Feb 14, 2022 Tourism Commission

LAURA TEMPLETON, A CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.

COMMISSIONERS.

IT'S REQUIRED THAT YOU HAVE A CAMERA ON, SO PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.

I'LL HOLD THE MEETING UNTIL THAT'S DONE THIS.

OH, SHE SAYS IN COMMUNICATION, I'M NOT NORMAL SKIN.

UM, I'M I'M CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS LAURA TEMPLETON.

HELLO, EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

HELLO, LAURA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT MYSELF ON VIDEO.

SO THE ONLY NON VIDEO I SEE IS MS. ALEXANDER, CAN YOU TURN YOUR VIDEO ON PLEASE? OKAY.

NO, NO, THIS ISN'T COMMUNICATION, NO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.

HEY, AWESOME.

THAT ITEM AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, BEING ONE A, THE APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 8, 20, 21 MINUTES.

SO, UM, AS IT'S A HYBRID MEETING, UM, IF YOU WISH TO SEEK THE FLOOR, YOU NEED TO SEEK RECOGNITION FROM THE CHAIR AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY RAISING HAND.

SO I'LL ASK, UH, THOSE THAT ARE WITH US VIRTUALLY AND THOSE THAT ARE WITH US IN PERSON.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE YET RAISE YOUR HAND SO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE OPPORTUNITY OF SPEAKING ON THE FLOOR.

UM, NOW THAT WE HAVE EVERYBODY PRESENT AND WITH THEIR CAMERAS ON, WE WILL, UH, START GOING THROUGH THE AGENDA OF THIS MEETING.

UH, I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT WE HAVE NO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION, UM, AT THIS TIME.

SO WE'LL DISPENSE WITH

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UM, IS IT WHERE THE MINUTES, UH, DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYBODY IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING? GREAT.

SO WE DON'T NEED TO READ THEM.

EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE SEEN THEM.

UM, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MARCH 8TH MINUTES FIRST, PLEASE COST DRIVE OVER THOSE PRINTOUTS.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CORRECTION OR ADDITION TO THE MARCH 8TH MINUTES HEARING NO CORRECTION OR ADDITION TO THE MARCH EIGHT MINUTES.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MARCH H MINUTE, MARCH 8TH MINUTES.

I MOTION TO APPROVE LOIS.

BY SECOND, IT'S BEEN REGULAR MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MARCH 8TH MINUTES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE'LL JUST DO RIGHT-HAND CAUSE IT'S EASIER VIRTUALLY.

ALL RIGHT, RIGHT.

LOWER YOUR HANDS.

AND YOU WANT TO POSE RAISE HAND.

THOSE ARE APPROVED.

NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE MAY APPROVAL OF THE MAY 10TH MINUTES.

WERE THESE ALSO DISTRIBUTED IN ADVANCE? GREAT.

SO EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE SEEN THESE AND THEY'VE BEEN DISTRIBUTED.

UM, PLEASE COST YOUR EYE OVER THE MAY 10TH MEETING MINUTES, 2021.

I'VE GOT A PROPOSED CORRECTION, JUST BECAUSE I WILL ASK YOU TO GIVE ME A SECOND.

ANYONE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE MAY 10TH MINUTES, COMMISSIONER CANADY.

UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SURE WE CAPTURED IT CORRECTLY.

AND I WENT BACK AND LISTENED TO THE TRANSCRIPT.

UM, SO WE REFERRING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BARKING ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP AND AFTER, UM, I THINK THE ITEM THREE, THE MINUTES, UH, THE MOTION WAS THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER AND DIRECT STAFF TO CONSIDER THE USES IDENTIFIED, EXCUSE ME, THE IDENTIFIED USES AS POSSIBLE PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES.

IT'S A MINOR CHANGE, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN.

CAN YOU SEND ME WHICH, UM, SECTION THREE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING AT THE MINUTES.

SEE, UM, NUMBER THREE AND AFTER THE WORD STAFF TO CONSIDER DELETE THAT, AND THEN IT CONTINUES THESE IDENTIFIED AND THEN INSERT USES AND THEN THE REST IS OFFERING.

SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, YOU'RE LOOKING UNDER OLD BUSINESS SECTION FOUR ITEMS, C3.

YES.

A MOTION RECOMMENDS THAT COUNCIL AND I'M GOING TO READ IT, UM, AS IT WOULD APPEAR WITH YOUR CORRECTIONS.

WHEN CONSIDERING THE ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS WITH THE HOTEL OCCUPIED.

AND TELL ME IF I'M RIGHT.

RECOMMENDS THAT COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND DIRECT STAFF TO CONSIDER THESE IDENTIFIED USES AS POSSIBLY PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES

[00:05:01]

AND I THINK THE WORD POSSIBLY SHOULD BE POSSIBLE.

AWESOME.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO READ IT ONE MORE TIME.

UM, RECOMMENDS THAT COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND DIRECT STAFF TO CONSIDER THESE IDENTIFIED USES AS POSSIBLE PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES WHEN CONSIDERING THE ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.

IS THAT YOUR CORRECTION? THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, SO CORRECTION HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO THAT ITEM.

ANY DISCUSSION, ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? CORRECTION SEEING NONE WE'LL TAKE THAT CORRECTION.

SO WE'RE DELETING THAT AND SEARCHING USES OFF TO THE WORD IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTING POSSIBLY TO READ POSSIBLE.

ANY OTHER CORRECTION TO THE MAY 10TH MINUTES OF 2021.

ALRIGHT, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAY 10TH, 20, 21 MINUTES AS CORRECTED.

SO MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CANADY.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY SECOND, I TOOK THE RAISED HAND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER READING, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MAY 10TH, 20, 21 MINUTES AS CORRECTED.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND BY ALL RIGHT.

HANDS DOWN.

ANYONE OPPOSED? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

MAYBE COMMISSIONER, EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN.

THAT ITEM IS DISPENSED.

IF THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AS CORRECTED.

SURE.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, CERTAINLY.

AND IT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR STEPH.

I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THESE THINGS GET FORWARDED ON TO COUNCIL.

HAS THAT HAPPENED ALREADY OR ARE YOU WAITING FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? I'M JUST, IT'S A QUESTION OF THE MECHANICS.

I WONDER HOW THIS HAPPENS.

WELL, I'M TALKING.

SO IT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION WE MADE THE LAST, WELL LAST MAY.

HOW DO THOSE, WHEN THEY'RE BLESSED BY US GET SENT TO COUNCIL, WHICH IS WHAT IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE? AND I JUST SERIOUSLY DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

WOULDN'T AN ALREADY DID IT.

AND MAYBE WE DON'T KNOW IT WAS BEFORE YOU WORKED ON OKAY.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

SO, UM, ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL MAKE INQUIRIES I GUESS, AND FIND OUT.

UM, MOVING ON TO NEXT LINE OF BUSINESS, UM, IS NEW BUSINESS SECTION TWO, THE COMMISSION MAY DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION UPON THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS. SO FIRST IS, UH,

[2a. Introduce new Board members]

TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS.

DO WE HAVE ANY NEW BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT WITH US TODAY? UM, I'M HERE, GREG.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

SHANNON.

WHY DON'T YOU GO TAKE THE FLOOR AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF? HI, I'M GREG SHANNON.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH MCGINNIS.

UM, LOCKRIDGE UM, I'M A PREVIOUS, UH, CHAIR OF THE, UM, UH, VISIT AUSTIN AUSTIN CONVENTION, VISITORS BUREAU.

UM, THAT'S BEEN, I'LL HAVE TO SAY WHICH DISTRICT ARE YOU REPRESENTING? WHICH COMMITTEE? WHICH A COUNCIL MEMBER.

CAN YOU PLEASE HOLD PROS IN DISTRICT TWO.

OKAY, EXCELLENT.

THAT'S OKAY.

UM, AND EVERYBODY ELSE I THINK WAS PRESENT.

WE HAVE MET BEFORE, CORRECT? THAT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER.

NEXT IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO SET THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 2022.

SO EXPENSES WITH THAT ITEM OF BUSINESS,

[2b. Discussion and possible action to set meeting schedule for 2022]

SO I HOPE EVERYBODY BROUGHT THEIR CALENDARS.

UM, LAST TIME I REMEMBER THIS BODY DISCUSSING POSSIBLE MEETINGS, AND I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE OUTCOME OF IT WAS.

THERE WAS A POINT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY MEETING EVERY OTHER MONTH INSTEAD OF EVERY MONTH.

UM, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT DIDN'T THAT GO UP THE CHAIN TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS OKAY WITH OUR BYLAWS.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED THE BYLAWS BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE IF THEY REQUIRE US TO DO MONTHLY.

DO,

[00:10:01]

DOES ANYONE RECALL? MY RECOLLECTION IS WE ARE UNDER A BYLAWS REQUIRED TO MEET MONTHLY AND TO CHANGE THAT IT HAD TO GO UP TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING.

I SEEM TO RECALL THAT, AND I NEVER HEARD AFTER THAT WENT OFF INTO THE ETHER.

I THINK WE PROBABLY, I, MY RECOLLECTION IS WE ALL LIKED THE IDEA AND IT PROBABLY NEVER WENT FURTHER THAN THAT.

SO, UM, I GUESS FOR ME, I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING WE STILL WANT TO PURSUE OR DO WE JUST WANT TO LOOK AT, UM, DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE MONTHLY SINCE WE'VE HAD SO MUCH TIME OFF, CONTINUE WITH MONTHLY AND JUST PICK MONTHLY DATES FROM HERE FORWARD, ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? I WOULD LEAVE IT TO THE, UH, TO THE SENIOR MEMBERS.

I MEAN, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, WITH EVERY OTHER MONTH, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY FEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, AS BEST CONDUCIVE TO WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS ARE FOR THE TOURISM COMMISSION.

I MEAN, THE FACT IS WE WERE OFF FOR A YEAR, SO YEAH, EVERY OTHER MONTH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA.

SO ONE, ONE COMMISSIONER WHO'S INTERESTED IN EVERY OTHER MONTH.

YOU'RE ALSO INTERESTED IN OTHER EVERY OTHER MONTH.

IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED TO PURSUING THE EVERY OTHER MONTH MEETING SCHEDULE? I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT.

I WOULD LOVE TO JUST, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND FOR ME IF YOU'RE ON, IF YOU'RE VIRTUAL, CAUSE THEN I CAN GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.

UH, ALTHOUGH I CAN'T SEE EVERYBODY'S NAMES.

I THINK THAT'S COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER.

THAT WAS FIRST, UH, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDRE.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

HELLO? SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

BUT I DO NOT HAVE AN OPPOSITION.

I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE SOME CONSISTENCY AS FAR AS, UM, YOU KNOW, DATES, IF WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A DATE LIKE EVERY THIRD, WEDNESDAY, OR EVERY FOURTH, MONDAY, WHICHEVER, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THOSE, THOSE ARE JUST EXAMPLES.

SO THAT PROBABLY GET A HANDLE ON, UM, MEETING THE FORUM AND THEN COMMISSIONER RADY, I BELIEVE YOU HAD YOUR HAND RAISED.

DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS POINT? YES.

UM, I'M OPPOSED TO MAKING IT, UH, UH, A SET THING EVERY OTHER MONTH.

I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT WE HAVE, WE STRUGGLED WITH A QUORUM, SO I THINK WE'LL SKIP MONTHS ANYWAY.

UM, I DID WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE, THAT THE, THE, UH, THE EXISTENCE OF THIS COMMISSION IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 23RD.

THAT HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN A COMMISSION DOESN'T MEET FOR SIX MONTHS AND THAT COMMITTEE MAY CHOOSE TO RECOMMEND DISSOLVING THIS COMMISSION.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNEW THAT.

AND UM, IF, IF I COULD SEND IT TO FELICIA OUT, I CAN HAND I CAN GET THE, UH, AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA OUT TO EVERYONE.

UM, BUT YEAH, THAT'S NEXT WEEK.

AND BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MET IN SO LONG, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED BY THAT COUNCIL COMMITTEE, WHETHER OR NOT THIS COMMISSION SHOULD CONTINUE.

UM, WELL I THINK IN CASE THEY SAY, YES, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHEN WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET, UNLESS, UM, UNLESS THE GROUP IS PROPOSING THAT WE WAIT AND POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL AFTER THAT FINANCING COMMITTEE MEETING, I'D LIKE, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM A COMMITTEE MEMBER RIEDEL WHAT WILL YOU SAY? UH, NOT SET EVERY OTHER MONTH.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT AS THINGS COME UP, THEN WE SHOULD LIKE TO SET IN SET A MEETING UP OR JUST NOT SURE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THAT? WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, STATUTORILY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO MEET EVERY MONTH UNLESS THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE DETERMINES THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO.

SO, UM, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE LIVE UP TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO AT LEAST TRY TO MEET EVERY MONTH.

AND BASED ON PRECEDENT, WE WILL HAVE TIMES THAT WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL MISS MEETINGS.

UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF BUSINESS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MET IN SO LONG AND I'D RATHER GET THAT UNDER CONTROL BY MEETING MONTHLY AND THEN RECONSIDER A BI-MONTHLY SCHEDULE.

UM, AND THEN WHAT, UH, VICE-CHAIR MCGEE SAID, YOU MAY DISSOLVE THIS COMMISSION NEXT WEEK MAKING THIS CONVERSATION MOOD.

SO, YEAH, UH, HAVING SEEN MY CHEAT SHEET HERE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING THAT WE SHOULD TABLE THIS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THIS AND CONSIDER A MARCH DATE.

AND THEN AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING, WHETHER EITHER WILL OR WON'T HAVE A MEETING, OR WE CAN DECIDE IF WE WANT TO SWITCH OVER IF WE'RE ABLE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO ANY MAKE THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW WHILE THEY'RE CONSIDERING OUR OPTIONS ANYWAY, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO EXIST OR NOT.

WOULD LIKE TO ECHO CON UH, UH, SUPPORT OF THAT, BECAUSE I THINK A COMMISSIONER, WHEREVER HE GIVES US A GOOD IDEA, JUST TABLE IT AND SEE WHERE WE GO SET UP A MARCH MEETING, AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO FROM THERE.

[00:15:01]

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE ITEM TO BE TO THAT TILL OUR NEXT, UH, MEETING THAT WAY? UH, IT GIVES US, YOU KNOW, IT PUTS IT ON THE AGENDA.

SHOULD WE, SHOULD THE FINANCE COMMITTEE DECIDE THAT THIS BOARD CONTINUES, IT PUTS IT AUTOMATICALLY ON THE VERY NEXT MEETING AGENDA? YES, I DO.

I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION JUST AS YOU SAID IT, COMMISSIONER SMITH, JULY 2ND.

THAT MOTION.

SO THE MOTION BEFORE US IS THAT WE POSTPONE ITEM TO BE TO THE NEXT, UH, TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD MEETING, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM, SEEING NONE I'LL JUST POINT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO, WE'RE GOING TO BE ON A MONTHLY SCHEDULE EITHER UNTIL WE'RE DISBANDED OR UNTIL THE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHANGES IT.

SO MAYBE THAT'S AN ANSWER TO COMMISSIONER READINGS WE'RE IN THE NEAR-TERM CORRECT.

AND THAT DISCUSSION POINT CAN COME UP WHEN WE NEXT MEET TO NEXT, DISCUSS THIS TOPIC, WHICH WOULD BE OUR VERY NEXT MEETING.

IF INDEED THERE IS ONE, UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM FOR NEXT WEEK OR FOR NEXT MEETING? SURE.

UM, STAFF HAS POINTED OUT THAT WE NEED TO SET A DATE FOR OUR MARCH MEETING.

SO LET'S DO THAT QUICKLY AND THEN I'LL TAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION THAT INCLUDES THAT DATE.

UM, IF WE DID 14.

SO THE SUGGESTION IS THAT WE DO MARCH 14TH, THREE TO FIVE.

SO WE KEEP THE CONSISTENCY.

IS THAT CORRECT? THREE TO FIVE.

SO, UM, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING ON MARCH 14TH, THREE TO FIVE YET.

UM, IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED TO SETTING THE NEXT MEETING AS MARCH 14TH, THREE TO FIVE WORKS FOR ME.

THEN I'LL TAKE A, IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT THE, UM, WE INSERT, UH, MARCH 14TH AT 3:00 PM INTO THE MAIN MOTION.

SO MOVED SO MOVED.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT? SECOND.

SO MOVED IN SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT BEING, UH, INSERTING MARCH 14TH, THREE TIL FIVE.

LET'S VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS NOPE.

WHO'S WHO WANTS TO YES.

WHICH THE BUNCH IS THAT YOU? YEAH.

I ACTUALLY WANTED TO SPEAK AGAINST THAT DAY SINCE.

MONDAY, MARCH 21ST, MONDAY, MARCH 21ST.

UM, AND IT'S ALSO SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.

UH HUH.

DO YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE DATE TO PROPOSE FOR US TO CONSIDER? SURE.

IS THAT POSSIBLE? FELICIA YOU'LL HAVE TO.

YOU'LL HAVE TO REQUEST.

UH, ANYONE ELSE, MARK? I JUST KNOW I WON'T BE AVAILABLE THAT DAY, BUT DON'T HOWEVER, THE MILK, WHATEVER THE MAJORITY CAN MAKE, BECAUSE WHAT MATTERS.

SO, UH, COMMISSIONER BUNCH IS, UH, SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS TO ADD INSERT, UH, MARCH 14TH, THREE TIL FIVE INTO THE MOTION.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT AMENDMENT? I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T THINK THROUGH THE SOUTH SPRING BREAK ISSUE, I WILL HAVE, UH, MY HANDS FULL WITH CHILDREN.

ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE NODDING, NOT LIKING THE IDEA OF MARCH 14TH? I THINK ABOUT THAT EITHER.

AND I'LL HAVE MIGRAINE KIDS AS WELL, SO, ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IF WE, IF WE ARE TO FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULES, WE CAN DISPENSE WITH THAT AMENDMENT BY VOTING IT DOWN.

OR IF YOU'RE STILL IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THAT SUGGESTED DATE, YOU WOULD VOTE FOR IT.

IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE IT, VOTE IT DOWN.

SO I'LL TAKE A VOTE.

JUST SO IT'S CLEAR FOR THE RECORD.

UM, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS INSERTING MARCH 14TH, UH, THREE TO FIVE AS THE NEXT MEETING DATE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THOSE OPPOSED TO THAT AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

SO THAT AMENDMENT FAILS THAT OPENS THE POSSIBILITY FOR A DIFFERENT AMENDMENT WITH A DIFFERENT DATE, UH, COMMISSION, A BUNCH JUST SUGGESTED MARCH 21ST, I PRESUME THREE TO FIVE.

SO COMMISSIONER BUNCH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT MOVE TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT? YES.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT AMENDMENT? I CAN SECOND THAT.

MARCH 21ST, THREE TO FIVE IS OUR NEXT MEETING DATE.

IT'S BEEN REGULARLY MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO INSERT

[00:20:01]

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT AMENDMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR DATE? ALL RIGHT.

AS THERE'S NO DISK AS THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, UH, WE WILL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS INSERTING THE DATE MARCH 21ST, THREE TO FIVE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

DO I NEED TO LEAVE IT UP SO THAT YOU CAN RECORD THAT NUMBER OR IS IT FINE? OKAY, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, PLEASE LOWER YOUR HAND.

ANYONE OPPOSED? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

AND APPARENTLY I'M SUPPOSED TO ALSO CALL FOR ABSTENTIONS.

I ABSTAIN.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'LL BE DOING ON THAT DATE.

UM, ALL RIGHT, SO THAT MEASUREMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE MAIN MOTION NOW IS TO POSTPONE DISCUSSION IS TO POSTPONE SETTING A MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THIS BOARD AND COMMISSION UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH WILL OCCUR ON MARCH 21ST AT 3:00 PM.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION, SEEING AS THE DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THANK YOU, PLEASE.

LOWER YOUR HANDS.

ANYONE OPPOSED? PLEASE RAISE A HAND.

ANY ABSTENTIONS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT MOTION IS ADOPTED.

NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS, UH, ITEM TWO C DISCUSSION AND UPDATE OUR APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP.

[2c. Discussion and update our appointed members of the Parks and Environment Working Group]

AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THE FLOOR TO, UH, COMMISSIONER KENNEDY.

IS THIS YOUR AGENDA ITEM? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? UH, I HOPE I CAN DO THIS INTELLIGENTLY, UH, PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED, UH, A WORKING GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT PARKS, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THE JURISDICTION OF THAT WORKING GROUP HAS SOME ADDITIONAL SCOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE OUT.

AND I WAS TRYING TO FIND MY COPY OF IT, AND I CAN'T FIND EXACTLY THE LANGUAGE, BUT I WAS WANTING TO RE-ENGAGE THE WORKING GROUP AROUND THE ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF TOPICS THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY SIGNED TO THAT WORKING GROUP.

UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE WORKING GROUP ORIGINALLY HAVE, UM, EITHER STEPPED DOWN OR CHANGED ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM AT LEAST A SUBSET OF FOLKS WHO WOULD BE CONTINUING TO SERVE, WHO'D BE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, ANDREA AND LOCKE, ADRIAN LOG-IN ECKER WHO'S WITH THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE, CLARK HANCOCK, WHO IS A CHAIR OF, UH, SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION, HEIDI ANDERSON WITH THE TRAIL FOUNDATION.

UH, HE RIDDLED SANCHEZ WITH PEACE PARK CONSERVANCY, UH, TED SIFF WITH THE SHELL CREEK CONSERVANCY.

UH, AND I WOULD CONTINUE AND I WOULD INVITE, UH, COMMISSIONER BUNCH TO CONTINUE WITH WEALTH.

HE'S INTERESTED IN REALLY ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSION MEMBER.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARKS OUTSIDE OF THE AREA THAT I JUST IDENTIFIED.

UH, AND I'VE GOT SOME PENDING REQUESTS IN WITH, UH, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP US, UH, FIND SOME MORE, YOU KNOW, A BROADER REPRESENTATION FROM THE WHOLE CITY ON THIS WORKING GROUP.

SO, UM, I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS WE COULD REAPPOINT SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

I THINK EVERYONE IS STILL THAT I LISTED IS WILLING TO CONTINUE SERVING.

AND I WOULD, AS I SAID, INVITE, UH, COMMISSIONER BUNCH TO CONTINUE AS WELL.

AND THEN IF WE COULD, AS A COMMISSION, UH, MAYBE I'M NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE THIS A PLACEHOLDER, BUT IF WE COULD GET SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO FIND OTHER PARKS TO ENGAGE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS, I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.

WE'RE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SURE.

SO, I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT SAYS PROCEDURALLY.

UM, I'D LIKE TO TRY TO GET THE GROUP GOING AND I WOULD BE OPEN TO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT FOLKS WHO SHOULD, WE CAN PLUG INTO THIS PROCESS TO GET THE BEST WORK PRODUCT.

BEFORE WE TAKE ONE NAMES, CAN I JUST CONFIRM, UM, THAT I HAVE THE NAMES CORRECT THAT YOU ALREADY LISTED? UM, ADRIAN WAS THE FIRST NAME, BUT I MISSED THE SEC HISTORY.

HER NAME IS LOGAN ECKER AND MY SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION ARE PROBABLY BOTH WRONG, I BELIEVE.

SO.

I HAVE TO GET MY EMAILS TO GET IT CORRECT.

I GOT IT RIGHT HERE.

ANDREA AND LOGAN ARE CORRECT THE SPELLING IF YOU NEED IT, PLEASE.

HELLO.

IN G E N E C K E R S.

CORRECT.

AND THEN, UM, I MISSED THE FIRST NAME OF CLARK SANCHEZ.

OH, UM, UH, HEATH, H E A T H E.

AND HIS RIDDLES HYPHENS SANCHEZ.

AND THEN TED TED SIF.

S I F F.

ON THE WORKING GROUP BEFORE, IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO RE UP, I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THE LOOP WITH THEM, BUT I THINK WE EXPECT SOME ADDITIONAL NAMES.

SO I'VE GOT ADRIAN LOGAN AIRCRAFT, FLANK CLOCK, HANCOCK, HEIDI ANDERSON.

HE SANCHEZ TED'S COMMISSIONER CANARSIE COMMISSIONER BUNCH THUS FAR, THUS FAR.

AND WE HAVE REQUESTED SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE

[00:25:01]

YOU JUST QUESTION, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE, UH, REQUIREMENT? HOW MANY DO YOU MEET WEEKLY OR MONTHLY? UH, OCCASIONALLY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORKING GROUP.

WAS IT VERY UNSTRUCTURED AND WE, WE ACTUALLY KIND OF ENDED UP MEETING KIND OF BY EMAIL SOMETIMES IN PERSON ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.

WE DID NOT HAVE A STRICT SCHEDULE.

IT WAS SORT OF TOPIC DRIVEN.

WELL, IT WAS COMMISSIONER.

I'M HELPING YOU TO GET ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR YOU IF YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO ADD COMMISSIONER SMITH.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NAMES THAT, UH, THOSE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE LIST? OR ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO, THAT ARE NOT NAMED, THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL POPS WORKING ON? WE JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY COMMISSIONERS.

THAT WOULD FORM A CORE FOR THE, I SEE.

COURTNEY? NO, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE WORKING GROUPS HERE IN THE BYLAWS AND THERE'S NOT A HECK OF A LOT.

THAT IS YES.

COMMISSIONER BUNCH.

ARE YOU WILLING TO STAY ON THAT WORKING GROUP? INDEED.

UH, LAST CALL, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT.

UM, I WILL ALSO TRY TO PROVIDE YOU SOME NAMES AND YOU DID MAKE US WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANTED TO ADD THE SAME, KEEP THE SAME.

I THINK ALL THOSE THAT YOU HAVE ON BOARD NOW THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD SERVICE TO JUST EVEN HAVE MORE TO IT FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION.

I'M IN THE BYLAWS.

I'M NOT REALLY SEEING ANY, UH, ANY INFORMATION ABOUT APPOINTING, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE REASONABLE THAT, UM, FOR THE RECORD, THIS COMMISSION, IF WE VOTED ON APPOINTING THESE FOLKS AS A BOARD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UM, REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE.

WOULD YOU AGREE, FELICIA? AND I THINK IT'S WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST.

SO, UM, SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS TO THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT, WORKING GROUP, THOSE FOLLOWING MEMBERS BEING ADRIAN LOG-IN, ECKER CLARK HANCOCK, HEIDI ANDERSON, HEATH SANCHEZ, TED COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER BUNCH AND COMMISSIONER SMITH, WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ SUGGESTED THAT WE ALSO INCLUDE ANY OF THE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED FOLKS WHO GET TO US AND ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE SINCE WE'VE ALREADY, IT'S BEEN, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THEM MEMORIZED, BUT IT'S IN OUR RECORD OF SO AND ALL PREVIOUSLY POINTED APPOINTEES.

NOPE.

YES.

APPARENTLY WE CAN READ THEM INTO THE RECORD IF YOU WANT, BUT, UM, OTHERWISE, UM, WELL IT'S GOT JOSTLE LOAF WAS A COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTS TO CONTINUE OR NOT.

SO I'LL FIND OUT, UM, LADY ANNE WOFFORD WHO USED TO BE AT THE BOSS PARKS FOUNDATION, BUT SINCE SHE'S LEFT THAT GROUP, THEY WOULD NEED A SUBSTITUTE.

I'M JUST KIND OF GIVING YOU AN UPDATE.

UH, DAN WAS WITH THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY.

HE IS ALSO NO LONGER, BUT MAYBE THEY WOULD FIND A SUBSTITUTE ANGELA RICHTER WHO WAS WITH THE SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION.

SHE'S NOW WITH AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL SIGN HER UP.

SORRY, ANGELA.

UM, MOLLY ALEXANDER FROM DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, CHUCK SMITH, WHO WAS WITH THE PEACE PARK CONSERVANCY AND SARAH STOREY WHO WAS WITH COMMONWEALTH GUARD SCULPTURE GARDEN.

BUT I THINK SHE'S ALSO LEFT THAT GROUP.

SO I'M SORRY, THIS JUST KIND OF A MESS, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE STATUS OF THAT GROUP.

UM, I SAID, I WOULD SUGGEST INSTEAD OF ADDING AN OLD PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED APPOINTEES THAT PERHAPS, UM, UH, YOU FIND OUT WHETHER ANY OF THOSE THAT YOU'VE JUST LISTED ARE ELIGIBLE AND IF ELIGIBLE AVAILABLE, AND THEN NEXT MEETING, WE CAN JUST ADD THEM TO THE LIST BECAUSE THAT WAY IT'S A BIT MORE CONCRETE AND CERTAIN, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

SECONDED BY SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SO LET'S JUST GO WITH THE LIST THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE FOR TODAY.

UM, SO AGAIN, UH, THE MOTION WOULD BE THE, THE FOLKS THAT WE'VE JUST LISTED, THAT WE LISTED ADRIAN LOG-IN ECKER, CLANG CLARK HANCOCK, HEIDI ANDERSON, KEITH SANCHEZ, TED SIFF, COMMISSIONER COMMODITY CONDITIONER BUNCH COMMISSIONER SMITH WOULD BE APPOINTED TO THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP BY THIS BODY AT THIS MEETING.

UM, THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION.

SOMEBODY LIKED TO MAKE THAT MOTION MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CANADY WITH SOMEBODY LIKE TO SECOND, THAT MOTION

[00:30:02]

SO ITEM D UPDATE STAFF ON THE EXPANSION CONTRACTED UNDERWAY WITH WHOM AND HOW MUCH AT ANY TIMELINE OF NEXT STEPS AND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM OR THE LIST OF PEOPLE CONTAINED WITHIN THAT MOTION, SEEING NONE, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE TO THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT, WORKING GROUP, ADRIAN LOGAN ACRE PLOT HANCOCK, HEIDI ANDERSON, HE SANCHEZ TED SIF, COMMISSIONER CANADY COMMISSION, A BUNCH AND COMMISSIONER SMITH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THOSE APPOINTEES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND LOWER HANDS THAT'S EVERYBODY IN FAVOR.

SO THAT WOULD BE NO OPPOSED AND NO ABSTENTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, THAT MOTION IS ADOPTED AND WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS.

[2d. Update from staff on expansion contracted underway, with whom and how much, any timeline of "next steps” and discussion and possible action related to the convention center.]

UM, FELICIA, DID WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THIS YEAR? ALL RIGHT, SO WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION.

WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A PRINTED ONE PAGE, UM, PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT VIA EMAIL.

WAS IT SENT OUT AHEAD OF THE MEETING.

I CAN POST IT RIGHT NOW.

FELICIA WAS THIS SENT OUT AHEAD OF THE MEETING.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE'S SEEN IT.

IT'S TITLED STAFF UPDATE ITEM TWO D TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 14TH, 2022.

UM, AND THIS IS THE UPDATE HAS EVERYBODY WAS BEING SHARED ON SCREEN MAYBE.

SO I'LL JUST GIVE EVERYONE A MINUTE TO SORT OF SCAN DOWN.

UM, HAS ANYONE NOT RECEIVED THE, OH, I DON'T RECALL SEEING IT.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU DON'T RECALL SEEING IT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

WELL, LET'S TRY TO JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK THROUGH IT TOGETHER.

CAUSE I HAVEN'T LAID MY EYES ON IT EITHER.

ANYONE ELSE HERE PRESENT NITA COFFEE? I DON'T THINK I GOT ONE.

YEAH, I DIDN'T ALL.

CAN YOU SEE, CAN YOU SEE IT ON THE SCREEN? OKAY.

SO WE'LL JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK THROUGH THIS.

I HADN'T SEEN THAT.

IF WE ARE INDEED MEETING NEXT MEETING, UH, NEXT MARCH, UH, IF THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT DISSOLVED AND WE END UP MEETING IN MARCH THAT THERE SHOULD BE THIS PROMISE OF A PRESENTATION.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, UM, DOCUMENT CONTAINS SOME LINKS TO OTHER DOCUMENTS.

SO IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE, MYSELF INCLUDED THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE, THAT ALSO MEANS WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLICK THOSE LINKS AND SEE WHAT THOSE OTHER DOCUMENTS ARE.

UM, I'M SEEING NODDING OF HEADS.

UM, I KNOW AT THE END IT SAYS, SHOULD THE COMMISSION REQUEST, WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION PROJECT AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION.

WE'VE JUST DECIDED WHEN THE NEXT MEETING IS.

SO, UM, SHOULD WE, UM, I GUESS MY COMMISSION TO MIKE COMMISSION, I GUESS MY QUESTION TO THIS BODY IS, SHALL WE PUT A PIN IN THIS, UM, KNOWING THAT

[00:35:01]

AND THEN THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLICK ON THESE LINKS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, AND BE A BIT MORE INFORMED ON THIS TOPIC.

COMMISSIONER SMITH, WASHINGTON, UH, WHO GENERATED THIS? WHO DOES THIS COME FROM? I DON'T KNOW WHAT BODY THIS CAME FROM.

IS THIS PARDON ME? THE CONVENTION CENTER, THIS STAFF UPDATE OR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

I JUST WANT TO SET YOURSELF INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER, SEND THIS OUT.

UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I THINK I SAW YOUR HAND RAISED AT ONE POINT.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PRESENTATION AND I THINK WE SHOULD PUT IT ON THE NEXT MEETING AND NOT WORRY ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE DISSOLVED OR NOT.

IF WE ARE DISSOLVED AND WE JUST CANCEL THAT PRESENTATION REQUEST.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

SO, UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PUT THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION THAT WE, UH, PUT THE QUESTION THAT WE REQUEST? YEAH.

THAT WE REQUEST, UM, A PRESENTATION FROM THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION PROJECT.

AT THAT MEETING, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REQUEST A PRESENTATION ON THE CONVENTION CENTER UPDATED OUR NEXT, UH, MARCH 21ST.

AND I'LL SECOND.

AND I HAVE A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM ON THAT MOTION? CAN WE COMMISSIONER BOND? SO YOU HEAR THAT THAT REQUEST INCLUDES, UM, A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT AND HOW IN A FINANCE PROJECTION ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET.

AND WHAT WAS THE SECOND PART THAT YOU SAID, AND, AND, UH, A FINANCING PLAN OR FINANCE MODEL OR HOW IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAID FOR, SO LIKE AN UNEXPLAINED EXPLANATION OF HOW IT WILL BE PAID FOR RIGHT.

CAN I JUST COMMENT ON IT? OKAY.

COMMISSIONER SMITH, THE QUESTION, UH, TO COMMISSIONER BUNCHES.

I, I, I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

UH, BUT I WONDER, AND I DON'T, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WHOLE, HOW MUCH OF THIS PROCESS THEY'VE BEEN TO AND CHANGE.

I JUST WONDER IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR US IN A MONTH, OR IF, IS IT AVAILABLE NOW? I DON'T KNOW MEAN IT DOESN'T REALLY ALLUDE TO SAY ELUCIDATE THAT ON HERE IS TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL INCREASES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO, I MEAN, WE CAN PUT THAT IN THERE, BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT, THEN THEY'LL JUST DELAY IT.

MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST GET WHAT WE GET FOR NOW.

AND THEN ANOTHER POINT, SAY THAT OR SAY THAT, PLUS IF THEY CAN, THE FINANCIAL, I DON'T KNOW, YOU PROBABLY KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO AT THIS POINT WHERE YOU THINK COMMISSIONED BUNCH, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND? I MEAN, I, I, I THINK THEY'VE SAID THEY CAN COME AND WE'RE SAYING WE WANT THEM TO COME.

AND MY SENSE IS THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE, I JUST WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WE WANT THEY'RE THE MOST, THEY'RE, THEY'RE UP TO DATE ON THE FINANCING.

THAT'S GOOD.

THE BUDGETING AND FINANCING, AND IF IT'S PRELIMINARY, THEY CAN, IT PRELIMINARY.

UM, THAT'S FINE.

I JUST, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAR ALONG THEY ARE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION.

MAYBE AS PART OF THE MOTION, WE MAKE IT AN UPDATE ON THE FINANCING SITUATION TYPE OF THING.

CAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO JUST SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TALK TO YOU IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS OR SOMETHING, I'D RATHER FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE.

IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW.

AGREED.

SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT THE LANGUAGE WOULD BE THAT, UH, THE REQUEST INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT, CORRECT.

RATHER THAN PROPOSED BUDGET AND EXPLANATION OF HOW WE PAID, JUST SORT OF MAKE IT MORE OF A GENERAL.

UM, YES.

WE WANT A PRESENTATION ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE PROJECT AND THAT INCLUDED AN UPDATE ON THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT.

ANY, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? OKAY.

I'LL JUST NOTE AND MAYBE EVERYBODY ALREADY KNOWS THIS.

I THINK THAT THERE'S SIMILAR PRESENTATIONS BEING MADE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO OVERLAP.

AND IN FACT, SOMEBODY, I THINK LAURA MIGHT BE ABLE TO SHED SOME LIGHT A LITTLE BIT.

MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE SO FAR, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S CURRENT AND TIMELY.

[00:40:01]

SO, UH, THE MOTION, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THE SLIGHT AMENDMENT WOULD BE, UM, TO REQUEST THAT THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER PRESENT AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION PROJECT, AND THAT INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE, WE'LL PUT IT TO VOTE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

HANDS DOWN.

THAT'S EVERYONE IN FAVOR.

NO OPPOSED, NO ABSTENTION.

THAT WE TOOK AFTER MEETING WITH PROFESSOR SANDERS WAS THAT, UH, TRADE SHOWS NATIONWIDE, NATIONWIDE HAS NOT RECOVERED SINCE THE 2008 LEVELS.

SO, UH, THAT SAID, IS THERE ANY OF THEIR, UM, BUSINESS THAT THIS BODY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IN LIGHT OF THE EMAIL THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US? OR SHALL WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM OF THE, ON THE AGENDA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET THAT EMAIL SO THAT WE DO HAVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE IT EITHER.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

FELICIA JUST SAID RECENT THE EMAIL AND IT'S ALSO ON THE BOARD'S WEBSITE.

AND I SAW ANOTHER HAND RAISED ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THAT NAME IS NOT UP.

SO I'M HAVING TROUBLE CALLING THE PERSON WHO I SEE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SCREEN.

MY NAME IS LAURA TEMPLETON, AND I THOUGHT I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WORKING GROUP.

AS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, WE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION FROM THE CONVENTION STAFF, UH, LAST YEAR.

AND, UH, I WILL JUST PREPARE, I'LL JUST READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I PREPARED LAST YEAR.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE DOWNTOWN CONVENTION, SERIOUS AND GROWING CURRENTS AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE FUNDING AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND THE COVID AND POST COVID WORLD.

ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDE THE FUNDING PLAN AS WELL AS A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE CONVENTION AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

FOUR MONTHS AHEAD OF MAKING ANY FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS RELATED TO THE EXPANSION.

WE ALSO VOTED UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY TO, UH, FOR A WORKING GROUP THAT WILL GATHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXPANSION GOING FORWARD.

I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU ALL WITH THE TOURISM COMMISSION, GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROJECT AND ITS IMPACT BOTH ON THE LOCAL TOURISM AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

OUR RESOLUTION THAT PASSED HAD TWO MAJOR QUESTIONS IN MIND.

WELL, THE GENERAL FUNDING MECHANISM IS UNDERSTOOD THE INCREASE OF THE HOT TAX TO PAY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

HOW SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE FUNDS PAY FOR THE PROJECT AND COULD, WHICH COULD RANGE FROM A HUNDRED MILLION HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

ARE THERE BUDGET ESTIMATES, REVENUE, BOND, PROJECTIONS, FINANCING, TIMELINES THAT DETAILED DIRT DEAD SERVICES THAT CAN HELP US AND THE PUBLIC BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROJECTS.

FINANCES.

THIS ASPECT IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING GIVEN, GIVEN THE COVID ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, IMPACTING BOTH TOURISM AND THE CONVENTION CENTER ECONOMICS THAT THIS PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED WITH PRE COVID ASSUMPTIONS.

AND HOW DOES THE CURRENT COVID AND CONVENTION CENTER TRENDS IMPACT THE ABILITY OF THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION TO MEET ITS GOALS? THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION HAS BEEN REQUESTING ADDITIONAL BUDGET, TIMELINE AND FINANCING DETAILS SINCE JULY OF 2021.

UH, TO ANSWER THE LATTER QUESTION, THE WORKING GROUP SAT DOWN WITH A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CONVENTION CENTER EXPERT, PROFESSOR HAYWOOD SANDERS, WHO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN SAN ANTONIO.

SHE HELPED US UNDERSTAND THE GENERAL TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS HOW THE INDUSTRY OPERATES AS WELL AS SHARING THE DATA BEHIND THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER, GOING BACK ROUGHLY YEARS SINCE ITS RECONSTRUCTION.

UM, WE HAVE, WE, WE VIDEOTAPED OUR MEETING WITH PROFESSOR SANDERS AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT TO ALL OF YOU IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE, BUT BETTER YET.

I BELIEVE, UH, PROFESSOR HAYWOOD SANDERS IS GOING TO PRESENT TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION THIS WEDNESDAY AND YOU ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

UH, HE'S UH, VERY INFORMATIVE HAS LOTS OF DATA TO SHARE THE TAKEAWAYS THAT, UH,

[00:45:01]

ATTENDANCE WAS DECLINING IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO COVID AND AS DECLINED FURTHER SINCE OVERALL ATTENDANCE PAGE AND TRADE SHOWS HAS BEEN DECLINING PRE COVID AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, DESIGN AUTOMATION, CONFERENCE, BIO INTERNATIONAL, ET CETERA, ALL EXPERIENCED DECLINES PRE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS ALREADY TOO MUCH COMPETITION, TOO MUCH SUPPLY VERSUS DEMAND AND DISCOUNTS, INCENTIVES FREE RENT DEALS WERE ALREADY THE NORM CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW IN VEGAS WAS A RARE CONVENTION THAT WAS INCREASING ATTENDANCE, PRETTY PANDEMIC, BUT THE MOST RECENT SHOW LOST THREE QUARTERS OF ITS ATTENDANCE FROM 170,000 TO 45,000.

WE ALREADY HAVE AN INCREASING COMPETITIVE LOCAL MARKET IN TEXAS WITH LARGER FACILITIES IN SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, AND A $2 BILLION EXPANSION PLANNED IN DEPTHS.

HOW WILL THIS IMPACT AUSTIN'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT CONVENTIONS EVEN WITH PROPOSED EXPANSION? THIS IS WE ARE BEING ADVISED AUSTIN'S POSITION WOOL ROAD LESS.

THERE WAS AN EXPANSION, BUT EROSION IS ALREADY OCCURRING AND MAY LIKELY CONTINUE TO OCCUR REGARDLESS OF THE EXPANSION.

WHEN WE DOUBLED CAPACITY, ROUGHLY 20 YEARS AGO, CONSULTANTS BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD EXPERIENCE TIDY EIGHT EVENTS WITH ALMOST 330,000 ATTENDINGS ATTENDINGS YEARLY.

AND ROUGHLY AS MANY ROOM NIGHTS, WE HAVE NEVER COME CLOSE TO ACHIEVING THIS AWARD.

WE HAVE ACHIEVED THREE PANDEMIC SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST NEXT UP 200,000 ATTENDEES, BUT ONLY 50 ROOM, ONLY 50,000 ROOM NIGHTS.

THE NEXT CLOSEST EVENT IS ONE EIGHTH SCIENCE DREAM PATH.

BASED ON THIS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION IS, IS KEY, OR TO GENERALLY BENEFIT ONE SINGLE PRIVATE CLIENT OR TRADE EVENT OR THREE QUARTERS AT THE ATTENDINGS ARE LOCALS WHO DON'T ACTUALLY PAY INTO THE HOT TEXT FUNDING.

THE EXPANSION AT LARGE, THAT LARGELY SERVES ONE CLIENT.

UM, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN JOIN US THIS AND LISTEN TO PROFESSOR PENGUIN SANDERS, BECAUSE WE ALL AGREE THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER PROBABLY NEEDS UPDATING, BUT THERE, THEIR PROPOSED EXPANSION IS GOING TO COST $1.3 BILLION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE, INCLUDE OPERATIONAL COSTS OR INTEREST AND, UM, YOU KNOW, POST COVID.

I JUST, I DON'T SEE WHERE, WHERE THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AND YOU KNOW, ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS AND THE MAJORITY, I KNOW THAT ALL THE WORKING GROUP IS OPPOSED TO THIS EXPANSION.

WE WOULD LIKE, WE WILL PROBABLY AT MAY HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT ASKS THE CITY CONVENTION CENTER STAFF TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAYBE STUDY FOR TWO MORE YEARS, HOW THE CONVENTION CENTER IS TO RE TO BE RECONSTRUCTED.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

WELL, UM, THANK YOU.

UM, I GUESS THAT MOVED US TO ITEM F, WHICH WAS THE REPORT FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, UM, WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, NOT SO MUCH I'M INTERESTED IN, I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE A WORKING GROUP AND, UM, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING PREVENTING COMMISSIONERS ON THIS BOARD FROM BEING PART OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WORKING GROUP WITH THEIR, IF THEY SO CHOOSE ANYBODY NOW.

NO, UNLESS THERE WERE SOME SPECIAL LIMITATIONS ON THEIR BYLAWS.

I MEAN, OTHERWISE THEY'RE GENERALLY PRETTY GOOD.

I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A BIG OVERLAP THERE AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE BEST WAY TO WORK TOGETHER WOULD BE IF, UM, COMMISSIONERS FROM THIS BODY WERE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSIONS WORKING GROUP.

IS, UH, IS THERE ANYTHING PREVENTING THAT MISS TEMPLETON IN YOUR BYLAWS? YEAH.

OH, WE, WE WOULD LOVE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU, WE WOULD LOVE PEOPLE WHO, THE TOURISM COMMISSION AND MEMBERS OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION JOIN US AS WELL.

I'M NOT, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOUR COMMISSION AT ALL IN, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON THE COMMISSION AND I'M A SLIGHTLY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROFESSOR AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE CONVENTION CENTER REBUTTALS SOME OF THE, UH, ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE REGARDING CONVENTIONS, PARTICULARLY SINCE 2008.

UH, CAUSE I,

[00:50:01]

I DON'T BELIEVE THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS PROFESSOR HAYWOOD PROVIDED DATA.

WELL, IT DEPENDS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU GET THE DATA FROM.

FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ROOM NIGHTS, THE, THIS, THE, THE DISSIPATION OF ROOM NIGHTS AND A LOT OF CITIES HAS TO DO WITH LIKE AIRBNB AND, AND THAT TYPE OF THING AS WELL.

SO IT'D BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED WITH THAT TYPE OF THING THAT MIGHT BE WANTING TO SEE WHAT THE DATA CAME FROM.

I MEAN, YOU CAN GET DATA FROM ANYWHERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALWAYS THE NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES GAMES THAT YOU CAN PLAY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.

I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS TO SEE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, ACTUALLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT TOO.

AND WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE AUSTIN HOTEL LOBBY ASSOCIATION AND THEY'RE CONTENDING, UH, THERE THAT THE BUSINESS, UM, IN AUSTIN, THE CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS WILL GO, WE'LL BE AT THE LEVELS BACK TO NORMAL LEVELS BY 2024.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THAT INFORMATION.

I CAN TELL YOU WHERE I CAN TELL YOU WHERE THEY PROBABLY GOT IT FROM OUT OF THE AIR BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

AND I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

SO I CAN TELL YOU EVERYBODY'S HAS A LOT OF CONJECTURE AND 20, 24 IS THE KIND OF GOAL THAT EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT, BUT WHETHER IT HAPPENS OR NOT, YOU KNOW, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH COVID NEXT MONTH.

SO WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BY 2024.

INTERESTING THAT THEY SAID FROM 2008, WHICH I FIND IT VERY SURPRISING, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE OTHER PEOPLE SAY AND WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR DATA FROM AS WELL.

I THINK ALL BECAUSE IT'S ALL VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO ANYWAYS, MY, JUST MY 2 CENTS.

SO, UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WILL BE GETTING A PRESENTATION NEXT WEDNESDAY, THIS WEDNESDAY, THIS WEDNESDAY, THIS WEDNESDAY.

I BEG YOUR PARDON? WHAT TIME ON WEDNESDAY IS THAT? OKAY.

OUR, OUR MEETINGS ARE EVERY THIRD, WEDNESDAY, UH, YEAH, THIRD, WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 5 30, 5 30.

AND THEN IF A COMMISSIONER FROM THIS BODY WOULD LIKE TO, UM, JOIN THE WORKING GROUP, THEY WOULD JUST CONTACT YOU TO, FOR, TO VOLUNTEER, CORRECT.

OKAY, CORRECT.

YES.

IS THAT ALSO VIRTUAL? I MEAN, CAN YOU CALL IN FOR THAT PRESENTATION OR ARE YOU ON A VIRTUAL SITUATION, ZOOM MEETING OR SOMETHING? YES.

OUR MEETING WEDNESDAY WILL BE, UH, IT'S A HYBRID MEETING, SO YOU CAN, YEAH.

SO WE CAN FIND IT ON, ON AUSTIN, TEXAS GOV GOV.GOV THING, OR, YEAH, IT WOULD BE ON THERE.

IT WOULD BE ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND YOU WOULD JUST GO TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

AND I ASSUME IF WE WENT TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION BOARDS, WE WOULD, THAT WOULD BE HOW WE WOULD FIND TO CONTACT YOU.

AND ALSO, UM, IS THE, UM, PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THAT, THAT, UM, MR. HAYWARD SANDERS GAVE YOU ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UM, ON THAT BOARD'S WEBSITE, IS IT POSTED? I CAN PROVIDE IT FOR THEM.

IT WAS, IT WAS A CASUAL MEETING THAT WE HAD AND WE RECORDED IT.

UM, AND I CAN, UM, I CAN SEND IT TO MONA PSALMS ASSUMPTIONS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE, I DISTINCTLY DON'T LIKE TO SEE THAT, RIGHT.

I THINK WE'D APPRECIATE THAT REAL GOOD INFORMATION.

COMMISSIONER BAILEY.

OH, I JUST WANTED FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION, UH, HOW YOU WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMISSIONING MEETING TODAY, JUST TRYING TO POINT A CLARIFICATION, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, CAN, CAN I INVITE SOMEBODY TO SPEAK AT THE COMMISSION? YOU KNOW, IT WAS AN AGENDA ITEM, IT'S ACTUALLY AGENDA ITEM, UM, F AND ALL AGENDA ITEMS REQUIRE, UM, TWO COMMISSIONERS.

SO WHO ARE THE TWO COMMISSIONERS? JUST SO FOR CLARITY, I THINK COMMISSIONER READING COMMISSIONER BUNCH, THAT WAS THEIR AGENDA ITEM.

ALSO FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, THE COMMISSIONER TALKING ABOUT AN UPDATE AND HAVING SOMEBODY INVITED IN ORDER TO DO A PRESENTATION, WHICH IS, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CLEAR.

THIS IS KIND OF FIRST COMMISSION.

SO I STILL GOT FRESHMEN AS A PRESENTATION AS OPPOSED TO OKAY, GREAT.

YEAH, I THINK SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO LOOK INTO, ESPECIALLY UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF COVID.

SO COMMISSIONER CANETTI.

[00:55:01]

UH, I WILL ALSO REMIND THE TOURISM COMMISSION, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WE HEARD ABOUT PREVIOUSLY WHEN WE REACHED OUR EARLIER PRE COVID ADMITTEDLY RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT, UH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY, I REMEMBER THE PROFESSOR SANDERS NAME, UH, FROM A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS AND THERE'S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, PERHAPS OVERWHELMING IN THE RECORDS OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION.

I ACTUALLY LOOK THROUGH THE LINE OF THEM.

SO, YEAH.

SO, UM, ONE MORE, I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE HEARD, THE STAKE THAT THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION HAS IN ITS PURPOSE AND HOW THAT OVERLAPS WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING AS IT RELATES TO CONVENTION CENTER.

BUT I'M TRYING TO GET SOME CLARITY ON MUSIC COMMISSION HERE, THE IDEA OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION, HAVING SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, PLANNING IS.

I WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION SINCE IT'S, IT'S WRITTEN HERE.

I DIDN'T WRITE IT.

SO IF SEMI COULD REPRESENT WHY THE MUSIC COMMISSION NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR PLANNING OR CONVERSATIONS ON THIS BODY, I JUST, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AN INTERSECTION THAT THEY RECEIVED MONEY FROM HOT TAX, BUT WHAT IS THEIR ROLE ON A WORKING GROUP WITH THIS COMMISSION? SOMEONE WANT TO TAKE THAT PERHAPS MR. REEDY OR MR. BUNCH SEE A HAND RAISED.

AND AGAIN, THE NAME IS NOT ON THE SCREEN, WHICH IS MAKING IT QUITE DIFFICULT.

GOING TO BE AN ITEM COMING FORTH ON OUR AGENDA.

I'M ANNE CHARLOTTE, I'M THE AM CHARLOTTE PATTERSON.

I'M CHAIR OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION.

UM, SO THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONER HERE, ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS.

AND, UM, YEAH.

SO FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT, THE MUSIC COMMUNITY, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS A STAKEHOLDER, AND, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER BECAUSE WE DO RECEIVE FUNDING, UH, FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.

UM, SO FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER TEMPLETON FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION FOR BRINGING IN OTHER DOWNTOWN COMMISSIONERS FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE FORTH.

UM, SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO RECEIVE FUNDING AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPANSION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT THE CITY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF, OF THESE PUBLIC FUNDS SO THAT THE EXPANSION IS NOT OUTSIZE OF WHAT INCOME IS ACTUALLY PRODUCED, BECAUSE THAT WILL IN EFFECT, LIKE EAT UP THE FUNDING THAT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY RECEIVES.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE SUPPORT AND THE, AND THE COMMISSION AS A BODY IN 2019 TO VOTE, TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE EXPANSION, UM, BUT WE WEREN'T SPECIFIC ABOUT LIKE HOW LARGE OR HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON THAT EXPANSION.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY NOW TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THAT.

SO IT HAPPENS IN A SENSIBLE WAY.

UM, AND THE OTHER POINT THAT IS A MATTER OF CONCERN FOR THE MUSIC COMMISSION RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE, WE ARE REALLY TAKING UP THE ISSUE AND LOOKING AT SPACE, UH, BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY ISSUES IN AUSTIN, THE RISING COST OF REAL ESTATE, UH, DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND THE DOWNTOWN CORE, ALL OF THAT TENDS TO THREATEN THE EXISTENCE OF THE NEW SPACE, PERFORMANCE SPACE, SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE RECORDING STUDIOS THAT SUPPORT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, AND OTHER PUBLIC AMENITIES.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, UM, A HUGE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT, LIKE THE CONVENTIONS ARE WE LOOK AT THAT IN A WAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING REALLY VISIONARY AND HAPPENED THERE WHERE, UM, MUSIC IS CENTERED SOMEWHAT IN THAT, BECAUSE MUSIC IS SO MUCH A PART OF THE CITY'S BRAND, AND WE DO BRING TOURISTS IN HERE.

AND SO, UM, OUR ROLE IN THIS WOULD REALLY BE TO SEE HOW IN A, IN A REASONABLY SIZED CONVENTION CENTER, RENOVATION OR EXPANSION, HOW CAN MUSIC BE INCLUDED IN TERMS OF LIKE A VENUE THERE? WHAT IF THERE WAS A SPACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND, UM, CONVENTIONS WEREN'T USING THAT SPACE? WE WOULD JUST LIKE FOR IT TO BE MORE THAN JUST A BIG BOX FOR PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THE CITY, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT, WHAT PUBLIC INFINITY IS, COULD COME OUT OF THOSE FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN IN A WAY THAT STILL BUILDS, UM, TOURISM INTEREST.

I MEAN, HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE IF YOU HAD THIS, THIS CONVENTION CENTER THAT REALLY REFRACK REFLECTED THE CULTURE AND BRAND OF THE CITY THAT YOU'RE VISITING? SO WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC IDEAS ABOUT HOW ALL THAT WOULD WORK AT THIS TIME, BUT THAT CONVENTION CENTER IS

[01:00:01]

AND WE ARE ALSO VERY CURIOUS TO LOOK AT THE FINANCES.

I THINK THAT ALL THE POINTS THAT COMMISSIONER TEMPLETON HAS MADE ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US AS WELL.

UM, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT IN IT.

THAT'S WHY I'M IN THIS MEETING TODAY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT THIS TODAY, UM, IN OUR UPCOMING MEETING IN MARCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TOURISM COMMISSION AND THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

SO THAT'S IT.

THANKS.

I'D LIKE TO SORT OF BRING THE ORDER OF THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

UM, THANK YOU, UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, UM, DOES THAT W WHAT YOU'VE JUST DELIVERED TO US IS THAT, UH, YOUR REPORT ON ACTIONS AND CURRENT WORK, UH, WHICH WAS ITEM F YES.

NEXT ITEM WOULD BE, UM, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE PREVIOUSLY CREATED TPM WORKING GROUP.

SO, SO JUST SO EVERYONE'S CLEAR, WE'VE NOW, UM, HEARD THE REPORTS FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION AND THE MUSIC COMMISSION, WHICH IS ITEM F.

AND WE HEARD IT AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION OF EMOTION THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR, UH, WHICH WAS ON THE FLOOR FROM, UM, I, TO THEM D UH, SO IF MY MEMORY SERVES, WE HAD EMOTIONAL ON THE FLOOR, TWO OFF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER TO PRESENT AT OUR NEXT MEETING, THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION, UM, PROJECT.

AND THAT INCLUDED AN UPDATE ON THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT.

UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION HEARING? NONE, LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON, UH, ADDING AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO OUR NEXT MEETING THAT AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER WILL PRESENT ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION PROJECT.

AND THAT INCLUDED AN UPDATE ON THE FINANCING OF THAT PROJECT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT, PLEASE LOWER YOUR HANDS.

UH, ANY OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ANY ABSTENTION COMMISSIONER ALEXANDRA'S DRIVING SO I CAN SEE HER HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

UM, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HER VOTE IS.

SO, UH, I GUESS I'LL RECORD THAT AS AN ABSTENTION.

UM, OKAY.

THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.

SO GOING BACK TO OUR AGENDA, THE

[2e. Discussion and possible action on the previously created TPID working group]

I DON'T RECALL THE TPD WORKING GROUPS ACTUALLY BEING SET UP OR APPOINTED.

DOES ANYONE HERE REQUIRED? REMEMBER, I REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT JOCELYN.

WHAT HAD ASKED FOR THAT.

AM I DREAMING? UH, I WAS GOING TO SAY COMMISSIONER REEDY, BUT OH, MAYBE I'M DREAMING.

UH, I ASKED FOR THAT, AND AS I RECALL, UH, VICE-CHAIR MCGEE, MYSELF, FORMER COMMISSIONER, JOSS LOVE AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAD, IS THAT CORRECT? I REMEMBER WE WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT WE CALLED IT.

WAS IT A T-SHIRT WORKING GROUP? WAS THAT WHAT THAT WAS? BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW TEPE HAD FUNDING, THAT IT WOULD GO TO HELP HOMELESS AND HOW THAT WAS GOING TO WORK.

THAT'S THE GROUP YOU'RE WORKING GROUP YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YEAH, WE ALL VOLUNTEERED.

AND NONE OF US MET AS I RECALL VERY WELL.

YES, YES.

BUT I'D LIKE TO, I BROUGHT IT, I BROUGHT IT TO THE AGENDA BECAUSE I STILL THINK IT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE.

UM, I THINK WE SHOULD RENEW THE EFFORT TO MEET AND BITE SOMEBODY TO COME FROM AUSTIN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, AND BE A PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP INVITE FOLKS FROM THE HOMELESSNESS SERVICES SECTOR TO BE A PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS MOST TO CREATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ANNUAL REVENUE THAT WOULD SUPPORT, UH, ASSISTANCE TO, UH, UNHOUSED FOLKS IN THE CITY.

AND IT WAS, IT WAS PITCHED OUT THERE AS A BENEFIT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

AND SO MY ENTRANCE IS THAT AS THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, IF, IF, AND HOW IT CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD, THAT WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF A MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BENEFITS IT'S SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR THE HOMELESS.

I REAPPOINT THE COMMISSIONERS.

SO I WONDER IF WE SHOULD DO A SIMILAR THING.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T REAPPOINT, UH, COMMISSIONER JEALOUS LOFT, CAUSE HE'S NOT HERE, BUT IF, UH, IF THE THREE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE STILL WILLING TO, UM, BE PART OF THAT GROUP THAT WE

[01:05:01]

REAFFIRM THAT NOW, AND THEN I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SORT OF HELD ME UP WAS FINDING CONTACTS FROM THOSE TWO SECTORS THAT YOU MENTIONED, UH, COMMISSIONER SMITH.

I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE T P IPD, THE T-PIN, UM, WHEN THE ACRONYM FOR, UM, TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

UM, SO COMMISSIONER RADIA AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, UH, ARE YOU STILL BOTH WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A TB WORKING GROUP? OKAY.

AND I WILL REAFFIRM TO DO THAT ALSO.

SO UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, I'LL CONSIDER THE THREE OF US REAPPOINTED TO THAT WORKING GROUP.

I SEE.

NO OBJECTION.

UH, COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER CHEN.

UM, ANYBODY ELSE HERE WANTING OR WISHING TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP? I GUESS I WILL REACH OUT TO A COMMISSIONER.

OH, I SEE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP? YES.

ANY OBJECTION TO, UH, APPOINTING, UH, COMMISSIONER CHANNON TO THAT GROUP? NO OBJECTION.

YOU SIR.

ALSO APPOINTED.

UM, I'LL I GUESS I CAN REACH OUT TO COMMISSIONER AND SEE IF HE STILL WANTS TO BE PART OF IT, OR DOES THAT TAKE US ABOVE THE, UH, SOMEONE MENTIONED THERE, WHICH IS NOT COMMISSIONER.

OH, HE'S HE'S HE'S OKAY.

WELL, THAT'S THAT THEN? WELL, THERE WE GO.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN, UM, I GUESS WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER, YOU KNOW, WHO ELSE COULD JOIN US AND HOW WE REACH OUT TO THOSE ENTITIES.

CAUSE THAT WAS DEFINITELY A STUMBLING BLOCK THAT I, I HAD.

UM, DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? ALL RIGHT.

UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION NECESSARY ON ITEM E? I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IF, YOU KNOW, SINCE HE'S NOT A COMMISSIONER, HE COULD BE PART OF YOUR WORKING GROUP IF HE WANTED HIM TO.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S TRUE.

UM, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, REEDY AND SHANNON AND RODRIGUEZ.

DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, ANYONE THAT YOU MAY HAVE IDENTIFIED TO JOIN US ON THAT WORKING GROUP THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US TODAY? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT? I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NAME AND I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.

I VOLUNTEER FOR MOBILE LOAVES AND FISHES AND THEY HAVE THE COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE AND THAT'S ALL HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, SO I CAN TRY TO SEE IF I CAN FIND SOMEBODY FROM THAT ORGANIZATION TO PARTICIPATE.

OKAY, GREAT.

I WOULD, I WOULD SAY WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ECO, UH, I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS MATT MULLICA MULEEKA.

UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THE GUY, BUT I'M HAPPY TO JUST SEND HIM AN EMAIL.

I DO KNOW FOLKS WHO WORK FOR ECHO AND I KNOW FOLKS ON THE BOARD OF THAT COAST.

SO IF NEED BE, I THINK WE CAN FIND A WAY TO, TO CONTACT WITH HIM.

UM, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND ECHO, IT'S KIND OF THE COORDINATING BODY AMONG THE DIFFERENT HOMELESSNESS SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS.

AND HE MIGHT BE A GOOD PERSON TO GIVE US, UH, 360 VIEW OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT WORLD RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND THEN, UH, THE AUSTIN HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION, UM, I THINK THEY HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT, BUT I RECENTLY SAW A DOCUMENT.

IT WAS THE LETTER ACTUALLY THAT THEY SPENT IN RESPONSE TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WORKING GROUP.

SO THERE IS CONTACT INFO THERE.

SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE POINT ON REACHING OUT TO ECHO AND REACHING OUT TO THE EIGHT AHLA.

ALTHOUGH I WONDER IF, UH, COMMISSIONER SHANNON OR COMMISSIONER SMITH MIGHT HAVE A BETTER CONTACTS WITH THE HOTEL AND LODGING FOLKS I CAN REACH OUT TO, I THINK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

SO COMMISSIONER CHANNON REACH OUT TO THE HOTEL, UM, COMMUNITY AND THEN COMMISSIONER REEDY, IF YOU WOULD REACH OUT TO THE HOMELESS COMMITTEE AND ALSO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

AND I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS FOR US TO, UM, GET A LIST OF PEOPLE TOGETHER IS THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.

AND THEN BRING THAT BACK, YOU KNOW, BRING THAT LIST BACK TO THIS BODY SO THAT THIS BODY CAN THEN APPOINT THEM.

AND THEN WE CAN SET SOME TIME ON THE CALENDAR FOR, FOR GETTING TOGETHER AND BEGINNING WORKING GROUP MEETINGS.

THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE CORRECT ORDERS TO ME.

AM I ON THE RIGHT TRACK OR IS ANYBODY GOT SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT WORK FOR ME? OKAY.

UH, COMMISSIONER BAILEY.

DID YOU WANT TO, YEAH, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

I DEFINITELY, I REMEMBER OUR CONVERSATION AND THE T PAD AS IT RELATES TO HELPING FIND SOME RESOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESS AND HOUSING ISSUES.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE TEE PAD COVERS OTHER, INCLUDING LIKE MUSIC DISBURSEMENT TOO, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S THE TEE PAD, DOESN'T JUST SERVICE

[01:10:02]

HOMELESS SITUATIONS.

THE T PIT IS UNLOCKING NEW DOLLARS THAT COVER THE HERITAGE MUSIC.

AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR OTHER AVENUES THAT IT COULD BE OF SERIOUS.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, DO I REMEMBER THAT CORRECTLY? IT'S NOT JUST T PAD, DOES IT EQUAL HOMELESS SOLUTIONS? IT'S, IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE T PIT TO INVESTIGATE HOW IT CAN SERVICE THAT.

BUT IT'S ALSO SERVICING THE, SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

I JUST SAYING THAT FOR THE SAKE THAT WE HAVE SOME FROM THE MUSIC COMMISSION ON, I THINK THEY RECEIVED FUNDS FROM THAT AS WELL.

I THINK YOU ARE.

I THINK YOU ALL REMEMBERING THAT CORRECTLY WAS IT WAS A SUGGESTION OF HERE'S WHAT IT COULD BE USED FOR COMMISSIONER REEDY.

UM, I FOLLOWED THIS CLOSELY AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CHAPTER THAT AUTHORIZED THE T PIT IN THE STATE, UH, STATUTES.

SO JUST SO YOU, YES, COMMISSIONER BAILEY, YOU CAN USE IT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, UM, OR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE T PIT.

YOU CAN USE THAT FOR PRETTY MUCH ALMOST ANYTHING, EXCEPT IT WAS RESTRICTED IN THE LEDGE IN 2019.

AND SO UNLIKE OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, IT WAS ACTUALLY RESTRICTED STOLI TO MARKETING FOR A CONVENTION AND TOURISM.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT FROM THE, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY FROM THE TIME THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONVINCE OR MOVE THE CONVENTION CENTER FORWARD AS, AS A TEA PIT ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

THE RESTRICTIONS ON T PIT USAGE FOR TP FUNDS WERE FURTHER RESTRICTED SINCE COUNCIL PASSED THE CONVENTION CENTER.

UH, ACTION.

SO THERE'S SOME, I THINK A BASIC THING WOULD BE TO REVIEW THE STATE STATUTE AND ITS AMENDMENTS IN THE 2019 SESSION, BECAUSE IT IS LESS FLEXIBLE THAN IT HAD BEEN WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED.

UM, BUT THAT SAID THE WAY THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, INTENDED THE TEAT PID IN AUSTIN TO WORK WAS THAT WITH FUN MARKETING, FOR CONVENTIONS AND TOURISM, AND IT WOULD FUND HOMELESSNESS, NOT ANYTHING ELSE, BUT AT THE TIME IT COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

THE CITY WANTED IT TO WITH APPROVAL OF THE HOTELS, SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN RESTRICTED.

I'M SORRY IF THAT, I DIDN'T SAY IT IN THE RIGHT ORDER, BUT WHEN IT WAS PASSED, IT WAS WIDE OPEN A SALARY.

YOU CAN USE IT.

IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RESTRICTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND NOW IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR MARKETING.

ALTHOUGH COMMISSIONER JOSLIN HAD DESCRIBED A PASS THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT WOULD FREE UP OTHER RESOURCES FOR HOMELESSNESS.

SO IT'S GOTTEN VERY COMPLICATED.

AND I THINK ONE THING TO WORK IN GROUP WOULD DO AT THE VERY FIRST MEETING WOULD BE TO REVIEW THE STATE STATUTE, GOVERNING TOURISM, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS.

THE NEXT ITEM IS AF WHICH IS REPORT ON ACTIONS AND CURRENT WORK OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION AND THE MUSIC COMMISSION, UH, COMMISSIONER TEMPLETON.

I APPRECIATE THE FURTHER WE HAVEN'T MET IN AWHILE AND MY MEMORY IS FOGGY.

I MEAN, WE'RE REVIEWING NOTES FROM MARCH OF LAST YEAR, SO THANKS MR. REEDY.

I APPRECIATE THE, PROBABLY BE HELPFUL TO HAVE COMMISSIONER JOSLIN ON THAT WORKING GROUP BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT STUFF LIKE IN THE BACK OF HIS HAND TOO.

YEAH, NO, THAT WAS, THAT WAS IT.

I AGREE.

THAT WAS A USEFUL UPDATE.

CAUSE I HAD FORGOTTEN WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAD DONE, UM, IN, UH, WHICH WAS SORT OF COUNTER TO THE CITY'S INITIAL GOALS.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON, UH, CREATING THE OR SHALL WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA? I THINK WE'RE SICK.

WE CAN DISPENSE WITH THAT I'D OR HAVE DISPENSE WITH THAT ITEM.

THIS IS ANY LAST COMMENTS.

[2f. Report on actions and current work of the Downtown Commission related to the convention center and consider and take possible action relating to coordinating with the Downtown Commission and/or Music Commission on convention center issues.]

IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER REGARDING THAT ITEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US TODAY THAT YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SHARED? UH, YOU'RE MUTED.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR LISTENING AND BEING INTERESTED WITH JUST GETTING TO A MAY NOT TO REWORK THIS CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

I THINK CITY IS STILL BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND RECONFIGURE IT ALL, ESPECIALLY AFTER COACH.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

COMMISSION MEETING WHEN THIS IS AN ITEM ON OUR AGENDA AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT WE CAN HAVE JOIN THAT.

AND COMMISSIONER, UM, AND CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR SHARE WITH THIS SPORT THAT YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE? SO WITH REGARD TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, I THINK I COVERED EVERYTHING.

THANKS FOR, UH, WHAT HAVE YOU JOINED TODAY? SO COULD, YOU KNOW, EXPLAIN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND CONDITION PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, BUT, UM, I THINK, I THINK I COVERED IT.

THANKS.

MAY I ASK, UM, THE WORKING GROUP, THE CONVENTION CENTER WORKING GROUP THAT COMMISSIONER TEMPLETON MENTIONED, IS THERE ANYONE ON THE MUSIC COMMISSION THAT IS PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP? UH, NOT CURRENTLY, BUT I'LL BRING THAT UP IN OUR NEXT MUSIC

[01:15:01]

AND, UH, COMMISSIONER TEMPLETON ON THAT WORKING GROUP.

IS THERE ANYONE FROM, UM, OTHER COMMISSIONS SUCH AS LIKE, UM, THERE'S AN ARTS COMMISSION AND THEY WOULD TALK A LOT ABOUT THE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING THAT THEY GET FROM HOT TACS.

ARE THEY INVOLVED AT ALL IN THE WORKING GROUP? WE I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR GUESTS? NO.

ON ITEM G SET AGENDA ITEMS FOR SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS, INCLUDING RECURRING ITEMS AND TO MAKE INFORMATION REQUESTS TO STAFF IN SUPPORT OF THOSE ITEMS. SO THIS IS WHERE WE GET TO, UM, BE PROACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVELY COME UP WITH AN AGENDA.

THEN WE ARE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA.

ITEM C NO OBJECTION.

WE ARE

[2g. Set agenda items for subsequent meetings, including recurring items, and make information requests to staff in support of those items.]

I KIND OF GOT THE SENSE WHEN WE WERE LAST, UH, WHEN WE WERE MEETING PREVIOUSLY THAT A LOT OF SETTING THE AGENDA WAS PUT ON THE CHAIR, WHICH MAKES IT VERY TOP DOWN.

UM, AND THAT MAY BE I'M.

I HAVE NO EVIDENCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT THAT'S WHY I WONDER IF I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF EMAIL NOTICES THAT, UH, MEETINGS WERE CANCELED FOR LACK OF AGENDA ITEMS. SO, UH, WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM THUS FAR, UM, THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH AT THIS MEETING.

UM, ASSUMING WE DO GET TO MEET IN MARCH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS THAT COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PUT FORWARD AT THIS MEETING FOR THE FUTURE COMMISSIONER REEDY? I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A RECURRING REPORT ON HOTEL TAX COLLECTION.

THE ARTS COMMISSION, UM, GETS THAT AT EVERY MEETING AND I THINK IT'S REALLY USEFUL.

OF COURSE THEY GET IT TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IS HEADED INTO THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND.

WE WOULD GET IT TO, I THINK, GET AN OVERALL SENSE OF HOW THE TOURISM ECONOMY IS DOING, BUT THAT'S A MONTHLY REPORT HOTEL TAX COLLECTIONS, UM, IS WHAT I'M PROPOSING.

SO RECURRING REPORT ON A RECURRING MONTHLY REPORT ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION.

DO I HAVE THAT CORRECT? YES.

UH, ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS, COMMISSIONER CANADY? UH, FOR BOTH OF OUR APPOINTED WORKING GROUPS, IF WE HAVE ANY NEW PEOPLE TO ADD MIGHT AS WELL ADDRESS THEM AT THE NEXT MEETING.

SO, UM, REGULAR UPDATES FROM WORKING GROUPS AND APPOINTEES OR, YEAH, I WAS AT LEAST THINKING OF ANY ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE TEAM ED WORKING GROUP OR TO THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT.

IF WE NEED TO HAVE THEM OFFICIALLY APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THAT.

SO ADDITIONAL APPOINTEES TO WORKING GROUPS, MAYBE WE SHOULD LIST OUT WHAT WORKING GROUPS WE HAVE, WHETHER THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT'S THE ONLY TWO I CAN REMEMBER.

THANKS.

SO ANY ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO CURRENT WORKING GROUPS? HOW ABOUT I PUT LATIN IN FOR RIGHT NOW? YOU COULD, YOU COULD MAKE IT VAGUE AND SAY IF THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSION, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'LL HAPPEN IN A MONTH, BUT, UM, WELL WE COULD MAKE THE, ANY ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO CURRENT WORKING GROUPS, UM, AND UPDATES FROM THOSE BODIES, UM, AS NEEDED OR PROVIDED.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE MONTHLY.

YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GONNA POINT PEOPLE EVERY MONTH, BUT IF WE KEEP IT LIKE A STANDING ITEM ON THE AGENDA, SO THAT EACH, EACH ONE WE'RE GETTING READY FOR A MEETING, WE CAN SAY, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL APPOINTEES OR REPORTS TO INCLUDE JUST KIND OF LIKE A STANDING ITEM? YEAH.

UM, GOOD.

SO I'LL CALL THAT LIKE A STANDING ITEM AGENDA.

YOU MEAN WE HAD ONE OTHER ITEM AND THERE WAS TWO ACTUALLY.

SO IT WOULD BE THE SETTING OR MEETING SCHEDULE AND REQUESTING YES.

AND REQUESTING THE CONVENTION CENTER AND YOU'RE CORRECT.

SETTING THE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2022 AND THEN THE CONVENTION CENTER REPORT.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT THIS MEETING COMMISSIONER BAILEY? UM, I DO REMEMBER US HAVING A PRESENTATION BY THE HERITAGE OF THE NEW DIRECTOR THAT THEY'D HIRED FOR THE HERITAGE, UH, POSITION FOR THE CITY.

I DON'T REMEMBER US SEEING HOW THEY WERE HANDLING THE AWARDING OF GRANTS.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'D ACTUALLY TACKLED THAT YET.

AM I REMEMBERING THAT CORRECTLY? IS THAT JOHN HELPED ME OUT HERE, BUT I MEAN, I, SHOULD WE BE GETTING A REPORT ON HOW THE MONEY HAS BEEN DISPERSED THAT WENT INTO THE HERITAGE FUNDING? YEAH, WE HAVE MELISSA COME IN, I THINK RIGHT AFTER SHE WAS PUTTING HER POSITION AND SHE TALKED ABOUT A PROCESS, BUT, BUT

[01:20:01]

NOT WHAT THEY DID.

IT WAS A PROCESS HOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT, BUT SHOULD WE BE GETTING A REPORT OF WHAT'S BEEN DISPERSED? UM, WE DID WELL ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I PAY ATTENTION TO THAT FUN.

I MAY HAVE FOUND IT MYSELF, BUT THERE IS A LIST OUT THERE OF THE FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS FROM 2019.

BUT YES, I AGREE WITH YOU COMMISSIONER BAILEY THAT WE COULD, IT WOULDN'T BE BAD TO GET AN UPDATE SINCE IT'S BEEN AWHILE.

SO, UM, SO THE REQUEST IS AN UPDATE FROM THE HERITAGE.

WELL, THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION DIVISION, UM, HERITAGE PRESERVATION DIVISION, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED AND IT IS, UH, IT DISPERSES, UH, SOME HOT MONIES THAT WAS SET ASIDE BY COUNCIL IN 2017 FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.

SO A REPORT FROM THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION DIVISION ON HOW, UM, ON WHAT GRANTS THEY DISPERSED FROM HELP FUNDING ALLOCATED NOW, IS THAT ALLOCATED IN 2017 OR JUST THAT'S AN ANNUAL, UM, MUCH LIKE THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND.

IT IS 15% OF OVERALL HOTEL TAX RECEIPTS IN A GIVEN YEAR IS PUTTING INTO THE PRESERVATION FUND.

AND SO IT IS EVERY YEAR, 15% OF THE HOTEL GOES INTO THAT.

SO IT'S A, IT'S A RECURRING FUND.

EXCUSE ME.

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT, ISN'T IT? YEAH.

I THOUGHT SO.

GOOD.

IT'S NOT A STATE REQUIREMENT.

IT'S A STATE CAP, SO I GOTCHA.

THE STATE ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO PUT UP TO 15% OF ITS HOTEL TAX REVENUE TOWARDS CULTURAL ARTS AND ANOTHER 50% TOWARDS PRESERVATION, BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE IT.

GOT IT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND IS THAT AN AGENDA ITEM, COMMISSIONER BAILEY FOR, UM, JUST A FUTURE MEETING? NOT NECESSARILY.

UM, I'M NOT TRYING TO CRAM ALL THIS ON THE MARCH 21ST.

I JUST THINK, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD, IT'S PART OF OUR, OUR PURPOSE IS TO, TO ADVISE, BUT I THINK TRACKING WHERE THE HOT MONIES ARE SERVING THE COMMUNITY, I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LOSE SIGHT OF IT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OBSESS OVER IT, BUT I THINK AT LEAST ANNUALLY, WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET HER GET A REVIEW ON WHAT'S HOW THE BUDGET HAS IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY.

AND I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

I LIKE THAT.

YOU SAID, YEAH, I WAS, I WAS GOING TO MAKE A SIMILAR COMMENT THAT GIVEN THE PASSAGE OF TIME AND OUR NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS, THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL JUST TO LOOK AT EXACTLY HOW THE HOTEL C TAX IS CURRENTLY BEING SPLIT UP IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

I THINK THAT'S A REAL GOOD SUGGESTION.

I'M JUST WRITING ALL THIS DOWN FOR MY OWN EDIFICATION.

OF DISTRICT THREE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES AND HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A BEAD ON DECISIONS BEING MADE OR WHERE WE TAKE ACTION AND HAVE OPINIONS.

CAN WE SHARE CANADY JUST ONE OTHER IDEA AND UM, NOT FOR THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY FULL.

YES, NO, NOT ALL OF THIS WILL BE NEXT MEETING FOR SURE, BUT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE FUTURE BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, THEN WE HAVE SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WE CAN PUT IN.

AND TO THAT END, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT NOT BE A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH, BUT A THOROUGH APPROACH IS WE HAVE THESE SEVEN CHARGES IN OUR JURISDICTION.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT IT TO DEVOTE EACH MEETING TO ONE OF THEM TOO.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BRAINSTORMING DISCUSSION.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS MAKES SENSE, BUT KIND OF TAKING ANOTHER BACK TO OUR, WHAT WE WERE CHARGED WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS.

I MEAN, I'M GOING TO CONFESS, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THEY WOULD WANT US TO ADDRESS, BUT IT'S WITHIN OUR PURVIEW.

IF WE WANT TO, WE MIGHT HAVE EVERY MEETING.

JUST TAKE ONE OF THESE IN TURN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

HE IS REFERRING FOR EVERYONE'S EDIFICATION, ARTICLE TWO OF OUR BYLAWS PURPOSE AND DUTIES, AND HE'S REFERRING TO THE SEVEN CHARGES IN SECTION B.

UM, AND THE SUGGESTION IS THAT AT EACH MEETING WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE NEXT THING ON THAT, IN THAT LIST.

AND THEN JUST KIND OF RECUR AROUND.

IT'S AN IDEA.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN, IF WE WANT TO RACHEL, I HAVE ONE MORE.

I'M SORRY.

I HAVE ONE MORE, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS FOR FUTURE, BUT I THINK IT'S RELEVANT.

UM, IN SPEAKING WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, HE INDICATED, UH, INTEREST IN MONITORING HOW THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS ARE DOING AND THE IMPACT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I MEAN, WE LOOK AT, GET FEEDBACK ON WHERE THE HOT TAX IS AND HOW DOES ALL OF THAT GO BACK TO WORK WORKING PEOPLE? AND THERE'S, THERE'S A CONCERN ON DISTRICT THREE THAT A GOOD PART OF THE POPULATION

[01:25:01]

HOW WAS THAT AFFECTING PEOPLE WORKING IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY? SO PERHAPS SOMEONE FROM THE UNION OR SOMEONE WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE CURRENT, UM, I GUESS, METRICS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HOSPITALITY WORKERS.

AND I KNOW COVID CERTAINLY HAS HAD AN IMPACT, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE GO FORWARD ABOUT EXPANSION AND, AND EVEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING HOT TAX, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOTELS BEING DEVELOPED IN THIS TOWN AND WE MIGHT AS WELL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE CENTER EXPANSION.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE, HOW MANY NEW HOTELS ARE GOING UP AND THAT'S WHERE THE HOTEL TAX SPINS OUT OF.

AND SO I JUST, I WANT TO BRING BACK THAT COMPONENT.

AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOMEONE FROM THE AUSTIN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION PERHAPS COME, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT CONVERSATION COULD, IS ALIGNED WITH THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND WHETHER THAT WOULD BE A THEME NIGHT OR THEME MEETING OR SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD LOOK AT ALL OF THAT IN ONE BIG PACKAGE.

DON'T KNOW.

I THINK, I THINK THE PERSON FROM THE AHLA WOULD BE A PERFECT, OKAY.

I FORGET HER NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT SHE'S REALLY PRETTY GOOD.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? SORRY THAT THE PERSON FROM THE L AUSTIN HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION, I PROBABLY HAVE IT HERE SOMEPLACE IF YOU'D LIKE IT, BUT I CAN FIND FOR YOU, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD PERSON.

UM, AND I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU, UM, WHENEVER YOU MENTIONED HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING WORKERS, I'M ALSO MINDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN LIVE EVENTS AS WELL.

CAUSE EVERYBODY IN LIVE EVENTS IN MY WORLD HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS.

UM, AND, UH, I THINK HOSPITALITY WORKERS WENT BACK TO WORK SOONER THAN, THAN THE REST OF, THAN WE DID.

WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING BACK TO WORK AFTER 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS SHUT DOWN.

UM, SO, UH, AND I'M SURE THERE WERE OTHER INDUSTRY WORKERS THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING OF, UM, TO, BUT IT'S BASICALLY, I THINK WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD BROADEN THAT TO HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND THOSE THAT WORK IN LIVE EVENTS.

I WOULD AGREE.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS STILL HURTING TREMENDOUSLY RIGHT NOW.

IT GOES, IT EBBS AND FLOWS IS THE PROBLEM.

UM, IS THERE, I MEAN, ANOTHER PIECE TO THAT PUZZLE THAT GETS HOT FUNDING, CULTURAL ARTS, RIGHT.

SO ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO, UM, STILL STRUGGLING.

UM, THEY'RE LIGHT, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO LIVE EVENTS WHERE I KNOW FROM, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR, TRYING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO KIND OF WORK AROUND THE VIRUS, SOME SUCCESSFUL, SOME NOT SO MUCH.

UM, AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A, THERE'S A LARGE BODY OF, UM, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WHERE WOULD WE PINPOINT DOWN, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD WE PINPOINT DOWN TO HAVE TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'D BE THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION PERHAPS.

UM, OH, BY THE WAY, THE HEAD OF THE HOTEL, UH, AUSTIN HOTEL LODGING IS DENISE EISMAN.

D I S M A N.

BAILEY SAID, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT OVERDOING OR OBSESSING, BUT KEEPING AN EYE OUT.

ANY OTHER ADS? THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD ENOUGH LIST, I THINK FOR NOW.

UM, I REMEMBER FROM, UM, WHEN WE USED TO DO THIS, WE WOULD COME UP WITH A BIG LONG LIST LAUNDRY LIST AT THE START, AND THEN THAT MOMENTUM WOULD SORT OF WANE.

SO I THINK IF WE ARE NOT DISSOLVE, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY COLLECTIVELY FOCUS ON ALWAYS REVIEWING OUR AGENDA ITEMS. AND SO WE CAN KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING AND NOT JUST SORT OF PETER OUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO THE END OF THE LIST.

SO I THINK, UH, UH, ONE STANDARDIZED STANDING ITEM I THINK IS A GOOD SUGGESTION FROM PERMISSION TO, OF REVIEWING OUR SEVEN CHARGES, BUT ALSO EACH MEETING, HAVING A STANDARD STANDING ITEM THAT WE REVIEW OUR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, ADD TWEAK, YOU KNOW, ADD, SUBTRACT AS NECESSARY EACH MEETING.

I THINK THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE MEETING WHERE WE DEVOTE SOME TIME TO THAT.

AND THEN IT'S NOT ALL ON ONE PERSON TO COME UP WITH THAT AGENDA.

UH, COMMISSIONER REEDY.

I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

I MENTIONED MCGEE.

I REALLY, UH, SUPPORT COMMISSIONER CANADY SUGGESTION ABOUT THE CHARGES.

UM, AND JUST OVERALL, I WANT TO IMPART THERE'S SO MUCH WE COULD BE DOING TOURISM HAS BLOWN UP INTO AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ECONOMY HERE.

UM, AND THERE'S A LOT WE COULD BE DOING AS COMMISSIONER

[01:30:01]

AND I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT AN EYE ON, UH, THE HOSPITALITY WORKERS.

I WASN'T AWARE THEY WERE UNIONIZED, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO MAYBE GET THAT UNION PERSON TO COME AND EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS.

I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT KIND OF MONEY THEY MAKE.

ARE THEY MAKING A LIVING WAGE IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY? I DON'T KNOW THAT.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, I AM, UH, I AM GOING TO ATTEND THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING.

THAT'S ON FEBRUARY 23RD, UM, TO ARGUE AGAINST IF, IF I'M ALLOWED, I'M NOT SURE IF I WILL BE TO ARGUE AGAINST THE SOLUTION OF THIS COMMISSION, BECAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT, WE CAN BE DOING TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE CITY AND, AND HELP COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.

AND WE JUST HAD A, I MEAN LIKE EVERYONE, JUST A ROUGH YEAR AND IT WAS HARD TO KEEP THINGS GOING, BUT I DO THINK THIS WORK'S CRITICAL.

SO I INVITE ALL OF YOU IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TUNE IN OR SHOW UP AT THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT WEEK.

UM, AND I GUESS, CAN SOMEBODY CLARIFY, I HAVE TO SEND THAT TO FELICIA FOR DISTRIBUTION, RIGHT? I CAN'T JUST SEND IT TO, OKAY.

WE SENT IT TO STAFF AND STAFF DISTRIBUTES THE I'LL SEND IT THE AGENDA AND IT HAS THE TIME IT HAS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ON IT.

MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON IT.

UH, MY APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBER IS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.

IT'S I THINK ALSO COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOBO FONTEZ AND, UH, ALTAR, I BELIEVE IN POOL.

SO IF ONE OF THOSE IS YOUR COMMISSION MEMBER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO REACH OUT, BUT I WILL, AS SOON AS I CAN THIS AFTERNOON, I WILL SEND THE AGENDA TO FELICIA FOR HER TO FORWARD TO THE REST OF US.

AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF US CAN SHOW UP ON THE 23RD.

AS, AS THE CITY INVESTING ANY OF THE MONEY THEY COLLECT SO THAT THE INVESTMENT CREATES MORE MONEY, CREATES MORE REVENUE.

THERE'S ONE OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEM THAT HAS ALWAYS, UM, BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, IF IT'S, IF WE CAN EVEN DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

CAUSE IT MAY BE OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW, LOOKING AT OUR BYLAWS, WHICH I REMEMBER ONE TIME WE WORK WHILE THESE ARE QUITE NARROW, THERE WERE, WE SORT OF FELL AT ONE POINT, BUT, UM, I HAVE A CONCERN THAT WITH HOT FUNDING, THE WAY THAT IT'S CURRENTLY SET UP IT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE SHUTDOWN, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WORKING, UM, WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART THAT RECEIVE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING, UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PRIOR TO THE SHUTDOWN WE WERE AS A CITY, THE DEMAND ON CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING WAS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY, BUT THE, UM, THE MONEY GOING INTO HOT FUNDING, UM, WASN'T NECESSARILY KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND.

UM, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S WHY WE, AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT THAT'S WHY I FEEL, WE SEE, UM, SOME CONFLICT ON WHO GETS THE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING MONEY.

CAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE PIE IS A CERTAIN SIZE AND MORE AND MORE SLICES ARE WANTING TO BE TAKEN OUT.

AND THEN WE GET CONFLICT ABOUT HOW BIG THE SLICE IS FOR THIS BODY OR THAT BODY, THAT ONE ORGANIZATION OR ANOTHER, AND A CURSE ME.

I HAVEN'T, I HAVE INTEREST IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE EXPAND, UH, HOW DO WE FIND NEW MONEY FOR CULTURAL ARTS THAT, UM, I THINK WE'VE KIND OF ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS TRYING TO ENSURE THERE WAS A BETTER COLLECTION OF HOT FUNDING FROM LIKE THE AIRBNBS AND SO ON.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT ARE THERE ARE WE AS A TOURISM COMMISSION ALLOWED TO LOOK AT OTHER MECHANISMS IN TOURISM, TOURISM, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND NEW REVENUE SOURCES TO ADD TO THOSE, TO THAT BUCKET THAT PERHAPS IS NOT HOT, BUT REESE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND ONE THING THAT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT IS, UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, WHEN YOU FLY TO A CERTAIN CITIES, UM, AIRLINES, UM, HAVE A LITTLE LIKE ADDED FEE.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT FOR FOOTPRINT FEE, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A COMMISSION.

I THINK THAT DEALS WITH THE AIRPORT.

AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS, IS THERE A MECHANISM THAT WE COULD, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOURISTS THAT FLY INTO THE CITY, IS THERE A MECHANISM THAT IS ALLOWED LEGALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE COULD GET SOME EXTRA FUNDING INTO CULTURAL ARTS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE, FROM THE PRICE OF AN AIRLINE TICKET.

AND I DON'T, I MEAN THAT, IT'S JUST AN IDEA.

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE YOU'D START, WHETHER IT'S WITHIN THE REALM OF THIS TOURISM BOARD, BUT ARGUE IT'S UNDER ITEM.

ONE OF OUR CHARGE MATCHES RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION.

I DON'T HAVE MY BYLAWS IN FRONT OF ME MATTERS RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF, UH, INVESTMENT AND BUDGET RELATED FUNDS.

I MEAN, YOU COULD PICK AND CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO READ THAT.

AND ACTUALLY THAT ITEM ONE INVESTMENT KIND OF INTRIGUES ME TOO,

[01:35:01]

I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

COMMISSIONER READING, OH, I JUST, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, UM, THE NON-PROFIT I WORK FOR RECEIVES WE'RE ACTUALLY THE LARGEST RECIPIENT OF CULTURAL ARTS FUNDS IN THE CITY.

WE REDISTRIBUTE MOST OF THAT TO SMALLER EMERGING GROUPS, BUT I'M SAYING THAT AS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW THE CITY ALLOCATES ITS CULTURAL ARTS FUND, I PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DEBATES GOING ON THAT YOU REFERENCED.

SO IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I COULD ANSWER IN THAT REALM, UM, ONE THING THAT HAPPENED JUST TO FYI WAS THAT IN 2018, THE CITY, UM, FUNDED 99% OF APPLICANTS AND THAT'S WHERE THE POOL REALLY BLEW UP.

IT ALMOST DOUBLED IN THAT YEAR BECAUSE THEY, UM, THEY BASICALLY FUNDED ANYONE WHO APPLIED.

UM, AND THAT CREATED A LARGER POOL, WHICH OBVIOUSLY A LARGER POOL OF APPLICANTS IN A DIMINISHING AMOUNT OF FUNDING, REDUCED FUNDING FOR A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THAT IS YOU, YOU DID TOUCH UPON A PRETTY HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN THE, IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND AS FAR AS OTHER RESOURCES, YEAH, I THINK W I ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, OUR ORGANIZATION DOES ADVOCACY FOR ARTS AND MUSIC AND CULTURE AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

AND I HAVE A LIST OF POTENTIAL NEW REVENUE SOURCES FOR ARTS THAT, UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH THIS GROUP IF WE HAVE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM ABOUT IT.

THAT'S EXACTLY PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, GOING BACK TO COMMISSIONER REALIZE, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HOT TAXES, THE HOT TAX, YOU'RE GOING TO GET X AMOUNT AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IT, AND YOU DON'T ALSO WANT TO KILL THE GOLDEN GOOSE EITHER, BUT THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT UTILIZE OTHER WAYS OF GETTING FUNDS FOR THEIR CITIES.

ONE OF THE UNBEKNOWNST TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, OMAHA HAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST CULTURAL AND ARTS CENTERS THAT THERE IS THE COUNTRY.

AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF MUTUAL OF OMAHA AND OF COURSE, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY.

SO THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE THIS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE OF COMPANIES THAT CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY AND LET'S FACE IT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPANIES COMING INTO AUSTIN.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN GET, YOU KNOW, ELON MUSK OR WHOMEVER TO ADD A FEW DOLLARS TO IT, REALLY GET INTO THAT.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THERE'S REALLY COMES FROM THAT SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF IT REALLY COMES FROM THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OF BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THESE CULTURAL ARTS AND THEY HAVE GREAT ONES.

THEY'RE PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY, PRIVATE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND MAYBE THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN COERCE THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE.

I MEAN, I WOULD NOT OBJECT TO WHEN WE HAVE, UM, AN AGENDA ITEM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE'RE GETTING A PRESENTATION FROM CITY, BUT THAT WE SET TIME ON THE AGENDA WHERE WE WANT TO DISCUSS JUST AS A, AS A BOARD, LIKE A WORKING, WE'RE GONNA JUST GONNA WORK ON THIS AND BRAINSTORM THIS AND FIGURE OUT IF WE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS, WHAT ARE THEY EXACTLY? WHO WOULD WE ALL ASK? WHERE WOULD WE START? I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO ROLL YOUR POINT.

I THINK THAT MAKES THE MEETING KIND OF FEEL QUITE PRODUCTIVE TO SORT OF FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT WHILE WE ALL TOGETHER AND LEAVE TIME ON THE AGENDA TO DO THAT.

AND THEN, BECAUSE THAT WAY, I THINK IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWED TO SEND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS BODY TO CITY COUNCIL, AND AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THESE IDEAS, IT MIGHT BE, WELL, LET'S SEE YOU NOW, IF WE CAN ASK FOR A FUTURE GENDER ITEM TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER OR SOMEONE FROM STAFF COME AND EXPLAIN TO US, THIS IS OUR SORT OF IDEA, IS THERE A MECHANISM THAT WE COULD PUSH THIS IDEA AND WHAT IS IT? AND THEN WE CAN DEVELOP THAT INTO A RECOMMENDATION SO THAT WE'RE NOT WASTING OUR TIME DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE CITY THEN TURNS AROUND AND SAYS, YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? I THINK THAT'S EXCELLENT.

WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER.

UM, WELL I THINK WE'VE, UM, DONE PRETTY GOOD JOB ON ITEM G.

SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,

[2h. Election of a Presiding Officer]

SO I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE BODY, UM, WHAT FELICIA HAS ALREADY, UM, MENTIONED TO ME, WHICH IS WE HAVE TWO VACANT POSITIONS.

AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ELECT A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR UNTIL THOSE TWO VACANT POSITIONS ARE FILLED.

UM, I BELIEVE ACCORDING TO OUR BYLAWS THAT WE ELECT, UM, CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, UM, ANNUALLY.

UM, SO IT IS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM IN THAT RESPECT.

AND IT CAN'T GO ON THE AGENDA UNTIL WE HAVE, UNTIL THOSE TWO SEATS ARE FILLED.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS ELECT, UM, A

[01:40:02]

INTERIM, I'M GOING TO CALL IT INTERIM PRESIDING OFFICER, UM, THAT BASICALLY HELPS FACILITATE AND SHARE THESE MEETINGS UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO OFFICIALLY ELECT A CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIR.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP TODAY IS THE ELECTION OF OUR PRESIDING OFFICER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT PRESIDING OFFICER WILL JUST FACILITATE THAT, THE ROLE, UH, THAT ROLE UNTIL, UM, WE HAVE THOSE TWO SEATS FILLED AND WE GET ON THE AGENDA, UM, THE ELECTION OF A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR, UM, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, UH, THE LAST, UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF, UNLESS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT OR KEEPING YOU IN THAT POSITION FOR NOW.

AND I WAS NOT TAKING REALLY ANY ACTION FOR MEETINGS, ET CETERA, UNTIL OUR NEXT MONTH, BESIDES I SECOND THE MOTION, RIGHT? SO NOT TAKE UP THE ELECTION OF A PRESIDING OFFICER, BUT LEAVE IT IN MY LAP AS THE VICE, AS THE CURRENT VICE CHAIR TO, UM, KEEP THE MEETINGS RUNNING.

EVEN IF I WANT TO DO THAT IN SUCH A GREAT JOB.

I, I COULD CARE.

I THINK RACHEL, I MEAN, COMMISSIONER MCGEE, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I'M SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO DO A GOOD JOB.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT STEPPING DOWN OUT OF THAT ROLE, I I'M OPEN TO IT.

UM, YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO MY, MY, UM, GOAL WAS ACTUALLY TO, UM, FIND, TO GET SOMEONE TO REPLACE ME ON THIS COMMISSION.

UM, CAUSE I AM DEFINITELY IN THAT SITUATION WHERE I HAVE A LOT ON MY PLATE AND I'M WANTING TO, UM, DISPENSE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS ON MY PLATE, UH, DELEGATE THEM ELSEWHERE, UM, BECAUSE I'M FEEL LIKE I AM REACHING THAT POINT WHERE YOU SPREAD YOURSELF TOO THIN AND YOU DO EVERYTHING SORT OF MEDIOCRE AND NOTHING GREAT.

UM, IF, UM, BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND THAT REPLACEMENT YET.

AND I HAD ALSO, UM, AS I ESSENTIALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I'M ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF MY LOCAL TO SEE IF THEY'LL STEP UP.

CAUSE I THINK, UM, OUR MEMBERS TOUCH SO MUCH OF WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, UM, BECAUSE WE WORK AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT WE ALSO WORK FOR, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING.

AND TO BE HONEST, MANY OF MY MEMBERS, UH, UH, MEMBERS AND THE WORKERS WE REPRESENT ALSO ARE HOMELESS FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE WHAT WE DO IS REALLY, IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING IN THIS CITY.

AND SO WE EXPERIENCE, UM, WE DO SUFFER WITH THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE CITY AND I DEFINITELY HAVE MEMBERS OR MORE WORKERS THAT I REPRESENT THAT, UM, HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, BE THAT COUCH SURFING, LIVING OUT OF YOUR CAR TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN.

UM, SO TO ME IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ONE OF OUR MEMBERS STEP UP AND, AND, AND HAVE A VOICE IN THIS BODY.

UM, BUT I HAVE NOT FOUND THAT MEMBER YET THAT'S WILLING TO COME FORWARD.

UM, SO I HAD PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE UNTIL I FIND THAT MEMBER.

UM, THAT BEING SAID, IT'S NOT ALL IN MY CONTROL, OBVIOUSLY.

UM, MY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS, IS NOW RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AND HAS STEPPED DOWN.

SO IT MAY BE THAT THE, UM, THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER IN DISTRICT FOUR MAY HAVE SOMEONE ELSE IN MIND AND I MAY END UP BEING REPLACED REGARDLESS.

UM, SO ALL THAT SAID, UH, I GUESS I'M OKAY WITH THE IDEA OF CONTINUING AS VICE CHAIR AND PRESIDING OVER THESE MEETINGS UNTIL I MAY OR MAY NOT BE REPLACED BY ONE MEANS OR ANOTHER.

UM, BUT IT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO, UM, BE THE ONLY POINT PERSON THAT IS REACHING OUT TO EVERYBODY AND SETTING THE AGENDA.

IF IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, IF WE HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPORT FROM STAFF, I MAY BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING FOR ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS, UH, BODY TO CONSIDER IT SOMEBODY PERHAPS WHO HAS LESS ON THEIR PLATE THAN MYSELF, UM, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

SO IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE INTERESTED OR WILLING TO GIVE IT A GO? I WOULD SAY I WOULD, I WOULD IMAGINE I DON'T MEAN TO SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ANYBODY HERE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU IN A MORE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO MAKE WHATEVER YOU NEED, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD.

ANY, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT AND FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR I'M SURE ANYBODY ELSE, IF YOU HAVE

[01:45:01]

ANY NEED BY ALL MEANS, ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING OVER RUNNING THE MEETINGS.

MAYBE IT MAY BE, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN MARCH, BUT ALL THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE AN AGENDA ALREADY.

SO POINT REALLY GOOD POINT.

WE DO.

I COULD MAKE IT A STANDING ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA THAT WE REVISIT THIS TOPIC.

I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO IT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A STEP DOWN FROM THE LEVEL OF THE QUALITY THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED AS, AS THIS IN FRONT OF THE MEETINGS.

SO I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND I REALLY, REALLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO IT.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL STAY AS PRESIDING OFFICER UNTIL WE DETERMINE YOUR POSITION.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, SUPPORT FROM, FROM EVERYONE THAT HAS SPOKEN.

WELL, UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA, UM, AT, UH, FOUR 50.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

WE'RE RIGHT ON TARGET.

AND, UH, UNLESS THERE'S ANY CLOSING REMARKS FROM ANYONE, ANYONE FORGOTTEN ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE ADJOURN HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.