Jan 08, 2024 Music

MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES IF, UH, EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER MEETING.

[CALL TO ORDER]

ALL RIGHT.

UH, WELCOME EVERYONE.

UH, IT'S, UH, 6:38 PM MONDAY, JANUARY 8TH.

UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

UH, WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION TO ORDER.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TODAY, SO WE WILL

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UM, UH, PLEASE.

UH, MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR? SECOND.

AYE.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALRIGHT.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO QUICKLY MOTION PER REQUEST FOR, FROM, UM, STAFF AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING FROM, UH, KIND UNDERSTANDING FROM MS. LING HAYS HERE TO SWAP ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND SIX.

UH, IF SOMEBODY COULD, SECOND.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT.

UH, SO WE WILL SWAP ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND SIX.

UM, MOVING ON.

THE

[2. Live Music Fund collections update by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Economic Development Department. ]

FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ON THE STAFF BRIEFINGS LIVE MUSIC FUND COLLECTIONS.

UPDATE BY KIM MC CARSON, PROGRAM MANAGER, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION EDD.

THANK YOU, KIM.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

KIM MCC CARSON PROGRAM MANAGER, AND I'M GIVING THE HOT, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS UPDATE FOR YOU TODAY.

NEXT ITEM IS UPDATE ON LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM BY ERICA SHAMLEY, DIVISION MANAGER, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION EDD.

ALL RIGHT.

SO IF, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK ON THE FAR LEFT, THAT COLUMN IS LAST YEAR, LAST FISCAL YEAR.

THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT, THE SHORT ONE IS THE ONE THAT WE JUST BEGAN IN OCTOBER AND YOU ALL SAW THAT FIRST BOX IN OCTOBER FOR THE COLLECTIONS.

AND THE, THE, THE CURRENT NUMBER FOR NOVEMBER COLLECTIONS IS 171,733.

SO TOTAL COLLECTIONS TO DATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24.

SO THAT'S OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER IS 927,040.

ALL RIGHT.

SO OUR COLUMN IS LOOKING VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE BEFORE IT SO FAR.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU COM.

UH, COMMISSIONER AL, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[3. Update on Live Music Fund Event Program by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division.]

HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? ERICA SHAMLEY, MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION MANAGER.

UH, WANTED TO GIVE YOU UPDATE ON OUR CURRENT FY 23 LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM.

UH, THE LONG CENTER IS DOING A GREAT JOB STEADILY MAKING PAYMENTS TO AWARDEES AS THEY SUBMIT TO BOTH THEIR PROGRESS REPORTS AND FINAL REPORTS.

SO WE JUST ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO REACH OUT EITHER TO KIM, MC CARSON, OR MYSELF, UH, IF YOU'RE AN AWARDEE AND HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, PAYMENTS OR AGREEMENTS OR ANY ISSUES WHATSOEVER TO JUST PLEASE, UH, CONTACT US.

UH, OUR EMAILS ARE ON THE WEBSITE, ATX MUSIC.ORG.

UH, BUT LIKE I SAID, STEADILY MAKING PAYMENTS, WORKING WITH GRANTEES, LIKE JUST HELPING THEM TO ADVANCE THEIR PROJECTS.

UH, GREG'S BEEN MEETING ONE-ON-ONE WITH FOLKS JUST ABOUT THE HOW TO.

AND THEN KIM'S BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THE ACTUAL PAYMENT REQUESTS, UH, PROCESSES WITH THE LONG CENTER.

UH, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, ERICA, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ERICA ON THIS TOPIC? COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL? YES.

UH, DO WE HAVE A LIST OF UPCOMING CONCERTS THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE LIVE MUSIC FUND? NOT THAT WE HAVE CENTRALLY.

PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLEASE GO TO VISIT AUSTIN AND TO SUBMIT THEIR EVENTS THROUGH THE LINK THAT WE PROVIDED THEM FOR CULTURAL CONTRACTORS.

UH, THERE'S A WAY THAT THEY CAN DESIGNATE WHAT FUND THEY ARE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT QUITE PUBLIC FACING YET.

UH, SO THAT WOULD BE EASIER WAY JUST TO KIND OF SEARCH THE, ON THE CALENDAR THAT'S THERE.

SO YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LIKE, JUST GO THROUGH AND SEE.

[00:05:01]

I DON'T HAVE A WAY FOR YOU GUYS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SAVE, I MEAN TO SEARCH JUST FOR LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENTS, BUT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IT, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS NEXT FY 24, UH, TO MAKE THAT A MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR THE GRANTEES.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR YOU GUYS AND FOR US TO PROMOTE IF WE KNOW EXACTLY IF WE GET THOSE LINKS AS THEY COME IN.

SO IT, IT REALLY WOULD BE NICE.

I KNOW IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A SECRET BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE LIST OF WHO HAS RECEIVED THE, YOU KNOW, OF, OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE GRANTS.

IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE, UM, HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF EVENTS, HOW MUCH OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, UH, AS WELL AS TO GET A FEEL FOR THE QUALITY OF MM-HMM.

, THE, THE EVENTS IN ANY INNOVATION INNOVATIONS.

JUST, UM, THAT I, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

I DON'T MM-HMM.

, BUT I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT.

'CAUSE FOR VISIT AUSTIN, THOSE ARE JUST LIVE EVENTS.

THEY'RE PUBLIC FACING.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED WITH THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT AREN'T, UH, EVENTS, BUT THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PROMOTE THAT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST OF THEIR, TO EXPAND THEIR AUDIENCE TO, WHETHER IT'S A RECORD OR NEW MERCHANDISE.

THERE ARE WAYS TO PROMOTE THAT.

AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO CAPTURE THAT WITH A, A LIKE A THIRD PARTY WEBSITE LIKE VISIT AUSTIN.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE AS OBVIOUSLY, UH, A NEED THAT WE NEED TO LOOK TO, TO PROVIDE A BETTER KIND OF SEARCH ENGINE FOR ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED.

SO THAT'S HAPPENING JANUARY 18TH.

UH, COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL, UH, THANK YOU.

THERE'S, UM, WE ALSO HAVE AN, I THINK AN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12 ON THE SAME TOPIC.

SO, UM, WE CAN, IF NEEDED, WE CAN FURTHER DISCUSS THERE AS WELL.

UM, UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ERICA ON THE FUND ROLLOUT, UH, AT THIS POINT? UH, WHAT COMMISSIONER STICKLAND? YES.

YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

UH, THIS MAY BE BLEEDING INTO, UH, AGENDA ITEM FOUR, BUT, UH, ROUND TWO OF, UH, OF, UM, LIVE MUSIC FUND.

ARE THERE ANY UPDATES THAT YOU CAN GIVE ABOUT THAT SO FAR? UH, WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THAT TIMELINE IN PLACE, WORKING WITH, UH, THE LONG CENTER THIRD PARTY AND JUST WORKING THROUGH, UH, THE PROCESSES WE NEED TO, WE HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TO GET TO JUST GET AS MUCH A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY FOR THE FY 24 BUDGET.

UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL JUST START MOVING QUICKLY TOWARDS THE NEXT STEPS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS HERE? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

THANKS ERICA.

ON THE AGENDA IS ALSO, UH, AN UPDATE FROM ERICA CHARLY ON UPDATE ON CONSULT, CONSULTANT EVALUATION OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND PROGRAM.

, UH, THE NEXT ITEM

[4. Update on consultant evaluation of the Live Music Fund program by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division.]

YES.

SO, THANK YOU MORGAN.

UH, MEEK, OUR, UH, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WANTED TO BE HERE TO KIND OF GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR CONSULTANTS.

UH, SHE'S LEADING THOSE CONTRACTS, BUT FIRST SHE JUST WANTED ME TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UH, THOSE CONSULTANTS ARE IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THE CULTURAL FUNDING PRO UH, PROGRAMS, NOT JUST THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE A SPECIFIC CONSULTANT FOCUSED ON MUSIC ALONE.

IT'S JUST GENERALLY OVER OUR PROCESSES, THE GUIDELINES, BETTER ALIGNMENT.

SO THAT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE, I GUESS FOUR CONSULTANTS AND ALL, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.

AND IT IS, IT'S FOR THOSE, THOSE HOPES OF HAVING THAT BETTER, UM, ACCESS, IT'S MORE USER FRIENDLY THAT WE JUST, IT JUST MAKE IT THE EASE OF USE A LOT BETTER.

SO WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THAT, THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM SOFTWARE TO GUIDELINES AND SUCH, UH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

UH, BUT THAT'S NOT PROHIBITING US OR SLOWING US DOWN WITH, YOU KNOW, PRESENTING YOU GUYS WITH THE NEXT ITERATION OF GUIDELINES, UH, FOR FY 24, WHICH WILL HAPPEN HOPEFULLY BY THIS NEXT MEETING, UH, VERY SOON.

WOULD YOU, UM, ERICA, WOULD YOU MIND QUALIFYING, UH, WHAT CONSULTANTS, UH, AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY EACH OF THEIR YES.

ARE AT SOME DETAIL? WE HAVE ONE THAT IS DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT.

SO OUR COMPUTER, CTM, OUR COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH US ON THAT CONSULTANT.

AND THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH THEIR WORK AND HAVE PROVIDED SOME OPTIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER.

UH, ANOTHER ONE IS AROUND JUST PROCESSES AND GUIDELINE ENHANCEMENT.

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONSULTANT WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH STAFF.

BEEN DOING THAT FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

THESE SOME REALLY GREAT INTENSE MEETINGS BETWEEN EVERYONE SO WE CAN SEE WHERE THE ALIGNMENT IS AND WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE.

UH, A THIRD ONE IS MEASURE, WHICH WE'LL LOOK AT ACTUAL OUTPUT AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE GRANTS AS FAR AS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND GAUGING THE EFFECT THE OUTCOMES OF THE GRANTS AND THE GUIDELINES THEMSELVES.

AND THEN A FINAL ONE IS JUST, UH, CIVIC SOUL, WHICH IS OVER OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT LOOKING AT OUR WHOLE BODY OF WORK.

SORRY, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE LAST ONE? CIVIC SOUL.

THEY'RE JUST, UH, HELPING WITH OUR WHOLE BODY OF

[00:10:01]

WORK AS A DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST ONE DIVISION OR ANOTHER.

UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ERICA ON THIS TOPIC? COMMISSIONER PATERSON? YEAH, CAN, SO CAN YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE MORE OF LIKE THE SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES THAT EACH CONSULTANT GROUP WILL, THAT'S SOMETHING I'D FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH MORGAN DOING, OR ANOVIA RIGHT HERE.

OKAY, GREAT.

NOT THE CONTACT MANAGER FOR THESE.

THANKS ANOVIA.

GOOD EVENING.

SOVIA HOLT RAV, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

WE CAN RESEND THE MEMO THAT WE SENT TO COUNCIL THAT DETAILS ALL OF THIS.

WE SENT IT OUT I THINK TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT GARTNER IS EXAMINING THE SOFTWARE.

WHICH ONE, WHICH GRANT SOFTWARE IS MORE USER FRIENDLY, MEETS OUR NEEDS.

SNAP MANAGEMENT IS EXPLORING, UM, THE USER EXPERIENCE, LANGUAGE ACCESS, EXACTLY HOW WE TALK TO EACH OTHER.

MEASURE AUSTIN IS LOOKING AT THE OUTCOMES, WHO WE FUNDED, DID WE BENEFIT? UM, THOSE MOST NEED, THE INDUSTRY CIVIC SOUL IS LOOKING AT OUR DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAM OF WORK.

BUT WE WILL RESEND THE MEMO 'CAUSE WE'VE SENT IT BEFORE.

UM, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, YEAH, MAYBE JUST ONE.

HOW, IS THERE LIKE A, IN WITH WHAT YOU ALL SENT OUT, IS THERE LIKE A, LIKE A, LIKE AN ESTIMATED COST FOR HOW MUCH THIS IS GONNA, ALL OF THAT IS PUBLIC FACING? SURE.

IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND I DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER, UH, AMOUNT, BUT WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU.

BUT IT IS ALL PUBLIC FACING.

AND IT WAS ALL PROCURED VIA THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS A QUESTION.

SO WE DID FOLLOW PROPER PROCUREMENT TO ACQUIRE ALL THE CONTRACTS THAT I THINK THE BIGGER QUESTION WAS, UH, WHAT WOULD IT BE COMING OUT OF? LIKE LIVE MUSIC FUND? NO, THIS IS NOT COMING OUT OF HOT FUNDS.

THIS IS COMING OUT OF OUR OPERATING FUNDS.

WHICH IS A COST ALLOCATION MODEL.

DIRECTOR, WHOLE REP.

WHAT, WHAT, UM, UM, DEADLINES ARE WE WORKING WITH HERE AND HOW DO THEY LINE UP WITH, UH, UH, THE TIMELINE FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND OR THE OTHER FUNDS? BUT IN THIS CONTEXT, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, WE WILL BE GETTING MORE INFORMATION OUT TO YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO PREVENT US FROM DEPLOYING MORE FUNDS THIS YEAR.

UM, IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER FOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.

SO THERE WILL BE NO HOLDUP OF FUNDS.

FUNDS WILL BE DEPLOYED IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE Y'ALL ARE DOING THAT.

WE WILL BE DOING THAT.

AND, AND IS THERE, UH, IS THERE AN EFFORT TO UM, KIND OF APPLY SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, LESSONS LEARNED OR WHATEVER, UH, AT SOME LEVEL EVEN BEFORE THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, REVIEW IS COMPLETED, UM, AND STILL IMPLEMENT THOSE AS PART OF THE NEXT ROLLOUT? I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD BE DOING THAT.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

THAT WAS THE WHOLE PREMISE OF AQUA, UM, CONTRACTING WITH THE THREE CONTRACTORS BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY OF THE CONCERNS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ACTIVELY PURSUED THE THREE CONTRACTS.

WE WILL BE INFORMING OUR MANAGEMENT, OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE OF WHERE WE ARE.

AND ONCE WE HAVE BRIEFED THEM, THEN WE WILL ISSUE A MEMO TO ALL THE COMMISSIONS INVOLVED.

I JUST HAVE 1, 1, 1 MORE QUESTION.

UM, IS THERE ANY OF THE CONSULTANTS, IS THERE ANY, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FROM THEIR END? WE ARE PLANNING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, BUT AGAIN, UM, ALL OF THAT WILL BE COMING OUT IN WRITTEN FORM.

AND THE REASON WE DON'T WANNA RUSH THE PROCESS, AND SO WE WILL BE VERY TRANSPARENT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IS ALSO A CONCERN.

SO WE WILL, UM, ISSUE ANY MEMOS ON WHERE WE ARE AND THE NEXT STEPS OF THE PROCESS.

BUT JUST I ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA RUSH IT.

WE WANNA GET IT RIGHT, SO I'M NOT BACK HERE EXPLAINING MYSELF AGAIN.

SO, YEAH.

MM-HMM, , UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, FROM THE COMMISSION? SO WHAT IS THE, THE LONG CENTER ROLE AND LIKE, ARE THEY WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANTS TOO TO GIVE FEEDBACK OR ASK QUESTIONS OR TALK ABOUT THEIR NEEDS? SO THE LONG CENTER'S ROLE AT THIS TIME IS TO DEPLOY FUNDS AS APPROVED BY THE RC BY CITY COUNCIL.

AND SO OF COURSE WE ARE MAKING TOUCH POINTS WITH EVERYONE.

SO WE WILL ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND THE CONSULTANT HAS A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED.

AND SO WE ARE STRATEGIZING ON THE BEST WAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA KEEP GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ASKING THE SAME QUESTION.

SO WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HAVE TOUCH POINTS AGAIN? BUT WE HAVE CAPTURED ALL COMMENTS, UH, WRITTEN, VERBAL FROM STAFF THROUGH THE LONG CENTER, ET CETERA.

SO ALL OF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THIS FIRST QUARTER TOUCHING BASE WITH

[00:15:01]

I I THINK EVEN I I, IF IT'S THROUGH A SURVEY OR ANY FORM, UH, JUST, JUST OPENING IT UP BROADLY, UH, WHILE THE CONSULTANTS ARE DOING THEIR WORK, UM, WE WOULD, I THINK JUST GIVE THAT ONE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER LAYER OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A FORUM TO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT IS WHAT, OR NOT HAVE TAKEN INITIATIVE DIRECTLY, SEND AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING.

SO THINK THAT NO SNAP MANAGEMENT IS ADVISING US BECAUSE HE HAS, WE'VE RECEIVED SO MUCH FEEDBACK.

HE'S ADVISING ON THE BEST WAY TO DO ANOTHER TOUCH POINT WITH COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY, BUT WHAT IS NOW THE BEST WAY TO REACH COMMUNITY.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSION.

, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? ANY OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC? ALL THANK YOU.

SO WE'LL SEND YOU THOSE LINKS TO THE CONTRACTS 'CAUSE THEY ARE PUBLIC FACING.

WE'LL GET THOSE OUT.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.

[6. Discussion following update on Community Navigators by Community Navigator representative.]

FOLLOWING UPDATE ON COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS BY COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR.

REP REPRESENTATIVE.

COULD, UH, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF? GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JAVIER ATE.

I'M THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION MANAGER FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE TODAY.

UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE UPDATE, I WANNA ACTUALLY START OFF WITH A QUICK RECAP OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS ARE.

UH, SO ON, UH, IN JUNE, 2021, UH, BASED ON THE ARPA FRAMEWORK, FUNDING WAS, UH, ALLOCATED FOR THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS PROGRAM.

IT'S OFFICIALLY DESCRIBED AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, UM, CONTRACT TO PROVIDE BUSINESS, UH, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 ONE-ON-ONE COACHING VIRTUAL CLASSES TO HELP THEM AND ASSIST THEM TO SUP UH, APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT.

THIS PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

UH, SO WITH RESPECT TO THAT, UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CURRENT, UM, WE HAVE A CURRENT GROUP OF EIGHT COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS.

AND BETWEEN THOSE EIGHT COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS, THEY SUPPORT AND, UH, ASSIST, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES, CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

UH, AND THEN WITH RESPECT TO THAT, WE'VE GOT SIX THAT ARE DEDICATED TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

THREE, UH, DEDICATED TO CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS AND FOUR DEDICATED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, THE OTHER UPDATE ON THAT, THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU, ORIGINALLY THESE FUNDS WERE, UH, ALLOCATED AT $500,000 FOR THE ENTIRE GROUP.

UM, PER ARPA SPENDING GUIDELINES, THOSE FUNDS NEED TO BE FULLY EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.

SO IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, I AM HERE TO REPORT, UH, SUCCESSFULLY WE ARE ON TRACK TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS FULLY EXPENDED BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

UM, WHICH WILL PUT US IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, UH, USE OF FUNDS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR FEDERAL ALLOCATION.

UM, BOTTOM, UH, LET'S SEE HERE, WITH RESPECT TO ITS, UH, HOW IT RELATES TO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENTS PROGRAM, FIVE CONTRACTORS WERE ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH OUR CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ALONG WITH GRANT APPLICATION AND AID OF THESE FIVE, THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY AND ALL THE MONEY FINANCE REMAIN CONTRACTORS.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AS WELL.

UH, AND WITH THAT, THAT'S THE GENERAL UPDATE ON THESE PARTICULAR, UH, CONTRACTORS.

AND I'M A AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION, AL AND I'LL GET .

UH, WERE THERE ANY PARTICULAR SKILL SETS THAT WERE NEEDED TO HELP FOR THE COMMUNI COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS TO HELP PEOPLE APPLY FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT WERE DISTINCT FROM OTHER COMMUNITY NAVIGATION WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING? YOU KNOW, I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU.

I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY NOTED SPECIAL SKILLS, UH, THAT WERE REQUIRED.

I CAN JUST TELL YOU, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE, UH, THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED WAS ON APPLICATION SUPPORT, SO HELPING INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR, UH, APPLICATIONS, UM, AND THEN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH NAVIGATING, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, SYSTEMS BASICALLY.

UM, SO THAT WAS GENERALLY THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM, UH, OUR COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS ON THOSE, ON THOSE MATTERS.

UH, DID ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HELP, DO THEY HAVE, UM, SPECIAL NEEDS DUE TO DISABILITIES, LIKE BEING VISION IMPAIRED OR HEARING IMPAIRED? UH, THAT MIGHT, UH, ARE, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME BARRIERS TO APPLY THAT YOUR COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS ARE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH? I CAN CERTAINLY DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT.

I AM NOT, UH, PERSONALLY AWARE OF ANY OF THOSE PARTICULAR, UM, ANY OF THOSE, UH, I, UM, COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

BUT I CAN DEFINITELY CHECK ON THAT AND REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.

OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER PATTERSON? YEAH.

YEAH, JUST AN EMAIL WOULD DO.

YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK HERE, BUT YES, THAT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW.

THANKS.

THANK

[00:20:01]

YOU.

ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE US SOME, UM, LIKE ANECDOTAL, UM, JUST DISCUSSION ABOUT LIKE WHO, WHO USED THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR AND WHAT THAT OUTCOME WAS? IF THERE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES YOU CAN SHARE WITH US? YEAH.

WITHOUT GOING INTO ANY SPECIFICS.

'CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, SOME OF THE, THE VALUE OF THESE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE, UM, KIND OF PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT ANECDOTALLY FROM THE NOTES, AS WE, AS WE HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS COME BACK IN AND WE APPROVE FOR PAYMENT, RIGHT? UM, SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WE HEAR ON THESE IS JUST BECOMING AWARE OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND HAVING THOSE PARTICULAR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES APPLIED FOR HERE LOCALLY.

UM, AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THE DIFFICULTY IS JUST NOT BEING AWARE OR, UH, INFORMED ABOUT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS RIGHT HERE ARE, ARE CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS OR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE JUST AS ELIGIBLE AS ANYBODY ELSE.

UH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THESE COACHES, THESE, UH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS TO GAIN ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT THEY JUST WOULD NOT HAVE APPLIED FOR IN THE PAST.

SO PRIMARILY THE PEOPLE HAVE USED THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR JUST FOR, FOR ACCESS TO MORE FUNDING GRANT APPLICATIONS.

ARE THERE, ARE THERE OTHER AREAS THAT THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS HAVE HELPED? YEAH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ADDITIONAL ANECDOTALLY, UH, STORY IS WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, UM, SUPPORT IN OTHER, LIKE A SPANISH LANGUAGE TO HELP THEM KIND OF NAVIGATE, UH, CERTAIN TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF A APPLICATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, HELPING TO BRIDGE TO A DEGREE THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE, UM, AND HELPING FOLKS BEING ABLE TO JUST NAVIGATE AN APPLICATION SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME ELIGIBLE, UM, AND APPLY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. AND SO WERE ALL THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS, DID THEY COME ON BOARD AT THE SAME TIME OR WERE SOME ONBOARDED LATER? UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS LIKE A PROCESS INITIALLY.

FOR COMMUNITY NA, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL, UM, GROUPS TO APPLY TO BE A COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR.

AND WAS THAT JUST A, LIKE A ONE AND DONE OR WERE THERE OTHER ENTITIES THAT JOINED LATER? BY AND LARGE? YES, MA'AM.

IT WAS, UH, A I BELIEVE A MAJORITY OF THEM WERE ONBOARDED ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THEN THERE WERE A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS WHO WERE ONBOARDED LATER, UH, AT THEIR REQUEST.

UH, THEY WERE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD CAPACITY IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING IT, BUT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THEY, SO THEY HAD APPLIED TO BE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS AND THEN THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THEY WANTED TO BE AND THEN CAME BACK LATER AND SAID THAT THEY DID, OR IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIMING, UM, WITH RESPECT TO DEPLOYMENT OF THE CONTRACT.

SO, AS I UNDERSTAND, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, SO I'LL HAVE TO, I I MAY HAVE TO JOB DOUBLE CHECK ON THE DETAILS ON THIS.

SO THIS PARTICULAR DIVISION, UH, TOOK OVER ADMINISTRATION OF THESE PARTICULAR CONTRACTS AT A LATER POINT.

UM, BUT HISTORICALLY, AS I RECALL, A MAJORITY OF THE NAVIGATORS CAME ON BOARD AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THEN THERE WAS JUST STILL A PROCESS OF USHERING THE LAST COUPLE OF CONTRACTORS.

SO TO BE TECHNICALLY CORRECT, THEY ALL WERE, UH, ONBOARDED ON THE SAME COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS CONTRACT AT THE SAME TIME.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER PARTISAN.

TIMING WISE THOUGH, AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS JUST NEEDED TO GET SOME FINAL PAPERWORK IN, UH, BEFORE THEY COULD COMPLETE THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? UH, COMMISSIONER GOLD.

HI.

HELLO.

UM, SO YOU SAID THIS, THIS FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA END AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

YES, MA'AM.

AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL, USEFUL PROGRAM.

AND IT CONTINUES TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

, IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THAT OR FINDING FUNDING ELSEWHERE? OR IS THERE ANOTHER COMPARABLE PROGRAM? WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR WHEN THE, WHEN THE FUNDING IS? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

UM, AND, AND, UH, DIRECTLY ON THAT QUESTION, WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL AVENUES, UH, TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND HOW THAT MAY MATERIALIZE WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO YES, SO THE ANSWER IS I AGREE.

UM, WE AGREE THAT, THAT, UH, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN, UH, WILDLY SUCCESSFUL WITH, UH, PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR NONPROFIT, SMALL BUSINESS AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS.

UM, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND THAT PROGRAM CONTINUING FORWARD.

SO TO FOLLOW UP, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE MUSIC COMMISSION CAN DO TO SUPPORT, UM, THAT WORK? LIKE MAYBE, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ASKING, YOU KNOW, SHOWING OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM OR, I DON'T KNOW, IS, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN HELP? I THINK YOUR COMMENTS ARE, ARE APT IN, IN, IN, YOU KNOW, LEARNING FROM THIS PARTICULAR MEETING THAT IT WAS, IT IS SUCCESSFUL

[00:25:01]

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING YOUR CONVERSATIONS AS, AS YOU NORMALLY WITH, WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ABOUT SOMETHING, A PROGRAM YOU LEARNED THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SHARING WHATEVER EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

GO.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, HERE? UH, YEAH, UH, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.

YES, SIR.

AGAIN, FOR YOUR TIME.

I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE, UH, UM, THIS, I GUESS THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S THE, UH, 2324 BUDGET.

THIS WAS POSTED, UH, JULY 25TH, 2023.

AND THE, UM, EXCUSE ME FOR A SECOND.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, 'CAUSE YOU ARE DEFINITELY THE EXPERT HERE.

UM, 188 MILLION, UM, SOME ODD DOLLARS HAS BEEN COMMITTED FOR, UM, THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU, YOU, YOU SAID THAT THERE'S, UM, LIKE ALL OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN PLANNED TO BE SPENT, WHICH IS BASICALLY MEANS THAT IT'S COMMITTED.

SO I GUESS ACCORDING WITH, WITH THIS, UM, SHEET, IT LOOKS LIKE THE, IN THE UN UNCOMMITTED COLUMN, IT'S ABOUT $50 MILLION THAT'S UN COMMITTED MONEY.

SO I'M, I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OUT OF DATE FROM WHAT YOU JUST, UM, FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IS IT YEAH, I, I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT FIGURE YOU'RE REFERRING TO, BUT WITH RESPECT TO THE AMOUNT APPROVED BY COUNCIL WAS FOR 500,000.

UM, AND THOSE PARTICULAR FUNDS, UH, BEGAN EXPENDITURES AS EARLY AS A LITTLE AFTER JUNE, 2021.

SO AS WE APPROACH DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, WE ARE ACTUALLY, UM, OVER 40% COMMITTED.

THEY ARE ON BASICALLY ON TRACK TO COMPLETE SPENDING.

SO THE OFFICIAL NUMBER THOUGH IS 500,000 WAS THE ALLOCATED AMOUNT.

SO I'M WAY OFF ONLY BY A HUNDRED MILLION.

YEAH, YEAH.

ONLY, ONLY BY HUNDRED MILLION .

UM, APOLOGIES FOR THAT.

SO I, SO I, THE, THE, THE NEXT QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ONCE, BECAUSE THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE ARFA FUNDING AND, AND ALL THAT.

SO ONCE THIS FUNDING DRIES UP, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM? I, SIMILAR TO, UH, COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION ON THAT, WE ARE IDENTIFYING, UH, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OKAY.

UH, TO CONTINUE FUNDING.

'CAUSE UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ALL KIND OF MUTUALLY AGREE THAT THERE IS BEEN SUCCESS IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND THERE'S DEFINITELY STILL NEED.

UM, SO THE NEXT, UH, OPPORTUNITY, THE NEXT QUESTION IS IDENTIFY AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE TO KEEP THAT FUNDING GOING.

THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSION AFTER PRESENTATION BY ANNE GATLING HAYNES OF AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ON CULTURAL TRUST.

SO THANK YOU.

WHAT, WHAT I'D SAY IS WE LOVE THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS THAT MADE THE BUREAUCRATIC ISSUE OF GETTING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND APPLICATIONS, UH, MANAGE MANAGEABLE.

AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS, TO GO TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SAY, YEAH, ANOTHER $500,000, IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET AND IT GUARANTEES ACCESS TO THIS VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.

UH, IT WOULD REALLY HELP IF WE KNEW THE SUCCESS STORIES, WHICH IS WHY I WAS ASKING BEFORE, HEY, WHAT ARE THE LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENTS THAT WE'RE HA THAT WE'RE HAVING? RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WHEN, UM, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR JOB AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, SUCCESS IS DOING THE WORK, BUT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, AS THE MUSIC COMMISSION SUCCESS IS MAKING THE MUSIC.

SO IF WE COULD SEE THE DOTTED LINES BETWEEN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I ADMIRE YOUR, YOUR SKILL AND THE BUREAU BUREAUCRATIC WORLD THAT YOU'RE IN OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO LAST YOU ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND IF YOU COULD HELP US DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN THAT AND THE MUSIC THAT'S COMING OUT, THEN YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST CHAMPIONS.

FANTASTIC.

WE'LL WORK ON THAT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM.

[5. Discussion after presentation by Anne Gatling Haynes of Austin Economic Development Corporation on Cultural Trust next steps.]

NEXT STEPS.

GOVERNMENT CORPORATION SET UP BY THE CITY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? MM-HMM.

HI.

AND NICE TO SEE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE I HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE NEW YEAR, SO THANKS FOR HAVING THIS NICE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PEOPLE.

UM, I'M ANNE HAYNES.

I'M THE CHIEF TRANSACTIONS OFFICER FROM THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MANAGING THE CULTURAL TRUST PROGRAM.

I KNOW, UM, MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME PRESENT BEFORE.

SOME OF YOU ARE NEW.

UH, THE FIRST FEW SLIDES HERE ARE ACTUALLY JUST A RECAP FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN AT THE TABLE BEFORE.

UM, AND THEN I WILL GET INTO SOME UPDATES, UM, IN GENERAL.

IN FACT, I JUST LOOKED BACK AND I WAS HERE I BELIEVE IN JULY LAST, IN FACT, DAYS BEFORE THE STORY LEAKED ABOUT THE HOLE IN THE WALL .

SO I WASN'T ABLE TO MENTION AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO AT THE TIME.

SO ULTIMATELY, WE'VE GOT SOME UPDATES HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, OUR BOARD, WE ARE NONPROFIT, BUT A LOCAL

[00:30:01]

WE HAVE 20 PEOPLE ON OUR BOARD.

WE HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS.

IN FACT, OUR NEXT PUBLIC MEETING IS THIS WEDNESDAY.

WE'VE CHANGED THE TIME, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S AT ONE 30 AT THE PDC, BUT THEY'RE BIMONTHLY.

AND THEN OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM MEETS MONTHLY.

WE'VE GOT FOUR MEMBERS OF CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT OTHERS REPRESENT MANY OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, SEGMENTS OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CITY AND THE REGION NEXT, UM, WE HAVE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS BEEN WORKING.

IT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT YEAR TO YEAR.

UH, BUT WE HAVE A GROUP THAT MEETS WITH US TO KIND OF ADVISE US ON THE PROGRAM, BOTH THE ORIGINAL FORMATION AND SORT OF AS WE'VE NAVIGATED THROUGH SOME OF THE DECISIONS WE'VE MADE.

UH, BUT CERTAINLY THEY ARE REALLY MEMBERS OF AND, AND NETWORKS OF PEOPLE THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

IN FACT, I'LL GIVE YOU THE, THE SCHEDULE UPDATE.

WE HAVE HAD LESS MEETINGS WITH THIS GROUP SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE INITIAL SET OF APPLICATIONS AND PROJECTS.

UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO GEAR INTO WHAT'S THE NEXT PHASE LOOK LIKE.

NEXT, UH, CULTURAL TRUST.

THIS IS THE UPDATE.

NEXT.

UM, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING, UH, THIS PROGRAM WAS PUT TOGETHER IN KIND OF COMPLICATED WAY BECAUSE IT WAS MULTIPLE SOURCES OF MONEY AND REALLY MUL VERY BROAD OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, WHICH WAS REALLY, UM, PRESERVING EXISTING ARTS, MUSIC, AND CULTURE THAT WE'RE LOSING AT A TWO RAPID EC CLIP.

AND ALSO PROVIDING NEW SPACE, UM, BOTH OF WHICH INVOLVE PHYSICAL BUILDINGS AND REAL ESTATE.

WE CERTAINLY WANTED TO FACILITATE ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION AS WELL AS THE CREATION OF NEW, UM, AT A RAPID CLIP.

BUT THOSE THINGS DON'T GO HAND IN HAND.

SOMETIMES THESE THINGS DO TAKE A LOT LONGER 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AMONG MULTIPLE PARTIES.

WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, UH, BY BOTH ADDRESSING PAST INEQUITIES, BUT ULTIMATELY PROVIDING SPACES THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO INCLUDE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF SPECIFICALLY, UH, BIPOC ARTS ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

UH, PROVIDE PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY, UH, FOR CULTURAL AND CREATIVE PURPOSES.

SO NOT JUST MAKE SPACE HAPPEN, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A LONGER TERM OF AFFORDABLE SPACE.

AND WE ALSO IN THE PROGRAM REALLY TRIED TO CREATE A, WHAT I WOULD SAY, A SUSTAINING PIPELINE OF CULTURAL TRUST INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WE'RE SORT OF BUILDING ALL OF THESE AS PART OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF AFFORDABLE SPACE THROUGH THE CITY.

NEXT, UM, WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MONEY THAT HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED, UH, THROUGH MUCH OF THE WORK WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE CITY COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND OTHERS.

UH, LOTS OF ADVOCATES REALLY GOT THESE MONIES TO COME TO THE CULTURAL TRUST.

$12 MILLION WAS IN THE 2018 BOND ELECTION.

THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE UP THERE, BUT IT'S FROM THE 2018 BOND ELECTION.

UH, 2.4 MILLION FROM THE ICONIC VENUE FUND.

UM, THAT WAS THE HOT PRES PRESERVATION, ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION OR HERITAGE PRESERVATION DOLLARS.

AND THEN 5 MILLION FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF ICONIC VENUE.

SO TWO DIFFERENT FOCUS POINTS FOR THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE ARTISTS ART, ART ARTS FROM THE CREATIVE SPACES BOND.

AND THEN TWO BUCKETS OF MONEY FOR THE, THE ICONIC VENUE, WHICH IS BASED ON A RESOLUTION BY COUNSEL.

UM, EACH OF THESE HAS STRINGS ATTACHED.

YES.

UH, IS THE, UH, HOT FUND MONEY, IS THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? NO, THAT WAS A ONE TIME, UH, FOR, AND THAT WAS FISCAL YEAR 22, I BELIEVE.

UM, AND IT'S PART OF THE, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

UH, THE RESOLUTION ACTUALLY CALLS FOR UP TO $15 MILLION, INCLUDING THE INITIAL 4.9 MILLION, UH, OVER MULTIPLE YEARS, UM, WAS NOT SPECIFIC AS THE TYPE OF THE FUNDING.

AND SINCE THEN, UH, TRANCHES FOR, UM, THE ICONIC VENUE FUND OF IN GENERAL FUND.

AND THOSE ARE ACTUALLY OUR PREFERRED MODE BECAUSE THAT IS CERTAINLY MORE FLEXIBLE, MORE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

BUT ANYWAYS, WE'LL GO.

LOTS OF STRINGS ATTACHED AND I'LL HAVE THOSE ANSWERS NEXT.

UM, JUST TO BE, TO RECAP, WE'RE STILL WORKING OFF OF THE INITIAL RFP THAT WAS SENT OUT IN 2021, CLOSED IN 2022.

UH, AT THAT TIME IN, UH, JUNE, WE HAD A 14 PROJECT LIST OUT OF 45 APPLICANTS THAT WERE RECEIVED.

UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FEASIBILITY AND DUE DILIGENCE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN RUN.

AND REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EACH, EVERY INDIVIDUAL CASE OF EACH PROJECT AND HOW THOSE DOLLARS WILL BEST SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS HAS TAKEN.

I WILL ADMIT A LOT LONGER THAN I'D HOPED FOR.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL DESCRIBE WHERE WE ARE WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND THINGS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

UM, WE DID SOME UPDATES AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROJECTS IN A SECOND, BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME BOND PROJECTS ANNOUNCED AS WELL AS, UH, SOME ICONIC VENUE.

AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PROJECTS ON THIS LONG LIST.

UH, WE BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY, UH, TAKE IN INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECTS

[00:35:01]

THAT ARE NOT ON THE 45 ORIGINAL APPLICANTS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE THE CASE WHEN WE CAN FOR THE AMOUNT OF NEED OUT THERE.

UH, WE'D ESTIMATED WITH 45 PROJECTS.

ACTUALLY, THE NEXT ONE I THINK IS FINE.

UM, 45 PROJECTS.

WE ESTIMATED OVER $300 MILLION IN NEEDS.

AND AT THE TIME WE STARTED THIS, IT WAS, UH, 17.4 MILLION WE HAD FOR MANY, MANY DOLLARS THAT WE NEED.

UM, THAT SAID, UH, WE'D ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO SUPPORT TWO TO SIX PROJECTS, UM, WITH THESE INITIAL INVESTMENTS, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ON TRACK FOR THAT.

UM, SO WE ARE HOPING TO BE BACK AT COUNCIL FOR BOND PROJECTS AND MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT FURTHER ICONIC VENUE INVESTMENTS IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR SO.

SO WE'LL KEEP GOING THROUGH THE PROJECTS, AND AGAIN, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS EVEN OFFLINE.

NEXT, UM, EACH, THIS LONG LIST OF 14 PROJECTS DO REPRESENT A BROAD VARIETY OF PROJECT TYPES.

NEXT, UM, SO THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT LAST DECEMBER WAS THE $2 MILLION TO FIT OUT THE, IT'S A RETAIL SPACE ACROSS FROM THE HIGHLAND MALL THAT IS LIKE, OR ACROSS FROM THE LINK THAT USED TO BE THE HIGHLAND MALL.

I'M NEWER TO AUSTIN, SO I DON'T KNOW MY GEOGRAPHY.

BUT ON, UH, MIDDLE FISCAL ROAD, UH, IN THE PARKING GARAGE OF THE CITY BUILDING, IT'S ABOUT 7,000 SQUARE FEET.

UM, AND WE HAVE ANNOUNCED IN MAY THAT THE RUDE MAX WOULD BE THE FACILITY MANAGER IN AUSTIN BAT CAVE, THE PROGRAM MANAGER, UH, PROGRAM PARTNER FOR THAT SPACE.

UH, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF EARLY DESIGN WORK ON THAT PROJECT.

AND IN FACT, I'M ANNOUNCING HERE TONIGHT THAT ON JANUARY 30TH, I BELIEVE AT FIVE O'CLOCK IS GONNA BE OUR THIRD PUBLIC EVENT IN THE PDC SPACE TO LOOK AT THE INITIAL DESIGNS FOR THAT SPACE.

NEXT, UH, HOLE IN THE WALL.

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED IN JULY, UH, 1.6 MILLION OF THE ICONIC VENUE FUND, UH, HAS GONE TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, 49-YEAR-OLD, ABOUT TO BE 50-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION THAT WAS REALLY FACING SIGNIFICANT REAL ESTATE PRESSURE.

AND ON LEAPING THROUGH THE YEAR TO YEAR EXTENSIONS ON THEIR LEASE WAS VERY HARD TO INVEST IN THAT SPACE.

UH, SO THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS WAS BOTH OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, SPECIFICALLY ACROSS A 20 YEAR NEGOTIATED LEASE THAT WE HELPED FACILITATE THAT NEGOTIATION WITH THE LANDLORD, UH, TO HELP THEM SORT OF SURVIVE THROUGH KIND OF THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS TO BUILD BACK THEIR, THEIR OPERATION.

UM, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.

UH, I THINK THE BATHROOMS ARE DONE NOW IN THE BACK, WHICH IS GOOD.

JUST THINGS THAT ARE GONNA MAKE THAT BACK SIDE OF THE SPACE, THE FRONT SIDE OF THE SPACE CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS ITS ICONIC VENUE, THE BACKSIDE OF THE SPACE TO BE BETTER UTILIZED AND BRING ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE ORGANIZATION.

UM, AND THAT IS A FUNDING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT MUSICIANS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVE PLAYED ON THAT STAGE.

UH, AND SO THAT HAS BEEN MOVING FORWARD.

PLEASE GO VISIT.

UM, AND THEN JUST THIS LAST DECEMBER, IT WAS ANNOUNCED AT COUNCIL, AND WE DID ANNOUNCE THIS AT THE ARTS COMMISSION, THE AUSTIN PLAYHOUSE FACILITY.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS IS A NEW FACILITY ON LAND THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED MANY YEARS AGO.

THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A VERY LONG PROCESS, UM, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR A NEW HOME.

THEY HAVE RAISED SOME MONEY ASIDE IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY HAD PURCHASED THE LAND FOR THIS WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A NEW FACILITY.

AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, WE'RE CONTRIBUTING 4.5 MILLION TOWARDS THE $7.5 MILLION PROJECT BUDGET.

IT WILL INCLUDE TWO THEATERS.

UM, THEY HAVE DONE THE DESIGN WORK FOR THIS.

THEY HAVE THE PERMITS IN PLACE AND ABSENT A, A MECHANISM TO GET THEM MOVING ON IT.

UM, THIS HAD BEEN ON ON HOLD SINCE, WELL BEFORE, SINCE SINCE THE COVID, UM, PANDEMIC.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

THEY'D STARTED PRE PANDEMIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FACILITY SUITS, UH, THE BROADER PUBLIC PURPOSE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY WILL BE AN ANCHOR TO THE USE OF THE SPACE.

BUT BY NO MEANS THE ONLY USERS OF THIS SPACE.

SO THIS WILL BE AN OPEN AND PUBLIC FACILITY, UH, FOR ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURE.

UH, IT IS ON 180 3 EAST ANDERSON LANE.

SO IT'S SORT OF, I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D ALL CALL THAT NORTHEAST, BUT SLIGHTLY NORTHEAST.

THAT'S NOT CENTRAL.

I KNOW THAT , SO.

UM, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ACTIVELY RAISING MONEY OVER THE NEXT YEAR AS WE DO FINAL AGREEMENTS.

UM, THEY, THEY UPDATE AND FINALIZE THEIR PLANS AND PUT THE PROJECT OUT FOR BID.

UM, NEXT SLIDE.

UH, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF LEGAL WRANGLING STILL TO GO TO GET EVERYTHING UP TO SPEED.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE AS A EDC WILL BE MANAGING THEIR FACILITY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.

AND EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH, THEY HAVE, UH, WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF THE SPACE THAT WE WILL THEN BE MANAGING AS A PART OF THE CULTURAL TRUST.

UM, SO I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR THE SLIDES.

UM, AND AGAIN, HOPEFULLY WE'RE BACK HERE WITH MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR IT'S AN EXCITING LEAK OF INFORMATION.

THESE EXAMPLES, UH, OF, UH, ENTITIES THAT ARE BEING FUNDED.

THANK YOU ANN, SO MUCH.

UH, THIS IS, UH, VERY EXCITING TO SEE

[00:40:01]

UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, WHEN WE THINK OF VENUES AND HOW WE ARE LOSING VENUES IN THIS TOWN DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

UM, IT, IT REALLY KIND OF SETS AN EXAMPLE OR SHOWS US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SOME OF THESE, MAYBE WE CAN'T SAVE EVERY VENUE, BUT IT'S, IT'S HOW SOME OF THESE ICONIC SPACES, UH, CAN BE MM-HMM.

SUPPORTED, UM, IN, IN THE RIGHT MANNER.

AND I'M SURE WHEN, UM, AND I KNOW I SPOKE WITH YOU ON THIS, SO THAT'S WHY I FEEL SURE IS AS YOU, UM, ARE SUPPORTING OR CREATING THESE RENTAL AGREEMENTS, ET CETERA, FOR THE SPACE, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME AMOUNT OF ANALYSIS THAT IS ALSO GOING ON TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSINESS ITSELF IS SUSTAINABLE YES.

IN HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING, UH, YEAH.

YEAH, WE DO.

UM, WE DO A LOT OF FINANCIAL MODELING PRIOR TO MAKING SORT OF AN AGREEMENT OR A TERM SHEET WITH AN ORGANIZATION.

BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THAT BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS GONNA BE USEFUL.

BUT WE'RE ALSO SETTING UP THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUCCESS, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH WHAT ISN'T.

PART OF THESE BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE ARE ANY SUPPORT FOR SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM OPERATIONS OR KIND OF AN ENDOWMENT THAT HELPS FACILITATE EVEN ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANNA USE THAT SPACE AND WOULD STILL STILL PAY AN AFFORDABLE RENT.

BUT STILL, THAT'S A BURDEN TO SOME ORGANIZATIONS.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS OF THE MANY THINGS I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO SOLVE IS HOW DO WE NOT JUST LOOK AT THE BRICKS AND MORTAR OF THE PROJECT, BUT ULTIMATELY PASS THAT TO ASSURE, UM, SURVIVAL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

ALMOST EVERY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AS AN ARCHITECT, I USED TO DESIGN PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS.

UM, ALMOST EVERYONE.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU PLAN UP TO THE POINT THAT YOU BUILD A BUILDING, EVERYTHING CHANGES IMMEDIATELY.

AND THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT ORGANIZATIONS KIND OF FIND THEMSELVES IN POSITIONS THAT ARE REALLY DIFFICULT.

UM, SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE, DO THE MODELING AS BEST AS WE CAN AND THEN LOOK FORWARD.

UM, WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THOUGH, NOT JUST US, BUT US COLLECTIVELY.

SO, YEAH.

SO WHAT COULD BE THE POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR THAT LONG-TERM FUNDING? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO START LOOKING AT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, SPECIFICALLY WITH THAT CULTURAL TRUST ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IS SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS SOME OF OUR, UM, I WOULD CALL THEM SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AND WORLD HAVE BEEN SOLVING FOR THESE TYPES OF CREATIVE SPACES AND BUILDING A TOOLBOX OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF HELPING, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I KNEW, BUT REALLY KNOW NOW EACH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS IS SO UNIQUE AND THAT THE SPECIFICS OF HOW THAT DEAL IS STRUCTURED, YOU THINK SOMETHING, AND THEN YOU GO INTO THE NEGOTIATION WITH EITHER THE ORGANIZATION OR THE ACTUAL PROPERTY OWNER, AND IT COMES OUT ON THE OTHER END DIFFERENTLY.

SO WHAT WE NEED IS A TOOLBOX TO FIT MULTIPLE SCENARIOS.

UM, WE, WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT PHILANTHROPY, BUT PHILANTHROPY, WE NOW HAVE, WE NOW HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF LIKE A LIST OF PROJECT TYPES THAT WE CAN GET INTO A ROOM AND TALK ABOUT THE, WHAT THE, THE CONCRETE NEEDS ARE.

BUT PHILANTHROPY ITSELF ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE IT.

UM, I THINK CREATING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, AND AGAIN, SPEAKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN CDFIS, UM, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ABOUT CREATING LOAN POOLS, IF PUBLIC MONEY CAN KIND OF SEE A SEED, A LOAN LOSS RESERVE, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A, A REAL REVOLVING LOAN FUND TO BE ABLE TO DO THE ACQUISITIONS TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WHEN THEY COME UP.

UH, THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS ACQUISITIONS.

YOU MAY WANNA ACQUIRE A BUILDING, BUT YOU CAN'T ALWAYS ACQUIRE THE BUILDING WHEN YOU WANT TO ACQUIRE THE BUILDING.

SO WE REALLY NEED A FLEXIBLE SET OF TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

IT NEEDS TO COME FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BLENDED.

UM, AND SO IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A FEW OF THOSE, UM, AND PROBABLY WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND GET IDEAS FROM THIS GROUP AS WELL.

, THANK YOU.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? UH, COMMISSIONER SADE.

HI.

I LOVE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

UM, SO I, SO FROM THE, THERE'S 14 PROJECTS AND WE, UM, SAW PHOTOS FROM TWO, THE ONE NEAR HIGHLAND MALL AND THIS ONE, OH, I FORGOT MILLENNIUM.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO, BUT I THINK MILLENNIUM.

THERE WAS A PHOTO IN THERE IN THE CORNER AND I JUST DIDN'T MENTION IT.

MILLENNIUM IS ALSO A PROJECT THAT WE ANNOUNCED THERE.

SO WE'VE GOT, I THINK FIVE ANNOUNCED, WELL, FIVE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THERE'S, OF THE 14 ORGANIZATIONS ON THE LONG LIST, SO PDC IS TWO MILLENNIUM HOLE IN THE WALL AND PLAYHOUSE.

SO THAT'S FIVE ORGANIZATIONS FROM THAT LIST.

UM, AND WE BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE A FEW MORE.

EARLY ON, WE WERE KIND OF TRYING TO ALIGN THE PROJECTS WITH WHERE THAT WAS.

ARE THERE ANY BUILDINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT IN SOUTH AUSTIN? THAT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, YES.

ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH OFFICIALLY STARTS, BUT IF WE TALK ABOUT THE LAKE, LIKE SOUTH OF THE, OF THE WATER.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

THERE'S AT LEAST ONE IN RYAN ALTER'S DISTRICT TWO FROM THE LONG LIST THERE, THERE WERE TWO SOUTH OF THE, IT'S ALL, IT WAS DEPENDENT ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR A DIVERSITY OF GEOGRAPHY IN THE LIST, BUT BASED ON THE ARTS AND MUSIC COMMISSION, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS

[00:45:01]

IT WAS A VERY WIDE GEOGRAPHY.

IT WAS BASICALLY NON-CENTRAL, BUT MM-HMM.

UM, I THINK THERE ARE TWO, BUT I DON'T WANNA BE QUOTED ON THAT 'CAUSE I HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH MY MENTAL LIST.

UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE, THERE'S CERTAINLY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW DOWN IN SOUTH AUSTIN THAT NEED HELP.

MM MM-HMM.

SO, MM-HMM.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE DOWN THERE IN INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AND WAREHOUSES.

AND I KNOW SOUTH CONGRESS, WAY SOUTH CONGRESS IS MM-HMM.

AND THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, DOWN ALMOST BY LIKE MANCHACA AND THINGS LIKE THAT, OR MENCHACA.

SO JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS ANYTHING IN THE PIPELINES? NOT, NOT, WELL A COUPLE ARE ON THE LIST, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS WE DID THIS PROCESS WHERE WE ASKED ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR VISION AND THEIR GOALS AND INCLUDED, IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR SPACE, COULD WE CONSIDER HELPING YOU FIND SPACE? MM-HMM.

, UH, WE ENDED UP FINDING, WE HAD BOTH NEW SPACE AND EXISTING SPACE, BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT IN A TIMELINE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO GO FIND BRAND NEW SPACE THAT WE HADN'T BEEN LOOKING AT OR SOMEBODY HADN'T BEEN LOOKING AT OR HAD SOME SITE CONTROL, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE CRITERIA.

UM, SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE REALLY NEED IS WE NEED THE ABILITY TO BE FAST WHEN SOMETHING COMES ON THE MARKET AND THERE'S SOME AVAILABILITY WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO PROPOSE IT TO US IN AN RFP PROCESS.

SO WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESS.

TO BE FLEXIBLE FOR THAT.

, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC FROM THE COMMISSION? THANK YOU SO MUCH.