST ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY WHAT, UM, DEDICATED, THOUGHTFUL CITIZENS WE HAVE IN AUSTIN.
I MEAN, IT'S A MONDAY NIGHT AND SO SITTING ON THE LINE WAITING TO TALK TO IT, UH, COMMISSION MEETINGS, NOT EXCITING, BUT, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS VERY MUCH.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.UH, HOPEFULLY ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK.
ANYONE LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM LAST WEEK.
CAN I GET A SECOND OR FOR THAT SECOND? OKAY.
[2a. Legal Consideration related to Equity in Economic Development Department Hotel Occupancy Tax Funded Programs by Neal Falgoust, Attorney, City of Austin Law Department, and Sylnovia Holt Rabb, Acting Director, Economic Development Department.]
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO STAFF BRIEFINGS AND FIRST STEP ITEM TO A LEGAL CONSIDERATION RELATED TO EQUITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDED PROGRAMS BY, UM, BY NEAL ALL GHOST.YOU CAN, YOU SHOULD TELL US WHAT IT REALLY IS.
HERE'S A ATTORNEY HERE AT THE CITY AND STILL NO VIET WHO HOLDS RAB ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE NEC NOMINAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE HELPING YOU OUT.
AND ALSO, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME? SO IT'S NEIL FALGUNI.
I GREW UP IN NEW ORLEANS, A LITTLE BIT OF CAJUN FRENCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS NEIL FALGUNI.
I'M AN ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND IN THAT ROLE, I ADVISE OUR EQUITY OFFICE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
UM, I APOLOGIZE IF I DEFAULT TO MARIN COUNCIL DURING THIS PRESENTATION, CAUSE IN THIS ROOM, WE USUALLY SAY MARIN COUNCIL.
UM, BUT THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
UH, IF YOU CAN GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A BRIEFING ON SOME OF THE LEGAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USING RACE, GENDER, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A SCORING CRITERIA.
WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT GRANT FUNDING, OUR GOAL TONIGHT IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A FRAMEWORK THAT YOU, AS COMMISSIONERS CAN USE TO HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS IN THIS AREA.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY ON THE ISSUE OF RACE EQUITY IN THE GRANT FUNDING.
UM, MY PRESENTATION TONIGHT, WE'LL BEGIN WITH A BRIEF, UH, CONTEXTUAL OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE ISSUES.
THEN I'LL DISCUSS THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT, UH, THE ATTORNEYS ON THE LAW DEPARTMENT HAVE USED TO ANALYZE THESE QUESTIONS.
I PROMISE NOT TO GET INTO TOO MUCH OF A LAW SCHOOL LECTURE.
I DON'T WANT TO BORE EVERYBODY TO DEATH, BUT, UM, WE WILL GET INTO SOME OF THE LEGAL ISSUES.
AND THEN I'LL ALSO DISCUSS SOME RECENT, UH, COURT DECISIONS THAT HAVE AFFECTED OUR ANALYSIS, PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS AS IT RELATES TO, UH, UH, GRANT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES THAT HAVE ARISEN AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND AT THE END, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS.
[00:35:01]
PLEASE.UM, FIRST I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE NOW.
UM, AND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT OUR PRESENTATION IS COMING AT THE END OF A LONG PROCESS IN WHICH YOU'VE BEEN ADVISING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB AND THE EQUITABLE AWARDING OF GRANT PROGRAMS. AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THOSE CONCERNS, UH, ON TIMING.
UH, THERE, AS I SAID, THERE'VE BEEN A NUMBER OF CASES DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN A MINUTE.
UH, BUT THOSE CASES HAVE LED SEVERAL OF US IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO UNDERTAKE A REAL DELIBERATIVE PROCESS, TO UNDERSTAND THESE CASES, THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY AROSE AND THE COURT DECISIONS AND TO ANALYZE THE IMPACT THAT THOSE CASES WOULD HAVE ON ANY DECISIONS THAT THE CITY OR THE COMMISSION MIGHT MAKE IN RELATION TO, UH, GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMS, SEVERAL OF THESE CASES UP AND YEARS OF BEDROCK LEGAL PRINCIPLES.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THE, UH, THE RULINGS AND SORT OF HOW THAT AFFECTED, UH, THESE PRINCIPLES THAT, THAT WE OPERATE UNDER.
WE ALSO ADVISE STAFF IN THE EQUITY OFFICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURCHASING, AND SMALL BUSINESS AND SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE DEPARTMENTS.
AND THEN FROM THERE WE BRIEF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND LAST WEEK PRESENTED THIS ANALYSIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO IT'S BEEN A, A MONTHS LONG PROCESS TO GET TO THIS POINT.
AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AS, AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS.
OUR NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE PAST, UH, AND HOW WE ENDED UP HERE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT AUSTIN HAS A HISTORY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF THE 1928 MASTER PLAN THAT CREATED A QUOTE UNQUOTE NEGRO NEGRO DISTRICT, UH, RED LINING, URBAN RENEWAL POLICIES AND THE SEIZING OF BLACK OWNED LAND THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN TO CLEAR NEIGHBORHOODS, THESE POLICIES, ALL OPPRESSED BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR GENERATIONS.
AND WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL APOLOGIZED FOR THAT INTENTIONAL RACIST DISCRIMINATION AND COMMITTED TO CORRECTING THESE RACIST PRACTICES.
AND THAT WAS PASSED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT I'VE NOTED HERE ON THE SCREEN OF LAST MARCH.
THE EQUITY OFFICE, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CREATE NEW WAYS OF EVALUATING PROPOSALS, UH, IN THE PURCHASING PROCESS AS PART OF, UH, PROJECT CONNECT AND THE CITY'S EFFORT TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, A COMMUNITY ISSUED A REPORT, UH, CALLED NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.
AND THAT'S, UH, A REPORT THAT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CITY'S RACIST PASS.
UH, AND IT INCLUDED PROPOSALS TO CENTER RACE EQUITY IN THE EVALUATION OF GRANT FUNDING PROPOSALS, AND OTHER, UH, PURCHASING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AS OUR UNDERSTANDING WANTS TO USE THIS REPORT AS A FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING, UH, INCLUDING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
SO THE TOOL THAT WAS CREATED AS PART OF THIS REPORTS, PART OF THIS AS PART OF THIS REPORT, EXCUSE ME, CORRECTLY, FOCUSES ON REMEDYING PAST DISCRIMINATION, THE IMPACT OF INEQUITABLE FUNDING AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF DISPLACEMENT ON THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WE DETERMINED THAT THE USE OF RACIAL, RACIAL CLASSIFICATIONS IN THIS TOOL PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT LEGAL RISKS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF.
UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASES THAT WE'LL DISCUSS TONIGHT.
THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR ANALYSIS IS THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT, WHICH ENSURES THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW.
THIS IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE STATEMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION, BUT IT'S MADE EXTREMELY COMPLICATED BY COURT INTERPRETATIONS OVER THE DECADES.
SO THE COURTS HAVE CREATED A TIERED FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING QUESTIONS THAT ARISE UNDER THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.
THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF ANALYSIS THAT COURTS WILL USE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT MAKES DISTINCTIONS OR DECISIONS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS.
SO I JUST WANT TO GO OVER THE, UH, THE THREE TIERED
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SYSTEM.IT'S A, WE CALL IT TIERED SCRUTINY.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY TIRED SCRUTINY, BUT IT'S TIERED SCRUTINY.
SO THE FIRST LEVEL OF SCRUTINY IS CALLED STRICT SCRUTINY.
UH, THIS IS APPLIED WHEN DISTINCTIONS ARE MACE MADE ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, OR ALIENS, OR, UH, IMMIGRATION STATUS.
SO UNDER STRICT SCRUTINY, A GOVERNMENT MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THE POLICY OR THE DECISION THAT IT IS MAKING IS NARROWLY TAILORED TO MEET A COMPELLING GOVERNMENT PURPOSE.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF LEGALEES AND WE'LL GET INTO EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT THAT STANDARD TO YOU SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF, OF WHAT THE COURTS APPLY TO THESE DISTINCTIONS.
SO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY IS CALLED INTERMEDIATE SCRUTINY.
UH, THAT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY IS USED WHEN DISTINCTIONS ARE MADE BASED ON GENDER AND SEX.
NOW I'VE ALSO NOTED HERE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION WITH A QUESTION MARK THAT'S BECAUSE, UH, SOME LOWER LEVEL COURTS HAVE APPLIED INTERMEDIATE SCRUTINY WHEN DISCUSSING SEXUAL ORIENTATION, BUT THE SUPREME COURT HAS NOT MADE THAT DISTINCTION.
UH, SOMETIMES WHEN THEY, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT TALKS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION, THEY FRAME IT IN TERMS OF SEX AND GENDER.
UM, SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE HOW THE SUPREME COURT ADDRESS DISTINCTIONS BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
UM, THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE CASES HAVE ALL BEEN DECIDED UNDER THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT, BUT, UH, JUSTICE KENNEDY WHO WROTE THOSE DECISIONS WAS REALLY WISHY-WASHY IN TERMS OF APPLYING ONE OF THESE, UH, LEVELS OF SCRUTINY TO, UH, SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THE FINAL, UH, LEVEL OF SCRUTINY IS CALLED A RATIONAL BASIS.
SO THE COURT WILL APPLY RATIONAL BASIS WHEN DISTINCTIONS ARE MADE ON AGE DISABILITY, WEALTH, FELONY STATUS, A PERSON'S GEOGRAPHY OR, UH, HISTORICAL TIES TO A COMMUNITY.
AND SO UNDER THIS LEVEL OF SCRUTINY, THE GOVERNMENT JUST NEEDS TO HAVE A RATIONAL BASIS FOR MAKING A DISTINCTION AND HAS TO HAVE A LEGITIMATE INTEREST.
SO STRICT SCRUTINY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SCRUTINY THAT COURTS WILL APPLY WHEN, UH, A DISTINCTION IS MADE ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S RACE.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, UH, IT IS THE MOST RIGOROUS LEVEL OF REVIEW.
AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, UH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMPELLING GOVERNMENT INTEREST.
AND THE DISTINCTION THAT IS BEING MADE HAS TO BE VERY NARROWLY TAILORED TO MEET THAT COMPELLING INTEREST WHEN COURTS ARE CONSIDERING THESE QUESTIONS, UH, THE PRESUMPTION OR THE BURDEN OF PROOF SHIFTS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
SO NORMALLY WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL SUES, UH, LET'S SAY THE CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THE PERSON WHO IS BRINGING THE SUIT HAS TO MEET A CERTAIN BURDEN OF PROOF, BUT UNDER THESE CASES, THAT BURDEN OF PROOF SHIFTS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRESUMPTION IS THAT THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE INVALID.
AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE BURDEN OF SHOWING THAT, UH, THE COMPELLING INTEREST AND THE NARROWLY TAILORED, UH, TEST IS MET.
SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A COMPELLING GOVERNMENT INTEREST? SO, UH, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO SHOW THAT THERE'S BEEN ACTUAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE RELEVANT MARKET OR IN THE RELEVANT AREA THAT IS BEING, UH, UH, REGULATED AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT EITHER ACTIVELY OR PASSIVELY PERPETUATED THAT DISCRIMINATION.
UH, THE SECOND PRONG OF THE TEST IS THAT, UH, THIS DISTINCTION HAS TO BE NARROWLY TAILORED AND TO MEET THAT TEST, UH, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO SHOW THAT OTHER RACE NEUTRAL POLICIES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN ORDER TO MEET THE COMPELLING INTEREST AND THAT THOSE RACE NEUTRAL POLICIES FAILED TO ACHIEVE THE COMPELLING INTEREST THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS.
SO THIS CASE, THE CITY OF RICHMOND VERSUS J A CROSON, WE REFERRED TO IT AS THE CROSSING CASE IS THE FOUNDATIONAL CASE FOR CONSIDERING RACE WHEN AWARDING MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS OR MAKING FUNDING BASED ON A RACIAL DISTINCTION.
THIS CASE HAS BEEN SETTLED LAW FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
SO THIS CASE INVOLVED A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HAD BID FOR A CONTRACT
[00:45:01]
WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND, AND THEY CHALLENGED THE CITY'S PLAN TO REQUIRE PRIME CONTRACTORS TO SUBCONTRACT AT LEAST 30% OF EACH CONTRACT TO MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.THE ISSUE THAT WAS, UH, UH, BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT WAS WHETHER THIS, UH, RACIAL QUOTA POLICY OF, UH, 30% VIOLATED THE 14TH AMENDMENT'S EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.
UH, THE MAJORITY, UM, CONCLUDED THAT THE CITY'S PROGRAM FAILED TO PASS THE STRICT SCRUTINY STANDARD THAT I DISCUSSED BECAUSE THE CITY'S GENERALIZED ASSERTIONS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE PAST DID NOT JUSTIFY A RIGID QUOTA OF 30%.
UM, THE COURT CONCLUDED THAT THIS 30% QUOTA, UH, COULD NOT BE CONNECTED TO ANY SPECIFIC INJURY THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAD FACED AND THE RACE NEUTRAL POLICIES, NO RACE NEUTRAL POLICIES HAD BEEN CONSIDERED BEFORE IMPLEMENTING, UH, THIS QUOTA.
SO THE COURT STRUCK DOWN THE CITY OF RICHMOND'S, UH, POLICY, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDED GUIDANCE ON HOW MUNICIPALITIES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS AREA.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
SO IN ORDER TO MEET THIS STRICT SCRUTINY STANDARD IN THIS CONTEXT, GOVERNMENTS NOW UNDERTAKE COMPREHENSIVE DISPARITY STUDIES THAT EXAMINE WHETHER CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES ARE UNFAIRLY DENIED TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
AND IF DISPARITIES ARE FOUND, THE GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO FORMULATE SPECIFIC PLANS THAT WOULD REMEDY THOSE DISPARITIES.
NOW I'M MAKING THIS SOUND A LOT SIMPLER THAN IT REALLY IS.
IN REALITY, THESE STUDIES OFTEN TAKE YEARS TO CONDUCT AND COMPLETE AND CAN COST INTO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH DATA COLLECTION INTERVIEWS AND RESEARCH HAS TO BE DONE.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF COMPLETING A DISPARITY STUDY FOR THE SMB, OUR PROGRAMS, AND THAT SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, I THINK WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.
AND THAT A STUDY HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR FOUR YEARS.
UM, IN MY MIND THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON, UH, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT AND THE SPEAKERS ALL BROUGHT THAT FORWARD.
UM, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO RECOGNIZED THIS AND, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF HAS IMPLEMENTED RELIEF PROGRAMS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THOSE NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE DRAWN, UH, LAWSUITS FROM CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST GROUPS, UM, THAT, UH, ARE BEING BACKED BY, UM, FOLKS LIKE STEVEN MILLER.
UM, AND THEY'VE BEEN ATTACKING THESE PROGRAMS, UM, THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT FORWARD TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE INEQUITIES.
ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE'LL LOOK AT IN A MINUTE IS THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, UH, GRANT PROGRAM FOR RESTAURANT OWNERS.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS A DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM FOR BLACK FARMERS.
SO I'LL TALK FIRST ABOUT THE GREER'S RANCH CAFE VERSUS GUZMAN.
THIS IS A CASE FROM THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA IN THE DISTRICT COURT, THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
SO IN THIS PROGRAM, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SET UP A GRANT RELIEF PROGRAM FOR A RESTAURANT OWNERS, AND IT PRIORITIZED THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE GRANT MONIES FOR THE FIRST 21 DAYS, UH, BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S, UH, RACE, GENDER, AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED THAT'SS.
SO IT DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T CUT OFF FUNDING TO OTHER PEOPLE.
IT JUST SAID FOR THE FIRST 21 DAYS, FUNDING WILL BE PRIORITIZED FOR THESE GROUPS BASED ON RACE, GENDER, AND ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGED STATUS.
SO GREER WHO IS WHITE AND OWNS A RESTAURANT IN STEVENVILLE, UH, SUED THE SBA TO PREVENT ALL OF THE GRANT MONEY FROM BEING AWARDED, UH, BEFORE IT WAS OPENED TO WHITE MALE OWNERS.
SO THIS CASE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE SIXTH SKIRT SIXTH CIRCUIT, AND THE SIXTH CIRCUIT, UH, STRUCK DOWN PORTIONS OF THE PROGRAM AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL FIRST THAT STRUCK DOWN THE PRIORITIZATION BASED ON RACE, BECAUSE, UH, THEY SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT PRODUCE
[00:50:01]
ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO MEET ANY OF THE CRITERIA FOR A SHOWING OF A COMPELLING GOVERNMENT INTEREST.UM, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN, UM, EVEN IF AN END, EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT, THE COURT SAID, EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD A COMPELLING INTEREST, UH, TO REMEDY ANY PAST DISCRIMINATION, THE PRIORITIZATION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS WAS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED IN ORDER TO MEET THAT COMPELLING INTEREST.
SO EVEN IF THE, THE GOVERNMENT HAD MET THAT COMPELLING INTEREST STANDARD, IT STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN BECAUSE THE COURT SAID IT WAS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED ENOUGH.
UM, THE COURT ALSO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T CONSIDER, UH, OR USE ANY RACE NEUTRAL ALTERNATIVES, UH, FIRST AND THAT THE USE OF A RACIAL PREFERENCE AND THE PRIORITIZATION SCHEME, UH, WAS OVER-BROAD AND UNDER INCLUSIVE, UH, THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ALSO INVALIDATED INVALIDATED, UH, THE PRIORITIZATION OF WOMEN OWNED RESTAURANTS, UH, SAYING THAT IT DID NOT MEET THE INTERMEDIATE SCRUTINY STANDARD.
UM, HOWEVER, IT DID PERMIT THE SBA TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THE GRANT FUNDING FOR, UH, ELIGIBLE VETERAN OWNED RESTAURANTS, SO THAT, UH, THE PRIORITIZATION OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN OWNED RESTAURANTS FELL UNDER THE RATIONAL BASIS STANDARD, WHICH IS A MUCH EASIER STANDARD FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET.
SO THAT WAS THE ONE PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT THE COURT DETERMINED COULD CONTINUE.
UM, THEN THE NEXT CASE IS SORT OF A GROUP OF CASES THAT, THAT WE REFER TO AS THE BLACK FARMERS CASES.
UM, SO, UH, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, UH, HAD DEVELOPED A $4 BILLION AID PACKAGE, UH, FOR BLACK FARMERS.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A LONG AND STORIED AND WELL-DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK FARMERS SPECIFICALLY BY THE U S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
IN FACT, IN 2010, THE USDA SETTLED WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS CASE IN HISTORY TO RESOLVE DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS BROUGHT BY BLACK FARMERS AGAINST THE USDA.
THE SETTLEMENT HAS REACHED TO NEARLY $1.2 BILLION.
AND AGAIN, THIS WAS TO REMEDY A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF RACIST PRACTICES BY THE USDA AND THE USDA ASSERTED THAT THIS RELIEF PROGRAM WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO REMEDY ITS OWN PAST DISCRIMINATION.
UH, SO WITH THIS HISTORY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF US IN THE LEGAL WORLD SORT OF FIGURED THAT, UM, WITH THIS WELL-DOCUMENTED HISTORY, THAT THAT USDA WOULD MEET THE STRICT SCRUTINY STANDARD.
UH, THE COURT, UH, FOUND THAT, UH, STRICT SCRUTINY WAS NOT MET, UH, THE TEXAS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER, SID MILLER, UM, FILED SUIT AGAIN WITH FINANCIAL BACKING FROM A GROUP LED BY STEPHEN MILLER.
THE COURT STRUCK DOWN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT FAILED TO SHOW THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS THIS LONG DOCUMENTED HISTORY, THERE WAS NO CURRENT DISCRIMINATION.
THIS SORT OF REMINDED US OF, UH, WHAT JUSTICE ROBERTS, CHIEF, CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS SAID IN THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT CASE FROM A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN HE HYPOTHESIZED THAT RACISM NO LONGER EXISTS.
UM, THE COURT DETERMINED IN THIS, IN THE BLACK FARMERS CASES THAT THE U S DA AGAIN, DID NOT MEET THE STRICT SCRUTINY STANDARD, AND AS SORT OF A LITTLE BIT OF SALT IN THE WOUND, THE FEDERAL JUDGES, UM, WHO WERE OVERSEEING A BUNCH OF THESE CASES, UH, CERTIFIED, UH, WHITE FARMERS AS A CLASS, UM, IN ORDER TO ALLOW THEM TO BRING A CLASS ACTION CASE AGAINST THE USDA.
UM, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES TO CERTIFY A CLASS.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED THAT WHITE FARMERS WERE CERTIFIED AS A CLASS TO PROCEED ON THIS LAWSUIT.
SO JUST IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, UM, THE U S SUPREME COURT HAS ANNOUNCED, IT WILL HEAR A CHALLENGE TO A LEGAL PRECEDENT THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR TWO DECADES THAT ALLOWS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO CONSIDER RACE AS PART OF A HOLISTIC ADMISSIONS PROCESS.
THIS, AGAIN, THIS AREA HAS BEEN SETTLED LAW FOR A LONG TIME, UM, SINCE ABOUT 2005, I BELIEVE.
AND THERE'S REALLY NO REASON FOR THE COURT TO TAKE THIS CASE EXCEPT TO OVERTURN THAT PRECEDENT.
UH, WE SEEN THAT THE COURT'S NEW CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY HAS NO PROBLEM
[00:55:01]
OVERTURNING SUBTLE PRECEDENT.AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT, UH, THE USE OF RACE AS A FACTOR IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS IS, UH, IS GOING TO BE STRUCK DOWN, UH, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR CASES LIKE CROSON, UM, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS AND THE SMB OUR OFFICE IS BASED.
UH, WE THINK THAT IF THE COURT IS PRESENTED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERTURN, CROSON LIKE IT IS OVERTURNING THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CASES.
UM, I THINK THEY WOULD TAKE IT, UM, AND THAT WOULD PUT OUR SMB, OUR PROGRAMS AT RISK.
UM, SO OUR CONCERN IS THAT, UH, IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IF SOMEONE SHOULD, UH, DECIDE TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND, AND THIS CASE ENDED UP IN THE COURTS THAT, UH, WE WOULD POTENTIALLY PUT CASES LIKE CROSON AT RISK, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR, UH, FOR CITIES ALL ACROSS THE, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND IT WOULD, UH, PROVIDE THE COURT WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERTURN SUBTLED LAW FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
SO THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
I, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS SORT OF HOW THIS, HOW THIS HITS HOME WITH YOU.
UM, I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR FEELINGS ON IT, YOUR THOUGHTS, UM, AND I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE COMMISSION.
THAT WAS, UH, VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
UM, I DO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WRITTEN DOWN, BUT FIRST I WANTED TO JUST, UH, SEE IF ANY OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS GUYS.
SO I Y'ALL ARE LIKE ON A SCREEN THAT IS REALLY FAR AWAY FROM ME, OR YOU REALLY CLOSE BEHIND ME.
SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK AT ANY POINT DURING THE MEETING, JUST LIKE, HOLD YOUR HANDS UP REALLY CLEARLY AND WAVE AT ME.
SO, UM, BUT YEAH, STARTING OUT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEALS? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
YEAH, THE, UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, UM, MR. FARGO, THE, UH, THE, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN TANDEM WITH EDD FOR A VERY LONG TIME, UM, ON MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THEM.
THE, THERE WAS SOME KIND OF, UH, UM, UH, THERE I SAY, LIKE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, THERE BASICALLY WAS A PLAN FOR THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF FUND BECAUSE BASICALLY IN LEADING WITH EQUITY AND CONSIDERING THE PRESERVATION INNOVATION AND ELEVATION ASPECTS OF THOSE PLANS, UM, BOTH FROM THE LIVE MUSIC PERSPECTIVE, LIVE MUSIC, FUN PERSPECTIVE.
AND WITH THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF FUND, IT WAS THEORIZED THAT THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF FUND WOULD GO OUT FIRST WITH PI WITH US, CONSIDERING RACE AS PART OF THE FOREFRONT OF THOSE, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF PEOPLE APPLYING AND RECEIVING THESE FUNDS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS THINGS THAT HAD TO BE CHANGED.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT W UH, MAYBE, MAYBE SYNOVIA AND ERICA COULD SPEAK DIFFERENTLY TO THIS, BUT, UH, WHAT EXACTLY DEAD CHANGED THAT ALLOWED FOR THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF FUND TO GO OUT? AND HOW IS IT THAT WE CAN PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN DESCRIBING FUTURE FUNDS, INCLUDING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, GOOD AFTERNOON, STILL NOVIA, HAUTE, RAB ACTING, DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE DID ADJUST OUR QUESTIONING, UM, TO INCLUDE AROUND INCOME, UH, GEOGRAPHY, UM, ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND WE'RE STILL ANALYZING THE DATA, BUT BASED ON PRELIMINARY RESULTS, UM, IT WASN'T A DIRECT LINE AS WE WOULD HAVE HOPED BY SCORING, BUT WE SEEM TO BE GETTING THE RESULTS AROUND EQUITY THAT WE DESIRE.
AND I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
SO, UM, I THINK WHAT PRESENTS THE MOST RISK IN TERMS OF A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE IS EXPLICITLY CALLING OUT RACE AS A FACTOR.
UM, THERE OTHER FACTORS THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THAT LOWER STANDARD OF RATIONAL BASIS THAT MIGHT STILL GET US TO EQUITABLE FUNDING, BUT WOULD NOT EXPLICITLY BE STATED AS RACE.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS, I KNOW THAT COMES AS A DISAPPOINTMENT.
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DOING THINGS LIKE DRAWING LINES BASED ON GEOGRAPHY OR A PERSON'S ZIP CODE OR A PERSON'S HISTORICAL TIES TO A COMMUNITY, MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU TO THE SAME PLACE AT A LOWER LEVEL OF LEGAL RISK.HI, UM, I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT ERICA SHAMLEY DIVISION MANAGER FOR MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, UH, WE'LL BE PREPARED TO GIVE YOU A FULL REPORT ON THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF GRANTS IN MARCH, BUT, UH, FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE PRELIMINARY SCORING, UM, I WOULD SAY ABOUT HALF OF THE APPLICANTS WERE NOT, DID NOT DESIGNATE THEMSELVES AS WHITE.
AND WE ARE SEEING WITH HOW THE SCORES ARE KIND OF SHAKING OUT THAT THEY ARE SCORING HIGHER BASED ON THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED, SO THAT IT IS AN INDIRECT ROUTE TO GET WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
IT'S NOT WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR AND NOT WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED ON.
UH, BUT ASKING QUESTIONS AROUND GEOGRAPHY, INCOME, ACCESS TO INSURANCE, TRADITIONAL BANKS, UH, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HAD TO MOVE? THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THERE THAT DID ACTUALLY GET US, UM, TO WHAT WE WERE HOPING.
UH, BUT AGAIN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THAT DATA VERY CRUNCHED DOWN, UH, IN MARCH.
YEAH, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REGULATE IT, BUT, UM, DO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS CURRENTLY LEGAL TO, UH, TO USE, UH, RACE AND RACIAL EQUITY AS AN EXPLICIT FACTOR, BUT THERE'S A DANGER OF THE PROGRAMMING STRUCK DOWN IN THE FUTURE.
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, IS THERE DOES THAT, IF WE DID, WHICH WE DO WANT, SINCE WE DO WANT RACE TO BE EXPLICITLY PART OF IT, UM, IS THAT MOTIVATION FOR HAVING A SENSE OF URGENCY AND APPROVING THE PROGRAM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, GETTING THE MONEY OUT AND THEN SEEING WHAT IS POSSIBLE LEGALLY IN A YEAR WHEN THE NEXT PHASE, THE PROGRAM COMES IN, WHAT WE LOOKED AT LAST SEPTEMBER AND THE COMMISSION VOTED TO DELAY WAS A STAFF PROPOSAL THAT CLEARLY WAS GOING TO PRIORITIZE BIPAP ARTISTS.
UM, AND SO I'M CURIOUS IF WE WENT BACK TO THAT, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY LEGAL AND COULD MOVE FORWARD, OR, OR IF THERE'S SOME REASON WHY WE'RE, WE COULDN'T DO SOMETHING THAT, BECAUSE IT MIGHT IN THE FUTURE BE ILLEGAL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION COMMISSIONER.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK IN TERMS OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL.
I'D PREFER TO SPEAK IN TERMS OF RISK AND LEGAL RISK.
UM, DISTINCTIONS BASED ON RACE HAVE ALWAYS TRIGGERED THAT STRICT SCRUTINY ANALYSIS, AND THAT'S BEEN STANDARD FOR, YOU KNOW, DECADES.
UM, I THINK WHAT CONCERNS US NOW IS, UH, THE RECENT COURT DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW COURTS HAVE APPLIED THAT AND THE DECISIONS THAT THEY HAVE REACHED AND SORT OF SOME OF THE SIGNALS THAT THEY HAVE SENT IN TERMS OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO STRIKE THOSE PROGRAMS DOWN.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY THAT RACE HAS ALWAYS PRESENTED SOME LEVEL OF RISK, BUT, UH, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR TO 18 MONTHS, THAT RISK HAS INCREASED.
AND SO, UM, WE THINK YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT AS YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO SAY WE TOOK THE RISK AND MOVED FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT, UH, SOME THE DRAFT OF THE STAFF AND PROPOSE IN TERMS OF SCORING CRITERIA, ET CETERA.
UH, AND THEN THE MONEY GOES UP AND THEN SIX MONTHS LATER THAT RISK BECOMES REALIZED, WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THAT? LIKE, ARE THE RECIPIENTS ASKED TO SEND THE MONEY BACK, IS THE, LIKE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS? SO THE COURTS COULD FREEZE ANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THOSE MONIES.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AS THE CORE, AS THE CASES WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, UM, IT COULD BECOME AN ISSUE OF, OF NOT JUST FREEZING THE MONEY RELATED TO THE PROGRAMS, BUT AN EXAMINATION OF WHETHER THE PROGRAM WAS CONSTITUTIONAL TO BEGIN WITH.
[01:05:03]
I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT SO SAY, SAY THE DECIDE, IT WAS NOT, UH, THAT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED.OH, LIKE WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SEND THE MONEY BACK.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS, AS, AS A REMEDY THAT HAS BEEN, UM, INSTITUTED BY THE COURTS.
SO IT, IN THEORY RIGHT NOW, UH, BEING MORE EQUITABLE IS A LOWER RISK THAN YOU EXPECT IT TO BE IN THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE TO ME TO DO THE HIGH-RISK PROGRAM NOW THAT IS FOCUSED, ESPECIALLY ON BIPAP COMMUNITIES WITH ASSUMING THAT THIS WERE, WE'VE ALL BEEN ASSUMING THAT THIS FUNDING WILL INCREASE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS AND THE PROGRAM WILL EVOLVE AND BE ABLE TO DO MORE.
AND SO WHAT SOME OF THE SPEAKERS WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT'S AT LEAST IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT, THAT THERE'S A BIPAP HEAVY FOCUS.
UH, AND THAT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE WITH THE LEGAL TIMELINE THAT YOU YOU'RE DESCRIBING TO ME, GET THIS MONEY OUT NOW.
AND THEN NEXT YEAR IS MAYBE A MORE CAUTIOUSLY DEFINED.
THAT WOULD BE A POLICY DISCUSSION THAT, THAT I THINK WOULD, WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS COMMISSION TO HAVE, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION RELATED TO THAT THOUGH, NEIL, WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY FREEZE FUTURE F FISCAL YEAR BUDGETS IF WE WERE TO TAKE THAT RISK NOW, POTENTIALLY.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT ANY PARTICULAR COURT WILL DO, YOU KNOW, A COURT, UH, UH, THE, THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT IN AUSTIN, UM, MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT AND, UH, NORTH TEXAS, BUT WHEN IT GETS TO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH OVERSEES, YOU KNOW, TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, THAT'S THE MOST CONSERVATIVE CIRCUIT COURT IN THE COUNTRY.
AND I THINK THAT THEY WOULD, UH, DEFINITELY STRIKE IT DOWN.
AND THEN IF IT WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, UH, I THINK THAT IF THEY TOOK THIS CASE ON, IF THEY TOOK SUCH A CASE ON, I, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BODE WELL.
SO, UM, IF, IF A LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT BECAUSE, AND WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE LIVE MUSIC FUNDS, HOW THAT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR THAT IS DETERMINED AND SCORED.
SO, UM, LET'S SAY A LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST THAT PROGRAM.
UM, COULD WE, AT THAT POINT, RE-EXAMINE THE PROGRAM OR START A PARALLEL PROGRAM OR IS ALL THE, ARE WE IN DANGER? LIKE THE MONEY'S JUST TIED UP FOR FIVE YEARS WHILE, LIKE, I MEAN, LIKE, IS THERE A WORD, LIKE, CAN WE LIKE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE RISK AND THEN, UM, HAVE THERE, IF NEEDED, I BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS IF WE AWARDED MONEY AND FACED A LAWSUIT, COULD WE SAY AT THAT POINT WHEN THE LAWSUIT COMES, OH, NEVERMIND, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS ANYMORE.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD AND HOW WE WOULD HANDLE LITIGATION AND IN A PUBLIC DISCUSSION.
UM, BUT, UM, THAT IS, THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION, OBVIOUSLY, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THERE WOULD BE, UM, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LITIGATION FOLKS, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND COUNSEL ON HOW TO PROCEED, UH, WITH THAT, UH, SORT OF LITIGATION.
SO THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND HERE IS THAT THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND IS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT IN DECEMBER.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT WAS DELAYED WAS IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS EXACT ISSUE.
IT WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF, IS IT, YOU KNOW, CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND FOR US TO, TO, TO KIND OF MAKE THIS, UM, I'M SURE THAT ERICA AND SNELLVILLE COULD SPEAK WAY MORE TO THAT, BUT I CAN, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IF, IF, IF THE DISASTER RELIEF HAS GONE OUT THE DOOR AND WE HAVE, UM, BUT THESE GUIDELINES SORT OF IN PLACE THAT DON'T SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT RACE, BUT THAT ALREADY HAD RAISED, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH, UM, THAT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND POTENTIALLY COULD, I MEAN,
[01:10:01]
BE SAFE FROM, FROM SOME SORT OF LITIGATION OR, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING THE CITY BEING SUED OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE THE SPUN HAS ALREADY GONE.I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, WE, WE MAY BE ON SOME SAFER GROUND THERE.
UM, AND, AND OF COURSE THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, LIKE SAYING, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR CAN GET THE MONEY OR BASED ON SEX, GENDER ORIENTATION THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ACTUALLY PRIORITIZE THAT PART OF IT, BUT WE CAN, BY ASKING CERTAIN QUESTIONS IN, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'D THE APPLICATION, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE WITH THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND AND IT SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL, AM I, AM I, AM I CORRECT IN THAT ASSUMPTION? SO YES YOU ARE.
AND AS ERICA MENTIONED, WE WILL HAVE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE DATA IN MARCH BECAUSE WE'RE ANALYZING IT RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THAT WOULD GIVE YOU A GOOD BASIS OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED TO USE AS, UM, FUTURE BASIS OF THE LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM.
AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
UM, SO THERE'LL BE AN ERICA AND THE TEAM, UM, AND, AND FOR EVERYONE THAT, THAT WORKED TO GET A LOT OF THAT STUFF KIND OF SITUATED TO WHERE WE COULD SEND IT OUT AND IT, AT LEAST FOR NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE LEGALLY SAFE.
SO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK ON THAT, YOUR DEPARTMENT, RIGHT.
AND PLEASE KNOW THAT, UM, THE COMMISSION VOTED ON PIE AS THE, THE FOUNDATION.
AND SO IN OUR ANALYSIS, UH, WITH UNDER ERICA'S LEADERSHIP STAFF IS LOOKING AT QUESTIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE STILL CENTERING PIE, BUT WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO YOU IN MARCH, WHAT WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION.
SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT PIE IS THE BASIS PI IS THE CENTER.
AND SO UNDER ERICA'S LEADERSHIP, WE'RE ANALYZING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY ASK.
SO I WANTED TO SPEAK, UH, TO SNOWY HIS COMMENT ABOUT PI REALLY QUICKLY.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING IT.
SO NOVIA, SO JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COMMISSION AND PEOPLE VIEWING.
SO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND ESSENTIALLY HAS THREE PARTS.
SO ONE IS DETERMINING USES, WHAT ARE THE APPLICABLE USES? SECOND IS THE PI GUIDELINES, AND THAT STANDS FOR PRESERVATION, UH, INNOVATION AND ELEVATION.
AND THAT, UM, HAS BEEN VOTED ON BY THIS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS SENT TO COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S SO PRESERVATION, INNOVATION ELEVATION OF, UM, HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, HISTORIC ART FORMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, ELEVATING CERTAIN GENRE GENRES.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT BE, HAVE SETTLED.
THAT IS A COMMISSION THAT WILL STAY PART OF THAT.
UM, AND, AND THE PUBLIC HAS TAKEN NOTE OF THAT.
THE THIRD PART IS, UH, THE SCORING RUBRIC.
AND THAT IS THE PART OF THOSE THAT DOES, UH, SPECIFICALLY AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, UM, SCORE, UM, FOR RACE, GENDER.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT'S THE PART OF THOSE THAT I THINK IS A QUESTION, IS, IS THAT CORRECT? NEIL NEIL'S NODDING AT ME.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S THE PART THAT, UM, WHERE WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT MAYBE CHANGING THE LANGUAGE, UH, IN A WAY THAT STILL HELPS US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.
UM, BUT THE OTHER TWO PARTS, UM, ONE OF WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING LATER TONIGHT, WHICH IS THE ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE USES THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS NECESSARILY AS, AS THE WORKING GROUP HAS DEFINED IT.
AND PI IS, UM, AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, LIKE, THAT'S, THAT'S STILL PART OF THIS.
SO, UM, YEAH, SO NOW WE GET THE, THE RUBRIC IS THE PART THAT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY ILLEGALLY.
UM, AND SO I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, NEIL.
UM, SO YOU TALKED ABOUT SHOWING COMPELLING INTEREST AND HOW, HOW WOULD WE DO THAT WITH, IN TERMS OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO STATE EXPLICITLY, UM, IN THE LIVE MUSIC FUND IS SAYING WE HAVE A COMPELLING INTEREST AS A COMMUNITY TO DO X, Y, Z, OR IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ONE OF THOSE DISPARITIES STUDIES, UM, BECAUSE YOU REALLY NEED THE DATA TO BACK YOU UP.
UM, IF IT'S CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.
AND I KNOW WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AS A COMMISSION, AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH STAFF.
UM, I GUESS ONE LAST QUESTION I HAD IS IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE, YOU'VE DONE PRESENTATIONS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION AND SO ON.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ARE S
[01:15:01]
IF YOU CAN'T, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT PROCEEDING ON THESE ISSUES, LIKE JUST, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THEIR GUIDANCE FOR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SUGGESTED SOME DIFFERENT SCENARIOS HERE.SO WHAT WHERE'S, WHERE'S THE CITY GOVERNANCE LEANINGS.
SO, UM, I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO DISCUSS THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD, UH, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, I CAN SAY THAT WE ARE HERE DOING THIS PRESENTATION PUBLICLY.
THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC PRESENTATION WE'VE HAD.
UM, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO COME TO YOU IMMEDIATELY, ONCE WE HAD PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE D WE'VE, WE'RE DOING THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE ONE SCHEDULED, I BELIEVE, WITH HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND AN ARTS COMMISSION.
UM, SO THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL, UM, AND IT IS A, UM, PRIORITY FOR THE LAW DEPARTMENT AS WELL, UM, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MOST NEED OF THE MONEY, GET IT, AND THAT WE ARE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T PUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PROGRAMS AT RISK.
YEAH, BUT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE SPECIFIC TO THE HOT FUNDS.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH PURCHASING, UH, EQUITY OFFICE, UH, SM BR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO THIS IS, IT'S NOT JUST A MUSIC COMMISSION FUNDING.
UH, VICE-CHAIR HAS A QUESTION.
NO, I JUST SAID, JUST SAID, IF YOU COME AND SIT THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S, AGAIN, NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING AT BROAD IMPLICATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE PROGRAMS. UH, SO THERE'S, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF A COMMON GUIDANCE, UH, THAT YOU WOULD OFFER IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS OR IN THE PROCESS OF OFFERING ACROSS THE BOARD AND HOW TO APPROACH THIS, BECAUSE IF THE IMPLICATIONS ARE WIDE, I WOULD, I WOULD IMAGINE THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF A CONSOLIDATED APPROACH ON HOW TO ADDRESS, UH, THE ASPIRATIONS AROUND THE AI, UH, BUT ALSO DO IT IN A MANNER THAT WE ARE NOT JEOPARDIZING THE, UH, THE, UH, ABILITY TO ROLL OUT A PROGRAM.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME, SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AND, UH, UM, AGAIN WITH CITY STAFF, UH, SOME OF YOU HAVE ERICA, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.
UH, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE THE OUTCOMES OF THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND, BECAUSE IT'S THE END, UH, GETTING THE OUTCOMES OF WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR TWO PI, UM, TO GET GOOD RESULTS, UH, FOR THAT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO, UM, CHANGE THE SCORING METRICS OR, YOU KNOW, UPDATE THE QUESTIONS THAT KIND OF, UH, AT LEAST MOVE US IN THAT DIRECTION IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY, I THINK IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE THE PRAGMATIC, UH, WAY TO APPROACH IT, UH, AT THIS POINT, IN MY OPINION, THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMISSIONER.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THE PRESENTATION WE GAVE TONIGHT AS THE PRESENTATION THAT WE GAVE TO COUNCIL, UH, SO YOU'RE PRIVY TO THE SAME INFORMATION THAT THE COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED.
AND, UH, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATIONS TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WILL BE RECEIVING THE IDENTICAL PRESENTATION.
IS THERE, IS THERE ANY GUIDANCE ADVICE IN TERMS OF ALL WORKING INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS ADT, THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT THAT YOU, THAT YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF AND IN HELPING FIGURE OUT, UH, HOW DO WE NOW IMPLEMENT THIS AT A MORE, UH, UH, DETAILED LEVEL? SURE.
YEAH, WE, WE'RE WORKING INDIVIDUALLY WITH DEPARTMENTS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS ITS OWN SPECIFIC NEEDS.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO TAILOR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO EACH DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS, UH, SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT ON A, ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
AND I WILL SAY, UM, BEHALF OF THE MUSIC DIVISION IN EDD, AND WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH LAW DEPARTMENT, OUR, UH, COHORT THERE ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF SCORING CONSIDERATIONS AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND IN PIE THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
SO WE WILL BE PREPARED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU IN MARCH.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE A DRAFT IN PLACE.
UM, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING DOUBLE TIME WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT TO, UM, PRESENT SOMETHING TO YOU IN MARCH TO, TO REACT TO THIS.
AND THIS IS, UH, THIS IS IN HINDSIGHT, BUT, UM, I THINK, UM, I THINK IT'S BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
UM, I BELIEVE DOING, UH, UH, PROPERLY DISPARITY STUDIES WITHIN THE MUSIC ECONOMY, UM, IS REALLY
[01:20:01]
GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US, UM, YOU KNOW, TO CONSIDER, UM, AT THIS POINT AS WELL, UH, WHEREVER THE FUNDING POOL THAT COMES FROM.UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH.
UH, JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS LIKE A, NOT UNEXPECTED, BUT EXTREMELY DISTURBING.
UM, AND, UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S BEYOND INDICATIVE OF THE, UM, THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE HAVE IN, IN, IN CORRECTING THESE IT PAN SYSTEMIC AND ENDEMIC PANDEMIC ISSUES OF RACE, UM, IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS, IN THE CITY AND THE STATE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT COME UP WITH THESE TERMS AND IT'S VOCABULARY SCRUTINY, BOOBOO, AND THEY DECIDE WHAT'S, WHAT'S ELIGIBLE AND WHAT'S NOT, THIS IS THEY'RE BASING THEIR, UM, OPINIONS ON RACE.
AND, AND WE'RE SITTING HERE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO MAKE IT, UM, POP-UP SUITABLE FOR, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, A RACIST SYSTEM THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, PUT THESE OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF US SO THAT WE CAN NOT CORRECT THEM, OR IF WE DO CORRECT THEM, THAT THEY'RE SO DILUTED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE IMPACT THAT WE NEED.
MEANWHILE, UM, YOU KNOW, BLACK PEOPLE CONTINUE TO NOT BE ABLE TO, TO, TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
WE'RE LEAVING THE CITY AT RECORD NUMBERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, MEANWHILE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING POLICED AT A DIFFERENT RATE THAN OTHER OTHER GROUPS.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST TO FOCUS ON BLACK PEOPLE.
WE CAN FOCUS ON BLACK AND BROWN, WHATEVER, WHATEVER WE KNOW, THESE THINGS ARE FACTS.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS UNAFFORDABLE.
AND, AND THESE, THESE THINGS ARE IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN NOT MOVE IN A WAY THAT, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADJUST THESE ISSUES IS DEVASTATING, UM, TO HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THIS AND THEN TO COME TO THE, OH, WELL, GUESS WHAT RACISM, GUESS WHAT WHITE SUPREMACY AT THE END OF THE DAY, LEGAL THROUGH THROUGH SOME, SOME, SOME, UH, THROUGH SOME PRESENTATION, UM, AND DEFINITIONS THAT WEREN'T CREATED BY ANYBODY AT THE TABLE THAT WAS, UH, UNDERREPRESENTED OR MARGINALIZED.
SO, UM, UH, I'VE JUST DISCUSSED IT, BODILY, DISCUSSED IT AT THIS POINT.
UM, LET'S SEE, YOU KNOW, IS FAILING TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE AFRAID TO TAKE A RISK, BUT WHEN, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TAKE A RISK, THE, UH, THE GENTRIFICATION AND THE, AND THE RED LINE AND THE, AND THE, THE HISTORIC DESTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR GROUPS IN THE CITY, IT'S BEEN LEGAL, IT'S BEEN LEGAL LEGALIZED THROUGH WORDS AND DOCUMENTS AND JUDGMENTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SAY, WELL, THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS, UM, THIS DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY FAITH IN THE, IN THIS, UH, NOT THAT I HAD MUCH COMING INTO MY TIME HERE AS A MUSIC COMMISSIONER, BUT THIS GIVES ME EVEN LESS FAITH IN WORKING IN THE, IN THESE, IN THESE ARENAS TO TRY AND MAKE A DENT IN THESE HUGE ISSUES THAT FACE OUR CITY, WHICH EVERYONE SAYS THEY CARE ABOUT, BUT WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE LEGAL THINGS TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THIS CHANGE THAT IS NECESSARY.
AFTER TWO YEARS, WE COME UP WITH A PLAN AND WE SAY, HEY, LOOK, THEY'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED.
WELL, THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY PEOPLE HERE THAT EVEN GIVE MONEY TO THAT.
WE NEED, UH, WE NEED, UH, UH, SOME RESEARCH TO, TO, TO SHOW THAT IT'S, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS THE WAY IT IS, BUT IT'S DISGUSTING.
AND THIS IS WHY THIS IS WHY THESE THINGS DON'T CHANGE.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS, BECAUSE EVERY AROUND EVERY TURN AT EVERY TURN, WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO CHANGE THESE THINGS, THIS IS WHAT WE GET HERE AFTER YEAR, DECADE AFTER DECADE.
[01:25:01]
SO HERE WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT LIKE, LIKE PAMELA ON SET THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SIX SQUARE.WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS? WELL, IT'S BECAUSE A VETERAN STATUS MEANS MORE THAN RACE BECAUSE ECONOMIC, THESE THINGS ARE PRIORITIZED LEGALLY PRIORITIZED, RACIST, DEEP PRIORITIZED AS A, AS, AS SCRUTINY OR WHATEVER THESE THINGS ARE.
THIS IS, IS IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING.
UM, UM, IN TERMS OF LIKE, I WANT TO SAY SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING.
AND I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE MUCH FAITH IN THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT, EVERY DAY THAT WE, UM, WE DENIED THE IMPACTS OF RACE AND EVERY DAY THEY SAY, WELL, YEAH, SURE, COME BACK WITH THIS, COME BACK WITH THIS.
AND WE DON'T, PEOPLE ARE DYING.
THE CITY IS CHANGING SO RAPIDLY AND WE HAVE TO SIT HERE.
THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE IT'S ALL GOOD AND JUST BE POLITE ABOUT IT.
IT'S UTTERLY DISGUSTING, BUT THIS IS HOW IT CONTINUES.
THIS IS HOW IT PERPETUATES ITSELF ON AND ON AND ON UNTIL PEOPLE RIOT UNTIL PEOPLE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
I THOUGHT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS, THESE, THESE ISSUES WERE DEEP.
AND THAT'S WHY WE, THAT'S WHY WE STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR TWO YEARS, AND WE HAVEN'T LEARNED ANYTHING.
WE DON'T HAVE THE COLLECTIVE WILL TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
BRING ON THE, BRING ON THE LAWSUITS.
WE'RE TIRED OF THE SAME STATUS QUO, BRING IT ON, TAKE THE RISK.
I'M NOT, I UNDERSTAND THE CITY HAS, YOU KNOW, HAS IT, BUT IT'S, WHEN DOES THE ONE WITH THE CITY STAND? WHEN WILL THE CITY STAND FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR? WHEN WILL IT BE CLEAR? WHEN WAS THE CITY STAND FOR THE, FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED AND MAKE IT CLEAR AND LET THESE RACISTS COME TO THE TABLE WITH THEIR LAWSUITS.
AND WE BRING THE BEST LAWYERS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE FIGHT IT.
AND HE SAID, WE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF STUDY AND BRING IT TO Y'ALL.
I'M JUST THAT COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THAT'S HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW.
UM, I WOULD JUST SAY FOR MYSELF, AND I'VE STATED THIS PUBLICLY BEFORE, NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS, UM, OUT OF MUSIC COMMISSIONER MEETING, BUT SPEAKING ON MUSIC COMMISSION MATTERS THAT I FEEL THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING AND LIFTING COMMUNITIES THAT CURRENTLY, OR HISTORICALLY HAVE STRUGGLED IS SIMPLY GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
THIS IS HOW WE ALL THRIVE AS A COMMUNITY.
THIS IS HOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
UM, SO I, UM, YOU KNOW, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION CONTINUES TO REFLECT THAT.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT, I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH CHOCOLATE.
IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO SHOW DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTIN.
UM, I THINK AN EIGHTH GRADER COULD PROBABLY DO IN A REPORT ON THAT AND SHOW THAT VERY EASILY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR AFRICAN OR BLACK POPULATION IS DECLINING WHILE OUR CITY IS GROWING.
AFFORDABILITY IS AN ABSOLUTE CRISIS HERE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, IT'S SOBERING AND DISHEARTENING TO FEEL THAT, UM, AND, AND I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR FACE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FEELING THIS TOO.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SO SOBERING.
UH, WE'VE ALL WORKED REALLY HARD ON THESE POLICIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF LIVE MUSIC IN OUR CITY, AND THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT FOR A LONG TIME.
SO, UM, I KNOW STAFF WILL DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.
IT'S, UM, UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE THESE WORK AROUNDS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, RACIST THINGS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT WE'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING, UH, LEGAL'S HELP AND US MAKING GOOD DECISIONS IN THIS.
UM, THANKS EVERYBODY FOR YOUR GOOD QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, YEAH, I GUESS WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
YEAH, I, I D I DID JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER FOR HIS WORDS.
UM, AND I'LL SAY THAT, UM, I AGREE, UM, YOU KNOW, AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, UH, THIS IS AN AREA THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 15 YEARS.
UM, AND THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTRY
[01:30:01]
HAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE FOR 400 YEARS EXPLICITLY USING RACE.UM, AND THE SYSTEM WON'T ALLOW US TO USE RACE TO REMEDY THAT HISTORY AND THAT DISCRIMINATION IS AN INJUSTICE.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, AND I WISH, UH, I DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION.
I WISH I COULD GIVE BETTER NEWS.
UM, BUT, UM, I WANT TO EMPOWER YOU ALL WITH THAT INFORMATION.
UM, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION, UH, ON THIS ISSUE.
[2b. Update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded relief and recovery programs for creatives by Erica Shamaly, Manager, Music and Entertainment Division]
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO B.UM, SO WE'LL BE HEARING FROM ERICA AGAIN, UM, UPDATE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDED RELIEF AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS FOR CREATIVES.
GREAT, KIM, UH, CAN, UH, TECH BRING UP THE PRESENTATION PLEASE? OKAY.
SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A KIND OF MORE OF A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF HOW THE ARPA FUNDS ARE DOING AND HOW RELIEF AND RECOVERY HAS DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A, JUST A SUMMARY OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR.
AND THEN, LIKE WE SAID ALREADY IN MARCH, WE WILL GIVE YOU A VERY DETAILED PRESENTATION OF, UH, BREAKING DOWN THE DATA AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AND HOW THAT ALL WORKED.
SO WE HAD TWO ARPA PROGRAMS FOR MUSIC, BOTH THE AUSTIN MUSIC, DISASTER RELIEF GRANT THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
WE HAD NEARLY 3000 APPLICATIONS, UH, THROUGH OUR NEW PORTAL SYSTEM WITH THE CITY.
UH, THE LONG CENTER IS CURRENTLY FINISHING UP THEIR EVALUATIONS AND SCORING IN ORDER TO PAIR DOWN THOSE APPLICATIONS AND PUT THEM INTO A QUEUE, ACCORDING TO SCORE SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT, UH, WHO THE 1150 APPLICATIONS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE $2.3 MILLION.
SO WE KNOW WE WILL BE OVER PRESCRIBED FOR THIS GRANT, UH, BUT THAT'S GOOD DATA THAT WE NEED TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE, UH, THE NEED STILL IS AFTER THOSE, THAT $2.3 MILLION IS DISPERSED THE OTHER AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THIS IS UP TO $4 MILLION WAS TO AT PHASE THREE OF THE LIVE MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION FUND.
SO THIS WAS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM OF PHASE TWO APPLICANTS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THOSE ENHANCED MONTHLY PAYMENTS, BUT WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.
SO THAT WAS ABOUT 1.3, NINE, $5 MILLION TO FINISH OUT.
UH, THE 12TH, UH, RECIPIENTS, UH, FUNDS STARTED GOING OUT IN JANUARY, AND WE EXPECT THOSE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO END SOMETIME IN SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.
UM, WE WILL BE, UH, SURVEYING ALL OF THE VENUES THAT PARTICIPATED IN PHASE ONE, TWO AND THREE, ABOUT HOW THE FUNDS HELP THEM TO PRESERVE THEIR VENUES.
IT WAS INTENDED TO KEEP VENUES OPEN AND PREPARED FOR WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS FINALLY OVER.
AND SO WE ARE PREPARING SURVEY QUESTIONS NOW FOR ALL OF THOSE RECIPIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS TO GIVE US IDEAS OF HOW IT'S WORKED, WHAT WORKED GREAT, WHAT DIDN'T WORK SO WELL, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT INTO THE NEXT PROGRAM, UH, FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UM, WE ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, INCLUDED EQUITY, STRATEGIC PLANS AS PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENHANCED, UH, MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
SO WE WILL BE DOING A VENUE SUMMIT JUST FOR THOSE VENUES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE NEARLY 18 HOURS OF TRAINING AROUND EQUITY TRAINING, UM, TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND HOW THE CITY WILL SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR EQUITY, STRATEGIC PLANS, EVERYTHING FROM JOB FAIRS TO TRAINING, TO, UM, DIFFERENT GENRES AND DIFFERENT WAYS THAT, UH, PARTNERSHIPS CAN BE FORMED IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN VENUES IN AUSTIN.
SO THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.
AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO FINISH OUT ALL OF THE PAYMENTS AND THEN WE'LL BE CIRCLING BACK WITH THE VENUES SO THAT AFTER SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, UM, WE'RE MEETING BACK, UH, TO DISCUSS THOSE PLANS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO HELP, UH, REALIZE HIS EQUITY, STRATEGIC PLANS.
UM, SO IT'S NOT QUITE THE GRANT FUNDS DIDN'T QUITE EQUAL $4 MILLION THAT'S BECAUSE THE REMAINING AMOUNT WAS FOR THIRD PARTY ADMIN FEES.
I HAVE TO SAY I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH OUR THIRD PARTIES IN THIS PROGRAM.
THEY WERE EFFICIENT, THEY WERE KNOWLEDGEABLE, THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND THEY'RE QUICKLY GOING THROUGH AND MAKING THESE PROGRAMS HOLD.
UH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO INTO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ONE OF IT GAVE YOU AN OVERALL AMOUNT OF THE BREAKDOWN OF THE CREATIVE SECTOR SUPPORT.
SO ARTS HAD THIS SLIDE, BUT THERE WAS SOME MISSING FUNDS IN THERE.
[01:35:01]
HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CREATIVE SECTOR OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OR TWO TO JUST OVER TWO YEARS DURING COVID TO SUPPORT OUR CREATIVE SECTORS IN AUSTIN.SO FOR MUSIC, YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT CAME THROUGH WITH THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF GRANT OF $1.5 MILLION.
WE ALSO SUPPORTED, UH, VENUES AND CREATIVE SPACES THROUGH THE AUSTIN CREATIVE SPACES, ASKED FOR LEAP PROGRAM FOR A MILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR.
UH, CREATIVE WORKER RELIEF GRANT ALSO INCLUDED, UH, MUSIC INDUSTRY FOLKS THAT RECEIVED EITHER ONE OR $2,000, DEPENDING IF THEY ALREADY HAD A GRANT FROM THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF GRANT.
AND THEN HERE, YOU SEE PHASE ONE AND TWO FOR A LIVE MUSIC VENUE PRESERVATION, AS WELL AS THE THIRD, UH, FURTHER DOWN FOR JANUARY 20, 22 OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS PROVIDED TO VENUES.
AND THEN FINALLY, $2.3 MILLION FOR THE, THIS LATEST ITERATION OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF GRANT.
SO, UM, THAT'S NEARLY 5,500, UH, GRANTS AND ALL TOTALLY, ALMOST $30 MILLION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN FACILITATED BY, UM, OUR TEAM HERE AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE WOULD WORK 50 TIMES HARDER TO TRY TO GET THIS FUNDS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS HAS JUST BEEN A DEVASTATING PERIOD.
AND, UH, SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, THE RECOVERY OF OUR SECTORS HERE IN AUSTIN TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE INTO THE FUTURE.
AND THAT IS IT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'LL DIG INTO SPECIFICS OF THE AUSTIN MUSIC DISASTER RELIEF GRANT, UM, IN MARCH.
UM, IT'S NOT URGENT, BUT WHEN YOU COME BACK AND NEXT TIME, A BIT MORE DETAILS OF THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND, UH, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE, THE RFP PROCESS FOR A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATION FOR, UH, THE, UM, UH, THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND AS WELL.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A QUESTION FOR ERICA? OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GOING THROUGH THAT IN DETAIL, ERICA, AND THEN
[2c. Update by Erica Shamaly, Manager of the Music and Entertainment Division, on the feasibility of a multi-year approach to the Live Music Fund.]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS STILL AN ERICA ITEM, UM, UPDATE ON THE FEASIBILITY OF A MULTI-YEAR APPROACH TO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE, UM, WE HAVE ONE SET, UM, ONE PROGRAM THAT GOES FORWARD AND THEN SOME AMENDMENTS TO IT THAT GO FORWARD IN THE SECOND YEAR.
I SAW YOUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE WORKING GROUP THAT, THAT YOU ALSO HAD PROVIDED SOME OPTIONS FOR HOW TO ROLL OUT PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS.
SO I DIDN'T WANT TO KIND OF GIVE THIS PRESENTATION IF YOU HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS.
SO I KIND OF LEAVE IT UP TO YOU GUYS, IF YOU STILL WANT TO HEAR THIS PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, A CONCEPT MAP OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, TO INCORPORATE WHAT THE MUSIC COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FROM THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DISCUSS LATER IN THE AGENDA.
SO MY SUGGESTION IS, IS THAT WE COULD WAIT UNTIL NEXT UNTIL MARCH CONSIDERING, UM, THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY.
THERE'S A LOT THERE AND IT'S ALREADY EIGHT 15, SO I'M HAPPY TO PUSH THIS OFF UNTIL NEXT MONTH, UNLESS YOU GUYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW.
AND CHARLOTTE, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD, BUT YEAH, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN AT LEAST BRIEFLY, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVE A SUMMARY OF, UH, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO PRESENT.
I THINK, UH, IT WOULD JUST ADD TO, UH, WHAT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD BE, UH, PRESENTING AS AN OUTCOME OF THE WORKING GROUP.
SO WE HAD SEVERAL OPTIONS THAT WE COULD CONSIDER.
AND, UM, SO NOVIA, IF YOU WANT TO, WE COULD EITHER SHOW THE PRESENTATION OR NOT.
I'M HAPPY JUST TO VERBALLY GO THROUGH THE OPTIONS.
SO ONE OPTION WAS A THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ROLLING OUT PROGRAMS WITH CONSIDERING THAT THERE'S A HUGE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT HAPPENS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE COMMISSION TO VET IDEAS ABOUT WHAT'S NEEDED.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO, WHAT DO YOU WANT AND YOU KNOW, WHO IS ELIGIBLE? AND SO WE SUGGEST THAT FOR GUIDELINES, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT FOR THE EVENT PROGRAM, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM.
SO OUR SUGGESTION IS, IS FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR STRATEGY IS POTENTIALLY DOING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM WITH WHATEVER CHANGES WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER, UH, CONSIDERING THE PRESENTATION WE JUST HEARD FROM NEIL.
AND WHILE AT THE SAME TIME VETTING THE NEW IDEAS THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WORKING GROUP ARE GOING TO PRESENT LATER IN THE AGENDA, UH, IN TANDEM WITH LIKE ROLLING OUT A PILOT PROGRAM, SEE HOW IT DOES WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BUDGET COMING OUT OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, BUT STILL PUT, YOU KNOW, RESERVING SOME FUNDS FOR A NEW PROGRAM OR ADDITIONAL USES THAT YOU MAY WANT TO SEE.
UH, BECAUSE IF WE JUST ADD IT INTO
[01:40:01]
THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOW WILL, AGAIN, JUST STILL JUST BE AS MUCH, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE WOULD WANT TO SEE ON THOSE ADDITIONAL USES.SO THE FIRST YEAR WOULD BE A ROLLOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHILE STARTING A NEW ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE, UM, USES OF, UH, POTENTIAL FUNDS FOR OTHER USES THAT COULD HELP, UH, MUSIC INDUSTRY SECTORS.
START THE ENGAGEMENT ON WHAT THE WORKING GROUP IS GOING TO RECOMMEND.
SO SECOND YEAR WE WILL LAUNCH WHAT A NEW PROGRAM IS, AND THIS IS, WOULD BE IT FOR , UM, A NEW PROGRAM THAT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WORKING GROUP IS SUGGESTING LATER IN THE AGENDA.
UM, WHILE ALSO, MAYBE LOOKING AT THE LIVE MUSIC OF FUND EVENT PROGRAM, AGAIN, AFTER HEARING BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, GETTING THAT ABOUT HOW DID IT DO, DID YOU LIKE IT? WHAT WAS GOOD? WHAT WAS BAD? WHAT DO WE NEED TO CHANGE? SO THEN WE CAN HAVE AN ONGOING PROGRAM MOVE FROM PILOT TO ONGOING FOR LIVE MUSIC FUNDED VET PROGRAM, START A NEW PILOT PROGRAM IN YEAR TWO, FOR WHATEVER NEW USES OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER AS A PILOT.
SO THEN WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS IN YEAR TWO, AND THEN IN YEAR THREE, SAME PROCESS, NEW PROGRAM, THAT'S PILOTED.
WE LOOK AT THE ONGOING PROGRAM OF WHATEVER YOU'RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST FOR AS THEN ONGOING, AND THEN CONSIDER AGAIN, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAMS. IT'S STILL WORKING CONSIDERING THESE NEW IDEAS THAT WE HAVE FOR YEAR THREE AND YEAR TWO, DO WE STILL NEED THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM? AND SO BY YEAR THREE, WE HAVE THREE POTENTIAL FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT EACH HAVE THEIR OWN BUDGET ATTACHED TO IT.
THEIR OWN ELIGIBLE USES THEIR OWN ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, IF YOU CAN APPLY.
AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO SEE, TO HIT EVERY SECTOR, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS SUPPORT, SEEING WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T, AND THEN ADJUSTING AS WE GO SO THAT IT ISN'T ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE PROGRAM TO FIX THEM ALL.
CAUSE IT JUST CAN'T BE IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, DIFFERENT USES, WE KIND OF NEED THESE FOCUS GUIDELINES AROUND A PARTICULAR GOAL.
AND THEN WE CREATE NEW GUIDELINES AROUND ANOTHER PARTICULAR GOAL AND SO ON.
AND SO WE SUGGEST, UM, A THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AROUND HOW TO DO THAT.
THERE ARE ALSO OTHER IDEAS THAT WE COULD USE JUST TO CONSIDER, UH, YOU KNOW, A CALL FOR SOLICITATIONS.
YOU MAY EVEN DECIDE, HEY, FOR YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, WE WANT TO USE THESE PARTICULAR USES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT IDEAS THEY HAVE.
AND WE DO A REQUEST FOR SOLICITATIONS, YOU KNOW, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OF, HEY, HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES, SEND US YOUR REQUESTS.
AND THEN WE GO WITH, WITH A PROPOSAL AFTER THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS WE COULD DO THAT.
WE ALSO COULD DO A REQUEST FOR PARTNERS, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE SOLICITATION PROCESS AND SEE HERE'S THE CONCEPT WE WANT TO DO.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL FOR PARTNERS TO HELP THE CITY DO THIS AND DO THIS AS A PARTNERSHIP.
SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN APPROACH IT.
BUT I THINK A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS, UM, MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-LAYERED WITH VERY SPECIFIC GOALS FOR SPECIFIC POTS OF MONEY WITH SPECIFIC USES IS A GREAT WAY TO GO.
AND, UM, I WOULD BE HAPPY JUST TO, YOU KNOW, TWEAK WHAT WE HAVE NOW, BUT LET'S SEE HOW IT DOES.
LET'S SEE HOW IT WORKS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, FORMING A NEW PROGRAM FOR A NEW USE OF FUNDS TO HELP ANOTHER SECTOR AND REALLY VET THAT OUT WITH LAW, WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH YOU GUYS, SO THAT WE CAN THEN JUST DO IT IN A VERY SYSTEMATIC WAY.
SO THAT WE'RE FIRST LOOKING AT LIFE EVENTS AND EQUITY WITHIN LIVE EVENTS, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, OTHER USES THAT YOU MAY PROPOSE IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION LATER IN THE AGENDA AND THEN JUST HAVE A VERY REGIMENTED, UM, AND I GUESS LOGICAL WAY TO ROLL IT OUT SO THAT MONEY STARTS FLOWING AS SOON AS WE CAN GET IT FLOWING AND WE LEARN FROM IT AND GET MORE MONEY FLOWING AS WE GO.
UM, ERICA, ARE THERE, CAN YOU GIVE EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE WORKED IN THAT PHASED SORT OF WAY? YEAH.
SO WITH SISEP IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
JUST THE CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE'VE BEEN RUNNING IT NOW FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS, IT WAS A VINCI, IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOURCED FROM ONE FUND WITH A HEAD SPECIFIC WAYS THAT WE HAD TO DO IT.
AND WE LEARNED THAT THAT WAS REALLY HARD.
YOU KNOW, YOU, IT WAS REIMBURSEMENT PAY, UH, YOU KNOW, REIMBURSEMENT BASED.
AND THAT'S REALLY HARD FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT THAT ONLY CERTAIN CANDIDATES HAD THE MONEY ON HAND TO GO DO THE PROJECT AND THEN GAVE THEM REIMBURSED.
SO WE CHANGE HOW THAT WAS FUNDED AND SO THAT IT WASN'T LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THIS NEXT YEAR IS A DIFFERENT PROGRAM, STILL CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT THAT'S NOT REIMBURSEMENT BASE THAT IS MONEY UP FRONT AND DIFFERENT TRENCHES, SO THAT IT'S MORE USABLE AND EQUITABLE,
[01:45:01]
UH, FOR BUSINESSES TO USE THAT MONEY AS WORKING CAPITAL.THEN THERE ARE OTHER HOT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, CULTURAL ARTS BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE OVER THE YEARS HAS HAD MANY, MANY DIFFERENT HOT FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT THEY'VE LAUNCHED AND THEN RETIRED.
AND OVER THE YEARS, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S GOING, WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE AND SO ON.
AND YOU CAN HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS RUNNING AT ONCE THAT WITH THEIR OWN BUDGET LINE ITEM ATTACHED TO THEM TO SEE WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT.
AND, UM, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND DATA AND METRICS BASED ON HOW THE MONEY'S WORKING.
AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER LONG STANDING PROGRAMS THAT ALSO USE THAT SAME KIND OF PHILOSOPHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, TELL US WHAT THEY WANT.
LET'S OKAY, LET'S TRY THAT AND THEN LEARN FROM IT LIKE, OH, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE INTENDED, OR, YOU KNOW, THIS PART WORKED GREAT.
WE WERE GOING TO CHANGE THAT PART AND JUST IMPROVE IT OVER TIME.
AND SO IT COULD CHANGE BASED ON HOW THE ECONOMY AND AUSTIN IS DOING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN AUSTIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
AND SO IT'S ALWAYS A VERY MUCH A LIVING PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT, HAS TO BE THIS WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.
LET'S TWEAK IT AND MAKE IT WORK BETTER.
AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL, LET'S CHANGE IT.
UM, AND CHARLOTTE MIA POLICEMEN.
UM, BUT THANKS FOR SHARING THAT.
AND, AND I KNOW YOU'VE KIND OF SHARED THESE THOUGHTS WITH THEM IN A MEETING THAT MYSELF FINANCIAL, THAT HAD WITH YOU AS WELL.
UH, I, I JUST, UM, I SEE, YOU KNOW, DID THE PROS AND CONS BOTH APPROACHES? I JUST PERSONALLY RESPECTFULLY LEAN TOWARDS RUNNING A SINGLE PROGRAM BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY, UM, IN FLIGHT.
UH, IT'S NOT A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, UH, COMPLETELY DECIDED ON ROLLED OUT.
UH, SO I DON'T PARTICULARLY SEE THE VALUE IN SEPARATING IT OUT INTO MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AT THIS POINT OF TIME, HAD THIS BEEN A PROGRAM IN FLIGHT FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEN WE WERE TRYING TO ADD OTHER ELEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM, THEN IT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
AND, UH, TO ME, UH, AND, AND, AND I, I ALSO THINK THAT THE, IT, THERE'S, THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN HOW BROAD YOU WANT TO SPREAD IT VERSUS HOW NARROW YOU WANT TO KEEP IT.
AND THAT'S A SUBJECTIVE PLUS OBJECTIVE JUDGMENT, RIGHT? IT'S NOT A, THERE'S NOTHING SET IN STONE ON HOW EXACTLY TO DO THAT, BUT THERE'S A CERTAIN BREADTH TO WHICH YOU CAN EXPAND THE PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE, EVEN IN TERMS OF COLLECTING METRICS.
I FEEL BECAUSE WHEN YOU, IF WE HAVE MORE AVENUES THROUGH WHICH WE ARE COLLECTING DATA, IT BETTER INFORMS US ON, ON WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT.
SO I THINK, UH, CASTING A WIDER NET, UM, IN, IN RUNNING THIS PROGRAM, UH, YOU KNOW, TO MORE ELIGIBLE USERS, UH, APPLICANTS, MORE ELIGIBLE USERS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE MAKES SENSE TO ME ALSO IN TERMS OF DATA AND TWEAKING IT IN THE, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT'S WHERE, UH, THAT'S WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY THOUGHTS ARE ON, UH, I AGREE ON, UH, EXPANDING ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
THAT'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL TO SEE, LIKE WHO CAN APPLY.
THAT'S UP TO, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS OF WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THAT, THAT PROGRAM UP TO VERY, VERY EASY TO DO WHEN YOU START ADDING ADDITIONAL USES OF FUNDS, IF IT'S NOT AROUND.
CAUSE THIS IS THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM AS A PILOT, IF YOU START ADDING OTHER USES THAT REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH LIVE EVENTS, IT'S HARD TO CONNECT THE DATA AND CREATE GUIDELINES THAT ARE COHESIVE AROUND THAT GOAL FOR SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LIVE MUSIC EVENTS HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE EXPAND WHATEVER, WHOEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY.
UM, BUT IF YOU START, UH, IF YOU WANT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, INCLUDE ADDITIONAL USES OF HOW THE FUNDS CAN BE SPENT, THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH LIVE EVENTS, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO START GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE VETTING PROCESS OF, OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND WHAT DOES LAW SAY, YOU KNOW, DOES THIS FIT THE HOT STATUTE? UM, WE'VE ALREADY DONE ALL OF THAT FOR THE GUIDELINES FOR LIVE MUSIC CLINIC PROGRAM, NOT A PROBLEM TO ADD ADDITIONAL APPLICANT ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, UH, BUT IT WILL KIND OF CHANGE EVERYTHING IF WE ADD DISPARATE USES OF HOW THE FUNDS CAN BE SPENT IF THEY'RE NOT RELATED TO LIVE EVENTS.
AND AGAIN, WE CAN, UH, WE'LL THIS MORE IN THE END, THE WORKING GROUP, UH, TOPIC AGAIN, UH, DEFINITELY, UM, WITH, WITH, WITH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, I THINK WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND INCLUDING THE WORKING GROUP WHERE, WHERE WE HAVE ENGAGED, NOT ONLY JUST THE COMMISSIONERS,
[01:50:01]
BUT FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO COME PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKING GROUP.UM, AND, AND, AND, UH, SO I THINK THAT THAT IS THERE AND THERE IS WHAT I FOUND IN THE WORKING GROUP WAS WHEN IT CAME TO ELIGIBLE USERS, THERE WAS REALLY BROAD, UM, BROAD, UM, UH, AGREEMENT ON EXPANDING THE FUND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF, UH, TO A MUSICIAN TO CREATE A PERSON IN TERMS OF, UH, BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS ACROSS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ECOSYSTEM TO BUILD CAREERS.
BUT ALSO IT MAKES SENSE IN SUPPORTING HOW THIS FUND WOULD SUPPORT THE ECOSYSTEM AS, AS, UH, WITHIN THE MUSIC ECONOMY AND NOT NARROWLY LIMITED TO ONE, ONE ASPECT OF THE ECOSYSTEM.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS READINESS OF THE FUND GOES, I ALWAYS COME BACK TO THIS ONE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ROLLED OUT, WHICH ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, UM, MAKE IT THE BEST WE CAN FROM THE GET-GO, UH, AND MOVE FORWARD.
BUT, BUT, BUT I, I DO APPRECIATE THE, THE, UH, THE, THE OPTIONS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED AROUND.
UH, AND, AND ALSO THE EXAMPLE, BECAUSE I DID REQUEST EXAMPLES EARLIER, UH, AS TO, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE COMPLETE EXAMPLES WHERE WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SAY A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM, UH, AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ROLL IT OUT IN A PHASE MANNER? SO, WELL, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE WORKING GROUP ON DIFFERENT, ON ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR HOW THE MONEY CAN BE USED, AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO START QUICKLY VETTING THROUGH THE POSSIBILITIES OF THOSE DIFFERENT USES OF THE FUNDS.
AND IF, DEFINITELY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY WANTS, AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S LOGICAL SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO KIND OF START OVER, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO.
UM, AND SO JUST, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE, AND THEN WE CAN START RUNNING THE TRAPS ON EVERYTHING.
WELL, WE WILL MOVE BACK INTO THIS DISCUSSION AND LIKE ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
UM, I'M GONNA, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO OLD BUSINESS NOW.
AND THANK YOU, ERICA, FOR YOUR REPORTS ON BOTH THOSE ITEMS.
[3a. Discussion and Possible Action following update on the Austin Opera House.]
UM, SO OLD BUSINESS THREE, A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FALLING UPDATE ON THE AUSTIN OPERA HOUSE.UM, SO I DID TALK WITH, UH, THIS CAME BEFORE COMMISSION BEFORE, AND WE USED TO SUPPORTED, UM, THE, THIS NEW MUSIC VENUE PROJECT.
SO THIS HAS SINCE, UM, THE CASE PASSED PLANNING COMMISSION AND WENT TO MUSIC COMMITTEE, UH, WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SO WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IS THERE'S.
I MEAN, BASICALLY THE, THE APPLICANT RICHARD WEISS HAS, UM, ASKED FOR, UM, A ZONING AND, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CONCERNED THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORS HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, TRAFFIC AND HAVING A MUSIC VENUE.
THAT'S STARTING TO REACH INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, BUT THERE'S SO BASICALLY, UH, THIS WILL GO TO COUNCIL FOR A COUPLE MORE READINGS.
THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY FOR, UM, A VENUE THERE THAT SYNTHESIZE THAT IS NOT REALLY MET WITH OTHER VENUES CURRENTLY IN THE CITY.
UH, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF HOUSING THERE, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THERE'S QUITE A BIT TO BE WORKED OUT.
UM, SO RICHARD, WHEN I TALKED TO HIM, HE WANTED TO COME BACK LATER WHEN THINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE SETTLED AND TALK TO US THEN TO GIVE US AN UPDATE, BUT I DO WANT THE COMMISSION TO FOLLOW THIS CASE CLOSELY, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH A LOT OF THE ISSUE, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEN USE, UH, AFFORDABILITY, UM, AND HOW THAT ALL WORKS IN OUR URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
UM, SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT CASE, BUT, UH, THAT IS IT FOR NOW.
SO WE WILL BE HEARING ABOUT THIS MORE IN FUTURE MEETINGS.
SO UNLESS ANYBODY HAS A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, I DIDN'T MEAN TO BUZZ THROUGH IT SO QUICKLY, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH TO COVER STILL.
UH, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT EIGHT OF CHANGE, RIGHT? THIS IS THE STORY IS THIS WAS A MUSIC VENUE AND RECORDING PLACE.
NOW WE'RE TRYING TO RECLAIM IT AS A MUSIC PLACE.
SO DOES AGENT OF CHANGE APPLY HERE? YEAH, SO THAT PROGRAM PREDATES ME ON THE COMMISSION.
SO I, YEAH, IF ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT AND HEY, A COMMISSIONER, I ACTUALLY GOT TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, LIKE, Y'ALL NEED TO STAY ON VIDEO, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, I KNOW IT'S LIKE, THIS IS A LONG MEETING, BUT THESE ARE ACCORDING TO THE RULES, UM, SET BY, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS IN THIS HYBRID FORMAT.
IT'S ONLY IF THEY'RE SPEAKING, IS THAT RIGHT? UM, SO A COMMISSIONER HAS STEPPED OUT FOR JUST A MOMENT.
I CAN'T EXACTLY SEE WHO'S STILL ON.
[01:55:01]
NOT.SO I JUST SAW SOME BLACK SQUARES AND I PANICKED EVERYONE IS ON EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER MOHAN RIGHT NOW.
UM, REAL QUICKLY, JUST, THERE ARE NO ASIAN TO CHANGE POLICIES IN PLACE.
UH, CURRENTLY IN POLICY, THERE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE IN 2019, UM, THROUGH THE AMPLIFIED SOUND, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC POLICIES IN PLACE TO, UM, DO ONE THING OR ANOTHER.
AND IT JUST SEEMS TO APPLY HERE IF, IF ONLY WE HAD SUCH A RULE IN PLACE.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE REVISIT THIS, UH, IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ALL OF US AND MYSELF, ESPECIALLY OBVIOUSLY TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED ON THAT PROGRAM AND WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THAT TIME.
SO THIS WILL BE CIRCLING BACK.
SO, I MEAN, IT DEFINITELY, THERE'S A LOT OF LAYERS TO THIS, UM, AND WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AND, YOU KNOW, ALSO SEE WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS.
DID ANY OF, I DON'T KNOW, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE, HAVE BEEN, HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ARCHITECT AND SO ON.
SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO JUMP IN RIGHT NOW, GO AHEAD.
OR WE CAN JUST, WE CAN TALK MORE AT THE NEXT MEETING ABOUT THIS.
I'VE HAD LIMITED TALKS WITH, UH, WITH RICHARD, UM, BOTH RICHARD AND PAT.
I THINK THAT, UM, PAT FROM ATX M PEBBLE DIFFERENT AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS, AND, UH, RICHARD WEISS ARE KIND OF WORKING TOGETHER, UM, ON TRYING TO SEE SOME OF THIS, SOME OF THIS THROUGH.
SO I'VE BEEN A LITTLE OUT OF POCKET, UH, CAUSE I'VE HAD SOME STUFF GOING ON, BUT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEM AND FOLLOW UP WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT WHAT'S ACTIONABLE FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND COME BACK AND DO A REPORT ON IT OR SOMETHING.
[3b. Discussion and Possible Action following update and final recommendations from the Working Group on the Live Music Fund.]
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE AHEAD TO ITEM THREE B.AND SO THAT'S GOING BACK TO WHAT WE WE'VE TOUCHED ON SEVERAL TIMES IN THE MEETING, UM, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FALLING UPDATE, AND FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WORKING GROUP ON THE LIVE MUSIC FUNDS.
SO COMMISSIONER METTA, CHARLA, UH, FACILITATED THIS GROUP.
SO SHE'LL BE GIVEN US THE REPORT.
IN CHARLOTTE, UH, UH, KIM, UH, ERICA, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO THROW THAT PRESENTATION UP? IT'S JUST ONE PAGER THAT I SENT OVER.
SO I, I WAS ABLE TO, TO SEND IT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND AN EMAIL AS WE STARTED THE MEETING, BUT BECAUSE I'M ALREADY AT CITY HALL, I'M NOT ABLE TO UPLOAD IT TO THE, UM, I, I DIDN'T HAVE, I MEAN, MAYBE I CAN FIND US, UH, A STICK OR SOMETHING OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS ONE HERE, BUT ANYWAY, UM, I DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO PUT IT ON TO THE, TO THE SHARED, UH, TO THE T, BUT IF YOU HAVE IT, I THINK THERE, YOU CAN SHARE YOUR COMPUTER, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT, YOUR SHARE YOUR SCREEN AND FIX IT SO SHE CAN, OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO SET IT UP SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOUR SCREEN NAGA, VOLLEY.
LET ME, LET ME TRY AND DO THAT.
AND SO, UM, JUST, SHE FELT LIKE, UM, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS WORKING GROUP.
WE HAD COMMISSIONER MAHOEN COMMISSIONER GOLDS, COMMISSIONER PLANT, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN.
I WAS, UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF, UH, THE HONOR OF BEING NOMINATED TO CHAIR THIS WORKING GROUP.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, FOR THE FAITH, UH, PUTTING ME THERE TO BE ABLE TO RUN THIS WORKING GROUP.
UM, MR. MOBLEY, MR. MCMILLAN, HAROLD MACMILLAN, MR. MORGAN DAVIS, UM, MR. REBECCA REYNOLDS, MR. CODY COLEMAN, MR. TAMARA WILLIAMS AND DEMONSTRATE ALEX.
WELL, I HOPE, UH, ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE TIME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN ONE OR MOST OF THE FOLKS ATTENDED TWO TO THREE OF THE MEETINGS.
UH, UM, WE HAD THREE DOOR, TWO MEETINGS, ONE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AND ONE IN JANUARY, UH, EACH RUNNING BETWEEN AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO AND A HALF HOURS.
AND, UH, I TRULY APPRECIATED TIME AND, UH, UM, DEDICATION, UH, THE COMMITMENT TO SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
UM, THE MUSIC COMMISSION HAD ALREADY UNANIMOUSLY, UH, RECOMMENDED THAT, UH,
[02:00:01]
HIGH PRESERVATION INNOVATION AND INNOVATION BE USED AS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ADMINISTERING THE LIGHT MUSIC FUND.SO THIS WORKING GROUP JOB WAS MAINLY TO DISCUSS THE ELIGIBLE USERS AND ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M, UH, JUST QUICKLY SHOWING HERE ON THIS ONE PAGE, HERE ARE THE TOPICS THAT WERE DISCUSSED, THE ONES THAT YOU SEE IN GREEN, UM, UH, HAD BROAD CONSENSUS IN THE WORKING GROUP.
AND, UH, THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS THAT CAME UP IN THE FUND ROLLOUT.
SO THERE WAS SOME DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON WHAT, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ROLL THE FUND OUT AND HAVE PRESENTED THOSE TWO OPTIONS HERE AS WELL.
SO WITH AN ELIGIBLE USERS, WE BROADLY AGREED THAT, UH, IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO BROADEN ELIGIBLE USERS WHERE A MUSICIAN THAT GETS THESE FUNDS CAN NOW SPEND THE GRANT FUNDS TO INCLUDE RECORDING STUDIO PRODUCTION, MUSIC, VIDEO PRODUCTION, TOWARDS PUBLISHING SYNC, LICENSING, DISTRIBUTION, INCLUDING STREAMING SERVICES, REPLICATION, UH, BROADCASTING, UH, IN ADDITION TO LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES THAT'S ALREADY, UH, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE, IN THE CURRENT PLAN, THE CURRENT DDD PLAN, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT, AND THERE WAS BROAD AGREEMENT IN EXPANDING THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC VENUE PROMOTERS IN ADDITION TO MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
UM, IN PRINCIPLE, THEN THE IDEA OF METRICS, UH, WAS, UH, ALSO BRIEFLY DISCUSSED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT METRICS, TO MEASURE OUTCOMES, TO ENSURE, UM, UH, TO MEASURE OUTCOMES IS ONE GOAL.
AND TO THEM TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS IS HOW WE, UH, CAN, UH, BASICALLY ENSURE THAT THE FUNDING IS GOING TOWARDS, UH, UH, THE GOALS THAT WE INTENDED IT TO GO TOWARDS.
UH, HOW, HOW IS THE FUND WORKING? HOW DO WE TWEAK IT IN THE FUTURE IS WHAT'S WORKING.
WHAT'S NOT WORKING THAT CAN, UH, COME THROUGH METRICS COMING BOTH FROM THE FUND ADMINISTRATOR, AS WELL AS METRICS THAT VENDORS, INCLUDING, UM, SEEING LIVE MUSIC WHEN YOU PROMOTE THIS CAN PRESENT.
UM, THE LAST ASPECT WAS HOW DO WE ROLL, UM, THIS FUND OUT? SO HERE, THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION IN THE ROOM, UH, BETWEEN THESE TWO OPTIONS.
ONE WAS ESSENTIALLY ROLLING OUT A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USERS AND ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
THE ONES THAT YOU SEE THAT ARE LISTED ABOUT FROM THE FIRST YEAR ONWARDS.
SO JUST ROLL IT OUT FROM A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USERS, ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FROM THE GET GO OPTION.
TWO WAS TO ROLL THIS OUT AS A PILOT PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USERS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED ABOUT, AND WITH MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS AS ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WITHIN THE PILOT PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC WHEN YOU PROMOTE THIS AS AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT IN A FUTURE YEAR, ESSENTIALLY.
SO PILOT PROGRAMS WITH ALL ELIGIBLE USERS, BUT ONLY WITH MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PLAN AS ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WITHIN THIS PILOT, AND THEN INCLUDING PROMOTERS LIVE MUSIC VENUE PROMOTERS IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL, SOME REALLY PRODUCTIVE AND, UH, UH, DISCUSSIONS THAT CAME FROM THIS WORKING GROUP THROUGH THE WORKING GROUP, EVEN THOUGH, UM, I HAS ALREADY BEEN, UH, AS I MENTIONED, AND AS THEY'RE ALL AWARE, UH, HAS ALREADY BEEN, UH, RECOMMENDED BY THE MUSIC COMMISSION.
IT DEFINITELY WAS REITERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THIS WORKING GROUP, BUT DEI PRINCIPLES, WHY OUR PI GUIDELINES SHOULD SERVE AS THE CORE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ADMINISTERING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
SO THAT DEFINITELY CAME UP AND WAS REITERATED, UM, A COUPLE OF TIMES WITHIN THE WORKING GROUP.
AND, UH, WE WORKED WITH THAT PREMISE ON, ON THE REST OF THE REST OF THESE ITEMS. SO, UM, WITH THAT, UM, UM, I WOULD, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THE OUTCOMES, PLEASE, UM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
UM, I THINK, UH, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I DID EVOLVE IN, IN SOME OF MY OWN OPINIONS AND ON HOW I SAW THIS FUND ROLLING OUT, UM, THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE PROGRAM, OVER ALL THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE WORKING GROUP.
UM, BUT I THINK, UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH, MADE IT FAIRLY CLEAR WHERE I STAND, I FUNDAMENTALLY THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE ROLLED OUT AS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN YEAR ONE.
UM, I THINK OUTCOMES AND ACCOUNTABILITY CAN BE MEASURED BEST THROUGH METRICS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, UM, UH, SINCE IT IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY IN FLIGHT,
[02:05:01]
I IT'S MY OPINION THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS AS COMPREHENSIVE AS WE CAN IN YEAR ONE AND ROLL IT OUT AND REALLY MEASURE, UH, OUTCOMES AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS PURELY BASED ON, ON METRICS AND HOW THE PROGRAM'S WORKING, IF IT COST A BIT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NET JUST WIDE ENOUGH, I FEEL LIKE WE CAN GET MORE DATA ON, ON WHERE, WHAT IS STICKING AND WHAT IS NOT.UM, AND ALSO WE TALKING ABOUT HOTEL TAXES, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH, WITH PROBABLY 12,000 HOTEL ROOMS AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT TOURISTS DO LOOK TO GO TO VENUES TO, UM, TO, TO FIND ENTERTAINMENT.
THAT IS A PART OF, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UH, THE, THE ATTRACTION FOR TOURISTS HERE.
SO I, FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF PRAGMATISM AND INCLUSIVITY, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M VERY OPEN TO THE IDEA OF INCLUDING THE NEW PROMOTERS AND THAT MAKES SENSE.
WE ALREADY HAVE INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS IN THE MIX ALONG WITH MUSICIANS, UM, AND JUST ROLL IT INTO ONE PROGRAM.
UM, THE D I ASPECT PERSONALLY FOR ME, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UM, I, I, UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I FEEL THAT MYSELF AND I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT KNOWING THAT HOW COMMITTED MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALSO BEEN IN ENSURING WHETHER THIS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHATEVER THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THIS ALL, BUT IN PRINCIPLE, BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE DIVERSITY, UH, WITHIN THE FOSTER MUSIC ECONOMY, WE HAVE SO FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO IT THAT, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF HOW IN EXACT, WHAT FORMAT THE PROGRAM GETS ROLLED OUT, UM, I CAN, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY, AND, AND, UH, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I CAN SPEAK TO AN EXTENT FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING, THE OUTCOMES ARE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY BE, UH, BE KEENLY INTERESTED IN WATCHING.
AND, AND AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ONE.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL, I'M SORRY FOR TAKING UP QUITE A BIT OF TIME HERE, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY COMMENTS.
UM, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS MIGHT HAVE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH THE WORKING GROUP, AND, UM, THIS WAS REALLY EFFICIENT WORK.
CAN YOU UNSHARE YOUR SCREEN SO I CAN SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN NOW Y'ALL ARE ALL LIKE LITERALLY POSTAGE STAMPS.
UM, YEAH, SO COMMISSIONERS, UH, I I'D LOVE TO.
YEAH, I, I, SO JUST A FEW THOUGHTS HERE.
UM, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CONCERNING, I GUESS, LIKE, UM, THE, THE ELIGIBLE REQUIREMENTS AND WHATNOT.
I MEAN, IT, IT DIDN'T SEEM AS THOUGH I, IT DID NOT SEEM AS THOUGH, UM, EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED WAS PUT INTO THAT REPORT.
UM, THERE, THERE, THERE WAS DISCUSSION, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN FACT, ON, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A ROLLOUT, THE FUND FROM A, UM, FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, LIKE PILOT PROGRAM KIND OF THING, GIVING THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE ARTISTS, THAT KIND OF THING THAT WAS, THAT WAS THERE, BUT WE ALL, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, STUDIOS AS WELL.
WE DID HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, I'VE SLEPT SINCE, UM, MAYBE I NEED TO GO LOOK AT THE TAPE OR SOMETHING, BUT I, I DON'T SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER SAYING FOR ME, MYSELF, THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT STUDIOS WERE SPECIFICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR, UM, FOR THE FUND.
UM, AND I DID HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, UH, WHAT KIND OF, UM, UM, BASICALLY WHAT STIPULATIONS, WHAT QUALIFICATIONS UNDER THE STUDIO CATEGORY, UM, THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WAS PAINTED WITH A VERY BROAD BRUSH.
I DON'T THINK THAT A LOT OF THINGS WHERE, WHERE WE'RE REPRESENTED, I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE SOME TIME TO TALK AND I'M GOING TO DIG THROUGH SOME NOTES HERE.
SO I THINK, I THINK WHAT WE DID DISCUSS IS THAT, UM, WHOEVER'S APPLYING FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND COULD, UM, PRESENT A PROJECT THAT INCLUDED STUDIOS AND INCLUDED THESE THINGS.
WE DIDN'T SAY THAT STUDIOS COULD APPLY FOR THE FUNDING.
WE SAID THAT IF, UM, SOMEBODY THAT IS APPLYING FOR LIVE MUSIC FUND WANTED TO INCLUDE A STUDIO PRODUCTION AS A PART OF THEIR LIVE MUSIC EVENT, UM, AND YOU KNOW, THEY COULD PUT THAT FORWARD.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL I WAS SAYING.
AND I THINK WE DID DISCUSS THAT AT LIKE, YES, YES.
Y'ALL GOT, AND, UH, UM, SCOTT, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S, WHAT I PRESENTED ON THE ONE PAGER IS ITS ELIGIBLE USERS.
THE STUDIOS ARE WITHIN ELIGIBLE
[02:10:01]
USERS.THEY ARE NOT WITHIN ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
IT IS NOT ONE STILL WITH THE LINE ITEM LEVEL.
IT IS THE NUANCE TO, UM, OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH LEVEL LINE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED AND THE BROAD AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAD, UH, THE DETAILS OF THE DETAILS AND THE SPECIFIC SPECIFICS OF WHAT EXACTLY FROM A STUDIO PERSPECTIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ELIGIBLE OR NOT.
WE WILL BE DEPENDING ON EDD ON THE, UH, THE, OR, OR THE ADMINISTRATOR TO COME UP WITH THOSE DETAILS AS WE WERE NOT THE LEGAL EXPERTS ON THAT.
UH, BUT, BUT, UH, AS, UH, COMMISSIONER MAHOEN SAID, UH, AGAIN, IT'S ELIGIBLE YOUTH, NOT ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, KIND OF GO BACK TO A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT, UM, PRIOR TO DISCUSSING THIS ITEM IN THE AGENDA.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE A VOTE TONIGHT ON WHETHER, YOU KNOW, ON THE OPTIONS, UM, TO DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, TO DETERMINE WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE SPECIFICALLY, UM, TO MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, OR IF WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE THE OTHER ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME STRONG ARGUMENTS MADE, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THIS FIRST YEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, WALK THE WALK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY FOR CREATIVES, THEN, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S PRIORITIZE THEM.
I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, REPEAT, BUT I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF STRONG ARGUMENTS.
UM, WE HAD JANE FROM, UH, FUTURE FRONT, TEXAS, UM, WHICH IS A WOMAN LED ORGANIZATION.
WE HAD PAM OWENS FROM, UH, SIX SQUARE, WHICH IS A BLACK LITTLE ORGANIZATION.
WE HAD, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM THE LIVE STREAMING COMMUNITY.
WE HAD A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING AND SAYING THE SAME THING, BASICALLY, UH, DREW, UM, FROM WORD PRODUCTIONS, UM, ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF INDUSTRY SAYING THAT THIS FIRST YEAR, UH, SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO, UM, MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, I THINK WHAT ERICA WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE CAN DISCUSS THAT FURTHER IN A LIVE MUSIC WORKING GROUP IN TERMS OF HOW THAT ROLLS OUT.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH DIALOGUE, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH TALK, UM, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE TONIGHT ON.
UM, WHETHER WE FEEL LIKE THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FUND SHOULD GO TO A SPECIFIC GROUP OF MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, OR IF WE THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN A LIVE MUSIC VENUE OPERATORS, UM, SHOULD BE INCLUDED, UM, I'M OF THE MINDSET, AS YOU KNOW, AND, UM, ALLEGIANCE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE EARLIER THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY, THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
THIS IS A, THIS IS, UH, AS OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A MUSICAL ADMISSION TO JUST, UM, SAY WHERE WE STAND.
UM, IT'S NOT MUSIC VENUES VERSUS MUSICIANS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS IS ABOUT SAYING THAT MUSICIANS HAVE LARGELY NOT BEEN AT THE TABLE.
AND JUST AS I HAVE LARGELY CREATIVES HAVE LARGELY NOT HAD ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER, UM, SECTORS IN THE MUSIC ECONOMY AND THE NEW MUSIC INDUSTRY YOU'VE HAD ACCESS TO, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING MUSICIANS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT PROMOTE AND HIRE THESE MUSICIANS FOR THE MOST PART, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL STRUCTURES, UM, IS A GREAT INVESTMENT, UM, FOR, FOR THE CITY, YOU KNOW, AS EILEEN, UH, FROM SAHARA LOUNGE CAME, SHE'S A VENUE.
I HEARD THAT MAGGIE LEE WAS, UH, SCHEDULED TO TALK.
SHE DIDN'T SPEAK SHE'S ALSO FROM A VENUE.
I WONDER WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE OFFERED IN TERMS OF THAT.
UM, THERE ARE VENUE OPERATORS OUT THERE THAT ARE ALSO SPEAKING UP IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST YEAR BEING PRIVATIZED, UM, UH, FOR MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
SO I THINK WE HAVE, WE HAVE ENOUGH, UM, ENOUGH AWARENESS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH TALK AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD VOTE TONIGHT ON WHETHER, ON ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS.
WE'LL I WOULD, UH, VERY MUCH LIKE FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO A VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DELAYS, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE UP THESE MATTERS AND, AND MOVE THINGS ALONG TO COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF RECOMMENDATION.
UM, I HAD A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE REALLY QUICKLY, UM, ON ELIGIBLE USES.
UM, I DO REALLY RESPECT THE WORK OF THE WORKING GROUP.
IT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT, UH, FACETS OF OUR MUSIC COMMUNITY.
SO, SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THOSE FOLKS REALLY CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT FOR ME PERSONALLY.
AND IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON, ON THESE EXPANDED USES, I THINK IT REPRESENTS SOME OF THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD THAT FEEDBACK HAPPEN ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IN THIS ROOM WHERE, UM, THOSE ADDITIONAL USES WERE BROUGHT UP BY, BY FOLKS WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO
[02:15:01]
US.UM, WE WILL, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS COMES DOWN TO, UM, THE REASON THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE THESE FUNDS IS BECAUSE IT'S, UH, PROMOTES, WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT THIS PROMOTES TOURISM ESSENTIALLY.
AND, UM, SO FROM, I THINK A MARKETING STANDPOINT, AND I DID TALK TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE TODAY WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA, UM, IS PRETTY ENTRENCHED, UM, IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.
AND, UM, THAT PERSON'S INSIGHT WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF WE CAN SHOW THAT, THAT THIS IS BRINGING IN TOURISM, UM, IF THIS IS A MARKETING EFFORT, IF IT IS SUPPORTING LIVE EVENTS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, A MUSIC VIDEO OR A RECORDING, AND TO MY WAY OF THINKING, CAN CERTAINLY BRING OUT AUDIENCES.
UM, SO I, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE COVERED, UM, I AGREE WITH NAGA BALI, BUT I, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SPLIT THAT PART OFF INTO ANOTHER PROGRAM AND DELAY, UM, THE FUNDS ON THAT AND THEN YEAH.
UH, SO ESSENTIALLY I FEEL LIKE WE, WE PRESENTED WITH WHAT I'D LIKE US TO VOTE ON IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY STAND AND AN OPTION A OR B UH, WHETHER WE ESSENTIALLY ARE CLUED VENUES IN THE FIRST YEAR OR, OR DO YOU, UH, BRING THEM IN, IN THE SECOND YEAR? UM, BUT YEAH, NAGA, VOLLEY, I'M GOING TO PITCH IT BACK TO YOU.
AND, UH, I SAW THAT, UM, THE COMMISSIONER GOLD RESTAURANT HAND AS WELL, SO QUICKLY FINISHED MY THOUGHT HERE.
JUST, UH, UM, THE, THE, THE REASON, THE REASON I, I DID, I DID, UH, EVOLVE MY THOUGHT AROUND INCLUDING VENUES IS BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY ALL THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO MUSICIANS.
SO IF, IF THEY GO TO INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, UH, THEY BOOK MUSICIANS.
SO, UM, THE, THE, THE RECEIVER AT THE END IS THE MUSICIAN MUSICIANS DIRECTLY GETTING FUNDS.
OF COURSE, THEY GET TO THEN GO SPEND THE GRANT MONEY ON AN EXPANDED, UH, A SET OF, YOU KNOW, AVENUES, UH, WITHIN THE ECOSYSTEM.
UH, IF THE MONEY GOES TO, UH, A VENUE VENUES AT THIS POINT HAVE ALSO COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT 90% OF THAT MONEY OF THE FUNDS GO TO PAYING MUSICIANS.
AND THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, MY BEING OKAY WITH, INCLUDING WHEN YOU SEND THE MIX.
AND OF COURSE THE LARGER QUESTION OF A BROADER INCLUSION OF THE ECOSYSTEM AND THE LARGER QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, ADDING THIS FUND REALLY, UH, BEING, UH, USED TOWARDS, UH, TOURISM.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE ALL THOSE OTHER ASPECTS, OF COURSE, BUT EVEN AT THE FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL THAT THEY'VE COMMITTED TO SPENDING 90% OF THE DOLLAR ON MUSICIANS DIRECTLY.
SO MUSICIANS ARE RECIPIENTS OF MOST OF THAT FUNDS AS WELL.
AND IT ACTUALLY OPENS UP INTO THE CHANNEL FOR BUILDING, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOR GROWTH AND FOR BUILDING A CAREER FOR MUSICIANS IN THIS TOWN.
UM, IS IT THE ABSOLUTE PERFECT WAY TO DO IT? NO, BUT I'M GOOD IF IT OPENS UP ANOTHER AVENUE FOR GROWTH FOR MUSICIANS OF, UH, UH, DIVERSE MUSICIANS AND DIVERSE JOHN DRE.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM, UH, WITH, WITH OPTION ONE, UM, COMMISSIONER COLE AND CHARLOTTE, I'M HANDING IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER, UH, SORRY.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE USED MY PHONE FOR WEBEX, UM, AND I'M IN THE STUDIO.
UH, I DIDN'T GET TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION, UH, FROM STAFF EARLIER.
UH, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I'M NOT 100% UP TO DATE.
UM, BUT HAVING BEEN A PART OF ALL OF THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONVERSATION.
SO, UH, THE THING THAT KEEPS COMING UP IS THAT, AND I KNOW SHAKA SAID SPECIFICALLY THAT IT'S NOT A MUSICIAN'S VERSUS V AND YOU, I WAS GOING TO SAY IT WAS REALLY GOING TO ECHO WHAT NAVALI JUST SAID, WHICH IS THAT ULTIMATELY THIS MONEY IS GOING TO MUSICIANS, AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW IT GETS TO THEM.
AND SO IN MY MIND, WE WANT TO CAST AS WIDE A NET AS POSSIBLE.
AND, UH, IN ORDER TO MEET, UH, TO REACH AS MANY DIFFERENT, UH, MUSICIANS WHO, WHO, UH, PLAY OUT THEIR ROLE AS MUSICIANS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
SORRY, MY BRAIN'S A LITTLE MUSH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN MIXING FOR 10 HOURS.
BUT, UM, SO THE THING THAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO IS THAT,
[02:20:01]
UM, IF YOU ALLOW MUSICIANS THEMSELVES INDEPENDENT, INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS WHO HAVE AN IDEA, VENUES WHO HAVE AN IDEA THAT FITS WITHIN THE PIE GUIDELINES, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO REACH A LOT MORE DIVERSE, A BASE OF MUSICIANS IN TERMS OF THE EXPRESSION OF BEING A MUSICIAN.SO LIKE FOR ME PERSONALLY, I MAKE MOST OF MY MONEY THROUGH PLAYING GIGS IN TRADITIONAL VENUES, UM, AND PRIVATE STUFF.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND TO ME, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE PI GUIDELINES SECURED FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, NO MATTER WHO APPLIES FOR THEM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE HISTORIC PIECE.
I MEAN, AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING THIS AT ALL.
UM, SO I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE THE, THE PI GUIDELINES IN PLACE, UM, AND ALSO I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A GUARANTEE THAT, UM, THEN YOU PROMOTERS OR OTHER PEOPLE COULD BE INCLUDED IN FUTURE YEARS.
AND SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T SET THIS UP NOW IN THIS WAY, IT'LL BE HARD TO CHANGE IT IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR BEING A COMMISSIONER, SO I'M STILL LEARNING A LOT.
BUT, UH, UH, THOUGH I HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, UH, BEING UP IN THE AIR, UM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT BEING SERVED IN THE MEANTIME, UM, WHO WORK PRIVATE AS RECIPIENT, BUT, UH, WOULD, THAT WOULD BE EASIER SERVED THROUGH, UM, THE VENUES BEING ABLE TO APPLY FOR NEW PROMOTERS, BEING ABLE TO APPLY FOR IT.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER.
UM, AND THERE WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY, WHICH IS, UM, I MIGHT HAVE TO, UH, I MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO IT BECAUSE I'M ALSO LIKE HEARING THE TRACK AND THE NEXT ROOM, AND IT'S REALLY DISTRACTING.
BUT, UM, UH, THAT, THAT I FEEL LIKE IS A, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.
OH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY, SORRY, WAS, UM, I HEAR YOU, I'M IN CHARLOTTE.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION, UH, THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVY TO MYSELF AND THOSE OF US IN THE WORKING GROUP MAY NOT HAVE HEARD ON, UH, OTHER ALLOWABLE, BUT IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THE CASE CAN REALLY BE MADE, UM, FOR PROMOTING TOURISM THROUGH A LOT OF AVENUES BEYOND, UM, LIVE PERFORMANCE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DRAW PEOPLE TO OUR CITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO SHOWCASE OUR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC COMMUNITY.
AND PART OF THAT IS HAVING LIKE REALLY HIGH QUALITY ONLINE CONTENT, UM, THAT THIS SORT OF FUNDING COULD REALLY HELP ARTISTS SECURE, UM, GREAT, UH, GREAT PROMOTIONAL CONTENT THAT THEY CAN THEN USE, UM, TO PROMOTE THEIR LIVE PERFORMANCES OR WHATEVER.
SO I FEEL LIKE THERE CAN BE A VERY STRONG CASE MADE FOR THAT FITTING WITHIN THE, UM, THE, THE TOURISM, UH, GUIDELINES.
SO I'M, I'M SURE I'M NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THAT, BUT, UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS SAID, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO LISTENING.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR WORKING GROUP MEMBERS ABOUT, UM, THE 90% PROMISE BY THE VENUES, LIKE TO THE 90% OF THE, WHATEVER THEY RECEIVE FROM THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WILL GO BACK TO, UM, ARTISTS.
LIKE, DID THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY COULD LIKE SHOW THAT AND BE TRANSPARENT AND NOT ACCOUNTING? UM, I WOULD, UM, PROBABLY, UH, WHEN YOU STILL, UH, RESPOND TO THAT EVENTUALLY, BUT REALLY I THINK WHAT, HOW THAT CAN BE ENFORCED IS THROUGH THE GUIDELINES RIGHT.
IS, IS, IS, UH, HOW THAT MONEY IS DISPERSED, HOW, UH, WHAT GUIDELINES HAS SAID FOR THAT MONEY TO BE, UH, TO BE GIVEN TO VENUES.
AND, AND, UH, IF THE, THE, THE IDEA FOR THEM IS TO ESSENTIALLY PROVIDE RECEIPTS FOR, FOR, UH, REIMBURSEMENT.
UM, SO, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THERE IN THE MODEL THAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE EVENTUAL MODEL THAT'S APPLIED RIGHT.
UH, TO THROUGH THE, BY THE ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT I THINK WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING ESSENTIALLY IS THAT THEY APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
SO, UH, THEY ONLY GET REIMBURSED FOR, UH, PAYING ARTISTS, UH, AND ESSENTIALLY WITH A MAXIMUM OF 10% OVERHEAD.
WHEN I SAY OVERHEAD, THAT'S TWO IT'S MARKETING, UH, THE EVENT IS IT'S HOW WE INDUSTRY IT IN THE, IN THE, IN THE WORKING GROUP.
AND THEN, SO SCOTT, AND THEN LAUREN.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, THAT I, THAT I DID BRING UP IN THE MEETING WAS THE FACT THAT WE ABSOLUTELY,
[02:25:01]
UH, WE NEEDED TO KIND OF CONSIDER THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM AS A WHOLE.THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, BUT ONE THING THAT I SAID, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE LAST WORKING GROUP, EMAIL GROUP RE WORKING GROUP SESSION OR OVER EMAIL WAS THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO THAT NO ONE WAS GOING TO BE HAPPY.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT WAS, WAS THE FIRST YEAR, GIVE THE MONEY TO THE ARTISTS, JUST GIVE IT TO THE ARTIST.
WHY NUMBER ONE, WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, TOO, IF IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE ARTIST OR THE VENDORS ARE GOING TO GET PAID ANYWAY, THEN LET'S JUST GIVE THEM MONEY TO THE ARTISTS SO THAT WE COULD JUST MOVE THE MONEY OUT FASTER SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THAT ECOSYSTEM.
THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THREE, AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING HERE.
IT, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE PUT IN THE CRUX OF THIS RIGHT NOW WITH THIS BEING A BRAND NEW PROGRAM, THE MORE QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT HOW WE PROVISION THESE BUTTONS.
FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE ABOUT 16 QUESTIONS JUST FROM THE MUSICIAN AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTER PERSPECTIVE THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET ANSWERED, YOU KNOW, HERE RATHER SOON.
AND, AND, AND, AND SEE IF WE CAN MOVE THOSE FUNDS OUT.
THERE'S THERE ARE QUESTIONS APPLY ABOUT HOW MUCH SOMEONE I'VE BEEN.
YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT PROMOTER OR AN ARTIST CAN ACTUALLY TAKE FROM A LIVE MUSIC FUNDED FROM THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE BEEN AWARDED.
THERE'S THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, UM, BASICALLY A UNICYCLE.
WE'RE GONNA ROLL THIS UNICYCLE OUTTA HERE USING THE PROVISIONS OF ILLEGAL PROVISIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND HAS ALREADY PAVED THE PATH FOR THIS, RIGHT? SO LET'S GET THIS FUN OUT THE DOOR TO ARTISTS.
LET'S GET IT OUT NOW SO THAT ARTISTS CAN USE THIS FUND.
THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE A REALLY GOOD SUMMER AND A REALLY GOOD SPRING, KICK IT OFF FOR SOUTH BY, RIGHT.
IF WE START ADDING OTHER PEOPLE INTO THE MIX, THE PROBLEM BECOMES WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY BUILDING A BIGGER MACHINE, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THIS FIRST MACHINE IS GOING TO WORK YET.
THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE THAT I'M COMING FROM THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS HAVE ALL BEEN ABOUT, WHO CAN BASICALLY, WHO GETS THE MONEY, IT'S THE POLITICS OF WHO GETS THE MONEY.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF THE ARTIST IS GOING TO BASICALLY WRITE THESE CHECKS AND FIND THIS ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM ANYWAY, WHY NOT JUST GIVE IT TO HIM? LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST GIVE IT TO HIM.
AND LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, AND WHILE THAT'S HAPPENING, I ALSO SUGGESTED WORKING ON A VENUE FUND AND A STUDIO FUND, AND I JUST TALKED, NATALIE FAMISH.
SHE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING WITH SINKS.
LIKE, I MEAN, TH TH THERE, THERE, THERE ARE THINGS, UM, AND I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN OPPOSED TO SAKES, BUT SHE GAVE ME SOME REALLY GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN TERMS OF BUILDING, NOT JUST ENRICHING AND, AND, AND BUILDING BACK, BUT SERIOUSLY, ELEVATING THE MUSIC SCENE HERE BY USING THOSE SINKS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I JUST, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE CAN DO FOR 23 FOR FISCAL YEAR 20, 23, THAT'S 10 MONTHS AWAY.
LET'S JUST GET THIS ONE OUT THE DOOR, LET'S GET THE DATA FROM ALL OF THIS MONEY OF THIS MONEY.
THAT'S BEEN GOING OUT AT IT LET'S WORK ONE, THIS FOR EVERYONE NEXT YEAR, THAT WAS SAID IN THE MEETING, IN THE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE SUMMARY.
SO I'M SAYING IT HERE, THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO.
AND THEN LAUREN, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD ABOUT YOUR SLIDE, YOUR HAND UP? OKAY.
IT'S VERY UNWIELDY ON THE PHONE.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION BECAUSE, UM, SCOTT LOVE YOU BROTHER.
UM, AND, UM, SAYING THAT IT, THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT WHO GETS THE MONEY.
IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE MONEY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO TO THE MUSICIANS AND THE ECOSYSTEM VIA THE REST OF THE PRODUCTION ASPECTS OF WHATEVER THE PROJECT IS.
AND SO IN MY MIND, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO SPUR CREATIVITY, AND WE'RE TRYING TO SEE, AND TO, TO BRING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS WHO MAYBE WEREN'T AT THE TABLE BEFORE, DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES BEFORE WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO GIVE AS MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO, TO BRING THESE CREATIVE IDEAS TO THE TABLE, UM, AND NOT LIMIT THEM.
AND SOME, AND SOME, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE LEADING OUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
[02:30:01]
IF WE DON'T ALLOW MUSICIANS TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY.IN OTHER WAYS BEYOND, I HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN ENTIRE EVENT I WANT TO PRODUCE.
AND SO I'M GONNA APPLY FOR THIS FUND.
UM, I THINK THERE NEED TO BE OTHER WAYS FOR MUSICIANS TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS.
LIKE MAYBE I HAVE THIS, I HAVE THIS ONGOING RESIDENCY AT A VENUE THAT LIKE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY ME A WHOLE LOT.
BUT IF THEY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET ACCESS TO THIS LIVE MUSIC FUND, THEY CAN PAY ME LIKE A LIVING WAGE FOR THIS RESIDENCY I'VE BEEN DOING FOREVER, WHATEVER.
I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE OPEN TO AS MANY DIFFERENT CREATIVE IDEAS AND CREATIVE WAYS OF SPENDING AS POSSIBLE.
AND I DON'T SEE THAT BEING A, THAT'S MY OPINION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, STILL KNOW VR, ERICA.
WHO'D LIKE TO TAKE IT, BUT STILL NOBODY IS COMING UP TO THE MIC.
UM, SO THIS IS ABOUT SCORING, UM, AND REALLY ADMINISTRATION FUND ADMINISTRATION.
SO WHEN PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED AND, AND, UH, THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR IS DETERMINING HOW THE FUNDS ARE AWARDED, IS THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD WE, IF WE, WE HAVE TWO OR THREE POSSIBLE ENTITIES RECEIVING THESE FUNDS, WOULD WE, UM, WANT TO LIKE STATE PERCENTAGES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WOULD THAT HAPPEN AT SOME POINT WITHIN THAT, THAT WE WOULD SAY, LIKE, THIS GROUP 30% OF THE MONEY GOES TO THIS GROUP AND 40% GOES TO THIS GROUP AND 30% GOES HERE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT WOULD HAPPEN? AND THEN I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP, UM, IT'S A POSSIBILITY, BUT THE GUIDELINES WOULD BE THE SAME.
JUST LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE GUIDELINES ARE THE SAME, BUT YOU WANT 30% HYPOTHETICALLY FOR A VENUE, 50% FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THE OTHER 20 FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE ASKING? YEAH.
COULD WE COULD THE THIRD, COULD WE ADD, UM, CAN WE GIVE THAT DIRECTION OR RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL AND GIVE THAT DIRECTION TO THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR? YEP.
I BELIEVE IN, UM, ERICA CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT ONE OF OUR RELIEF PROGRAMS IN THE BEGINNING, WE DID A SCORING AND THEN WE HAD, UH, UH, COMPONENTS THAT ASIDE FOR LOTTERY.
SO I BELIEVE IT CAN BE DONE, BUT I DON'T LET ME RUN IT BY, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
I, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR JUST THROWING THAT AT YOU.
AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO CAUTION, UM, I KNOW WE MAY BE, UM, WANTING TO AGGRESSIVELY GET THE MONEY OUT, BUT THERE IS A WHOLE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO ACQUIRE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS, AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A MONTH JUST FYI.
SO, SO YOU'RE GOING TO MENTION THAT IF YOU DO HAVE THESE LIKE, BUILT INTO THE GUIDELINES 30, 20 50, OR WHATEVER IT IS, WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH APPLICANTS TO COVER THAT? WHAT DO YOU DO? RIGHT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YES.
UM, SO HAVE, YEAH, SO I HAVE ANOTHER RELATED QUESTION.
AND AGAIN, THIS GOES TO, UM, THE SCORING THAT WE MAY BE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT, OR MAYBE NOT, BUT, UM, COULD THE SCORING SPECIFY, LIKE AWARD ADDITIONAL POINTS TO CERTAIN, UM, GROUPS, LIKE SAY MUSICIANS, IT COULD, THEY COULD, IF YOU'RE A MUSICIAN APPLY, LIKE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT AND SAYING LIKE, UH, IF YOU'RE BIPAP, CAN YOU GET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS RIGHT OFF THE BAT? COULD WE DO THAT FOR WORKING MUSICIANS OR VENUES GET LIKE A CERTAIN GROUP WITHIN THIS ELIGIBLE? YEAH.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE A WAY, UM, FOR US TO PRIORITIZE CERTAIN APPLICANTS, THAT THAT WOULD BE ONE FACTOR, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE OTHER PIPE FACTORS YOU COULD LAYER ON TOP OF THAT.
GO AHEAD AND KNOCK VOLLEY JUST QUICKLY.
YEAH, I, UM, AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE HAS MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
UM, I, I DO COMPLETELY AGREE WITH, UM, THE COMMISSIONER MY OWN HERE.
I THINK WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD GO IN AND TAKE A VOTE.
UH, WE HAVE BROADLY DISCUSSED THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
THEN AGAIN, WE HAVE DEDICATED A SIGNIFICANT TIME, UH, IN THE WORKING GROUP DISCUSSING, UM, THIS FUND.
UH, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT TWO OPTIONS ONCE AGAIN, OPTION ONE IS, UH, IS BASICALLY ROLLING OUT A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM WITH ALL ELIGIBLE USERS, WHICH MEANS BROADENING THE USERS TO THE ECOSYSTEM WHERE A MUSICIAN CAN GO AND SPEND ON THINGS OTHER THAN LIVE MUSIC AT RECORDING STUDIOS AND OTHER PLACES, AND, UH, BROADENING ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO INCLUDE MUSICIANS, INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, LIVE MUSIC, VENUE, PROMOTERS, AND ROLL THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM
[02:35:01]
OUT FROM EAR ONE FROM THE GET GO THAT IS OPTION ONE, OPTION TWO IS, UM, BASICALLY ALL ELIGIBLE USES, BUT HAVING A PILOT YEAR WHERE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WILL ONLY BE MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.AND WE BRING IN LIVE MUSIC, UH, PROMOTERS, UH, AS, UH, AS AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT IN A FUTURE YEAR, NOT IN THE PILOT HERE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, UH, TO AUNT CHARLOTTE OR TO STAFF, IF, IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, UH, JUST GAUGE WHERE THE COMMISSION IS ON THIS, IF WE COULD TAKE A VOTE.
AND IS THERE A WAY SIMPLE WAY TO DO THIS, WHERE WE JUST RAISE OUR HAND AND SAY, OPTION ONE, OPTION TWO, AND JUST PICK REAL QUICK BEFORE WE START DISCUSSING THAT? NOT MY QUESTION.
SO HERE'S, HERE'S MY PROBLEM AGAIN, I'VE GOT, I'M JUST GOING TO, I'M JUST GOING TO LIST OFF THE 10 QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE JUST FOR MUSICIANS.
I'M JUST GOING TO LIST THEM OFF.
HEY, WHAT IS THE PAYMENT CAP ON THE MUSICIAN ARTISTS PERFORMER THAT IS PLAYING FOR AN LMF SHOW TO WHAT IS THE PAYMENT CAP? WHAT A MUSICIAN ARTISTS PERFORMING FOR FACILITATING AN LMF SHOW.
I BELIEVE WE ALREADY ANSWERED THAT.
SO THE QUESTION IS BY IF NOT, IS THE CITY OF LIABLE FOR AN EVENT, IF SOMEONE IS HURT OR INJURED IN EITHER OF THE VENUE OR THE ARTISTS IS AT BALL SIX, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF COVID THE SHOW NEEDS TO BE RESCHEDULED AND VENDORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID SEVEN.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BAND MEMBER FAILS TO SHOW UP TO THE GIG OR IT'S PART, OR, BUT IT'S PART OF AN AWARD FOR AN LMF SHOW EIGHT.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ARTIST APPLIES AS A SIX PIECE GROUP, BUT BRINGS LESS TO AN LMF SHOW NINE? WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ARTIST CAN'T MAKE A SHOW OR NEEDS TO RESCHEDULE, AND IT'S AN LMF SHOW, 10, HOW WILL THE RELATIONSHIP WORK BETWEEN THE ARTISTS AND THE VENUE, HAVING PROCURED LMF FUNDS? WHAT EXPECTATIONS SHOULD THE VENUE HAVE FOR THE ARTISTS AND VICE VERSA? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE NOT ANSWERED YET, AND THAT'S JUST FOR MUSICIANS.
SO I BELIEVE THAT AGAIN, THE FUN SHOULD BE USED SPECIFICALLY MY OPINION FOR THE SECOND PART OF THAT, BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY OTHER PROVISIONS, THERE'S TOO MANY OTHER THINGS I CAN MUCK THIS UP, SERIOUSLY, MUCK THIS UP.
ONCE WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE OTHER QUESTIONS ANSWERED THAT WE COME BACK.
IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO DISCUSS AT LEAST THIS WHERE MUSICIANS THAT INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
NOW, IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF DELVING OUT MONEY TO PEOPLE, I MEAN, FINDING, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH AN RFP AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, TO FIND SOMEONE TO SOLICIT FOR FUNDS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND NOT DOING OUR HOMEWORK ON WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE ON THE BACK END.
WHAT'S THIS MONEY ACTUALLY START SAVING HANDS.
NO, NO DISRESPECT, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ANSWERED AFTER THE SIMPLE THING IS THE SIMPLE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW IS WHETHER OR NOT, UM, FUNDING SHOULD BE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A COMMISSIONER NUN, UH, MACHALA, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID COMPREHENSIVE FOR THE FIRST ONE AND NOT COMPREHENSIBLE AS SECOND ONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND SPEAKING TO LAUREN, UM, COMMISSIONER GOULD, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IN THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS, WHAT MAKES THIS HISTORIC IS THE EMPOWERMENT ASPECT OF IT IS PUTTING THE FUNDS DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF MUSICIANS SPECIFICALLY, WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN THIS CITY.
UM, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PROGRAM LIKE THAT.
WE'VE NEVER JUST GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY STRICTLY TO THE CREATIVES, AND IT'S JUST NEVER HAPPENED.
THERE HAS BEEN, UH, FUNDING GOING TO, UH, VENUES TO, YOU KNOW, VENUE PRESERVATION HAS BEEN FUNNY AND THEY'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
THEY CAN, THEY CAN RIGHT NOW THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THOSE SPONSORS, THEY'VE GOTTEN, THEY CAN RIGHT NOW, UH, CREATE A DIVERSE, UH, FESTIVALS, EVENTS, LIVE MUSIC IF THEY, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF THAT HAPPENING, BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION.
WHAT, UM, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT IS, IS, IS WHETHER OR NOT IN THE FIRST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE, UH, A SLIGHTLY, YOU KNOW, UH, MORE, IN MY OPINION, A MORE PROGRESSIVE STEP AND JUST SAYING LIKE, LOOK, MUSICIANS THAT WE HAVE NEVER JUST INVESTED STRICTLY IN.
AND YOU SPECIFICALLY AS A CITY, YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF WHAT WE DO, AND WE HAVE NEVER DONE THAT EVER.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT HISTORIC BEYOND THE PODCAST GUIDELINES.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT HISTORIC.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES US MOMENT LIKE W ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT IS WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT DIRECT EMPOWERMENT REALLY MAKES A CHANGE AND REALLY MAKES AN IMPACT AS OPPOSED NOT, NOT TO SAY THAT THE VENUES DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE MUSIC SECTOR, BUT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE, IN THE SITUATION OF GIVING IT TO THE VENUES AND THEN HAVING THEM HIRE IS THE ARTIST IS NOT DIRECTLY EMPOWERED THROUGH THAT.
YES, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM, BUT WHEN YOU GIVE SOMEONE MONEY TO BE IN THE CONTROL OF THEIR DESTINY TO CREATE
[02:40:01]
PROGRAMMING, TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, LIKE, LIKE, UH, LAUREN, YOU WEREN'T HERE EARLIER, BUT THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM WORLD PRODUCTIONS WHO DOES, UH, PRODUCTION WITH ACL AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST HE'S IMMERSED IN THE PRODUCTION WORLD.UM, YOU KNOW, HE SPOKE UP AND SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC STEP.
THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM VENUES THAT CAME AND SPOKE AND SAID THAT THEY THINK THIS IS A HISTORIC STEP.
SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY ON THAT.
AND SCOTT, I AGREE THOUGH, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT IDENTIFIED AND THAT'S, THAT'S LATER.
I THINK WE HAVE TO VOTE IN THIS THING.
IT SAY WHETHER OR NOT WE THINK, UM, THE LINE MUSIC FUND SHOULD GO, UH, IN THE FIRST YEAR SPECIFICALLY TO TWO MUSICIANS IN INDEPENDENT MOTORS OR WHETHER WE INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE LIVE VENUE OPERATORS IN THAT.
AND THEN AFTER WE DECIDE THAT, THEN WE GO TO THE BOARD AND WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE, YEAH, I BET THOUGH.
I MEANT THE, UH, LIKE, LIKE I'LL VOTE FOR WHAT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR NOW, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE SECOND PART OF THAT.
BUT I MEAN, LIKE AFTER THIS, IF WE CAN FIGURE THAT STUFF OUT, SO I GOT TO GET MY VOTE.
I DIDN'T, UH, IT WAS NOT MY INTENT.
I THINK THE REASON I USED THE WORD COMPREHENSIVE WAS ALL IN ONE IN THE FIRST YEAR.
UH, I WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS JUST REBOOTING THAT OR TAKING THAT WORD OUT FROM, FROM OPTION ONE.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
THIS IS STEPHANIE, BUT IT GOT OUT AT CITY HALL, UH, HATE TO INTERRUPT BUSINESS, BUT IT IS NINE 15 AND THE, THIS, UM, MEETING HAS A HARD STOP OF 10:00 PM.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE.
AND THERE ARE SIX ITEMS LEFT ON THE AGENDA.
YEAH, WE MAY SKIP A COUPLE OF THOSE, BUT I AGREE.
WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND PROBABLY DO A VOTE ON THIS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UM, REALLY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS.
UH, SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR KIM AND STEPHANIE.
SO IF WE HAVE A SORT OF A, WE HAVE KIND OF AN, A, OR B CHOICE HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON, IS THAT, DO WE NEED TO, HOW DO WE DO THAT? DO WE MAKE, SO WE CAN MAKE ONE VOTE MOTION AND THEN SAY LIKE, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE ROBERT'S RULES WHEN YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES FOR A VOTE, UM, SOMEONE WOULD NEED TO MAKE OF EMOTION TO PUT THE VOTE TO THE TABLE, AND THEN YOU CAN SAY THE EYES FOR OPTION A AND THE EYES FOR OPTION B AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE A MAJORITY VOTE.
WE'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OUT OF IT AND SEND IT ALONG.
I WAS OVER TRYING TO OVER-ENGINEER IT PROPERLY.
BUT IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, SAY WHAT THE WORDS OF THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE HERE AT THIS MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT IT'LL SAY WHEN WE RIDE IT.
SO COMMISSIONER MOZZARELLA, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION OR COMMISSIONER MAHOEN, Y'ALL BOTH, UH, INDICATED YOU'D LIKE TO VOTE, SO, AND I AGREE ANYBODY, ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? SURE.
UH, YEAH, I WISH I HAD WRITTEN THIS DOWN, BUT, UH, YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION FOR, UH, THE COMMISSION TO VOTE ON, UH, THE WORKING GROUPS RECOMMENDATIONS WITH, UM, OPTION ONE, UH, WHICH, UH, BASICALLY MEANS ROLLING OUT THE, UH, LIVE MUSIC FUND PROGRAM WITH ALL ELIGIBLE USERS AND ALL THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, INCLUDING LIVE MUSIC WHEN YOU PROMOTERS, UH, FROM THE GET, GO IN YEAR ONE.
UH, UH, YEAH, LIKE FOR THE COMMISSION TO VOTE ON THAT SECOND OR OPTION TWO, LIKE, SO THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR OPTION ONE.
THEY'RE GOING TO APPROXIMATE TO CORRECT? YES.
AND THEN, UM, BUT CHUCK, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD LEAVE, LEAVE THAT YOU'VE, SINCE SHE CALLED THAT BOTH OF US TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT OTHER ONE, JUST SAYING THE MOST IN THAT YOU SAY THAT WE VOTE FOR, YOU KNOW, OPTION ONE BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE LAB, PENSACOLA LIVE MUSIC VENUE OPERATORS, OR OPTION TWO, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVING IT TO, UH, CREATIVES MUSICIANS AND, UH, INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, UH, STRICTLY IN THE FIRST YEAR, NOT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EXISTENCE, BUT IN THE FIRST YEAR.
SO TO BE CLEAR, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD WITH A FUND THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, COULDN'T RELY ON MUSIC VENUES, THAT'S, UH, OPTION ONE IN ITS ENTIRETY FROM, FROM THE BEGINNING.
OR WE, UH, HAVE THE, UH, LIVE VENUE OPERATORS EDIT IN THE SECOND YEAR AND IN OPTION TWO AND THE FIRST YEAR IS ABOUT MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE, IS THAT CLEAR? YEAH, I AGREE.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO IS WHAT, ONE OF YOU READ THE EXACT LANGUAGE EITHER OUT OF, UH, OUT OF THE WORKING GROUPS, UH, REPORT AND LEAVING OUT THE WORD COMPREHENSIVE IN OPTION ONE, JUST SO THAT IT'S ON THE RECORD DIRECTLY, EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR.
AND THEN IT GOES INTO THE RECORD WITH THE EXACT WORDS THAT WE W THAT PEOPLE HAVE AGREED TO.
SO KIM, WERE YOU ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT OR SHOULD WE
[02:45:01]
RESTATE IT? I THINK IT WAS STATED, I THINK IT WAS STATED DIFFERENTLY THAN IT'S WRITTEN OUT AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE BEST TO JUST STRAIGHT, UH, WHOEVER'S MAKING THE OFF THE EMOTION TO JUST READ IT.I NEED TO READ OUT ALL THE ELIGIBLE USERS AND, UM, ALL THE, UH, ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AND EVERYTHING, AND THEN SPEAK TO OPTION ONE.
I THINK YOU CAN JUST READ THAT, THOSE OPTION ONE AND THAT SENTENCE OPTION TWO IN THAT SENTENCE.
BUT, UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION FOR THE MUSIC COMMISSION TO VOTE ON OPTION ONE, WHICH IS, UH, ROLLING OUT A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USES.
ONCE AGAIN, LET ME CORRECT MYSELF THERE, LAW ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USERS AND ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, UM, FROM THE FIRST YEAR ONWARDS.
SO I THINK, I THINK WE'RE DOING A COMBINED VOTE THOUGH, SO WE WOULD VOTE, YOU KNOW, OR SO THE MOTION IS WE WOULD VOTE ON OPTION ONE, ROLL, ROLL OUT A, OR ROLL OUT A PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USES IN ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, AS STATED ABOVE FROM THE FIRST YEAR ONWARD OR OPTION TO ROLL OUT A PILOT PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL ELIGIBLE USES AND WITH MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PRO MOTORS AS ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.
SO, UM, THE STATEMENT IS IMPORTANT THAT INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC VENUE PROMOTERS AND ALL THE BLACK IN A FUTURE YEAR, BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING FOR.
GOLD'S HANDS BEEN RAISED FOR A FEW MINUTES.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK ONE QUESTION BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE SOME BEARING ON MY VOTE, PARTICULARLY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN BUILD SOME LANGUAGE INTO, I BELIEVE IT'S THE OPTION TWO, WHICH IS THE PILOT YEAR VERSION.
IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY WE CAN BUILD SOME LANGUAGE INTO THAT TO PROVIDE A GUARANTEE TO REVISIT IT AND POTENTIALLY ADD, UH, TO THE ELIGIBILITY? THAT'S A MUST.
UH, I THINK THAT LANGUAGE IS IN THERE.
IF WE INCLUDE THAT LAST STATEMENT, IF WE'RE TRYING TO CLARIFY IT RATHER THAN FUTURE, WHICH COULD BE IN 50 YEARS, WE MIGHT WANT TO SAY IN THE SECOND YEAR, RATHER THAN A FUTURE YEAR.
THAT DOES SEEM TO HELP CLARIFY, AND THAT MIGHT HELP.
I WOULD MAKE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT.
SO, UH, TACKING THAT ONTO THE OPTION TO INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC VENUE, PROMOTER AS AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAM.
SO I THINK, I THINK WE'VE GOT IT.
KIM, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS LIKE REALLY A TASK FOR KEN TO LIKE INTERPRET OUR DISCUSSION? I THINK WE SEE THE MOTION ON THE TABLE.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
WHO WAS THE SECOND? I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND OR LEVON OR BOTH.
SO EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF OPTION ONE, THAT'S GOING NO PILOT YEAR WON EVERYTHING IN THE FIRST YEAR.
SO EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF OPTION ONE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND CYBER SAY AYE, AND KEEP THEM UP.
GIVE STAFF A MOMENT TO SEE WHO'S WHOSE FAVOR? OKAY.
WAS THERE ONE, BECAUSE THERE WAS ANOTHER HAND I USED A MOMENTARILY.
I HAVE MEDI CHARLA, PATTERSON AND GARCIA.
AND THEN EVERYONE FAVOR OF OPTION TWO.
AND SO THAT'S A TWO YEAR ROLLOUT.
GO AHEAD AND KEEP YOUR HANDS UP FOR A SEC.
STRICKLAND LAMONE MAHOEN ROSENTHAL REYNOLDS GOLD PIKE.
SO, UH, THE MOTION THAT PASSES IS THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS WITH ALL OF THE ELIGIBLE USES AND A TWO YEAR APPROACH TO, UH, WELL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY'S WORK ON THIS.
IT IS HARD WORK JUST BEING IN THIS MEETING.
SO I CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW, UM, CHALLENGING AND THOUGHT, GOSH, I'M RUNNING OUT OF WORDS.
THE WORKING GROUP DID GREAT WORK ON THIS.
[02:50:01]
WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS THE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A WORKING GROUP, IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE, OH, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE LIKE SIX MONTHS, BUT THESE GUYS DID THIS OVER THE HOLIDAYS.UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TH THE CHALLENGES OF MEETING IN PERSON OR NOT IN PERSON IS THE PANDEMIC CHANGE.
SO IT'D BE EXCITED TO BE MOVING THIS RECOMMENDATION ON TO COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS QUICKLY.
UM, DO WE STILL HAVE QUENTIN PRIOR? YEAH.
YOU STILL HAVE THE AEDC UPDATE ITEMS. OH, I'M SORRY.
[3c. Discussion and Possible Action on Austin Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) following update from board representative, Emmett Beliveau.]
OKAY.ITEM THREE C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AEDC FOLLOWING AN UPDATE FROM BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, EMMETT ELBOW.
GOOD TO SEE ALL, UM, UH, THREE QUICK ITEMS TO UPDATE Y'ALL ON FIRST, UM, ON THE QUESTION ABOUT ADMINISTRATION OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THIS COMMISSION ASKED THE ADC TO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF POTENTIALLY ADMINISTERING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
OUR BOARD FORMED A WORKING GROUP THAT I SERVED ON.
WE DUG IN ON THAT QUESTION, UH, REPORTED BACK TO OUR BOARD.
AND TONIGHT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE OUR THINKING WITH YOU.
UM, IN SUMMARY, THE ADC IS NOT IN A POSITION TO CONSIDER ADMINISTRATION OF ANY GRANT PROGRAM AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATION IS STILL IN A, WHAT I'D CALL FORMATION.
I'D SAY WE'RE NOW IN AN ADOLESCENT STAGE.
I THINK WE WERE IN INFANCY LAST TIME I VISITED WITH YOU ALL.
UM, BUT WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING OR THE EXPERTISE IN PLACE TO ADMINISTER A GRANT PROGRAM, OR EVEN TO OVERSEE ANOTHER THIRD-PARTY IN ADMINISTERING THE GRANTS.
UH, WE JUST HAVE NO DEDICATED, UH, FINANCIAL STAFF.
IN FACT, WE JUST ADDED OUR SECOND AND THIRD EMPLOYEES, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT AT A MOMENT.
UH, THAT SAID THE BOARD WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THE MUSIC COMMISSION REACHED OUT.
UH, IT'S THE FIRST, UH, CONTACT WE'VE HAD WITH AN ENTITY IN THE SPACE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING WAYS TO COLLABORATE ON PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.
UH, AND PERSONALLY, AS YOU KNOW, MY PRIORITY REMAINS TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS AND OUR MUSIC ECOSYSTEM AS THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MOVES FORWARD WITH FUTURE PROJECTS ON THE STAFFING FRONT, UH, SOME EXCITING NEWS WE'VE HIRED A NEW CEO TODAY'S, UH, ALVAREZ.
UM, AFTER NATIONAL SEARCH, WE WERE PLEASED TO HIRE A LOCAL, UH, ALL-STAR TO LEAD THE ADC.
UH TODAY'S THAT COMES TO US WITH DEEP TIES, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE SPACE.
UH, SHE'D BEEN WITH WELLS FARGO AND THEIR FOUNDATION FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.
SHE'S RUNNING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND HAS EXPERIENCED WITH, UH, A WIDE SWATH OF LOCAL NONPROFITS PROFITS, FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, HOUSING, PARKS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AS A MEMBER AND BOARD CHAIRS, UM, UH, REALLY AN IMPRESSIVE SET OF GROUPS AND SHE'S REMAINED ACTIVE IN THE ARTS, UH, TEACHING BALLET, FOLKLORICO, AND EVEN PERFORMING WITH THE BALLET FOLKLORICO, UH, AS A PATEK EXCITING STUFF.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THE CEO, UH, WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME DAVID COLLAGEN AS OUR FIRST, UH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
DAVID'S BEEN SERVING AS OUR INTERIM CEO.
UH, HE BRINGS NEARLY A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN AUSTIN, FOCUSED ON BUSINESS EXPANSION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND TERESA AND DAVID JOINED AND GATLING HAYNES, WHO YOU ALL HAVE VISITED WITH AND WAS OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE AS OUR CHIEF TRANSACTIONS OFFICER.
AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON IS JUST THE, THE, THE STATUS OF THE CULTURAL TRUST, RFP THAT, YOU KNOW, AND HAS BEEN RUNNING ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY AS THE SOLE EMPLOYEE, UH, THE RFP REMAINS OPEN.
UH, THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS MARCH 31ST.
THE FIRST STEP IS TO REGISTER IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN ENTITY, AND THEN YOU'LL RECEIVE A LINK TO THE ONLINE APPLICATION THAT WE'RE 15 1, 5 EARLY SUBMISSIONS.
THOSE ARE NOW IN PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONS USING A CULTURAL BIAS, CULTURAL TRUST ADVISORY GROUP, UH, THAT I'M ALSO SERVING ON LOOKING AT THE APPLICATIONS.
UH, THERE'S BEEN 50 ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS SINCE THOSE INITIAL 15, UH, THEY INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS AND OPERATORS OF DANCE, MUSIC, CULTURAL MAKER, ACTIVITIES, AND REALLY DEMONSTRATE AN INCREDIBLE ECOSYSTEM THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE SPACES AND HAVING REVIEWED SOME OF THE APPLICATIONS.
THERE'S SOME INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE WORK AND PROJECTS AND POSSIBILITIES, UH, BEING LAID OUT FOR US.
THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER INFO SESSION ON FEBRUARY 9TH AT 9:00 AM, A VIRTUAL SESSION THERE'S INFORMATION ON THE AUSTIN, UH, DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS WEBSITE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO GET THE WORD OUT SO WE CAN CAST AS WIDE A NET AS POSSIBLE FOR THIS RFP.
[02:55:01]
ASSISTANCE SESSIONS AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH, UM, THEIR APPLICATIONS, UH, VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON AND THERE'S VIDEOS OF PREVIOUS SESSIONS AVAILABLE.UM, AFTER THIS INITIAL ROUND OF, OF, UM, EVALUATION, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PERIOD OF DUE DILIGENCE AND FEASIBILITY WHERE THE CITY AND STAFF, UH, AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DIG IN ON THE FINANCIALS, UH, OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY FEASIBLE FROM WHAT THESE GROUPS ARE PROPOSING, WHICH FUNDS MAY BE ABLE TO BE LEVIED AGAINST THE PROPOSALS.
UM, AND WE ANTICIPATE HAVING A SHORT LIST OF INITIAL PROJECTS TO ANNOUNCE, UH, LATE THIS SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER 2022.
SO IT'S, IT'S MOVING AND IT'S EXCITING AND COME BACK AND KEEP YOU POSTED ON IT.
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS, GUYS, THAT WAS REALLY THOROUGH.
SO WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AIMING FOR BREVITY AT THIS DEAL.
HOW'S, HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING OVER THERE.
I KNOW THAT YOU KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, PIECE BY PIECE, BUT LIKE OVERALL, LIKE OUR THINGS, THEY GOOD, UH, DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OR MY DAY JOB, UH, ABC LET'S DO AEDC ADOLESCENTS, RIGHT? IT'S IT'S IT IT'S BRAND NEW.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE DEDICATED STAFF THAT, YOU KNOW, IS ABLE TO FOCUS ON THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND, AND AS I SAID, IT WAS AN, IT WAS A NATIONAL SEARCH AND WE HAD CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, FLY IN FROM OTHER BIG CITIES, WHO'VE RUN BIG THINGS.
AND WE FOUND AN INCREDIBLE CANDIDATE HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, SHE'S GETTING TO WORK WITH DAVID AND, AND ON THE TEAM.
UH, AND, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE, THERE IS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS AMAZING SUPERWOMAN PROGRESS.
THAT'S HAPPENED ON THE CULTURAL TRUST RFP, JUST IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS SINCE ANNE HAS BEEN THERE, THAT'S ONE STAFFER.
I THINK NOW WITH THREE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE PROCESS AND MOVEMENT AND HOPEFULLY PROJECTS HAPPENING, UH, THAT AFFECT A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S EXCITING STUFF.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
[4a. Discussion and Possible Action following presentation by Quentin Prior, Battalion Chief/Assistant Fire Marshall, Special Events, on venue safety priorities.]
I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS NOW.UM, ITEM FOR A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
FOLLOWING PRESENTATION BY QUENTIN PRYOR, BATTALION CHIEF ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHALL, SPECIAL EVENTS ON VENUE, SAFETY PRIORITIES.
WE HAVE W WE HAD A, I DIDN'T SEE HIM A LOT BACK IN.
I THINK HE MAY HAVE LOGGED UP.
WAIT, IS THIS, IS THAT QUENTIN? UH, NO.
NO, THERE WAS SOMEBODY ELSE THERE WITH A BEARD.
IT WAS CHRISTIAN, SOME CHRISTIAN THAT WAS CHRISTIAN.
WELL, UM, WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IF, UM, THE, IF QUENTIN HAD TO JUMP OFF, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE HIM BACK NEXT TIME.
[4b. Discussion and Possible Action following update from SXSW on upcoming festival.]
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON BECAUSE CHRISTIAN IS ALSO HERE WITH AN UPDATE FOR US AND THAT'S ITEM FOUR B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.AND FOLLOWING UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ON THE UPCOMING FESTIVAL, THAT'S HAPPENING AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I WAS TOLD TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR MUSIC FESTIVAL PORTION OF SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
AND THEN WHEN I CONCLUDE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, DUE TO COVID THINGS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR WITH OUR MUSIC FESTIVAL.
WE ARE STILL HAVING IT, UH, FOR, UH, MONDAY THE 14TH THROUGH SATURDAY THE 19TH, SO THAT HASN'T CHANGED, BUT WE ARE DOWN TO 70 SOMETHING VENUES IN THE PAST.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND A HUNDRED MUSIC FESTIVAL VENUES, BUT AS OF THUS FAR, WE'RE EXPECTING 70 SOMETHING VENUES TO BE CONTRACTED.
UM, AND WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON USING EXISTING SLASH OPEN FOR BUSINESS LIVE MUSIC VENUES RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO REOPEN CLOSED SPACES, IF YOU WILL.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GIVE THAT BUSINESS TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPEN AND OPERATING.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE LESS SIXTH STREET VENUES THIS YEAR BEING CONTRACTED, UH, AND MORE EAST SIDE VENUES.
SO FOR SIXTH STREET, SPECIFICALLY, OUR MUSIC FESTIVAL DEPARTMENT IS BOOKING THE VENUES THAT BOOKEND RED RIVER.
SO EITHER BLOCKING BOTH DIRECTIONS WILL BE KIND OF HEAVILY CONCENTRATED WITH OFFICIAL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC VENUES.
AND THEN WE'RE, UH, CONTRACTING A LOT MORE EAST SIDE VENUES IN THE AREA OF
[03:00:01]
OUR ONION STREET CLOSURE OVER THERE IN BETWEEN SIXTH AND SEVENTH STREET.AND, UM, THE OTHER BIG DIFFERENCE THAT I MENTIONED THE ONION STREET CLOSURE IS COMING FROM APD WHERE THE STREET CLOSURES ARE BEING SCALED BACK A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF APD SAFETY CLOSURES.
SO THIS YEAR, UH, PER APD, THE SIXTH STREET AND RED RIVER CLOSURES ARE PUSHING BACK TO 2:00 PM TO 6:00 AM DAILY IN THE PAST, THEY'VE CLOSED THE, UH, SIXTH STREET AND RED RIVER AREA AROUND 12 NOON.
NOW, AGAIN, THEY ALWAYS REOPEN AT 6:00 AM, IF NOT EARLIER FOR COMMUTER TRAFFIC.
UM, BUT APD IS ALSO SCALING BACK IN THE RAINY DISTRICT THIS YEAR, IN TERMS OF BOTH CLOSURE TIMES AND ACTUAL STREET CLOSURES.
SO THIS YEAR, UH, INSTEAD OF DRISCOLL AND RED RIVER AND RIVER BEING CLOSED, ONLY RAINY STREET, PROPER FROM RIVER STREET TO DRISCOLL STREET WILL BE CLOSED.
AND THEN HALF A BLOCK OF DAVIS FROM THE ALLEY TO RAINY STREET WILL BE CLOSED AND MIRRORING SIXTH STREET.
IT WON'T CLOSE UNTIL 2:00 PM, AND THEN IT WILL REOPEN AT 3:00 AM DAILY.
UM, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT OUR MUSIC FESTIVAL DEPARTMENT IS CONTRACTING MORE OUTDOOR VENUES, THIS MARCH FOR OBVIOUS REASONS DUE TO COVID.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT SAFER TO HOLD OUTDOOR EVENTS RIGHT NOW.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO BOOK MORE OF THOSE OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUES IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
UM, OUR BANDS, OUR ACTS, OUR ARTISTS, WE ARE DOWN, WE ARE DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID.
WE ARE DOWN BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SNAFOOS IF YOU WILL.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AROUND 1050 ACTS SIGNED TO PLAY SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022.
AND USUALLY MY HEAD OF MUSIC FEST TELLS ME WE'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 1300 TO 1400 WHEN WE'RE ALMOST ACTUALLY WE'RE, WE'RE LESS THAN FIVE WEEKS OUT FROM SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
UM, HE ALSO TOLD ME TODAY THAT HE DOESN'T THINK WE'LL BE GOING ABOVE 13 TO 1400, UH, ARTISTS BEING BOOKED, WHERE IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN AS HIGH AS ALMOST 2000 ARTISTS BEING BOOKED FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC FESTIVAL.
UM, OUT OF THESE 1050 ACTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SIGNED TO PLAY OFFICIAL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST VENUES, 70% ARE DOMESTIC AND 30% ARE INTERNATIONAL.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME RATIO AS IN THE PAST FOR THIS TIME PERIOD.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE DO BOOK A LOT OF BANDS WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS.
SO THERE ARE STILL QUITE A LANDSCAPE OF CHANGE COMING FOR OUR ACTUAL ACTS THAT WILL BE, UH, SIGNED AND THEN BOOKED INTO LOCAL VENUES.
UM, I WAS ALSO ASKED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST STAFF.
UM, THAT, TO BE HONEST IS HALF NEW, UH, DURING COVID WHEN UNFORTUNATELY THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD TO CANCEL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST BACK IN, UH, 2020, WE IMMEDIATELY HAD TO LAY OFF, UH, A THIRD OF OUR FULL-TIME STAFF AND ALL OF OUR SEASONAL STAFF.
UM, AND THEN THAT SUMMER OF 2020, WE DID HAVE FURLOUGHS THAT TOOK PLACE NOW IN, UH, IN THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN ABOUT HALF OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS CAME BACK AND OTHERS WENT ON TO NEW JOBS AT NEW COMPANIES AND DECIDED NOT TO COME BACK WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO REHIRE AGAIN.
SO THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST STAFF RIGHT NOW IS REALLY A MIX OF OLD AND NEW.
UM, IT, IT IS EXCITING TO HAVE NEW BLOOD IN THERE, BUT ALSO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE HISTORY OF SEASONED EMPLOYEES IN THERE.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING GROWTH PERIOD FOR US OVER THE COURSE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE LAST NINE MONTHS I WOULD SAY.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN DIRECTING US ON HOW TO PROPERLY FILL OUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY FORM THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS REQUIRING FOR MOST EVENTS, DEPENDING ON THE CAPACITIES, UH, TO BE SUBMITTED WITH THE ACE APPLICATIONS.
AND, UM, WE WERE JUST APPROVED LAST WEEK BY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IN REGARDS TO OUR COVID HEALTH AND SAFETY FORM, NO MATTER WHAT
[03:05:01]
STAGE OF COVID WE WILL BE IN COME MARCH BECAUSE WE'VE PLANNED EXTENSIVELY FOR ALL POSSIBLE STAGES OF COVID, DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE AT COME MARCH 11TH WHEN SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST STARTS, UM, DR.WALKS WITH APH HAS DONE SOME MODELING WITH UT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
AND SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE ANTICIPATES US TO BE IN A STAGE THREE REGARDING COVID WHEN WE START SOUTH BY ON FRIDAY, MARCH 11TH.
I KNOW WE HAD TO BE PRETTY QUICK HERE.
I HOPE THAT WAS SUITABLE FOR YOU ALL, BUT I WILL PLEASE TAKE QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY, YEAH, GO AHEAD.
UH, I'VE QUESTIONED, UM, WHEN I'M HEARING THAT THINGS ARE SCALED BACK, IT'S SMALLER, FEWER STREETS ARE BEING CLOSED.
UH, ON TOP OF THAT, MUCH OF THE STAFF IS NEW.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE PARTICIPATING AT, UH, SOUTH BY THAT, SOME OF THOSE CUTBACKS AND THE DISCONTINUITY MAY IMPACT THAT.
AND I DON'T EXPECT, UH, AN ANSWER, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO LET, LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A TASK FORCE THAT IS OPERATING.
UM, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH WHOEVER IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO DISCUSS ISSUES AROUND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ENSURING THAT THERE BE STILL BE GOOD ACCESS EVEN DURING THIS TIME.
AND WE DO HAVE A DIVISION WITHIN OUR EVENTS, STAFFING, AND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES ADA.
AND, UM, IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ME DIRECTLY, I WILL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION ONTO THOSE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN DISCUSS WHAT WE OFFER FOR THE ADA COMMUNITY.
AND MY EMAIL IS CHRISTIAN THAT'S, C H R I S T I N@SXSW.COM.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, FANTASTIC.
THAT WAS VERY THOROUGH IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM THE COMMISSION, REACH OUT TO US.
UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT IT'S SOUTH BY IS HAPPENING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
[4c. Discussion and Possible Action on making a possible budget recommendation.]
OKAY.SO ITEM FORESEE, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON MAKING A POSSIBLE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WRITE UP A WHOLE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION IN 18 MINUTES, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR THE COMMISSION.
UM, SO, UH, WE HAVE TO TURN IN OUR BUDGET RECOMMENDATION BY MARCH 31ST.
SO WE DO NEED TO BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING AND HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.
UM, BUT I GUESS I'D LIKE TO GIVE HOMEWORK TO THEIR COMMISSIONERS OR ANYBODY THAT ANY OF YOU THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT ON.
IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT ARE, WHAT MUSIC BUDGET PRIORITIES SHOULD BE, UM, BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE, YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND I CAN PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING, UM, PRELIMINARY FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WE DO HAVE THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
UH, WE CAN ALSO ASK FOR MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY MORE FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF DOLLARS OR NOT.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN ASK FOR THINGS.
SO THINGS THAT I, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT, UM, ARE ON MY MIND WITH THIS.
UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE ADDING IN THE SECOND YEAR FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, IF WE'RE ADDING ADDITIONAL, UM, STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, WE COULD ASK FOR MONEY FOR THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ADDED, UH, TO THE FUND FOR THAT.
UM, I'M JUST THROWING THINGS OUT HERE.
SO THIS ISN'T STUFF I'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT, BUT I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT, UH, MARKETING FOR MUSIC.
WE COULD ASK FOR MONEY FOR THAT TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, MARKETING HERE, UH, FOR OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, BASED ON WHAT NEIL TOLD US EARLIER.
I MEAN, IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO GO AHEAD AND FUND A DISPARITY STUDY AND HAVE THAT IN OUR BACK POCKET IF WE NEED IT IN CASE OF LEGAL CHALLENGES.
SO THAT'S THE KIND OF THING, UM, THAT I, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL BE THINKING ABOUT AND IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO MENTION RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE THIS AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM SO WE CAN GET A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION DONE BY THE DEADLINE, ANYBODY.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON THEN, UH,
[4d. Discussion and Possible Action on voter registration and Music Commission role.]
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND THE MUSIC COMMISSION ROLE.SO I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND WAS GOING TO TAKE, TAKE THIS ONE FOR US.
YEAH, ALBERT, I'LL JUST BE REALLY, REALLY QUICK WITH IT.
[03:10:01]
WITH A COUPLE OF VENUES AROUND TOWN AND ALSO WORKING WITH PAT BOOKTA FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS.UH, PAT IS KIND OF, UH, UH, A GODSON IN A, IN A SAINT WHEN IT COMES TO STANDING UP AND ADVOCATING FOR MUSICIANS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NONPROFIT THAT'S THERE.
SO, UH, LAST YEAR I PARTNERED WITH HIM, UM, AND WORKED IN THE CAPACITY AS A PROGRAM CHAIR TO BASICALLY GET PEOPLE OUT, TO VOTE GEO TV.
THAT WAS A, UM, AN ENDEAVOR THAT INCLUDED, UM, KENNY DURHAM'S, BACKYARD, RADIO, COFFEE, AND BEER, A NUMBER OF MUSICIANS THAT WERE PART OF THE MUSICIANS ADVISORY PANEL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS.
AND WE ENDED UP, UH, REGISTERING, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, ABOUT 750 CLOSE TO 750 VOTERS, UM, IN THE LAST ELECTION.
AND IT ALSO, UM, I MEAN MAYBE COINCIDENTALLY OR NOT, BUT WE, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY HAD THE HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT THAN IT EVER HAD, UM, UM, IN 2020.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO REVAMP THOSE EFFORTS FOR THIS GUBERNATORIAL, UM, CYCLE ELECTION CYCLE THAT'S COMING UP AND ALSO TO GET READY FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, CURRENT THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE HAPPENING, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO, UH, IT'S VOTING AWARENESS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT IS, UH, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO, UM, UM, PAT AS WELL, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER, A NUMBER OF HOSTS OF OTHER MUSICIANS.
AND SO WE'LL BE, UH, MAKING EFFORTS TO DO THAT.
AND I'LL BE BRINGING BACK, UM, ON SOME THINGS NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH, THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN REGARDS TO POSSIBLY HOW THE COMMISSIONERS CAN BE ACTIONABLE AND, AND, AND, UM, GETTING MUSICIANS TO TURN OUT THE VOTE.
YEAH, I WOULD LOVE FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, AND IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR THE COMMISSION TO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND BE AT VENUES AND HELPING WITH THIS EFFORT AND TALKING TO MUSICIANS.
I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE INVOLVED.
AND IF YOU CAN SCOTT THINK ABOUT SOME CONCRETE WAYS THAT WE COULD DO THAT AND BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AS A MUSIC COMMISSIONERS, LIKE AT THESE EVENTS, EVEN IF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS WE'RE DEPUTIZED AS REGISTRARS OR WE'RE JUST THERE AT THE TABLE, WE'LL HELP AN OUT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE SUPER COOL.
SO THANK YOU FOR DESCRIBING THAT.
[4e. Discussion and Possible Action on increasing City rate for musicians.]
OUR LAST ITEM ITEM FOR EACH DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON INCREASING, UH, THE CITY RATE FOR MUSICIANS.SO, UH, UH, WE HAVE NOT STEPPING IN, WE'VE BEEN BUSY WITH LIVE MUSIC, COVID ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
SO WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED BASE ON THAT YET.
I WILL START DOING MY HOMEWORK ON THAT AND I WILL COME BACK AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING WITH, UM, A SLEW OF FIGS FOR REPORT.
SO WE'LL HAVE THAT AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM,
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
SO YEAH.THEN WE'LL JUST MOVE RIGHT AHEAD.
ANYBODY GOT A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM? IT SOUNDS LIKE SCOTT.
UH, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR, DO WE HAVE TO, IF WE'RE MOVING SOMETHING FORWARD, DO WE MAKE A MOTION OR, YEAH, YOU SHOULD MAKE A MOTION FOR ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, BUT, UM, YOU JUST NEED A MOTION AND SECOND, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
SO I WOULD MOTION THAT WE HAVE, UM, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON INCREASING CITY RATE FOR MUSICIANS ON THE MARCH OF DINDA.
ANYBODY ELSE GOT SOME THINGS? UM, UM, WELL IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET RECOMMENDATION NEXT MONTH.
SO MOTION A DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON A POSSIBLE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THE VERY THING TOO, THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT TOO.
I MOTION TO, UM, UH, CREATE A MOTION DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND MUSIC COMMISSION ROLE.
SECOND DID, UM, ALSO, IF ERIC IS GOING TO BE BRINGING BACK A POSSIBLE PROPOSAL FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, RATHER THAN IT BEING JUST A STATUS UPDATE, I THINK WE WANT IT TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM SO WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION.
IF IT'S READY TO GO AT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, IS THAT A MOTION GRAHAM? UH, MOTION TO, OH, ERICA, WE'RE USING A MOTION TO SECOND YEAR.
OH, I SEE THAT DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON LIVE MUSIC FUNDING RECOMMENDATION.
[03:15:01]
UH, AND THEN I'VE GOT ONE MORE ITEM.UM, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION HAS, UH, COME BACK AS A POINT OF DISCUSSION PUBLICLY AGAIN.
AND I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT, UM, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ROLE IN THAT EXPANSION AND HOW WE COULD BE A PART OF THAT AND HOW IT CAN BENEFIT THE MUSIC COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK THAT THERE CAN BE A REALLY VISIONARY APPROACH TO THAT.
AND OF COURSE THAT IS THE, UM, THAT IS RELATED TO OUR HOT FUNDING AS WELL.
SO, UM, SO I WOULD MOTION FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON, UM, CONVENTION CENTER, RENOVATION AND EXPANSION.
THE SECOND THERE IS THERE IN CHARLOTTE THERE A PERSON WHO COULD BE INVITED TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON WHERE THAT, WHERE THAT DAN'S.
SO WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION SO WE CAN INCLUDE A PRESENTER FROM, I THINK THE CONVENTION CENTER THERE.
SO, YEAH, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION WITH PRESENTATION FROM CONVENTION CENTER STAFF.