[00:00:02]
[Call to Order]
ORDER THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.IT IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2023.
AT THREE O'CLOCK, WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT AUSTIN CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[1. Approve a resolution extending a Declaration of Local State of Disaster in response to concerns related to the widespread and severe property damage, injury, and loss of life due to persistent heat, high winds, and drought conditions creating a severe risk of wildfires.]
OUR PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE IS TO ADDRESS, UM, THE, THE DEC DECLARATION OF DISASTER THAT REQUIRES US TO, TO GATHER WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.I WANT, I WANTED TO JUST SAY, MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE A STAFF PRE PRESENTATION OF A COUPLE THINGS, SO THAT WE'LL BE UP TO DATE ON WHERE THINGS ARE, AND THEN, UH, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION.
UM, BUT WE GOT HERE BECAUSE LAST WEEK, KNOWING THAT AUSTIN RANKS SIXTH IN THE NATION IN THE VALUES OF HOMES AT RISK OF WILDFIRE, AND KNOWING THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE'RE LIVING UNDER CURRENTLY WITH THE PERSISTENT EXTREME HEAT, THE HIGH WINDS AND THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD NUMEROUS WILDFIRES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, I EXERCISED THE AUTHORITY THAT IS ALLOWED UNDER THE CHARTER AND UNDER TEXAS LAW TO ISSUE A DECLARATION OF DISASTER IN ORDER TO PROACTIVELY POSITION OUR COMMUNITY TO SECURE STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES QUICKLY IF THE NEED ARISES, AND TO PUT US IN A SITUATION TO RESPOND MORE QUICKLY.
UH, BY STATE LAW, THE DISASTER DECLARATION ONLY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SEVEN DAYS, BUT EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND HIGH WINDS CONTINUE TO PLACE US, UH, AT SERIOUS WILDFIRE RISK.
AND WE ALL KNOW WE'RE NOT OUTTA DANGER YET.
SO, EXTENDING THE DISASTER DECLARATION IS CRITICAL, AND THAT REQUIRES A VOTE OF COUNSEL, WHICH IS, AS I INDICATED WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE CALLED ON ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO TAKE STEPS NECESSARY TO KEEP YOURSELVES AND YOUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UH, I SPEAK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IN, IN SAYING THAT WE HAVE SHARED SEVERAL RESOURCES TO HELP AUSTINITES PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT DISASTER.
I WANT TO GO OVER A FEW IMPORTANT STEPS THAT WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP WITH RIGHT NOW.
ONE, PREVENT FIRES BEFORE THEY START.
THAT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF THEIR CIGARETTES, UH, THEIR OIL, OR GREASE SOAK RAGS.
DON'T PARK YOUR VEHICLE ON DRY GRASS, AND PLEASE, PLEASE FOLLOW BURN BANS.
SECOND, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS AT WARN CENTRAL TEXAS DOT OH ORG.
UH, BECAUSE OF MY ACCENT, I'M GOING TO SPELL WARREN.
AS I HEARD MYSELF SPEAK, I REALIZED THAT'S GONNA CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TO THINK OF THE WRONG WORD.
W A R N C E N T R A L T E X A S.ORG.
THIS IS ONE OF THE KEY WAYS FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO NOTIFY YOU IF THERE'S THE NEED FOR AN EVACUATION DUE TO A WILDFIRE.
AND THREE, HAVE YOUR, WHAT WE CALL YOUR GO BAGG OR EMERGENCY KIT.
THINK OF THE FIVE PS, PEOPLE, PETS, PRESCRIPTIONS, PERSONAL ITEMS, AND PAPERS.
IF YOU NEED TIPS ON HOW TO BUILD A GO BAG OR AN EMERGENCY KIT, VISIT READY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
AND YOU'LL NOTE THAT ALL OF YOU, ALL, EVERYBODY ON THE DAIS, UH, YOU HAVE YOUR VERY OWN GO BAG, ALTHOUGH IF YOU REMEMBER THE FIVE PS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY WANT TO PUT IN THERE THAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS. UM, I WILL TELL THE, THE PUBLIC COUNSEL KNOWS THIS, BUT OUR, OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF CONTINUES TO WORK WITH PARTNER AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE TO RESPOND, UH, TO THE NEXT DISASTER.
UH, WE HOPE THAT DOESN'T OCCUR, BUT WE ARE PREPARING OURSELVES IN CASE IT DOES.
UH, IN MY ROLE THAT IS OUTLINED IN STATUTE, I CONTINUE TO STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE MANAGER AND OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, THE, UH, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON MR. MILLS TO, UH, CHIEF MILLS TO, UH, INTRODUCE THIS AND, UH, AND THEN HE'S GONNA CALL ON DIRECTOR SNIPES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DETAIL.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE DE WHO ARE VIRTUAL, RIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THEIR STAFFS TO COME DOWN AND GET THEIR GO BACKS.
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WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY GET THEM.UH, SO HAD TO BE HERE TO WIN IT.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, CITIES, THE, OUR HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU SAID, MAYOR'S BEEN MEETING REGULARLY, UH, WITH THE, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN MEETING ALMOST DAILY, UH, WITH, WITH OUR SUPPORTING DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO RESPOND AND ACTIVATE IN THE EVENT OF THE WILDFIRE.
AND I WAS GONNA INTRODUCE KEN SNAPS UP NOW, BUT I THINK, IF YOU DON'T MIND, LEMME TAKE A LITTLE BIT OUTTA ORDER.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE CHIEF DELAROSA, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH HIM, BUT HE SPENT AN ORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME WORKING ON THIS FOR, FOR PREPARING FOR THE ULTIMATE PIECE OF THIS, WHICH WOULD BE EVACUATION.
AND IF YOU COULD, HE COULD TALK AND GIVE YOU SOME VERY, UH, GOOD INFORMATION, SOME POINTS YOU MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER.
BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE DO CHIEF RO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTORS.
UH, I'M ASSISTANT CHIEF ANDRE DEL ESSO WITH AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE THE PLE PLEASURE AND HONOR OF BEING IN CHARGE OF OUR WILDFIRE DIVISION.
UH, DESPITE TODAY'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED POSSIBILITY OF RAIN, IT IS VERY SMALL, AND WE WILL STILL AND CONTINUE TO BE IN A VERY ELEVATED WILDFIRE RISK.
OUR LIVE FUEL MOISTURES HAVE DROPPED BELOW 70 INTO WHAT WE CONSIDER CRITICAL DANGERS.
THESE ARE THE SAME LEVELS WE SAW IN 2011.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, PREVENTION OF IGNITION IS PARAMOUNT.
SO PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR RESIDENTS AND YOUR MEMBERS OF YOUR DISTRICTS TO PREVENT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST SPARK.
IF A WILDFIRE DOES HAPPEN, OUR AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH THE LOCAL REGIONAL ESDS TO HAVE A CONSISTENT AND CONSOLIDATED RESPONSE TO THAT, SO THAT NO MATTER WHERE THE WILDFIRE HAPPENS, IF IT CROSSES BOUNDARIES, THE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION CAN EXPECT THE SAME RESPONSE OF PRIMARY PRIORITY IN ANY INCIDENT.
AND WILDFIRE BEING PA PARAMOUNT IS LIFE SAFETY.
WHEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVE ON SCENE, IF THEY DETERMINE THAT EVACUATION IS THE BEST WAY TO SAVE LIVES, WE WILL NOT FIGHT THE FIRE.
THAT WILL TAKE AWAY IN MANY DIFFERENT MANNERS.
IT'LL BE KNOCKING ON A DOOR, IT WILL BE BLASTING IT FROM PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS FROM OUR APPARATUS, AND IT WILL BE THROUGH WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS HIGH CRITICALITY FOR EVERYONE TO SIGN UP FOR WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, WHEN A PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONDER, FIREFIGHTER, POLICE PARAMEDIC, ANYONE TELLS YOU OR YOUR RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE, PLEASE DO SO QUICKLY AND ORDERLY IN A CALM MANNER AFTER GRABBING YOUR GO BAGS.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN 2011 IN STEINER RANCH, IT HAS TO BE A CONTROLLED AND PHASED EVACUATION.
OTHERWISE, WE RUN THE RISK OF OVERLOADING OUR DRIVE SHEDS, OUR ROADWAYS WILL GET ENCUMBERED, WHICH COULD CAUSE VERY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC JAMS AND IMPEDE THE, THE INGRESS OF OUR FIRE SAFETY PERSONNEL WHO ARE TRYING TO GO AND ADDRESS THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN FIREFIGHTERS OR PUBLIC SAFETY ARE DIRECTING Y'ALL TO EVACUATE OR ANYONE, THEY WILL USE A, POTENTIALLY USE A TERM CALLED A TEMPORARY ASSEMBLY POINT.
IF WE ARE ASKING YOU TO GO, WE'RE GONNA TELL YOU WHERE TO GO.
A TEMPORARY ASSEMBLY POINT IS MERELY AN AREA THAT HAS A LARGE PARKING LOT THAT HAS BEEN PRE-DESIGNATED OR IS KNOWN TO BE A SAFE LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER.
WE WILL HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO BE A MANAGER WHO WILL GATHER THE INFORMATION, EVEN IF YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE A GREAT SAFE PLACE, A GRANDMOTHER OR A FAMILY MEMBER'S HOUSE THAT WOULD WILLINGLY TAKE THEM IN FOR THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DURING THAT WILDFIRE, YOU CAN GO THERE.
PLEASE STOP BY THE TEMPORARY ASSEMBLY POINT SO THAT WE CAN GATHER YOUR INFORMATION, SO WE CAN HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY OF EVERYONE WHO'S IN THAT AREA SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT EVERYONE OUT.
UM, IF YOU DO NOT GO THERE, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR, OUR HESO AND OUR PIOS TO PUT THAT A SURVEY OUT THROUGH THE MEDIA.
SO EVEN IF YOU MISS THAT STEP, BECAUSE IT IS A CONFUSING TIME, PLEASE DO TAKE THE TIME TO CHECK IN WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, IT IS A CRITICAL AND DANGEROUS TIME OUT THERE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, AS FIRST RESPONDERS, AS CITY LEADERSHIP TO KEEP OURSELVES SET
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UP FOR AS SAFE OF A REACTION AS WE CAN.I'LL PASS IT OVER TO DIRECTOR SNOW QUESTIONS.
UH, CHIEF, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS TO MEET PRETTY REGULARLY ABOUT WILDFIRE.
AND, AND AS YOU KNOW, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EVACUATION PROCESS AND APPRECIATE HOW YOU, HOW YOU LAID IT OUT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS, UM, A FEW YEARS AGO IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT OUR BATTALION CHIEFS HAD NOT BEEN EXERCISED IN EVACUATIONS.
AND WE HEARD THIS FROM FRONTLINE FIREFIGHTERS THAT YEAH, THEY WERE OUT IN WEST AUSTIN, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE EVACUATION PLANS.
SO IF I WENT AND TALKED TO A BATTALION CHIEF TODAY, WHO WAS IN CHARGE, SAY OF JESTER, UM, AND OBVIOUSLY THE, THE EVACUATION ROUTE AND THE APPROACH CHANGES DEPENDING ON WHERE THE FIRE IS AND AND WHATNOT, BUT WOULD THEY HAVE RECENTLY REVIEWED THOSE EVACUATION PLANS? YES, MA'AM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, AS OUR TRAINING PROGRESSES, AS YOU'VE BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN HELPING US GET IT THROUGH, WE'VE PUT, UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT THROUGH, RESPONDING TO THE INTERFACE TRAINING, WHICH IS A NATIONALLY REGARDED TRAINING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH URBAN INTERFACE FIRES.
NOT THE GIANT WILD LAND FIRES THAT WE SEE IN THE WEST COAST, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IN OURS.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE ARE DOING, UH, CONSTANT.
WHEN WE GET TO SEASONAL, WE DO INCREASED TRAINING ON THAT.
JUST RECENTLY, AS WE FINALIZED OUT THE, THE TEMPORARY ASSEMBLY POINT PROCEDURES AND HOW THEY WERE PRE-IDENTIFIED AND HOW TO FIND IT ON THE DIGITAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO 'EM, WE'RE DOING JUST IN TIME TRAINING.
EVERY SINGLE SHIFT CHANGE, UH, DIVISION CHIEF KERRY STEWART HAS BEEN OUT THERE INSTRUCTING ALL OUR BATTALION CHIEFS.
SO EVEN IF WE'VE HAD RECENTLY PROMOTED FOR BATTALION CHIEFS WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR LONG, THEY WILL HAVE THAT JUST IN TIME TRAINING TO TALK ABOUT EVACUATION AND THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF THAT.
WE ARE WORKING HIGHLY WITH OUR, UH, OUR, OUR PARTNERS IN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH OUR FELLOW PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
SO WE CAN ALWAYS CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO DO A BETTER AND BETTER RESPONSE.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN UPPING THE TEMPO AND INCREASING OUR CAPABILITIES AND OUR PREPAREDNESS FOR THAT TO MATCH WHAT THE CITY LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PUSHING AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS FROM US.
AND THEN, NOT ON EVACUATION, BUT CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU'RE CHANGING, UM, THE OPERATIONAL CHOICES BASED ON THE LEVEL OF RISK? SO FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE BRUSH TRUCKS, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS STAFFED ALL THE TIME.
HOW ARE YOU STAFFING THOSE AND AT WHAT LEVEL? AND YES.
YOU KNOW, AS WE CHANGE THE RISK LEVEL? YES, MA'AM.
UM, AS MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A VAST VARIETY OF DIFFERENT APPARATUS THAT ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE TRY TO POINT THOSE INTO AREAS WHERE THEY WILL HAVE THE BEST RESPONSE TIMES OR THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT.
WE HAVE OUR WILDFIRE BATTALION STATIONS POINT, UH, UH, POSITIONED IN THE LOCATIONS IN OUR EASTERN AND WESTERN CRESCENT THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST STATISTICAL PROBABILITY.
AND, UH, FROM WHAT OUR, OUR WILDFIRE RISK MODELING SHOWS FOR LARGE EVACUATION OR RAPIDLY MOVING WILDFIRE, WE STILL HAVE OTHER BRUSH TRUCKS THAT ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
NORMALLY, WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH HURRICANES OR WINTER STORMS, THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL CROSS STAFFED.
THEY, THE UNITS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THOSE STATIONS WOULD EITHER BE ON THE FIRE ENGINE OR HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF DEPLOYING A TEAM TO FOLLOW IN THAT DURING INCREASED, UH, SAY TWO WEEKS AGO, WE'D HAVE THOSE BRUSH TRUCKS GHOSTING OR FOLLOWING, UH, FOLLOWING THE, OUR ENGINES OUT.
SO THEY'D BE PERMANENTLY OUT THERE TO DECREASE THE RESPONSE TIME AS WE GOT TO JUST A, A WEEK AND A HALF, TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND WE'D HAVE THE N F D R S ARE VERY HIGH, AND THAT THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THERE, WE ACTUALLY WENT AND STARTED UP STAFFING.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA BE FILLED WITH AND STAFFED WITH PEOPLE FROM THAT ENGINE, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THOSE BRUSH TRUCKS.
WE ALSO STAND UP WHAT WE CALL OUR WILDFIRE TASK FORCE, WHICH IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SEPARATE THAT CAN SURGE TO WHEREVER WE ARE NEEDED, INDIVIDUALITY, THAT WE GET TO N F D R S, NATIONAL FIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM OF EXTREME, WHICH WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE IN VERY HIGH, IF WE GET TO, TO EXTREME, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FACTORS, EITHER DUE TO THE CONSISTENCY OF THE FUELS OR THE ACTIVITY OF THE FIRES, WE CAN EVEN UPST STAFF TO A HIGHER AMOUNT IN A, IN A SCALABLE APPROACH TO THE APPROPRIATE RISK.
DO YOU HAVE A BRUSH TRUCK IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN? DO YOU HAVE A STAFFED BRUSH TRUCK IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN? IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN? I, I'D HAVE TO CHECK, BUT WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT ONES THAT ARE SPREAD IN THE DIFFERENT
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CORNERS AS WELL IN THE AREAS.I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME.
MY, I UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S ONE STAFFED WHERE IT'S NOT THE HIGHEST RISK AND THERE IS NOT ONE IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A TRUCK.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, DIRECTOR SNIPES, AND THANK YOU CHIEF.
YES, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, KEN SNIPES, DIRECTOR AUSTIN, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UM, I'M GONNA START BY HAVING SARAH HENRY P I O FOR, UM, THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BRANCH.
UH, COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S IN YOUR GO BAG, UM, WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A TOOL FOR YOU ALL TO USE FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, BUT TO HELP YOUR CONSTITUENTS ALSO UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT CONSIDER PUTTING IN THEIR OWN GO BAGS AS THEY PREPARE, PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY OR AN EVACUATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, YOU'VE ALL BEEN PROVIDED WITH A BAG, UH, WITH FULL OF SUPPLIES, UH, FROM THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AND OUR ASK FOR YOU TODAY IS TO HELP US GET THE COMMUNITY PREPARED.
AND SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN YOUR BAG.
UM, THERE ARE GENERAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ITEMS FOR PERSONAL SAFETY.
SO THERE'S AN ALL-WEATHER RADIO, WHICH IS NOAH EQUIPPED, SO THAT, UM, IT CAN ALSO BE PROGRAMMED IN SPANISH AND IN ENGLISH.
UM, THERE IS A DOCUMENT BAG IN THERE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PUT THEIR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS, SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, ANY MEDICAL INFORMATION, PRESCRIPTIONS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE ITEMS FOR PETS.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY PREPARE THEIR PETS, UH, TO BE SAFE.
UM, SO ANY ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED FOR THEM, LIKE FOOD OR PRESCRIPTIONS AS WELL.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, WHEN PEOPLE ARE EVACUATING, KIDS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THINGS FOR CHILDREN, BUT FOLKS ALSO HAVE THINGS TO HELP KEEP THEIR KIDS OCCUPIED.
SO CRAYONS AND COLORS AND THEIR FAVORITE STUFFED ANIMALS.
SO REALLY THE IDEAS THAT WE ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY TO EVACUATE SAFELY AND THINK AHEAD SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE ALL THE ITEMS PACKED NEAR THEIR DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO NEED TO EVACUATE.
AND OUR ASK TO YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WOULD BE THAT YOU TAKE THESE ITEMS, UM, AND HELP US PROMOTE TO THE COMMUNITY VIA YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, UM, THAT THEY CAN ALSO HELP BE PREPARED BY HACKING THEIR OWN GO KITT.
UM, AND THEN THEY CAN ALSO GET THESE ITEMS AND HAVE THEIR OWN BAG BY ATTENDING ONE OF OUR MANY OUTREACH EVENTS.
THE NEXT ONE BEING OUR GET READY CENTRAL TEXAS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR, WHICH WILL BE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND FROM THREE TO SEVEN.
SO, MAYOR, AS YOU MENTIONED THIS, AND ALL OF OUR OTHER INFORMATION IS AT THE VARIETY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG WEBSITE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP IN PREPARING OUR COMMUNITY DIRECTOR SNIPES.
UM, JUST WANT TO START OFF BY LETTING YOU KNOW A BIT ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING AS WE WORK TO PREPARE FOR NOT ONLY THIS, UH, UPCOMING, UH, WILDFIRE SEASON, BUT OTHER INCIDENTS AS WELL.
UM, BUT JUST TO, UH, KICK THIS OFF, I JUST WANNA START WITH LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS EACH DAY, UH, IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY ACTIVATION.
EACH AND EVERY YEAR, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH AUSTIN WATER WORK TOGETHER TO CONDUCT PRESSURE AND WATER FLOW TESTING ON OUR HYDRANTS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL FIRE HYDRANTS ARE WORKING, UH, AND THAT THEY HAVE PROPER PRESSURE AND ARE READY TO GO WHEN NEEDED.
UM, AUSTIN WATER ALSO CONDUCTS REGULAR FACILITY ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY WILDFIRE RISK AND AREAS FOR FUEL REDUCTION THAT ARE CRITICAL, UM, TO, UH, PROTECTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AUSTIN WATER ALSO MANAGES WILDLAND PROPERTIES, UH, AND REDUCED WILDFIRE THREATS, UH, WITH SHADE OR SHADE, UH, SHADED FUEL BREAKS, UM, TO, UM, TO MAKE SURE AGAIN, THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, UNCONTROLLED, UH, WILDFIRE, UH, SPREADING ACROSS SOME OF OUR AREAS.
THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION AND AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY CONTINUE REMOVING FALLEN TREES AND DEBRIS AND OTHER VEGETATION AS A RESULT OF PREVIOUS STORMS. UH, AGAIN, TO HELP REDUCE THE WILDFIRE RISK, AUSTIN ENERGY HAS ADDED A WILDFIRE MITIGATION PROGRAM MANAGER.
UH, AND THAT PERSON IS WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, AND THEIR WILDFIRE COALITION, WHICH INCLUDES THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OUR EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS.
IN CASE OF WILDFIRE, AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, IN THE AUSTIN ENERGY SERVICE AREA, THE, UM, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S JOINT DISPATCH CENTER HAS DIRECT CONTACT WITH AUSTIN ENERGY'S CONTROL CENTER AND CAN SHUT OFF POWER IF NECESSARY, TO KEEP PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AND CUSTOMER SAFE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF WILDFIRE RELATED TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
WE'RE WORKING TO QUICKLY STAND UP THE MARSHALING YARD AHEAD OF ITS PLANNED OPENING DATE, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS OPEN TODAY, CORRECT.
UM, AND, UH, THE, UM, CONTRACTOR WORKING THERE IS ENDEAVORS THAT IS OUR NONPROFIT
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VENDOR, AND THEY WILL SERVE AS THE ONSITE MANAGER AND SERVICE PROVIDER CREWS WORK THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO SET UP THE MARSHALING YARD AND WILL BEGIN RECEIVING CLIENT REFERRALS STARTING TODAY.AS PER THE CONTRACT, THE FACILITY CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 300 PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, A P H APPROVAL, UH, WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE ENDEAVORS EXCEEDS 200 PEOPLE.
THIS ALLOWS US TO ASSESS THE OPERATIONS, UM, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT BEFORE EXPANDING TO OUR FULL NUMBER.
THE CITY AND PARTNER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALSO ALREADY BEGUN CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, THEY STARTED WITH ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE NEAR THE MARSHALING YARD, AND ALSO IN SEVERAL HIGH WILDFIRE, UH, HIGH RISK SITES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN COOPERATION WITH THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'LL BE TRACKING SHELTER CENSUS CLOSELY AND EXPANDING REFERRAL PATHWAYS OVER TIME.
I'M PROUD TO SHARE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE SO FAR.
OUR STAFF HAS WORKED QUICKLY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO IMPLEMENT THESE EFFORTS.
UM, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? THANK YOU.
UM, AS FAR AS AN RECEIVING UPDATE ON THE MARSHALING YARD, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT KIND OF FIRST UPDATE OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING? I'M GONNA HAVE, UM, DIANA GRAY COME UP, OUR HOMELESS SERVICES OFFICER.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE'LL CERTAINLY BE UPDATING AT OUR REGULAR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETINGS, BUT ARE HAPPY TO DO SO, UH, INFORMALLY BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, AND SO WE CAN COMMIT, I THINK, TO, UH, GETTING, UH, COUNCIL, UH, A QUICK UPDATE, UH, AT THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF OPERATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
UM, WE HAVE ONE OF THE BRUSH TRUCKS DOWN SOUTHWEST, AND THEY HAD TO PUT OUT BRUSH FIRES VERY CLOSE TO ACTUALLY WHERE THE STATION WAS.
AND SO, UM, WE TWEETED ABOUT IT.
WE HAD A CONSTITUENT IN THE IVANIA NEIGHBORHOOD, SEND US SOME PHOTOS.
UM, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY QUOTE TWEETED IT AND SAID THEY HAD PUT OUT A THOUSAND BRUSH FIRES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUST THIS MONTH.
SO I REALLY WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE GOTTA TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT FIRES, MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T THROWING CIGARETTE BUTTS OUT THE WINDOW, THEY DON'T HAVE CHAINS DRAGGING.
UM, AND HSEM ACTUALLY PUT OUT A GREAT INFOGRAPHIC ABOUT OTHER THINGS TO LOOK FOR, UM, LIKE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE OVER BRUSH CAN ALSO IGNITE THAT BRUSH.
UH, BROKEN BOTTLES CAN, CAN DO A LOT.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, THIS THREAT IS VERY, VERY REAL AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF HSEM AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE MAYOR MAKING SURE THIS DISASTER DECLARATION IS EFFECTIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
I TOO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESPONSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THIS.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A EASY LIFT.
UM, I WORKED AS A SINGLE UNIT RESOURCE OUT OF THE BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX FIRES WHEN THOSE HAPPENED YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE AROUND THEN, THAT FIRE SPREAD AT A RATE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD A MINUTE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, UM, PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC, THE COMMUNITY ARE PREPARED AND THEY KNOW, UM, WHERE THEIR GO-BAG IS ALL THE TIME.
AND SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH H S E M FOR PROVIDING THOSE GO BAGS TO COUNCIL AND FOR EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU ME FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS DISASTER DECLARATION SO THAT WE CAN GET AHEAD OF WHATEVER HAPPENS IF IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THAT PREPAREDNESS ASPECT.
UH, I JUST WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR, FOR ALL HIS WORK ON THE, ON THE, ON THE DECLARATION, AND THEN HE'S SOME ON, ON ALL THIS GREAT STUFF.
AND I'M, I'M EXCITED TO PUT MY ACTING TO GOOD USE AND, UH, GET A, GET A VIDEO OUT ON, ON, ON PUSHING THIS OUT.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH ON THE, ON THE MARSHING YARD.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING, UH, TO GO TO, TO SUNRISE.
AND, AND DURING THAT TIME, WE, WE HAD DISCUSSED MARSHALING YARD CAME UP, AND, UH, WE DISCUSSED IT.
I THINK A FEW THINGS THAT THEY KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED, UH, THAT THEY HAD SEEN, OR THEY, I GUESS THEY KNOW OF THAT I, YOU KNOW, I GUESS LIKE CLARIFICATION OR MORE INSIGHT.
UH, THE FIRST THING IS THAT THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE'S JUST A LITTLE SHEET THAT SEPARATES, YOU KNOW, MEN FROM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN WHO ARE MEN VERSUS WOMEN.
AND THEN I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A SECTION FOR, FOR FOLKS FROM THE L G B T LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
BY THAT I ASSUME THEY MAINLY MEANT, YOU KNOW, TRANS FOLKS OR WHO ARE COMING IN.
UM, IS THERE ANY LONG TERM, IS THAT A SHORT TERM THING, THE SHEET? ARE THEY GONNA PUT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT, I DON'T KNOW, STRONGER BARRIER UP? AND THEN THE SECOND THING THAT THEY HAD MENTIONED IS THAT, UM, THERE WAS A, I GUESS A PROJECT LIKE THE MARSHING YARD IN THE D F W AREA, AND THEY HAD FIVE, FOUR ARMED SECURITY, UM, FOLKS THERE.
AND THIS ONE IS ONLY GONNA HAVE TWO UNARMED FOLKS, AND THEY
[00:25:01]
JUST BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS WITH THAT NUMBER.SO JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT ON THAT.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, I'M GONNA HAVE, UH, AGAIN, DIANE, GREG COME UP TO SPEAK TO THAT.
THE PETITION THAT, UM, YOU'RE REFERRING TO ACTUALLY ARE, ARE TEMPORARY MM-HMM.
UM, AND THE SPACE FOR L G B T Q I IS REALLY BY CHOICE.
SO FOLKS CAN ELECT TO BE IN THAT SPACE IF THEY PREFER.
OTHERWISE THEY CAN BE IN THE SPACE, UH, WITH THE GENDER THAT THEY IDENTIFY.
UH, WE DISCUSSED WITH ENDEAVORS, THE, UM, THE, THE TYPE OF SECURITY, UH, THEY HAVE IN OTHER LOCATIONS USED ARMED SECURITY.
WE'VE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE, THE WELCOMING NATURE OF THE SPACE.
AND THAT GENERALLY IF SOMETHING SERIOUS IS HAPPENING, WE'RE LIKELY TO CALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN.
SO THEY ARE STARTING, UM, OFF, UH, UNARMED.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS MORE IN KEEPING WITH WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT'S DESIRED.
BUT CERTAINLY, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE MONITORING SAFETY ON SITE, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN WHAT DOES LONG-TERM, UH, I GUESS BARRIERS LOOK LIKE IF IT'S NOT THE SHEETS? WELL, THEY WEREN'T SHEETS.
BUT SOFT SIDED, AND SO I'VE NOT SEEN THE REPLACEMENT.
BUT LARGER, STURDIER, UM, JUST I THINK A, A, UM, MORE, UH, LESS LIKELY TO FALL OVER AND CREATING A LITTLE MORE OF A VISUAL BARRIER.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
A QUICK QUESTION, UH, ON THE, THE ARCH, FOR EXAMPLE, DOES NOT HAVE ARMED SECURITY GUARDS AND FOLKS, I, I'M, I HATE TO DO THIS, UHHUH, BUT WE'VE POSTED FOR A RESOLUTION MM-HMM.
AND I HATE TO CUT OFF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I, I WORRY IF WE GO TOO MUCH FURTHER.
WE'RE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE POSTED.
UH, I, I'LL WITHDRAW THE QUESTION IN.
JUST A, A QUICK OBSERVATION ABOUT THE WILDFIRE EFFORTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE STAFF AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT OVER THE, THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WILDFIRE AND REALLY MAKING IT CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY, UM, REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT STAFF HAVE, HAVE REALLY BEGUN TO STEP UP AND THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN OUR BUDGET AND DIFFERENT THINGS, WE'VE SEEN OUR DEPARTMENTS REALLY OWN THAT THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY EACH HAVE THE ROLE.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, IF THERE'S A WILDFIRE, YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES, YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO HELP US PREVENT IT, UM, THEIR ACTIONS THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO, TO MITIGATE THAT.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE UPLIFT THAT, THAT IT'S, IT'S REALLY EVERYONE, EVERYONE'S FIGHT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 91,000, 92,000 HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE RISK FOR WILDFIRE AND NEEDING CONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT WILL COST $40 BILLION.
UM, SO IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EACH OF US, FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL HOMES, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, THAT WE TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO HARDEN OUR HOMES.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU'RE GETTING A NEW ROOF.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR DRAINS AND YOUR VENTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT IF YOU'RE IN THAT AREA IN PARTICULAR, THAT WILL REDUCE, UM, THE RISK.
AND THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T ONLY REDUCE THE RISK FOR YOUR FAMILY, THEY REDUCE THE RISK FOR EVERYONE AROUND YOU.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
AND I HOPE THAT, UM, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THAT THIS CAN BE MORE OF AN EXERCISE THAN A FULL-BLOWN, UM, RESPONSE EFFORT.
AND IN DOING THAT, AS WE GO THROUGH IT, THAT WE WILL LEARN, UM, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER, UM, THINGS WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE, UM, BECAUSE THE RISKS ARE VERY, VERY REAL.
UM, AND WHILE WE'VE DONE MORE THAN MOST COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE, THE RISK IS ALSO EXTREMELY HIGH.
UM, AND WHEN THERE IS A WILDFIRE THAT'S LARGER, UM, WE WILL BE TESTED.
UM, AND SO WE WANNA BE READY WHEN THAT TEST COMES.
THANK YOU, CAST MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS, I WANT TO CONFIRM WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE THAT THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, UH, THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR, UH, COMMUNICATION.
CORRECT? MAYOR, THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.
WITH THAT, UM, THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE RESOLUTION.
UH, YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION, AND I WOULD RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
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APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL AND I APPRECIATE OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.UM, AND, AND I THINK YOU SENSE THAT ALL OF US, UH, REALLY ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS DOING.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I DO WANT TO REMIND THOSE THAT WILL BE WATCHING, THAT ARE WATCHING NOW, OR THAT THEY MIGHT BE WATCHING, UH, WE'VE SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE ON THE DICE, AMERIPRO, TIM SAID IT JUST A MINUTE AGO, BUT PREVENT THE FIRE BEFORE IT STARTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, PROPERLY DISPOSE OF YOUR CIGARETTES, DISPOSE OF OIL AND GREASE, SOAK RAGS.
DON'T PARK ON DRY GRASS, FOLLOW BURN BANDS.
DON'T USE SOMETHING THAT SPARKS ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
SECOND, SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS.
WE NEED YOU TO PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS.
IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE KEY WAYS THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL NOTIFY YOU IF, YOU KNOW, GOD FORBID YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE DUE TO A WILDFIRE AND THAT.
SO, I'LL ASK YOU TO GO TO WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG, W A R N C E N T R A L T E X ORG.
AND THEN FINALLY, HAVE YOUR GO BAGG OR EMERGENCY KITS READY.
AS I INDICATED EARLIER, THINK OF THE FIVE PS, PEOPLE, PETS, PRESCRIPTIONS, PERSONAL ITEMS, AND PAPERS.
IF YOU NEED TIPS AND YOU WANT TO GO TO SOMEPLACE THAT WILL TEACH YOU ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS, PLEASE VISIT READY CENTRAL TEXAS READY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
UM, AND AS, AS SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE POINTED OUT, UH, YOU BE, BE READY.
AND THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO BE READY IS IF YOU HAVE A GO KITT SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW, YOU CAN LEAVE AND YOU CAN FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT, THAT YOU WILL BE GIVEN.
WITH THAT, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, JUST FROM A DIGITAL LITERACY AND ACCESS PERSPECTIVE, UM, IF ALL OF OUR PREVENTATIVE METHODS AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE ALL ONLINE AND THERE ARE FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS, I WONDER IF THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE COULD HAVE WITH ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES MOVING FORWARD.
HOW WE MAKE CERTAIN THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
SO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY CARE WORKERS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S A UNIONIZED BLOCK WALKING ORGANIZATION.
CAN WE MAKE AN INVESTMENT FOR THEM TO DO SOME BLOCK WALK-IN AND DO SOME DOOR HANGERS THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY OFFER EVERYBODY EQUITY AND ACCESS AROUND INFORMATION FOR HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES? GOOD OBSERVATION, AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP.
WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 3:33 PM THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF.