[00:00:04]
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS JOINING US ONLINE TODAY.
[CALL TO ORDER]
UM, ALRIGHT, WELL, HELLO ONE AND ALL.UH, WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TOURISM COMMISSION.
UM, I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AS THE CHAIR DANIEL RONAN, UM, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS.
UH, WE'VE GOT POTENTIALLY SOME PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
IT LOOKS LIKE MS. OJEDA HAS SAID THERE IS NONE, UH,
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TODAY.THEREFORE, WE MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
DO I HAVE, UM, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SO MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CHANIN, UH, DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE, I DO HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, MS. OJEDA IS, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO INCLUDE THE MEMBERS OF THE, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMMISSION THAT WE SET UP.
UM, WHICH I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY JOINED BECAUSE WE DID NOT MEET QUORUM, UH, FOR THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMISSION.
IS THAT POSSIBLE TO ADD THOSE NAMES? UM, DURING THE MEETING, YOU ACTUALLY ASKED TO BE REMOVED AND THEN, OH, TECHNIC YOU JOINED AFTER THE MEETING WAS SET.
SO WE GOT TO STAY BY WHAT THE MEETING MEETINGS WERE.
CAN WE ADD THE FOUR ADDITIONAL NAMES, UH, FOR THE STR WORKING GROUP, PLEASE? PERFECT, THANK YOU.
WE DO HAVE ONE MEMBER, UH, ONE COMMISSIONER JOHN REY IS GOING TO BE PHONING IN.
UM, UH, HE STATES THAT HE'S TRYING TO GET IN OR HE'S ON, BUT IT'S, BUT IT'S NOT SHOWING VIDEO.
COMMISSIONER REEDY, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I'M HERE.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF, UH, DISCUSSING THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD FOR THE MINUTES OF OUR OCTOBER 11TH MEETING? NO, I DON'T.
DO WE HAVE, UM, A SECOND TO APPROVE, UH, THE MEETING MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 11TH? SO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER, UH, CHAPEL.
DO WE HAVE A VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? COMMISSIONER MCGEE? OKAY.
UH, IS THAT A, A YAY, COMMISSIONER REY? HE RAISED HIS HAND.
I MEAN, I WAS ABSENT TOO, BUT I THINK YOU CAN, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE IF YOU'RE NOT THERE, BUT, UM, SURE,
ALRIGHT, UH, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT WE ARE PASSING THE OCTOBER 11TH MINUTES, UH, UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE AUSTIN TOURISM COMMISSION.
[2. Staff briefing regarding commission announcements and general updates by Felicia Ojeda, Staff Liaison]
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, WE HAVE, UH, POTENTIAL STAFF, UM, BRIEFING FROM STAFF LIAISON FELICIA HERA.AND, UM, JUST A QUICK REMINDER, UM, THIS WEEK WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT CYBER TRAINING IS BACK AND WE NEED TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF ALSO.
UM, AS A REMINDER, TODAY WE'RE DOING THE SCHEDULING FOR 2024.
UM, AS SOON AS WE GET THAT SCHEDULED, THEN WE WILL KNOW WHEN OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN JANUARY.
UH, COMMISSIONER PEN, FELICIA.
WE ALSO GOT AN EMAIL RIGHT AFTER THAT EMAIL THAT SAID WE DIDN'T, AS, AS COMMISSIONERS, WE DIDN'T NEED TO TAKE THAT TRAINING.
DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THAT? I MEAN, I CAN, I'LL, I CAN PULL IT UP HERE.
MS. OA, CAN YOU CLARIFY? UH, I HAVE TO CHECK.
UM, THAT IS MY RECOLLECTION AS WELL, COMMISSIONER IAN.
UH, BUT WE WILL WAIT FOR STAFF.
UM, UH, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM MS. OA.
COMMISSIONER MATHIS, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER MATHIS HAS STEPPED ONTO THE DAIS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER UPDATES FROM, UH, MS. OJEDA? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, MOVING ON TO OUR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
[3. Presentation by Aaron Lack, President of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 433]
HAVE SEVERAL, UH, FOLKS FROM LABOR AND ORGANIZING HERE TODAY, UH, INCLUDING FOLKS FROM THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS, LOCAL 4, 3 3, UH, PRESIDENT OF I-A-T-S-E, LOCAL 20, AND, UH, THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND DECORATORS.SO, FIRST UP, WE WELCOME AARON LACK THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION MUSIC MUSICIANS LOCAL FOUR, THREE.
YEAH, COME ONE, COME ALL TO THE DIOCESE.
[00:05:01]
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.HOW Y'ALL DOING? THANKS FOR HAVING US.
I'M AARON LACK THE, THE PRESIDENT OF JUST THE LOCAL I 4 33 HERE IN AUSTIN OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION MUSICIANS, UH, THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
UM, AND I'VE GOT, UH, CHUCK ANASTASIO WITH ME, UH, WHO'S A MUSICIAN, A MEMBER OF OUR UNION.
UM, AND YEAH, I JUST, I THOUGHT I'D TALKED THROUGH THE ONE SHEET AND THEN, UH, HAVE CHUCK INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
SO, UM, THE OFFICER FEDERATION MUSICIANS, HIS LOCAL CHAPTER, UH, WAS, WAS FOUNDED IN 1907, UH, BY LOCAL MUSICIANS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED IMPROVEMENTS TO WAGES, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT BY WORKING TOGETHER.
UM, THIS IS FROM OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
WE ARE THE AUSTIN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS, PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS UNITED, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE AND WORK IN DIGNITY.
OUR WORK WILL BE FULFILLING AND COMPENSATED FAIRLY.
WE'LL HAVE A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN DECISIONS THAT AFFECT US, AND WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP OUR TALENTS AND SKILLS.
OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE AND POWER WILL BE REALIZED IN A DEMOCRATIC AND PROGRESSIVE UNION, AND WE CAN OPPOSE THE FORCES OF EXPLOITATION THROUGH OUR UNION.
UH, AND THEN ON TOURISM, UH, THE AUSTIN FEDERATION MUSICIANS HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH DEVELOPING THE AUSTIN MUSIC LABOR MARKET FOR OVER 115 YEARS, AND IS THE LONGEST RUNNING ARTS ORGANIZATION IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE MUSICIANS OF AUSTIN PRODUCED THE PRIMARY CULTURAL EXPORT OF THE CITY AND ARE THE BASIS FOR MOST TOURISM ATTRACTIONS.
UM, FROM SMALL VENUES, BARS, DANCE HALLS, AND RECORDING STUDIOS TO CONVENTIONS, CONCERT HALLS, ARENAS AND FILM STUDIOS.
AUSTIN MUSICIANS MAKE IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY.
UH, OUR UNION ALSO ADMINISTERS CONTRACTS FOR BROADWAY SHOWS, ORCHESTRAS OPERA, BALLET, THE AUSTIN JAZZ WORKSHOP, AND THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS TV SHOW.
UM, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REPORTED THAT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY GENERATED OVER $26 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN TEXAS IN 2022 ALONE.
UM, UNION MUSICIANS HAVE ACHIEVED CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS THAT CON CONTINUE TO SECURE A PIECE OF THAT PIE ALONG WITH DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE WORKERS THAT ACTUALLY CREATE THE MUSIC.
THE MUSICIANS, UH, REVENUE GENERATED IN THE PRESENT, AS WELL AS RESIDUAL INCOME FROM THE USE OF OUR RECORDED PERFORMANCES IN THE FUTURE ARE OF PARAMOUNT CONCERN.
UH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS PROCESS, LIKE THE INDUSTRY ITSELF IS CONTINUOUS.
UH, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON TOURISM IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
UM, AND NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, CHUCK ANASTASIO, ONE OF OUR, UH, WORKERS AND MUSICIANS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHUCK ANASTASIO.
UH, AS AARON SAID, I'M A MUSICIAN IN THE AREA.
I'M A GUITAR PLAYER AND, UM, EVENT DJ.
SO THE WORK I DO PERTAINING TO TOURISM IN THE CITY IS THROUGH WEDDINGS AND CORPORATE EVENTS, UM, CONVENTION EVENTS, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, AT DIFFERENT BARS AND RESTAURANTS AROUND TOWN, UH, PLAYING COUNTRY MUSIC, BLUES, MUSIC, WHATEVER I GET THE CALL FOR.
AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, A BIG PORTION OF THAT AS RELATES TO TOURISM FOR ME PERSONALLY IS THROUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, CORPORATE EVENTS THAT COME TO TOWN AS WELL AS WEDDINGS.
AND, UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE EXTENT OF IT.
THE ONE THING THAT AARON AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RISING COST FOR EVERYBODY TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S PARTICULARLY TOUGH FOR MUSICIANS AND PEOPLE IN THE ARTS, UM, MANY OF WHOM ARE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SERVICES, UH, IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR TOURISM, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW ARE MOVING TO DIFFERENT COUNTIES, MYSELF INCLUDED.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT BECOMES A GROWING, UH, GROWING CONCERN OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY AS THAT SPRAWL GETS, UM, BIGGER AND WIDER.
AND THAT CORRIDOR OPENS UP BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO TOO.
SO, UM, YEAH, I THINK IT'S A INTERESTING THING TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT AND TALKING ABOUT AND DISCUSSING ON HOW TO, UH, CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED WAGES THAT, UH, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF CAN LIVE OFF OF.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT IF YOU HAVE.
UM, WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE DIOCESE WITH REGARD TO, UM, THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'VE JUST HEARD? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MCKEE.
I WONDERED IF YOU COULD COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE CONTRACT THAT, UH, YOUR UNION HAS DEVELOPED TO HELP WORKERS GET FAIR PAY IN RESTAURANTS AND BARS, PARTICULARLY IN THE BARS AND WHAT IT WAS THAT, THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO OVER, UH, TO SOLVE WITH THAT CONTRACT.
[00:10:01]
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING CONTRACT THAT YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH.UM, UH, OUR, OUR PARTICULAR SITUATION IN, IN RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND HOTELS, UM, HAS BEEN COMPLICATED SINCE 1978.
UM, WE, WE'VE BEEN, UH, WELL MOST UNIONS WOULD SAY MISCLASSIFIED, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE MISCLASSIFIED BY LAW, UNFORTUNATELY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, UM, SINCE 1978 IN THOSE WORKPLACES, UH, AS, UH, AS CONTRACTORS, UNFORTUNATELY, WE, WE DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS IN THOSE WORKPLACES.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A CONTRACT, UM, FOR THAT SPECIFIC SITUATION, UM, UH, CALLED AN L TWO OR AN L ONE CONTRACT IN, IN OUR, IN OUR UNION, UM, THAT ALLOWS US TO, IN INDIVIDUALLY, UM, CONTRACT, UH, SINGLE ENGAGEMENTS IN, IN THOSE WORKPLACES.
AND IT'S DEFENSIBLE, BUT IT HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED AND RATIFIED, NOT, NOT RATIFIED, BUT UH, UM, WHAT DO I WANNA SAY, UH, EXECUTED, UH, FOR, FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE.
AND THAT MULTIPLIES, UH, THE PAPERWORK AND THE, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AND, AND EVERYTHING, UM, FOR THOSE, UH, THAT TYPE OF WORK.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE DEALING WITH.
UM, AND IT, AND IT CAN WORK IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE OF ORGANIZING WHERE WE CAN COLLECTIVELY DEFEND THOSE CONTRACTS AND THE USE OF THOSE CONTRACTS, UH, OVERALL CAN LIFT ALL BOATS IN, IN THE SAME SENSE THAT THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CAN.
UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, IT, IT DOES MAKE FOR A COMPLICATED SITUATION, UM, AND THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO AUSTIN.
THAT'S ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.
UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY WHAT I, WHAT I SAID, UH, EARLIER, UM, IS ALSO TRUE OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, THOUGH MUSICIANS DO PRODUCE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL EXPORTS OF THE ENTIRE NATION.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH NATIONWIDE.
UM, BUT IT IS TRUE HERE AS WELL.
SO DOES THAT, DOES THAT HELP A LITTLE BIT? YES.
YEAH,
AND, UH, JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
WHAT IS THE, THE NAME OF THAT ISSUE IN PARTICULAR, WOULD YOU, HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY THAT? YEAH, IT, WELL, IT, IT REALLY IS WHAT, WHAT MOST UNIONS WOULD CALL MISCLASSIFICATION, WHERE WE'RE, UM, MISCLASSIFIED AS, UH, CONTRACTORS, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS RATHER THAN EMPLOYEES, UM, IN THOSE WORKPLACES.
UM, OTHER, OUR OTHER WORKPLACES LIKE IN THE OPERA AND BALLET, UM, ON TELEVISION SHOWS, ON AND MAJOR RECORD LABELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE DO HAVE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS STILL.
UM, AND, AND WE WORK UNDER TRADITIONAL COLLECTIVELY BARGAINING CONTRACTS IN THOSE WORKPLACES.
UM, BUT IN, IN SPECIFICALLY, UH, BARS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING UNDER WHAT'S REALLY LIKE A, LIKE A FREELANCE CONTRACT, UM, THAT HAS TO BE RENEGOTIATED FOR EVERY PERFORMANCE.
UM, AND, UH, SO YEAH, IT, IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US AS MUSICIANS.
UH, AND, AND WE, WE DO, UH, SEEK GAINS IN WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS USING THAT DEVICE.
BUT IT WOULD BE EASIER IF WE WENT BACK BEFORE 1978, UM, THAT WAS A, A SUPREME COURT RULING THAT, UH, BASICALLY MISCLASSIFIED US BY LAW, UH, AT THAT POINT.
UM, SO IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN IN THOSE SPACES IF, IF THAT HADN'T HAPPENED.
UM, SO YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON REVERSING THAT, BUT IT, IT'S GONNA BE A LONG HAUL.
COMMISSIONER CHAP, UM, IT'S AARON AND CHUCK, THANKS FOR COMING TODAY AND SHARING.
IF YOU COULD JUST, I'M JUST CURIOUS AROUND LIKE DEMOGRAPHICS, IF YOU CAN GIVE US SOME, JUST SOME GENERAL STATS MEMBERSHIP, UM, WOULD BE HELPFUL TOO.
UM, I MEAN, IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, UM, WE, WE HAVE ABOUT 60,000 MEMBERS, UH, IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
OUR AUSTIN JURISDICTION IS TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE 11 SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT A HUN UH, 350 MEMBERS NOW.
IT'S BEEN GROWING SINCE, UH, UH, ABOUT 2019.
THAT'S, UH, WHEN MY, MY ADMINISTRATION STARTED OF THE LOCAL UNION.
IS THAT, IS THAT KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? YEAH, NO, THANK YOU.
UM, WELL, COINCIDENTALLY, GENTLEMEN, I WAS PRIOR TO THIS ON A CALL WITH THE CALIFORNIA AFM BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SAID.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, AB FIVE IN CALIFORNIA, RECLASSIFIED MUSICIANS AS EMPLOYEES IN ALL SITUATIONS.
AND I'M THE CEO OF THE AUSTIN CREATIVE ALLIANCE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH CALIFORNIANS FOR
[00:15:01]
THE ARTS TO SET UP A PAY SYSTEM FOR ARTISTS IN CALIFORNIA.SO, I'M, I JUST WANTED YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I'M AN ALLY.
I ALSO, UH, WORKED IN COMMERCIAL MUSIC FOR 30 YEARS AS A MANAGER AND BOOKING AGENT, UM, PRODUCER, ET CETERA.
MY QUESTION TODAY IS IF, IF YOUR MEMBERSHIP HAS ANY THOUGHTS TO SHARE ON THE, UH, LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT THE CITY IS, UH, HAS SET UP? OH, UH, WELL, YEAH.
WE, WE, WE HAD THE SAME CONCERNS, UH, AS, AS A LOT OF MUSICIANS HAVE HAD, JUST WITH THE, THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE APPLICATION SO FAR.
UM, BUT WE, WE WERE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
WE OFFICIALLY, OUR, OUR LOCAL UNION OFFICIALLY ENDORSED, UM, THE, UH, UH, WAS IT THE, UH, BALLAD INITIATIVE THAT CREATED THE, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND BACK IN 2019.
UM, AND SO THAT, YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF, OF THE CONCEPT FOR SURE.
WELL, AS A FOLLOW UP, IF I MAY CHAIR, UM, JUST YOUR, THINK YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THE, THE FUND HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED SO FAR.
OH, WELL, I MEAN, WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM, FROM OUR MEMBERS, UH, AND MAYBE YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS TOO, I, I, IS, UH, JUST THAT IT, IT HASN'T, UH, HASN'T RESULTED IN A, UH, REALLY ACCESSIBLE, UM, APPLICATION PROCESS SO FAR, UH, THAT WE'VE SEEN.
HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
I'VE JUST HEARD FROM DIFFERENT MEMBERS THE SAME THING THAT YOU JUST SAID, WHICH WOULD, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ALWAYS MATERIALIZED INTO ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE FOR THEM.
FOR, FOR INDIVIDUAL, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
IT SEEMS, SEEMS LIKE THERE SEEMS TO BE A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE'S, UH, SOME SORT OF OTHER ORGANIZATION HAS TO BE INVOLVED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MUSICIANS TO BENEFIT FROM THAT FUND SO FAR.
UM, BUT I, UH, YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT WE, WE APPRECIATE THE CONCEPT OF IT AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT, WHAT GOOD THAT COULD DO.
'CAUSE IT, IT SEEMS TO BE NEEDED FOR THE LATER, YOU KNOW, THE REASONS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE MUSIC IS THE REASON FOR THE, THE TOURISM TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE, THERE SHOULD BE A WAY FOR IT, FOR IT TO, UH, BE, UH, SYMBIOTIC THERE.
OH, UH, REEDY ASKED MY EXACT QUESTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NATALIA? OH, I COMMISSIONER, UH, CHAPPEL, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, IF YOU COULD GO, SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE'S MAYBE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL MUSICIANS AND A BAR, RESTAURANT OR HOTEL.
UM, AND IF THEY USE THIS L TWO CONTRACT FORM, IT CAN HELP.
I MEAN, WELL JUST, JUST, UH, AND, AND IF YOU COULD JUST TALK, DO I HAVE IT RIGHT? SO THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT, I'M A BORROW RESTAURANT OWNER AND I'M ENGAGING IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH A MUSICIAN.
AND MAYBE THIS ONE'S TOO EXPENSIVE, BUT I CAN GET ANOTHER ONE FOR LESS BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM.
AND SO THIS, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE HINTING AT? OH, UH, NO, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT NECESSARILY.
I MEAN, UM, UH, I'M NEW TO THIS, SO PLEASE EXPLAIN.
I MEAN, WHAT THE, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD SAY WHAT THE ROOT OF THE ENTIRE PROBLEM IS.
UM, BUT IT, IT, IT'S, WE DON'T NEED THE ROOTS, BUT YEAH, JUST, YEAH, I MEAN, JUST, JUST THE, THERE, THERE IF YOU WANTED TO, A PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT YOU COULD BUILD AWARENESS AROUND.
JUST, JUST THAT IT IS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE, IT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE, UH, WITH AN EMPLOYER.
UM, AND, AND THAT, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.
SO SOMETIMES, UH, IN OUR BUSINESS, MUSICIANS THAT AREN'T, AREN'T PART OF THE UNION, MAYBE AREN'T AWARE MM-HMM.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING TO, TO REALLY GET ACROSS, UH, THAT, THAT IT, IT, IT IS POSSIBLE AND THAT IT, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND WE, WE AS INDIVIDUAL MUSICIANS ARE CONSTANTLY NEGOTIATING, UH, EVERY DAY.
YOU KNOW? UM, BETTER GUESS, IF YOU COULD JUST GO BACK TO THE L TWO CONTRACT WHERE I GUESS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND YOU'RE BASICALLY JUST CREATING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, RIGHT? YEAH.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER WORKER HAS.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT? YEAH, PLEASE.
SO, UM, AND I THINK THIS MIGHT, UH, JUST MY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT EXACT QUESTION THAT WAS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PREVENTED ME FROM JOINING THE MUSICIANS UNION FOR A LONG TIME WAS THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE CLUBS, AS FAR AS LIKE
[00:20:01]
OVERALL AS FAR AS LIKE WEDDINGS, CORPORATE EVENTS, UM, GO, I HAD MY OWN CONTRACT IN PLACE ALREADY, AND THAT WAS ALWAYS PRETTY MUCH BY THE BOOK WENT VERY SMOOTHLY.THE PROBLEM FOR ME, AND WHEN I CALLED YOU AND BEFORE I JOINED WAS THAT, UM, I DIDN'T SEE IT, UH, BEING REALISTIC THAT A LOT OF THE RESTAURANTS, BARS, LOCAL MUSIC VENUES WOULD SIGN A CONTRACT THAT I PUT IN FRONT OF THEM.
'CAUSE THEY STILL DON'T OFTENTIMES.
SO IT'LL, AND IT'S, THERE'S SO MANY, THERE'S SUCH A LARGE POOL OF MUSICIANS TO DRAW FROM THAT.
AND A LOT OF THEM, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT IN THE UNION, RIGHT? SO, UM, IF THEY'RE NOT PRESENTED WITH THAT, SOMETIMES IT'S THE PATH OF LESS RESISTANCE, YOU KNOW? SO, UM, THAT WAS A CONCERN OF MINE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WELL, I WANNA MAKE A PENSION PAYMENT, BUT I'M A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO UPSET A CLUB OWNER.
WHICH SEEMS, YOU KNOW, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, MAYBE SILLY TO BRING UP, BUT IT IS.
SO, UM, AND THEN I SAT ON THAT FOR A WHILE, AND THEN I DISCUSSED IT WITH AARON AND CLARIFIED IT FOR ME.
SO, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S STILL OFTENTIMES WHERE I KIND OF KNOW THE PLACES WHERE TO PRESENT A CONTRACT AND WHERE NOT TO UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, AND THE UNION CAN'T HELP ME IF, UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT'S A TALE AS OLD AS TIME AS FAR AS LIKE, HEY, UM, WE KNOW YOU'RE BOOKED TO PLAY WITH YOUR GROUP IN THREE HOURS, BUT, UH, THERE'S A FOOTBALL GAME ON TONIGHT, SO LATER, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU DON'T GET PAID.
AND THEN THE THREE OR FOUR OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE HIRED ON YOUR GOOD WORD, ALSO DON'T GET PAID UNLESS YOU PAY OUTTA YOUR POCKET.
WHICH, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH THAT IS, YOU CAN EITHER DO IT OR NOT.
RIGHT? UM, SO THERE'S OFTEN NO PROTECTION THERE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A VULNERABILITY THAT MUSICIANS EXPERIENCE, UM, AND PROBABLY ALL CREATIVE ARTISTS, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD PROBABLY.
DOES THAT CLARIFY MAYBE A LITTLE BIT AT, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S NO, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THANKS FOR SHARING THAT KIND OF PERSONAL STORY.
'CAUSE IT HELPS, UM, IT JUST HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, USING A, A CONTRACT THAT CAN BE COLLECTIVELY DEFENDED, UM, HELPS TO MEDIATE THAT TYPE OF VULNERABILITY THAT WE HAVE IN, IN THOSE WORKPLACES.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE DIOCESE? UH, MY QUESTION IS RELATED MOSTLY TO YOUR RELATIVE POSITION WITHIN THE AUSTIN MARKET, UM, IN TERMS OF REPRESENTING MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, ARE YOU LARGER THAN MOST OR THE ONLY ONE? WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE LANDSCAPE LOOKING LIKE FOR, UH, REPRESENTATION FOR ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS? SURE.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOCALS? OH, UH, AS FAR AS IN, IN THE AFM, OTHER LOCALS IN THE AFM.
UM, YEAH, WE'RE, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE SMALLER THAN SOME AS FAR AS, UH, AS FAR AS MEMBERSHIP, UM, HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAYBE, MAYBE A, A 10TH THE SIZE OF, OF SOME, A PLACE LIKE NASHVILLE IS, IS VERY WELL REPRESENTED, UM, THAT TYPE OF THING.
UM, SO, AND THAT, THAT HAS TO DO, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH THE SUPPRESSION OF LABOR KNOWLEDGE WITHIN OUR STATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALTHOUGH NASHVILLE'S IN A RED WORK STATE TOO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT.
SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S AN ISSUE, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE THINK ABOUT.
THERE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME ESTIMATES SAY THAT THERE MAY BE 10,000 MUSICIANS IN AUSTIN, UM, AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
WE, WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT EXACTLY.
BUT IT, OUR OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS BEEN GROWING, UM, AS HAVE ALL UNIONS IN THE, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
DOES THAT, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE BIT? YEAH.
AND, AND MAYBE A FOLLOW UP, ARE THERE ANY OTHER UNIONS THAT REPRESENT MUSICIANS LOCALLY? LIKE IN DIFFERENT LOCALS? NO, IT'S JUST, JUST Y'ALL.
IT'S JUST, IT IS JUST US RIGHT NOW.
UM, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT, THAT DO GOOD WORK AS WELL.
UM, BUT WE'RE THE ONLY LABOR UNION.
AND THAT'S, UH, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND A LABOR UNION IS YOU GUYS ARE TALKING TO ALL, ALL KINDS OF LABOR UNIONS TODAY.
BUT, UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOU KNOW, LABOR UNION IS, IS SUPPORTED BY THE WORKERS THEMSELVES, SO THEY OWN IT.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT, THAT VOICE THAT'S COMPLETELY OWNED BY THE WORKERS THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. LACK AND MR. ANASTASIA FOR COMING THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, FEEL FREE TO STICK AROUND.
I'D LOVE TO SAY HELLO AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
WE'RE IS GONNA BE SHORTER TODAY.
[4. Presentation by Rob Baxter, President of IATSE, Local 20]
NEXT UP, UH, AND FORGIVE ME, THERE'S AN ERROR IN THE ACTUAL AGENDA.IT'S LOCAL 2 0 5, UM, THE PRESIDENT OF I-A-T-S-E, LOCAL
[00:25:01]
2 0 5.AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE A PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED ON THE, UM, SCREENS IN FRONT OF YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE I-A-T-S-E IS, WE ARE THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES AND MOTION PICTURE MACHINE OPERATORS OF THE WORLD OR WHATEVER OF THE NORTH OF US AND NORTH AMERICA.
BUT SADLY, THERE AREN'T TOO MANY MOTION PICTURE MACHINE OPERATORS ANYMORE,
BUT, UM, UH, LOCAL 2 0 5 WAS, UH, ESTABLISHED IN 1911.
THE IA GOES BACK TO THE 1890S WITH NEW YORK, PITTSBURGH, CITIES LIKE THAT, SETTING UP THEIR THEATRICAL UNIONS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE BEFORE THE PARAMOUNT PARAMOUNTS FROM 1914.
SO THERE, THERE WERE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW THEATERS IN AUSTIN BACK THEN BEFORE THE, BEFORE THE FILM INDUSTRY STARTED.
AND THE PARAMOUNT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT AS A OH, THANK YOU.
WHO'S ADVANCING THIS FOR ME? HOW WONDERFUL.
IS IT THE RED BUTTON? NO, IT'S LEFT AND RIGHT UP.
UM, SO IN 1911 WE WERE FORMED.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THEN AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL REMEMBER CACTUS PRYOR, UH, WHO WAS A CELEBRITY HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT HIS FATHER AND HIS UNCLE WERE CHARTER MEMBERS OF 2 0 5.
AND CACTUS WAS NAMED CACTUS BECAUSE HE WAS NAMED AFTER THE CACTUS THEATER, WHICH, UH, WAS HIS FATHER'S WORKPLACE.
CACTUS WAS A BIG CELEBRITY HERE BACK THEN, UH, ON RADIO AND TV AND STUFF.
UM, KIND OF COMEDIAN, KIND OF JOHN HENRY FAULK KIND OF GUY.
UM, SO LET'S SEE HOW THIS CLICKER WORKS.
AND THE P PRIORS ARE IN THIS PHOTO, BY THE WAY, ON THE, THE BOTTOM PHOTO THERE.
AND, UH, THERE'S THE PARAMOUNT BACK THEN, SADLY, IT WAS A VERY COOL BUILDING THAT GOT TORN DOWN TO THE LEFT OF IT THERE.
BUT THAT'S THE STATE NOW, WHICH WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT 'CAUSE WE WORK THERE AS WELL.
AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE IT SAYS MAJESTIC 'CAUSE THE PARAMOUNT OPENED, UH, AS A MAJESTIC.
UM, THERE'S RUMOR IT OPENED AS A GAITY AND THEN BECAME A MAJESTIC.
'CAUSE THERE'S ART, THERE IS ARTWORK THAT SHOWS IT WAS THE GAITY AND THEN BECAME THE MAJESTIC.
BUT THEN IT ULTIMATELY GOT BOUGHT OUT BY THE FOLKS THAT RUN THE PARAMOUNT.
UM, THEN, THEN WE HAD A NEW SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.
WE WERE THERE WHEN IT WAS BUILT.
UM, WE'RE STILL THERE EXCEPT NOW IT'S THE LONG CENTER.
AND 2 0 5 IS STILL KICKING AROUND.
THESE ARE ALL VENUES WE'RE INVOLVED IN.
THERE'S THE PARAMOUNT TODAY AND THE STATE.
UM, I ACTUALLY WORK AT THE STATE QUITE A BIT BECAUSE I'M A LIGHTING TECHNICIAN AND I RUN THE LIGHTS THERE ON OFTEN.
UM, AND UT BASS WE'RE IN THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT PER SE THERE, WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE LABOR VENDOR THERE, BUT, UH, WE'RE THERE QUITE A BIT.
UM, ACL FEST IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING I WANNA CHAT ABOUT RELATIVE TO THE CONCEPT OF TOURISM.
WE ARE BASICALLY THERE WHEN WE'RE INVITED.
WE'RE NOT THERE AS THE REGULAR LABOR.
AND, UH, I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.
SIMILAR WITH CIRCULAR AMERICAS, THERE'S A VENUE THERE CALLED THE GERMANIUM, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE EITHER.
WE'RE USUALLY IN THAT LONG BUILDING THAT HAS OFFICES AND BALLROOMS AND WHATNOT IN IT.
WE'RE COMING IN THERE TO SET UP A CORPORATE EVENT.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE'RE THERE QUITE A BIT.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH FREEMAN AV WHO HANDLES ALL THE RIGGING IN THAT BUILDING.
AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS THERE AS THE RIGGERS, BUT WE AREN'T ALWAYS THERE AS THE STAGE HANDS.
THAT CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE CLIENT THAT'S USING THE BUILDING AND WHO THEY'RE FREE TO BRING IN ANYONE THEY WANT.
UM, AND THE HILTON, THE JW MARRIOTT, THE FAIRMOUNT, THERE'S NO CONTRACTS THERE, BUT THOSE ARE BUSY ROOMS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CORPORATIONS THAT COME INTO TOWN, UH, RENT THOSE BALLROOMS. AND WE'RE IN THERE SETTING UP THE AV EQUIPMENT, UH, HANGING THE, WHAT THEY CALL THE RIGGING POINTS, THE LIGHTS, ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU WOULD SEE, UH, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IS ALREADY JUST SITTING THERE.
AND THEN, LIKE THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS WITH FOX SPORTS SETTING UP THE BIG NOON KICKOFF 'CAUSE WE COVER TELEVISION AS WELL.
[00:30:01]
FOR THAT OUT OF NEW YORK GOT IN TOUCH WITH US.2 0 5 SAID THEY NEEDED PEOPLE TO SET UP THIS, UH, THIS EVENT.
UM, AND THEN WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN HERE ALWAYS WILL BE, WHENEVER THERE'S ENTERTAINMENT IN AUSTIN, WE'RE NEARBY.
WE ONLY HAVE 150 MEMBERS, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT, THAT'S MEMBERS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 500 OR SO ON OUR REFERRAL LIST.
AND, AND, AND WHAT'S INTERESTING RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE GETTING MORE APPLICATIONS THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN, EVER.
WE'RE GETTING FLOODED WITH APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO ORGANIZE AS MANY AS WE CAN.
UM, AND THERE'S 180,000 OF US NATIONWIDE.
UH, WE COVER, YOU KNOW, FILM, TELEVISION, THEATER, UH, AS BACKGROUND FOR MYSELF.
SO YOU KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
I MOVED HERE IN 79, GOT IN 2 0 5 AFTER WORKING AT THE PARAMOUNT AS A PRODUCTION MANAGER THERE.
AND WORKED IN HOG AUDITORIUM BEFORE THAT AS A UNIVERSITY PRODUCTION MANAGER AT HOG AUDITORIUM.
UH, GOT IN 2 0 5 IN 79, UH, STAYED AT THE PARAMOUNT FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN I STARTED TRAVELING, WENT OFF WITH THE NEW YORK CITY OPERA, THE METROPOLITAN OPERA.
SPENT 20 YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET.
AND I SPENT THE LAST 30 YEARS WITH THE NBA AND I'M PRESENTLY THEIR LIGHTING DIRECTOR.
UM, I NOW HAVE TIME TO BE PRESIDENT, I HOPE, 'CAUSE I'M COMING UP CLOSE TO RETIREMENT
SO I WAS JUST ELECTED PRESIDENT ONLY LAST DECEMBER.
BY POINT TO THAT IS, I MEAN, I'M IN LOCAL ONE UP IN NEW YORK.
I'M IN LOCAL 52, WHICH IS FILM IN NEW YORK.
UH, I WAS OTHER LOCALS IN ORLANDO.
MY PERSPECTIVE IS OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.
AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I'M TRYING, HOW DO WE RELATE THIS TO TOURISM? UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY TOURISM HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING AS STAGE HANDS.
I'M ENVIOUS OF THE AFM 'CAUSE THEY'RE INHERENTLY EVERYWHERE AS MUSICIANS.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GET A CONTRACT EVERYWHERE, BUT THEY, YOU NEED A MUSICIAN, YOU NEED A MUSICIAN, YOU NEED A STAGEHAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS THAT CALL THEMSELVES STAGE HANDS.
AND ODDLY, THE TOURISM IN THIS TOWN THAT I THINK IN TERMS OF ENTERTAINMENT IS ACL FEST CIRCA THE AMERICAS AND THE MOODY BUILDINGS, ALL THE MOODY BUILDINGS,
AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM IS PAYING SUBSTANDARD WAGES, YOU KNOW, BELOW, LIKE WE'RE TALKING, UH, IN AND OUT BURGER WAGES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE, AND, AND WE AS A UNION, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY THAT HIGHLY PAID.
THERE'S NUMEROUS OTHER EMPLOYERS IN TOWN, PARTICULARLY DOING AV WORK THAT PAY BETTER THAN THE UNION.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO ORGANIZE THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WANT TRYING TO GET ALL THE BOATS TO RISE.
BUT FROM A TOURISM STANDPOINT, IT'S, IT SEEMS SAD TO ME THAT WE'RE HERE AS THE TOURISM BOARD AND AS A TOWN TRYING TO PROMOTE TOURISM FOR THE FINANCIAL GAIN OF THE FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE TO SOME DEGREE.
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE TOURISM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE NICE IF IT WOULD TRICKLE DOWN.
AND INSTEAD WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE NEWER VENUES AND THE ONES THAT ARE MORE TOURIST RELATED ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, THE SHORT SHRIFT AS FAR AS WAGES GO.
UM, I DON'T HAVE, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW FROM OUR END, OR MEANING YOUR END, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF A PREVAILING WAGE OR, UH, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE COMING INTO TOWN ARE, ARE PAYING PEOPLE AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO BE PAID.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW WITH, UH, THE OPERA, THE BALLET, AND THEY FRANKLY ARE, IT'S TOUGH WAGES THERE TOO.
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF THIS IS COVID RELATED.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE ACTUALLY STAFFING STUFF 'CAUSE WE CAN'T PAY ENOUGH.
AND WHEREAS SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS ARE FANTASTIC, I COME OFF OF THE FOX TELEVISION CONTRACT MAKING DOUBLE WHAT WE PAY ELSEWHERE BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR PRODUCER UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT COSTS.
I MEAN, AS AN ILLUSTRATION, WE HAVE A CONTRACT, A NATIONAL CONTRACT THROUGH OUR UNION WITH FREEMAN AV.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH FREEMAN AV FREEMAN'S OUTTA DALLAS.
THEY DO ALL THE PIPE AND DRAPE, THE PROJECTION, PLATFORMING, LIGHTING, ALL THAT STUFF.
YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK INTO A CORPORATE EVENT AT, SAY THE CONVENTION CENTER OR A HOTEL BALLROOM, AND THEY HAVE CONTRACTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY HAVE ONE MAIN CONTRACT FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT EVERYBODY ADHERES TO THOSE CONDITIONS.
SO THAT WE HAVE THE SAME OVERTIME HERE IN AUSTIN THAT THEY HAVE IN NEW YORK, LITERALLY.
BUT THEN THERE'S AN ADDENDUM, AND THE ADDENDUM AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT HAS THE WAGES FOR EACH CITY
[00:35:01]
YOU KNOW, IT GOES DOWN NASHVILLE, NEW YORK, DALLAS, SAN YOU KNOW, PICK YOUR 25 SIGNIFICANT CITIES THAT HAVE FREEMAN AV IN THEM.AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A WAGE SHEET FOR THEM.
THE LOWEST PAID WAGES IN THE NATIONAL CONTRACTOR IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, LOWER THAN DALLAS, LOWER THAN THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW HAS THE LOWEST WAGES FOR STAGE HANDS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T MEAN TO BE A CASSANDRA HERE OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE, BE A BUMMER, BUT I I YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO RAISE.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE LITERALLY SOME SLEEPING IN CARS, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, IT'S JUST, UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
AND THEN, SO I GUESS FROM A TOURISM STANDPOINT, IT'S LIKE HOW DO WE GET THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN TO ADHERE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BETTER PREVAILING WAGES? SO, AND HOW DO WE GET, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE CODA OR THE MOODY, THE MOODY'S PICK A MOODY, YOU KNOW, TO SOME DEGREE, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY A CONVENTION CENTER.
THEY'RE SUBSIDIZED, YOU KNOW, CODE IS GETTING 25 MILLION A YEAR OUT OF THE STATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THESE CONVENTION CENTERS SUBSIDIZED BY US TAXPAYERS OR WELL I SHOULD SAY THE HOTEL TAX.
UM, SO WHY AREN'T WE BACKING THOSE SUBSIDIES UP WITH, YOU KNOW, DEMANDS FOR PROPER WAGES WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES? UM, AND BEFORE YOU THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY, WHICH IS TRUE, BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK OF IT RELATIVELY SPEAKING.
UM, NOW HAVING, AND LIKE BEING IN LOCAL ONE, YOU GO TO MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, YOU GO TO WATCH ERIC CLAPTON OR WHATEVER, AND YOU'RE GONNA PAY A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET THROUGH THE DOOR AND WATCH THAT SHOW.
YOU, COME TO MOODY CENTER, GO WATCH ERIC CLAPTON, YOU'RE GONNA PAY A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET THROUGH THAT DOOR.
BUT THEY CAN PAY STAGE HANDS A HUNDRED DOLLARS AN HOUR UP IN NEW YORK.
AND THEY TELL US HERE, WE CAN ONLY GET $19 AN HOUR.
SO WHERE DOES THAT EXTRA MONEY GO,
I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT DICHOTOMY.
UM, OTHERWISE WHAT ARE WE HERE FOR IF WE'RE NOT HERE TO HELP THE LOCAL EMPLOYEES DO BETTER, YOU KNOW, AND, AND BUY HOUSES AND, AND GET THOSE TWO CARS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
YOU KNOW, I, I'M FORTUNATE I'VE MADE MUCH OF MY LIVING OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.
UM, BUT NOW THAT I'M BACK AND JUMPING BACK IN AND INVOLVED HERE, I SEE THE DISPARITY AND, UH, NOT JUST WITHIN THE TOWN, BUT RELATIVE TO THE OTHER CITIES.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER THAN NASHVILLE.
WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER THAN DALLAS AND HOUSTON AND WE'RE NOT.
SO, UH, THAT'S JUST POINT OF INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I I I THINK IF WE CAN SOMEHOW DETERMINE HOW TO TAKE A LITTLE LESS, UH, UH, WHAT'S THE RIGHT WORD? LAISSEZ-FAIRE OR CAPITALISM, HOWEVER YOU WANNA DESCRIBE IT.
NOT THAT I'M A SOCIALIST, BUT IT SEEMS UNFAIR THAT WE ARE SUBSIDIZING VENUES AND THEN THOSE VENUES TURN AROUND AND SLAP THEIR EMPLOYEES IN THE FACE WITH BURGER FLIPPING WAGES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? HOW'S THE QUESTION? HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? WE NEED YOUR HELP.
YOU KNOW, INTERESTINGLY, WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS NOW, AND, UH, THEY ARE SURPRISINGLY, NOT SURPRISINGLY, THEY'RE STEPPING UP.
ONE EMPLOYER JUST GAVE US A 21% RAISE NOW THAT CAME FROM A LOW WAGE TO BEGIN WITH, BUT THEY, AT LEAST THEY UNDERSTAND IT'S NO MORE THIS 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%.
AND IF YOU WANT 3%, UH, WELL WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU TWO OR MAYBE ONE IN BENEFITS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE FOUND IS THAT THESE OTHER EMPLOYERS IN TOWN THAT ARE PAYING ACTUALLY MORE THAN THE UNION DOES, THERE ARE NO BENEFITS.
UH, THEY'RE OFTEN 10 99, WHICH IS OFTEN DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, ILLEGAL AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTOR WORK WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY EMPLOYEES BY DEFINITION.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO ORGANIZE THEM
[00:40:01]
BY LETTING 'EM KNOW IF THEY COME INTO OUR REALM, WE CAN HELP THEM GET BENEFITS, HEALTH AND PENSION.WE HAVE THAT THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL UNION.
UM, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGES GO INTO OUR PAYCHECKS ON CERTAIN EMPLOYERS, AND THAT GOES UP TO NEW YORK AND BECOMES PART OF YOUR, YOUR, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL FUTURE OR PRESENT KITTY, WHETHER IT'S FOR HEALTH BENEFITS OR WHETHER IT'S FOR YOUR PENSION AND ANNUITY, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT.
I GUESS I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
UM, I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON THREE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THERE.
UM, OR CHALLENGES FOR STAGE EMPLOYEES OR STAGE WORKERS IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE MISCLASSIFICATION, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT, UM, AARON LACK WAS SPEAKING OF THAT FREQUENTLY STAGE, UH, STAGE WORKERS GET MISCLASSIFIED AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS INSTEAD OF EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND IN DOING SO, THEY DON'T, THEY MISS OUT ON ACCESS TO, UM, ANY BENEFITS.
UM, ANY, ANY EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTED, UM, ANY EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOULD PAY INTO A HEALTH OR AN ANNUITY.
SO OFTENTIMES WORKERS, STAGE WORKERS IN AUSTIN CAN WORK ALL THEIR LIVES AND NEVER BUILD UP ANYTHING TO RETIRE ON AND NEVER HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, HEALTHCARE.
UM, AND A LOT OF IT'S VERY PHYSICAL WORK, SO THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
AND THEN I THINK, UM, I REALLY LIKE THAT YOU TOUCHED ON THIS CONCEPT OF, OF PERHAPS ONE WAY THAT, UM, COULD HELP STAGE EMPLOYEES IS TO ADOPT SOME SORT OF PREVAILING WAGE.
IT REMINDS ME VERY MUCH OF THE WORK THAT THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION TRADE UNIONS HAVE DONE.
UM, WHENEVER THERE'S A PROJECT THAT'S, UH, BEING BUILT USING PUBLIC FUNDS, THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION UNIONS, THEY DEVELOPED OR WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THEIR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CREATE, UM, MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED.
UM, MINIMUM WAGE STANDARDS, MINIMUM CONDITIONS, MINIMUM PROTECTIONS.
UM, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING, UH, IDEA TO MAYBE BRING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO, UM, STAGE EMPLOYEES.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH WHAT THE MUSICIANS WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THEIR L TWO CON, THEIR L ONE OR L TWO CONTRACT.
THEY'RE ALSO SORT OF, I BELIEVE, CREATING SORT OF A MINIMUM STANDARD WITH THAT CONTRACT AS WELL, IF I'M CORRECT IN SAYING THAT.
IN MY CASE, LIKE 40 YEARS AGO, I INCORPORATED TO DEAL WITH WHAT THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT, WHERE YOU WALK INTO A PLACE AND YOU DON'T WANT TO TELL THEM, I NEED YOU TO PAY FOR MY PENSION, I NEEDED TO PAY FOR A ANNUITY.
THAT'S JUST EXTRA MONEY ON THEIR PART.
AND SO IN MY CASE, I INCORPORATED AND TURNED MYSELF INTO MY OWN EMPLOYER, AND THEN I PUT MYSELF UNDER MY OWN UNION CONTRACTS,
AND THEN WHEN I INVOICED MY CLIENTS, IT WAS TRANSPARENT TO THEM.
IT'S LIKE, HERE'S YOUR BILL, THIS IS WHAT I'M CHARGING YOU.
BUT THEN WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY OUT OF THAT AND THEN SEND IT UP TO NEW YORK.
AND I HAD A, I HAVE A PENSION NOW.
I HAD MY BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I DID IT WELL 30 YEARS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE, BUT THAT WAS ALSO BECAUSE I WAS AN INDEPENDENT PERSON.
I WASN'T WORKING THROUGH A LOCAL, I WAS WORKING THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL UNION, BUT NOT THROUGH 2 0 5.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, 2 0 5 ACTS AS A, A SHELL, A GOOD SHELL FOR ITS MEMBERS SO THAT THEY CAN GET BENEFITS.
SO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE FREEMAN AV, RIGHT? THE, THE WAGE SHEET.
SO YOU, HAVE YOU HAD ANY INFLUENCE WITH THEM OR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM TO INCREASE? OH YEAH.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PROVIDING THIS LE THIS LIST, RIGHT? NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR, YES.
THAT, THAT CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED BY NEW YORK, THE INTERNATIONAL IN NEW YORK AND FREEMAN IN DALLAS.
AND SO IT HAS A TERMINUS, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GONNA BE LIKE YEAR TWO FROM NOW.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE STUCK WITH IT.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING'S NEGOTIABLE, BUT THE TRUTH IS WHEN SOMETHING'S SIGNED AND THERE'S DATES ON IT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
AND SO, UM, SO YES, AS SOON AS THAT COMES UP, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA PUSH HARD.
AND THIS GETS TO THE CONVENTION CENTER ISSUE TOO.
I MEAN, I'M FASCINATED, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK Y'ALL SHOULD BE WORRIED AS A TOURISM BOARD THAT WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, TO REBUILD IT.
I MEAN, I, I, I WATCHED MADISON SQUARE GARDEN GO THROUGH A 1.2 BILLION COMPLETE REBUILD, AND THEY NEVER CLOSED IT A DAY.
IT'S DOABLE IF YOU WANT TO DO IT.
AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU WILLING
[00:45:01]
TO OUTLAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN? BUT YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU'RE TAKING OUT OF THE POCKETS OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE.SO THAT EXTRA MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOOD INVESTMENT AS FAR AS LABOR IS CONCERNED, BECAUSE IT'LL KEEP PEOPLE WORKING IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THAT ONE THIRD OVER THERE OR THAT ONE HALF OVER THERE, WHILE THEY'RE BUSY DEMOLISHING AND ERECTING FOUR TIMES AS MUCH SPACE OVER IN HALL D YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONVENTION CENTER IN HONG KONG IS 10 FLOORS HIGH OF 50 FOOT CEILINGS WITH SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER ELEVATORS THAT TAKE THE TREKS UP TO THE 10TH LEVEL OR THE NINTH LEVEL, OR THE, YOU KNOW, HONG KONG DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH REAL ESTATE TO HAVE A SPRAWLING CONVENTION CENTER.
SO THEY HAVE A TALL CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'S ALL IN WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS TO DO THINGS.
UM, AND I FEAR WE'RE NOT TAKING THAT HARD LOOK HERE.
UH, IT'D BE NICE IF WE, YOU, SO DO YOU, DOES THE LOCAL 2 0 5, DO YOU NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS LOCALLY HERE WITH SOME OF THE VENUES? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE PARAMOUNT, WHAT'S CALLED, IT'S ALL CALLED ATA, WHICH IS THE PARAMOUNT IN THE STATE.
AND IF YOU COULD TALK MORE ABOUT, MAYBE IF YOU COULD LIKE, HAD A MAGIC WAND, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN TERMS OF GETTING ACCESS FOR ACL MOODY, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
HOW COULD, WELL, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT'S, EVERYTHING IS SET UP HERE.
NOT EVERYTHING 'CAUSE THE PARAMOUNT W CENTER, BUT MOST VENUES ARE SET UP HERE TO AVOID A UNION SITUATION, THEN SET UP SO THAT THE CONTRACTOR, WHOEVER'S RENTING THE BUILDING, CAN TECHNICALLY BRING IN WHOEVER THEY WANT AS THEIR LABOR.
AND I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE LOOKING FOR A CLOSED SHOP, BUT IT MAKES IT VERY, 'CAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE ONE, IT'S A RIGHT TO WORK STATE, BUT, UH, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT WHEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF INEXPENSIVE LABOR AVAILABLE IN THIS TOWN, EVEN TO THIS DAY.
UM, WHETHER IT'S FOLKS WHO WORK IN A BAR AND, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT DO THE BAR AT NIGHT OR THEY CAN COME DO A LOAD IN DURING THE DAY.
UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT HIGHLY SKILLED.
AND, AND THAT'S THE THING THAT'S FRUSTRATING, IS WHAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IS STAGE HAND WORK HAS BECOME HIGHLY SKILLED.
NOW THERE'S, YES, THERE'S BOX PUSHERS, BUT THE AMOUNT OF AUTOMATION AND THE AMOUNT OF COMPUTERS AND THE AMOUNT OF IT INVOLVED NOW, AND, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
UH, AND IT REQUIRES SOME SERIOUS EXPERTISE IN THOSE DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.
AND, UM, WE DON'T OFTEN, IN CASE NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE RATES TO SUPPORT THOSE SKILLS.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE FALLING BEHIND IN THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T PAY PEOPLE ENOUGH TO DO WHAT THIS JOB'S REQUIRED.
AND I MEAN, I, I WAS, I WAS SITTING AT A, THE GOLDEN GOOSE A FEW NIGHTS AGO OUT DURING ACL FEST, I WAS, WENT TO DINNER AND I DECIDED TO HAVE A MARGARITA ON THE WAY HOME.
AND THERE WERE TWO HANDS FROM ACL FEST SITTING NEXT TO ME AT THE BAR, BUT THEY SAY THEY CAME AFTER ME AND I HAD MY, YOU KNOW, UNION BUG ON MY BREAST AND CHEST OR WHATEVER, AND, UH, STARTED OVERHEARING THEM SPEAK.
AND I REALIZED, OH, THESE ARE STAGE HANDS
AND, UH, ONE OF 'EM WAS DESCRIBING MY JOB THAT I HAD AT THE IRWIN CENTER 40 YEARS AGO.
I DID, I WASN'T THERE TO MAKE CONVERSATION WITH THESE GUYS, BUT I SAID, I GOTTA INTERRUPT YOU ALL.
UH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MY JOB I HAD 40 YEARS AGO.
AND HE GOES, REALLY? YOU KNOW, SO THEN THEY STARTED, I SAID, WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS IA? WHY AREN'T YOU IN THE UNION? THEY SAID, DOESN'T PAY ENOUGH.
WE MAKE FOUR 50 A DAY, DO AN ACL FEST, YOU KNOW, FOR A 10 HOUR DAY.
WHY WOULD WE GO WORK FOR YOU GUYS FOR 25 BUCKS AN HOUR? AND SO, UH, AND SO THAT'S AN IRONY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF IN, THEN WE CAN GO TO ANOTHER JOB.
LIKE I CAN GO WORK, UH, AT AT AND T HOTEL ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS A WEEK OR SO AGO, AND UNDER A UNION CONTRACT, A DIFFERENT UNION CONTRACT OF WHAT WE, IT'S A ONE-OFF FOR CORPORATE CLIENT.
AND I WALK IN THE DOOR AT $61 AN HOUR.
SO I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THAT POSITION.
AND, AND THEN THAT CREATES A NEW CONUNDRUM.
WHY WOULD THAT PERSON WHO'S AGAIN, LIKE THE FOUR 50 A DAY PERSON, HOW AM HOW AND HOW, UH, MOTIVATED AM I TO, TO, TO GO WORK AT BASS CONCERT HALL FOR $19 AN HOUR? AND WHY IS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PAYING LESS THAN THEIR OWN MINIMUM WAGE
[00:50:01]
THAT WAS THE CONTRACT THAT JUST GOT BUMPED UP 21%.SO AS OF OCTOBER ONE, WE FIXED THAT PROBLEM.
SO, BUT IT WAS A PROBLEM FOR YEARS.
SO, UM, THE OTHER THING TOO THAT I, AND FEEL LIKE I'M REPEATING MYSELF, BUT AGAIN, ALL OF THESE VENUES ARE CITY, NOT ALL OF 'EM, BUT SO MANY OF 'EM ARE CITY SUPPORTED.
I MEAN, ACL COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT ZILKER, YOU KNOW, MOODY COULDN'T DO WITHOUT WATERLOO.
I MEAN THE PARK, I MEAN, ALL OF THESE SPACES ARE, ARE BEING GIVEN AWAY.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REMUNERATION TO THE CITY IS.
UM, I'M SURE THAT, I KNOW THAT EXISTS SOMEWHERE.
IT'S PROBABLY FREEDOM, FOA, BUT POINT IS, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE CITY HAS LEVERAGE TO SUPPORT LIVING WAGES ON THOSE FACILITIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, NAIAS? YES.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CITY OWNED FACILITIES THAT ARE ALLERGIC TO NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS WITH UNIONS OR ANY PROBLEMS THAT YOU'VE SEEN THERE AT THE CITY LEVEL? OH, THAT'S A, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
I, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN'T, I, I DON'T THINK SO.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE LONG CENTER IS IN A WAY, IS A CITY FACILITY, BUT WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM.
UM, NOW THEY ALSO THOUGH HAVE A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT THAT SAYS, WE LIKE YOU, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE YOU.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S KIND OF ANNOYING, YOU KNOW, THAT SEEMS TO BE, UH, IT'S A ROADBLOCK, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT TO WORK STATE.
EMPLOYERS THINK IT'S THEIR RIGHT TO SAY THAT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL AND IT'S A LITTLE, UH, YOU KNOW, SWORD OVER YOUR NECK SAYING, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE ALL OF A SUDDEN DON'T LIKE YOU, WE'LL JUST CUT YOU OFF THE KNEES.
AND, UM, A CONTRACT IS A CONTRACT IS A CONTRACT.
YOU KNOW, CONTRACTS DON'T ALWAYS FOLLOW LAW, THE LAW.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE LOOSE WITH THE LAW, YOU KNOW, AS MY ATTORNEYS TOLD ME, WHERE ONCE YOU CAN SIGN ANY CONTRACT YOU WANT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHAT THE LAW SAYS.
YOU JUST 'CAUSE THAT BECOMES YOUR CONTRACT WITH THAT EMPLOYER OR THAT PERSON.
YOU JUST CAN'T BE SUBSTANDARD TO THE LAW.
SO, UM, YEAH, SO, SO I DON'T THINK, I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, UNLESS YOU WANNA SAY THAT THE BUILDING OR THE FACILITIES THAT ARE ON CITY PROPERTY BUT ARE NOT CITY
THAT, THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION.
I, I FEEL LIKE NEEDS TO BE HAD.
BUT, UH, I, I'M CONCERNED RIGHT NOW, UH, ABOUT THE, UH, THE WAGES THAT THE CITY OWNED BUILDINGS ARE PAYING IN THESE CONTRACTS.
LIKE, ARE THOSE WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE? LIKE WHERE, WHERE, NO, WE NOT, AND, AND IN THE CASE OF THE LONG CENTER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING A, THEY'RE BEING VERY, VERY NICE AND THEY'RE OFFERING SOME, YOU KNOW, BETTER RAISES THAN IN THE PAST.
UM, BUT WHAT LOCAL 2 0 5 IS DEALING WITH IS 20 TO 30 YEARS OF SUBSTANDARD RAISES, WHERE IN SOME YEARS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
AND THE LOCAL FOR THOSE YEARS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TOOK IT ON THE CHIN AND MOVED ON TO THE NEXT YEAR.
AND SO, UH, THAT HAS CAUGHT UP.
AND, AND THE EMPLOYERS KNOW IT NOW TOO.
THEY, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY CAN'T WE GET THIS PERSON? OR WHY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE PUTTING SOMEONE ON THE FLY RAIL AT THE LONG CENTER.
'CAUSE THAT'S A HIGHLY QUALIFIED POSITION.
WELL, THE PERSON WHO WAS DUE SAYS, I WON'T WORK FOR THAT MONEY ANYMORE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A SAFETY ISSUE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH THINGS THAT ARE COMING IN ON TOP OF PEOPLE'S HEADS DURING THE SHOW.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T, THIS ISN'T A, UH, THIS ISN'T A UNION TRYING TO GRUB FOR MORE MONEY.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A, THIS IS A, A LIFE ISSUE.
AND, UM, AND A LIVELIHOOD ISSUE.
AND, AND, AND NOW IT'S BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE.
NOW I HAVE GOT, I THINK I HAVE EIGHT CERTIFICATIONS ON THAT I, I COULD HAVE BROUGHT TO SHOW YOU THE CARS.
THERE'S TWO ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATIONS, ONE OF WHICH I HELPED WRITE THE TEST FOR, FOR NORTH AMERICA.
THAT'S A POWER DISTRIBUTION TEST.
AND I HAVE MY, MY RIGGING CERTIFICATION.
I HAVE OSHA 10, OSHA 30 FORKLIFT, AERIAL LIFT, A TELEHANDLER, ALL THESE CERTIFICATES YOU NEED TECHNICALLY TO DO THE JOB ATTACHED TO THAT CERTIFICATE.
IT'S THE LAW NOW IN CALIFORNIA AS OF JANUARY ONE, THAT IF I WANTED TO GO INTO CALIFORNIA
[00:55:01]
AND WORK AS A LEAD IN ANY ONE OF THOSE THINGS, I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE CARDS.AND THE SAME IS TRUE IN NEW YORK CITY NOW, NOT THE NEW YORK STATE, BUT NEW YORK CITY.
SO AS THOSE PLACES GO, SO WILL THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, NOT BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT, BUT BECAUSE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES.
AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT LIABILITY.
AND SO, UH, THE UNION SUPPORTS THAT STUFF.
THE UNION IS BEHIND IT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT SAFETY.
YOU KNOW, THEY JUST, THEY JUST DO WHAT THEY DO.
AND THEY'RE CONSIDERED CONTRACTORS GETTING TIME, 99 WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR.
AND I MEAN, I KNOW SOME STAGEHAND COMPANIES HERE BASED IN TEXAS THAT HAVE KILLED MORE THAN ONE STAGEHAND, BUT THROUGH BAD PRACTICES.
AND THEY JUST KEEP, THEY JUST CHANGE THEIR NAME, REINCORPORATE AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT BATCH OF STAGE HANDS.
AND THEY'RE HERE WORKING IN THIS TOWN, THEY'RE HERE, THE MOODY, AND YOU KNOW, IT, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, TO ME, IT'S CRIMINAL.
SO THESE CERTIFICATIONS AREN'T REQUIRED.
COMMISSIONER CHAPEL, GUESS YEAH.
THESE CERTIFICATIONS AREN'T REQUIRED IN, IN AUSTIN OR IN TEXAS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, BUT IT'LL BE, LIKE I SAID, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE YEAH.
SO IT COULD BE APPLIED TO THE JOB, RIGHT? YEAH.
WELL, THERE ARE, WE HAVE NOW IN OUR CONTRACTS, CERTAIN CERTIFICATIONS ACTUALLY GET YOU A HIGHER RATE, LIKE SEVEN TO $9, WELL, FIVE TO $9 AN HOUR DEPENDING ON THE CERTIFICATION.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING TIED TO LIKE A REQUIREMENT FROM POLICY STANDPOINT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S EMPLOYER DRIVEN.
IF A, IF A CLIENT OR EMPLOYER SAYS WE WANT AN ETCP MEANS ENTERTAINMENT TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
IT'S A NATIONAL AND NORTH AMERICAN PROGRAM.
UH, IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS NOW, AND IT'S FINALLY GAINING A LOT OF TRACTION.
AND, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS SOME OF THE, LIKE, SAY LIVE NATION, UH, WHERE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, THEY LET IT GO.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY'RE RUNNING INTO SITUATIONS NOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN ETCP RIGOR AND AN ETCP HEAD ELECTRICIAN ON THE CALL IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO, AND IN CASE OF NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA, NOW, IT'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT.
SO QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS I HAVE.
SO IF YOU WERE TO, AGAIN, THIS WAVE YOUR MAGIC WAND QUESTION, WOULD ADOPTING THE SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS AS A PART OF THE LAW, WOULD THAT BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR YOUR WORK? OH, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
THAT, THAT WOULD BE GOVERNED BY A STATE LAW OR CITY LAW.
WELL, YOU KNOW, TEXAS AS WE ALL KNOW, IS VERY GOOD AT, YOU KNOW, DEREGULATING THE CITIES FROM THE STATE HOUSE.
SO, UM, I WOULD LOVE IT IF AUSTIN WOULD SOMEHOW CODIFY THAT YOU NEED THESE CERTIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN JOBS.
AND I WOULD BE, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP, YOU KNOW, GUIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, VERBIAGE IF IT, IF IT'S DOABLE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE MAY COME DOWN.
I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SMALL INDUSTRY THOUGH.
I CAN'T, I DON'T SEE THE STATE REALLY, YOU KNOW, LOOK, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
THERE'S 150 OF US IN THE MEMBERSHIP IN AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, I DON'T SEE US BEING HIGH ON THE RADAR FOR THAT KIND OF PUSHBACK.
COMMISSIONER SHAY, THEN WE GOT A, I'VE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION AND THEN I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO END.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, COMMENT ON THAT.
I THINK, UH, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE, SO-CALLED DEATH STAR BILL DOES PREEMPT THIS TYPE OF LABOR, UH, REQUIREMENTS FROM THE CITY.
SO I, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY INSTITUTE ANY OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.
UH, IT THAT DEPENDS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF LAW.
AND IF THAT STANDS, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES IN THE CO IN THE COURTS.
ONE LAST QUESTION, AND I THINK, UM, WE'LL HAVE TO CALL IT UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, IN TERMS OF, I FOUND IT INTERESTING IN YOUR TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ROLES GOING UNFILLED BECAUSE THE WAGES WERE TOO LOW AT DIFFERENT EVENTS, DIFFERENT VENUES.
HAS ANYONE CODIFIED THE LOSS, UH, TO EMPLOYMENT THAT'S HAPPENED DUE TO SUPPRESSED WAGES? NO.
BUT IN ANY OTHER MARKET, UM, NO.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING ON THE TAILS OF COVID.
A LOT OF STUFF HAS BEEN TURNED ON ITS HEAD AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO I I, I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S REALLY SAT DOWN AND DONE THE STATS ON THAT.
BUT WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS JUST IN, IN, YOU KNOW, INTRINSICALLY, EMPIRICALLY OR WHATEVER, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, PEOPLE HAVE GONE OFF TO DO STUFF.
[01:00:01]
HOUR WAGE ON THAT.THEY KNOW THEY'LL GET A PAYCHECK.
AND THAT HAPPENED OF COURSE, DURING COVID MM-HMM.
AND SO, AND NOW KEPT GETTING, BUILDING UP THE STOCK OF WORKERS AGAIN HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE WAGES, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T BEEN HIGH ENOUGH TO GET THOSE FOLKS BACK.
I MEAN, THAT MIGHT BE A SUGGESTION JUST FROM, FOR THE NATIONAL OR THE, I SHOULD SAY INTERNATIONAL UNION.
'CAUSE THAT COULD HELP THESE LOCALS PERHAPS ARGUE BETTER FOR THEIR WAGES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF LIVING WAGES AND, UM, UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS WITH BUSINESSES AS WELL.
UH, BUT THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING INFORMATION.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK BUSINESSES WANT THESE ROLES GOING UNFILLED IF INDEED FOLKS ARE NEEDED TO FILL THEM.
WELL, AND TO THAT, I MEAN, THE INTERNATIONAL HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.
I MEAN, THEY DON'T, UH, IT VARIES LOCAL TO LOCAL, BUT IN OUR CASE, THEY'VE ACTUALLY COME TO THE TABLE WITH US AND SENT AN INTERNATIONAL REP TO SIT DOWN WITH THE OPERA, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THE OPERA CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, JUST TO LET THEM, YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE SUPPORTED BY NEW YORK, THE MAIN OFFICE AND WHICH IS, IS A BIG DEAL.
AND, AND, AND THE OPERA, I THINK, RECOGNIZED THAT AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY BROUGHT THEIR ATTORNEY
AND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT SO WELL, MR. BAXTER, SO, SORRY, WE'RE, UH, RUNNING SHORT ON TIME, BUT WE, NO, I FEEL LIKE I TOOK UP TOO MUCH TIME.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE CONVERSATION AND PART OF, YOU KNOW, BRINGING, UH, LOCALS TO THE DIOCESE IS REALLY TO HELP EDUCATE US AS A COMMISSION WITH REGARD TO LABOR ISSUES HERE IN AUSTIN AND ACROSS, UH, TOURISM.
SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THE INFORMATION YOU'VE SHARED WITH US TODAY.
WELL, I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING TIME.
AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW UP, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF ONGOING ISSUES WITH WITHIN LABOR AND, YOU KNOW, WAYS THAT OUR COMMISSION MAY BE ABLE TO HELP.
UM, WITH THAT, UH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO, UM, THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND DECORATORS, BUT I ACTUALLY DON'T SEE ANYONE.
I JUST, UM, REACHED OUT TO JENNIFER AND SHE HAS COVID, SO THEY'RE OH, YIKES.
I DON'T THINK I SAW THAT EMAIL.
WE CAN GET THEM IN THE FUTURE.
WE'LL HAVE TO, UH, REVISIT THAT GUEST IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, COMMISSIONER MCGEE.
[6. Discussion and possible action on the Tourism Commission meetings for 2024 calendar year]
ON.WE HAVE, UM, THE
I'LL SAY, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE TIME, WEEK AND DAY, UM, EACH MONTH THAT WE ARE SET TO MEET AS A COMMISSION.
AND THE RESULTS ARE DRUM ROLL PLEASE,
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE REALLY THE CLEAR WINNER LOOKING AT THIS.
AND THERE'S ONE DAY WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE OTHER OPTIONS.
SO IF, IF THERE ARE NO ABSTENTIONS OR, UM, PROTESTS, UH, OBJECTIONS, LONG QU, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT, UH, OUR EXISTING TIME AS THE TIME FOR OUR PROPOSED MEETINGS IN THE NEW YEAR.
UM, DO WE NEED A MOTION? AND I BELIEVE WE DO, BUT FIRST OFF, I WANT TO PASS THE PROVERBIAL BATON OVER TO
SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THE DATE AND TIME, UM, WHAT I WOULD DO IS SEND THAT OFF TO CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, AND THEN WE WON'T RECEIVE ANYWHERE TILL MAYBE THE BEGINNING OR END, END OF DECEMBER, BEGINNING OF JANUARY.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A FAST RESPONSE WITH THIS ONE END OF JANUARY, END OF DECEMBER, BEGINNING OF JANUARY, BEGINNING OF JANUARY.
SO, WELL, WELL, TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL, GO AHEAD.
UM, SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO OUR JANUARY MEETING IF WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM THEM PRIOR TO THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH? UM, I CAN TRY TO GO AHEAD AND SET UP AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'RE WANTING.
IT WAS FOR THE LOCATION THAT WE NEED TO SET.
[01:05:01]
IS YOUR PREFERRED LOCATION, BUT IT'S NOT GUARANTEED WE GOT USED TO IT.FELICIA, WHEN YOU SUBMIT THE REQUEST, YOU'LL LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE ALREADY MEETING HERE AT THAT TIME OF DAY.
MIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST NEED TO CHECK THE BOX TO CONTINUE.
I, I SORT OF ASSUMED THAT WE ALL LOVED THIS PLACE, UM, AND THAT WE PREFER THE D YES.
UH, SO I'M GONNA BE MAKING ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BACKGROUND.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL, UH, COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS M HEAD OUT.
ALRIGHT, UM, MOVING FORWARD, UM, I THOUGHT I HAD ADDED THIS
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
TO THE AGENDA, BUT WE CAN BRIEFLY DISCUSS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AT THESE MEETINGS.THE THIRD, EXCUSE ME, THE FIRST WIN, SORRY, THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, UH, FROM TWO 30 TO FOUR 30.
DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS TO THE BROADER AGENDA THAT WE'D LIKE TO ADD? IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY WANT A FOLLOW UP MEETING WITH REGARDS TO LABOR, UM, FEATURING SOME OF THE SPEAKERS THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY.
UM, NEXT UP IN JANUARY, WE HAD, UM, THIS IDEA OF AUSTIN AS A DESTINATION CITY THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY AND PURSUE TO KICK OFF OUR YEAR.
UM, HAPPY TO REVISIT THAT AS A TOPIC FOR JANUARY.
UM, AND WELCOME AND OPEN TO ANY IDEAS FOLKS ON THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REALLY FITS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR TENANT AS A COMMISSION, BUT, UM, PART OF THE PIECE FOR, UM, WORKING PEOPLE IN THE ARTS IN AUSTIN IS A LACK OF, UM, IS A LACK OF PHILANTHROPY.
LIKE, PARTICULARLY CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY.
UM, AND I JUST THINK IN OUR TENANT, WE ARE JUST, WE'RE KIND OF FOCUSED ON HOT.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OUTSIDE TO HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE SORT OF LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER MEANS CAN WE GENERATE IN AUSTIN, GENERATE FUNDS TO HELP ARTS AND ARTISTS AND SO ON.
UM, 'CAUSE WHEN ARTS ORGANIZATIONS DON'T GET WHAT THEY NEED, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR WORKERS TO THEN GET THE WAGES THEY NEED.
BUT IT, IT SEEMS VERY BROAD IN MY MIND AND NOT REALLY, UH, PART OF THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THINK ON IT A BIT AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME WAY IN WHICH TO, A FRUITFUL WAY TO BRING SOMETHING LIKE THAT FORWARD IN THIS COMMISSION THAT, THAT'S WITHIN OUR PARAMETERS.
COMMISSIONER MCGEE AND I, I SEE COMMISSIONER RE'S HAND, UH, BRIEFLY, I WANNA MENTION THAT TWO MONTHS AGO WE ACTUALLY HAD THE THEME OF PHILANTHROPY AND TOURISM, AND I HAD REALLY TRIED TO BRING FOLKS THAT COULD SPEAK TO THIS EXACT ISSUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY, I, I LOVE TO SEE MORE LEADERSHIP FROM THE ACTUAL PHILANTHROPIC WORLD, INCLUDING THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND, YOU KNOW, AND OTHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE REGIONAL PHILANTHROPY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEIR PERSPECTIVE, IF THEY'RE NOT THE RIGHT PLAYERS FOR THAT, WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROMOTE AUSTIN AS A, AS THIS IDEA OF A DESTINATION CITY.
UM, IT REALLY TAKES ALL HANDS ON DECK, AND I'M INTERESTED AND EAGER TO FIND MORE IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO ELEVATE PHILANTHROPY FOR THE GOOD OF TOURISM, BUT ALSO FOR THE GREAT THINGS THAT COME WITH TOURISM, WHICH INCLUDE JOBS, UM, ECONOMIC INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, YOUR THINKING DOES NOT GO UNTHOUGHT
PERHAPS IT'S ALSO SORT OF FOCUSED ON HOW CAN WE GENERATE MORE REVENUE FROM THE TOURISM INDUSTRY MM MM-HMM.
COMMISSIONER MCGEE, COMMISSIONER VITI, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
WELL, I WANTED TO THANK RACHEL FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP.
UM, AND I WANTED TO THROW SOME, SOME INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR THE REST OF US.
THE URBAN INSTITUTE, UH, ABOUT 10, MAYBE OVER A DECADE AGO, DID A SURVEY AND FOUND THAT AUSTIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TOP 50 CITIES FOR CORPORATE CULTURAL
[01:10:01]
PHILANTHROPY.WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, WE ARE NOT WITHIN THE TOP 50 CITIES FOR CORPORATE SUPPORT OF CULTURAL WORK.
UM, SIMILARLY, THE ARTS INSTITUTE, ARTS MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WHO DID A COHORT HERE, UH, SUPPORTED BY THE BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPY, NOTED THAT AUSTIN WAS WELL OUTSIDE OF THE NORM FOR CULTURAL PHILANTHROPY FROM THE CORPORATE SECTOR.
THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN, AND I THINK I'D LOVE TO TAKE IT UP, BUT THE SOLUTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND YOU SEE IT IN CINCINNATI AND NEW YORK, IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SEATTLE IN PARTICULAR, THAT THE GOVERNMENT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, THE CITY GOVERNMENT GOES TO THE CORPORATE SECTOR AND HAS, HEY, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTING OUR CULTURAL WORK.
UM, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT EVER.
SO AS A, AS A TINY LITTLE VOLUNTEER PIECE OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, PERHAPS THAT'S A PLACE WE CAN, UM, MAKE AN IMPACT.
COMMISSIONER REY, ARE THERE ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE DAAS
I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S MULTI-SECTORAL.
THERE ARE LOTS OF SECTORS THAT TOUCH TOURISM IN SOME WAY.
AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING, AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED TO BRING IN, UH, AN ECONOMIST THAT CAN BREAK DOWN WHAT THE ACTUAL TOURISM ECONOMY IS IN AUSTIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE, I THINK, JUST THINK MUSIC RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
UM, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S LARGE EVENTS LIKE CODA, UM, AND OTHER VENUES THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT.
AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY, UH, I THINK HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE SECTORS THAT ARE BRINGING A LOT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE TO AUSTIN THAT, UH, PERHAPS GET SHORT SHRIFT, UM, FROM WHAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THEM AS BEING, OR, UH, PERHAPS TRULY UNDERSTAND THEIR, UH, THEIR RELATIVE IMPACT TO THE OVERALL AUSTIN ECONOMY.
SO, UH, SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME HARD DATA ON ALL OF THIS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL IDEAS, UH, FOR FUTURE TOPICS, FOR FUTURE MEETINGS.
UM, IN PARTICULAR, I'M, I'M HOPING TO KEEP, UM, THINGS TIED TO TOURISM, WHICH IS OUR MANDATE.
AND ALSO THIS IDEA OF THE HOT TAX IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS ALSO WITHIN, UH, THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE GROUP, UM, HELPING IMPROVE HIGH TAX COLLECTION.
AND ITS, ITS SPENDING AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER CHAPEL, YOU HAD A COMMENT? YEAH, I WAS HOPING THAT, UH, WE COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, SAFETY, PARTICULARLY IN LIKE THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT, RIGHT.
AND PARTICULARLY GETTING EMS AND FIRE TO THOSE BARS AND RESTAURANTS BECAUSE IT IS SO CROWDED.
AND I THINK THAT AREA, UM, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN SIXTH STREET, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH DISCUSSING BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A TOURIST DESTINATION, UM, THAT TO LOOKING IN, YOU KNOW, SAFETY MEASURES GOING ON IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
AND TO STEAL CHRISTIAN'S IDEA, I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING IS I'M GOING TO AUSTIN, WHERE SHOULD I EAT? AND HOW CAN WE TIE THAT INTO TOURISM? YEAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME GOONS ON THE COMMISSION,
UH, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY, I THINK INCORPORATE THIS IDEA OF CULINARY, UM, ARE PSALMS, RIGHT? SOMMS NOT, NOT THE BIBLE KIND.
UH, ACTUALLY WINE IS IN THE BIBLE, SO
BUT ALSO I, AND GOING BACK TO COMMENT DIRECTLY, COMMISSIONER CHAPEL, THIS IDEA OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR VISITORS IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IS A GREAT TOPIC THAT WE CAN APPROACH.
YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE.
LAST COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER IAN.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA TO HAVE A, AN ECONOMIST COME IN AND KIND OF BREAK DOWN WHAT TOURISM IS AND HOW MUCH, UM, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE CITY AND HOW MUCH IT GENERATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND MAYBE THE CATEGORIES IN WHICH WE KNOW MUSIC IS A BIG ONE, BUT OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPEN, THE BALLET F ONE, WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND, UH, I THINK IT WOULD GIVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TO THIS COMMISSION ON WHAT TOURISM IS AND WHAT IT MEANS.
AND ALSO, LIKE, I KNOW INCENTIVES COME UP, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPE OF INCENTIVES.
AND ONE, THE INCENTIVES THAT CODA GET IS NOT AN INCENTIVE.
IT'S ACTUALLY REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT THEY'RE RECEIVING IT FOR, HOW IT'S BEING GENERATED AND WHAT IMPACT IT'S BRINGING IN.
SO I THINK, UH, HAVING AN ECONOMIST HERE WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD IDEA TO KIND OF HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT WAYS TOURISM IMPACTS OUR CITY.
[01:15:01]
UH, AND PERHAPS TO ADD TO THAT STATEMENT, UM, IF THERE'S EXISTING ECONOMIC DATA THAT THE CITY IS PRODUCING, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE THAT, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVE-BASED PROGRAMS, WHETHER THEY'RE REIMBURSABLE, WHETHER THEY'RE GRANTS, WHETHER THEY'RE, UM, HOTEL TAXES BEING APPLIED, ET CETERA.IF THERE ARE NO OTHER IDEAS, WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO OUR LAST AND FINAL, UM, OH, FELICIA'S GONE.
CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A VOTE ON THE CALENDAR? OH, WE NEED AN OFFICIAL VOTE ON THE CALENDAR.
DO WE NEED A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT I MOTION SECOND WIND DAYS.
WEDNESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH FROM TWO 30 TO FOUR 30, HOPEFULLY WITHIN CITY HALL.
SO A MOTIONS BY COMMISSIONER PENOC.
SO SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, THE VOTE UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
THANK YOU MS. OJALA, ONTO A PRESENTATION FROM COMMISSIONER CHAPEL, THE HEAD OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS WORKING GROUP, UM, TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS OF THE WORKING GROUP WITH REGARD TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN AUSTIN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR COMMISSIONER.
OH, UH, YOU CAN JUST DO IT SEATED, OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO UP TO THE, TO THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A, A QUICK OVERVIEW.
WE STARTED THE STR WORKING GROUP.
UM, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA GONNA GO THROUGH THAT AND LEVEL SET WITH THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP HERE.
RYAN PKI IS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HE IS PART OF THE MEMBERSHIP.
UM, OUR AGENDA, UNDERSTANDING THE AUSTIN SHORT-TERM RENTAL LANDSCAPE.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA GO OVER SOME NUMBERS, BRIEFLY, NEW EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH COMPLIANCE OF SDR LICENSING AND FUTURE MEETING CADENCE.
UM, JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW BETWEEN SDRS AND HOTELS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
A LITTLE BIT OF A, A DEEP DIVE.
THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION AROUND LARGE SCALE AIRBNB AND SDR OPERATORS, UM, ACTING MORE LIKE HOTELS.
WE JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLEXITY, PRIMARY GOAL INCREASE, SDR LICENSE, ADOPTION AND TAX COLLECTION.
SO THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET INTERESTING.
SO THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS JUST LESS THAN 2000 ACTIVE LICENSES, BUT IT'S GUESSTIMATED THAT THERE'S APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 20 AND 40,000, UM, ACTUAL LISTINGS ON THE WEBSITES HERE IN TOWN.
AND SO AIR DNA, UM, WHICH IS AN AGGREGATOR OF SITES, KIND OF BREAKS THIS DOWN AT 34,000 UNIQUE LISTINGS.
AND THEN WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN IN TERMS OF STAYS LESS THAN 30 DAYS, AS WELL AS STAYS BETWEEN 31 AND 90 AS WELL.
UM, ALSO 3 1 1 3, 1 1 COMPLIANT DATA.
SO THERE WERE 8,133 COMPLAINTS, UM, ABOUT SDRS FROM THIS TIMEFRAME, JANUARY, 2019 TO SEPTEMBER 22.
AND SO WE DID HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FOLLOW UP, UH, WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT TO GAIN MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT.
THESE ARE THE TYPES OF SDR TYPES THAT USED TO BE INVOLVED IN AUSTIN.
SOME OF THESE TYPES ARE, UM, NOT APPLICABLE ANYMORE, SO WE'LL SKIP THAT.
SO THE WORKING GROUP KICKED OFF ON OCTOBER 27TH.
WE MET WITH MICHAEL WALLEN AND ASHLEY NIE, UH, FOR VRBO CONVERSATION TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN OTHER CITIES, PARTICULARLY AROUND OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS, SPECIFICALLY GALVESTON AND DALLAS.
UH, NEXT MEETING WILL BE WITH MICHAEL MCGILL WITH CM ALTER'S OFFICE.
UM, DANIEL WARD WITH AUSTIN CODE COMPLIANCE IS ON VACATION, SO I SHOULD HEAR FROM HIM WHEN HE GETS BACK.
AND THAT WILL BE OUR NEXT FOLLOW-UP MEETING ON THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? MR. SO I, I'D BE INTERESTED IN, SORRY, I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING JUST A LITTLE SUMMARY OF WHAT MICHAEL WAYLAND AND ASHLEY, UM, HAD, HAD TO SAY.
FROM THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THE CONVERSATION WITH THEM WAS THEY ARE VERY WILLING AND WANTING TO HELP WITH STR COMPLIANCE.
UM, THEY WANT TO PULL THINGS DOWN FROM
[01:20:01]
THE WEBSITE IN TERMS OF MATCHING PERMIT NUMBERS.SO I FOUND THEM AS A USEFUL PARTNER IN THIS.
THE CHALLENGE IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NOT PREPARED TO GIVE THEM THE SIMPLE DATA THAT THEY NEED TO REGULATE, UM, THESE LISTINGS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN DALLAS AND, AND GALVESTON YOU HAD MENTIONED IN GALVESTON.
SO THEN DALLAS AND GALVESTON, THEY'RE MATCHING THE PERMIT NUMBERS WITH THE LISTING NUMBERS.
SO THE CITIES ARE SENDING THEM, UM, THE PERMITS WITH THOSE ACTIVE NUMBERS.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT HEALTHCARE, LIKE ELIGIBILITY ROLES, SO IF AN SDR HAS A LICENSE PERMIT, IT GETS SENT TO THE PLATFORM, THAT NUMBER IS THERE.
IF THOSE NUMBERS, UM, DON'T MATCH OR IT'S NO LONGER ELIGIBLE, THE LISTING GETS PULLED FROM THE, FROM THE WEBSITE, FROM THE PLATFORM.
AND, AND THE CITY CAN'T, THE CITY CAN'T PRESENTLY PROVIDE THOSE
THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY STR IT CURRENTLY HAS AND KNOWS WHAT THE LICENSE COUNT THAT IT HAS.
BUT IT CAN'T, THERE'S NO SYSTEM, THERE'S NO DATABASE, THERE'S NO SYSTEM TO PUSH, UM, THESE PERMITS TO ANY PLATFORM AT THIS TIME.
AND SO STEP ONE WOULD BE JUST TO CREATE A DATABASE WHERE WE CAN HAVE SPREAD A SPREADSHEET, EMAIL IT,
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, YEAH, THE BIG PROBLEMS. UM, YOU KNOW, QUICK MATH, IT'S BETWEEN 20 AND $25 MILLION IN THE CITY IS NOT TAPPING INTO, AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE 31 TO 90 DAY STAYS ON THE SDR.
AND SO, AND AND PRESENT IN THIS IS THIS IDEA OF THE HOT TAXES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COLLECTED.
SO, SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CURRENTLY LIKE TONIGHT, LIKE WHICH ONES ARE OPERATING, WHICH SDRS ARE OPERATING.
WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HISTORICALLY HOW MUCH HAS NOT BEEN COLLECTED.
SO JUST FROM THOSE FIGURES, WE HAVE 2000 LICENSES.
SO WE'RE ONLY COLLECTING TAX REVENUE ON 2000 WITH A GUESSTIMATED 30,000 UNIQUE LISTINGS.
SO THAT'S QUITE A DIFFERENCE IN, IN DOLLAR FUNDS THAT WE'VE MISSED OUT ON FOR YEARS.
UM, AND SO THIS WORKING GROUP IS, IS TRYING TO GO FORWARD WITH, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD A DATABASE LOOK LIKE, WHAT WOULD BE SOME, SOME KPIS AND SORT OF THAT SORT OF THING TO MATCH WITH THE PERMITS.
SO ON A BASIS, ON AN EASY LEVEL THAT WE WOULD HAVE A DATABASE, SO WE COULD EXCHANGE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE PLATFORMS AND YOU WOULD HAVE THE LISTINGS SECONDARY FROM THAT IS WE NEED TO HAVE A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS CONFUSING, UH, MEANS TO GET A LICENSE.
AND SO IF YOU JUST GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE AND SAY, I WANNA GET SDR R LICENSE, YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY CONFUSED BY THE LANGUAGE ON THERE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SDR TYPES, WHAT YOU CAN GET, WHAT YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR.
SO THAT IS VERY CONFUSING AS WELL.
AND SO KIND OF JUST THIS PROGRAM, STR UM, PROGRAM DOESN'T EXIST IN MY OPINION.
AND SO I THINK THAT THIS COMMISSION AND THIS WORKING GROUP WILL HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND HOW DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN STR PROGRAM IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM DIAZ? NO.
COMMISSIONER IAN? UH, I'M NOT ON THE WORKING GROUP.
I'M SORRY I MISSED LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
UM, I WOULD, I HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION, WHICH SEEMS KIND OF SIMPLE IN MY MIND IS WOULDN'T IT MAKE SENSE TO JUST HIRE A CITY EMPLOYEE WHO JUST WORKED ON COLLECTING FOR THE STR AND THAT SALARY WOULD PAY ITSELF? OH, WELL, YES.
I THINK WE CAN BROADEN IT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SOPHISTICATED THAT THAN THAT, BUT YEAH, THE, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD EFFECTIVELY PAY FOR ITSELF, UM, WITH THE TAX BASE.
BUT ARE YOUR TERMS OF LIKE COLLECTING WHO HAS THE LICENSES AND THEN GOING OUT AND, AND GETTING THEM? UM, YES.
NO, I MEAN, I MEAN, JUST IN THE SHORT TERM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU, WHENEVER YOU START TALKING ABOUT GETTING A SOFTWARE SYSTEM AND HAVING ANY SORT OF CHANGES, UM, I I THINK IT TAKES A LONG TIME AND, AND WE'RE JUST LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE.
SO I'M SAYING, WELL, IF YOU JUST HIRED ONE INDIVIDUAL, WOULD THE PLA YEAH, NO, THE PLATFORMS WOULD COLLECT THOSE TAX REVENUES FOR THE CITY.
SO THE PLATFORMS WOULD COLLECT THE TAX REVENUE AND THEY WOULD REMIT IT ON BEHALF OF THE, THEY CALL THEM VENDORS, BUT THE OWNERS.
SO IT'S LIKE A THIRD PARTY THAT WOULD COLLECT THE TAX AND REMIT TO THE CITY.
WELL, I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T BE A THIRD PARTY.
THEY'RE ALREADY COLLECTING THEM FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY, IT WOULD JUST BE THE SAME FUNCTION THAT THEY WOULD COLLECT THE TAX REVENUE AND THEN THEY, THE PLATFORM WOULD THEN DELIVER THAT REVENUE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND RIGHT NOW, THE WORKING GROUP, WE'RE KIND OF JUST DOING THIS, IS, THINK ABOUT THIS, THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LANDSCAPE OF SDRS.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN INTO LIKE WHERE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL FALL NOW.
WE'RE STILL LEARNING AND UNCOVERING WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IN ORDER TO HAVE A A, A MINIMUM STANDARD PROGRAM HERE.
AND COMMISSIONER PENOC, I'M HAPPY TO STEP DOWN AND HAVE YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF WORKING
I'M HAPPY TO ACCEPT IF THAT WONDERFUL.
UH, YOU NOW HAVE A NEW, UH, MEMBER OF THE STR WORKING GROUP, UM,
[01:25:01]
WASN'T HE TRYING TO UPDATE THAT? YEAH, RIGHT.I'M STEPPING, I'M STEPPING DOWN NOW.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING ME IN YOUR, UH, FIRST AND ONLY CONVERSATION I'VE BEEN TO TODAY.
UH, BUT I, I REALLY WANT TO BE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TOURISM COMMISSION, UM, HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY AND TO REALLY GET INTO THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, TO COMMISSIONER CHAPEL FOR SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO UPDATES IN UPCOMING MEETINGS, UH, WITH REGARD TO HOW WE SEE THIS, THIS ISSUE EVOLVING.
UM, OH, AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER MEETINGS I KNOW JOHN HAD MENTIONED, MAYBE TALKING TO, I WANT LOOK BACK.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORKING GROUP THAT HAS THOSE CONTACTS, UM, PLEASE JUST SCHEDULE THE MEETINGS AND LET THE GROUP KNOW AND WE'LL TRY TO SHOW UP.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE, I THINK AN UPDATE FOR OUR JANUARY MEETING.
MM-HMM,
SO WE ARE AT TIME, UM, AND VERY EARLY TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE, UM, FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION ON THIS COMMISSION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT 2024.
I REMEMBER WHEN THAT WAS LIKE A TRANSIT EXTENSION DATE, LIKE
UM, IN ANY CASE, 2024 IS NEARLY UPON US.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? I MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO, MOTIONS BY COMMISSIONER MATHIS HAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MCGEE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANKS SO MUCH AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
THE AUSTIN TOURISM COMMISSION.