May 02, 2024 City Council Proclamations

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GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I WILL, UH, JUMP RIGHT IN AND GET US STARTED RIGHT AT

[Proclamation – National Cities, Towns, and Villages Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool]

I THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS AND CERTIFICATES TO PRESENT TODAY, SO WE WILL GET STARTED AS MAYOR PRO TEM OF AUSTIN.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I AM HONORED TO PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS NATIONAL CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES MONTH CELEBRATING NOT ONLY THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, BUT ALSO THE ENDURING SPIRIT AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS OUR NATION.

SO LET'S SEIZE THE DAY.

LET'S EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, REFLECT ON OUR CHALLENGES, AND RECOMMIT TO THE ESSENTIAL WORK AT THE MOST IMMEDIATE AND IMPACTFUL LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO TOGETHER AT THE MUNICIPALITIES LEVEL AND WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOSTER INNOVATION, DRIVE PROGRESS, AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF 336 MILLION RESIDENTS WHO CALL OUR CITY'S TOWNS AND VILLAGES HOME.

AND SO TO, I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION AND HERE IT IS, HERE BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WAS FOUNDED IN 1924 IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS AS THE AMERICAN MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION BY STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES SEEKING MORE COORDINATION AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION AS CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES EXPANDED RAPIDLY.

AND WHEREAS THE NONPARTISAN NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MORE THAN 19,000 CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WHEREAS TODAY, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 49 STATE MUNICIPAL LEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL LEADERSHIP, DRIVE INNOVATION AND INFLUENCE THE FEDERAL POLICIES THAT IMPACT LOCAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS.

AND WHEREAS AS THE VOICE OF CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES IN WASHINGTON, DC, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS SUCCESSFULLY CHAMPIONED FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES AND HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS ON THE REALITIES OF LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION.

AND WHEREAS AUSTIN IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND HAS BENEFITED FROM THE ORGANIZATION'S RESEARCH, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, FEDERAL ADVOCACY, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND WHEREAS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, PROVIDING 336 MILLION RESIDENTS WITH THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, ETHICAL, AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD.

AND WHEREAS FROM THE NATION'S SMALLEST VILLAGES TO ITS LARGEST CITIES, AMERICA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN TRANSFORMING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO THE GREATEST MOST INFLUENTIAL NATION IN WORLD HISTORY.

AND WHEREAS AUSTIN WAS FIRST INCORPORATED IN 1839 AND IS PROUDLY SERVED TODAY BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND A MUNICIPAL WORKFORCE OF OVER 18,000 DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE SERVANTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I LESLIE POOLE MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS NATIONAL CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

GOOD MORNING

[Proclamation – Older Americans Month – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]

I'M COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ AND I GET TO PROCLAIM, UM, MAY AS, UH, OLDER AMERICANS MONTH BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS OBSERVED NATIONALLY, NATIONALLY TO ENCOURAGE OLDER ADULTS TO CONNECT THROUGH SOCIAL PARTICIPATION CREATE BY ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LEARNING AND CONTRIBUTE TIME, TALENT, AND LIFE EXPERIENCES TO OTHERS.

AND WHEREAS THE 2024 THEME OF OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS POWERED BY CONNECTION, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS HAVE ON HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

AND WHEREAS AUSTIN INCLUDES A GROWING NUMBER

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AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO ACKNOWLEDGING, ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR MANY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN AND THE COMMISSION ON AGING STRIVES TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS MORE EQUITABLE FOR OLDER ADULTS BY EXPLORING THE VITAL ROLE THAT CONNECTEDNESS PLAYS IN SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE AND AGING IN PLACE, REDUCING ISOLATION, LONELINESS, AND OTHER ISSUES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE THEME OF OLDER AMERICANS MONTH 2024.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING TOGETHER ALL GENERATIONS TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS ARE WELCOMED, INCLUDED, AND SUPPORTED.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSE VE LACE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT THREE ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

AND I PASS IT OVER TO RICHARD BUNDY.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I'M RICHARD BONDE, CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING.

I AM HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

THIS IS A TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OLDER ADULTS MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES, AND TO OUR NATION AS A WHOLE.

THIS YEAR'S THEME POWERED BY CONNECTION FOCUSES ON THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS HAVE ON THE WELLBEING AND HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING SOMEONE TO CHAT WITH.

IT'S ABOUT THE REMARKABLE POTENTIAL THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAYS IN ENHANCING ONE'S MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.

BY RECOGNIZING AND NURTURING MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL ROLES THAT THESE CONNECTION PLAY, WE CAN HELP MITIGATE MANY OF THE ISSUES FACING OLDER AMERICANS AND PROMOTE HEALTHY AGING FOR MORE AMERICANS.

HERE IN AUSTIN, BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020 PEOPLE AGED 65 AND OVER WERE THE FASTEST GROWING AGE GROUP.

SINCE 2020, THE AUSTIN POPULATION OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER GREW BY 13,734 OR 15% PERSONS AGE 65 AND OVER TODAY REPRESENT 11% OF AUSTIN'S TOTAL POPULATION WITH NEARLY HALF OF THEM LIVING ALONE.

THIS MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO REFLECT ON THE COUNTLESS WAYS IN WHICH OLDER AMERICANS HAVE SHAPED OUR LIVES AND OUR NATION, FROM THEIR SACRIFICE, SACRIFICES, AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE TO THEIR DEDICATION, TO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

OLDER AMERICANS HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOOKING BACK, IT'S ALSO ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD.

IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT OLDER ADULTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY AND HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER.

THEY ARE MENTORS, VOLUNTEERS, CAREGIVERS, AND ADVOCATES.

THEY'RE THE EMBODIMENT OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE.

AS WE CELEBRATE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, LET US COMMIT OURSELVES TO ENSURING THAT OLDER ADULTS HAVE THE RESPECT, SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE.

LET US WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE, AND AGE FRIENDLY.

LET US CHAMPION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY AGING, FINANCIAL SECURITY, AND SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.

WE DON'T WANNA MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE OLDER ADULTS IN OUR LIVES, OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS.

IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE TAKE TIME TO HONOR AND RESPECT THE WISDOM, EXPERIENCE, AND RESILIENCE OF OUR OLDER ADULTS, NOT JUST THIS MONTH, BUT EVERY DAY.

THEY'RE THE GUARDIANS OF OUR HISTORY, THE PILLARS OF OUR FAMILIES, AND THE BACKBONES OF OUR SOCIETY.

THIS SATURDAY, PLEASE JOIN US AT THE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH KICKOFF EVENT FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT THE CONLEY GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.

WE'LL BE PROVIDING COMMUNITY RESOURCE INFORMATION ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS, AND SAFETY PROCEDURES DURING EMERGENCIES.

WE'LL ALSO BE HONORING TWO OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE COMMISSIONED ON AGING SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD.

ONE OF THEM IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, NAOMI DELGADO, THE RECIPIENT OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER AWARD.

IN CLOSING, LET US REMEMBER THAT

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LET US EMBRACE THE RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY OF OLDER AMERICANS AND CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO OUR WORLD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU WANNA TAKE ONE OVER HERE? YES.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? YES.

DO ANYBODY ELSE WANNA COME UP? GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

[Distinguished Service Awards – Firefighters from the Casulo Hotel fire – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez and to be accepted by Fire Chief Joel Baker and Austin Fire Department staff]

THEIR VALIANT EFFORTS SPANNED OVER FI OVER FIRE, AR FIVE ARDUOUS HOURS, EXCUSE ME, BATTLING A FIRE AND SAFEGUARDING LIVES AND PROPERTY.

THANKS TO THESE VALIANT EFFORTS, THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED AVERTING ITS SPREAD TO NEARBY HOMES AND PREVENTING MAJOR INJURIES AND FATALITIES FOR THAT.

THESE A FD FIREFIGHTERS ARE DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.

THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF.

FIRE CHIEF.

THANK YOU, SIR.

COUNCIL, MA'AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZE THE HEROIC WOMEN AND MEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND, UH, I CONTINUE TO SAY THAT EVERY DAY WHEN THEY COME TO WORK, THEY PUT THEMSELF IN HARM'S WAY TO PROTECT THE CITY.

AND FOR THAT WE ALL SALUTE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, JENNIFER, YOUR LEADERSHIP, LADIES, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.

CONTINUE TO GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU.

TAKE A PHOTO RIGHT HERE.

YOU WANNA DO IT UP HERE? I'M, I'M, I'M SO TALL ON BLOCKING PEOPLE.

[Proclamation – Wildfire Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter]

I'M ALLISON AL ALTER AND IT IS MY HONOR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

WE'RE GATHERED THIS MORNING TO DECLARE MAY AS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, AND TO INVITE LOCAL LEADERS, THE MEDIA AND OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR WILDFIRE READINESS AND PREVENTION EFFORTS.

I'M JOINED TODAY BY CHIEF BAKER AND CHIEF KENNEDY, UM, ALONG WITH OTHER LEADERS FROM THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, AND OF COURSE, A SPECIAL WELCOME FOR SMOKEY BEAR.

AND FOR THE RECORD, IT IS SMOKEY BEAR, NOT SMOKEY THE BEAR.

UM, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO REMEMBER NOT TO START FIRES TODAY.

UM, I WANNA START BY RECOGNIZING A-F-D-A-F-A, THE WILDFIRE

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YOU'LL SEE WITH ME TODAY THAT WE HAVE MANY MORE MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COMMUNITY THAN JUST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE AUSTIN WATER, WE HAVE AUSTIN ENERGY, WE HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, ALSO ENGAGED.

WE HAVE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.

UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE HERE TODAY, BUT EQUITY IN PART A RR MANY, MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE ENGAGED, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, I BELIEVE PUBLIC HEALTH IS HERE TODAY AS WELL.

WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH IS OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO ME BECAUSE MUCH OF MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 10 LOCATED IN CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST AUSTIN IS AT HIGH RISK FOR WILDFIRE BEING IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE.

FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR, THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE IS THE SPACE WHERE OUR WILDLANDS MEET STRUCTURES OFTEN REFERRED TO AS WWE, AND IT'S THE AREA AT MOST RISK FOR WILDFIRE AS A WHOLE.

AUSTIN IS STRUCTURALLY THE FIFTH MOST AT RISK CITY IN THE US FOR WILDFIRE.

SO PREPAREDNESS MUST BE A PRIORITY FOR ALL AUSTINITES, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING TO BRING GREATER AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE.

AND WITH THAT, MAKING US MORE RESILIENT.

UNLESS YOU THINK THIS, UNLESS YOU THINK THIS IS JUST AN WEST AUSTIN ISSUE, WE HAVE A RING AROUND THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE HIGH WILDFIRE RISK.

WEST, EAST, NORTH, AND SOUTH ALL HAVE SPACES THAT ARE IN THE .

WILDFIRE PREVENTION, THUS IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WHILE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WORK TO EDUCATE AND SAFEGUARD US, WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY.

AS SMOKEY BEAR REMINDS US, EACH OF US IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, ALSO HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN PREVENTION.

WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE BEST TIME TO PREPARE IS BEFORE A WILDFIRE EVENT OCCURS.

I WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE TIME DURING WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH TO ACCESS MATERIALS THE CITY MAKES AVAILABLE SO YOU CAN BE READY BEFORE WILDFIRE SEASON IS UPON US THIS SUMMER.

THE WILDFIRE DIVISION HAS A WEBSITE YOU CAN EASILY FIND BY SEARCHING FOR AUSTIN WILDFIRE HUB.

YOU'LL FIND EVERYTHING HERE FROM RESILIENT LANDSCAPING INFORMATION TO HOW TO MAKE A PERSONAL WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN FOR YOUR FAMILY.

WHEN FIRE HAPPENS, IT HAPPENS FAST, AND WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY HERE AT THE CITY, I'M PROUD THAT WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WILDFIRE IS NO LONGER JUST THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FIGHT WITH US TODAY.

AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN WATER, HE SOME SUSTAINABILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORE DEPARTMENTS.

WE'VE WORKED WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ADOPTED BUILDING CODES TO HARDEN NEW STRUCTURES BUILT IN THE WWE.

WE'VE ACCELERATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT OF HIGH WILDFIRE, LOW RELIABILITY ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

WE'VE ADOPTED A PART LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE AND WILDFIRE RESISTANCE OF OUR PARKS AND PRESERVES.

WE'RE HARDENING, UM, THE AREAS AROUND OUR AUSTIN WATER PLANTS.

WE'VE CONVENED STAFF TO DISCUSS EVACUATION AND PREPARE FOR WILDFIRE EMERGENCIES.

WE'RE PREPARING FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHAT SMOKE MEANS, BUT BEING AWARE OF OUR OWN PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS IS ALSO CRUCIAL.

I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THAT THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS BY MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN HUMAN CAUSE.

WILDFIRE IGNITIONS IN OUR AREA.

WE WENT FROM 3000 STARTS IN 2022, DOWN BY A THIRD TO ONLY 2000 STARTS IN 2023 UNDER EVEN MORE EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS.

WHEN WE SEE THE PUBLIC RESPONDING LIKE THIS BY BEING MORE RESPONSIBLE WITH IGNITION SOURCES, THIS PROVES OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE WORKING.

SO THANK YOU EVERYONE INVOLVED.

I'M SO PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO FORTIFY OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE DANGERS OF WILDFIRE.

AS THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY WILDFIRE COALITION SAYS, WILDFIRE IS EVERYONE'S FIGHT.

WHEN EVERYONE DOES THEIR PART, WE ARE ALL SAFER.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND TAKING THE WILDFIRE THREAT IN AUSTIN.

SERIOUSLY, I HOPE TO SEE OUR CITY'S WILDFIRE AWARENESS EFFORTS CONTINUE TO GROW.

AND I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION WHICH I WILL, UM, SHARE WITH CHIEF BAKER, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS WILDFIRE CONTINUES TO BE AN ONGOING AND PERSISTENT THREAT IN THE AUSTIN AREA, IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF BUT WHEN A WILDFIRE WILL OCCUR.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION HAS DECLARED MAY 4TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DAY.

AND WHEREAS WE CALL ON ALL RESIDENTS AND COOPERATORS TO MAKE AUSTIN A FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITY THROUGH AWARENESS AND ACTIONS THAT MITIGATE DANGERS TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR PROPERTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ALISON AL ALTER ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN.

THANK YOU,

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I DON'T THINK SMOKER CAN TALK .

LET ME START OFF BY BRINGING YOU GREETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT TO OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JESUS GAZA, TO THE HONOR MAYOR KURT WATSON AND ALL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY RECOGNIZING THE COMMITMENT OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AS IT RELATES TO THE WOMEN OF MEN OF THIS GREAT DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, WHO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY JUST TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT ALSO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDER HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE.

SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF FIRE DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THIS PROCLAMATION IS JUST ONE SYMBOL OF RECOGNITION OF OUR MISSION, WHICH IS THAT AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A SAFE AND RESILIENT COMMUN COMMUNITIES THROUGH PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, AND EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

TODAY I CHALLENGE EVERYONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RISK OF POTENTIAL WILDLAND FIRES THAT ARE FACING OUR COMMUNITY.

I CHALLENGE EVERYONE AGAIN TO GO TO THE AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/DEPARTMENT/WILDFIRES AND DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH ON A WIFI HUB THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTA TALKED ABOUT, AS WELL AS REGISTER FOR THE WARREN CENTRAL TEST ALERT AND GET YOUR OWN COPY OF MY PERSONAL WIFI ACTION GUIDE.

THIS GUIDE CAN HELP YOU SAVE YOU, LEARN HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WILDFIRE AND JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND LEARN ABOUT WIRE, ABOUT FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITY.

AND IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, WHEN I FIRST MET YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR BACK IN 2019, YOU ASKED ME, HOW MUCH DO I KNOW ABOUT WILDFIRES? YOU REMEMBER THAT? YES, I TOLD HER ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, BUT I HAVE PEOPLE FOR THAT.

AND I ASSURE HER THAT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN AUSTIN FIRE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMITTED, DEDICATED PERSONNEL TO MAKE SURE THIS CITY IS SAFE.

HOWEVER, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I HAVE DEVELOPED ANOTHER SKILLS AND ABILITY THROUGH YOUR CHALLENGING ME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WILDFIRE.

AND I'M STAYING HERE TODAY AS THE FIRE CHIEF TO LET THIS COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS IN GOOD HAND WITH THE WILDFIRE DIVISION.

SO IT'S NOT WHAT I HAVE DONE IT, WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE NOT UP HERE AS WELL HAS DONE FOR THE WILDFIRE, UH, PROTECTION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO THANK YOU ALL, UH, WILDFIRE DIVISION, UH, JUSTICE JONES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PUSH ME AS WELL.

GOOD MORNING.

[Distinguished Service Award – Kurt Cadena-Mitchell – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter]

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME IN THE DISTRICT 10 TEAM THIS MORNING AS WE CELEBRATE AND THANK KURT KADINA MITCHELL FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

KURT STARTED WITH ME IN 2017, MY FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE.

KURT WAS MY FIRST HIRE AND HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE ADVISOR AND DEAR FRIEND FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS.

IT'S GONNA BE A MIRACLE IF I MAKE IT THROUGH THIS.

UM, SINCE 2019, HE HAS SERVED AS MY CHIEF OF STAFF.

TO SAY THAT OVER THAT TIME WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

WE'VE BOTH GROWN A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

WHEN KURT FIRST STARTED, YOU MAY RECALL THAT HE WORE BRACES WAS FREQUENTLY MISTAKEN AS A COLLEGE STUDENT.

TODAY HE OWNS A HOME, IS HAPPILY MARRIED, STILL BENEFITS FROM A YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE.

APPEARANCE, ENJOYS A CAT, AND CONTINUES TO BE WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS.

THANK YOU TO KURT'S HUSBAND, ZACH PAWLOWSKI,

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I KNOW THAT YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO HIM.

WHEN KURT APPLIED FOR THIS JOB, HE ADMITTED THAT HE WATCHED COUNCIL MEETINGS ON A TXN IN HIS FREE TIME.

I THINK THAT WE'VE CURED HIM OF THAT HABIT.

, HIS PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND KEEN INTEREST IN CITY AFFAIRS ENABLED HIM TO BRING CRITICAL INSIGHT INTO ISSUES, DECISIONS, AND PARTS OF TOWN THAT I WAS LESS FAMILIAR WITH.

WHEN WE STARTED IN HIS ROLE AS CHIEF OF STAFF, HE ENSURED THAT I HAD THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE TEAM ON THE HALL FOR WHICH I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

LOOKING BACK OVER THE LAST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS TOGETHER, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

KURT HAS SERVED AS MY LAND USE POLICY ADVISOR HELPING ME NAVIGATE THREE PLUS ITERATIONS OF LAND CODE REFORMS, MAJOR D 10 PROJECTS LIKE AUSTIN OAKS, CAMELBACK, PUD, HOLDSWORTH, SEVERAL CHAMPIONS CASES AND DOZENS OF CASES WITH AN EYE TO SECURING AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.

TOGETHER WE SUPPORTED OUR PARK SYSTEM BY SECURING HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDING THROUGH HOT REFORMS, ACQUIRING KEY PARKLANDS SUCH AS BULL CREEK PROPERTIES 360 OVERLOOK AND CHARRING CROSS COMPLETING PARK RENOVATIONS, GREAT HILLS PARK, REED PARK, EILERS PARK, EMMA LONG BULL CREEK AND MOORE.

IN MY DISTRICT, WE PILOTED AND THEN IMPLEMENTED RECYCLING IN OUR PARKS AND ADOPTED OUR NEW PARD LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.

KURT AND I SHARE A DESIRE TO END GUN VIOLENCE AND TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS WE CAN LOCALLY TO DO OUR PART TO DO SO.

KURT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LAUNCH OF OUR GUN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE, WHICH, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED US TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHICH SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION WORK, OUR GUN LOCK SAFETY PROGRAMS, THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FIRE SURRENDER, OUR FIREARM SURRENDER PROTOCOL.

KURT SHEPHERDED, OUR ANTI HATE INITIATIVE WE ALL BELONG, AND OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO HATE MORE GENERALLY THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS TO 9 1 1 AND 3 1 1.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, HE HAS STAFFED OUR IMPORTANT WORK TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND WORK WITH ME TO IMPROVE STAFFING AT OUR 9 1 1 CALL CENTER.

AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND NOW ASPIRING MINISTER, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT KURT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND HAS WORKED TO USE GOVERNMENT TO THEIR BENEFIT.

HE HAS SUPPORTED OUR WORK TO ASSIST THE UNHOUSED TO INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE, ESPECIALLY CAPITAL IDEA AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS LIKE PRIMETIME TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE AND IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.

ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO STI DETECTION.

EVEN BEFORE HE WAS AT CITY HALL, KURT WORKED TO INCREASE THE CITY'S LIVING WAGE.

NOW NO DISCUSSION OF KURT'S CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING HOW HE STEPPED UP TO HELP US SERVE DISTRICT 10.

DURING VARIOUS EMERGENCIES FROM THE PANDEMIC TO STORM MARA DURING STORM YURI, HE LITERALLY SLEPT AT CITY HALL FOR A WEEK AFTER THE 2022 BOIL WATER DEBACLE.

HE HELPED ME INITIATE AN AUDIT OF AUSTIN WATER SO WE COULD AVOID A REPEAT SITUATION.

I COULD DEFINITELY GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE LIST OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS THERE AND TURN TO WISHING HIM WELL IN HIS NEW ADVENTURE.

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, KURT IS A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER WITH A LONGSTANDING INTEREST IN TRAUMA, DEATH, AND GRIEF.

FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, KURT HAS BEEN SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING FULL-TIME IN MY OFFICE, WHILE ALSO PURSUING A MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE FROM EARL HAM SCHOOL OF RELIGION, A QUAKER SEMINARY IN INDIANA.

HE HOPES TO BECOME A HOSPICE CHAPLAIN AS HE ENTERS THE FINAL STAGE OF HIS DEGREE PLAN.

KURT WILL NEED TO FOCUS FULL-TIME ON HIS STUDIES SO HE CAN COMPLETE HIS FINAL CLASSES AND BEGIN HIS SUPERVISED MINISTRY PLACEMENT IN A CLINICAL PASTORAL CARE UNIT.

I KNOW THAT YOU JOIN ME IN WISHING KURT WELL AS HE AFFIRMS LIFE BY TENDING TO THE DYING.

KURT, YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY THE DISTRICT 10 TEAM, OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR COLLEAGUES, AND BY ME IT IS WITH MIXED EMOTIONS, INCLUDING PRIDE THAT I NOW OFFER YOU A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS UNTIRING SERVICE, COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE, WISDOM AND SOUND JUDGMENT, COMPASSION, GOOD HUMOR, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, AND OF COURSE REVOLUTIONARY PATIENTS.

AS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, KURT CADENA MITCHELL IS DESERVING A PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.

THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF, THE SECOND DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR 2024.

AND IT IS SIGNED BY ALL OF THE COUNCIL.

THANK THANK YOU.

I, UH, THOSE WHO ARE CLOSE TO ME KNOW THAT WORDS OF AFFIRMATION ARE NOT MY STRONG SUIT, AND SO I TWO SELDOM OFFER THEM.

SO

[00:30:01]

UM, SO I I I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE BEDROCK OF MY LIFE, UM, WHICH IS MY FAMILY.

I'M JOINED BY MY TWO PARENTS, FRANK AND SYBIL, WHO HAVE TAKEN THE, WHO EXTREMELY RARE DAY OFF OF WORK, UM, WHERE WHILE MY TWO, TWO OF MY FIVE BROTHERS HOLD, OUR FOUR BROTHERS HOLD DOWN THE FORT, UM, FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.

THEY'VE SHOWN UP MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND MOST SATURDAYS AT THEIR SMALL BUSINESS.

UM, AND THEY INSTILLED IN ME, UM, A FAITH, UM, THAT COMES FROM THEIR PARENTS, MY GRANDPARENTS, MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS A BARBER AND ACTIVE IN THE GI FORUM IN LULAC, MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER WHO WORKED IN SAN ANTONIO'S LOW WAGE TOURISM ECONOMY UNTIL THAT HARD WORK LEFT HER DISABLED.

AND SHE WENT TO LIVE IN INCOME RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER, WHO IS A PARKING LOT ATTENDANT, AND, UM, THROUGH THEIR, UH, STEWARDSHIP OF MY LIFE, UM, THEY INSTILLED A FAITH THAT TAUGHT ME THAT THE MEASURE OF ANY ECONOMIC POLICY IS HOW IT SHOULD TREAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

AND THAT EACH PERSON HAS BOTH A DUTY, A RIGHT, AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC LIFE.

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, I ENTERED CATHOLIC SEMINARY, TOOK A CLASS IN DEATH AND DYING AND STUDY AND, AND LEARNED ABOUT THE HOSPICE MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL WORK.

AND I LEFT SEMINARY, MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO TO STUDY, MOVED TO AUSTIN TO STUDY SOCIAL WORK.

AND WHEN MY HIGH SCHOOL RELIGION TEACHER, SISTER LUIS MORENO LEARNED THAT I HAD MOVED HERE, SHE TOLD ME TO GET ACTIVE IN FAITH-BASED ORGANIZING.

AND I DID.

AND MY FIRST ENCOUNTER IN LOCAL POLITICS WAS IN 2011 WHEN KATHY TOVO CHALLENGED A WELL-FUNDED INCUMBENT AND WON.

AND I GOT ACTIVE BECAUSE AT THE TIME HER OPPONENT REFUSED TO COMMIT TO REQUIRE COMPANIES RECEIVING PUBLIC INCENTIVES TO PAY THEIR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE.

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT MY PARENTS GOING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, HAVING TO PAY EVERY FEE, FOLLOW EVERY RULE.

THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO HIRE A LOBBYIST TO WRITE THE RULES FOR THEM OR GET A WAIVER OR GET A VARIANCE.

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY GRANDFATHER.

AND SO THE INCUMBENT PERTURBED ME AND THANK GOD KATHY WON AND THEN WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH OTHERS TO ESTABLISH THE LIVING WAGE REQUIREMENTS IN OUR LIVING WAGE FLOOR.

NOW, FAST FORWARD TO 2016, ALISON ALTER CHALLENGED A WELL-FUNDED INCUMBENT WHO HAD SOMEHOW GOTTEN THE REPUTATION OF BEING A PRAGMATIC MODERATE, DESPITE ROUTINELY VOTING AGAINST SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN SHELTER AND PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN.

AND SO I WAS PERTURBED AND SO I DONATED TO ALLISON AND THANK GOD SHE WON.

AND THEN I SHOWED UP HAVING NEVER MET HER BEFORE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW.

AND, UH, SHE TOOK A CHANCE ON ME.

LIKE SHE SAID, I HAD BRACES.

I HAD NEVER WORKED FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I WAS A SOCIAL WORKER WORKING FOR THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SHE HIRED ME.

AND I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THE LIST 'CAUSE SHE'S ALREADY DONE IT, OF ALL THE THINGS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER.

UM, BUT IT'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT SHE GAVE ME.

AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THINK THAT, UM, AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE ROOM AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T, UM, FRIENDS AND CO-CONSPIRATORS, COLLEAGUES, UM, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, UM, ALL, ALL PEOPLE WITH A HEART FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WHO'VE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH, UM, AND ALLOWED ME TO GROW ALONGSIDE YOU.

AND, UM, AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK MY HUSBAND WHO'S UNFORTUNATELY SICK IN BED, UM, FOR ENCOURAGING ME AND SUPPORTING ME AND ENABLING ME TO PURSUE THIS NEW VOCATION, UM, THAT I'VE WANTED TO PURSUE FOR A LONG TIME AND DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO IT.

AND, AND HE GAVE ME THAT COURAGE.

AND SO FOR ALL OF US, I JUST WANNA LEAVE WITH SOME VERY BRIEF WORDS THAT I DON'T THINK I'VE LIVED, UM, AS WELL AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED, BUT I HOPE, UM, MAYBE SOME OF YOU'LL DO BETTER THAN ME.

AND SO THESE WORDS ARE OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO MOTHER TERESA, THOUGH THEY WERE, UM, THEY WERE ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY KENT KEITH.

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN UNREASONABLE, ILLOGICAL, AND SELF-CENTERED.

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

IF YOU ARE KIND PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF SELFISH ULTERIOR MOTIVES.

BE KIND ANYWAY.

IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL WIN SOME FALSE FRIENDS AND SOME TRUE ENEMIES SUCCEED ANYWAY.

IF YOU ARE HONEST AND FRANK, PEOPLE MAY CHEAT YOU.

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY, WHAT YOU SPEND YEARS BUILDING, SOMEONE COULD DESTROY OVERNIGHT BUILD ANYWAY.

IF YOU FIND SERENITY AND HAPPINESS, THEY MAY BE JEALOUS.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY, PEOPLE WILL OFTEN FORGET TOMORROW.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH.

GIVE

[00:35:01]

YOU SEE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS.

IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD.

IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY, THANK YOU.