[*A portion of this video is without audio*]
[Proclamation – East Austin Conservancy Day – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by Raul Alvarez, Co-Founder and Board Member of the East Austin Conservancy]
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COGNIZE ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTIN AND ONE THAT WE ALL BENEFIT FROM AND DOES SUCH GREAT WORK.
AND I'M GONNA READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY IS A MODEL ORGANIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY WORKS TO SLOW DOWN DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN EAST AUSTIN BY ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS WITH TAX OBLIGATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY UPLIFTS LEGACY BUSINESSES WITH ITS BEST OF THE BARRIO PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY HAS ALSO MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO PRESERVE HISTORIC PARQUETS OSA FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF EAST AUSTINITES.
I NOW THEREFORE KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 19TH, 2023 AS EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE'RE JOINED BY THE FULL BOARD OF THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY,
BUT THE PERSON I WANNA BRING UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY.
SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE FOR DECADES NOW.
UH, ALTHOUGH HE IS AGING SO MUCH BETTER THAN I'M
UM, BUT SOMEBODY I ACTUALLY HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH, UH, WHEN I WAS MAYOR THE FIRST TIME, HE SERVED AS ONE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WAS A, A TREMENDOUS COUNCIL MEMBER.
SOMEONE WHO REALLY KNOWS, UH, OUR COMMUNITY AND KNOWS WHAT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE AND SPENDS THE KIND OF PASSION AND TIME NEEDED IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
THAT'S UP THERE ON SOCIAL BOARD,
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
AND CATALINA, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
SO EXCITED TO SAY
SO IT'S EXCITING TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS.
GREAT MILESTONE AND THANK TERESA AND TAM AS WELL.
UH, AND ONE OF OUR OTHER FOUNDERS, JOSEPH HAWKINS AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, UH, 'CAUSE PART OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, DISPLACEMENT IS SUCH A CHALLENGING ISSUE.
UM, NO ONE REALLY HAS AN ANSWER AND, UH, IN TEXAS WE'RE KIND OF MUCH MORE LIMITED IN, IN, IN OTHER PLACES IN WHAT WE CAN DO.
UM, BUT JUST 'CAUSE SOMETHING'S HARD, DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T DO IT OR YOU DON'T TRY TO MAKE A IMPACT OR, UM, MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE ISSUE.
AND, UH, AND I'M JUST GLAD AGAIN, JUST THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, UM, WHO SUPPORTED US EARLY ON THOSE FIRST FIVE YEARS WAS MAINLY, UH, SMALL INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.
AND THEN, UH, AND THESE LAST, UH, FIVE YEARS, WE'VE REALLY DEVELOPED VERY STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEVELOPING THE DEVELOPERS, UH, AND THEIR AGENTS AND REALLY TRYING TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE VALUE OF, OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EAST AUSTIN, AND THEN INVEST THAT VALUE BACK IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT WE REALLY MODELED THE CONSERVANCY AFTER THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A VERY, VERY, UH, UH, SUCCESSFUL MODEL.
UM, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S BARTON SPRINGS AND, AND THE RECHARGE ZONE, OBVIOUSLY VERY MUCH A PART OF THE SPIRIT AND THE CULTURE OF AUSTIN AND MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BENEFITED RIGHT FROM BARTON SPRINGS AND FROM THE WORK OF THE CONSERVANCY.
AND SO, UM, SO WE'RE, THE DYNAMICS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN EAST AUSTIN IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA HELP THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACES AND LIFT UP THE SPIRIT, YOU KNOW, PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE.
SO WE, WE, WE BRING IN A L MORE ELEMENTS TO TRY TO, UM, TO TRY TO AGAIN PRESERVE, UH, THAT PART OF AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AND, UH, JUST EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE, UH, 10 YEARS AND TO HAVE A, A GROWING TEAM THAT'S ALSO HELPING AND GROWING SUPPORT FROM OUR COUNCIL AND MAYOR AS WELL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I YOU NEVER GIVE A POLITICIAN OR EX POLITICIAN TO MIKE, BUT, UH, BUT UH, INVITE THEM TONIGHT AND OH YES, OF COURSE.
WE HAVE A CELEBRATION, UH, TONIGHT, UH, UH, AT THE HISTORIC VICTORY GRILL ON 11TH STREET.
SO COME ON OUT AND JOIN US TO, FOR THE CELEBRATION.
UM, IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE WILL GET BACK TO WORK.
YOU WANNA TAKE A PICTURE WITH EVERYBODY? OKAY.
WHY DON'T WE, YOU HOLD THAT IN THE BLUE.
I'M, HAVE YOU JUST MOVE DOWN THIS, DOWN THIS WAY.
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IT WAS MY NEIGHBORS[Proclamation – 2013 Halloween Flood Remembrance Day – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by Jorge Morales, Director of the Watershed Protection Department]
WHO IN 2013 AND 2015 EXPERIENCED DEVASTATING AND TRAUMATIC FLOODS.THERE WERE MANY AREAS IN AUSTIN WHO WERE HARD HIT DURING THE 2013 HALLOWEEN FLOODS, BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE HARDEST HIT AREA WAS THE ONION CREEK WATERSHED IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, WHICH IS THE AREA THAT I NOW REPRESENT.
FLOOD WATERS WERE DANGEROUSLY HIGH SWIFT AND LIFE-THREATENING TO RESIDENTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ALIKE.
AND ONE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THIS YEAR WITH US TODAY WITH CONSTABLE MORALES, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES USED TO CALL NEIGHBORHOODS HOME IN THE ONION CREEK AREA.
THIS IS WHERE THEY LIVED, THIS IS WHERE THEIR CHILDREN PLAYED, AND THIS IS WHERE THEY RAISED THEIR FAMILIES.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT TODAY, IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
AND WHILE WE LOOK BACK ON THESE FLOODS, WE CAN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF OUR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY'S LACK OF RESPONSE.
FLOODS, LIKE THESE ARE ONLY BECOMING MORE COMMON, AND OUR GOVERNMENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ASSIST AND PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE DISASTER PREPARED.
TO THIS DAY, 10 YEARS LATER, FAMILIES ARE STILL SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF THESE FLOODS.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, WHO LOST THEIR HOMES, WHO LOST THEIR LOVED ONES.
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY THEIR AWFUL EXPERIENCES, AND TODAY WE HONOR THEIR MEMORIES.
I WANNA THANK A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, FRANCIS UNA, WHO'S BEEN HELPING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECOME DISASTER PREPARED FOR NEARLY A DECADE NOW.
AND CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES, A FIRST RESPONDER DURING THESE FLOODS.
UH, AND I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK OUR CITY'S WATERSHED DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THAT THEY'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
AND OUR DIRECTOR, JORGE MORALES, WILL BE ACCEPTING TODAY'S, UH, PROCLAMATION, AND HE WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT THE FLOODS AND WATERSHED'S MISSION TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS WE REMEMBER THE DEVASTATING FLOOD THAT STRUCK OUR COMMUNITY ON OCTOBER 30TH, 31ST, 2013, CAUSING BULL ONION, SHOAL WALNUT AND WILLIAMSON CREEKS TO LEAVE THEIR BANKS.
AND WHEREAS FLOODWATER CLOSED 40 ROADS IMPACTED 745 HOMES IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY INDIVIDUALS AND FOUR TRAVIS COUNTY INDIVIDUALS LOST THEIR LIVES.
AND WHEREAS THE WATERSHED PROTECTIONS DEPARTMENT'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT LIVES, PROPERTY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE IMPACTS OF FLOOD EROSION AND WATER POLLUTION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FLOOD RESILIENT COMMUNITY THROUGH CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, REGULATION, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT.
AND WHEREAS WE ENCOURAGE AUSTINITES TO BE WEATHER READY TO VISIT WWW.ATXFLOODSAFETY.COM FOR FLOOD RELATED RESOURCES, INCLUDING DISASTER RELATED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS ALL ARE INVITED TO THE UNVEILING OF THE ONION CREEK MURAL PROJECT PRODUCED BY THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ON ONION CREEK DRIVE NEXT WEEK, OCTOBER 28TH, AT THE ONION CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK TO HELP HONOR THE LIVES LOSS AND THE STRENGTH OF SURVIVORS IN THE RESILIENCY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 31ST, 2023, AS THE 2013 AUSTIN FLOOD REMEMBRANCE DAY IN AUSTIN.
ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IS DIRECTOR EZ.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TO SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION TO READ A FEW, UH, COMMENTS IN ENGLISH.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JORGE MORALES.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE AUSTIN SAFER FROM FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER POLLUTION.
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ON OCTOBER 30, 31ST, 2013, HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS AUSTIN, CAUSING BULL ONION SHOW WALNUT AND CREEKS TO LEAVE THEIR BANKS.THE RAINFALL TOTALS IN THE ONION CREEK WATERSHED UPSTREAM OF AUSTIN CAUSED A FLASH FLOOD THAT HIT PORTIONS OF SOUTH AUSTIN IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
WATER OVERTOPPED THE GAUGES ON ONION CREEK AT TWIN CREEKS NEAR MANCHACA, PASSED UNDER I 35 AND INUNDATED SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS BETWEEN I 35 AND US HIGHWAY 180 3.
THE END OF OCTOBER DOES MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS TRAGIC EVENT.
ONION CREEK IS NO STRANGER TO FLOOD, UH, FLOODING, FLOOD SWEPT THROUGH ONION CREEK AREA IN 1998, 2001, 2013, 2015.
AFTER THE FLOODING OF 1998, WE BEGAN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROTECT THE FAMILIES IN THIS AREA AND FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FROM FLOODING.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, WE STUDIED THE AREA AND IDENTIFIED POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
WE ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THESE RESIDENTS WAS TO HELP THEM FIND A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE.
CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL HELP FROM FEMA, WE WERE ABLE TO RELOCATE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO SAFER HOMES, RESTORE ONION, CREEKS NATURAL HABITAT, AND CREATE ONION CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK AT Y BEND, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO FLOODING IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND MANY MORE TRAUMATIZED BY THEIR EXPERIENCES.
OUR HOPE IS THAT NO ONE IN OUR CITY GOES THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE LIKE THE 2013 AUSTIN FLOOD.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FLOOD RESILIENT COMMUNITY THROUGH CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, REGULATIONS, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE COMPLETED MORE THAN 40 PROJECTS IN THE BULL ONION, SHO WALNUT, AND WILLIAMSON CREEK WATERSHED SINCE 2013 IN AUSTIN.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.
AND I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONSTABLE ALLISON ALTAR, WHO HAS JOINED US FOR TODAY'S PROCLAMATION, AND IF ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
IT, IT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD'VE HAD LIKED TO SEE A LONG TIME AGO AND, UH, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY BETTER LATE THAN EVER, RIGHT? UM, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AT LEAST FOR ME BECAUSE WE SAW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE HURT.
THEY, WELL, I THINK I, I JUST WANNA LEAVE IT AT THAT, BUT, UM, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE DONE A LOT BETTER AND, UH, I THINK EVERY YEAR WE WORK TO MAKE THINGS BETTER EACH YEAR.
SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT NEXT FLOOD WE ARE READY AND THE RESIDENTS ARE SAFE AND THERE'S NO LOSSES.
WELL, YEAH, I JUST, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
FIRST I WANNA SAY, UH, I'M CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR AND WATERSHED FOR THE, UH, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THE PROCLAMATION TODAY FOR THE DOVE SPRING FLOODS.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE ONION QUICK FLOODS.
UM, I MYSELF WAS IN THE 2013 THERE TO ASSIST IN ONION CREEK AND THEN IN DELL SPRINGS IN 2015 WHEN MY HOUSE AND MY AREA WAS FLOODED.
UM, FIRST LET US REMEMBER THOSE THAT REALLY STEPPED UP AND SACRIFICED A LOT OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, PASTOR MIKE MARCELLUS, MONA GONZALEZ, UH, JOE RAMIREZ, EDWARD REYES, CYNTHIA VALEZ MATA JR.
ANGELICA NOLA, AND MANY COUNTLESS OTHERS.
UM, I DO WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, PASTOR, UH, RICHARD AL AND, AND ROBERT KIBBY FOR, UH, ADDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY DOWN THERE DURING THE FLOODS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS AS I TELL EVERYONE TO JUST REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE LIVES LOST.
REMEMBER WHAT PEOPLE LOST? THIS WAS A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING THEY HAD WAS GONE IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
UM, CAN WE DO BETTER? ABSOLUTELY.
ARE WE WORKING TO DO BETTER? YES, WE ARE.
AND I, I CALL, UH, I WANT 'EM, UH, UH, COMPLIMENT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WATERSHED 'CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE TAKING NECESSARY STEPS.
WE'RE BEING REALLY PREPARED DOWN THERE.
AND AS A LIFE RESIDENT OF THE DUST SPRINGS COMMUNITY AND
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A NEIGHBOR TO THE ONION CREEK COMMUNITY AND YAARI BEND, UM, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, ALL THE COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND UM, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST RESPONDERS.SHOULD WE DO A, DO YOU WANNA DO A GROUP PHOTO? THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
DO YOU WANNA DO IT BEHIND HERE? 'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET YOU.
[Proclamation – Hill Country Night Sky Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis and to be accepted by Eric Castro of the group Travis County Friends of the Night Sky]
MORNING EVERYONE.I AM MAYOR PRO TEM PAIGE ELLI AND I AM HERE TODAY TO DO A PROCLAMATION FOR HILL COUNTRY NIGHT SKY MONTH PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE AESTHETIC BEAUTY AND WONDER OF STARFIELD SKIES ARE THE HERITAGE OF ALL HUMANKIND AND LOCALLY TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND MAY ENCOURAGE INTEREST IN SCIENCE AND NATURE, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THE RICH HISTORIC HERITAGE AND STARRY NIGHT SKIES AS A RESOURCE IMPORTANT TO ITS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
AND WHEREAS LIGHT POLLUTION IS ARTIFICIAL LIGHT THAT PERFORMS NO FUNCTION OR TASK AND GOES WHERE IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO AND INCLUDES GLARE, LIGHT, TRESPASS, SKY GLOW, AND HYPER ILLUMINATION OR EXCESSIVE LIGHTING.
AND WHEREAS GENERATIONS OF TEXANS ARE GROWING UP WITH LIMITED, IF ANY VIEW OF THE WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE DUE TO THE HISTORICAL EROSION OF OUR NIGHT SKIES.
AND WHEREAS SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF LIGHT POLLUTION BEGINS BY MAKING BETTER USE OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING WITHIN THE HILL COUNTRY'S TOPOGRAPHY TO DIRECT LIGHT DOWN TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED INSTEAD OF UPWARD INTO THE SKY PUTTING OUTDOOR LIGHTS ON TIMERS AND USING OUTDOOR LIGHTING ONLY WHERE NECESSARY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITIES ARE DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE REGION'S NIGHT SKIES, AS EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PLACES IN OUR REGION, RECOGNIZED AS INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PLACES BY DARK SKIES INTERNATIONAL, INCLUDING RIVER HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, LAS CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD CITY OF AUSTIN, ENCHANTED ROCK STATE, NATURAL AREA, SOUTH LANO STATE PARK, MILTON RYMERS RANCH PARK, THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS, THE WIMBERLEY VALLEY, THE CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, THE CITY OF HORSESHOE BAY AND UBAR U CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER.
AND WHEREAS RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENJOY THE NIGHT SKY, PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY AND HILL COUNTRY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS CELEBRATING THE NIGHT SKY, LEARN ABOUT LIGHT POLLUTION AND NIGHT SKY FRIENDLY LIGHTING AND IMPLEMENT PRACTICES AND LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL REDUCE, REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION, THEREBY PRESERVING OUR NIGHT SKIES.
NOW THEREFORE, I PAY JEALOUS ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2023 AS HILL COUNTRY NIGHT SKY MONTH IN AUSTIN.
AND I THANK YOU AND I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO DAWN TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR PROAM ELLIS AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR WATSON AND THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR OFFERING FORWARD THIS PROCLAMATION FOR OUR FOURTH ANNUAL HILL COUNTRY NIGHT SKY MONTH.
NIGHT SKIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE THROUGHOUT THE HILL COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS MONTH AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF NIGHT SKIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITIES.
HERE IS YOUR BEAUTIFUL PROCLAMATION.
[Proclamation – Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes and to be accepted by Amanii Luper, Roots & Wings Festival Coordinator]
EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY TO CELEBRATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE AUSTIN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
OUR TREES, OUR BIRDS, OUR BUTTERFLIES, AND OUR BEES.
GOING ON ITS SIXTH YEAR, THE CITY CELEBRATES THE ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL TO COMMEMORATE OUR ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY.
AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THE MANY EVENTS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED FOLKS WHILE HAVING SOME FUN IN THE SUN.
OUR TREE CANOPY AND THE MANY LOCAL POLLINATORS THAT HELP MAINTAIN OUR RICH AND COLORFUL NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN AUSTIN ARE SO VERY VALUABLE, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR BEAUTY, BUT ALSO FOR THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS, FOR MAINTAINING A HEALTHY
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ECOSYSTEM ENSURES THAT AUSTIN HAS GOOD AIR QUALITY, THAT WE HAVE SHADE FOR COOLING AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF EXTREME WEATHER.AND WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE OUR NATURAL SPACES ARE DONE EQUITABLY SO THAT ALL AUSTINITES CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
I WANNA THANK OUR MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE FESTIVAL AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ALSO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I WILL NOW PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO AMANI LUPER, WHO IS THE COORDINATOR OF OUR WONDERFUL ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS KNOWN NATIONALLY FOR OUR OUTSTANDING PARK SYSTEM, ENHANCED BY A RICH BURGEONING TREE CANOPY AND A DIVERSE BUTTERFLY POPULATION AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO TREES AND POLLINATORS.
AND WHEREAS TREES AND POLLINATORS ARE VALUED BY ALL AUSTIN RESIDENTS FOR THEIR ESSENTIAL ROLES THEY PLAY IN OUR CULTURE AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES CONNECTING US TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, COOLING OUR CITY, AND IMPROVING OUR AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR, 2023 HAS BROUGHT NEW CHALLENGES TO AUSTIN'S COMMUNITIES HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS OF NATURE TO OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, THE DILIGENT EFFORTS TO CHAMPION EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE FOR ALL AUSTINITES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
AND WHEREAS I URGE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT EFFORTS WHICH PROTECT AND NURTURE NATURE AT IN OUR CITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.
DURING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S 32ND ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY CELEBRATIONS COMBINED THROUGH THE ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL.
NOW THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA ALTER AND MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON'S, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 19TH, 2023 AS ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY.
YES, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, FOR ALLOWING US TO, TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF CITY LEADERSHIP AND OUR AMAZING PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HOPE THAT ROOTS AND WINGS, THE ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL WILL, UM, INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF AUSTINITES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, CARING FOR AND, UH, GROWING THE URBAN FOREST HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND NOW WE'LL STILL A QUICK LITTLE PHOTO.
THANK YOU EAR, APPRECIATE THAT.
[Proclamation – National Retirement Security Month – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter and to be accepted by Deputy Chief Financial Officer and 457 Plan Administrator Diana Thomas and 457 Plan Committee Vice Chair Nathan Blake]
ALLISON AL ALTER AND I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, TOGETHER WITH OUR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CITY'S 4 57 PLAN.
DIANA THOMAS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEE THAT PLAN.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH.
AS A POLICYMAKER, I OFTEN THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR HARDWORKING CITY STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SET UP FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY, BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
AS THE COST OF LIVING AND LIFE EXPECTANCY INCREASE, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT OPTIONS BEYOND SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE KEY WE ALL KNOW IS TO START SAVING AND PLANNING NOW.
AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS.
HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE HAVE WONDERFUL BENEFITS PLANS AND THIS IS ONE THAT DEFINITELY IS WORTH HIGHLIGHTING.
WHILE ALL FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY WAYS TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS.
THE CITY'S 4 57 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN IS A VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT PLAN ESTABLISHED IN 1981.
THIS PLAN IS OPEN TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
AND OVER THE PAST 42 YEARS, EMPLOYEES ASSETS HAVE GROWN TO $708.7 MILLION FOR RETIREMENT.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT THE CITY ESTABLISHED THE 4 0 1 A PLAN, A COUNCIL RETIREMENT PROGRAM LAST YEAR.
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BENEFITS LIKE THIS, WE CAN EMPOWER FOLKS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AND ENSURE THAT NO ONE WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING BECAUSE IT MEANS FOREGOING RETIREMENT SECURITY.I WANNA THANK OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, DIANA THOMAS, FOR SERVING AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OVER BOTH OF THESE PLANS AS WELL AS PLAN COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR NATHAN BLAKE AND THE ACTIVE, RETIRED AND APPOINTED MEMBERS OF OUR PLAN COMMITTEE FOR STEWARDING OUR INVESTMENTS.
MANY OF THEM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF BOTH OF THESE PLANS IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN INVESTMENT EXPERT TO PARTICIPATE.
THE CITY'S 4 57 PLAN HAS A DIVERSIFIED AGE-BASED TARGET DATE FUNDS OPTION, AS WELL AS MORE COMPLEX OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO ACTIVELY SELECT THEIR INVESTMENTS.
PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN PAYS OFF INVESTING $25 PER PAY PERIOD OVER 30 YEARS COULD GIVE YOU AN EXTRA $298 PER MONTH IN RETIREMENT.
$50 PER PAY PERIOD COULD INCREASE YOUR MONTHLY RETIREMENT INCOME BY $596.
CITY EMPLOYEES CAN JOIN THE PLAN VIA BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS GOING ON NOW OR ANYTIME@DCAUSTIN.COM.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU WORK IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR OR CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN A VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT PLAN, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS YOUR SAVINGS PLAN AND YOUR PREPAREDNESS FOR RETIREMENT.
I WILL NOW OFFER A PROCLAMATION AND THEY MADE THIS ONE EXTRA LONG, SO WE'LL BE AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
UM, PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS HAS DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2023 AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH, AND WHEREAS PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LIVING LONGER AND THE COST OF RETIREMENT IS INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY, AND WHEREAS SOCIAL SECURITY REMAINS THE BEDROCK OF RETIREMENT INCOME FOR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT WAS NEVER INTENDED BY CONGRESS TO BE THE SOLE SOURCE OF RETIREMENT INCOME FOR FAMILIES.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH IS A SPECIAL TIME TO BE SET ASIDE TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYER SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH WILL EDUCATE THE POPULATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN EMPLOYER SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES TO MANAGE THEIR RETIREMENT RESOURCES PRUDENTLY.
AND WHEREAS SAVING FOR RETIREMENT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH AND SECURITY DURING RETIREMENT YEARS.
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IN PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT MUST BE ADVOCATED.
AND WHEREAS CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES CAN BENEFIT FROM DEVELOPING PERSONAL BUDGETS AND FINANCIAL PLANS THAT INCLUDE RETIREMENT SAVINGS STRATEGIES THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX DEFERRED RETIREMENT SAVINGS VEHICLES OFFERED THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEFERRED COMPENSATION 4 57 PLAN NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER AS CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, TOGETHER WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS VELA AND FUENTES ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WA AUSTIN, DO NOW HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2023 AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH IN AUSTIN.
IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS TO DIANA THOMAS, OUR C THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE AND FOR RECOGNIZING THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, MONTH.
WE'RE HOPING THAT EMPLOYEES WILL HEAR US AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT.
UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER MENTIONED, IF YOU START SAVING NOW AND SAVE A EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME, YOU CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SAVINGS BUILT UP WHEN YOU'RE READY TO RETIRE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T ALL THINK ABOUT UNTIL WE GET CLOSE TO RETIREMENT AGE.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT OUR EMPLOYEE BASE WILL HEAR US AND BE PREPARED AND START SAVING NOW.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TO TODAY.
AND FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT, UH, FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK ON THIS PLAN, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GREAT PLAN THAT'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF IT.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE US TO? RIGHT HERE? YES.