[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
I AM A WHITE WOMAN WITH SALT AND PEPPER HAIR, AND A GRAY SHIRT.UH, OUR CHAIR, SELENA ZIMAN, IS ABSENT TONIGHT, SO I WILL TAKE ROLE.
UH, COMMISSIONER SCHMUCK HERE.
ARE WE EXPECTING COMMISSIONER CHARLA'S? MY UNDERSTANDING.
BUT WE HAVE A QUORUM RIGHT NOW WITHOUT, YES.
EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TO SPEAK OR TO WITNESS GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE ARTS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS OR WORKING THERE, WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL ]
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, UH, THAT'S ON THE LIST.RYAN, CAN YOU UNMUTE ON YOUR END? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? WE CAN PLEASE PROCEED.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE ARTS COMMISSION LAND USE WORKING GROUP WITH MANY OF YOU.
UM, I'M A CFO WITH A BACKGROUND IN REAL ESTATE AND THE ARTS, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TONIGHT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE PLAY-BASED INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE THIS POLICY IS ACTUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK TO ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES THAT WANNA MOVE TO AUSTIN, THEY SAY THEY COME HERE BECAUSE OF OUR TALENT AND OUR PEOPLE.
AND WHEN YOU ASK, WELL, WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE AND LOVE AND THRIVE IN AUSTIN? THEY TALK ABOUT OUR CULTURE.
THEY TALK ABOUT OUR NATURE, AND THOSE PIECES ARE RIGHT IN THE WHEELHOUSE OF WHAT THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY COMBINES.
AND SO THIS POLICY THAT'S COMING UP IS USING A GREAT TOOL FROM THE STATE IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE PLACES IN AUSTIN TO HAVE CREATIVITY THRIVE AND CREATIVE USERS EXPERIENCE AND CREATE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS THAT, UH, THERE'S FOUR THINGS I I WOULD RECOMMEND AND I'D LOVE TO SEE IN OUR ASK TO STATE OR TO THE CITY AS WE DEVELOP.
THE FIRST ONE IS RELATED TO OUTCOME.
SET A TARGET FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? FOR ME, IT'S DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF CREATIVE USE SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AUSTIN DOUBLES IN 20 EVERY 20 YEARS.
IF WE'RE TO KEEP PACE WITH THAT SORT OF GROWTH WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO AUSTIN, LET'S DOUBLE OUR CREATIVE USES SQUARE FOOTAGE AND THEN ALSO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF THAT'S CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE.
THE SECOND REQUEST IS A PROCESS.
WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO WORK AND ALREADY DEVELOP CREATIVE SPACES, MAKE SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN A WAY WHERE THEY FEEL THIS POLICY WILL BE AT THEIR BEST AND ACHIEVES THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT IT TOO.
CODE NEXT, UH, CREATED CHARETTES ALONG WITH ULI AND WOULD BRING THESE GROUPS TOGETHER TO REVIEW POLICY, AND THAT CREATED A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE POLICY.
THE THIRD THING, PROPERTY TAX MAKES UP 25% UP TO 25% OF OCCUPANCY COSTS FOR CREATIVE USERS.
SO LOOK TO INCLUDE MECHANISMS FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IN THIS POLICY.
AND THE LAST THING IS THE PRESENTATION.
WHEN WE GO TO COUNCIL, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BE BOLD.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THREE OPTIONS PRESENTED, A STANDARD OPTION, SOMETHING AGGRESSIVE, AND SOMETHING REALLY AGGRESSIVE.
SO WE GIVE THE COUNCIL OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE HOW MUCH OF A STATEMENT THEY WANNA MAKE ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT CREATIVITY IS TO OUR CITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WOLF SITLER.
I REPRESENT A REVIVE NORWOOD ALLIANCE.
I WAS HERE AT YOUR LAST MEETING AND, UH, SHOWED YOU SOME SLIDES ABOUT, UH, THE STATUS OF THE NORWOOD HOUSE.
[00:05:01]
PROBABLY THE MOST UNDERUTILIZED PUBLIC PARK FACILITY IN OUR TOWN.AND, UH, OUR GROUP, UH, TOOK OVER AFTER THE NORWOOD PARK FOUNDATION DISSOLVED, UH, UH, AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND THEY HAD SUCCEEDED WORKING WITH THE DEPART PARKS DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A PLAN FOR THE NORWOOD HOUSE.
UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE, UM, VISIT IT AND WALK AROUND THE SITE AND SEE WALK.
IT IS THAT THIS WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT PUBLIC PARK FACILITY AS IT IS.
THE HOUSE IS 25% DONE, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH, BUT IT HAS A NEW FOUNDATION AND, UH, IT'S READY TO BE, UH, REHABBED.
AND LAST FRIDAY, OR IT'S OUR INTENT TO KEEP ON PRESENTING TO YOU, TO KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
LAST FRIDAY, WE MET WITH, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, AND, UH, PART STAFFER KIM MCKNIGHT, AND FOUR OF OUR MEMBERS TO, UH, DISCUSS THE, THE WAY FORWARD, UH, PART'S POSITION AT THIS POINT IS TO STUDY THE PROJECT MORE AND TO COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER, UH, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, WE DON'T REALLY SEE THE NEED FOR TO STUDY IT, BUT THAT'S HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, UH, JUST GET A YES, LET'S MOVE FORWARD FOR THIS THING THAT'S BEEN MO, YOU KNOW, ON THE BACK BURNER FOR 40 YEARS.
AND THAT WILL ENABLE OUR VOLUNTEERS TO GET GOING WITH FUNDRAISING BECAUSE WE KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY, UH, THAT IT TAKES TO FIX IT UP.
SO THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN, UH, BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
WE JUST NEED A YES FROM Y'ALL, FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO, UH, WE'RE READY TO GO.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FROM, UH, UH, WHEREVER IT'S AVAILABLE.
WE'RE NETWORKING WITH, UH, THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION, THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE TRAIL FOUNDATION, UH, PRESERVATION AUSTIN, AND EVERY GROUP THAT HAS ANY INTEREST IN HISTORIC, UH, PROJECTS.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE ARTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ON APRIL 15TH.CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES THAT SHOULD SAY APRIL 15TH, 2024? IT SHOULD EXACTLY.
THE AGENDA SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO REFLECT, TO REFLECT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 15TH, 2024 AND NOT 2023.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARZA.
SO, WITH THAT CORRECTION, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES? DO I SEE SCHMUCK? YES.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER HOUSTON.
[2. Report of the Art in Public Places Liaison concerning actions taking during the May 6, 2024 meeting of the Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Maldonado]
ITEMS. REPORT OF ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES FROM OUR LIAISON, COMMISSIONER MALDONADO TOOK PLACE THE MEETING ON MAY 6TH, 2024.SO FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION, I MEAN FROM ART AND PUBLIC PLACES, UH, THE ONLY ITEM THAT I REALLY WANTED TO SHARE WAS WHAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WAS A PROPOSAL TO TAKE TO COUNCIL AN ART PROJECT AT THE AIRPORT THAT IS VALUED REALLY, REALLY HIGH.
UM, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW, I HAVE IT IN MY NOTES, BUT WE WILL PROBABLY SEE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
UH, ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENED, THERE WAS A GROUP OF ARTISTS, UH, AROUND COVID TIME THAT WERE AWARDED THE PROJECT AND THEN, UH, THE PROJECT FELL THROUGH.
SO THEY'RE WANTING TO PUT THAT BACK ON THE TABLE SO THAT WE GET THAT ART INTO THE AIRPORT.
SO I WILL BRING SOME FOLLOW UP NOTES AND SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THAT PROJECT, BUT THAT WAS THE MAIN THING THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
UH, AND I THINK WE WILL BE HEARING MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
SO HAVE THAT ON IN YOUR RADAR.
UH, COMMISSIONER MALDONADO? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
SO THOSE WERE ARTISTS THAT WERE APPROVED AND BUDGETED BEFORE PRE COVID? YEAH, RIGHT AROUND COVID TIME.
THE, THIS PROJECT WAS HAPPENING.
AND ACTUALLY, WHAT WAS THE MAJOR SETBACK? WAS THAT THE INSTALLATION, THE DESIGN THAT THE ARTIST HAD PROPOSED AND WERE ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE ALREADY FABRICATING,
[00:10:01]
UM, WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE AIRPORT ITSELF.SO IT WAS A BIG CARE OF SNEAKERS.
UH, THAT DEPICTED BEING THROWN OVER THE WIRE.
AND, UM, AND THERE WAS SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE MEANING OF THAT.
AND SO THOSE ARTISTS BASICALLY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DO AN INSTALLATION AT THE AIRPORT.
SO THAT IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS THAT A NEW CALL IS NOT PUT OUT AND THAT THE EXIST THOSE ARTISTS ARE, UM, NOW ALLOWED TO CREATE, UH, INSTALLATION THERE AT THE AIRPORT.
AND I DO SEE THAT, THAT'S ACTUALLY ITEM 10 ON THE AGENDA AS WELL TO DISCUSS THAT.
[3. Discussion of recommendations to Council regarding City departments partnering with artists and arts organizations ]
IS DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL REGARDING CITY DEPARTMENTS PARTNERING WITH ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER SCHACH, YOU ARE HEADING THAT.
UM, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE STARTED WHEN ALISON, OR FROM FORKLIFT DANCE WORKS PRESENTED AT OUR APRIL, OR I GUESS IT WAS MARCH, OUR MARCH MEETING.
UM, AND JUST AS A REMINDER, SHE WAS SHARING ABOUT A RECENT GATHERING, UM, PUT ON BY THE WHITE HOUSE POLICY COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, BUT ALSO KIND OF A, UM, I'M ECHOING.
IS THERE, UH, YOU'RE CUTTING OUT A LITTLE BIT.
JUST CUT OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
UH, SORRY IF I FEEL DISTRACTED, I'M HEARING MY OWN VOICE ECHOING.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISTRACTING.
UM, THAT WAS PART OF THE, KIND OF A FOLLOW ON TO THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY GIVING THE DIRECTION FOR, UM, FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT AND PARTNER WITH AND INTEGRATE ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORK ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE ALSO NOTED LAST MONTH THAT ZIMAN AND I HAVE BEEN MAKING THE ROUNDS SPEAKING TO AS MANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WE CAN.
NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT OF COURSE, OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, UM, BUT MORE BROADLY, UM, THIS STRATEGY THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, UH, GREATER PARTNERSHIP AND, AND POTENTIALLY THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL DOING A PARALLEL RESOLUTION TO THE BIDEN, UM, WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT ARTS INTEGRATION.
UM, EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WOULD REALLY BE A SIMILAR DIRECTIVE TO CITY DEPARTMENTS TO THINK ABOUT, AT LEAST STARTING WITH, UM, THE INCLUSION, THE CONVERSATION WITH CULTURAL ARTS STAFF AND OUR OTHER NONPROFIT, YOU KNOW, ARTS PARTNERS, INCLUDING ARTS ON THE FRONT END WHEN THE CITY IS GOING AFTER, IN PARTICULAR, LIKE MAJOR FEDERAL GRANT PROPOSALS.
SO I'VE SUMMARIZED, UH, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO JESUS IN TIME TO MAKE IT INTO THE BACKUP, BUT JESUS, IT'S OKAY TO SEND THE, THE DRAFT NOTES AROUND TO COMMISSION AFTER THIS MEETING.
I JUST WANTED TO CONTEXTUALIZE THAT AND ASK FOR Y'ALL TO ADD ANYTHING, UM, YOU KNOW, NOTES THAT YOU HAVE, UM, AS WE MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND THIS WILL ALSO GO THROUGH OUR WORKING GROUP, BUT, UM, WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR A VOTE AND, AND FORWARDING ON TO COUNCIL, UM, HOPEFULLY IN JUNE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER SCHACH.
UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WHICH WORKING GROUP IS THAT UNDER OUR, UH, THE LAND USE? GOTCHA.
UM, IS THERE A TIMELINE OR A WINDOW OF TIMELINE UNDER WHERE FOR BIDEN'S, UM, EXECUTIVE ORDER? I MEAN, WE KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ELECTION, BUT
AND YOU KNOW, LIKE I THINK THIS JUST SETS A PRECEDENT.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE LIKE THE LEADERSHIP HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANNA SEE, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE, LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED LOCALLY.
SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT, BUT AGREED.
YEAH, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S HIS, IT'S BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT THINGS ARE BEING MIRRORED OFF OF, BUT UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MATTERS TO US YEAH.
[00:15:02]
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ITEM[4. Discussion on performance space affordability and the realities and limitations of medium/small dance and theater companies presented by members of the arts community (AJ Garcia-Rameau, Andrea Ariel, Ann McNair)]
NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION ON PERFORMANCE SPACE AFFORDABILITY AND THE REALITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF SOME OF OUR MEDIUM AND SMALL DANCE AND THEATER AND ALL KIND OF ARTS COMPANIES, UH, PRESENTED BY A FEW OF MEMBERS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY.AND IF I CAN ASK AJ GARCIA RAMO FROM VENTANA TO START, THERE'LL BE A 10 MINUTES, BUT WE'RE USUALLY NOT SUPER STRICT.
AND IF WE CAN HAVE, UH, ANNE MCNAIR SECOND AND ANDREA ARIEL THIRD.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF VENTANA BALLET AND CO-OWNER OF FIRST STREET STUDIO HERE IN AUSTIN.
I THINK THAT THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE SPACE AFFORDABILITY FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZE PERFORMING ARTS ORGS IN AUSTIN IS NOT JUST DEFINED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S ABILITY TO PAY FOR THAT SPACE, BUT IT IS DEFINED BY THE ABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PATRONS TO AFFORD A TICKET TO A PERFORMANCE IN THAT SPACE.
LET ME SPEAK ON BEHALF OF VENTANA BALLET, OF WHICH I AM THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR.
UM, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW.
OUR TARGET AUDIENCE MARKET IS THOSE WHO DO NOT TYPICALLY ATTEND A PERFORMING ARTS SHOW AND THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD TO ATTEND ONE VENTANA BALLET'S MISSION IS TO CREATE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONLY FOR ARTISTS.
I'M REFERRING HERE TO OUR SMALL AND ROTATING CONTRACTS THAT WE HOST, BUT CREATING PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW AUDIENCES TO DERIVE AND GROW AND BE INSPIRED BY AND ATTENDING PERFORMING ARTS SHOWS HERE IN AUSTIN.
MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD THE LATEST BUZZWORD.
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE BUZZWORDS BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF OUR MINDS AND OUR UNITED MISSION TO INCUBATE, GROW, AND THRIVE.
THE ARTS CULTURE HERE IN AUSTIN FOR A PATRON TO PAY FOR A $30 TICKET, WHICH AFTER FEES IS AROUND $45, THEN PARKING IS AROUND $10, THEN YOU WANNA BRING A DATE AND A COUPLE OF $17 GIN AND TONICS LATER.
THIS DATE IS EASILY 150 BUCKS BEFORE DINNER IS EVEN BOUGHT.
I ALSO CO-OWN FIRST STREET STUDIO HERE IN EAST AUSTIN, SOON TO REBRAND AS A BRAND NEW BLACK BOX THEATER CALLED EAST SIDE PERFORMING ARTS IN EAST AUSTIN.
THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR IN THE DANCE INDUSTRY IS THIS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE, PROFESSIONAL DANCERS ARE ACTUALLY MOVING TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M GRATEFUL TO THE SURROUNDING ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CITY AUSTIN, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN OFFICES WHO HAVE A SIMILAR MISSION AS WE CREATE A HOME FOR THESE ARTISTS.
AND MOREOVER, BOLSTER AND MAKE MORE CONCRETE AUSTIN'S POSITION IN NOT ONLY TEXAS, BUT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS A DANCE AND PERFORMING ARTS HUB, BRING ON THE THEATERS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN CREATIVE ALLIANCE BOARD, I LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONTINUOUSLY AND CREATIVELY WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CITY, THE COMMISSION, AND ALSO THE TECH SECTOR, OF WHICH I'M ALSO A SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEER HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.
MANY OF YOU KNOW US FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL CHAMBER CHOIR, BUT WE ALSO OFFER A NUMBER OF LIFELONG SINGING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR SYMPHONIC CHOIR AND OUR CONSERVATORY ARTIST CITIZEN CHORAL COLLECTIVE.
I WANNA START WITH A WORD OF THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING AND TRYING TO DO FOR OUR ARTS COMMUNITY.
IT TRULY TAKES A VILLAGE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR VENUE EXPERIENCE.
FOR US, VENUE IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICALLY IMPORTANT RESOURCES.
IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS FINANCES.
IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS ARTISTRY.
THE CHORAL EXPERIENCE IS ROOTED IN CHURCH HISTORICALLY.
AND SO FOR US, WHERE WE SEEING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR PLACES THAT ARE SECULAR AS A POINT OF INCLUSIVITY FOR OUR WORK BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES IN CHURCHES AND THEY TELL US THAT WILL BE A REASON THEY MIGHT NOT ATTEND.
AND SO AS WE LOOK FOR A SECULAR VENUE, DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS COME INTO PLAY.
CHOIR BEGAN IN CHURCHES, IT'S ACOUSTIC.
THAT WAS WHO WAS SUPPORTING THE MUSIC.
AND SO WE HA HAVE TO PERFORM IN SPACES TO SUPPORT THAT SINGING EXPERIENCE.
IT'S NOT EASY FOR US TO GO OUTSIDE AND SING 'CAUSE THE SOUND LITERALLY JUST GOES RIGHT UP, OR WE HAVE TO BRING IN A LOT OF AMPLIFICATION.
SO VENUE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.
COST IS A BIG FACTOR FOR US RIGHT NOW.
AS AJ WAS MENTIONED, THERE ARE SO MANY COSTS.
IT'S LITERALLY NOT JUST THE COST OF THE VENUE RENTAL, IT IS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE PAY AS AN ORGANIZATION, BUT ALL OF THE EXPENSES THAT OUR PATRONS ALSO HAVE TO PAY.
AND THAT DOES LIMIT ACCESSIBILITY FOR US.
CHOIR IS AN ART THAT HAPPENS OVER
[00:20:01]
TIME.AND SO WEEKLY REHEARSALS, PERFORMANCES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS REQUIRE A DIFFERENT VENUE SPACE.
AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL CHURCHES.
UM, THE BAKER SCHOOL HAS BEEN A GREAT ALLY FOR US, BUT EVEN WITHIN THOSE SPACES, THERE IS INCREDIBLE COMPETITION FOR DATES.
THE LONG CENTER I THINK IS DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN, BUT THE REALITY IS WE CAN ONLY BE IN THE DELL HALL AND THERE ARE TWO OR THREE HOLDS IN FRONT OF US.
AND SO FOR US TO HAVE A THRIVING ARTS COMMUNITY LONG TERM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE VENUE SPACES, THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ARTISTIC ASPECTS.
SOMETIMES WE NEED RESONANCE SPACES.
AND SO THERE ARE MANY ARTISTIC CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS IMPACTING BOTH US AS THE ARTIST AND THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THE ARCH.
I THINK THAT IS THE SUMMARY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING US.
ANDREA RIO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND ALSO THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN AUSTIN.
YOU DON'T HEAR FROM US ALL THE TIME, BUT WE KNOW YOU'RE THERE,
SO ANYWAY, I'M ANDREA ARIEL, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ANDREA ARIEL DANCE THEATER.
I'M ALSO AN INDEPENDENT, UM, PRODUCER, UM, A CHOREOGRAPHER AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATOR, UM, WITH MY SMALL NONPROFIT AND INDEPENDENTLY, I'VE PRESENTED AND HELD COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS IN AUSTIN FOR LIKE 34 YEARS.
SO I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE CITY GROWING.
UM, AND SO OVER THE, OVER THE YEARS, THE ARTS COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF CHANGES WITH MANY LOSSES ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE VENUES AND REHEARSAL SPACES.
AND, UH, CURRENTLY THE CULTURAL CENTERS WITH PERFORMANCE SPACES SUCH AS THE MAC AND THE CARVER ARE UNDER RENOVATIONS.
SO THOSE SPACES ARE NOT AVAILABLE EITHER.
UM, AND THE FEW ONES THAT ARE HERE NOW ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT WITH INCREASING COSTS.
UM, AND UM, I WAS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW I REMEMBER WHEN THE LONG CENTER WAS BUILT AND PROMISING A THEATER FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO PRESENT WORK.
AND, UM, THERE WERE, IN THE EARLY DAYS, THERE WERE LIKE THESE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HELP THE LOCAL ARTISTS BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RENT.
UM, AND THEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A NONPROFIT RATE THAT WAS OFFERED TO NONPROFITS, LOCAL NONPROFITS, WHICH IS NOT THERE ANYMORE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE ROLLINS IS A LEVEL OF THEATER THAT I WANT TO PRESENT MY WORK IN.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT WORK THERE AND I HAVE MANY TIMES.
BUT THE, UM, WITH THE RISE OF COSTS AND THE LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY, IT'S, IT'S SOMEWHAT IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.
UM, WELL I WANNA ALSO SPEAK TO THAT.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE VIBRANT AND DIVERSE ARTISTIC OFFERINGS THE ARTISTS WORKING HERE BRING.
THIS IS WHAT MADE AUSTIN BECOME WHAT IT IS.
IN MY OPINION,
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY ARE KEY TO NURTURING THE ARTISTIC GEM THAT AUSTIN IS AND KEEP IT THRIVING.
HOW CAN THE CITY CREATE SUBSIDIES THAT ASSIST WITH VENUE AND REHEARSAL SPACE COSTS AND IN TURN ASSIST THE VENUES AND SPACES TO SURVIVE THE EVER INCREASING COSTS? THERE'S GOTTA BE SOMETHING THAT GIVES HERE SOMEHOW.
UM, IT'S A CRITICAL TIME AND I THINK THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINING THE ARTS COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO CREATE AND PRESENT WORK IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.
AND AGAIN, TO KEEP THE ARTS THRIVING HERE, I THINK IS REALLY KEY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I WANNA THANK THE THREE OF YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAKING ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, AGENDA ITEM, UH, CHAIR ZIMAN AND I BROUGHT THIS TO THE AGENDA.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN IN THIS CITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HAVE SEEN IT CHANGE AND I DO BELIEVE, UH, THAT THE CITY CAN, IN MANY WAYS SUPPORT THE VENUES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE ARTISTS.
UM, IN GOING THROUGH 35 YEARS OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE FULL-TIME, SALARIED DANCERS, AND THEN NOW NOT BEING ABLE TO, I'M SO EXCITED TO HEAR AJ TALK ABOUT DANCERS ACTUALLY COMING TO AUSTIN NOW.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL GO BACK TO THE POSITION WHERE YOU CAN HAVE WORKING ARTISTS, MAKING A LIVING AND ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY, WHICH WOULD BE AMAZING.
UM, I ALSO HAVE AS A COMMISSIONER, UM, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS ON THE DAIS, I HAVE CONCERNS ALSO.
UM, AS, UH, ANDREA ARIEL HAD HAD SPOKEN OF
[00:25:01]
THE LONG CENTER, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT TO SUSTAIN AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY ARTISTS AND LOCAL ARTISTS NO LONGER FEELS LIKE IT DOES.AND, UH, SPACES ARE HELD FOR PERHAPS OUT OF TOWN OR OTHER, UM, THINGS OTHER THAN THE LOCAL ARTISTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT THAT TO FRUITION AT THE TIME, INCLUDING THE RESIDENT ARTISTS THAT ARE THERE.
UM, I DO THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE, UM, THAT SHOULD COME AND BE TALKED ABOUT.
I DO KNOW THE LONG CENTER IS GOING TO COME AND TALK SOON ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS PART OF, UH, THEIR WORK WITH, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
BUT I THINK THAT'S, UH, ALSO, UH, SHOULD GO BEYOND THAT TO WHAT THE LONG CENTER MEANS TO THE ARTISTS OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS ALL THE VENUES OF AUSTIN.
SO I THANK YOU AGAIN LADIES, AND HOPEFULLY IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT, UH, COMMUNITY CONVERSATION THAT WILL GET US TO GREAT PLACES.
[5. Staff briefing regarding The Cultural Asset Mapping Project (CAMP) by Laura Odegaard, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager and Dr. Thomas Kurtz]
HAVE STAFF BRIEFINGS, AND OUR FIRST IS CULTURAL ASSET MAPPING PROJECT CAMP FOR SHORT BY LAURA OGAR, OUR ACTING CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION MANAGER.AND DR. THOMAS KURTZ, MAYBE NOT THOMAS KURTZ.
VIRTUALLY AS IS DONALD JACKSON.
BUT JUST WANTED TO TAKE A QUICK, UM, POINT OF PRIVILEGE FOR SO NOVIA HOLT RAB TO MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT.
JUST WANTED TO, UH, MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AROUND, UH, SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE GONE ON WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU'VE NOTED, LAURA ODEGAARD IS OUR ACTING DIVISION MANAGER AT THIS TIME FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
UH, MEGAN WELLS IS PART OF OUR REASSESSMENT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE A EDC CONTRACT IS TRANSFERRING TO THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FOR A YEAR.
SO JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MEGAN AND THANK HER FOR HER WORK AND HERE TO SUPPORT LAURA AND THE TEAM TO SAY WE'RE STILL HERE AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP, UM, DISPERSING MONEY AND DOING ALL OUR ART, BUT JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW.
REALLY QUICK BEFORE THE PRESENTATION STARTS, I JUST WANNA LET COMMISSIONER SCHACH KNOW THAT YOUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION'S EMAIL IS NOT FORWARDING.
I KEEP GETTING MESSAGES THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S NOT BEING FORWARDED TO WHEREVER YOU'RE GETTING IT FORWARDED TO
WE WILL HELP LOOK INTO THAT ON OUR END.
NOW ACTUALLY, UH, ON TO THIS ITEM.
SO, UH, AS SONO JUST MENTIONED, I'M LAURA ODEGAARD, ACTING CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION MANAGER.
UH, WITH THIS ITEM I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A PREVIEW, KIND OF A PRE, PRE PRE PREVIEW, UH, OF A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST YEAR PLUS.
UM, SO JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, THE CULTURAL ASSET MAPPING PROJECT IS SOMETHING, UH, THAT WE DID BACK IN 2016 WITH FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.
UH, AND ESSENTIALLY WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY FOR A COMMUNITY MAPPING PROJECT TO IDENTIFY OVER 3000 DATA POINTS, UM, OF CULTURAL ASSETS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A MOMENT IN TIME AND A LOT HAS HAPPENED, UH, SINCE THEN.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, DR. THOMAS KURTZ, WHO IS ON SCREEN WITH US HERE TONIGHT, UH, AS WELL AS OUR BELOVED DONALD JACKSON, UH, FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, TO BASICALLY GO THROUGH AND UPDATE ALL OF THOSE 3000 PLUS DATA POINTS.
UM, AND SO THOMAS WILL BE TALKING, UH, IN DETAIL ABOUT THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THE WORK, THE BULK OF THE WORK, HONESTLY, UM, IS MAYBE NOT THE PRETTIEST THING BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF EXCELS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, BUT IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
UM, AND ALSO JUST AS A TEASER, ONE OF THE USES THAT WE SEE OUT OF THIS UPDATED CAMP MAP, UM, IS TO HELP IDENTIFY DIFFERENT CLUSTERS OF TYPES OF ASSETS THAT CAN BE THEN USED FOR LOCATIONAL INCENTIVES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT DONALD WILL BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, IN A FUTURE ITEM TONIGHT.
UH, AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT OFF TO THOMAS, UH, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING.
AND, UH, DON JACKSON WILL BE SHARING HIS SCREEN, I BELIEVE, TO ACTUALLY DO A LITTLE WALKTHROUGH.
SO HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE THE PRIVILEGES TO DO THAT FROM WHERE THEY ARE IN THE WEBEX WORLD.
UH, LIKE YOU STATED, THE 2023 VERSION OF CAMP EXPANDS UPON THE ORIGINAL
[00:30:01]
3000 CULTURAL ASSETS, UM, THROUGH ASSET TYPE, THE ASSET DISCIPLINE, AND THE ASSET INDICATORS.SO, VARIOUS ASSET TYPES MIGHT INCLUDE BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AMONG OTHERS, BUT ASSET DISCIPLINES WILL INCLUDE A MORE SPECIFIC, SUCH AS DANCE COMPANIES OR MUSICAL GROUPS, PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS, HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, LIBRARIES, UM, COLLECTIVES, EVENTS, FESTIVALS, CULINARY VENUES, CLUBS, UH, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
WE CREATED A PARTICULAR SYSTEM OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY INDICATORS FOR THE ENTIRE DATASET TO EASILY MAP AND GRAPH WITH, UM, ARC GIS OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM.
UH, SO FOR INSTANCE, SOME OF THOSE PRIMARY INDICATORS INCLUDE, UM, CLOSED BRICK AND MORTAR, UM, OPEN BRICK AND MORTAR REMOTE ONLY, UM, TO INDICATE THAT SHIFT BETWEEN 2018 AND, UH, 2022 POST DURING PANDEMIC.
UH, SECONDARY INDICATORS INCLUDE, UM, SAME LOCATION OR RELOCATED, RELOCATED OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.
SO THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WE WANNA SEE AS WELL ON PHYSICAL TO REMOTE.
UM, IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE INDICATORS FOR EACH ASSET WERE UPDATED.
CONTACT INFORMATION AND BUSINESS OPERATION DETAILS WERE ALSO UPDATED.
AND IF INFORMATION WASN'T READILY AVAILABLE ONLINE, I REACHED OUT DIRECTLY TO CONTACTS ON FILE VIA EMAIL, PHONE, SOCIAL MEDIA, HOWEVER THAT MIGHT BE.
FINALLY, UH, THE, UH, THE, THE NEXT STAGE WAS TO CONDUCT A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS OR STRUCTURED FOCUS GROUPS, UM, WITH ASSET OWNERS ASSET AFFILIATED TO CREATE A NARRATIVE THAT PARTICULARLY HIGHLIGHTS, UM, THE, EXCUSE ME, ECONOMIC, UH, DISPLACEMENT AND HEAVY REALLOCATION AND, UH, RELOCATION OF RESOURCES.
SO, UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE, I, I BELIEVE THE HEAT MAP OF 2018 TO 22 IN A SCAN, UH, FORMAT.
SO OUT OF ALL OF THE 3000 PLUS ASSETS THAT WE HAVE FOR 2018, ABOUT 29% OF THOSE WERE CLOSED ASSETS IN 2022.
SO OVER 1000 CULTURAL ASSETS WERE VERIFIED AS CLOSED FROM THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION.
SO IF WE CAN HEAD OVER TO THE CLOSED TAB UP HERE, WE'RE SURE THING.
AND THE ONE ABOVE IS BASICALLY SHOWING THE, THE CHANGE FROM 2018 HERE ON THE LEFT TO 2019 AS A HEAT, OR EXCUSE ME, TO 2022 AS A HEAT MAP.
SO WITH THOSE CLOSED ASSETS, AGAIN, OVER A THOUSAND OF THEM ARE VERIFIED AS CLOSED FROM THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION WITHOUT ANY CONTINUATION IN ANOTHER CITY OR TYPE OF MODALITY.
UH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE INTERVIEWED WAS THE STEEL GUITARIST, HERB STEINER OF HERB STEINER MUSIC, AND HE CLOSED HIS BRICK AND MORTAR SHOP IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IN 2021, CITING THAT THE NECESSITY OF PLAYING ONE OF THOSE STEEL GUITARS IN PERSON BEFORE PERCHING PURCHASING IT, UH, WAS CRUCIAL FOR, UH, HIS, UH, CLIENTELE TO DO.
AND HE FELT THAT IT WOULDN'T BE SUSTAINABLE TO KEEP THE BUSINESS OPEN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
A LOT OF THESE INTERVIEWS, UH, WERE SIMILAR IN THAT THEY FELT THE, UM, TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT THEY WERE DOING REQUIRED IN PERSON, UM, INTERACTION AND CONTACT.
THE, UH, NEXT TAB THAT WE HAVE ARE OPEN ASSETS FOR, UH, BRICK AND MORTAR.
SO BETWEEN 2018 AND 20 22, 50 7% REMAINED OPEN, WHETHER IN THAT SAME LOCATION OR IN ANOTHER LOCATION.
AND OF THAT PERCENTAGE, UH, EQUATED TO OVER 2000 CULTURAL ASSETS VERIFIED IS OPEN.
AND YOU COULD SEE THAT DIFFERENCE HERE WITHIN THE HEAT MAP.
AND THE MORE, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE MORE, UH, CENTRAL, UH, UH, OF THE CULTURAL ASSETS MOVING SLIGHTLY SOUTHEAST, AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS SHOWS A SWIPE BETWEEN THE 2018 AND 2022 DATA ON THE LEFT.
[00:35:08]
ANOTHER ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE INTERVIEWED WAS DR. SCOTT DONALD.SO HE'S THE FOUNDER AND THE CO-FOUNDER OF STUDIO A PIANO.
IT'S A STUDIO AND PERFORMANCE VENUE, WHICH WAS RELOCATED IN 2020.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT SHIFTED HIS TEACHING, UH, FROM IN-PERSON TO VIRTUAL MUSIC LESSONS.
BUT THEN THE PERFORMANCE SPACE ITSELF, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING, WAS THEN MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT POINT, WHICH IS A SHIFT TO VIRTUAL.
SO DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CULTURAL ASSET, AROUND 10%, UM, OR OVER 270 CULTURAL ASSETS, WERE THEN VERIFIED AS REMOTE, REMOTE ONLY, OR HYBRID.
AND WE CAN SEE THAT SHIFT IN THE HEAT MAP AS WELL OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WHAT I REALLY HOPE TO HONE IN ON IS HAVING ALL OF OUR PRIMARY INDICATORS, THESE SPECIFIC TABS WITH THE SECONDARY INDICATORS BEING DROPPED DOWNS.
AND SO WE'D BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE, UM, ALL OF OUR CULTURAL ASSETS THROUGH THE STORY MAP, INCLUDING NARRATIVES FROM A DIVERSE SET OF CULTURAL ASSETS.
BUT THIS IS, UH, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR OUR DRAFT TO BE FINALIZED OVER THE SUMMER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I DUNNO IF YOU CAN SEE ME, COMMISSIONER, SMALL.
THAT'S REALLY, YES, I CAN SEE YOU.
UM, I DID WONDER, WELL, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE, AND YOU MIGHT'VE SAID THIS, BUT CAN, IF WE'RE PLAYING AROUND WITH THE MAP, UM, THAT WAS LIKE REALLY STAGGERING TO UNDERSTAND VISUALLY, SPATIALLY HOW MANY ASSETS HAVE CLOSED.
I, I NOTICED JUST WHEN YOU WERE GOING OVER IT, THERE ARE CERTAIN POINTS FOR THINGS THAT ARE MORE OR LESS PERMANENT, LIKE PUBLIC ART LIBRARIES.
NOT THAT LIBRARIES CAN'T CLOSE, BUT I JUST WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN FILTER FOR LIKE, BUSINESSES AND OTHER SORTS OF CULTURAL ASSETS THAT HAVE LESS PERMANENCE.
SO WE CAN EVEN, I JUST WONDER HOW THAT WILL LOOK, UM, IN TERMS OF LIKE PERCENTAGES OF, OF CHANGE.
UM, AND YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.
SO YEAH, WE CAN FILTER FOR THAT.
YEAH'S WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HONE IN AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE AS WE CAN SO THAT IT'S EASY FOR ANYONE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM.
IT'S A REALLY AMAZING PROJECT.
AND THEN THERE MIGHT BE OTHER QUESTIONS TOO, BUT I WONDER HOW YOU HOPE AS THE RESEARCHER THIS WILL BE USED.
'CAUSE I CAN THINK OF A MILLION WAYS, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT YOUR, HOW, HOW YOU ENVISION LIKE US BEING ABLE TO USE THIS, THIS INCREDIBLE DATA SET, UM, AND MAPS FOR, FOR OUR PURPOSES.
SO I, I THINK IN A, IN A, IN A GENERAL SENSE, I HOPE THAT IT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO INFORM FUTURE DECISIONS AND KIND OF BE ABLE TO, UM, HELP US INDICATE WHERE THAT ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT AND REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IS TAKING PLACE.
AND SO WE CAN BE, UM, REALLY PREPARED FOR THAT, UM, AS A CITY AND AS, AS AS, UH, CULTURAL ARTS, UM, ADVOCATES IS THE GENERAL ANSWER FOR THAT.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF MORE DETAILED ANSWERS THAT I ALSO GO INTO.
[6. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Laura Odegaard, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager]
NUMBER SIX ON THE AGENDA? OKAY, NUMBER SIX IS STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.UM, I'M LAURA ODEGAARD, ACTING CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION MANAGER.
UH, AND SO WITH THIS PRESENTATION, WE'RE PRESENTING OUR LATEST HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION NUMBERS FOR APRIL.
SO THE TOTAL, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION IN APRIL WAS $28,704,455.
[00:40:03]
SO THIS MEANS OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX CULTURAL ARTS FUND COLLECTION NUMBER FOR APRIL WERE $2,741,275.SO WITH THESE APRIL NUMBERS, WE ARE 69% TOWARDS OUR FY 24 APPROVED BUDGET, AND WE STILL HAVE FIVE MONTHS LEFT TO GO.
AND AS A REMINDER, I KNOW I SAY THIS EVERY MONTH, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY THIS EVERY MONTH, BUT IS A DELAY IN HOW HOT REPORTING HAPPENS.
SO THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT IN MAY SHOWS FUNDS COLLECTED IN APRIL FOR HOTEL STAYS IN MARCH.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THERE WAS A SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON THAT WAS HAPPENING, UH, WITH THESE NUMBERS.
SO THIS GRAPH CONTINUES TO SHOW OUR MONTHLY PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR APPROVED BUDGET FOR FY 24.
UH, OUR HOTEL, UH, OCCUPANCY TAX CULTURAL ARTS FUND ACTUALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 SO FAR ARE $10,083,692.
AND AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, THE FUNDS COLLECTED IN FY 24 WILL BE USED TO FUND PROGRAMS IN FY 25.
AND SO, AGAIN, I'M CONTINUING TO INCLUDE OUR CULTURAL ARTS FUND HOT COLLECTIONS BY QUARTER FOR THE PAST FEW FISCAL YEARS.
UH, SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE GETTING CLOSE-ISH.
WE'RE CURRENTLY $292,000 BELOW WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, STAFF
[7. Staff update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor ]
UPDATE ON THE CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS BY JESUS PANTEL, CULTURAL FUNDING SUPERVISOR.JESUS PANTEL, CULTURAL FUNDING SUPERVISOR.
I AM A LATINO WITH LONG, UH, SALT AND PEPPER HAIR AND, UH, BLACK AND GRAY BEARD, UH, WEARING GLASSES.
AND I HAVE A GREEN SHIRT TONIGHT.
UM, I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE CULTURAL FAR ARTS FUNDING UPDATE THIS EVENING.
UM, AND I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS, PAYMENT UPDATES AND PENDING PROGRAM LAUNCHES, UM, AS WELL AS OUR FY 24 NEXUS PROGRAM, WHICH JUST CLOSED LAST WEEK.
UM, AND ALSO THE USUAL GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES, UH, BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT ARTS COMMISSION MEETING.
SO CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS FIRST.
SO, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, FIRST PAYMENTS, UH, OR ARE ALL BUT, UM, GONE OUT FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS, UM, EXCEPT FOR ELEVATE.
THERE IS ONE STRAGGLER I WAS SPEAKING WITH THEM, UH, THIS MORNING, AND SO WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING IN, UM, BY JUNE 10TH IS THE DATE THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY HOPE TO GET THAT IN BEFORE THEN, BUT THAT IS THE DROP DEAD.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT IN OR ELSE WE WILL NOT BE ENTERING INTO THAT CONTRACT WITH THEM.
UM, WE'VE HAD SECOND PAYMENTS ISSUED.
YOU CAN SEE FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS, UM, UH, THE LOWEST IS ELEVATE WITH, UH, 84% OF THE DISTRIBUTION, UH, TO DATE, UH, FOR THAT PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE GOTTEN, UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS OUT.
AS A REMINDER, ELEVATE IS A ONE YEAR PROGRAM FOR ACTIVITIES ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, NEXUS, THIS IS FOR THE PROGRAM, UH, THE FIRST ROUND OF NEXUS.
SO THIS DOES NOT CL COUNT THE ONE THAT, UH, LAUNCHED OR THAT, EXCUSE ME, CLOSED LAST WEEK.
UM, AND THEN THRIVE, WE HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN TO YEAR ONE IN YEAR TWO.
NEXUS AS A REMINDER, IS A SIX MONTH CONTRACT, UM, UH, FOR THIS ONE THAT JUST, UH, CLOSED.
IT WILL BE FOR FOUR MONTHS, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, IN DETAIL ABOUT THAT ONE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE OUR ARTS EDUCATION, UH, RELIEF GRANT.
UM, IN ADDITION TO NEXUS HAVING, UH, CLOSED LAST WEEK, WE ARE, UM, DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE LAUNCHING, UM, IN THE COMING MONTHS.
AND SO WE HAVE, UH, SPECIFIC DATES, UH, FOR ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, IN GENERAL, ALL APPLICATIONS, UH, LAUNCH ON A TUESDAY AT 10:00 AM UH, THEY ALL CLOSE ON A TUESDAY AT 7:00 PM WHICH IS A CHANGE, UH, FROM PRIOR TIMES.
UM, BEFORE IT WAS 5:00 PM SO NOW IT IS 7:00 PM FOR ALL, UH, UH, CLOSES.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH NEXUS THAT JUST CLOSED LAST WEEK.
UM, AND WE'LL TAKE ABOUT A WEEK IN BETWEEN, OR WE WILL TAKE ONE WEEK IN BETWEEN WHEN ONE PROGRAM CLOSES BEFORE ANOTHER PROGRAM LAUNCHES.
SO WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC FUND LAUNCHING TOMORROW,
[00:45:01]
MAY 21ST.IT'LL CLOSE JUNE 18TH, UH, THRIVE AND ELEVATE, AS A REMINDER, WILL BE LAUNCHING, UH, JOINTLY.
UH, THEY WILL BASICALLY BE, UH, AN OPT-IN, UH, APPLICATION WHERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, IF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ELIGIBLE TO APPLY IN BOTH THRIVE AND ELEVATE, UH, YOU CAN BASICALLY JUST, UH, CLICK A BOX ANSWER.
WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THE, UM, UM, MECHANICS OF HOW THAT WILL LOOK EXACTLY, BUT THE INTENT IS YOU CAN OPT IN.
UM, AND THAT WAY IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A THRIVE AWARD, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED FOR AN ELEVATE AWARD IF YOU OPT IN WITHOUT HAVING TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.
SO, UH, THE QUESTIONS ARE VERY SIMILAR, UM, EXCEPT FOR THRIVE HAS ONE EXTRA QUESTION.
SO THIS WILL ALLOW, AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR BOTH TO JUST SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION.
SO THRIVE AND ELEVATE WILL LAUNCH JUNE 25TH.
UH, THEY WILL CLOSE JULY 23RD AGAIN AT 7:00 PM AND ELEVATE ACTIVITIES, UH, WILL BE OCCURRING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER TH 31ST, 2025.
SO WE ARE WANTING TO MOVE ELEVATE INTO A CALENDAR YEAR, UH, PROGRAM.
AND SO FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE ADDING THREE MONTHS ON.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING FROM OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER, IT'LL BE OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR, UM, LIKE NORMAL.
SO THE NORMAL START DATE, UM, TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.
SO ANY APPLICANTS WHO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DO SOMETHING IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, WHETHER THAT'S, UH, THE ATOS OR SOME KIND OF A CHRISTMAS OR HOLIDAY SPECIAL, THEY SHOULD APPLY FOR, FOR BOTH OF THOSE, FOR BOTH 2024 AND 2025.
AND WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS DURING OUR APPLICATION WORKSHOPS AS WELL.
UH, NEXUS FALL, WINTER, UH, WILL LAUNCH AFTER THAT.
UM, SO IT WILL LAUNCH, UH, JULY 30TH AND CLOSE AUGUST 27TH.
SO THE NEXUS THAT JUST LAUNCHED, UH, WHICH I'LL GET INTO LATER IN, UH, OR EXCUSE ME, JUST CLOSED, UH, WHICH I'LL GET INTO, UH, NEXT IN THE PRESENTATION.
UM, THAT WAS FOR ACTIVITIES BETWEEN JUNE 1ST THROUGH, UM, EXCUSE ME, UM, FROM JUNE 1ST, YES, THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH.
THIS ONE THAT WILL BE LAUNCHING IN JULY WILL BE FOR ACTIVITIES OCCURRING OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH MARCH 31ST.
SO, UM, DIFFERENT, UH, TIME PERIODS.
UM, IF SOMEONE RECEIVES, UH, NEXUS, UM, IN THIS GO ROUND THAT JUST CLOSED ON TUESDAY, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR, UH, NEXUS, UM, LAUNCHING IN JULY.
BUT THEY WILL BE, UH, UH, ABLE TO APPLY FOR THRIVER ELEVATE, UM, AFTER NEXUS CLOSES, UH, HERITAGE PRESERVATION, UH, WHICH IS NOW PART OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM SINCE THEY ARE A HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX FUNDED, UH, ENTITY.
UM, JUST LIKE, UH, US AND, UH, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISIONS, UH, FUNDING PROGRAMS, HERITAGE PRESERVATION LAUNCHES SEPTEMBER 10TH AND WE'LL CLOSE OCTOBER 8TH.
AND THEN OUR ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM, UH, WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF OPEN CALLS LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 24TH AND CLOSING OCTOBER 22ND.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL MOVE ON TO NEXUS THAT CLOSED, UH, LAST WEEK.
UM, SO AGAIN, NEXUS OPENED APRIL 16TH.
IT CLOSED LAST TUESDAY, MAY 14TH AGAIN FROM 10:00 AM WAS A, UM, OPENING TIME.
IT CLOSED AT 7:00 PM UM, A REMINDER THAT, UH, WE MOVED TO AN A DIFFERENT ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM.
UM, WE MOVED FROM PORTAL TO SUBMITTABLE, UH, WITH TECH SUPPORT AVAILABLE BOTH THROUGH SUBMITTABLE.
SUBMITTABLE IS THE NAME OF THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM.
UH, SO TECH SUPPORT WAS AVAILABLE BOTH THROUGH SUBMITTABLE AND THROUGH THE LONG CENTER.
UM, AND THEN CULTURAL FUNDING STAFF, UH, TRAINED OTHER CITY STAFF TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION.
SO THE MAY 15TH THROUGH THE MAY 30TH, UM, APPLICATION REVIEW PERIOD.
UM, DURING, UH, THAT TIME PERIOD, APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED ARE BEING REVIEWED, AND THEY'RE BEING SCORED IN SUBMITTABLE.
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE 16, UH, REVIEW PANELS COMPRISED OF CITY STAFF TAKING PLACE BETWEEN MAY 19TH THROUGH 30TH.
UM, AND THOSE ARE BEING, UH, MANAGED BY, UH, CULTURAL FUNDING STAFF, UM, MAYA AND ANNE-MARIE.
UM, AFTER THE PANEL REVIEWS ARE COMPLETED AWARDS, UH, WHICH IS, UH, THURSDAY, MAY 30TH IS THE LAST ONE.
AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, MAY 31ST.
AGAIN, UH, IT'S FOR ACTIVITIES FROM JUNE 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
FINAL REPORTS ARE DUE 30 DAYS AFTER THE FINAL ACTIVITY, WHICH MEANS THE LATEST A FINAL REPORT CAN BE, UH, TURNED IN IS OCTOBER 31ST.
UM, AFTER THAT SEPTEMBER 30TH, UH, FINAL ACTIVITY DATE, UH, THERE WERE A VARIETY OF APPLICATION ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES,
[00:50:01]
UH, PROVIDED FOR NEXUS.STAFF OFFERED ONE-ON-ONE APPLICATION SUPPORT, UH, BY APPOINTMENT, UM, AND MAY DROP IN ASSISTANCE DAYS.
UH, WE ALSO HAD OPEN OFFICE HOURS.
UH, THEY'RE NORMALLY, UH, THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, BUT DURING, UM, APPLICATION PERIODS WHEN THEY ARE OPEN, WE MEET, UH, WEEKLY 10:00 AM TO NOON.
UM, AGAIN, WE'RE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT AT OTHER TIMES AS WELL, BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE A STANDING APPOINTMENT THAT TIME BOTH FOR STAFF TO KNOW AND FOR ANY, UM, INTERESTED APPLICANTS, UM, TO COME AND SEEK ASSISTANCE.
UM, AND THOSE ARE IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM.
UM, AND SO WE ALSO HAD ALMOST REAL THINGS, UM, HAD A VARIETY OF, UH, DIFFERENT APPLICATION WORKSHOPS WITH CULTURAL FUNDING STAFF IN ATTENDANCE AT ALL OF THEM, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE ON MAY 14TH, WHICH WAS THE DAY THAT THE APPLICATION CLOSED, UM, WHEN WE WERE AVAILABLE FOR OUR OWN APPLICATION ASSISTANCE DAYS.
UM, BUT I KNOW THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT ALMOST REAL THINGS HAD, AND SO THEY STILL REACHED OUT TO US.
AND SO WE WERE AVAILABLE, UM, EVEN AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN THE LONG CENTER, UM, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE SUBMITTABLE PLATFORM.
AND SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, THIS, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE ASSISTED HERE, UM, AND THE LOCATIONS OF THE WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT, UM, WHICH AGAIN INCLUDED BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON OPTIONS.
THOSE IN-PERSON OPTIONS INCLUDED LOCATIONS SUCH AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL AND HERITAGE FACILITY, LANITA, ALMOST REAL THINGS, WINDSOR PARK BRANCH LIBRARY, 2324 STUDIOS.
UM, AND THEN THE FIVE PERSON CULTURAL FUNDING TEAM FIELDED OVER 100 EMAILS IN PHONE CALLS.
SO ALL TOLD THERE WERE OVER 200 STAFF HOURS ASSISTING AROUND 400 PEOPLE WITH THEIR ASSISTANT OR ASSISTING THEM WITH THEIR, UM, NEXUS APPLICATION.
UM, AND FOR THE LONG CENTER, UM, THAT NUMBER, UM, WHO HELPED WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DOES NOT COUNT THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ALSO HAD THAT WERE NOT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY FORWARDED TO, UH, CULTURAL FUNDING STAFF.
SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE KIND OF INCLUDED IN THE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, BUT IF THERE WERE QUESTIONS THAT THEY COULD ANSWER, THEY DID, AND IF NOT, THEY FORWARDED THAT OVER TO CULTURAL FUNDING STAFF.
SO HOW DID THE NEXUS APPLICATION SHAKE OUT? WE HAD 243 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.
UM, WE DID CHECK ELIGIBILITY ON ALL OF THOSE.
SO 210, UM, OF THE 243 THAT WERE SUBMITTED WERE ELIGIBLE.
UH, WE ALSO RECEIVED TWO, UM, SPANISH APPLICATIONS AND BOTH WERE ELIGIBLE.
UM, SO WE ARE TRANSLATING THOSE, UH, THROUGH SUBMITTABLE, UM, TRANSLATING THOSE IN ENGLISH SO THAT WAY THE, UH, REVIEWERS, UH, CAN REVIEW THEM, THE STAFF CAN REVIEW THEM, UM, IN ENGLISH.
AND THEN, UH, MARIA FROM THE LONG CENTER, UM, IS ONE OF THE, UH, STAFF MEMBERS WHO HELPS US THERE.
SHE SPEAKS SPANISH, SO SHE DID A SPOT CHECK OF THE REVIEW THAT WAS, UH, DONE BY SUBMITTABLE, UM, AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD, AGAIN, 50 REVIEW PANELISTS, UH, FROM THROUGHOUT, UH, VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UM, THE REVIEW PANELISTS WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR EQUITY EXPERIENCE, UM, WITH AT LEAST ONE PERSON WITH EQUITY EXPERIENCE ON EACH OF THE GROUP OF THOSE 16 PANELS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
UM, SO 21 OF THE, UH, REVIEW PANELISTS HAD, UM, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION EXPERTISE, AND 15 HAD, UH, GRANTS EXPERIENCE.
SO WE TRIED TO DIVIDE THOSE UP.
SO, UM, THEY WERE ALL, UM, HAD EXPERIENCE WITH, UM, UM, VARIOUS ASPECTS OF WHAT WAS NEEDED IN THE NEXUS PROGRAM.
SO AGAIN, THERE WERE 16 PANELS, UH, THREE TO FOUR PEOPLE EACH, UM, AND 21 CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, WERE, UH, REP OR ARE REPRESENTED AS THE REVIEWS ARE ONGOING, UM, INCLUDING FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, UH, THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, THE LAW DEPARTMENT, AND FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES.
AND THEN, UM, WE'RE GOING ONTO OUR ACTIVITIES, UM, FOR THRIVE AND ELEVATE AGAIN, UH, NEXUS, UH, THE FIRST ROUND, UM, HAS LAUNCHED OR AS COMPLETED.
SO, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTIVITIES THERE.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE AS OF ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
UM, AND SO, UM, WE ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT IS SUBMITTED ONTO, UH, THE VISIT AUSTIN WEBSITE.
IF YOU DO HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP AND YOU DON'T SEE YOURSELF LISTED HERE, IT MAY BE BECAUSE YOU DID NOT, UH, SUBMIT THAT TO VISIT AUSTIN.
UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF THESE, BUT WE DO HAVE COLD TOWN THEATER, TEXAS BURLESQUE FESTIVAL, LACHE AND JKJK FROM ELEVATE, HAVING UPCOMING ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN FOR THRIVE, WE HAVE ALGO MEXICAN MUSEUM AND THE PUERTO RICAN CULTURAL CENTER ALL HAVE ACTIVITIES COMING UP.
[00:55:01]
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.UM, THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENSION ON ELEVATE THRIVE TO CATCH UP TO THAT CALENDAR YEAR.
I'M SURE THAT'S GONNA MAKE EVERYTHING A LOT EASIER FOR YOU GUYS.
UH, IT'S A CLOSE WINDOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEADLINE IN JULY TO THOSE FALL SHOWS AND VENUES AND FINDING VENUES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED? WHEN AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED? SO WE ARE LOOKING, UM, IN MID TO LATE SEPTEMBER FOR AWARDS TO BE ANNOUNCED.
SO THAT WAY IT WILL BE BEFORE THE OCTOBER 1ST, UH, DEADLINE.
I BELIEVE IT'S SEPTEMBER 20TH, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER OKAY.
EXACTLY OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
BUT MID TO LATE SEPTEMBER BEFORE THE OCTOBER 1ST, UH, DEADLINE.
AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS RELATED, UH, TO THE PANELS ARE, IS VERY EXCITING.
HOW DIVERSE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT GO IN THERE.
UM, I'D LIKE IN THE FUTURE TO SEE ART AS ONE OF THOSE, AS WELL, THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UH, EXPERIENCE IN THE ARTS AND HOW THEY AFFECT.
SO HOPEFULLY, AND I'M SURE THEY DO ON MANY LEVELS, BUT YES.
[8. Discussion and possible action on proposed Place-based enhancements strategy and economic incentives for affordability and cultural preservation by Donald Jackson, Business Process Consultant ]
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, EIGHT IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROPOSED PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY AND ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABILITY AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION BY DONALD JACKSON BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT.UM, I'VE PRESENTED Y'ALL RECENTLY ABOUT, UH, AND INCENTIVES THAT ARE MORE REGULATORY IN NATURE, THAT ARE BASED IN DENSITY, BONUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE TIME BEING.
JUST TAKE ALL OF THAT OUTTA YOUR HEAD.
'CAUSE THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING, BUT IT IS ALSO, UH, GOOD.
AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A COMPLIMENTARY WAY, WHICH I CAN, WHICH I WILL CAN GET INTO MORE LATER.
BUT, UH, TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT A NEW PROPOSAL THAT THE PROGRAM WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THIS SUMMER.
UH, WE'RE CALLING THIS THE PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
UM, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR WHERE WE'RE REVISING OUR CHAPTER THREE 80 PROGRAMS, UH, THREE 80 PROGRAMS OR WHAT WE REFER TO WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO OUR ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAMS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE, BY A STATE CODE CHAPTER THREE 80 THAT GOVERNS, UH, THE WAY CITIES CAN PROVIDE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES.
UH, NORMALLY THAT INVOLVES THINGS LIKE NEW, NORMALLY THEY'RE BASED IN THINGS THAT INVOLVE LOTS OF NEW JOB CREATION OR NEW REAL ESTATE AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
UH, AUSTIN IS, IS SOMEWHAT SINGULAR IN THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE FOCUS VERY HEAVILY ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE REALLY KIND OF A HIGH ROAD APPROACH TO, TO OUR INCENTIVES WITH VERY STRONG COMMUNITY BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS LIKE LIVING WAGES, UH, CHILDCARE SUPPORT, GREEN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS, UH, TRANS ACCESS, PROMOTING LOCAL ART AND MUSIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IN A WAY, WE'RE KIND OF JUST BUILDING ON THAT, THAT PRECEDENT OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAXIMIZE THE ABILITY, UH, THAT WE HAVE TO USE OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THESE TYPES OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ARE REALLY VALUABLE TO AUSTIN.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS JUST IF YOU WANNA SEE IT, THIS IS THE CODE THAT IS IN THE, THAT IS IN THE STATE, UH, LOCAL CODE.
IT ALLOWS US TO, UH, PROVIDE, UH, A VARIETY OF TYPES OF PROGRAMS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING GRANTS, LOANS OF PUBLIC MONEY, TAX INCENTIVES, TAX REIMBURSEMENTS, UH, TO PROMOTE, UH, LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO STIMULATE, UH, BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY.
SO, UH, WHAT WE, WHAT HAPPENED, UH, BACK IN 2018 IS WE WENT THROUGH A LARGE CITYWIDE PROCESS, UH, TO LOOK AT OUR EXISTING PROGRAM GUIDELINES, UH, FOR CHAPTER THREE 80 AND FOR OUR TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, UH, MASSIVE PROCESS, UH, THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS WERE GENERATED, UH, OVER 250 UNIQUE POINTS OF INPUT, OVER 160 ATTENDEES, LOTS OF DIFFERENT SESSIONS, LOTS OF BIG FOCUS GROUPS, LOTS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT LED TO THE ADOPTION OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UH, FOR OUR TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMS BY CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
THEY ALSO ADOPTED THIS ORDINANCE OF LISTED HERE THAT DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO BEGIN DEVELOPING A LOCATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
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SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN, THAN WHAT WE'VE, UH, OFTEN DONE WITH OUR, WITH OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE MORE FOCUSED ON, UH, JOB CREATION AND PROMOTING JOB CREATION.THIS IS REALLY THE, THE, THE GOAL OF THIS, UH, DIRECTION, UH, WAS TO REALLY FOCUS ON COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY AND TO REALLY FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE REAL ESTATE FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF USERS AND, AND, AND SPECIFIC TYPES OF NEEDS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE FROM THAT ORDINANCE.
UH, BIG FOCUS ON LAW ON SMALL LOCAL HERITAGE BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, CO-OPS, AND ESPECIALLY BIG FOCUS CREATIVE SECTOR.
UH, ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE, UM, PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR, UM, THE DEVELOPMENTS OF COMMERCIAL SPACES THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY, LOTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE SPACE.
AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE THE PROVISION OF SPECIFIC NEEDS SUCH AS, UH, THE DELIVERY OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO UNDER INVESTED AREAS.
FOR THAT, THINK, THINK THINGS LIKE, UH, GROCERY STORES AND FOOD DESERTS.
WE DIDN'T, WE DON'T, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A GOOD PROGRAM FOR DOING THAT KIND OF THING, AND THIS IS INTENDED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A LOT OF DIRECTION SINCE THEN, UM, FROM A VARIETY OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
WE DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE.
BASICALLY, UH, THE RENT HAS NOT GOTTEN CHEAPER AND WE ALL KNOW IT, AND THERE'S CONTINUED DIRECTION TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF INTEREST HERE FROM A LOT OF COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL ACTIONS AND PLANS, UH, REALLY FOCUSING AGAIN ON USING AFFORDABLE, UH, SPACE AND AFFORDABLE REAL ESTATE AND USING OUR THREE 80 TOOLS TO HELP, UH, SUPPORT THAT KIND OF, UH, PROVISION.
UH, AGAIN, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I I, I THINK ESPECIALLY AFTER SOME OF THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT, I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A HARD THING TO ARGUE TO THIS COMMISSION, BUT, UM, IT, THERE IS DEFINITELY AN URGENT NEED FOR AFFORDABLE SMALL BUSINESS SPACE, UH, IN GENERAL AS WELL AS FOR THE CREATIVE SECTOR.
I HAVE SOME, SOME COMMENTS HERE FROM A RECENT, UH, REPORT FROM COSTAR, WHICH IS, UH, ONE OF THE MAIN COMMERCIAL DATA SETS FOR, OR, UH, DATA PROVIDERS FOR REAL ESTATE INFORMATION.
UH, AUSTIN HAS HAD, UH, IN THE RETAIL MARKET, UH, SOME OF THE FASTEST GROWING RENTS YEAR OVER YEAR IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, UH, THE VACANCY RATE IS, UH, UH, UNDER 4%.
I CHECKED, I CHECKED LAST WEEK.
WHEN YOUR VACANCY RATE ON ANYTHING IS VERY LOW, THAT MEANS THE RENT JUST GOES UP.
SO WE BASICALLY HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY AND IT'S GENERATING SOME OF THE HIGHEST RENT GROWTH IN THE COUNTRY, AND THERE'S NO ANTICIPATION OF THIS NECESSARILY CHANGING VERY SOON, JUST FROM A STRAIGHT MARKET PLAY.
UH, WE ALSO REG OUR DEPARTMENT ALWAYS SURVEYS, UH, THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DIFFERENT NEEDS, INCLUDING THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE CREATIVE SPACE.
SINCE WE STARTED DOING THIS IN 2018, UH, IT IS RESPONDENTS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CREATIVE SPACE HAS NEVER GONE ABOVE 50%.
SO CLEARLY THIS HAS REMAINED A MAJOR NEED FOR AUSTIN CREATIVES, UH, SINCE 2018, SINCE WE BEGAN TRYING TO, UH, INITIALLY GOT AUTHORIZATION TO KEEP MOVING ON THIS, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHAT WE DID, UH, WAS IN WAS, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE, WE GOT THAT CONSULTANT UNDER CONTRACT IN JANUARY OF 2020, AND THEN SOME STUFF HAPPENED, SO IT MOVED A LITTLE SLOWER, UH, THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
UH, WE HAD OTHER THINGS WE KIND OF HAD TO FOCUS ON AND, AND SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WERE A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO IN 2020 AND 2021.
BUT, UH, WE DID, UH, GET A REPORT THAT REVIEWED, UH, CURRENT POLICIES, BEST PRACTICES, INCORPORATED REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROGRAM PRIORITIES, GUIDELINES, TARGETS, AND SCORING.
UH, WE HAD A LOT OF, UH, FOCUS, UH, NOT, WE DIDN'T REALLY REPLICATE THE, THE GIANT 2018 PROCESS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE DID HAVE SOME FOCUSED FOCUS, SOME FOCUSED, UM, STAKEHOLDER GROUPS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM ARTS AND CREATIVE SPACE, DEVELOPERS FROM SMALL BUSINESS DISTRICTS, UM, AND, AND LENDERS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, AS A RESULT OF ALL THAT, AS A RESULT OF THE COUNCIL DIRECTION, AS A RESULT OF CONTINUING DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE PLACE-BASED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS WOULD BE A NEW PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR THE CREATIVE SECTOR, SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY SERVING PROJECTS, AND NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.
THE INCENTIVE WOULD BE BASED ON, UH, NEW INVESTMENT IN
[01:05:01]
REAL ESTATE THAT PROVIDES MAJOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS, THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BENEFIT BEING AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR CREATIVES AND SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, PRESERVATION OF EXISTING.IT CAN ALSO BE BASED ON PRESERVATION OF EXISTING VENUES, CREATIVE SPACES, AND LEGACY BUSINESSES THREATENED BY HIGH REAL ESTATE COSTS, INCLUDING RENTS, UH, TAXES OR NEED FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, THAT'S HOW WE'RE FRAMING THIS UP NOW.
UM, THE, THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT THESE WILL BE PRIORITIZING ARE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE SPACE, UH, OR SUPPORTING AND RETAINING NEW EXISTING CREATIVE SPACES, LEGACY BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY SERVING INITIATIVES.
UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ARE REQUIRED OR USED AS BONUS POINTS.
THEY'LL MOSTLY BE TIED TO, UM, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, LIKE DEEPER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY, SERVING LOTS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN ONE PROJECT, UH, HAVING LONGER PERIODS OF AFFORDABILITY, THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, SO THAT'S, AND, AND THAT IS, THAT IS THE PRIMARY PROGRAM WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THERE'LL BE THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES IN THE PROGRAM AS WE HAVE IT CURRENTLY DESIGNED.
UH, CATEGORY ONE WILL BE AFFORDABLE SPACE.
BASICALLY THIS IS GOING TO BE TIED TO, UH, NEW PROJECTS.
SO IF THERE'S A NEW MIXED USE OR COMMERCIAL PROJECT, UH, WE CAN DO INCENTIVES TO SUPPORT SOME AFFORDABLE CREATIVE SPACE OR AFFORDABLE, UH, SMALL BUSINESS SPACE IN THOSE PROJECTS, THAT'S IN THAT PROJECT, OR THAT'S IN THAT CATEGORY.
CATEGORY TWO IS FOR STANDALONES.
SO IF, UM, ESSENTIALLY A PRO, IF A PROJECT IS SOMETHING LIKE STARTING A, A NEW, UH, ARTS COMPLEX OR VENUE THAT COULD JUST, THAT COULD BE A CATEGORY TWO, UH, POTENTIALLY ALSO JUST, UH, SOME MA MAJOR INVESTMENT IN, UM, IN SITE IMPROVEMENTS, LIKE BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, GETTING NEW, UH, YOU KNOW, DOING, DOING, DOING BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, THAT KIND OF THING.
ANYTHING WHERE THERE'S LIKE INVESTMENT IN, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THOSE SORT OF INVOLVE, UH, INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE AND REAL ESTATE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN USE AS SORT OF THE BASE FOR, UM, INCENTIVIZING AND FOR DOING TAX, UH, TAX REIMBURSEMENTS.
UH, CATEGORY THREE WOULD BE, UH, CULTURAL PRESERVATION.
THAT WOULD BE TAX REIMBURSEMENTS AND POTENTIALLY OTHER PROGRAMS. THAT'S, THAT'S STUFF WE NEED TO EXPLORE, UH, THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON RETAINING AND IMPROVING EXISTING, UH, VENUES AND CREATIVE SPACES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY GONNA LIMIT TO, UH, CREATIVE SPACES.
MUSIC, MUSIC VENUES AND, AND, AND LEGACY BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND CO-OPS VERY STRICTLY.
UM, THE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA NECESSARILY THOSE THAT WILL NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE HEAVY INVESTMENT IN NEW, UM, PHYSICAL, UH, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL REAL ESTATE MORE.
IT'S MORE OF A PRESERVATION FOCUS.
JUST LOOKING AT THOSE REALLY, UH, CORE COMMUNITY TARGETS.
AGAIN, UH, MUSIC VENUES AND CREATIVE SPACES, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
UH, AND WHEN I SAY THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, CHILD, UH, GROCERY STORES AND FOOD DESERTS, UH, CHILDCARE CENTERS, INDUSTRY HUBS AND INCUBATORS, FOOD HUBS, THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, UH, SPECIFIC HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY OR FILL AN INDUSTRY ECOSYSTEM GAP.
THAT WOULD ALSO, AGAIN, INCLUDE THAT, THAT WOULD ALSO, UH, COULD ALSO INCLUDE CREATIVE SPACES AND VENUES AS STANDALONES, NOT AS PARTS OF LARGER PROJECTS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND CO-OPS.
THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE REALLY TIED TO KIND OF REAL ESTATE AFFORDABILITY GENERALLY HAVE SOME LEVEL OF GEOGRAPHIC TARGETING, UH, WHICH WE, WE WOULD SORT OF BE DOING HERE.
UH, WE'D BE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE OUR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
THOSE ARE DISCRETE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESS DISTRICTS OR CULTURAL DESIGNATED CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
UH, PLACE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE CREATIVE ZONING BEFORE, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THOSE SORTS OF PLACES WOULD BE LIKE, UH, PRIMARY AREAS WHERE WE WANNA SEE THESE KINDS OF INCENTIVES DEPLOYED.
NOT EXCLUSIVELY, BUT THAT KIND OF THING IS, IS IS PART OF IT.
UH, E UH, THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OR ETOD AREAS.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL, WE ARE PLANNING ON TRYING TO, UM, USE TO COMPLEMENT SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT, UM, HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN THE ETOD ZONING AREAS FOR, UM, FOR SUPPORTING, UM, CREATIVE SPACE PRESERVATION, UM, CITY LED REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.
BY THIS, I MEAN, THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC ONES WHERE THE CITY IS TAKING A VERY ACTIVE ROLE IN TRYING TO CATALYZE, UH, PROJECTS IN, IN, IN AREAS TO MEET, MEET A VARIETY OF GOALS.
UH, COLONY PARK IS A MAJOR ONE FOR THAT.
IT'S ALSO FOR WATERFRONT WILL PROBABLY UTILIZE THIS REALLY KIND OF MAKING SURE THAT'S FOCUSED ON JUST ONES WHERE THERE'S
[01:10:01]
THE CITY'S BASICALLY, UH, LEADING IT.SO NOT JUST KIND OF WILLY-NILLY, UH, AND THEN, UH, PRIORITY EQUITY AREAS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA BE THINKING ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO REALLY APPLY THIS.
BUT TRYING TO USE THIS, UH, AS I SAID, A BIG FOCUS HERE IS TO TRY AND PRO, UH, PRO PRODUCE, UH, NEEDED RESOURCES AND ASSETS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.
SO LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MAPPING TOOLS FROM PRO THAT PROJECT CONNECT UTILIZED, UH, REALLY LOOKING AT WAYS TO LIKE, USE THIS TOOL TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD BASED EQUITY.
SO PART OF THIS, SO THIS ISN'T JUST TO HELP MAKE, CREATE A SPACE HAPPEN, THIS IS MEANT TO HELP, UH, AFFORDABLE SPACE HAPPEN.
UH, WHEN WE SAY AFFORDABLE, THE WORKING WORKING THRESHOLD WE'RE USING IS, UH, 50% OF THE MARKET RATE FOR RETAIL BASED ON THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE.
UH, OR SOME SORT OF, UH, RENT REVENUE RATIO.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S BASED ON REALISTIC AND APPROPRIATE INDUSTRY STANDARDS WITH, UH, RENT WITH AN ANNUAL ESCALATION CAP.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY COMMON IN COMMERCIAL LEASES.
AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THIS AS A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WE CAN LOOK AT DOING THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, HOW THE DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE OF LIKE WHAT THE INCENTIVE IS OR CAN BE.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON AS FAR AS TOOLS IS, UH, PROPERTY AND SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENTS.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAIN WAY WE DO THREE 80 IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, UM, WITH, UH, THE REIMBURSEMENT, THE ANNUAL REIMBURSEMENT OF PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES.
UM, BUT THE TOTAL VALUE OF WHAT THAT CAN BE, THE WAY, THIS IS, THE WAY WE'RE SORT OF FRAMING THIS UP AND FOCUSING ON THIS, SINCE A LOT OF THESE ARE GONNA BE REAL ESTATE BASED, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS REALLY FOCUS ON FILLING A GAP IN A REAL ESTATE PROJECT THAT'S CREATED BY TRYING TO PROVIDE THESE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
SO IF YOU, WE'D BE LOOKING AT THE, UH, REAL ESTATE PROJECT WITH AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR, SAY, A THEATER, UH, VERSUS, UH, A REAL ESTATE PROJECT WITHOUT THAT AFFORDABLE SPACE.
AND THAT GAP IS WHAT WE'D BE USING TO IDENTIFY WHAT SORT OF INCENTIVE CAN BE OFFERED.
UH, IT, IT WOULDN'T, IT'S NOT GONNA BE JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT, BUT THAT'S THE PRIMARY FOCUS.
UH, PROJECTS WILL STILL MOSTLY NEED TO BE KIND OF REVENUE, UH, NEUTRAL OR POSITIVE FOR THE CITY.
THERE'LL BE, IT'LL BE TIED TO LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL, UM, UH, TAX LEVELS ARE AND THAT KIND OF THING, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE GENERAL THRUST OF WHAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT.
THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL BONUS, UH, ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT.
THINGS THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT FOR BONUS SCORING.
UM, A REALLY BIG IMPORTANT ONE IS GONNA BE HAVING A, A RIGHT TO RETURN FOR AN EXISTING CREATIVE OR SMALL BUSINESS SPACE.
IF THERE'S A REDEVELOPMENT, UH, WE DON'T REALLY WANT, WE'RE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO PUSH OUT A CREATIVE SPACE.
WE'RE, WE WANNA INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO KEEP THEM.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE A PRIMARY FOCUS.
UM, HAVING A TENANT IN TOW ALREADY HAVING FOLKS YOU CAN WORK WITH, UH, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE SPACES TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT, UH, CREATIVE OPERATIONS AT THE SAME, IN THE SAME SPOTS.
HAVING MULTI-USE SPACES, UM, WE HAVE THOSE THRESHOLDS I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF, UH, RENT AND YOUR, AND YOUR TERMS. BUT IF YOU OFFER LOWER RATES, IF YOU OFFER LONGER TERMS, IF YOU HAVE EVEN SMALLER RENT ESCALATIONS, THAT'S THE SORT OF THING THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR, FOR BONUS POINTS.
AND BASICALLY, THE WAY THESE WORK IS, THE HIGHER YOU SCORE WITH YOUR BASE POINTS AND YOUR BONUS POINTS, THE MORE INCENTIVE THE PROJECT CAN BE ENTITLED TO.
I THINK, SO I DID A FEW EXAMPLES.
WE CAN JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH THESE QUICKLY, BUT, UH, AND WE CAN GO BACK AND DISCUSS THEM MORE IF FOLKS WANT TO, BUT THESE ARE JUST TOTALLY HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES.
SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, ONE, ONE PRIORITY AREA FOR THIS, WHICH WOULD BE IN THESE NEW ETOD DISTRICTS THAT WERE JUST PASSED, UH, WHERE WE WORKED A LOT WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO TRY AND, UM, INTEGRATE, UH, CREATIVE SPACE PRESERVATION, UH, REQUIREMENTS, AND WE GOT SOME IN THERE, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS SORT OF COMPLIMENT THEM WITH THIS TYPE OF INCENTIVE TO, UH, HELP MAKE SURE THAT IF A REDEVELOPMENT HAPPENS THAT MIGHT POTENTIALLY DISPLACE A CREATIVE SPACE, WELL, INSTEAD OF THAT HAPPENING, WE CAN WORK WITH, WITH THE NEW DEVELOPER AND TRY AND BRING THEM IN TO AN AFFORDABLE LEASE ON A GROUND FLOOR.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THIS FOCUS WOULD BE.
UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS KIND OF IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
UH, WHENEVER WE DO THESE ANALYSES AND KIND OF DO THE REPORTS TO, TO, UH, TO FRAME UP THE INCENTIVE AND HOW THEY WORK, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT IT, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS, THIS MAY NOT HAVE ACTUALLY BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THIS PARTICULAR
[01:15:01]
PRESENTATION, BUT, BUT ESSENTIALLY, UM, WE JUST SHOW KIND OF WHAT THE BENEFITS TO THE CITY ARE RELATIVE TO THE INCENTIVE GIVEN.AND AS LONG AS IT'S POSITIVE, WE CAN, WE CAN SORT OF MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
THIS ONE IS A GROCERY STORE AND A FOOD DESERT EXAMPLE.
THIS IS SORT OF LOOKING AT THAT SECOND CATEGORY OF COMMUNITY IMPACT.
UM, UM, YEAH, UH, IT'S A MAJOR NEED IDENTIFIED IN SEVERAL PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT IS A VERY COMMON FOCUS OF THINGS LIKE, UM, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS OF THIS TYPE.
UM, NEXT SLIDE, UH, GROCERY STORE IS AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE AND SORT OF, UH, THEY, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE A FULLY NET POSITIVE, UH, UM, IMPACT ON.
SO IT MIGHT, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE SOME OF THESE, THIS JUST SORT OF SHOWS THAT SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF COMMUNITY IMPACT CATEGORIES WILL PROBABLY NEED A LOT OF EXTRA SUPPORT AND ATTENTION AND CONSIDERATION ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THEY WORK OUT PROPERLY.
UH, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AGAIN.
UH, THIS IS JUST A FINAL EXAMPLE.
THIS IS BASED ON, THIS IS THAT CULTURAL PRESERVATION CATEGORY I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE OF A LIVE THEATER.
UM, THOUGH I DID USE SOME OF THE, SOME GENERALIZED DATA THAT WE HAVE, UH, AT THE DEPARTMENT FROM, UH, TO HELP ESTIMATE IMPACTS OF WHAT LIFE THEATERS, UH, ARE IN THE AUSTIN ECONOMY.
UM, SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK VERY GOOD TO LIKE, KEEP, KEEP, BE AWARE IN THIS CONTEXT.
UM, AS, AS Y'ALL KNOW FROM DEALING WITH, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND THE, AND, AND ALL THESE KINDS OF, UH, PROGRAMS, UH, THESE ARE MAJOR TOURISM GENERATORS AND ANYTHING THAT IS A MAJOR TOURISM GENERATOR, UH, E UH, ECON ECO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1 0 1, THAT IS A GREAT THING TO INCENTIVIZE BECAUSE YOU'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR CITY, SPEND MONEY, STAY A FEW DAYS, AND THEN LEAVE WITHOUT HAVING TO EXPEND, UH, CITY SERVICES.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHY CITIES OFTEN TRY AND FUND SPORTS STADIUMS. IT'S JUST THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO REAL DIFFERENCE FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S JUST SO IT MAKES SENSE TO DO IT.
UH, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND IT'S JUST INTERESTING, EVEN WITH A MASSIVE, EVEN, AND THIS IS TOTALLY HYPOTHETICAL, BUT EVEN WITH A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL SENSE OF, COMES OUT IN NET POSITIVE FOR THE CITY JUST BASED ON HOW MUCH, UM, IMPACT FROM TOURISM, NOT JUST FROM HOTEL TAXES, BUT FROM ALL THE SPILLOVER TAX, ALL THE SPILLOVER IMPACT THAT GENERATES FROM SALES, FROM RESTAURANT SALES, FROM, UM, TICKETS FROM MERCHANDISE.
SO, UH, REALLY A GOOD THING, REALLY GOOD THING TO KNOW AND, AND THINK ABOUT.
UH, AND KIND OF FINALLY, OR, OR CLOSE TO FINALLY, UM, OUR THREE 80 PROGRAMS ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER SORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT RELATED REQUIREMENTS.
THINGS LIKE, UH, CITY, CITY LIVING WAGE REQUIREMENTS, OR ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PROGRAM, SINCE REAL ESTATE'S GONNA BE INVOLVED A LOT, WE HAVE, UH, REQUIREMENTS AROUND CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE NOT REALLY NECESSARILY RECOMMEND, WE'RE NOT GONNA RECOMMEND CHANGING OR WAIVING THOSE.
UH, WE'RE JUST KEEPING THEM, I'M SORT OF NOTING SOME OF THEM HERE.
UM, LIKE CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTION WORK, IT HAS TO BE USED PREVAILING WAGE AND HAVE OSHA STANDARDS AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.
WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIVE THESE, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT SHOULD BE.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE POINT.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS HONESTLY, I THINK THE LAST ONE.
THIS IS JUST KIND OF GENERAL TIMELINE.
SOME OF THESE DATES ARE A LITTLE, UH, FLUID, BUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS HERE ARE THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING MORE STAKEHOLDER AND COMMISSION, UH, PRESENTATIONS AND FEEDBACK.
UH, AND IF FOLKS HAVE OTHER FEEDBACK, UH, OTHER THAN TONIGHT, I'D LOVE TO LOVE TO HEAR IT.
AND IF THERE'S OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO PRESENT TO, HAPPY TO DO THAT AS WELL.
UM, OVER THE NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GONNA BE PRESENTING THIS TO CITY LEADERSHIP AND FINALIZING ALL OF OUR GUIDELINES.
AND THE GOAL IS TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION IN JULY, SO WE CAN START THIS AND HOPE AND HOPEFULLY START ROLLING THIS PROGRAM OUT, UH, FAIRLY SOON, LIKE IN THE NEXT FISCAL.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR THIS ONCE AGAIN.
WE HEARD IT IN, UH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
I THINK MAYBE YOU CAN'T SEE ME GOT, I CAN'T SEE YOU.
AND WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THE WORKING GROUP, SO YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT I ALSO THOUGHT RYAN, WHO PRESENTED, UM, IN COMMENT, BROUGHT SOME GOOD QUESTIONS IN AS WELL, PARTICULARLY
[01:20:01]
AROUND, UM, KIND OF BACK FILLING FROM OUR INTENDED OUTCOMES.SO LIKE, ARE YOU HEARING ECHOING TOO, DONALD? UH, I, I'M HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A WAIVER THING, BUT I THINK I CAN HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK I, I DON'T THINK THE CITY MIC IS MUTED.
'CAUSE I HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHERS ONLINE ARE HEARING FEEDBACK, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME.
UM, BUT LIKE THE SORT OF MILESTONES AROUND WHAT WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE IF THESE PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S, HOW THAT MIGHT MAKE IT INTO THE POLICY ITSELF, BUT IF WE COULD, UM, POTENTIALLY LIKE, SAY WHEN THIS IS BEING PRESENTED, LIKE, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO SEE PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR INTERESTS, LIKE AROUND CREATIVE SPACES, UM, AND AFFORDABILITY.
LIKE WHAT WOULD BE, UM, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AT CERTAIN MILESTONES AFTER THIS IS ROLLED OUT.
AND I ALSO WONDERED IF THERE WAS, UM, ANY, I KNOW YOU SAID MORE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, BUT IF THERE'S A CHANCE FOR, I DON'T KNOW, SOME SORT OF FEEDBACK.
SO I KNOW WE'RE HERE ARTS COMMISSION AND PEOPLE HOPEFULLY ARE WATCHING THIS, BUT I KNOW LIKE NOT EVERYBODY DOES THAT.
SO IS THERE, IS THERE ANY PLAN TO DO LIKE STRATEGIC KIND OF TARGETED, UM, ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK BETWEEN, I KNOW YOU'RE ON A TIGHT TIMELINE, BUT BETWEEN NOW, LIKE WITH THE DEVELOPER COMMUNITY, THOSE WHO WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED IN USING THIS, BUT ALSO, UM, FROM THE CREATIVE, THE CREATIVE, UH, BUSINESSES AND FOLKS WHO WOULD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY OWN THEIR SPACE OR NOT, LIKE BEYOND THE RECEIVING BENEFIT END OF THIS NEW POLICY.
AND THIRDLY, IS ALL OF THE INCENTIVES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE PROPERTY TAX.
SO, UH, UH, SO GOING, UM, I'LL DO THE LAST ONE FIRST.
THE PROP, UH, THE MAIN INCENTIVE WE, WE DO IS, UH, PROPERTY TAX REIMBURSEMENT, BUT WE CAN ALSO DO SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT.
SO THAT'S, THAT CAN BE RELEVANT TOO.
WE'RE EXPLORING OTHER WAYS WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE MEDIUM TERM THAT WE CAN, WE CAN POTENTIALLY FUND OTHER, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS IN OTHER SORTS OF WAYS.
BUT JUST BASED ON KIND OF, KIND OF BUDGET.
AND ESPECIALLY THIS LAUNCHING IS A NEW PROGRAM WE'RE STICKING TO KIND OF THE STANDARD WAY WE, WE, WE DO IT BASED, YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
BUT WE, THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO HAVE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, IMPROVE ON THAT AND EXPAND ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.
IN TERMS OF THE MILESTONES, THAT'S A REALLY, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA AND A GOOD INSIGHT.
WE WILL HAVE THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE GUIDELINES.
AND, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY REPORTS ON SOME OF THE, SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, OR WE'LL BE REPORTING ON SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AS KIND OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS, LIKE, UH, AFFORDABLE SPACE AND AFFORDABLE CREATIVE SPACE, UH, CREATED.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA BE TRACKING THAT.
UM, I'LL TALK WITH OUR LEADERSHIP AND, AND WE CAN START, WE CAN BRAINSTORM SOME GOOD, UH, SOME GOOD GOALS OUT OF IT THAT WE CAN INCLUDE.
UM, I, I LIKE, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE PRAGMATIC ONE AND THE VISIONARY ONE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GO AS HARD AS WE CAN, BUT LET'S SEE, SEE WHAT WE CAN GET.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF OTHER TYPES OF ENGAGEMENT, THERE'S, UH, UH, I DO HAVE SOME MORE, UH, PANELS LINED UP WITH, UM, SOME FOLKS IN DIFFERENT, UH, UH, PARTS OF THE CREATIVE SECTOR, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, THE, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT'S ENGAGED IN THAT.
UH, I'D DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED IN OTHER TYPES OF, LIKE, GROUPS OF PRESENTATION, UH, UH, GROUPS THAT I COULD PRESENT TO THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN THAT REGARD.
ONE OF THE, THE MAIN THING I WAS PLANNING ON DOING SINCE WE'VE, SINCE WE DID KIND OF A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE FRONT END, WAS GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE IN THOSE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND KIND OF GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK.
BUT I'D ALSO BE HAPPY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME, AND I'D BE HAPPY, ESPECIALLY OVER JUNE, TO MEET WITH OTHER GROUPS AND KIND OF GET THEIR, GET THEIR FEEDBACK.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.
THIS IS EXCITING AND THANKS FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
AND IT, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T NOT HEARING THIS, I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE THAT WOULD GET SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT IN THE WORKING GROUP AS WELL, AND COMMISSIONER MACH, YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS.
DID WE FEEL, ARE WE DOING A, OR IS IT THE TIME TO DO A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR COUNSEL SINCE WE'RE ON THE A TIMELINE? DID WE TALK ABOUT THAT AT ALL, OR DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THAT'S ACTUALLY A QUESTION FOR DON OR COMMISSIONER HBA
A A A LETTER OF SUPPORT, UH, WOULD DEFINITELY BE GREAT, UH, FOR WHENEVER WE GO TO COUNCIL.
UM, IF, IF NOW IS, IF, IF YOU NEED MORE TIME TO DO IT, UM, THAT'S THAT'S FINE TOO.
IT'S, IT'S NOT GOING TO COUNCIL UNTIL
[01:25:01]
JULY, SO, BUT, UM, BUT CERTAINLY WE WOULD APPRECIATE A LETTER OF SUPPORT.YEAH, I, I THINK, I MEAN, DOUBLE CHECK, GET THE NODS FROM CITY STAFF, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THAT NOW.
I THINK I'M THINKING THE SAME THING AS WELL.
CAN WE MOVE TO, TO DO A LETTER OF SUPPORT? OKAY.
SO I HAVE ONE FROM COMMISSIONER.
IT'S ALWAYS UNDER EVERYBODY'S FIRST NAME.
ALL IN FAVOR? LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
DO I SEE MALDONADO? DO YOU HAVE A HAND UP? YES.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER ALBACH, I'LL GET WITH YOU AS, UH, VICE CHAIR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT NEXT STEP IS, SINCE I'M NOT, I'M JUST ACTING CHAIR TONIGHT.
I WILL ASK, HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE BACKUP MATERIAL ON THESE TWO AGENDA ITEMS? MAY I SEE A RAISE OF HANDS IF YOU HAVE? OKAY.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE NOT ALL RIGHT.
SO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, UH, WITH WHAT THESE TWO ITEMS ARE.
UH, COMMISSIONER MALDONADO, DO YOU HAVE, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE BACKUP MATERIAL? SO, SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
IS THAT A NO? SORRY, THAT'S A, OOPS.
SO, UM, IF WE CAN, IS THERE A MOVE TO APPROVE
[9. Approve the Selection Process Recommendation for the Palmer Events Center AIPP Project ]
SELECTION PROCESS? RECOMMENDATION FOR PALMER EVENT CENTER, THE A IPP PROJECT, THE BACKUP MATERIAL? WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE BACKUP MATERIAL AT THIS MEETING.IS THERE, UM, I FEEL IF WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER AND WE ONLY HAVE, UM, UH, A BARELY A, A QUORUM, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON ITEM NINE.
I'M A COORDINATOR WITH ART AND PUBLIC PLACES.
UM, THIS IS FOR THE SELECTION, UH, ARTIST SELECTION RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PALMER EVENTS CENTER, A IPP PROJECT.
UM, I AM STANDING IN FOR RYAN RUNCIE, WHO IS, UH, WILL BE THE PROJECT COORDINATOR ON THIS, BUT I JOINED RYAN ON THE, UH, SELECTION PANEL MEETING.
AND SO HAPPY TO PROVIDE SOME CON, EXCUSE ME, PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT AND ALSO SHARE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, THIS IS FOR A VOTE ON THE SELECTION PROCESS.
UH, RECOMMENDATION, UH, THE SPONSORING DEPARTMENT IS THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, THE PROJECT BUDGET THAT THE ARTIST WILL BE WORKING WITH IS $622,640, EXCUSE ME, IN COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, SO WE HAVE A RECOMMENDED ARTIST AND A RECOMMENDED ALTERNATE, UM, THAT I HAVE SOME BRIEF, UH, QUOTES FROM SELECTION PANELISTS ABOUT, AS WELL AS SOME SAMPLE, UM, IMAGES FROM THEIR PORTFOLIO OF ARTWORK.
THEY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION.
UM, AMY LANDESBERG IS THE RECOMMENDED SELECTED ARTIST.
PALMER EVENT CENTER FOR THAT OPEN CALL IS A NATIONAL CALL FOR ARTISTS.
AND SO AMY LANDESBERG IS BASED IN DECATUR, GEORGIA.
AND THESE ARE SOME QUOTES FROM SOME OF THE SELECTION PANELISTS.
UM, HAPPY TO READ SOMETHING OUT LOUD, BUT MAYBE TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT THAT HAPPENED, UH, IN CONVERSATION DURING THE PANEL.
UM, FOLKS WERE REALLY EXCITED, ACTUALLY.
MAYBE WE CAN GO TO SOME OF THE NEXT SLIDES TO SEE SOME ARTWORK AS WELL.
UM, THIS SLIDE AND THE NEXT ONE WHEN WE GET TO IT ARE BOTH EXAMPLES OF ARTWORKS THAT ARE INSTALLED, UM, IN, UH, IN AIRPORTS.
AND SO IN PUBLIC SPACES THAT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF, UM, FOOT TRAFFIC, UM, GOING THROUGH THEM.
UM, THE LOCATION WHERE THE ARTWORK WILL BE INSTALLED AT THE PALMER EVENT CENTER IS IN THE FRONT ENTRYWAY IN DOORS, UM, WHERE THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR ARE OPEN TO ONE ANOTHER, AND THE ARTWORK WILL BE, UM, ESSENTIALLY AT THE SECOND FLOOR, BUT VIEWABLE FROM THE GROUND FLOOR.
AND SO THE SELECTION PANELISTS WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT AMY'S, UM, ARTWORK, UM, IN PART BECAUSE IT HAD A REAL PRESENCE TO IT IN HIGH FOOT TRAFFIC AREAS, UM, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT FOLKS, UM, ATTENDING DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING AT THE EVENT CENTER WOULD ENJOY.
UM, AND ALSO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PLAYFULNESS OF HER MATERIALS.
UM, THIS ARTWORK CALLED, UH, TAILLIGHT SWARM IS MADE UP OF, UH, UH, SIDE TAILLIGHTS FROM
[01:30:01]
A HUN HYUNDAI ELANTRA.AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL SEE, UM, SIMILAR MATERIALS USED, UM, FROM SIDE MIRRORS, UM, THAT ARE ON CARS AS WELL.
UH, AND THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, AMY ALSO HAS EXPERIENCED, UH, USING, UM, SORT OF TECHNOLOGY INTERACTION WITH HER ARTWORK AS WELL.
AND SO PANELISTS WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY THERE TO BE INTERACTIVITY OF VIEWERS TO SORT OF ENGAGE WITH THE ARTWORK, UM, THAT THEY MIGHT SEE THERE, BUT THAT THERE COULD BE POSSIBILITY FOR, UM, CHANGES IN A DIGITAL, UM, ARTWORK DEPENDING ON PROGRAMMING SEASON, OTHER THINGS LIKE THIS.
THE, UM, RECOMMENDED ALTERNATE IS CHEN CHANG, UM, WHO IS BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
UM, THESE ARE SOME QUOTES FROM, UH, SELECTION PANELISTS, UH, WHO ARE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION, UM, BUT ALSO TO ADD SOME COLOR TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAPPENING DURING THAT SELECTION PANEL.
UM, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO LOOK AT SOME OF, UM, HAN'S WORK, UM, REALLY, UM, COLORFUL, UH, WELCOMING.
UM, ALSO SOMETHING THAT PANELISTS FELT, UM, WOULD BE REALLY APPROACHABLE FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES COMING TO THE PALMER EVENT CENTER FOR MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING.
UM, BUT, UM, ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PLAYFULNESS OF CHEN'S WORK, UM, AND JUST HOW MUCH IT COULD REALLY COMMAND A SPACE, UM, REGARDLESS OF THE SCALE OF THE WORK.
AND, UH, SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, UM, ONE OF THE ARTIST PIECES.
UM, THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, BACKUP MATERIALS IN TERMS OF OTHER PDFS THAT DESCRIBE A BIT MORE THE PROCESS, UM, THAT A IPP WENT THROUGH, UH, TO COME TO THIS SELECTION.
UM, SO HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THOSE, OR MAYBE IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
DO WE HAVE A MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER NINE, THE SELECTION PROCESS RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PALMER EVENT CENTER, A IPP PROJECT.
ALL IN FAVOR? AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S ALL TOGETHER.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE EVERYBODY.
[10. Approve the Updated Artwork Budget for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Project Terminal Expansion Phase II B Art in Public Places Project with Artists Josef Kristofoletti and Matthew Mazzotta]
10, TO PROVE THE UPDATED ARTWORK BUDGET FOR THE AUSTIN BIRM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT TERMINAL EXPANSION, PHASE TWO B, ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROJECT WITH ARTIST JOSEPH CRYSTAL TI AND MATTHEW MAZZOTTA.I AM THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES, UH, COORDINATOR AT AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
UM, I AM HERE, UH, TODAY WITH YOU THIS EVENING TO, UH, BEFORE THE REQUEST TO, UH, APPROVE THE BUDGET INCREASE FOR THE TERMINAL EXPANSION PHASE TWO, PROJECT B AT, AT THE AIRPORT.
UM, SO SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, UH, IT IS, UH, AGAIN, THE TERMINAL EXPANSION PROJECT THAT, UH, THE AIRPORT, UH, WAS WORKING ON, UH, COMPLETED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
THE ORIGINAL, UH, RFQ FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, WHAT LISTED, UH, THREE PROJECTS, UH, THE BUDGETS FOR TWO OF THEM WAS A HUNDRED, WERE $155,000.
AND THEN THE BUDGET FOR THE THIRD WAS $260,000.
AND, UH, THIS, UH, THE SELECTION WAS HELD AS A INVITATION TO, UH, THE CURRENT, CURRENT PRE-QUALIFIED POOL OF LOCAL ARTISTS.
UM, SO THE INVITATION WAS PUT OUT TO THE POOL ARTISTS APPLIED, UH, AND I BELIEVE THEY WENT THROUGH A PROPOSAL PROCESS.
AND FROM THAT, UM, THREE ARTISTS WERE SELECTED.
UH, UH, ONE PAIR OF WHICH WERE JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER LETTY, AND MATTHEW MDA.
UM, SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MATTHEW AND JOSEPH.
UH, JOSEPH, UH, IS A AUSTIN BASED ARTIST, MOSTLY WORKING IN 2D AND MURAL WORK.
[01:35:01]
INTERESTED IN THE INTERSECTION OF ART, UH, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY.UM, AND YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, HIS WORK, UH, IN THE A IPP COLLECTION, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC ART COLLECTION, TAO, WHICH IS THE, UM, KINDA SPECTRUM BASED MURAL ON THE SIDE OF A CITY OF BOSTON PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN THAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT.
UM, HIS PARTNER IN THIS SELECTION IS MATTHEW MAZZOTTA, WHO IS A NEW YORK BASED ARTIST.
HE, UH, IS MOSTLY WORKING IN A CONCEPTUAL AND SOCIAL PRACTICE SPACE.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE EXAMPLES OF HIS WORK ON THE RIGHT, UH, ONE OF WHICH HE COMPLETED, UH, MORE RECENTLY THAN THIS, THAN THIS SELECTION PROCESS.
BUT, UH, IS THE, UH, FLAMINGO, UH, UH, ARTWORK CALLED HOME AT THE TAMPA AIRPORT, UH, UH, ALSO NAMED PHOEBE.
UM, SO THESE TWO ARTISTS WERE SELECTED TOGETHER FOR, UH, AGAIN, THE, THE PROJECT B.
UM, AND, UH, THE PANEL WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY, OR FELT THAT THEY COULD CONVEY A SENSE OF WONDER AND CURIOSITY WITH THEIR WORK, AS WELL AS BEING INTERESTED IN THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, UM, THAT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THEIR WORK.
SO IT'S JUST A LITTLE REMINDER ABOUT THEM.
SO, THIS PROJECT, UH, DID GO THROUGH ITS DESIGN PHASES.
UM, THE ARTISTS BROUGHT THEIR MID DESIGN, UH, TO THE A IPP PANEL IN, UM, THE SUMMER OF, OR SORRY, SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
UM, AS A REMINDER, THAT PHASE USUALLY JUST GOES TO, UH, THE PANEL, UM, A IPP PANEL FOR REVIEW.
AND THEN, UH, BY MAY, 2023, UH, THEY HAD THEIR FINAL DESIGN READY.
UM, AND AFTER PRESENTING TO THE A IPP PANEL AND, UM, KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE SPONSOR DEPARTMENT, UH, OF AVIATION, ULTIMATELY WE DID NOT RECEIVE A SIGNED USER DEPARTMENT EVALUATION FORM FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND, UH, JOINTLY, UH, EDD AND, UH, THE AIRPORT DECIDED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN.
SO, UM, THE AIRPORT AND E-D-D-A-I-P-P, ART AND PUBLIC PLACES WERE, UM, STILL VERY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THESE ARTISTS AND, UH, KIND OF PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO, UH, FIND A, UH, AN ALTERNATE, ALTERNATE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, AND STILL WORK WITH THIS ARTIST, BUT KIND OF RESTARTING THE PROJECT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF THE INVESTIGATION, UM, TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR, EARLY THIS YEAR TO SEE WHAT SITE AND, UH, BUDGET MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO RESTART THE PROJECT.
UM, AND SO, WHICH I WILL SHARE IN A MOMENT, BUT NOW WE'RE IN A PROCESS OF, UH, BRINGING THAT TO THE COMMISSION, TO THE AP PANEL, AND EVENTUALLY, UH, CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE APPROVAL ON THAT, UM, UM, BUY-IN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROCESS.
UM, AND AS IT'S NOTED ON THE SCREEN, UH, THE, THE FINAL DESIGN NOT, UH, DID NOT COME FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION, AS I SAID.
'CAUSE UH, WE DECIDED TO PAUSE THE PROJECT AT THAT POINT.
SO, THE, UH, SITE, UM, THAT WE HAVE SCOPED OUT, UM, WE BEING, UM, UH, AVIATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, A IPP ART INVOLVED PLACES, UM, IS A, UH, UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AREA.
IT IS THE ATRIUM INFILL IN THE CURRENT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES HALL, UH, AT THE AUSTIN BERKSHIRE NATIONAL AIRPORT.
UM, THIS PROJECT, UH, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HALL, THERE IS ESSENTIALLY CURRENTLY A NEGATIVE SPACE, UM, BETWEEN, UM, BAGGAGE AND DEPARTURES.
AND THE AIRPORT IS WORKING ON A PROJECT TO BASICALLY INFILL THAT SPACE, ADDING, UH, ABOUT 1200 SQUARE FEET OF QUEUING AREA TO THE AIRPORT.
UM, AND, UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING A SUSPENDED PROJECT, UM, UH, WITH THE ARTISTS AND THE CEILING OVER THAT AREA COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE, UM, SOME INCORPORATION INTO THE FLOOR AS WELL AS EMBEDDED ELEMENTS.
SO IT WOULDN'T TAKE UP ANY, UM, VOLUME OR ANY QUEUING SPACE.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF A SECONDARY OPTION.
UM, AND THE REVISED BUDGET THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THIS PROJECT IS $1 MILLION.
UM, SO, UH, THAT BEING THE BUDGET, AGAIN, WE'RE COMING TO THE A A PP PANEL AND ARTS COMMISSION FOR, UM, UH, ENDORSEMENT OF THAT BEFORE WE TAKE IT TO, UH, CITY, UH, CITY COUNCIL FOR, UH, THEIR ENDORSEMENT AND APPROVAL AS WELL.
UM, TO STAY ALIGNED WITH THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR THE ATRIUM INFILL, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT A, A RELATIVELY SHORT TIMELINE.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE ARTIST, UH, COMPLETED AND INSTALLED BY FEBRUARY, 2026 IN TIME FOR THE, UH, 2026, UH, SOUTHWEST SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST CROWD TO COME THROUGH.
UM, AND THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE ATRIUM INFILL WILL BASICALLY TAKE PLACE ALL OF THE NEXT YEAR, UH, AND THEY'LL BE CLOSING OUT THAT PROJECT, UM, AT THE END OF 2025.
SO WE WOULD, UH, THEORETICALLY
[01:40:01]
GO IN, UH, FOR INSTALLATION ABOUT TWO MONTHS, UH, IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE INFILL WORK.SO, UM, AGAIN, OUR BRINGING, UH, I'M BRINGING THIS TO, UH, YOU GUYS FOR APPROVAL TODAY.
AND, UM, PLEASE, LEMME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY A PP PANEL, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE BROUGHT IT TO THEM, UH, AT THE MAY MEETING, YES.
IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HAVE THE BACKGROUND ON THIS ONE SINCE IT, SINCE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE OFTEN SEE.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR OF COURSE.
DO I HAVE, UH, A VOTE TO MOVE TO APPROVE? UH, MOTION TO APPROVE.
MACH, UH, COMMISSIONER MACH TO HAVE A SECOND.
SO, ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT, UNANIMOUS.
[11. Approve recommendation to improve HOT collection and fees from short-term rentals ]
APPROVE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE HOT FUND COLLECTION AND FEES FROM SHORT-TERM RENTALS SHOULD ALSO BE IN YOUR BACKUP.UM, YOU START, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS, REGARDING THIS DOCUMENT? NOPE.
IT MAY NOT EVEN BE A MAJOR ONE AT ALL, BUT IF READING THIS AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY SURE, UM, THE WHY BEHIND IT, PERHAPS THE DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE AND IS FIRST, AND THEN THE DETAILS OF, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION SECOND AND MAY, MAYBE JUST THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT, I DUNNO IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE THAT SEES THAT.
SO COMMISSIONERS HAVE MOVED TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CURRENT, UH, LETTER, UH, TO IMPROVE HOT FUND COLLECTION AND FEES FROM SHORT TERM RENTALS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? AND, UH, COMMISSIONER MACH? DO I HAVE A SECOND? YES.
AND MICHAEL KY KY IT WON'T STICK.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER KY.
ALL IN FAVOR? AND BE SURE I CAN SEE YOUR HANDS.
AND APPROVED ITEM NUMBER 11 TO IMPROVE HOT FUND COLLECTIONS FROM SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS IS, LET'S, LET'S HOPE THAT GOES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
[12. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Gray, Maldonado, and Schmalbach (chair).]
AGENDA NUMBER 12, WORKING GROUP UPDATES.UPDATE FROM THE ARTS MUSIC COMMISSION WORKING GROUP ON URBAN CORE ISSUES FROM CHAIR SCH MALACH.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD 'EM ALL 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN ACTION ITEMING TONIGHT.
UM, YEAH, NO, NO OTHER UPDATES OTHER THAN WHAT WE'VE VOTED ON TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
[13. Update from Community Engagement Working Group with Commissioners Zisman, Houston, and Kracheni (chair)]
FROM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKING GROUP CHAIR NEY, WHO IS NOT HERE.SO ZINI, WHO ELSE IS ON THERE? ZIMAN.
GINA ALSO, UM, GINA, CAN YOU REPORT ON THAT WORKING GROUP? WE ACTUALLY HAVE NOT HAD ANY, UH, UH, MEETINGS.
UH, WE HAD THE, THE, UH, CONFAB WITH A TX THEATER THAT WE WENT TO, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST KIND OF OUTGOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY FOLLOW UP MEETINGS AFTER THAT.
WE'RE GETTING TOWARD THE END HERE.
UM, ANY ITEMS FOR INFORMATION FOR THOSE IN THE ROOM? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE ARE STILL LOOKING, UM, FOR THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PANEL, WE HAVE ONE VACANCY TO FILL.
SO WE'RE DOING A RECRUITMENT AND NOMINATION PROCESS FOR THAT.
UM, SO THE APPLICATION IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE A IPP WEBSITE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN ARTIST OR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL.
UM, SO IF YOU ALL HAVE NOMINATIONS, YOU CAN SEND THEM TO STEPH, MEMBER ALEX RERA.
UH, AND THEN ALEX IS GOING TO REACH OUT TO NOMINEES DIRECTLY TO INVITE THEM TO APPLY.
UM, AND SO THE DEADLINE TO FILL OUT THE FORM ISN'T UNTIL JUNE 17TH, BUT THE APPLICATION IS ALWAYS OPEN.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOMINATIONS FOR A IPP PANEL, PLEASE SEND THEM ALEX'S WAY.
ANY REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? SOMETHING THAT'S BURNING NEEDED, DESPERATE? NO.
[01:45:02]
AND AMY'S NOT HERE TO GO.ANY COMMISSIONER? MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT, WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.