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[Austin 2024 Spring Festival Season Pre-Event News Conference]
EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AS WE KICK OFF SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON IN AUSTIN.I'M LESLIE POOLE AND I'M THE MAYOR PRO TIM ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PITCH HITTING FOR THE MAYOR WHO WAS UNABLE TO BE WITH US HERE TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A VIBRANT CITY THAT IS HOME TO SO MANY EXCITING AND DYNAMIC EVENTS SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
THE FESTIVAL THAT MADE AUSTIN FAMOUS ACROSS THE GLOBE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND WILL AGAIN DRAW THOUSANDS TO OUR CITY FROM THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, FILM, TELEVISION, AND OF COURSE MUSIC, AND THOUSANDS MORE WHO JUST WANNA BE PART OF THE ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE HERE IN RIVER CITY BEYOND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WHICH STARTS IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER SPRING FESTIVALS AND MAJOR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THIS SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON, INCLUDING RODEO AUSTIN, A BC KITE FESTIVAL AT ZILKER PARK AND THE AUSTIN REGGAE FESTIVAL RIGHT OVER HERE AT AUDITORIUM SHORES TO MENTION JUST A FEW.
AS WE WELCOME VISITORS AND PLAN FOR THESE EVENTS THAT ARE CORNERSTONES TO BOTH OUR CULTURE AND ECONOMY, WE RECOGNIZE THE ADDED STRAIN ON CITY RESOURCES, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND POTENTIAL TRAVEL DELAYS THAT LARGE SCALE EVENTS CAN CREATE, AND THE NEED FOR HEIGHTENED VIGILANCE.
WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND SECURITY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS PREPARED AND WE ASK FOR THE PATIENCE AND PARTNERSHIP OF OUR RESIDENTS AS WE NAVIGATE THE BYPRODUCT FESTIVALS AND EVENTS BRING WITH THEM TODAY.
YOU WILL ALSO ALSO HEAR FROM THE AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND CAT METRO AS THEY SHARE MORE DETAILS OF OUR PLANNING AND PREPARATION FOR THIS SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON.
WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL OTHER DEPARTMENTS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SO NOW I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO BILL MANO WITH AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS.
BILL MANO, CORPORATE SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS.
UH, WHAT THE AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS DOES IS WE FOCUS ON, UH, ACCEPTING THE APPLICATIONS AND REVIEWING THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HELD SAFELY AND THEY'RE APPROPRIATE.
THIS YEAR WE'VE ACCEPTED ABOUT 130 OR WE RECEIVED 130 APPLICATIONS FOR THIS SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DOWN FROM LAST YEAR.
UM, WHEN WE ACCEPT THE APPLICATIONS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROPOSED LOCATION, UH, THAT IT'S THE CORRECT APPLICATION.
WE GET A LOT OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THAT AREN'T SPECIAL EVENTS AND THAT EACH EVENT CAN BE HELD SAFELY.
PARDON ME, TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE EVENT ORGANIZERS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UH, SOUTH BY REPRESENTATIVES.
WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THEM FOR MANY MONTHS.
UM, AND THIS COORDINATION TAKES, UM, A LOT OF COOPERATION WITH MANY DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, THAT MAKE UP THE AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS.
THAT INCLUDES AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH PARKS AND REC, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
HOPEFULLY I DIDN'T MISS ANY AND THERE'S PROBABLY NOT TOO MANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT I DIDN'T MENTION.
ADDITIONALLY, UH, WITH THESE LARGE SCALE EVENTS LIKE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WE ALSO WORK WITH CAPITAL METRO, TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION, UM, AUSTIN BERKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND VISIT AUSTIN.
AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL, UH, VISITORS IN AUSTINITES TO FOLLOW THE HASHTAG HASHTAG SPRING FAST ATX, AND THAT'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES ON EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH THE FESTIVAL THROUGHOUT THIS, UH, SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON.
AND DURING THE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON, WE WILL ONCE AGAIN ACTIVATE OUR PUBLIC ASSEMBLY CODE ENFORCEMENT OR PACE TEAM, UH, THAT'S MADE UP OF MULTIPLE, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS OR STAFF AND MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE UNPERMITTED EVENTS ARE NOT OCCURRING AND THAT THE EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE SAFE.
AND TO, UH, DESCRIBE MORE OF THAT EFFORT, I'D LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT,
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UH, OR, UH, DIVISION MANAGER ROBERT ALVARADO WITH AUSTIN KOCH COMPLIANCE.MY NAME IS ROBERT ALVARADO, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT CO COMPLIANCE.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS MAKE SURE EVERYONE COMES TO THE SPRING FESTIVAL, HAVE A A FUN TIME, BUT WE ALSO WANNA BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THE NEIGHBORS, AND WE UNDERSTAND PARKING'S GONNA BE A PREMIUM, UH, NEAR EVENT SITES.
UH, BUT PLEASE ABIDE BY ALL POSTED REGULATIONS, UM, IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, UH, SO IF THERE'S ANY EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES, THEY CAN MANEUVER IN AND OUT QUICKLY.
WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU STAY AWARE OF THE IMPACT AND NOISE LEVEL THAT YOUR EVENT OR GATHERING HAS ON THOSE AROUND YOU.
UH, IF ANYONE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL NOISE VIOLATIONS OR UNPERMITTED EVENTS, UH, PLEASE CALL THREE AUSTIN THREE ONE ONE TO REPORT IT.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF GISETTE GAZELLE, UH, WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M AN ASSISTANT CHIEF IN THE, IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AD'S EXCITED TO WELCOME SPRING FESTIVAL 2024 HERE IN AUSTIN.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN THE FESTI FESTIVITIES IN A WAY THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, SAFE, AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER SOME SAFETY TIPS THAT WILL KEEP YOU, OUR OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
PLEASE COMPLY WITH ALL STREET CLOSURES, WHICH YOU, YOU WILL KNOW BECAUSE OF THE ORANGE AND WHITE BARRICADES ON THE STREETS.
DO NOT IGNORE THESE BARRICADES.
IN SOME CASES, YOU MIGHT SEE A PARKED PATROL UNIT BLOCKING A ROAD.
AGAIN, DO NOT IGNORE THE UNITS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE STREET CLOSE CLOSURE WILL START AT NOON AND RUN DAILY INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES WILL IMPACT THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN AND AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
TO ALLOW YOURSELF ENOUGH TRAVEL TIME, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE PATIENT AND DRIVE WITH CAUTION.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS WILL BE TRAVELING BY FOOT.
THOSE ON FOOT MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF PEDESTRIAN CONTROL DEVICES SIGNALS, USE PROPER CROSSWALK INTERSECTIONS, AND FOLLOW OFFICERS DIRECTIONS.
DRIVERS DO NOT ENTER BLOCK INTERSECTIONS AND ADD TO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
WE ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY AND VISITORS TO UTILIZE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR AN ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
KNOW WHERE RIDE SHARES, PICKUP AND DROP OFF POINTS ARE IN REGARDS TO PARKING.
THERE'S GONNA BE LIMITED PARKING DOWNTOWN.
THERE'LL BE A LOT OF, UH, ENFORCED, NO PARKING AND TOW AWAY ZONES.
SO PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THAT WHERE YOU PARK.
MANY RESIDENTIAL AREAS AROUND DOWNTOWN, DOWNTOWN REQUIRE PERMITS.
DO NOT PARK IN A TOW AWAY ZONE.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, IF YOU PLAN A DRINK, DO, DO SO RESPONSIBLY AND HAVE A PLAN TO GET HOME SAFELY.
NO REFUSAL INITIATIVES BEGIN MARCH 7TH AND WILL RUN FOR THE DURATION OF THE FESTIVAL.
OUR GOAL IS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYONE TO HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOY ENJOYABLE TIME DURING SPRING FESTIVAL.
ALWAYS KNOW YOUR ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS.
IF YOU GET SEPARATED FROM YOUR GROUP, PLAN A MEETING LOCATION TO REUNITE WITH THEM.
ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS. A PD WILL BE VISIBLE DOWNTOWN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO ASSIST WITH EVERYONE'S SAFETY.
WE ASK THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ACTING IN A SUSPICIOUS MANNER, SAY SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY AND CALL 9 1 1.
OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GREAT TIME AND ENJOYING THE VIBRANT FESTIVE OF OUR CITY WELCOMES EVERY YEAR.
MY NAME IS KEN SNIPES AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN'S HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS AGAIN EXCITED TO WELCOME VISITORS TO SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
AND ALL OF THE EVENTS HAPPENING DURING SPRING FESTIVAL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IS A CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT AUSTIN IN AN INNOVATIVE TECH, FILM AND TELEVISION AND MUSIC IN THOSE INDUSTRIES.
AND ALSO IT IS OUR AIM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL CAN BE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SAFETY.
OUR OFFICE LEADS TO EFFORTS IN STANDING UP THE EVENT OPERATIONS CENTER, ALSO KNOWN AS THE EVOC.
THIS IS A DEDICATED EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THIS EVENT.
HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF SERVE WITHIN THE EVOC ALONGSIDE ALL THE REST OF OUR, UM, EVOC, EXCUSE ME, EMERGENCY SAFETY PARTNERS.
ADDITIONALLY, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MANAGES THE REGIONAL RADIO SYSTEM FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF RADIO CHANNELS FOR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND EVENT
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STAFF TO COMMUNICATE SEAMLESSLY DURING THE SPRING FESTIVAL EACH YEAR.HOMELAND SECURITY COORDINATES THIS RADIO NETWORK FOR MORE THAN 280 SPECIAL EVENTS, TOTALING MORE THAN 550 DAYS OF SPECIAL EVENT RADIO OPERATIONS.
TO PREPARE FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST HOMELAND SECURITY CO-HOST A TABLETOP TRAINING EXERCISE TO ENSURE CITY AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH FESTIVAL STAFF ARE TRAINED FOR HOW TO RESPOND DURING AN EMERGENCY.
THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND THE ATTENDEES AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.
AUSTIN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
MAKE SURE OUR STAFF IS PREPARED AND AVAILABLE TO MANAGE ANYTHING THAT MAY COME UP DURING THE FESTIVAL.
I WANT TO REINFORCE THE MESSAGE FROM CHIEF GASLIN.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE FESTIVAL AND ENJOYS ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT AUSTIN HAS TO OFFER.
AND NEXT I WILL BRING UP MR. LEFT FROM, UH, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M AN ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON HERE UPON US AND OUR STAFF'S BEEN WORKING HARD TO ENSURE EVERYBODY GETS TO ENJOY THESE FESTIVALS SAFELY.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT 10 DAYS IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN OVER SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COMING AND ENJOYING THE ACTIVITIES AND VISITING MANY OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
IF YOU'RE NOT ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL, PLEASE BE AWARE THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL BE A BUSY TIME IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN.
THERE WILL BE ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS IN PLACE AND THAT COULD CAUSE DELAYS IF YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO WALK, BIKE, OR TAKE TRANSIT DURING THIS TIME, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
FOR THOSE WHO CAN TELEWORK, THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPTION.
IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL, WHETHER YOU'RE VISITING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE OR AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR MOBILITY SERVICES, BIKING WITH YOUR OWN BIKE OR USING CAP METRO'S, METRO BIKE SHARE SYSTEM, WALKING, PUBLIC TRANSIT SHARE MOBILITY OPTIONS ARE ALL GREAT WAYS TO GET INTO AND AROUND DOWNTOWN.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/SPRING FESTIVAL ATX ALL ONE WORD FOR A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON MOBILITY GUIDE.
THERE'S AN INTERACTIVE MAP THAT SHOWS THE STREET CLOSURES, THE RIDE SHARE STATE STAGING AREAS AND LOADING ZONES, PUBLIC TRANSIT STATIONS AND ROUTES, BICYCLE ROUTES AND MORE.
FINALLY, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE DRINKING, PLEASE MAKE A PLAN IN ADVANCE TO GET HOME SAFELY.
THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS NOW INCLUDING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND RIDE SHARES.
GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR AFTER DRINKING ALCOHOL OR USING DRUGS IS NEVER A GOOD CHOICE.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT IT HAS LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES.
IF YOU DO DRIVE, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THE CITY'S PARKING TICKET WAIVER PROGRAM.
IF YOU MAKE THE RESPONSIBLE CHOICE TO LEAVE YOUR CAR OVERNIGHT IN A CITY PARKING SPACE AND GET A SAFE RIDE HOME AFTER YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE A PARKING TICKET WAIVED.
JUST SAVE THAT RECEIPT FOR A SAFE RIDE HOME AND FILL OUT A WAIVER FORM@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV SLASH GET HOME SAFE.
THAT WEBSITE HAS A FULL LIST OF THE MANY WAYS TO GET HOME SAFELY.
AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE NO REFUSAL PROGRAM.
AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH A PD THAT ENSURES BLOOD DRAWS CAN HAPPEN WHEN NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE'S BEEN DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE THAT WILL BE IN PLACE DURING BOTH WEST WEEKENDS OF THE FESTIVAL ALONG WITH THE FULL WEEK.
OUR STAFF WILL BE MONITORING CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON TO ACTIVATE CLOSURES AS NECESSARY AND ADJUST SIGNAL TIMING AS WELL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYONE HAVING A GREAT TIME HERE DURING SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON AND WE'RE REMINDING EVERYONE TO LOOK AROUND FOR PEOPLE WALKING AND BIKING DURING THE FESTIVAL SEASON AND YEAR ROUND AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO SAMANTHA BAEZ FROM CAP METRO.
I'M SAMANTHA BAEZ, EVP OF EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT AT CAP METRO.
CAP METRO IS FULLY PREPARED TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST SPRING BREAK.
AND THE OTHER EXCITING EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR REGION, INCLUDING THE AUSTIN FC MATCHES.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING BOTH VISITORS AND OUR COMMUNITY ALIKE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR SERVICES INCLUDING BUS, RAIL AND BIKE SHARE.
CAT METRO RAIL WILL RUN EXTENDED SERVICE FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS.
IT WILL RUN UNTIL 2:30 AM DURING THE WEEK.
IT WILL RUN UNTIL 12:30 AM AND RAIL WILL ALSO RUN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 10TH UNTIL 12:30 AM FOR THOSE COMING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT BUS ROUTE 20 FROM THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN.
IT RUNS EVERY 15 MINUTES AND IT'S A SMOOTH RIDE.
ALL THIS INFORMATION'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
EXCUSE ME, WITH SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AND THE AUSTIN FC MATCHES OVERLAPPING ON TWO OF THOSE SATURDAYS.
WE DO EXPECT CROWDS THAT ARE LARGER THAN NORMAL.
OUR RAPID ROUTES ALSO SERVE Q2 STADIUM AND WE WANNA ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT
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THOSE ROUTES AS WELL.IF YOU CAN PLEASE BE PATIENT AND KIND TO YOUR FELLOW PASSENGERS, WE'RE GONNA SQUEEZE THE MOST OUT OF OUR RESOURCES.
YOU MIGHT FEEL THAT SQUEEZE A LITTLE BIT ON OUR RAIL LINE IN PARTICULAR.
SO PLEASE MOVE IN AND MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS CAP METRO BIKE.
OUR BIKE SHARE WILL ALSO HAVE 75 STATIONS AROUND DOWNTOWN TO GET IN AND BETWEEN SOUTH BY AND THE SURROUNDING EVENTS.
THERE WILL BE A BIKE VALET AT FOURTH AND TRINITY STREETS.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, OUR WEBSITE HAS ALL THE FULL DETAILS.
I BELIEVE I'M THE LAST SPEAKER FOR TODAY.
ALRIGHT, I THINK WE HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER AND I'LL OPEN IT UP.
WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE REPS AND SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESS WHO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SO OBVIOUSLY SPRING FED IS ALREADY A BIG SEASON.
THIS YEAR IS ALSO COMPOUNDED WITH THE FLINT.
UM, CAN MAYBE ONE OR TWO OF YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE HAVING TO THINK AHEAD TO THAT AS WELL WHILE FOCUSING ON ALL THE, WHO WANTS TO TAKE THAT? SURE.
AGAIN, KEN SNIPES HOMELAND SECURITY.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE ECLIPSE, UH, WE'RE PLANNING JUST AS WE WOULD FOR THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST EVENT.
A LOT OF THE SAME PLAYERS AND THE SAME TACTICS THAT WE WOULD USE FOR THIS EVENT, UH, WOULD ALSO BE, UH, EMPLOYED FOR THE ECLIPSE.
SO, UH, SOME OF THE MAIN DIFFERENCES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST THE, UH, THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE DRIVING TO AND THROUGH AUSTIN.
UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT TRAFFIC.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, JUST THE GENERAL CONGESTION AND, AND HOW THAT MAY IMPACT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AS THEY TRY TO MOVE ABOUT THE CITY, UH, TO RENDER AID OR WHETHER WHATEVER ASSISTANCE MAY BE NEEDED.
DOES EVERYONE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE STAFFED UP FOR SPRINGFEST PLUS THE EQUIPS? I BELIEVE SO.
UH, MOST OF OUR, UH, PARTNERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY'LL BE FULLY STAFFED UP FOR THE ECLIPSE, UH, AS WELL AS FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
WE, WE HEAR IT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, ALL THE TIME ABOUT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING OR WONDER IF SOMEONE COULD TALK ON JUST MAYBE SPECIFICALLY, UM, WHEN YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT.
WHAT, WHAT THIS MEANS AND WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE AND, AND, AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S ABOUT TRUSTING YOUR GUT THAT, I MEAN, AND THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY IS, IS TRUSTING YOUR GUT.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS, YOU SEE SOMEBODY WALKING AROUND LOOKING SUSPICIOUS, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA PROFILE SOMEBODY, BUT IN YOUR, YOUR GUT INSTINCT WILL TELL YOU, HEY, THAT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT OR THE SITUATION SEEMS UNUSUAL.
THAT'S OUR JOB AS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS.
WE COME OUT, WE CHECK OUT THE SITUATION.
IF IT'S, IF IT'S FINE, THEN IT'S FINE.
BUT YEAH, SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND, AND WHILE YOU'RE ON NOTICE STAFFING, I KNOW STAFFING CHALLENGES, HOW WILL THAT TIE INTO THIS EVENT? WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS OUT ON THE STREET.
WE WILL STILL RESPOND TO CALLS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, SO WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE OFFICERS OUT THERE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON, AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIMARY CONCERN OF THE CITY AND, UH, TOP TOPLINE FOCUS.
UH, SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T YET ASKED A QUESTION AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRAINING? YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING PREPAREDNESS AHEAD OF IT AND I THINK YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
TELL US WHAT TRAINING IS PREPARED FOR.
SO THE QUESTION IS, UH, ABOUT TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST EVENT.
FROM A, UH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE DID IS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, WE WENT THROUGH AN EXERCISE WITH, UH, A TEAM OF FOLKS FROM ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST STAFF.
AND WE LOOKED AT A, A SCENARIO BY WHICH WE WOULD RESPOND TO AN EVENT OR AN EMERGENCY.
UH, AND SO, UH, IT'S A TYPICAL TABLETOP EXERCISE WHERE WE HAVE A SET, A SET OF, UH, INJECTS THAT WE RESPOND TO.
UM, BASICALLY THERE ARE SCENARIOS THAT WE RESPOND TO AND WE COORDINATE WHATEVER RESOURCES WOULD BE NEEDED TO MITIGATE THOSE UH, CIRCUMSTANCES.
ANYBODY ELSE I TALK AGAIN? YOU SURE CAN.
WANNA GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE FIRST, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO TAKE THAT SPOT.
UM, SHE, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMON CALLS THAT HP DOES GET BY SOUTHWEST.
'CAUSE IT CHANGES, YOU KNOW, DAY TO DAY.
I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SPEAK ON THE CERTAIN CALL THAT WE GET.
WE MAY GET NOISE CALLS, WE MAY GET PEDESTRIAN IN THE ROADWAY CALLS.
CALLS VARY, YOU KNOW, DAY TO DAY, MONTH TO MONTH.
WILL THERE BE CHECKPOINTS AND THAT KIND OF THING WHEN IT COMES TO DRUNK DRIVING AND WE HAVE THE INITIATIVE THAT SEARCH MARKS AS SEVEN, SO THERE'S NO CHECKPOINTS, BUT THAT'S OUR INITIATIVE IS FOR THE DRUNK DRIVING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
ARE YOU GUYS GONNA BE AROUND IN CASE THERE'S SOME AIR?
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OKAY.SO YOU CAN DO SOME ONE-ON-ONES IF YOU LIKE.
AND I THINK THAT'S IT FOR US TODAY.
WE FAIRY TALES AT THE ASTRO DOME.
I DROPPED OUT TSU WHERE DID I GO WRONG? FAKE DUMMIES ON MY NECK.
DON'T CHROME EGG YEEZY NUMBER ONE BABY MAMA BACK HOME.
SHE HAD GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE TEXAS TWO STEP.
I LOST, I FELL, I CRIED, THEN GOT RIGHT BACK ON MY FEET.
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO OVERCOME WITH.