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[Austin SXSW Spring Festival Press Conference ]
IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE WHEN WE KI AS WE KICK OFF THE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON IN AUSTIN.OF COURSE, WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, THE FESTIVAL THAT HAS MADE AUSTIN FAMOUS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
UH, THEY'LL BE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IS BACK TO OUR CITY, AND IT'LL BE BACK IN OUR CITY IN FULL FORCE.
ALONG WITH ALL THE THOUGHT LEADERS AND TRAILBLAZERS IN EDUCATION, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY, FILM AND TELEVISION.
UH, THIS ICONIC CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL DRAWS US DRAWS HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN A SPECIAL PLACE WHERE IDEAS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARE CONCEIVED AND LAUNCHED, AND WHERE CREATIVITY IS FOSTERED AND FLOURISHES.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR REPUTATION AS AN INCUBATOR FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND WE WELCOME THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FOLKS THAT ARE COMING HERE TO EXPERIENCE IT.
BUT BEYOND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WHICH STARTS IN JUST A FEW DAYS, WE HAVE SEVERAL SPRING FESTIVALS AND SOME MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THIS SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON THAT INCLUDES RODEO, AUSTIN DELL MATCH PLAY, WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THE A B ABC KITE FESTIVAL AT ZUCKER PARK, JUST TO NAME A COUPLE.
AS WE WELCOME ALL THESE VISITORS AND WE PLAN FOR THESE EVENTS THAT ADD TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY AND BOLSTER OUR ECONOMY.
WE RECOGNIZE IT PUTS AN ADDED STRAIN ON CITY RESOURCES, TRAFFIC CONGESTION INCREASES, AND THERE ARE POTENTIAL TRAVEL DELAYS THAT THESE LARGE EVENTS CAN CREATE.
AND THERE'S A NEED FOR HEIGHTENED VIGILANCE WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND SECURITY.
AUSTIN IS PREPARED AND WE ASK FOR THE PATIENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS OF OUR RESIDENTS AS WE NAVIGATE THE BYPRODUCT OF THESE WONDERFUL FESTIVALS AND THESE TREMENDOUS EVENTS THAT WOULD, THAT BRING WITH THEM.
TODAY YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND CAPITOL METRO.
AS THEY SHARE MORE DETAILS OF OUR PLANNING AND OUR PREPARATION FOR THIS SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON, WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HAVE AS WELL.
SO NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BRIGHTON SUMMERS WITH AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS.
BUT IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN PART CAUSE AUSTIN, TEXAS DRAWS THE WORLD HERE.
IT'S SUCH A, A SPECIAL PLACE, BRIGHTON.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.
I'M BRIGHTON SUMMERS CONSUMER SERVICES MANAGER WITH THE AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT SPECIAL EVENTS ARE HELD SAFELY HERE IN AUSTIN THIS YEAR.
WE'VE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 140 PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR EVENTS OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AN INCREASE OF 20% OVER 2022.
WE'VE WORKED WITH EVENT ORGANIZERS FOR MONTHS TO ENSURE THESE EVENTS COULD BE HELD SAFELY.
THIS TAKES THE PARTNERSHIP OF MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE UP THE AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS, AND SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICE DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, RESOURCE RECOVERY, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, CODE DEPARTMENT, AND HOMELAND AND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WELCOMING LARGE CITYWIDE EVENTS LIKE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, ACE WORKS CLOSELY WITH AGENCIES SUCH AS CAPITAL METRO, TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION, AND AUSTIN BUR BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL OR AIRPORT.
DURING SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON, WE WILL ACTIVATE PUBLIC ASSEMBLY CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAMS. THESE PACE TEAMS, AS WE CALL THEM, CONSIST OF STAFF FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL NAVIGATE THE CITY PERFORMING INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE APPROVED SAFETY STANDARDS AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL VISITORS IN AUSTINITES TO FOLLOW THE HASHTAG HASHTAG SPRINGFEST ATX ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AND FOR NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF JEFF GREENWALT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY IN AUSTIN DURING THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL.
WANNA SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY ALL OF THE BENEFITS THAT SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST HAS THE OFFER, BUT WE ASK THAT PEOPLE DO SO IN A RESPONSIBLE AND SAFE MANNER.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO JUST ADDRESS PROBABLY THE, UH, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM QUESTION AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SAFETY DURING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, AND THAT'S THE STAFFING FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS AND THE DISPATCHERS.
THIS IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK SITUATION FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHILE WE HAVE, UH, STAFFING ISSUES ON AN ONGOING BASIS
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THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SINGULAR EVENTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS LONG, WE'RE ALL HANDS ON DECK.OUR, UH, SPECIAL EVENTS UNIT HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF RALLYING THE TROOPS, OFFERING OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO MAN THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK.
SAME THING IS HAPPENING AT OUR NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER.
WE HAVE, UH, DISPATCHERS THAT ARE BEING AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME IN ON AN OVERTIME BASIS AND OUR DISPATCHERS AS SWELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE THERE IN PERSON AND TO ANSWER THE CALL AND TO DISPATCH THE OFFICERS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT NEED WHEN THE SITUATION, UM, WHERE WERE TO HAPPEN.
UM, WHILE WE TALK ABOUT 9 1 1, I ALSO WANNA BRIEFLY JUST COMMENT ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 9 1 1 AND 3 1 11 AND ONLINE REPORTING, BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT GETS A LITTLE BLURRY AND CONFUSING.
ANYTIME SOMEBODY IS WITNESSING OR INVOLVED IN A CRIME THAT'S ONGOING OR THERE'S A THREAT TO ANYBODY'S SAFETY AND, AND IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, WE WANT YOU TO CALL NINE ONE ONE WITHOUT HESITATION, JUST CALL 9 1 1 AND WE WILL DISPATCH AN OFFICER TO THAT SITUATION.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A, A CRIME THAT'S ALREADY OCCURRED AND THERE'S NO LONGER A SAFETY ISSUE, THREE 11 OR I REPORT AUSTIN.COM ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN REPORT THAT CRIME TO US SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT IN OUR RECORDS DATABASE.
BUT IT DOESN'T NEED A A 9 1 1 RESPONSE.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BARRICADES AND, UM, CLOSED STREETS DOWNTOWN IN AND AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK OF SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
WE ASK THAT PEOPLE ARE MINDFUL OF THE SIGNAGE THAT THEY MIGHT SEE FOR THESE BARRICADED STREETS AND THAT THEY COMPLY WITH ANY SIGNS OR BARRICADES THAT THEY MIGHT SEE.
THERE ARE INTERACTIVE MAPS OF ROAD CLOSURES THAT'LL SHOW YOU IN REAL TIME WHERE THE ROAD CLOSURES ARE.
SO WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO TO GOOGLE MAPS OR WAYS AND JUST CHECK THOSE INTERNET SITES OUT SO THAT YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF GETTING AROUND IN AND AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE EXTRA OFFICERS ON HAND DURING RUSH HOUR TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE AREA AS NEEDED, AND WE'RE AVAILABLE TO HELP WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
PLEASE BE PATIENT, UH, KNOW, UH, MAYOR WATSON MENTIONED THAT EARLIER, BUT BE PATIENT WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC.
IF YOU SEE AN ONGOING TRAFFIC HAZARD OR A DANGEROUS SITUATION, LIKE I SAID, CALL 9 1 1.
UM, OR IF IT'S IN THE PAST, CALL THREE 11.
WE DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO UTILIZE BICYCLES OR RIDESHARE OR, UM, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHEN AVAILABLE.
KEEP IN MIND WITH THE INCREASED PEDESTRIANS THAT'LL BE IN THE AREA, IT DOES CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD.
SO AS YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND THE AUSTIN AREA, BE MINDFUL, UH, THAT THERE'LL BE EXTRA PEDESTRIANS AND THAT THAT POSES A, A SAFETY HAZARD.
SO PLEASE BE, BE SLOW DRIVING AND BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.
A LOT OF PARKING AREAS HAVE BEEN, UH, DISPLACED AND THERE ARE EXTRA PARKING.
HA THERE ARE, THERE ARE EXTRA PLACES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE YOU CANNOT PARK, SO THERE'S GONNA BE PERMANENT SIGNAGE UP AND THERE'LL BE TEMPORARY SIGNAGE UP.
SO PLEASE BE MINDFUL, A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN AND AROUND THE AREA ALSO HAVE TEMPORARY PERMITTING THAT'S REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PARK THERE.
SO LOOK AROUND, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PARKING IN A LEGAL LEGALLY PARKED SPADE IN THE SPACE AND THAT YOU DON'T GET TOWED.
T A B C, UH, WHO'S HERE TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE, IT WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, TO CREATE ENFORCEMENT TEAMS TO LOOK, UH, PROACTIVELY FOR MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL, AS WELL AS ANYBODY WHO'S SO INTOXICATED IN PUBLIC THAT THEY POSE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE HANDLED AND, AND SAFE AS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT AND HAVE A SAFE PLAN TO GET HOME.
WE DO HAVE A NO REFUSAL, UH, INITIATIVE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WEEK.
SO IF SOMEBODY'S ARRESTED FOR DWI, WE WILL BE TAKING A BLOOD DRAW TO USE THAT AS EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM.
SO PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND, UH, DO NOT BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR IF YOU'RE INTOXICATED.
WE DO HAVE E SCOOTERS AVAILABLE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
PLEASE KNOW THAT ALL THE SAME RULES APPLY FOR BICYCLES AND CARS AS THEY DO FOR E SCOOTERS.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF INJURIES THAT HAPPENED ON EAST SCOOTERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE INTOXICATED.
PLEASE, PLEASE, IF YOU'RE DRI IF YOU'RE DRINKING, DON'T USE THE E SCOOTERS.
YOU CAN BE ARRESTED FOR DWI JUST THE SAME AS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE.
UH, SO FIND ALTERNATIVE, UH, METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION THAT'S SAFER FOR YOU.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, ANYTIME THERE'S A LARGE EVENT OR FESTIVAL, HUMAN TRAFFICKING DOES OCCUR, WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENS.
OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT IS WORKING VERY, VERY PROACTIVELY TO IDENTIFY AND DISRUPT THIS ACTIVITY.
WE HAVE RESOURCES AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS WE IDENTIFY THEM.
AND THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED TO GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
OUR, UH, THE DEA IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT, UH, TO IDENTIFY AND DISRUPT ANY SORT OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING, OUR OVERDOSES THAT MIGHT OCCUR WHERE WE CAN, UM, FIND AND, UM, CHARGE THE SUPPLIER OF FENTANYL OR NON FENTANYL NARCOTICS RELATED OVERDOSES IS GOING TO BE OCCURRING.
SO PLEASE KNOW THAT IF THERE'S AN OVERDOSE THAT OCCURS IN AUSTIN, IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO WAS RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY DISPERSED OR SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED NARCOTICS, THAT WE WILL ACTIVELY BE LOOKING FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A VERY TARGETED ENFORCEMENT EFFORT AS IT RELATES TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND GUN CRIMES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
OUR ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION IS GONNA BE WORKING BOTH IN UNIFORM AND IN PLAIN CLOTHES TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO ARE CARRYING GUNS IN AN, IN, IN AN ILLEGAL
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CAPACITY AND TRYING TO ARREST THOSE PEOPLE AND SEIZE THOSE GUNS BEFORE THEY'RE USED IN A VIOLENT CRIME.WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR EYES AND OUR EARS.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, CALL 9 1 1 OR THREE ONE ONE.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET YOU HOME SAFELY, UM, AND TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.
SO PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.
I'LL BE AROUND FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE IT AFTERWARDS, AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER NOW TO JIM DALE WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, JUST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED THIS TIME OF YEAR.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN AUSTIN WITH SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
UM, COME ON DOWN, ENJOY WHAT AUSTIN HAS TO OFFER AS WELL AS THE MANY BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN.
I'M GONNA RECOVER THREE THINGS TODAY, JUST ROAD CLOSURES, TRAVEL OPTIONS, AS WELL AS WAYS TO GET HOME SAFELY WHEN YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING.
ALL RIGHT, IN TERMS OF ROAD CLOSURES OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY BUSY TIME.
UM, FOR AUSTIN, AS THE CHIEF HAD MENTIONED, THERE'S GONNA BE ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS.
ALSO, AS THE CHIEF MENTIONED, PLEASE TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME TO GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, AND PLEASE BE PATIENT.
SO, ROAD CLOSURES ARE GONNA START THIS FRIDAY AT 3:00 AM THEY'LL GO THROUGH, UM, SUNDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
MOST CLOSURES WILL BE DAILY CLOSURE.
SO ABOUT FROM 2:00 PM TILL 3:00 AM IS WHEN THOSE CLOSURES WILL BE STARTING.
UM, ALSO WE WILL ADAPT IF WE SEE ISSUES WITH SAFETY AND WORKING WITH AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ANY ISSUES, WE MAY CLOSE A STREET THAT WE DIDN'T PLAN ON CLOSING, WE MAY START THAT CLOSURE EARLY.
WE MAY EXTEND IT LONGER, BUT WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THE EVENT.
AN IMPORTANT CHANGE THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT FIFTH STREET, STARTING THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT ABOUT 3:00 AM IS GONNA BE CONVERTED TO ONE WAY EASTBOUND BETWEEN BRAZOS AND I 35.
SO THAT IS ONE OF OUR BIGGER CHANGES THAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR WITH SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
UM, IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV, SPRING FESTIVAL, ATX THAT WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE ROAD CLOSURES.
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THAT WEBSITE TO LEARN ABOUT TRAVEL OPTIONS.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE FESTIVAL, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE TRAVEL OPTIONS THAT AUSTIN HAS TO OFFER, WHETHER IT'S BIKING, WALKING, OR METRO BIKES, CAPITAL METRO, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT HERE FROM A LITTLE BIT.
RIDE SHARES THE SCOOTERS, AND JUST TAKING YOUR TIME AS YOU'RE GETTING AROUND.
UM, MATTER OF FACT, LAST YEAR WAS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST DAYS FOR SCOOTER USE.
WE HAD ALMOST 40,000 TRIPS ON THAT SECOND SATURDAY OF SOUTH BY.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE 10,000, SO IT'S LIKE FOUR TIMES MORE BUSY.
SO IF YOU ARE TAKING A SCOOTER, WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE SURE TO PARK IT WHERE YOU'RE NOT BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK OR ACCESS TO A BUILDING.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY SOUTH BY AND BE ABLE TO GET AROUND.
IF YOU WILL BE DRINKING, IF YOU'RE DRIVING, WILL BE DRINKING, PLEASE MAKE A PLAN AHEAD OF TIME.
THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS TO GET HOME SAFE ON SOME OF THOSE.
A PROGRAM THAT ATD HAS IS A GET HOME SAFE PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING A CAR AND DECIDE TO DRINK, UM, PLEASE MAKE THE RESPONSIBLE CHOICE TO LEAVE YOUR CAR AND TAKE THAT SAFE RIDE HOME.
THAT SAFE RIDE HOME COULD BE UBER, COULD BE TRANSIT IF YOU GET A PARKING TICKET.
SO YOU DRIVEN HERE, IF YOU GET A PARKING TICKET, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THAT TICKET WAIVED.
JUST SAVE THE RECEIPT FOR YOUR SAFE RIDE HOME, THEN GO TO AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV, GET HOME SAFE, AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV.
GET HOME SAFE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO GET THE TICKET WAIVED.
ALRIGHT, IN CLOSING, WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYONE HAVING A GREAT TIME AT SOUTH BY.
UM, PLEASE TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME TO GET AROUND.
IF YOU'RE COMING TO DOWNTOWN CON, CONSIDER TAKING ANY ONE OF THE AVAILABLE TRAVEL OPTIONS TO GET HERE.
AND IF YOU DRINK, PLEASE FIND A SAFE RIDE HOME.
WE DON'T WANT YOU WALKING, WE DON'T WANT YOU BIKING, WE DON'T WANT YOU DRIVING.
WE WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU HOME.
WE WANT YOU TO BE HERE NEXT YEAR, UM, FOR THIS EVENT.
AND NOW I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO, UM, ONE OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH JUST ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS, CAPITAL METRO, AND SAM ALEXANDER, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE VICES PRESIDENT OVER EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT.
AS JIM SAID, SAM ALEXANDER E V P EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT FOR CAPITAL METRO.
UM, ALSO YOUR SAFE RIDE HOME, UH, CAP METRO IS FULLY PREPARED FOR THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING INTO TOWN FOR SOUTH BY FOR SPRING BREAK FOR THE OTHER EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE REGION.
UM, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE OUR VISITORS AND OUR COMMUNITY ALIKE TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUSY TIME.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BUS OPTIONS.
UM, WE WILL HAVE RAIL IN METRO BIKE OPTIONS AS WELL.
SPEAKING OF METRO RAIL, WE ARE GOING TO ADD EXTENDED SERVICE
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FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.THAT EXTENDED SERVICE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
THE METRO RAIL WILL RUN UNTIL ABOUT 2:30 AM DURING THE WEEK.
IT'LL RUN UNTIL ABOUT 12:30 AM WE ARE ALSO ADDING SERVICE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 12TH UNTIL 12:30 AM GO AHEAD AND CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.
THE FULL SCHEDULE FOR THE EXTENDED RAIL IS ON THE CAB METRO WEBSITE, METRO BIKE.
YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TAKING BIKES IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU SEE THOSE KIOSKS, THOSE ARE OUR METRO BIKES.
OUR TEAM HAS ACQUIRED MORE THAN 170 ADDITIONAL, UH, BATTERIES TO POWER THOSE METRO BIKES.
THEY'VE BEEN DEPLOYED, SO WE HAVE EXTRA BATTERIES OUT IN THE FIELD.
UM, WE WILL ALSO HAVE THREE VALETS FOR METRO BIKE DURING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
SO THOSE LOCATIONS ARE THE DRISCOLL, WATERLOO, GREENWAY, AND FOURTH AND TRINITY METRO BIKE AND METRO RAIL.
YOU CAN SEE THE SCHEDULE ONLINE, UM, BUT ALSO IF YOU NEED HELP NAVIGATING THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, MAYBE IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME USING IT.
WE WILL HAVE TEAM MEMBERS DOWNTOWN AT OUR DOWNTOWN STATION.
YOU'LL SEE US IN OUR CAP METRO SHIRTS.
YOU MIGHT SEE A TENT OUT THERE.
WE CAN HELP YOU FIGURE OUT THE APP, MAP YOUR TRIP.
UM, WE'LL BE THERE TO HELP THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL AND TO GET REAL TIME INFORMATION ABOUT CAP METRO SERVICES.
YOU CAN GET INDIVIDUALIZED TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT EITHER THE ROUTE YOU USE THE MOST OR GENERALLY ABOUT THE SYSTEM WITH ADAM.
WE ASK BRIAN IN TO COME BACK UP AND ASK, UH, HANDLE SOME QUESTION ANSWERS.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR REMARKS.
WE HAVE CITY STAFF FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS HERE, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
UH, OBVIOUSLY AS YOU SAID, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS KIND OF THE STAFFING LEVELS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION.
I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE GET TO SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON IS KIND OF, A LOT OF EYES ARE GONNA BE ON AUSTIN.
WHAT'S THE LEVEL OF CONCERN YOU SEE HORROR INCIDENTS, A RISING CRIME HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND WE DO SEE SLOW RESPONSE TIMES LIKE WE SAW WITH THE STREET TAKEOVERS 9 1 1 DISPATCHERS, UH, BEING FLOODED.
WHAT'S THE LEVEL OF CONCERN FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT EACH TIME? WE HAVE A LARGE, UH, EVENT WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF OFFICERS THERE TO KEEP IT SAFE.
THAT HAPPENS ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHTS ON SIXTH STREET EVERY WEEKEND.
UH, WE HAVE ACL, WE HAVE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WE HAVE, UM, UT UM, HOME GAMES.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A JUST A LONG LIST OF EVENTS THAT WE STAFF EXTRA FOR, UH, AS OPPOSED TO ANY JUST REGULAR DAY OF THE WEEK.
SO I, I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT UNCHARTERED TERRITORY WITH OR WITHOUT THE STAFFING PROBLEM.
THE SAME NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST SAFE IS, UH, IS THE SAME THIS YEAR AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, AND WE HAVE THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.
IS THERE, UH, WITH ALL HANDS ON DECK, IS THERE GONNA BE, UH, AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO SAY OTHER PROBLEMS UNRELATED TO SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST? GOOD QUESTION.
WE HAVE A MINIMUM STAFFING LEVEL THAT WE DON'T TAKE AWAY FROM ON PATROL.
AND THEN WE HAVE, WE HAVE DETECTIVES BACKFILLING.
WHENEVER THOSE, UH, THOSE LEVELS FALL BELOW MINIMUM, WE HAVE DETECTIVES THAT BACKFILL IT, UM, THAT HAS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR INVESTIGATIVE DUTIES IN ORDER TO BACKFILL PATROL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE STREET WITH THE SHORTAGES IN THE 9 1 1 CALLS STAFFING CENTER.
IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT HIGH CALL VOLUME IS SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND? YEAH, WE'RE STAFFING TO A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, EVERY SEAT IN THE STAFFING, EVERY SEAT IN THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER IS GONNA BE STAFFED THROUGH OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE'LL HAVE THE PEOPLE THERE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING.
UH, IF YOU SPEAK UP, I'LL BE OVER HERE WITH THE STREET RACING.
I KNOW RESPONSE TROUBLE GETTING THROUGH SOMETHING THAT CITY CENTER, IF I FOLLOW YOUR QUESTION, IF YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT 9 1 1 RESPONSE TIMES IN REGARDS TO LIKE A LARGE, UH, PUBLIC EVENT, ANYTIME THERE'S A, THERE'S A NUMBER OF 9 1 1 CALLS AT THE SAME TIME, THAT MIGHT CREATE A QUEUE, SO TO SPEAK, BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH OFF, WE HAVE ENOUGH CALL TAKERS IN THE CEASE TO GET THROUGH THAT QUEUE.
I BELIEVE ON THAT, ON THAT WEEKEND, I THINK THERE WAS MAYBE 16, AND THEN IT GOT DOWN TO SEVEN CALLERS WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE INFLUX AND THE STREET TAKEOVER WAS.
SO I GUESS FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, HOW MANY 9 1 1 OPERATORS DO WE HAVE GO ON THAT NIGHT? 16 IS FULL STAFFING CHIEF, YOU MIGHT WANNA EXPLAIN THE FIRST CALL IN REGARDS TO THE FIRST CALLER ONE TIME.
UH, CAN TAKE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS.
I WAS GONNA SAY, UH, FOR THE MAYOR, MAYOR WATSON HERE, JUST, UH, IN TERMS OF YOUR FIRST, UH, YOU KNOW, TERM A WHILE BACK TO NOW, WHAT'S, WHAT'S CHANGED WITH SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST? YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE EVENTS, I MEAN, WHAT'S IT, WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE THE CHANGE IN AUSTIN? WELL, IT'S SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FROM THE FIRST TIME I WAS MARRIED TO NOW HAS GONE FROM HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TO MEGA SUCCESSFUL.
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GROWN.UH, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S MORE OF A WORLDWIDE, UH, EVENT THAN IT WAS, UH, BACK 25 YEARS AGO.
AUSTIN, UH, AUSTIN IS SEEN AS A FOCAL POINT IN A WORLDWIDE ECONOMY AND, AND A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE.
SO WE WENT FROM A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT TO ONE NOW THAT IS, UM, AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT.
UH, AS FAR AS ANY CONCERNS FOR FROM YOU, DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY, I KNOW IT'S A, YOU KNOW, BIG ECONOMIC BOOST FOR THE CITY, BUT WITH GROWING THERE COMES SOME PAIN.
WELL, WE, BUT, BUT WE'RE PREPARING FOR THAT AND, AND THAT'S THE KEY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH IT AND IS WHAT, AND WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD IS ACROSS THE BOARD, THERE'S A LOT OF PREPARATION THAT GOES IN.
IT GOES INTO IT SO THAT WE CAN AFFORD PEOPLE THE, THE EVENTS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE AND AND PROTECT THE, THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR, FOR THE LOCAL, UH, AUSTINITES, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN.
WHAT, WHAT DO, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM ABOUT SAFETY THIS WEEKEND? WELL, THE FIRST, I, WHAT I SAY TO THEM IS WE OUGHT TO BE THE, THE, THE FOLKS THAT WELCOME THE WORLD TO OUR DOORSTEP.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT A SPECIAL PLACE THIS IS.
AND, AND WE'RE INVITING OTHERS TO BE A PART, PART OF ALL THAT.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA NEED TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE IT IS A BIG EVENT.
UH, PATIENT WITH ALL OF THESE FESTIVALS THAT WE HAVE AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IS KIND OF IN A CATEGORY OF ITS OWN.
AND AS I'VE SAID, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PREPARATION GOING INTO THIS.
EVERYTHING FROM TRANSPORTATION TO POLICING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT, UH, AUSTIN STAYS THE PLACE THAT WE LOVE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS THE BETTER PERSON TO TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION.
UH, WITH THE START OF AUSTIN FC, WE OBVIOUSLY SAW, UH, SOME PROBLEMS WITH, WITH THE, UH, THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE, UH, BEFORE THE SEASON OPENER
WE SAW THOSE ABSOLUTELY LAPSES, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNPREDICTABLE.
THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT HAD HAPPENED, BUT IS THERE A CONCERN AT ALL ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES TO ADDRESSING ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THAT THAT SHOULD HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT WAS A ONE-OFF SITUATION, UH, THAT WE HAD THE NIGHT BEFORE.
WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE RAIL TEAM THAT WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT ALL DAY SATURDAY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LINE FROM LEANDER TO DOWNTOWN.
SO NO, THAT WAS A ONE-OFF SITUATION.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE CUSTOMERS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THAT, AND WE'RE A VERY NIMBLE ORGANIZATION.
WE HEAR FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND EVEN BEFORE THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE HAD A NEW SCHEDULE OUT THERE TO HANDLE THAT INFLUX, UH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT.
AND THEN I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION THAT I DON'T KNOW WHO THE BEST PERSON IS TO TALK ABOUT IT,
UH, WITH, WITH, UH, THIS RETURN TO SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, HOW ARE WE LOOKING POST PANDEMIC COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING TO WHAT 2019 NUMBERS LOOK LIKE? ARE WE BASICALLY AT WHERE WE USED TO BE? I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE.
SO, UM, THE NUMBERS, AND I GAVE THESE EARLIER IN MY REMARKS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT APPLICATION, UH, APPLICATIONS RECEIVED RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T TYPICALLY ISSUE PERMITS UNTIL CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL EVENT DATE.
SO WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MANY WILL BE PERMITTED.
TYPICALLY, WE'RE AT ABOUT LIKE 83% OF WHAT WE RECEIVE, WE PERMIT FOR THESE TWO WEEKS.
SO FROM THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR, WE'VE GOT A 20% INCREASE.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD, UH, A DECREASE FROM 2019.
SO YES, I THINK WE'RE FEELING LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY BACK AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY MORE COME IN THIS YEAR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EARLY NUMBERS ON WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES? NO, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THAT SORT OF DATA.
ON THAT PUBLIC HEALTH QUESTION, JUST ANY COVID CONCERNS, SICKNESS CONCERNS WITH AN INFLUX OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING TO AUSTIN? DR.
WALKS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THAT ONE?
OUR COMMUNITY HAS REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB IN GETTING VACCINATED.
THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY'RE INDOORS.
THEY KNOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING IN WELL-VENTILATED PLACES LIKE THIS.
AND WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP MONITORING AND GIVING VACCINATIONS TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.
AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ORGANIZERS HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB ABOUT PREPARING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO VISIT US, SO IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT EVENT.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL 'EM ALL WHO ARE OH,
I'M THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY AND APA CLINICAL DIRECTOR.
WHO THE BEST PERSON TO ANSWER THIS, OR IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS, BUT, UH, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS GROWING OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, GETTING LARGER.
SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE MORE VISIBLE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE ENCAMPMENTS.
HAVE WE SEEN MORE CLEANUPS? ARE THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE AREAS ARE SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN? DOES ANYONE WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? NO, I GUESS I WILL.
UM, YES, THERE'S BEEN, WE'RE WE'RE MAKING A CONCENTRATED EFFORT.
PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING ALSO IS
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WE'RE WORKING TO CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WHAT CAN OCCUR IS, UH, WHEN SOMEONE IS, IS NOT AVAILABLE TO, WE, WE, WE SAY YOU CAN'T CAMP THERE.THERE, THERE ARE PLACES TO GO.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COORDINATED EFFORT TO TRY TO MAKE, UH, MAKE, TO BE HUMANE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WITH REGARD TO THE CAMPING BAN, HAVE WE SEEN AN INCREASE AT ALL FOR SOUTH BY, AT ALL OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION? YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I, UH, I, I I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION.
I'M TOM BOKEY, FIRE MARSHAL WITH A F D.
UM, OUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA BE FULLY STAFFED AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA UPST STAFF ON THE SPECIAL EVENTS SIDE FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.
SO WE FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH STAFFING FROM FROM AUSTIN.
ERIC GORDON, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, SPECIAL EVENTS, UM, ECHOING WHAT CHIEF OAKEY SAID, WE, WE TOO ARE, UH, AT A GOOD PLACE WITH STAFFING.
UH, WE BRING ON VOLUNTEERS TO, UM, HELP WITH THE DOWNTOWN SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON, UH, IN HOPES TO, UM, NOT CREATE ANY MORE CALLS ON OUR 9 1 1 CALLS THAT ARE GOING ON OUT THERE.
SO WE BRING IN EXTRA VOLUNTEER STAFF, UH, JUST TO, JUST TO HANDLE THAT, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP.
WITH, UH, WITH COUNT LAKE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WITH THE WEATHER BEING NICE.
DO Y'ALL MONITOR THAT AREA? I SAW SOME DRONES OUT DURING ACL.
JUST KIND OF, KIND OF WATCHING THE OVERALL, UH, VENUE THERE.
WILL THAT, THAT BE OUT AND AGAIN DURING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST? SURE.
SO, UH, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT UH, FOR EMS WE DON'T FLY DRONES TO MONITOR THE WATER PER SE.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE, UM, OUR UAS TEAM THAT WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A APD AND A D UH, JUST TO KIND OF MONITOR THE WHOLE AREA.
WE NEED TEAMS AROUND RANDY WITH THEIR, THE RECENT, UH, MAN THAT WENT MISSING.
AND I KNOW THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
YEAH, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THEIR EXACT MISSION IS AND WHERE THEY'LL BE FLYING, BUT THERE'LL BE TEAMS OUT.
I WANNA SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE AND, AND I WANT TO THANK 'EM FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
ONE IS THAT THEY'RE HERE AND READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY PUT IN TO MAKING SURE THAT AUSTIN CAN HOST THESE FESTIVALS, UH, INCLUDING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AND B, A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.
UH, WE KNOW OUR CITY, UH, WE KNOW IT'S A GREAT CITY.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE SUCCESS, NOT OF JUST THE CITY, BUT THESE FESTIVALS IN SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PEOPLE BEING HERE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT WILL BE BROUGHT, UH, AND, AND THE BUZZ THAT IT WILL CREATE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WILL, UH, BENEFIT SO MUCH.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS TO ALL THESE PEOPLE FOR THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN MAKING AUSTIN A SPECIAL PLACE.
YOU TO COME OUT AROUND, SLIP ON MAKEUP GOWN.
SHE UP ABOUT THE BOOKS SHE READ, SHE'S UP.
YOU SEEM TO THINK SHE WOULD BE YOUR, BRING YOU YOUR SLIPPERS AND YOUR AFTER SHADES.
I THINK SHE'S ADDED WITH YOUR MOTHER TOO.
AIN'T BEEN TO COLLEGE, BUT I'VE BEEN TO SCHOOL.