May 04, 2023 City Council Proclamations

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THANKS EVERYBODY FOR, UH, HANGING OUT HERE WITH US.

WHILE WE GAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR, UM, PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK TO BE HANDLED IN CHAMBERS WITH A REALLY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE AN EQUALLY GOOD SIZED, UH, CONTINGENT HERE TODAY TOO.

AND SO WE'VE MOVED SOME OF THE TABLES TO ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS SO WE CAN GET SOME REALLY NICE PICTURES.

I'M GOING TO LEAD OFF THE, UM, PROCLAMATIONS LINEUP TODAY.

THERE ARE THREE, FOUR, NO THREE LEFT.

WE'VE HAD THE, THE FIRST ONE.

[Proclamation – Joan Bartz Day and In Celebration of Austin Neighborhoods Council’s 50th Year – To be presented by Council Member Leslie Pool and to be accepted by Joan Bartz and members of ANC]

WE HAVE TWO OTHER PROCLAMATIONS AS WELL IN THIS ROOM THAT WILL FOLLOW.

ONE IS OLDER AMERICANS DAY THAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTEZ WILL BE, UM, OFFERING THAT WILL BE ACCEPTED BY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF.

AND A PROCLAMATION FOR THE NATIONAL SORORITY OF, UH, DELTA KAPPA INC.

AND IT'S HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.

AND THAT'LL BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND ACCEPTED BY MEMBERS OF THE DELTA BETA CHAPTER OF AUSTIN.

SO I THINK IF I'VE GOT THE THUMBS UP FROM OUR, UH, TECHNICAL STAFF AND IT LOOKS LIKE I DO, WE WILL GET STARTED.

WELCOME EVERYBODY.

I'M LESLIE POOLE AND I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN.

VERY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.

UH, I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF LITTLE COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF READING THE PROCLAMATION ABOUT JOANNE BARTS AND THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.

I CAME TO AUSTIN IN THE EIGHTIES AND VERY QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A CITY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

AND AS I BECAME MORE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ISSUES, I BEGAN HEARING THE NAME JOANNE BARTS.

AND THEN I HEARD JOANNE BARTS WHENEVER AND WHEREVER SHE SPOKE.

IT WAS CLEAR SHE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVING A VOICE IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, JOANNE PASSED AWAY IN EARLY 2021, AND SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE HER LEGACY.

I THINK EVERYONE HERE WILL AGREE THAT HER MOST SIGNIFICANT AND LASTING PUBLIC ACHIEVEMENT WAS HER FORMATION OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL IN 1973.

TODAY, THE A N C IS CELEBRATING ITS 50TH YEAR AS THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS AUSTIN.

THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, THE A N C BUILT A DEEP BENCH OF FUTURE LEADERS FROM VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO ELECTED OFFICE HOLDERS, INCLUDING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

MY SINCERE THANKS TO JOANNE AND A N C REPRESENTATIVES HERE TODAY FOR CONTINUING TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVIST ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM.

WITH THAT, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND HERE WITH ME IS ANNA AGUIRE, WHO WILL RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF JOANNE AND A N C.

AND HERE IS THE PROCLAMATION.

YOU READY? YES.

ALL RIGHT.

PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AS AN ORDINARY RESIDENT STRONG IN HER BELIEFS, A MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN, JOANNE BARTS WANTED GOOD SCHOOLS, BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS, AND A SAFE CRIME-FREE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WHEREAS FEISTY AND TENACIOUS, JOANNE BARTS SUCCESSFULLY CUT HER TEETH WITH A LAWSUIT IN THE 54TH DISTRICT COURT AND SAVED DOTTIE JORDAN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IN UNIVERSITY HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD.

AS WE USED TO SAY, HER BARTS IS WORSE THAN HER BITE.

SAYS THAT RIGHT HERE, .

AND WHEREAS WITH EQUAL TREATMENT FROM CITY GOVERNMENT IN MIND, JOANNE BARTS PERSEVERED AND FOUNDED A SMALL PROBLEM SOLVING EDUCATIONAL GROUP CALLED THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.

AND WHEREAS JONES WISDOM AND VISION CREATED AND MAINTAINED THE LONG-LIVED, THE STRONG, POWERFUL AND INDEPENDENT AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.

NOW, THEREFORE, I LESLIE POOL COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DUE HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4TH, 2023 AS JOANNE BARTS DAY AND IN CELEBRATION OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL'S 50TH YEAR, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.

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SO WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE HAVE IS EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE PAPER SLIP AND SOMETHING THAT WE REMEMBER, UH, JOANNE WITH, AND WE'RE GONNA ALL QUOTE IT.

SO IF Y'ALL CAN PULL OUT YOUR LITTLE PAPER SLIPS.

AND THIS IS WHO JOANNE, WHO WAS TO US? UM, READY? YES.

1, 2, 3, GO HOME AND HAVE A TALL GLASS OF WHATEVER ACCORDING TO JOANNE .

THANK YOU.

THANKS ANNA.

AND NOW EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION IN, UH, REMEMBRANCE OF JOANNE AND HER LEGACY AND IN CELEBRATION OF AN C'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY, LET'S ALL CLUSTER OVER HERE IN FRONT OF THE FLAGS.

THANK YOU.

[Proclamation – Older Americans Day – To be presented by Council Member Fuentes and to be accepted by Austin Public Health staff]

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EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

WE ALL SUPPORT OUR, OUR OLDER AMERICANS.

HOW ARE YOU ? COME ON IN.

BETTER WITH THAT PINK COME ALL THE WAY UP.

OKAY.

YES.

ALL RIGHTY.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES.

PROUD TO SERVE AS AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO ON CITY COUNCIL.

THIS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE AGING IN THE MANY POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.

AGING IS A WORD THAT OFTEN SCARES FOLKS.

WHEN WE'RE YOUNG, THAT'S ALL WE WANNA DO.

WE WANNA GET OLDER, BUT ONCE WE REACH A CERTAIN POINT, WE ALL WANNA BE YOUNG AGAIN.

BUT THIS MONTH GIVES US A CHANCE TO STEP BACK AND APPRECIATE HOW GROWING OLDER BRINGS US NEW EXPERIENCES, INSIGHTS, TALENTS, AND SO MUCH MORE.

IT'S HOW WE DEVELOP DEEPER, MORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.

AND WHAT I BELIEVE IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THESE EXPERIENCES WE SHARE, TEACH, AND PASS FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AGING IS GROWING AND NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE AND THAT WE SHOULD EMBRACE.

I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR COMMISSION ON AGING, ENGAGE FAMILY ELDER CARE, THE HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, RAINBOW CONNECTIONS, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND ALL THE OTHER PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY WHO WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE US WITH A MUCH MORE AGE INCLUSIVE AND OPEN AUSTIN.

SO NOW I HAVE A, A PROCLAMATION THAT I WILL PRESENT TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LA BE IT NO THAT WHEREAS OLDER VIETNAM, WHEREAS THAT OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS OBSERVED NATIONALLY TO ENCOURAGE OLDER ADULTS TO CONNECT THROUGH SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, CREATE BY CREATE, BY ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY CONNECTIONS, LEARNING AND CONTRIBUTE TIME, TALENT AND LIFE EXPERIENCES TO OTHERS.

AND WHEREAS AUSTIN INCLUDES A GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER AMERICANS WHO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR STRENGTH, WISDOM, AND DIVERSE LIFE EXPERIENCES.

AND THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR MANY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR SOCIETY.

WHEREAS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN STRIVES TO MAKE AUS AUSTIN MUCH MORE EQUITABLE FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE AND BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND EFFORTS PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR OLDER AMERICANS NEEDED TO THRIVE AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING TOGETHER ALL GENERATIONS TO ENGAGE IN THESE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL AND RECOGNIZES THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS ARE WELCOMED AND INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED.

NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA FUENTES WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HOPPER MADISON AND OUR ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2023 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

THANK YOU.

ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IS LAK.

YES.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY INVITE OUR CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AS WE RECOGNIZE OLDER AMERICANS.

MONTH 2023, ESTABLISHED IN 1963 OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS CELEBRATED EVERY MAY.

IT'S A TIME FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OLDER AMERICANS AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT TRENDS AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY TO HONOR OUR CITIZENS.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS AGING UNBOUND AND IT OFFERS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF AGING EXPERIENCES AND TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENJOYING INDEPENDENCE AND FULFILLMENT BY PAVING OUR OWN PATHS AS WE AGE.

IN 2013, AUSTIN ACKNOWLEDGED THE GIFTS AND NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY APPLYING FOR AN AGE-FRIENDLY DESIGNATION AND THEN ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON SENIORS, WHICH LATER BECAME THE COMMISSION ON AGING.

AND WE WORK ALONGSIDE THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MOVE FORWARD OUR AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN THAT ADDRESS ISSUES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, RESPECT AND INCLUSION, HOUSING, HEALTH,

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UM, OFTEN THOUGHT AS A YOUNG HIP CITY, WE KNOW THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE GROWING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AGING POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT HAS ANTICIPATED THAT THE POPULATION OF INDIVIDUALS 65 AND OLDER WILL INCREASE BY 114% BETWEEN 2010 AND 2030.

UM, MANY OLDER ADULTS ARE RETIRING HERE BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTY AND COMING TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

AND SO WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CAREGIVERS AS WELL.

UM, THIS MONTH GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ON AGING AND REALLY FOCUS ON IT AS A POSITIVE, INSPIRING WAY.

OUR OLDER ADULTS LIVE HERE.

THEY SHOP HERE, THEY VOLUNTEER HERE, THEY WORK HERE, THEY ENGAGE AND THEY PROVIDE CARE AND SUPPORT FOR BOTH YOUNGER AND PARTNER GENERATIONS.

SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS AND FOR CELEBRATING THIS MONTH WITH US.

OKAY.

WE'LL DO A QUICK GROUP PHOTO.

SHOULD WE DO IT RIGHT HERE IN THIS LITTLE PERFECT.

OKAY.

WE NEED A COLOR POP.

YOU SHOULD BE IN THERE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN MUTED HERE.

DO YOU WANT ME TO MOVE? SURE.

BACK.

1, 2, 3.

THANK I'LL SEND YOU A MESSAGE.

SURE.

OKAY.

THANK, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK THIS IS THE CEO.

I'M SORRY.

GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN.

YOU AS WELL.

NICE TO MEET YOU, DOC.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M WELL.

HOW ARE YOU? WELL, I'M WELL.

LISTEN.

OH, WEARING MY FAVORITE COLOR.

YOU KNOW, YELLOW'S MY FAVORITE.

SO I WAS YELLOW.

I WAS IN JAMAICA RECENTLY AND THEY WERE BREAKING DOWN THE COLORS FOR ME.

THE RED UHHUH, THE GREEN.

THE YELLOW.

YELLOW.

THE YELLOW IS ABOUT SUNSHINE.

OKAY.

SUNSHINE IS ABOUT POSSIBILITIES.

THAT'S GOD ENERGY.

THAT'S GOD COMING THROUGH TO SAY, HEY, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND THEN YOU SHOW UP AND MY GRANDMA USED TO SAY, HEY, I WOKE UP ON THIS SIDE OF THE DIRT THIS MORNING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M DOING REAL GOOD.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET Y'ALL.

PLEASE COME IN.

I WANT YOU TO BE IN THE PHOTOS, OKAY? YES MA'AM.

UM, SO LIKE DO LIKE MIDDLE TWO OVER THERE AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, SO YOU WANT THE SEAL IN YOUR PHOTOS, RIGHT?

[Proclamation – National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. 100th Anniversary – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison and to be accepted by members of the Delta Beta Chapter of Austin]

IS THIS THING ON? HEY Y'ALL, NATASHA HARPER MADISON HERE.

UM, I GET THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THESE PERFECTLY LOVELY LADIES STAND BEHIND ME IN MY FAVORITE COLOR, BY THE WAY, WHICH IS YELLOW.

AND AS WE BRING THE SUNSHINE TO THIS RELATIVELY GLOOMY DAY AS Y'ALL BRING THE SUNSHINE TO THIS RELATIVELY GLOOMY DAY, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION.

THE NATIONAL SORORITY OF FI DELTA KAPPA INC IS A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL SORORITY FOUNDED BY EIGHT AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN ON MAY 23RD, 1923, WHO DESIRED TO ESTABLISH A SISTERHOOD AMONGST TEACHERS AND TO PROMOTE THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SORORITY OF FIVE DELTA KAPPA INC IS COMPOSED OF WELL-TRAINED AND EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS AND ALL COMPONENTS OF THE LEARNING SPECTRUM WHO ARE ENGAGED IN TRAINING YOUTH AND

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AND WHEREAS DELTA BETA CHAPTER OF AUSTIN, TEXAS WORKS DILIGENTLY IN AUSTIN IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH OUR YOUTH PARENTS AND VARIOUS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION AND PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE 3,500 MEMBERS AND 1200 AFFILIATE MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES WILL CELEBRATE ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY THROUGHOUT THE 20 22, 20 23 SCHOOL YEAR AND CULMINATE AT THE CENTENNIAL CONCLAVE TO BE HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA IN JULY, 2023.

NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 23RD, 2023 AS NATIONAL SORORITY OF FI DATA, CAPTA KAPPA INC.

100TH ANNIVERSARY.

I DIDN'T HAVE, UH, ANY NOTES TO REFER TO ANYBODY TO SPEAK, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

OOH, NOT WITH THE MIC ON THE BOTTOM.

UH, THERE WE GO.

I THINK IT'S TILTED DOWN JUST ENOUGH.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS DR.

BRENDA BURRELL AND I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THIS ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE SMALL IN NUMBER TODAY BECAUSE OUR MEMBERS ARE IN CLASSROOMS. MM-HMM.

, THEY'RE IN COUNSELOR'S OFFICE, THEY'RE IN PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, AND THEY'RE EVEN IN CENTRAL OFFICE.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH YOUR CHILDREN TODAY.

MM-HMM.

, WE THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN HARFORD MADISON FOR THIS UH, UH, PRESENTATION.

AND WE THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE EDUCATORS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOLUNTEER, GO READ AT YOUR CHILD OR YOUR GRANDCHILD'S SCHOOL, GO TO THE EVENTS, DONATE MONEY AT THE CAR CARNIVAL, GET INVOLVED.

WE ARE THE EDUCATORS, BUT YOU ARE THE EDUCATORS AS WELL.

CITY OF AUSTIN, LET US RAISE OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER.

SO IN THE OLD AFRICAN PROVERB, HOW ARE THE CHILDREN IN AUSTIN? WE SAY THE CHILDREN ARE WELL, THANK YOU.

WOO.

YOU GUYS WANNA GET OVER HERE? WE'LL, YOU WANNA DO TAKE THREE, THREE SMILE.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

CAN I GET ONE MORE? YEAH.

I'M CHARLESTON.

I KNOW.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

I GET ONE MORE OF YOU GUYS JUST TALKING INTO EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE YOUTH GROUPS AND THAT'S ONE, ONE OF MY PARENTS.

OKAY GUYS, JUST THANK SO MUCH.

THANK I LOVE YOUR, IT'S MY FAVORITE, BUT I APPARENTLY SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN THESE SIX AND HEELS, PUT SHOES SO SHE COULD BE TALL.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE TALL, NOT TALL.

I APPRECIATE.