Mar 21, 2024 City Council Proclamations

[00:00:05]

WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

[Distinguished Service Award – David Evans – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by David Evans, CEO of Integral Care]

BUT BEFORE WE START THAT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE ARE, UM, MAKING SOME RECOGNITIONS OF SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, AND THERE'S NO ONE MORE SPECIAL, UH, TO AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS OR TO ME, UH, THAN OUR, UH, GOOD FRIEND, UH, DAVID EVANS, WHO HAS BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF INTEGRAL CARE FOR SO MANY YEARS.

AND WE WERE JUST TALKING BEFORE THE CAMERAS STARTED ROLLING.

UM, WE'VE BEEN AT THIS A WHILE.

MM-HMM.

.

AND, UM, I RE WE WERE REMINISCING ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE COME IN THE WAY WE ADDRESS BRAIN HEALTH IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, THE WAY WE ADDRESS BRAIN HEALTH, UH, FOR EVERYONE, BUT THE WAY WE ALSO ADDRESS BRAIN HEALTH FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT, UH, FOR THE PAST MANY YEARS.

AND WE'LL TALK MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND WITHOUT DAVID EVANS BEING OUR LEADER, UH, SOMEONE THAT WE HAVE ALL LEARNED FROM.

SO LEMME JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT MY FRIEND.

HE SERVED OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF INTEGRAL CARE SINCE 1993.

UH, OVER THOSE PAST 30 YEARS, HE'S OVERSEEING THE EXPANSION OF BRAIN HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DIS DISABILITIES AND THE CARE AND SERVICES IN THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HE'S GUIDED INTEGRAL CARE TO BECOME AN ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND STAFF, SERVING 27,550 TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.

UM, WE HAVE SOME OF THE STAFF THAT'S SITTING OVER HERE WITH US, AND AS BEFORE WE STARTED, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I MADE A COMMENT ABOUT.

I LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING, UH, MAKING THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WITH DAVID'S LEADERSHIP, ADULTS, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES HAVE BENEFITED TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM DAVID'S TIRELESS EFFORTS ON THEIR BEHALF.

AND HIS LEGACY OF TRUE SERVANT LEADERSHIP HAS LEFT AN IMPACT ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE IN 2024, BUT FOR DAVID EVANS, HE LAUNCHED HIS CAREER AS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, UHOH , UH, IN, IN, IN SOME PLACE CALLED PONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

I, UH, PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, AND HE'S CONTINUED IN THAT ROLE OF EDUCATOR, UH, FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, UH, AND, AND POLICY MAKERS.

UH, HE'S, HE'S ALSO SERVED, BY THE WAY, AS AN ADJUNCT FACULTY FOR THE STEVE HICKS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.

SINCE 2002, HE HELPED LAUNCH AND HE'S CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK.

UH, HE FULLY EMBRACED AND WAS SOMEBODY THAT I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH BACK WHEN I WAS WORKING ON THE 10 GOALS IN 10 YEARS INITIATIVE TO TRY TO BUILD A A DE A ME A MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

AND AS PART OF THOSE 10 GOALS, WAS FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO DO BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO BRAIN HEALTH.

WE HAVE, BUT WE HAVE, BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF DAVID, UM, BY THE WAY, HE, AS AN ASIDE, HE EMBRACES ALSO THE CONCEPT THAT AUSTIN, TEXAS IS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, UH, BECAUSE HE LIKES TO PLAY HIS GUITAR AND, AND, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC.

SO HERE, HERE'S THE REASON WE'RE HERE.

IT IS TO SING HIS PRAISES AS PART OF THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

WE'LL SING ALONG, SING HIS PRAISES, BUT IT'S ALSO TO SAY THANK YOU TO HIM AND TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR OVER.

AND, AND I'M GONNA READ THIS AWARD FOR OVER 30 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, AND INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF INTEGRAL CARE, DAVID EVANS IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.

THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF ON THIS THE 21ST DAY OF MARCH AND THE YEAR 2024 ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

AND IT'S SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

DAVID, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE.

GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS? WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON.

THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND THEN IN A BROADER CONTEXT, OUR WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, JUST BRIEFLY, UH, LOOKING, UH, OVER THE YEARS, UH, YOU'VE CITED SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON AND, UH, HELPING TO ESTABLISH, UH, ARCH AND BE SURE THAT WE HAD, UH, A WORKING RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH THE CITY.

UH, WE'VE WORKED, UH, CLOSELY ON, UH, TASK FORCES.

UH, THE CITY ASKED IF I WOULD SHARE THE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE AND APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN SEVERAL

[00:05:01]

THE CITY OF AUSTIN APPOINTS THREE BOARD MEMBERS AT INTERVAL CARE.

SO WE'RE JOINED VERY CLOSELY IN A COMMON PUBLIC POLICY AND, UH, SERVING, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY.

JUST WOULD SAY BRIEFLY, UH, LOOKING AHEAD, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT AND, UH, THIS IS FINANCIAL SUPPORT, IT'S POLICY SUPPORT, BUT, UH, WITH THE CITY, WE HAVE THREE PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING PROJECTS.

MM-HMM.

THAT ARE DEVELOPMENT TODAY SURE.

THAT ARE GONNA SERVE THE, THE HOMELESS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE STAFF PRESENCE IN THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER, AND WE'RE NOW ASKING, UH, THE QUESTION OF FIRE POLICE EMS OR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND WHEN WE DISPATCH MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAMS, WE'RE SAVING LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE'RE DIVERTING AWAY FROM INCARCERATION AND OTHER, UH, LEGAL ISSUES THAT, UH, FOLKS HAVE ENOUGH COMPLEXITY IN THEIR LIVES, UH, ALREADY.

AND THEN THE IMPORTANT WORK OF WORKING WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, THIS IS AN AREA OF PROVIDING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TAKING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH FOR EDUCATION, UH, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THE PARENTS IN, UH, THOSE THAT ARE FACING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ADDRESSING PREVENTION OF SUICIDE, WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE ANY MORE CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.

AND I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP ALSO AT PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE WORK AND THE CONTRACTUAL SUPPORT THAT WE'VE HAD.

SO, MAYOR, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY BACK, IF YOU COULD, UH, RELATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS.

AND, UH, THANKS ARE IN GOOD HANDS FOR THE FUTURE.

APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, SIR.

GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU.

YEP.

THANKS DAVID.

WANNA TAKE A QUICK PICTURE? HEY, DAVID.

YEP.

WELCOME TO TAKE A PICTURE OVER HERE, ONE, WE'RE BACK.

WELL, GOOD MORNING AGAIN.

[Distinguished Service Award – Gilda Powers – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by Gilda Powers]

AND, UH, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS I GET TO DO AS MAYOR IS RECOGNIZE, UH, OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY AS TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

AND TODAY WE KIND OF HAVE THE DEFINITION OF A LONGTIME TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT.

AND THAT IS HILDA MARIE POWERS.

UM, LEMME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF, OF, OF THIS WONDERFUL PERSON, UH, THE, THAT WE'RE, WE ALL WISH HER GREAT, GOOD LUCK.

UM, AND, AND, AND THIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER THAT SHE'S HAD FOR MORE THAN 26 YEARS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

26 YEARS AT THE CITY.

SHE STARTED WITH THE CITY AS A CROSSING GUARD FOR SCHOOL KIDS, AND SHE REACHED THE, THE ROLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER, UH, BEFORE HER RETIREMENT.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY OF HILDEN.

UH, SHE'S A RARE INDIVIDUAL AND EVERYONE TELLS YOU THAT SHE GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO HELP EVERYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE ANY SORT OF NEEDS, UH, FROM THEIR NEEDS ON WORKING ON TIME SHEETS, UH, TO SPECIAL EVENTS, TO OFFICE MOVES.

SHE'S THERE AND SHE DOES IT ALL, AND SHE'S HAPPY TO DO IT ALL.

UH, SHE HAS A VERY CHEERY ATTITUDE, E EVEN IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS.

AND, UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE POINT OUT, MAKE HER ESPECIALLY SPECIAL.

SHE ALWAYS MAKES SURE THE JOB, BY THE WAY, IS COMPLETELY DONE.

AND SHE'S OFTEN THE EARLIEST ON THE SCENE, AND SHE'LL BE THE LAST ONE TO TURN OUT THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT.

UH, WHEN THE JOB IS FINALLY DONE, SHE, UM, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN AT THE PLACE 26 YEARS, YOU HAVE A VAST STORE OF KNOWLEDGE.

SHE'S SOMEBODY THAT HAS BECOME KIND OF THE GOOGLE, IF YOU WILL, UH, UH, WHERE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY NEEDS, UH, IN PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, MANY FOLKS, THE REFRAIN IS NOT GOOGLE IT, IT IS ASK HILDA .

UM, BECAUSE SHE PROBABLY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO, TO WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

SHE KNOWS EVERYONE'S NAME IN THE DEPARTMENT, SHE KNOWS THEIR FAMILIES, SHE KNOWS THEIR STORIES OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND SHE'S ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PASS THE HAT IF, UH, THERE'S SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE OR A CONGRATULA

[00:10:01]

OR IF SOMEBODY JUST NEEDS SOMEBODY, SHE'S THE PERSON THAT WILL LISTEN AND, AND BE THERE FOR THEM.

UM, AS A RESULT OF THAT, SHE HAS ANOTHER TITLE, AND THAT IS THAT MANY PEOPLE REFER TO HER AS MOM BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS THERE TO WRAP HER ARM AROUND SOMEBODY AND MAKE SURE THINGS ARE, ARE, ARE PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE.

SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE GET TO PAUSE AND SAY THANK YOU AND RECOGNIZE SOMEONE OF SUCH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.

AND SO WITH THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE AS MAYOR TO PRESENT THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO READ IT.

IT READS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR 26 YEARS OF STEADFAST SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

HILDA POWERS IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.

SO THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 21ST DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR 2024.

IT'S DONE ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHO APPRECIATES YOU MORE THAN WILL EVER BE ABLE TO SAY.

AND I'M PROUD AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SIGN THIS AND MAKE A PRESENTATION TO YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WOW.

WELL, UM, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.

I, UH, I WAS TRULY SHOCKED, UM, WHEN I WALKED IN HERE AND I SAW, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I STARTED WORKING WITH MY FRIENDS IN THE CROSSING GUARD WORLD AND, UH, ALL THE WAY TO MY OLD DIRECTOR AND MY NEW DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND, AND JAMES AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN HERE.

OH MY GOD.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND, UH, UM, I LOVE WORKING FOR THE CITY.

MY PAST 25, 26 YEARS ALMOST, UM, HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING RIDE.

AND, UH, I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

UH, THERE WILL BE NO MORE NASTY GROUNDS BEING SENT FROM ME TO TURN IN YOUR TIME SHEETS OR SUBMIT YOUR RCAQ AND A OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I HAVE LOVED IT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND MY KIDS.

WE THANK YOU.

HOW DO YOU WANNA TAKE A PICTURE? JUST HERE.

GOOD MORNING.

[Additional item*]

AND AFTER THAT LAST PRESENTATION, WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF, UH, ANOTHER PRESENTATION TO MAKE FOR A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO DO A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT WORK FOR THE CITY AND WHICH WORK WE DO APPRECIATE.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME TO CELEBRATE THIS EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

OUR CITY THRIVES ON THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF ITS EMPLOYEES.

TODAY WE SHINE AND EXTRA SPOTLIGHT ON A TEAM WHOSE WORK OFTEN HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR CITY'S SUCCESS.

AND THAT IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PROCUREMENT STAFF.

THE PROCUREMENT STAFF ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY'S EFFORTS TO UPHOLD INTEGRITY, WHILE FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THEIR WORK ENSURES THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

IT FOSTERS TRANSPARENCY AND COMPETITIVENESS, AND ULTIMATELY GUARANTEES THE QUALITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION OF THE SERVICES AND GOODS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY, TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.

TODAY WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE PLAYED BY PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS.

THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT HAS PROCLAIMED MARCH AS PROCUREMENT MONTH HIGHLIGHTING THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IN CITY GOVERNMENT, IN LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY'S OVERALL ECONOMY.

THEREFORE, WITH GREAT PRIDE AND ADMIRATION AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I, LESLIE POOLE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 21ST, 2024 AS AUSTIN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS DAY HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THIS DAY IS NOT

[00:15:01]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AND FOR MAKING AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

NOW HERE IS THE, UM, ACTUAL PROCLAMATION AND I'M GONNA ASK TO HOLD THIS AND I WILL READ IT FOR EVERYONE.

AND THEN I WILL ASK OUR CFO ED BONINO TO SAY A FEW WORDS WHEN WE'RE DONE.

VERY GOOD.

SO, AUSTIN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS DAY PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CITY OF AUSTIN PROCUREMENT STAFF EMBODY PROFESSIONALS WHO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROFESSION IN AUSTIN.

AND WHEREAS THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT IN AUSTIN, ENSURING THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS THROUGH TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE PROCESSES AND PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE QUALITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION OF SERVICES AND GOODS PROCURED FOR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.

AND WHEREAS THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT HAS PROCLAIMED THE MONTH OF MARCH AS PROCUREMENT MONTH TO FURTHER EXPAND AWARENESS OF THE PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONAL'S ROLE TO GOVERNMENTAL, FIC, GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, BUSINESSES, AND THE PUBLIC.

NOW, THEREFORE, I LESLIE POOL ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DUE HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 21ST, 2024 AS AUSTIN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS DAY IN AUSTIN.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

THERE IT IS.

THANK YOU.

AND ED, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER OR MORE PROUD TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE CITY'S, UH, PROFESSIONAL PROCUREMENT STAFF.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN A LOT OF WAYS PROCUREMENT ACTIVITY IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

I WAS DRIVING HERE TODAY A LITTLE BIT HELD UP 'CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO AN ACCIDENT.

AND AS THE FIRETRUCK PASSED ME, I KNEW THIS PROCLAMATION WAS COMING.

I'M THINKING TO MYSELF THAT FIRE TRUCK ISN'T ROLLING WITHOUT A PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO HAVE PROCURED THE FIRE TRUCK.

YOU KNOW, FROM ALL THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAT ARE GOING ON OUT AT THE AIRPORT WITH OUR CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, UM, ALL THE WAY TO THE DOG FOOD THAT WE USE OUT AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

ALL OF IT REQUIRES A PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

VERY LITTLE OF WHAT WE DO IN THIS CITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY HAPPENS WITHOUT, UM, AN APPROPRIATE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

AND OUR TEAM TRULY DOES IT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE IF YOU, UM, THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT INSTITUTE HAS AWARDED OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM WITH THEIR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR 10 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY AWARD TO RECEIVE.

UM, AND WE'VE DONE IT FOR 10 YEARS IN A ROW.

UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, THE, THE, THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MANAGER, THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR, IT'S ONE OF OUR STAFF.

IF YOU ATTEND ANY OF THE PROCUREMENT CONFERENCES, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF THE SESSIONS ACTUALLY BEING LED BY OUR STAFF.

SO OUR TEAM IS THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, AND YET SOMETIMES UNHERALDED PART OF HOW WE OPERATE AS A CITY.

SO AGAIN, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE AWARD AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU, ED.

THANKS SEAN.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, DIANA.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

OH, PICTURES YES.

RIGHT OVER HERE.

HERE SO YOU'RE NOT IN FRONT OF THEM.

GOOD MORNING

[Proclamation – Joe “Nathan” Olivares Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]

MY NAME IS VANESSA PUENTES AND I PROUDLY REPRESENT SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, DISTRICT TWO AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

TODAY I'M BOTH HUMBLED AND HONORED TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOE NATHAN OLIVAREZ, WHOSE IMPACT HAS MADE A LASTING MARK ON OUR CITY.

NATHAN WAS A LOVING FATHER, HUSBAND, FAMILY MAN AND MUSICIAN, BUT HIS LOVE EXTENDED WELL BEYOND HIS FAMILY AND MUSIC CAREER FOR DECADES, HE WAS A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR OUR CITY'S MUSICIANS, THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR FUTURES.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT OUR MUSICIANS NEEDED A LIFELINE, THE, AND THAT THEY WERE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY.

HE WAS AN AUSTINITE THROUGH AND THROUGH.

WHILE I DIDN'T HAVE THE HONOR TO PERSONALLY KNOW NATHAN, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HIS LIFE AND HIS EXPERIENCE THROUGH DEANNA.

AND FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED, I BELIEVED HE WAS A TRULY REMARKABLE AND SPECIAL INDIVID INDIVIDUAL AND SUCH AN

[00:20:01]

DEANNA, THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD.

IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT IT TO YOU NOW BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS KNOWN AS THE 12 STRING WIZARD JOE NATHAN OLIVARES IS A CELEBRATED AUSTIN MUSICIAN WHO BEGAN PLAYING GUITAR AT THE AGE OF FIVE AND CONTINUED HIS PASSION IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

AND WHEREAS NATHAN WAS AN AUSTIN MUSIC COMMUNITY ACTIVIST FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, HE PROMOTED AND UPLIFTED LOCAL BANDS BY VOLUNTEERING AS THE ON-AIR TALENT AND CO-HOST OF THE LONG RUNNING COMMUNITY ACCESS TELEVISION PROGRAM.

CAP ZZ, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? CAPSIZE CAP EYES, CAPS EYES, CAPS EYES, WHILE ALSO ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE FOR MUSICIANS THROUGH THE HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS HAM.

AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS MUSICAL CAREER, NATHAN RECEIVED SIX AUSTIN MUSIC AWARD NOMINATIONS, TWO FOR HIS GUITAR PLAYING SKILLS AND FOUR FOR THE METAL BAND DANCER.

AND WHEREAS FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL PETITION, HE GATHERED OVER 1300 SUPPORTERS NATHAN'S PHOTOGRAPH EARNING A LA A LASTING SPOT AT THE AUSTIN AIRPORT AS PART OF A ROTATING GALLERY CURATED BY STEVEN PILLARS IN THE A BIA.

NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON, CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH, 2024, AS JOE NATHAN OLIVARES DAY IN AUSTIN ACCEPTING THE PROCLAMATION.

WE HAVE HIS FAMILY AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU MIND, YES, I'LL THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I AM DEANNA OLIVARES WIDOW OF JOE NATHAN OLIVARES.

IT IS WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND PRIDE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE OLIVAS FAMILY THAT WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR BESTOWING UPON MY HUSBAND THE HONOR OF JOE NATHAN OLIVAS DAY IN AUSTIN OFFICIALLY CELEBRATED ON MARCH 26TH, WHICH IS HIS BIRTHDAY WHEN NATHAN PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER THE NINTH.

AT THE AGE OF 58, THE CITY OF AUSTIN LOST AN AMBASSADOR OF TALENT, HOPE, LOVE, AND PASSION.

NATHAN GREYSTAR CITY'S STAGES WITH HIS MUSICAL TALENTS FOR OVER FOUR DECADES, HIS JOURNEY BEGAN AT THE TENDER AGE OF FIVE IN CORPUS AND HIS MARK ON AUSTIN'S LIVE MUSIC COMMUNITY BEGAN WHEN HE WAS JUST 16.

SINCE THEN, HE HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FABRIC OF AUSTIN'S MUSIC SCENE.

BEYOND HIS REMARKABLE MUSICAL ABILITIES, NATHAN HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO SERVING AS A BEACON OF SUPPORT FOR OUR LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY.

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, HE HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ACTIVIST THROUGH HIS VOLUNTEER ROLE AS AN AIR ON AIR TALENT AND CO-HOST OF THE ICONIC TELEVISION PROGRAM, CAPSIZE ON AUSTIN PUBLIC PROMOTING LOCAL BANDS IN THEIR MUSIC.

AND FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS OF HIS LIFE, CREATING AWARENESS EVERYWHERE HE PLAYED FOR THE HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR GREATER AUSTIN'S LOW INCOME WORKING MUSICIANS WITH A FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND WELLNESS.

NATHAN'S IMPACT ON AUSTIN'S MUSICAL LANDSCAPE IS UNDENIABLE.

HE WAS WELL KNOWN FOR SPREADING ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSING ON OTHER STRENGTHS AND PUSHING THEM TO KEEP GOING NO MATTER WHAT.

THANK YOU TO MICHAEL WRIGHT OF SEVEN PILLARS PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE AUSTIN BERKSHIRE MISSION.

ASK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR AGREEING.

AFTER THE EFFORTS OF OUR COMMUNITY GARNERED MORE THAN 1300 SIGNATURES, THAT NATHAN'S PHOTO WILL NOW REMAIN AT BAGGAGE CLAIM ONE FOR THE DURATION OF THE ROTATING PHOTOGRAPHER'S PROJECT.

THIS RECOGNITION SERVES AS AS A POIGNANT REMINDER OF NATHAN'S ENDURING LEGACY AND HIS PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON AUSTIN'S MUSIC HISTORY.

THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON.

THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TO DISTRICT TWO COUNCILWOMAN, VANESSA FUENTES.

THANK YOU.

AND OUR OTHER ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING AND HONORING ONE OF YOUR OWN, SOMEONE WHO COMMITTED HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND CAREER TO AUSTIN'S THRIVING MUSIC COMMUNITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND SHOULD FOREVER BE KNOWN AS A LIFER IN THE SPIRIT OF NATHAN'S GIVING NATURE TOGETHER, LET US CONTINUE TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY WHERE CREATIVITY THRIVES AND MUSIC FLOURISHES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

AND WE STRIVE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE VALUABLE RESOURCES AND GIFTS OUR CITY HAS BEEN GIVEN SO THE MUSIC CAN CONTINUE FOREVER.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WONDERFUL.

AND THEN SHE'LL TAKE OUR PHOTO AND HERE YOU GO.

YOU WANNA STEP RIGHT AWAY?

[00:25:11]

[Proclamation – Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri and to be accepted by Dr. Arun Gurunathan, HTC Director of The Central Texas Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders]

UH, I'M COUNCIL MEMBER ZOGA AND I'M SO PROUD TO REPRESENT DISTRICT NINE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

UH, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO READ A PROCLAMATION, UH, AND, AND, AND JUST, UH, HIGHLIGHT THE BLEEDING BLEEDING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH.

UH, I'M PROUD TO BE STANDING UP HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION HONORING MARCH AS BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH, OR B-D-A-M-B-D-A-M HAS BEEN OBSERVED EACH MARCH SINCE 2016 AFTER BEING DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCE, UH, BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

BDAM AIMS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF INHERITABLE BLOOD AND BLEEDING DISORDERS AMONG THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS BRING THEM TO THE ATTENTION OF POLICY MAKERS, PUBLIC AUTHORITIES, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

THE NATIONAL BLEEDING DISORDERS FOUNDATION OR NBDF SAYS THIS IS THE TIME TO START THE CONVERSATION AROUND ISSUES AND EXPERIENCES RELATED TO BLEEDING DISORDERS.

AND THEY UNDERSCORE THAT WHETHER YOUR CONCERNS OR INTERESTS REVOLVE AROUND RESEARCH, TREATMENTS, WOMEN'S HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, OR JUST WANTING TO BE THERE FOR FAMILY OR FRIENDS, WE CAN ALL PLAY A ROLE IN STARTING OR ELEVATING THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

THIS IS ALSO PERSONAL TO ME.

MY COUSIN SUFFERS FROM FACTOR SEVEN DEFICIENCY THAT AFFECTS THE ABILITY FOR HER BLOOD TO CLOT.

AND AS WE GREW UP TOGETHER, I HAVE BEEN IN AWE OF HER STRENGTH, UH, WITH HOW SHE HAS DEALT WITH IT SINCE BIRTH AND PRESERVED THROUGH AND THROUGH.

I'M VERY INSPIRED BY HER AND I'M VERY INSPIRED BY EVERYONE THAT GOES THROUGH THIS JOURNEY.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED HERE TODAY BY DR.

ARUN GUHAN, THE HEMOPHILIA TREATMENT CENTER DISORDER AT THE CENTRAL TEXAS CENTER FOR BLEEDING AND CLOTTING DISORDERS.

DR.

AMIR IAN DIVISION CHIEF OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS AT THE DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AND DRAKE ALLEN, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UH, AND SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE CHILDREN'S BLOOD AND CANCER CENTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION A REALITY.

AND THANK YOU SIR.

SO VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO EVERY DAY, IMPACTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES WITH YOUR WORK.

UH, AND NOW I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO DR.

ANAAN TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER ZHE KADRI, THANK YOU TO MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND TO EVERYONE AT CITY COUNCIL WHO WAS INVOLVED IN GRANTING THIS PROCLAMATION AND WHO INVITED ME HERE TODAY.

UH, I AM ARUN GU.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF OUR HEMOPHILIA AND BLEEDING DISORDER TREATMENT CENTER, UH, THE CENTRAL TEXAS CENTER FOR BLEEDING AND CLOTTING DISORDERS, UH, WHICH IS PART OF DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER.

AS MENTIONED, UH, BLEEDING DISORDERS ARE, UH, MORE PREVALENT THAN WE THINK.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRESENT IN OVER 1% OF THE US POPULATION.

AND WHILE CERTAINLY SEVERE BLEEDING DISORDERS CAN PRESENT WITH MAJOR SPONTANEOUS BLEEDING, IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT EVEN MILDER FORMS OF BLEEDING DISORDERS CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BLEEDING ISSUES, ESPECIALLY AFTER AN INJURY OR SURGERY.

I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT OUR MEDICAL TEAM AND TEAMS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE DOING TO ADVANCE THE DIAGNOSIS AND CARE OF PATIENTS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS.

UM, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT IS INSTRUMENTAL IN ALL OF THIS.

AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, THAT IT HELPS PEOPLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THEIR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BLEEDING DISORDERS, THAT IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO, UH, SPEAK WITH THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT WHETHER A BLEEDING DISORDER SCREENING IS, IS, UH, WARRANTED IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THINGS SUCH AS, UH, FREQUENT NOSEBLEEDS, HEAVY MENSTRUAL BLEEDING, UNUSUAL BRUISING, OR HAVE A STRONG FAMILY HISTORY OF BLEEDING DISORDERS.

AND THAT IT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO, UH, SUPPORT AND PURSUE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PATIENTS, UH, WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS.

AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT.

GREAT.

AND WITH THAT, UH, I'M READY TO, UH, READ THE PROCLAMATION.

UH, BE KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BEGAN DESIGNATING MARCH AS BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH IN 2016, AND WHEREAS INHERITABLE BLEEDING DISORDERS AFFECT OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE US AND CAN RESULT IN SPONTANEOUS BLEEDING OR EXTENDED BLEEDING AFTER INJURY SURGERY OR MENSTRUATION, THESE DIS DISORDERS CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT MORBID MORBIDITY AND CAN BE FATAL IF NOT TREATED APPROPRIATELY.

AND WHEREAS BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH WILL GENERATE GREATER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING

[00:30:01]

AND WHEREAS BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH WILL FOSTER A GREATER SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SHARED PURPOSE AMONG ALL INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS WITH INHERITABLE BLEEDING DISORDERS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE RY, UH, ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE REST OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2024 AS BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

DO YOU WANT TO COME UP? DID YOU WANNA COME UP AS WELL? SORRY.

SORRY.