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MORNING EVERYONE.[Proclamations]
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, AND I'M HERE WITH OUR MAYOR KIRK WATSON.
AND WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, PETE VALDEZ FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY TODAY WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
BUT FIRST, I'D LIKE TO READ A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT HIS ESTEEMED CAREER HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, IT IS MY SINCERE PLEASURE TO CONGRATULATE PETE VALDEZ ON HIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR HIS SERVICE.
HIS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
FROM HIS WORK AS A CRISIS THERAPIST IN LAS CRUCES TO HIS 22 YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
MR. VALDEZ HAS GIVEN SO MUCH OF HIMSELF TO HELPING OTHERS.
HE HAS DEMONSTRATED A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE HE HAS SERVED FROM FACILITATING COURT MANDATED MEN'S GROUPS TO LEADING THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT'S INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
AFTER MOVING TO AUSTIN, MR. VALDEZ SERVED AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT FOR 22 YEARS AND HAS BEEN THERE SINCE ITS FOUNDING.
IN 1999, HE BEGAN WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AS A COURT CASE MANAGER, AND AFTER THAT, HE WAS A FIELD INSTRUCTOR FOR THE COURT.
FROM 2002 TO 2008, UNDER MR. VALDEZ'S LEADERSHIP, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT IDENTIFIED FREQUENT UTILIZERS, A PRIORITY POPULATION OF DEFENDANTS THAT REPEATEDLY RECEIVED CITATIONS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION AND DEVELOPED AN APPROACH TO CONNECT THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH SERVICES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE LONG-TERM STABILITY AND OBTAIN HOUSING.
MR. VALDEZ HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY REENTRY ROUND TABLE PLANNING COUNCIL, AND IS A MEMBER OF TRAVIS COUNTY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO HIM TODAY, THIS DISTINGUISHES SERVICE AWARD, AND I WANNA THANK HIM FOR HIS 22 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY.
CAN WE ALL HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE? IT IS TRULY INSPIRING TO WITNESS THE IMPACT THAT MR. VALDEZ HAS HAD ON THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL HERE AT THE CITY FOR THIS CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR THAT OUTSTANDING SERVICE.
WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO MR. VALDEZ AND WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK AS HE TAKES ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND ENJOYS HIS RETIREMENT.
I'LL NOW PASS ALONG THE MIC TO OUR MAYOR FOR A FEW WORDS.
CLOSING? YEAH, COME ON UP HERE.
THE, THE, UH, I'M GONNA, MY NAME'S KIRK WATSON FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW.
AND I'M, I'M, UH, THE NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, THIS TIME.
AND THE REASON I SAY THIS TIME IS BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
THIS SERVICE, THE SERVICE THAT MS. VALDEZ HAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS, IS INSPIRING, BUT IT'S ALSO A VERY HAPPY MOMENT FOR ME, I MIGHT SAY, BECAUSE, UH, YOU HEARD THE DATE 1999, AND IT WAS IN 1999 THAT I WAS MAYOR, AND WE CREATED THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT THAT HE HAS SHEPHERDED FOR SO MANY YEARS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BEING IN ELECTIVE OFFICE IS YOU, YOU DO THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME AND YOU, YOU, YOU HOPE THAT THEY WORK AND YOU HOPE THAT THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THEN YOU RUN INTO SOME, LIKE WE DID WITH THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT, AND THEN YOU RUN INTO SOMEBODY LIKE MR. VALDEZ, WHO IS, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER, SAID, AN INSPIRATIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT AND MAKES THAT WORK.
SO IT'S AN INSPIRING MOMENT, BUT IT'S A VERY HAPPY MOMENT FOR ME PERSONALLY, CAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR OUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY WITH HIS GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE.
SO, IT IS MY HONOR, AND, AND BY THE WAY, I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE'RE JOINED HERE TODAY WITH, UH, THE AUSTIN CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CRONK.
UH, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY? YEAH, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND AGAIN, IT'S MY DISTINCT HONOR TO PROVIDE THIS WORD OF CONGRATULATIONS OF PETE VALDEZ.
I MEAN, WE SEE PUBLIC SERVANTS, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT IT'S A SPECIAL TYPE OF PUBLIC SERVANT THAT REALLY ALLOWS THE LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION NOT JUST AMONG CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, BUT ACROSS JURISDICTIONS.
AND YOU SAW THAT THROUGH THE WORDS OF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND THE WORDS OF THE MAYOR, THAT THE BUILDING UP OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, UH, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT PETE'S LEADERSHIP.
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR, UH, TRANSITION INTO RETIREMENT, BUT CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE LEGACY THAT YOU HAVE LEFT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WITH THAT, IT IS MY HONOR TO PROVIDE THIS DIS DISTINGUISHED
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SERVICE AWARD SIGNED BY ME, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CITY MANAGER.AND IT, IT SAYS, AT THE TOP DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION IS DIRECTOR OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN INVOLVING AND EXPANDING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN AUSTIN'S HOMELESS COMMUNITY DURING HIS NEARLY 23 YEAR TENURE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND IT HAS HIS NAME PETER VALDEZ III.
AND IT SAYS, IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 26TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND I'M PROUD TO SIGN THIS AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE, AND WE'RE GONNA DO ONE OTHER THING, UH, THAT AGAIN, IS A HAPPY THING BECAUSE THIS IS A HAPPY MOMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU, BUT WE WANT, WE WANT GREAT HAPPINESS IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, YOUR FIANCE IS HERE AND, UH, Y'ALL ARE GETTING MARRIED IN AUGUST.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT YEAR, A HAPPY YEAR.
UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN DONE IS THE CREATION OF A A, A SIGN, A ROAD SIGN, STREET SIGN, UH, WITH YOUR NAME ON IT, THE PETER VALDEZ, THE THIRD COURT, 2000 THROUGH 2023.
THANK, THANK I, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO GET TO GET THROUGH THIS.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR THE RECOGNITION, AND OF COURSE, SPENCER, UH, FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT ALL OF THE YEARS.
UM, MAYOR WATSON, YOU WERE A VISIONARY 23 YEARS AGO, AND, UH, BECAUSE OF YOU, I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THE MINUTE THAT YOU WERE ELECTED, YOU CAME TO SEE US, YOU TOOK A TOUR, YOU WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE DID, AND I, UM, I VALUE THAT AND, AND ADMIRE THAT SO MUCH.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT.
UM, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AND THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT COME TO US FOR HELP.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW THAT WHOEVER ENCOUNTERS OUR SERVICES OR WHOEVER WE ENCOUNTER, UM, ARE TREATED, UH, COMPASSIONATELY AND IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER.
AND EVERYBODY AT THE COMMUNITY COURT, UH, IS DEDICATED, FIERCELY DEDICATED TO, TO DOING JUST THAT.
UM, IT IS, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO, TO NOT JUST SERVE THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO WORK ALONGSIDE SO MANY DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS AS WELL, UH, BOTH IN OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO EXTERNALLY THROUGH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UM, AND CITY COUNCIL IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
UM, BECAUSE OF ALL THE, THE SUPPORT THAT COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAVE GIVEN US OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GROW, UH, FOURFOLD SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, UH, IN 1999.
AND, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THAT GROWTH HAS BEEN IN SOCIAL SERVICES BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, UH, FOR US AND FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE TODAY, UH, TO SPENCER TO, UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOR YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
WHERE'D YOU SAY YOU WANTED US? OH, GO OVER HERE.
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CONGRATULATIONS.MY NAME IS COUNCIL MEMBER OF VANESSA FUENTES.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY FOR OUR VERY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR, UH, TO PRESENT THIS VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION TO, UH, ONE OF OUR LEADING MEDIA SOURCES.
YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW AUSTIN IS A THIRD LATINO, AND AS SUCH, WE SHOULD EMPOWER AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, ROBUST AND MULTICULTURAL MEDIA SOURCES.
AND SO ANYTIME THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A, A SPOTLIGHT AND RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR LEADING HISPANIC LATINO MEDIA SOURCES, WHERE OUR COMMUNITY CAN, CAN GET UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN AUSTIN, I'M ALL ABOUT.
SO I AM, UH, ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS MARIO TAPIA HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 15 YEARS IN THE MEDIA INFORMING THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION, AND WHEREAS MARIO TAPIA CREATED AND HOSTED NO, THE FIRST SPANISH RADIO NEWS SHOW IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS MARIO TAPIA CO-FOUNDED REPORT AUSTIN, A MEDIA OUTLET THAT PRIORITIZES ACCESSIBILITY IN REACHES MORE THAN 100,000 HISPANIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS EVERY MONTH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 26TH, 2023 AS MARIO TAPIA DAY IN AUSTIN CHAIR.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES, UH, NOT ONLY FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE TODAY, BUT ALSO FOR THE GREAT EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE, UM, WITH MY DAUGHTERS ARE LOOKING AT YOU AND WITH THE WHOLE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR EVERYTHING.
UM, THANK YOU COURSE MAYOR WATSON ON THE, ON ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THIS STORY STARTED 17 YEARS AGO.
I CAME TO AUSTIN WITH THE IDEA TO SPEND TWO MONTHS HERE, UM, CONDUCTING A RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
THAT PROJECT TWO MONTHS, I, I ACTUALLY PACK ONLY FOR TWO MONTHS.
AND, AND, AND THAT PROJECT BECAME A TWO YEAR PROJECT AT THE, AT UT.
AND THEN, UM, 15 YEARS AGO, I STARTED WORKING IN MEDIA.
AND THIS PATH, OF COURSE, HAS SHOWN ME A LOT ABOUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL TEXAS, WHICH IS UNIQUE.
IT'S VERY, UH, FULL OF GREAT PEOPLE, FULL OF, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WILLING TO, TO WORK EVERY DAY, TO DO IT FOR THEIR FAMILIES, TO SACRIFICE A LOT OF THINGS, UM, IN THIS, UH, IN THIS CITY.
AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY, OF COURSE.
AND, AND NOW THAT I'M HERE 17 YEARS LATER, 15 YEARS SINCE I STARTED WORKING FOR HISPANIC MEDIA, UM, AFTER CREATING NOT
I WANNA THANK MY WIFE, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE.
SHE HAS BEEN, UM, A PARTNER FOR ME, SO THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT IT'S, I, I I HAVEN'T BEEN THAT EASY.
SO
UH, THANK YOU TO MY DAUGHTER, UH, RAMINA, UH, UH, OF COURSE ISABELA AND LUCA, THANK YOU FOR MY PARENTS-IN-LAW FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME TOO.
AND WELL, UH, I PROMISE I'M GONNA KEEP WORKING, UH, FOR THIS COMMUNITY, UM, TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER INFORMED, HAVE MORE QUALITY IN THE, IN THE, IN THE NEWS, UM, WORK FOR THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION, ALSO, NOT ONLY CENTRAL TEXAS, BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
UM, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, EVERYONE.
UM, I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY.
I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND TODAY'S A SPECIAL DAY.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF JANUARY AS BLOOD DONOR MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ON DECEMBER 31ST, 1969, PRESIDENT NIXON DECLARED THE MONTH OF JANUARY AS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH.
TODAY I'M BRINGING FORWARD A PROCLAMATION DECLARING BLOOD DONOR MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IN ORDER TO BRING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DONATING BLOOD, THERE IS AN ESTIMATED 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO NEED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR.
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BLOOD DONATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL IN HELPING SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY.AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR BLOOD.
SOME PEOPLE NEED RED BLOOD DONATIONS, OTHER PEOPLE NEED PLATELET AND PLASMA DONATIONS, BUT BLOOD DONATIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR MANY PEOPLE FOR WITH MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLOOD.
BUT O NEGATIVE IS THE TYPE THAT'S KNOWN AS A UNIVERSAL BLOOD TYPE, WHICH CAN BE ACCEPTED BY ANY, UM, DIFFERENT BLOOD TYPE AND OFTEN USED IN EMERGENCIES BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S.
YOUR AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS CONDUCTED FIVE OUT OF HOSPITAL BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS IN THE FIELD.
OUR BLOOD PROGRAM BEGAN BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2021 AND HAS HELPED SAVE MANY LIVES, BUT THAT COULDN'T HELP WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS AT WE ARE BLOOD, UM, WHO WE ARE RECOGNIZING TODAY WITH THIS PROCLAMATION.
THEY ARE A LOCAL BLOOD CENTER AND THEY'RE HERE AT CITY HALL TODAY WHERE WE'VE ORGANIZED A BLOOD DRIVE FROM NINE TO 1130, TAKING BLOOD DONATIONS.
IF YOU HADN'T SIGNED UP YET, PLEASE DO SO.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO DONATE BLOOD.
CENTRAL TEXAS IS ALWAYS IN NEED OF BLOOD DONATIONS TO KEEP LIFESAVING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
AND IN MY LIFETIME, I'VE MADE OVER 27 DONATIONS OF BLOOD TO HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
SO I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DONATE BLOOD IF YOU CAN TODAY.
AND IF NOT, PLEASE SIGN UP ONLINE TO DO SO.
SO I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO WE ARE BLOOD AND WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT THEY'RE HERE TODAY.
IT SAYS, AND I'VE BEEN JOINED BY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AND OUR, UM, CITY MANAGER SPENCER CROG.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY ON, UM, TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT NO NA.
WHEREAS RED BLOOD CELLS GIVE LIFE TO ALL OF US BY CARRYING OXYGEN TO OUR BODY'S ORGANS AND TISSUE.
AND WHEREAS A HEALTHY HUMAN BODY IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 17 MILLION NEW RED BLOOD CELLS PER SECOND WOW.
AND WHEREAS NOT ALL ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEALTHY RED BLOOD CELLS FAST ENOUGH, WHICH CAN RESULT IN MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS AND EVEN FATALITIES.
AND WHEREAS 25% OF THE BLOOD SUPPLY IS USED BY PATIENTS BATTLING CANCER, AND WHEREAS THE AVERAGE ADULT HAS ABOUT 10 PINTS OF BLOOD IN THEIR SYSTEM, HOWEVER, THE TYPICAL BLOOD DONATION IS ONLY ONE PINT.
SO THAT MEANS Y'ALL HAVE SOME DESPAIR, OKAY? UM, AND WHEREAS THE AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES TO DONATE BLOOD OFTEN TAKES 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
AND WHEREAS RED BLOOD CELLS HAVE A SHORT SHELF LIFE, SHELF LIFE OFTEN LASTING UP TO SIX WEEKS.
AND WHEREAS YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION AND SAVE THEIR LIFE BY DONATING BLOOD AS FREQUENTLY AS 56 DAYS, AND WHEREAS THIS PROCLAMATION SHALL SERVE AS A REMINDER AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, HOW VITAL IT IS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED BY DONATING BLOOD.
NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, PROCLAIM JANUARY, 2023 AS BLOOD DONOR MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND NOW, IF WE ARE BLOOD, WE'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, ON BEHALF OF WE ARE BLOOD, OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY OF BLOOD DONORS, AND ALL OF THE LOCAL PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WATSON FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION, BRINGING AWARENESS TO BLOOD DONATION, CELEBRATING BLOOD DONORS, AND INSPIRING NEW DONORS AND MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE HOSTS, SAVES LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE BLOOD IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF BLOOD PLATELET AND PLASMA DONATIONS TO 50 HOSPITALS AND CLINICS ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
THAT'S ALL OF AUSTIN'S HOSPITALS, ALL OF TRAVIS COUNTY'S HOSPITALS.
AND WE'VE SEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH IN THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED FOR LOCAL PATIENTS.
EVEN TODAY, WE'RE EXPERIENCING AN URGENT NEED FOR BLOOD DONATIONS, ESPECIALLY O TYPE AND THE O NEGATIVE TYPE BLOOD DONATIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MENTIONED.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DONATE AT WE ARE BLOOD LIKE THE BLOOD DRIVE HOSTED TODAY AT CITY HALL.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.
THANK CONGRATULATIONS SO MUCH,
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MORNING EVERYBODY.WELCOME TO BOARDS AND COMMISSION'S ROOM.
AND, AND, UH, THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECOGNITION HERE FOR THE NEW YEAR 2023.
AND IT IS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S.
UM, UH, AND AND VERY ACCOMPLISHED EMPLOYEE.
I WAS LOOKING IN THAT THERE AND IT TURNED OVER HERE.
WE ARE HONORING MIKE KELLY TODAY WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
MIKE HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR JUST OVER 26 YEARS AS A LEADER OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WITH HIS CAREER CULMINATING IN HIS SERVICE AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PROJECT DESIGN AND DELIVERY BRANCH.
MIKE'S MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING HIS TIME WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT INCLUDE MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DIVISION, BEING A KEY PARTNER IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTIN CLEAN WATER PROGRAM, MAINTAINING A COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING DIVERSITY AND EQUITY IN THE DEPARTMENT'S RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES.
AND BEING A FOUNDING MEMBER OF WATERSHED'S OWN ACOUSTIC BAND, DEBRIS JAM
OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER, MIKE HAS MADE A PRACTICE OF LEADING WITH HIS HEART AS WELL AS HIS MIND.
HE HAS INSPIRED COUNTLESS EMPLOYEES IN THEIR CAREERS AS WATER RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS BY SERVING AS A TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MENTOR.
I WANNA THANK MIKE FOR DEDICATION TO AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENT.
YOU AND YOUR PASSION WILL ABSOLUTELY BE MISSED.
HERE IS THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECOGNITION.
AND COME ON UP A LITTLE CLOSER, WE'LL GET THIS IN THE MIC.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN DURING HIS 26TH YEAR TENURE AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, MIKE KELLY PE IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 26TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR 2023 BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, KIRK WATSON MAYOR, AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'LL SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE MIKE COMES UP, BUT, UH, I WANT TO THANK MIKE FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE.
UH, UH, HE LITERALLY REPRESENTS THE LIFE OF WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
SO THE DEPARTMENT WATERSHED, AS IT EXISTS NOW CAME TOGETHER WHEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE STORMWATER DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS CAME TOGETHER 26, 26 YEARS AGO.
SO MIKE, UM, LEADS WITH HEART.
HE'S BEEN A MENTOR TO MYSELF AS WELL, SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
SO ON BEHALF OF OUR, OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR ACM, WHO'S I'M ACTING ON HIS BEHALF TODAY AS WELL, UH, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, MIKE.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA MAKE THIS PRETTY CLEAN, UH, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, YOU DID IT.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO REALIZE NOT ONLY THE FIRST CAREER DREAM I EVER HAD, WHICH WAS TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT, BUT ALSO FOR PROVIDING THE WORKSHOP IN WHICH I WAS ABLE TO BECOME MYSELF SELF.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL MY MENTORS AND SUPERVISORS WHO BELIEVED IN ME AND HAD PATIENCE WITH ME AND HELD ME ACCOUNTABLE WHEN IT WAS NEEDED.
I GREW AS A RESULT AND HOPEFULLY WAS BETTER ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
AS A RESULT, I'M THANKFUL FOR MY COWORKERS FOR PROVIDING FRIENDSHIP, A PUSH TOWARDS EXCELLENCE, AND ULTIMATELY THE CHANCE TO ACT AS A LEADER AND FOR SHOWING ME ENTIRELY NEW AVENUES FOR GROWTH THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE STUMBLED UPON MYSELF OR IN ANOTHER ENVIRONMENT.
I'M SO INDEBTED TO ALL THE COUNCILS WHO CRAFTED THE POLICIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE ME TO CHOOSE TO MAKE A CAREER AT THE CITY FROM THE CREATION OF THE DRAINAGE UTILITY TO THE EMPHASIS ON PROGRESSIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
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AND NATURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP TO THE BENEFIT PACKAGES WE ENJOY.AND A RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT IS UNMATCHED AS FAR AS I KNOW.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING THAT TO ME AND TO ALL OF US.
AND FINALLY TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN WHO PAY UTILITY BILLS AND PROPERTY TAXES WHO VOTE FOR BOND ISSUES AND CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME, FOR TRUSTING US TO USE YOUR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS TO BRING COOPERATIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR CITY THAT CONTINUE TO MAKE AUSTIN ONE OF THE BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN.
OKAY, MAYOR AND COUNSEL AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND CITY FAMILY, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE A LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANTS AND EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DENISE LUCAS, WHO IS RETIRING ON JANUARY 31ST.
DENISE HAS SERVED OUR CITY ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 2010, AND AFTER 30 YEARS OF WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, DENISE'S CALLING TO PUBLIC SERVICE BROUGHT HER TO OUR ORGANIZATION, STARTING HER PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER AT THE CITY'S AS THE CITY'S DEPUTY PURCHASING OFFICER, AND THEN CULMINATING AS THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DIRECTOR.
DENISE HAS EXEMPLIFIED MODEL PUBLIC SERVANTS WITH HER PROFESSIONALISM, CARE AND CONCERN FOR HELPING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR EMPLOYEES.
SHE LEAVES DSD IN GREAT POSITION, READY FOR THE NEXT DEPARTMENT LEADER TO TAKE THE REINS AND PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY, UH, EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
I JUST WANNA PERSONALLY THANK DENISE FOR HER COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HER ABILITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, AND FOR BEING BOTH A MENTOR TO SO MANY IN OUR AUSTIN FAMILY, AND TO BEING AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT.
I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE ACM RODNEY GONZALEZ.
MY WORDS CANNOT FULLY EXPRESS HOW MUCH YOU'RE APPRECIATED BY MYSELF, OUR CMO EXECUTIVE TEAM, YOUR FELLOW DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AND DSD STAFF WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE.
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, YOU HAVE LED THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
YOU'VE TAKEN NEW ON NEW AND SIGNIFICANT WORK UNITS IN OUR EFFORTS TO CONSOLIDATE PERMITTING FUNCTIONS.
AND YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED NEW PROGRAMS LIKE SHOP DE BLOCK, WHICH HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY THRIVE.
YOU'VE DONE THESE THINGS IN MANY MORE WITH THE WILLINGNESS TO GET THE JOB DONE NO MATTER HOW, HOW HARD THE TASK IS.
AND NO MATTER HOW DAUNTING THE CHALLENGE OR CHALLENGE THAT IS FOR ALL THESE THINGS, YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION AND I AM SAD TO LOSE YOU FROM OUR CITY ORGANIZATION.
AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU GET TO REST AND TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY ORGANIZATION, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, WHICH I'LL READ FOR HER CONTINUING UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HER 12 YEAR TENURE AND IS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DENISE LUCAS IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THE CERTIFICATE IS PRINTED, PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND, UH, APPRECIATION THEREOF.
THIS 26TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2023, SIGNED BY MAYOR KIRK WATSON ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I'VE NOT SEEN A SIGN LIKE THIS BEFORE.
YOU ALWAYS SEE STREET BOULEVARD OR RECENTLY COURT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR ME, I'M GONNA MODEL MY SIGN AFTER THIS DENISE LUCAS WAY,
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GONNA PLACE THIS HERE AND THEN, UH, ALLOW DENISE TO HAVE SOME WORDS AS WELL.UM, TO STAFF THAT IS HERE, UH, I AM DEEPLY HONORED, UH, TO HAVE YOU BE A PART OF THIS RECOGNITION FOR ME.
UM, TODAY, THIS MORNING I WOKE UP.
SO EVEN THOUGH I MADE MY ANNOUNCEMENT IN LATE DECEMBER, TODAY IS WHEN I ACTUALLY STARTED TO FEEL THE EMOTIONS THAT COME FROM SEPARATING NOT ONLY FROM AN AMAZING CITY, BUT AN OUTSTANDING DEPARTMENT WITH WONDERFUL AND DEDICATED EMPLOYEES.
I MAY BE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, BUT IT'S THE EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT DO THE WORK AND GET IT DONE.
AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND TRUSTING ME, EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DECISIONS HAD TO BE THE MAY THEY WERE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ARE ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
WE'RE SEEN AS A ROLE MODEL FOR THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
OTHER CITIES REACH OUT TO US TO FIGURE OUT HOW DID WE GET THAT DONE? HOW ARE WE SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS? AND WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER.
SO I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN YOUR LEADER DURING THIS TIME, AND TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND WATCH SO MANY OF YOU GROW AND GET PROMOTED AND TAKE ON NEW RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT REALLY IS AN INDICATION OF JUST HOW VALUABLE YOU ARE AND WHAT AMAZING PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE.
SO I'M GONNA STOP WHILE I'M AHEAD.
I BELIEVE, YEAH, THAT CONCLUDES OUR, I BELIEVE THOSE WERE OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND DSAS.