[00:00:16]
IF I CAN HAVE ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS FOR THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, JOIN ME UP FRONT.
ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL READY? YOU WANNA SCOOCH IN? YES.
[Proclamation -Week of the Young Child - To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
EVERYONE.THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING HERE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL, AND THE WONDERFUL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TO CELEBRATE THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD.
MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN, REPRESENTING SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
WELCOME, THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD IS A TIME TO REFLECT AND PLAN HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY WILL BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR CITY.
CHILDCARE, ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR CITY.
IT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS WORKING FAMILIES, LIVING IN HISTORICALLY UNDER RESOURCED CHILDCARE, CHILDCARE DESERTS LIKE MINE THAT I HAVE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LONG WORKED ON CHILDCARE RELATED POLICIES ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR, WHO, UM, ISN'T HERE WITH US TODAY PHYSICALLY, BUT IS HERE WITH US IN SPIRIT.
UM, VERY PROUD TO BRING FORWARD MANY PROPOSALS RELATED TO HOW CAN WE INCREASE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO CHILDCARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY BY REDUCING ZONING BARRIERS AND, AND HELPING OPEN NEW CHILDCARE CENTERS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, AS WELL AS EXPANDING PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
AND I WAS VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT, UH, A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT USING OUR AMERICAN RESCUE, UH, FEDERAL ACT DOLLARS, UH, WHICH INCLUDED, UH, UNIVERSAL PRE-K IN DEL VALLEY.
AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE, YES, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THAT
I'M THRILLED TO PRESENT THIS YEAR'S PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING APRIL 2ND TO APRIL 8TH AS THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, I WANNA THANK OUR WONDERFUL CITY STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES HERE WITH US TODAY, I AM JOINED BY UNITED WAY, GAVA CHILD INC.
UH, DEL VALLEY, I S D EARLY MATTERS, GREATER AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN ASSOCIATION, THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, AS WELL AS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
SO NOW I WILL READ OUR PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE FIRST YEARS OF A CHILD LIFE ARE THE PERIOD OF THE MOST RAPID BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL FUTURE LEARNING, AND THAT HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION CAN HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES, CAN HELP IMPROVE THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY, DETECT AND REMEDIATE DELAYS, IDENTIFY AND HELP PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT AND PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.
AND WHEREAS THERE ARE OVER 87,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, 28% OF WHOM LIVE IN FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOME AND LACK ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE.
WORKING FAMILIES NEED SUFFICIENT HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, BEGINNING AT BIRTH.
AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS NEED THE ABILITY TO EARN A FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE THAT IS COMMISERATE WITH THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS THEY BRING TO THE COMPLEX AND ESSENTIAL WORK THAT THEY DO.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN STRATEGIC DIRECTION 2023 INCLUDES A STRATEGY TO CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EARLY EDU EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ECE, AND A PRIORITY INDICATOR MEASURING HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND THAT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS RECOGNIZED AS A CITY SUPPORTING STRONG PRENATAL TO AGE THREE AGENDA BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
AND WHEREAS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS SERVED ON THE FRONT LINES DURING THE PANDEMIC, DEMONSTRATING HOW IMPORTANT THEIR WORK IS, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY URGED SUPPORT OF EFFORTS THAT INCREASE COMPENSATION AND RESPECT FOR THE WORK OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY,
[00:05:01]
AFFORDABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES IN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2ND TO APRIL 8TH, 2023 AS WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION.
WE HAVE CASEY KINCAID AND ALEXA JACK WITH THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH THE AUSTIN CHAPTER.
AND, UM, WE'RE KIND OF THE LOCAL AGENCY THAT EXISTS TO EMPOWER EDUCATORS TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND TO JUST BE A BRIDGE, UH, BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND I S D AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.
AND WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY COOL THINGS PLANNED THAT YOU COULD BRING YOUR FAMILIES TO.
SO, UH, CHECK IT OUT ON THE WEBSITE, A A E Y C.
WE ARE GONNA BE PARTNERING WITH MANY LOCAL LIBRARIES ACROSS THE CITY, PFLUGERVILLE, ROUND ROCK, I S D, AND WE HAVE SOME REALLY COOL THINGS PLANNED TO INCREASE LITERACY AND LOTS OF FREE THINGS TO GIVE AWAY.
SO WE'RE HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION AND WE LOVE INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
DO YOU WANNA DO A QUICK LITTLE PHOTO? YES.
WE ALSO, WE ALSO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GABA WHO WILL ALSO BE JOINING US IN PROVIDING SOME REMARKS WHO WILL BE, DO IT IN SPANISH.
[00:10:19]
PROCLAMATION.[Additional Item 1]
EVERYONE.UM, IT'S, UH, I WANT TO JUST, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT CHRIS STEWART AS A LEADER OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
IT'S ALWAYS A, UH, WITH A MIXTURE OF PRIDE AND SADNESS THAT, UH, YOU GET TO HONOR, UH, AND RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES ON OCCASION OF THEIR RETIREMENT.
THIS MORNING IS, UH, ONE OF THOSE DAYS AND WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE CHRIS STEWART AS HE RETIRES FROM OUR ORGANIZATION FOR ALMOST 20, AFTER ALMOST 23 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS CITY.
UH, AND, UH, IN NUMEROUS, IN NUMEROUS INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
WELL, I'VE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH CHRIS, SO I'VE BEEN HERE JUST FOR A SHORT WHILE.
UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, HIS CURRENT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF VERONICA BUENO SAYS SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT HIM.
AND SH I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO HER IN A FEW MINUTES TO GET INTO SOME OF THOSE, UH, DETAILS OR SOME OF THOSE SPECIFICS.
BUT HE'S TAKEN ON CHALLENGING PROJECTS.
HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER THEM.
HE'S DONE A GREAT SERVICE FOR THE CITY.
AND, UH, SO WE WANT TO JUST THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND THE ORGANIZATION TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
AND I'D LIKE TO NOW CALL ON VERONICA TO COME AND, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT, UH, CHRIS DIRT.
I'M THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL PORTFOLIO, AND IT IS BITTERSWEET THIS MORNING THAT WE GIVE THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO CHRIS STEWART.
AS JESUS MENTIONED, HE HAS, HAS ALMOST 23 YEARS OF SERVICE THAT HE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF.
HE BEGAN HIS PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER IN 1995 WITH THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND AT NO ED.
IN SEPTEMBER, 2000, HE RECEIVED THE FIRST CITY OF AUSTIN PO POSITION WITH AUSTIN ENERGY AS A SYSTEM TECH SUPPORT TECHNICIAN.
IN 2003, HE JOINED CTM AS A TEAM MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING CTECH.
HE CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT 14 YEARS IN CTM SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY IN EVENTUALLY CITY HALL AS AN IT MANAGER.
IN 2017, HE MOVED TO AUSTIN WATER AS AN IT DIVISION MANAGER, THEN UTILITY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.
HE WAS ASKED TO FILL IN THE ROLE OF CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN SEPTEMBER, 2020, AND ACCEPTED THE POSITION PERMANENTLY IN MAY, 2000, 2021.
I HAVE KNOWN CHRIS FOR MANY YEARS, BUT I'VE ONLY HAD THE PAST YEAR AND THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO WORK WITH HIM IN THIS CAPACITY.
BUT IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I'VE WORKED HIM, I'VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT AND BEEN, UH, PROUD OF HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY.
HE HAS DONE A LOT AS CIO AND SOME OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE SPEARHEADING THE CTM STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE VISION MISSION AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND CORE VALUES FOR CTM.
HE WORKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO DEFINE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CIO.
HE COMPLETED KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, INCLUDING EXPANDING THE BUSINESS RELATIONS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH HAS CREATED STRONG CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CITY DEPARTMENTS AND CTM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, EVALUATING TEMPORARY AND CONTRACTOR POSITIONS, DEVELOPING A FEEDBACK LOOP AND TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE ON PROGRAMS SUCH AS MOVING STRATEGIC SYSTEMS TO THE CLOUD, DIGITAL TIMEKEEPING, IT ASSET MANAGEMENT, AND THE HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
EACH, UH, EACH OF WHICH HAS, HAS AND WILL BE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR ORGANIZATION IN THE YEARS TO COME.
SO, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DEDICATION TO OUR ORGANIZATION, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT TO HIM A CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, CHALLENGE COIN AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
AND THIS REWARD READS FOR 22 AND A HALF YEARS OF SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER, 2000, 2000 AS A SYSTEM TECH SUPPORT TECHNICIAN AT AUSTIN ENERGY AND ADVANCING THROUGH LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND AUSTIN WATER UNTIL BEING APPOINTED THE CITY'S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER ON MAY, 2021.
CHRIS'S EXCEPTIONAL WORK THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AS THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER HAVE ADVANCED THE TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT AND USAGE THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION AND IS TO BE COMMENDED.
CHRIS STEWART IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THE CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF, THIS 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2023, AND IT'S SIGNED BY OUR AMERICOR WATSON AND OUR CITY MANAGER, JESUS GARZA.
SO, NO LONG SPEECH IS, UH, THE, I APPRECIATE MY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, UH, HONESTLY, THAT THAT CAME TO, TO SEE ME TODAY.
THIS IS, IT IS BITTERSWEET LEAVING THE CITY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T START THEIR GOVERNMENT SERVICE CAREER KNOWING THEY'RE GONNA BE IN IT SO LONG.
[00:15:01]
KNOW, 27 YEARS OF SERVING.AND THAT'S A, IT'S A CORE VALUE OF MINE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I REALLY THINK VERONICA AND JESUS FOR, FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE CITY'S A FANTASTIC PLACE TO GROW.
UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE IS HOW MUCH I, I REALLY APPRECIATE BEING A, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, THIS IS A UNIQUE CITY THAT WE DO SO MUCH THROUGH GOVERNMENT.
UM, IT, IT'S PRETTY FANTASTIC TO GET AROUND AND GET TO KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO, ALL THOSE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CITIZENS.
IT'S BEEN AMAZING 20, ALMOST 23 YEARS NOW.
UM, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE, HAVE BEEN HERE EXCITED TO START THE, A NEW CHAPTER AND TO SEE WHERE, UH, THE CITY GOES FROM HERE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF GREAT CHANGES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, AS ALWAYS, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP GROWING AND DOING BETTER.
SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME, UM, BEING HERE IN THE POSITIONS THAT I WAS ABLE TO, TO HELP IN AND, AND THE FOLKS TO HELP ME ALONG THE WAY.
YOU WANNA TAKE A PICTURE? YES, LET'S YOU TAKE A PICTURE RIGHT HERE.
DO YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS AFTER AFTERWARDS?
[Proclamation -Rhonda Paver Day - To be presented by Council Member Leslie Pool]
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.I'M LESLIE POOL AND I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO PRESENT THIS RECOGNITION FOR A LONG TIME, VOLUNTEER FROM OUR COMMUNITY, RHONDA PAVER, FOR A SIGNIFICANT, UM, CONTRIBUTION THAT SHE HAS MADE IN THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY OUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
SO, UM, ESPECIALLY ON A DAY WHEN WE HAVE JUST, UH, ACKNOWLEDGED AND, UH, COMMENDED THIS WEEK, UH, THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, IT REALLY WORKS GREAT TO BE PROVIDING THIS, UM, PROCLAMATION OF SERVICE.
PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS RHONDA PAVR IS A RESPECTED EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVOCATE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEMBER DEDICATED TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL, INCLUDING CHILDREN FROM AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS RHONDA PAVR SERVED AS A VALUED MEMBER AND LEADER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL FOR 30 YEARS, INCLUDING SEVERAL YEARS AS CHAIR LEADING THE COUNCIL IN CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR AN EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM IN AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS RHONDA PAVR SERVED THE ENTIRE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY AS THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF STEPPING STONE SCHOOLS, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RHONDA PAVR FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY AND FOR HER COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN AUSTIN.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, LESLIE POOLE, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 23RD, 2023 AS RHONDA PAVER DAY.
AND I WOULD JUST ADD, I WOULD JUST ADD ONE ADDITIONAL THING.
RHONDA, UM, HAD BEEN SERVING ON THE, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMISSION AT THE CITY, AND WHEN I WAS ELECTED IN 14 AND, AND WAS INAUGURATED IN 15, I INVITED HER TO STAY ON AS THE DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT COMMISSION.
AND SHE, I WAS SO PLEASED THAT SHE WAS WILLING TO CONTINUE.
AND SO, UM, FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, SHE HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY AND SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT SEVEN.
SO VERY ABLELY ON THAT COMMISSION AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT ALL.
DO YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? PROBABLY.
MY WORDS WOULD BE OF GRATITUDE.
AND THANK YOU TO LESLIE FOR THIS.
AND WHAT DO YOU DO ON RHONDA PAVER DAY? I'M NOT SURE.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I JUST WANT SAY THAT WE'RE SO WELCOME WITH THE DEEPLY SINCERE INTENTION OF THAT.
THE THING THAT I WOULD WANT TO SHARE IT ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO, UM, WILL SOON BE PEOPLE WHO
[00:20:01]
ARE MOVING INTO MANY, MANY SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY LONG TERM IS THAT IT WAS IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES THAT BRUCE TODD, WHO WAS THE THEN MAYOR, TAPPED ME ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP US THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN AUSTIN WITH REGARD TO, AT THE TIME CHILDCARE LATER REFRAMED AS EARLY CARE IN EDUCATION? AND I SAID, I WOULD BE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO TRY AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY AND TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN.THAT EVOLVED FROM A TASK FORCE FURTHER INTO THE CREATION, THE EVOLUTION OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CHILDCARE COUNCIL, UM, ONCE AGAIN WITH EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP THAT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THROUGH TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, PEOPLE LIKE JEANETTE WATSON, PEOPLE LIKE RONYA KOZMETSKY, UM, JOAN GRHAM, LIBBY DOGGETT, AND OTHERS WHO WERE AMONG THE FIRST EARLY FOUNDERS OF THE EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO UPGRADE, ELEVATE, SERVE, UM, AND SUBORDINATE OURSELVES TO THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
SO MY, UM, GRATITUDE GOES VERY DEEP.
I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.
UM, THERE WAS A GREAT QUOTE THAT CAME OUT THIS MORNING FROM A PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL THAT WE ALL ADHERE TO, AND I'M GONNA END WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PERFECT.
IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT I'M GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM WHO MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY FAMILY AND THOSE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE STEPPING STONE SCHOOLS AS WE CONTINUE FORWARD.
THIS IS THE QUOTE IN OUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL THIS MORNING, FOSTER, SPIRITUAL FO.
UH, THIS IS ABOUT CHILDREN, OF COURSE, FOSTER, SPIRITUAL SUSTAINING QUALITIES, COMPASSION, A SENSE OF STIRRED WONDER DOSES OF HUMOR TO RELIEVE TEDIUM OR TUMBLES CAMARADERIE AND COURTESIES AND JOY AND COMPLEX ENTERPRISES.
MAY WE TEACHERS AND TRAINERS AND CAREGIVERS FIND SATISFACTIONS TOGETHER IN THIS JOURNEY TOWARDS UNKNOWN FUTURES.
I DIDN'T WRITE IT, BUT IT'S AMAZING.
WE'LL GO RIGHT OVER HERE, PICTURES AND I OKAY.
Y'ALL CAN JUST KIND OF GATHER AROUND.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAND WHEREVER YOU WANT.
[Additional Item 2]
I'M CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.WELCOME TO THE CELEBRATION OF METEOROLOGY DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF METEOROLOGY AND HOW IT HAS IMPACTED MY
[00:25:01]
LIFE AS A CHILD.AT AROUND EIGHT YEARS OLD, I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED BY WEATHER.
I WOULD LOOK OUT THE WINDOW FOR HOURS, CURIOUSLY CHAN, STARING AT THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER, WONDERING HOW IT ALL WORKED.
THIS FASCINATION ONLY GREW AS I GOT OLDER AND I FOUND MYSELF TAKING TWO CLASSES IN COLLEGE RELATED TO SEVERE WEATHER.
DURING THIS TIME, I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT METEOROLOGISTS ARE IN OUR LIVES, AND I'M GLAD TO BE, UM, SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH SEVERAL LOCAL METEOROLOGISTS HERE TODAY WHO I'LL INTRODUCE IN JUST A MOMENT.
METEOROLOGISTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN OUR SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
THEY PREDICT WEATHER PATTERNS AND EVENTS THAT CAN AFFECT US IN MANY WAYS FROM TELLING US WHAT'S AWARE TO PREPARING THE COMMUNITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
EVENTS LIKE HURRICANES, TORNADOES, AND FLOODS.
THEIR WORK HELPS MAKE US HAVE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT OUR SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
ONE METEOROLOGIST WHO'S NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY, WHO'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN THIS FIELD IS PAUL YRA AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
ALTHOUGH HE COULD NOT BE HERE WITH US TODAY, WE APPRECIATE HIS DEDICATION AND HARD WORK IN STUDYING AND FORECASTING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.
MR. YRA HAS HELPED SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES THROUGH HIS WORK.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION HIM TODAY.
MY FASCINATION WITH WEATHER IS NOT UNLIKE THOSE WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
IT ULTIMATELY LED ME TO MY WORK AT THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
HERE I LEARNED FIRSTHAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.
AND IT'S ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A WEATHER RADIO IN ORDER TO STAY INFORMED OF WEATHER EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND TO BE PREPARED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
AND I'M GONNA GO OFF SCRIPT FOR A MINUTE.
I SEE MY STAFF IS LEFT FOR JUST A MOMENT, BUT I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THOSE WEATHER RADIO ALERTS THAT SEEM TO SCARE YOU EVERY TIME THEY GO OFF.
UM, I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO BE INFORMED AND PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.
THE MORE WE KNOW, THE BETTER WE CAN PREPARE OURSELVES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
METEOROLOGY DAY TODAY IS A REMINDER OF THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT THESE METEOROLOGISTS PLAY IN OUR LIVES.
IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE METEOROLOGISTS, THOSE WITH US HERE TODAY, AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT PRESENT, WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO HELP KEEP US INFORMED AND SAFE.
YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK ARE MORE THAN APPRECIATED.
YOU SAVE LIVES AND WE OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BUILD A SAFER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
AND BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE WHO WE ARE JOINED BY.
PAT VESPER, ERIC PLAT, ORLANDO BERMUDA, JASON RUNYON, NICK HAMSHIRE, RICKY CODY, MEGAN CAMPBELL, ADLEY ROWE, RICH SIEGEL, WHO IS IN HIS 39TH YEAR OF BEING A WEATHER METEOROLOGIST.
UM, AND PAUL YRA, WHO'S NOT WITH US TODAY, SO NOW I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION.
IT SAYS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION COMMEMORATES THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH IN HONOR OF THE FOUNDING IN 1950 AS WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY.
AND WHEREAS THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ORIGINATED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1873 VIENNA INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL CONGRESS.
AND WHEREAS INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION FACILITATED THE EXCHANGE WEATHER INFORMATION ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS FOR ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY.
AND WHEREAS A SPECIALIZED AGENCY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION HAS MEMBERSHIP OF 193 STATES AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHEREAS THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION SERVES TO COORDINATE MEMBER NATIONS IN THE FIELDS OF METEOROLOGY, METEOR, BLAH,
AND WHEREAS WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY IS A REMINDER AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE VITAL ROLE OF METEOROLOGISTS AND IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL COMMUNICATION.
AND WHEREAS METEOROLOGISTS ARE CRUCIALLY TASKED WITH FORECASTING REGIONAL AND LOCAL AREA WEATHER CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER.
AND WHEREAS FROM THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD OF 2015 TO WINTER STORM MAURA OF 2023, AUSTIN'S LOCAL METEOROLOGISTS AND FAR PRIOR TO THAT HAVE KEPT THE RESIDENTS INFORMED OF CRITICAL WEATHER EVENTS KEEPING THE COMMUNICA COMMUNITY SAFE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 23RD, 2023 AS METEOROLOGICAL DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND THEN I HAVE PROCLAMATIONS FOR EACH ONE OF OUR METEOROLOGISTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY THAT WE'RE GONNA PASS OUT FOR OUR PHOTO OVER HERE IN THE CORNER.