Oct 09, 2024 Tourism Commission

[00:00:05]

OUR MEETING,

[CALL TO ORDER]

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, EVERYONE HERE IN ATTENDANCE, INCLUDING COMMISSIONERS ON THE DIOCESE, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.

UH, WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA TODAY, SO I'M HOPING WE CAN GET THROUGH IT EXPEDIENTLY.

UH,

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LAURA ESPARZA, AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A THREE ART ALLIANCE AUSTIN.

AND I ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

UM, BUT IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU, I AM GOING TO PROCEED WITH, UM, UM, EXPRESSING MY ADVOCACY FOR, UH, AND MY SUPPORT, UH, FOR PASSING ITEM, UH, NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO EXPEDITE THE BUILDING OF THE DOHERTY ARTS CENTER.

UH, WHILE I WORKED FOR THE CITY, I WAS DIVISION MANAGER OF MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL CENTERS.

MY OFFICE WAS IN THE DOHERTY ARTS CENTER, AND EVERY DAY I COULD SEE THIS BUILDING DECLINE.

UH, IT WAS ALWAYS A RUNNING JOKE ABOUT, WHICH ANIMAL DID YOU FIND IN YOUR OFFICE TODAY? UH, AND IT CONTINUES TO DECLINE.

JUST IN THE LAST YEAR, THEY HAD A ROOF CAVE IN, UH, IN A CLASSROOM.

UH, THE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX IT, AND SO THEY TOOK AN OLD TREE STUMP AND THEY HIKED UP THE ROOF WITH A, WITH A TREE STUMP UNTIL THEY HAD THE MONEY TO BUY THE LUMBER, UH, TO PUT A POST IN.

UH, SO IT REALLY IS, UM, A DESPERATE SITUATION OVER THERE EVERY DAY.

UH, ARTISTS AND CHILDREN AND THE ADULTS WHO LOVE ARTISTS AND CHILDREN DON'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED THIS WAY.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR OUR ARTS, OUR ARTISTS, AND, UM, ALL THE PEOPLE, THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO, UM, USE THAT FACILITY.

IT'S UPWARDS OF 60,000 PEOPLE WHO USE THAT FACILITY EVERY YEAR.

UM, I WORKED ON IT FOR 17 YEARS WHEN I WAS DIVISION MANAGER, UH, IE UH, DOING THE AS NEEDS ASSESSMENT, UH, AND THE BUILD AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH WAS EXTENSIVE.

AND THE BUILDING PLAN, WHICH WE TOOK ALL THE WAY THROUGH, UM, UM, CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.

WE WERE STOPPED WHEN WE WENT TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT.

AND THIS WAS AFTER CONSUL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO BUILD THE D AS PLANNED.

THEY'VE FORGOTTEN THAT PROMISE, AND WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOUR HELP IN REMINDING THEM THAT, UH, THE VOTERS BO UH, VOTED TWICE ON BONDS, UH, TO BUILD THIS CENTER.

IT'S NOT OUR FAULT THAT COVID HAPPENED, AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.

WE'D LIKE TO ASK THEM TO BUILD THIS EITHER THROUGH EMERGENCY FUNDS OR THROUGH PASSING ANOTHER BOND.

UM, WE WORK CLOSELY STILL WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON, UH, NEEDED CHANGES TO THE PLANS TO MAKE IT COME WITHIN, UH, BUDGET REASONABLY.

UM, THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO GET THIS BUILDING BUILT, BUT WE NEED COUNCIL SUPPORT, UM, AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

UH, AND SO IF YOU WOULD, UH, SEND A MESSAGE, AN EMAIL, A SMOKE SIGNAL, UM, ANYTHING TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, THIS IMPACTS TOURISM BECAUSE WE SEE TOURISTS THERE FOR OUR EVERGREEN ACTIVITIES AND, UM, YOU WANNA SEE THIS BUILT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MRS. BAR.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

UH, SEEING NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE MOVE ON TO THE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? UH, SO MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CHAPEL.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.

SO SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PIAN DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE, UH, WE WILL VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

DOES THIS, UH, COMMISSION APPROVE THE MINUTES? A GENERALLY SPEAKING, YES.

UH, MOVING FORWARD,

[00:05:01]

UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE IN APPRO OUR MINUTES.

THEY ARE SO ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD.

UH, NEXT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER

[2. Staff briefing from Staff Liaison, Felicia Ojeda, regarding the vacancy on the board and updates and policy.]

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM FOCUSING ON THE VACANCY, UM, EFFORTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FULFILL.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE ARE VACANT ON DISTRICT 10, SO JUST TO BRING THAT TO ATTENTION.

UM, MY SECOND ITEM WOULD BE THE NEW FORMAT THAT WE ARE GOING, IF YOU ARE JOINING US VIRTUALLY, THAT YOU'LL NEED TO START SIGNING IN, UM, ON THE FORM, JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT WE SIGN IN HERE.

I SEND THAT ELECTRONICALLY.

SO IF YOU CAN SIGN THAT AND SEND THAT BACK TO ME BY THE END OF THE WEEK WOULD BE PERFECT.

UM, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. OJEDA.

AND, UM, FOR, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A MEPA.

UM, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LIST TODAY AS AN ITEM THAT, UH, WE WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE IT'S NOT LISTED, WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT.

BUT, UM, WE WILL MOVE, HOPEFULLY TO, TO HOLD THIS SPOT ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

SO, UM, THAT'LL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA FOR OFFICIAL APPROVAL, AND WE WILL MOVE IT FORWARD, UM, EXPEDIENTLY AS, UH, MS. OJEDA HAS ALWAYS DONE.

SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT, UM, DILIGENCE.

UM, AND, UH, UH, MY APOLOGIES.

WE HAVE A COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER CHANIN.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FILLING THE DISTRICT 10 SPACE, UM, THAT'S UP FOR ELECTION HERE IN NOVEMBER.

UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, THEN I WOULDN'T BE PUSHING TO FILL IT UNTIL THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER IS IN PLACE.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

UM, I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S REALLY STARTED AND APPROACHING ANYONE TO GET THAT FILLED.

AND BY THE TIME US VOLUNTEERS GET AROUND TO IT, IT'LL PROBABLY BE A NEW TERM.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IS A, A GOOD CONSIDERATION CONSIDERING THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SOME, UH, INFLUENCE, UH, AS TO WHO THEY'D LIKE TO SEE REPRESENT THEM ON THE COMMISSION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SHANNON.

SURE.

MOVING ON

[3. Introduction of the newly appointed District 4 member, Allison Moujaes, to the Tourism Commission Board.]

ITEM NUMBER THREE.

I WANTED TO, UM, FORMERLY, UM, INTRODUCE, UH, AS A MEMBER HERE OF THE AUDIENCE, UM, ALLISON MIA OVER HERE.

UM, SHE'S GONNA BE JOINING US NEXT MEETING ONCE SHE COMPLETES HER, UH, TRAININGS, UH, TO BE A COMMISSIONER HERE ON THE DAIS AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION APPOINTED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FROM DISTRICT FOUR.

UH, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HERE IN HER HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

AND, UM, I'LL LEAVE IT TO HER TO GIVE A MORE FORMAL INTRODUCTION AT THE NEXT MEETING WHEN SHE'S OFFICIALLY ON THE DAIS, SO WE CAN HAVE A, A GOOD CONVERSATION THEN.

BUT, UM, SHE'S HERE TODAY TO LISTEN IN AND SEE HOW WE FUNCTION AND, UM, OR DON'T FUNCTION AND HOW TO IMPROVE THAT.

UH, SO WE, UH, WE CERTAINLY VALUE HER TIME TODAY AND, UH, WELCOME HER TO THE DIAS NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT UP, UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION

[4. Presentation by Cara Bertron, Program Manager of the City of Austin- Planning Department, regarding the Equity-Based Preservation Plan and its connection to Tourism.]

UM, AND ITS CONNECTIONS TO TOURISM COMMISSIONERS, UH, MAY REMEMBER THAT, UH, MS. BERTRAN CAME, UH, TO THE COMMISSION BACK IN APRIL TO DISCUSS THE, UM, EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, MORE BROADLY HERE IN THE CITY, UH, WITH THE BOARD'S, UH, RATHER WITH THE COMMISSION'S CONSENT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE UP, UM, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS TO RECOMMEND THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN, UM, AN ATTACHMENT OF THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE OF WHICH WAS SENT TO YOU PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.

UH, SO WE WILL PROCEED, UM, WITH AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER FOUR AND SEVEN IN SECESSION.

WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR TO MS. CARRON.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

YOU, UM, OH, YOU, YOU PREEMPTED A LITTLE BIT OF MY INTRO SPEECH, WHICH WAS, HELLO AGAIN.

IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK SO SOON.

UM, I AM HERE TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON THE DRAFT PLAN THAT I PRESENTED TO YOU IN THIS SPRING.

UM, AND AS THE CHAIR SAID, ALSO, UH, OFFER THE COMMISSION, IF YOU WISH, THE REC THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ABOUT THE PLAN.

WE EXPECT TO TAKE IT TO COUNCIL, UH, LATE NEXT MONTH AND LATE NEXT MONTH, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

UH, OKAY.

SO

[00:10:01]

IT WAS A COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP OF 26 PEOPLE FROM ACROSS AUSTIN WHO, UH, REALLY REFLECT AUSTIN'S RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY, AND BROUGHT A, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND TYPES OF EXPERTISE TO THE PLANNING PROCESS.

THEY HEARD FROM 275 OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF DEVELOPING THE PLAN.

AND YOU CAN SEE, SEE AT THE RIGHT, UM, THE FOCUS GROUPS INCLUDED, UH, CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE, UH, MANY OF WHICH ARE, ARE TOURISM DESTINATIONS, AS WELL AS LEGACY BUSINESSES.

HAPPY LEGACY BUSINESS MONTH.

ALSO, THIS, THIS MONTH, HERE'S THE VISION FOR THE PLAN.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN AUSTIN ACTIVELY ENGAGES COMMUNITIES IN PROTECTING AND SHARING IMPORTANT PLACES AND STORIES.

PRESERVATION USES THE PAST TO CREATE A SHARED SENSE OF BELONGING AND TO SHAPE AN EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ECONOMICALLY VITAL FUTURE FOR ALL THE PLAN GOALS.

SO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE GOING TO LOOK FAMILIAR.

IF THEY DO LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN THEM ALMOST EXACTLY BEFORE.

WHEN WE DID OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT TO RUN THE DRAFT PLAN, WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THE GOALS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE A LOT OF SENSE.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THESE MAY LOOK FAMILIAR.

YOU CAN SEE THESE, THE 14 GOALS ARE VERY BROAD.

UM, AS BEFORE, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THEM IN THREE PARTS.

WHAT WE PRESERVE, WHO PRESERVES AND HOW WE PRESERVE.

SO UNDER THE WHAT WE PRESERVE THEME, THIS INCLUDES THE FIRST FIVE GOALS, AND REALLY LOOKS AT BROADENING WHAT WE CONSIDER IMPORTANT AND HOW WE'RE PRESERVING IT, AND HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

UM, IN THAT PRESERVATION RECOGNITION CELEBRATION WORK TO BETTER RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT, UM, CULTURAL HERITAGE, LIKE LEGACY BUSINESSES AND MURALS, AND TO USE PRESERVATION TOOLS TO SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES LIKE COMMUNITY STABILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

UNDER THE WHO PRESERVES THEME, THIS INCLUDES THE NEXT THREE GOALS.

THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO'S DOING THE WORK TO INVITE MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORT THEM IN THAT WORK.

UM, WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING MORE PEOPLE AND MORE BROAD, UH, KIND OF THINKING MORE BROADLY ABOUT WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY HERITAGE AND STORYTELLING.

UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF PLACE WITH, UH, OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE PLAN, WHICH WAS REALLY, UH, A TON OF WORK, BUT ALSO VERY EXCITING TO SEE WHO RESPONDED AND WHO WAS INTERESTED.

THE LAST THEME IS HOW WE PRESERVE THE, THIS IS THE NUTS AND BOLTS SECTION OF THE PLAN.

IT INCLUDES SIX GOALS ABOUT IMPROVING HOW WE DO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DESIGNATING, HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS, HOW, UH, WE ARE DOING REVIEW INTERNALLY, UM, HOW WE ARE ENFORCING PRESERVATION, UH, STANDARDS, AND HOW THE PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED.

THAT'S THE, THE VERY QUICK NUTSHELL.

HERE ARE A FEW SELECTED RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THAT ARE RELEVANT TO TOURISM, UH, PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO TOURISM, ALTHOUGH HOPEFULLY ALL OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS, IS STEWARDING A CITY AS IT CHANGES VERY QUICKLY.

STILL STEWARDING PLACES THAT, THAT DRAW PEOPLE THAT FEEL UNIQUE, UH, AND DISTINCTIVE.

SO CREATING A CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM AND CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, DOING MORE INTERPRETATION WORK, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT HISTORICALLY DONE ABOUT TELLING PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHY PLACES ARE IMPORTANT, WHICH IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS VISITORS SUPPORTING LEGACY BUSINESSES.

UM, I THINK IN THE LAST MEETING SOMEONE COMMENTED ON LEGACY BUSINESSES BEING DRAWS IN THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO, UM, BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO THE, THE LOCAL FOOD ECOSYSTEM, WHICH IS BECOMING MORE OF A DESTINATION, UH, REASON FOR AUSTIN.

DEFINING PRESERVATION, UH, AUDIENCES BROADLY.

I TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE.

AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL HERITAGE TOURISM SITES AND SUPPORTING EXISTING SITES.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A NEW RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS ADDED, UM, AS A RESULT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, UM, WE DID OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT FOR FOUR MONTHS.

THIS SPRING, WE ENGAGED AT LEAST 2,500 PEOPLE.

THAT'S A VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.

THAT'S WHEN WE WERE COUNTING PEOPLE, BUT THERE WERE LOTS OF EVENTS WHERE WE DIDN'T COUNT PEOPLE.

UM, WE DID A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS TO CITY BOARD AND COMMISSIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS.

WE, YOU KNOW, GOING TO, TO WHERE PEOPLE WERE ALREADY GATHERED AND PROFESSIONAL STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS.

WE DID POPUPS AT LOTS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AROUND AUSTIN, REACHING PEOPLE WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY ARE.

UM, WE HELD SMALLER CONVERSATIONS.

WE HOSTED FOUR BIG CITY EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE WERE INVITED TO, TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT THE PLAN AND ENGA AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.

I THINK THE ENGAGEMENT WAS A, A SUCCESS, LARGELY IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE, WE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN REALLY SUBSTANTIAL WAYS THROUGH MINI GRANTS AND COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS.

SO PAID PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR

[00:15:01]

UM, UH, ONE OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE WAS CREATIVE ACTION.

UM, THAT'S WHERE THE, THE SKETCH, THE CHILDREN'S SKETCH IN THE MIDDLE CAME FROM.

ANOTHER WAS, UH, THE TAIWANESE AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS AUSTIN CHAPTER.

AND THAT'S THE NEXT PHOTO OVER.

WHEN WE LOOK AT WHO WE HEARD FROM, WE HAD REALLY PRIORITIZED, CERTAINLY REACHING PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE PLAN, UH, PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS.

WE ALSO REALLY WANTED TO PRIORITIZE REACHING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

AND MOST PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS THROUGH A SHORT COMMUNITY HERITAGE SURVEY.

HOPEFULLY Y'ALL ALL PARTICIPATED AS WELL.

IT WAS VERY QUICK.

SOMEONE TOLD ME IT WAS FUN, ONE PERSON.

BUT STILL, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE SHARE OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS, UH, COMPARED TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE, WE, UM, EXCEEDED THE, THE PROPORTION OF, OF AUSTIN.

UM, FOR A FEW OF THESE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITIES, WE DIDN'T QUITE GET THERE WITH RENTERS.

NEARLY 30% IS, IT'S, IT'S STILL, IT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR A CITY PROCESS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON AS WE IMPLEMENT.

THE PLAN IS THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE, UH, RENTERS.

YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TOP RIGHT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS SURVEY WERE LONGTIME AUSTINITES OF HAVING LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, WHICH WAS GREAT TO SEE, BUT SOME NEWER FOLKS AS WELL.

AND PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN.

UM, HISTORICALLY, THE PEOPLE WHO'VE PARTICIPATED IN, IN PRESERVATION EFFORTS HAVE, UH, LIVED OR WORKED YOUR OWN PROPERTIES IN CENTRAL AND WEST AUSTIN, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

WE REALLY WANNA SUPPORT THEM.

BUT THIS WAS INTENDED TO BE A CITYWIDE PLAN.

AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING FROM ALL OVER.

HERE'S, UM, THESE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY HERITAGE SURVEY.

THEY SORT OF AGGREGATE THE PLAN GOALS.

UM, AND IF YOU TOOK THE SURVEY, YOU KNOW THAT EACH OF THE, THE GOALS ON THE, OR THE PRIORITIES ON THE LEFT, THERE WAS A SLIDER.

UM, AND YOU COULD SAY, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, OR THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT TO ME.

UM, AND THE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLIDE IS THAT PEOPLE SAID ALL THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

UM, WHEN WE ASKED PEOPLE WHAT WE SHOULD START WITH, THEIR RESPONSES REALLY REFLECTED, UM, THE, THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THE CITY IS FACING TODAY.

SO, KEEPING, YOU KNOW, BY FAR, UM, MORE THAN JUST OVER 50%, WHEN WE SAID CHOOSE ONE, CHOOSE JUST ONE TO START WITH, PEOPLE SAID, WORK ON KEEPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN PLACE.

UM, ANOTHER 20% SAID, HELP HELP AUSTIN STAY THE WAY IT FEELS NOW.

UM, KEEP AUSTIN, UH, THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE IN TERMS OF HOW WE, UH, TOOK THAT FEEDBACK.

AND THE ADDITIONAL 270 OR SO COMMENTS ON THE, ON THE DRAFT PLAN ITSELF.

UM, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF, OF COMMENTS THAT DIDN'T REQUEST CHANGES.

I WOULD SAY THERE WERE ABOUT 140 ACTIONABLE CHANGES, MEANING THEY WERE IN THE PURVIEW OF THE PLAN AND ALLOWABLE BY, BY CITY CODE.

UM, WE MADE, OR WELL, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO REV, WHO REVISED THE PLAN, WHICH IS THE PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP, AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION MADE, UH, CHANGES TO HALF, NEARLY HALF OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN, UM, BASED ON THAT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND ADDED EIGHT NEW RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, SOME OF THOSE ARE LISTED HERE, HISTORIC CEMETERIES, ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, UM, BUILDING MAINTENANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, BRINGING IN HERITAGE TOURISM SITES IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF, OF PRESERVATION.

AND HERE'S, UH, THE PLAN TIMELINE IN A NUTSHELL.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A PLANNING PROCESS THAT'S LASTED FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

UM, FORMALLY LONGER THAN THAT WITH THE PLANNING FOR THE PLAN, UH, THE WORKING GROUP CREATED THE PLAN.

WE, UM, PRESENTED IT TO THE LANDMARK COMMISSION IN FALL OF 2022.

AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL FUNDED OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.

UM, WE DID SOME LOW KEY, LOW BUDGET AWARENESS RAISING IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE WE KIND OF GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.

DID THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS SPRING.

AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, THE PLAN WAS REVISED THIS SUMMER BY THE COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP THAT CREATED IT AND MEMBERS OF THE, OF THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.

AND HERE WE ARE.

SO I'VE, UH, THIS IS ONE OF SIX 17 BOARDING COMMISSION BRIEFINGS.

UM, I AM DOING, UM, AND THEN WE HOPE TO GO TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF THE PLAN ON NOVEMBER 21ST AFTER IT IS ADOPTED.

UM, THIS IS A VERY GENERAL SLIDE TO SAY WE ARE THINKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION ALREADY.

IT'S, WE, UM, DON'T WANT TO STOP WITH THE GLORIOUS HOLDING UP INFORMAL ADOPTION OF THE PLAN.

EXCUSE ME.

WE WILL START WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL BUDGET OR STAFF.

UM, ALL ALONG THIS, THIS PATH, WE HAVE A, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE UP TO, AND HOW THEY CAN CONNECT.

UM, I THINK COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL.

THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO GETTING US TO THIS POINT, AND THAT REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR, FOR ME AND FOR OTHER STAFF.

UM, WE'LL ALSO BE WORKING WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR

[00:20:01]

'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.

HAPPY TO TAKE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS OR, OR THOUGHTS.

AGAIN, THANKS FOR LISTENING TO THIS, UH, IN SUCH CLOSE SUCCESSION AGAIN.

OF COURSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. BARRAN.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DIOCESE? COMMISSIONER CHA? SO I, I COULD BE MISTAKEN, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN YOUR MATERIALS OR YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT, UM, HOW THIS AFFECTS TOURISM.

SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

I THINK THERE'S ONE RECOMMENDATION THAT VERY SPECIFICALLY LOOKS AT HERITAGE TOURISM SITES.

I I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU.

I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

THERE'S ONE RECOMMENDATION SPECIFICALLY THAT LOOKS AT HERITAGE TOURISM SITES, AND THAT WAS ADDED DURING THE PLAN REVISIONS TO HELP TO IDENTIFY MORE HERITAGE TOURISM SITES THROUGH SURVEY AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND THEN TO SUPPORT THEM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SUPPORT HERITAGE TOURISM MORE GENERALLY BECAUSE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SUPPORTS DISTINCTIVE PLACES AND STORIES.

AND SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT FURTHER, YOU KNOW, UM, HISTORIC DESIGNATION, SUPPORTING HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS, TELLING THE STORIES OF WHY PLACES ARE IMPORTANT.

UM, THOSE ALL PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR HERITAGE TOURISM THAT BRINGS DOLLARS TO THE PEOPLE AND DOLLARS TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND IS THERE MANY, ANY STUDY ON THE, UH, ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM TOURISM FOR, FROM HERITAGE RESERVATION? THERE'VE BEEN A NUMBER OF STUDIES ABOUT, UM, YES, NOT IN AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY.

THERE'S BEEN STUDIES IN TEXAS AND IN OTHER PLACES THAT SHOW IT, IT HAS A REAL IMPACT.

I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURES AT HAND FOR TEXAS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE WITH THE, THE BOARD LIAISON.

BUT I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A LOCAL STUDY TO ASSESS THAT IMPACT.

THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED YET.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CHAN, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAAS? SEEING NONE, UM, I'D PERHAPS LIKE TO HAVE YOU REMAIN AT THE DIAZ, MS. BERTRAN AS WE, UM, SEEK TO MOVE TO AGENDA

[7. Discussion and possible action to recommend to the Austin City Council to adopt the Equity-Based Preservation Plan.]

UM, SHOULD WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, THIS WAS EMAILED TO YOU BEFORE THIS MEETING, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL TO ADOPT THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.

UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? IN GENERAL? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL? NO QUESTION.

COMMISSIONER CHAPPEL.

THANK YOU.

UH, MR. CHU, THANKS FOR COMING BACK AND GOING OVER THIS AGAIN.

ONE THING I DON'T SEE IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT STRONGER LANGUAGE AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION.

AND SO KIND OF YOUR ACTION ITEMS, A LITTLE BIT OF THIS READS LIKE WHAT YOU JUST PRESENTED TO US TODAY.

I KIND OF ALMOST MARKED THAT ACCOMPLISHED.

AND SO I, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BALANCE BEING VERY BROAD, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION MAYBE HOW, HOW DOES THIS GET IMPLEMENTED? BECAUSE IT SEEMS MORE OF A SUPPORTIVE THAT WE SUPPORT THIS IDEA AND THIS PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN CREATED.

YES.

SO THAT IS, THAT'S GENERALLY, IT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IN SOMETHING THAT THE PRESERVATION PLAN, WORKING GROUP PRIORITIZED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF CREATING THE PLAN, SAYING WHAT'S PRACTICAL, WHAT'S IMPLEMENTABLE.

WE DON'T WANNA GET TOO PIE IN THE SKY ABOUT ANYTHING.

WE, WE WANNA BE AMBITIOUS, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE DOABLE IN TERMS OF, OF SORT OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.

WE HAVE SOME INTERNAL WORKING DOCUMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE'LL BEGIN WITH, UM, THAT ARE INFORMED BY THE PRESERVATION PLAN WORKING GROUP, AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AS PART OF THE REVISION PROCESS.

THEY IDENTIFIED, UM, A SHORT LIST OF HIGH IMPACT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE GOOD TO START WITH.

THE, NOW THE SHORT LIST WAS 46 RECOMMENDATIONS OUT OF 107.

SO I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THEIR FEELING THAT THE PLAN IS GENERALLY HIGH IMPACT, BUT ALSO, UM, IT WAS NOT EXACTLY A SHORT LIST.

NO, WE, WE WORKING LIKE FROM THOSE, NOT TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT FROM THE GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, LIKE NUMBER NINE, LIKE THE ICONIC, LONGSTANDING BUSINESSES, LIKE THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PROJECT READY.

IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? YES.

YEAH.

OKAY.

YES.

SO,

[00:25:01]

WE ARE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR HOW WE, WE'VE STARTED WORKING ON SOME OF THEM ALREADY.

OKAY.

WE'RE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR, FOR OTHER THINGS.

BUT THAT, THAT DETAILED ROADMAP IS TYPICALLY NOT INCLUDED.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS INCLUDED IN A PLANNING DOCUMENT.

SURE.

UM, I THINK IT IS WHAT GETS IMPLEMENTED.

WE CAN IMPLEMENT A NUMBER OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AT LEAST PARTIALLY WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.

I THINK IN TERMS OF OTHER THINGS, BIGGER THINGS THAT GET IMPLEMENTED OR BIGGER CHANGES THAT GET MADE OFTEN DEPENDS ON, UM, BROADER SUPPORT.

ALL RIGHT.

NO, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I WAS UNDERSTANDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CHAPPEL, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL THIS RECOMMENDATION? SO, UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS JUST SAYS THAT WE SUPPORT THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO, UH, THE EQUITY-BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AS PRESENTED, UM, BY OUR SPEAKER TODAY.

UM, NOW ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THIS IS JUST BASICALLY THE RESULTS AND HOW IT CONNECTS WITH, UM, LOCAL TOURISM EFFORTS.

UM, SO THIS ISN'T REALLY PUTTING US ON THE HOOK FOR ANYTHING.

I, I, I GUESS I'M JUST, UM, I'M PUTTING IT BEFORE, UH, THE COMMISSION SO FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT LIKE, THIS IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS.

WE'VE ALL BEEN ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PLAN, UH, OR AT LEAST ADVISED ON IT.

AND NOW, UH, WE'RE COMING BACK WITH THE RESULTS.

SO THIS IS JUST SORT OF GIVING YOU AN IDEA AS TO HOW WE CONNECT AS A COMMISSION WITH THE TOURISM, UH, ECONOMY DIRECTLY, BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING TO INVEST IN, UM, HERITAGE TOURISM HERE IN AUSTIN AND SAY IT'S A GOOD THING AND THAT WE SHOULD EXPAND UPON IT LIKE THIS PLAN DOES.

SO GIVEN THAT BACKGROUND, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

DO I HAVE A QUESTION? COMMISSIONER MATHIS, DID YOU RAISE YOUR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER SHANNON.

SO, I, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE, THE RESOLUTION IN THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PLAN.

IT'S PRETTY VAGUE ABOUT HOW IT'S GONNA SUPPORT TOURISM, AND I REALLY JUST GENERALLY THINK IT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE DO.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SHANNON, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER CHAPPEL? I'M, I'M STILL A LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS.

LIKE I JUST WATCHED THE PLAN.

I, I LIKE THE PLAN, WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT IT, BUT I'M, I'M UNSURE WHAT I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND.

SO ULTIMATELY, AS IT STATES AT THE BOTTOM, THE AUSTIN TOURISM COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AND SUPPORT ITS TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION.

THIS IS, UM, OH, SORRY.

UM, COMMISSIONER REY, UH, IT'S MY EXPECTATION THAT COUNCIL WILL ADOPT THIS, SO I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION.

UM, OKAY.

SO MOVED BY COMMISSIONER REEDY.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SEE A SECOND.

WITH, UH, THANK YOU.

UM, COMMISSIONER BAAN.

DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONER BAILEY, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET CLEAR ON, AND I, EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN ABOUT THIS PLAN I FULLY SUPPORT AND I THINK THE, UH, THE POSITIONING IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS, WHAT I, WHAT I'M NOT, WHAT I'M STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND IS ITS INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE HERITAGE TOURISM FUNDING, THE 15% THAT WE ALLOCATE HOT FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR HISTORIC.

HOW DOES THIS INTERSECT THOSE DOLLARS? AND HOW DOES THIS PLAN INTEGRATE WITH THE HERITAGE TOUR GRANT MAKING PROGRAM THAT EXISTS? IS HOW, HOW THEY ARE ALIGNED? THAT'S, I MEAN, I WISHED I KNEW MORE.

YOU MAY HAVE EXPLAINED IT AND IT JUST WENT OVER MY HEAD.

, UH, WOULD YOU MIND ANSWERING COMMISSIONER RATHER VICE CHAIR OF BAILEY'S QUESTION? SURE.

SO THE, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW, THAT I MENTIONED THE HERITAGE TOURISM RECOMMENDATION IS VERY, THAT'S, THAT WAS ADDED TO THE PLAN IS VERY BROAD, BUT I THINK THE WORK WITH THE, UM, HERITAGE PRE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND WOULD FALL UNDER, UNDER THAT RECOMMENDATION.

THERE ARE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THAT RELATE TO IDENTIFICATION OF, OF POTENTIAL HISTORIC RESOURCES.

WE HAVE A, UH, A DOWNTOWN AUSTIN SURVEY GOING ON RIGHT NOW THAT'S FUNDED BY

[00:30:01]

SO THERE, AND, AND WE PARTICIPATE, OUR STAFF PARTICIPATES IN, UM, FACILIT HELPING TO FACILITATE OR HELPING TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON, ON THOSE GRANTS.

UM, SO I THINK, SO, SO IN A PERFECT WORLD, THE OUTCOME, THIS, THIS PROCESS WOULD HELP CREATE BETTER FOCUSED DECISIONS OF HOW THE GRANTS AND WHICH PROJECTS THE GRANTS ARE FUNDING.

THIS, THIS PROCESS WOULD HELP NARROW THE NEEDS BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS, WHILE WE HEAR WHETHER THERE'S CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING HERE, THERE'S MORE NEED THAN THERE ARE DOLLARS.

SO IT'S TRYING TO HELP FOCUS THAT WE PUT THE MONEY WHERE IT CAN HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.

AND IN THIS CASE, BRINGING AN EQUITY OVERLAY TO THE SITUATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE NOT GETTING OVERLOOKED, THAT ARE IMPORTANT HISTORICAL.

AND THIS PROCESS HELPS THE, THAT GRANT MAKING PROCESS MAKE CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE FAIR.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

IS THAT THAT'S HOW I'M HEARING YOU.

YOU TOO.

I JUST WANNA KNOW IF I'M EVEN ON TRACK.

I THINK THE PLAN, THE PLAN IS, IS MORE, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BROADER THAN SAYING MAKE SPECIFIC CHANGES TO THE GRANT ALLOCATION PROCESS.

I THINK THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT IF IMPLEMENTED OR WHEN IMPLEMENTED CAN MOVE FORWARD INCLUDING, UH, MORE PROACTIVE OUTREACH TO POTENTIAL HISTORIC PROPERTY OWNERS, MORE ENGAGEMENT AROUND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INCLUDING THE HERITAGE TOURISM GRANT, MORE, UM, DEMONSTRATION OF, OF INTERPRETATION THAT COULD LEAD TO, TO ADDITIONAL, UM, GRANT PROPOSALS OR MORE FOCUSED GRANT PROPOSALS.

I DON'T THINK THE PLAN ITSELF SPECIFICALLY SAYS, MAKE, MAKE THESE MAKE CHANGES, X, Y, Z.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.

UM, IT'S JUST, IT IS A CITYWIDE PLAN FOR, UH, THAT THAT IS VERY BROAD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, MS. BERTRAN AND VICE CHAIR BAILEY.

COMMISSIONER PENOC, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? UM, I WAS JUST GONNA COMMENT THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU READ THE LAST LINE THAT SAYS, TOURISM COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE EQUITY-BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AND SUPPORT.

ITS TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION.

BUT JUST ABOVE THAT, IT'S SAYING THAT THE PRESERVATION PLAN ALIGNS AND, AND, UH, FURTHERS THE GOALS OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE LIKE, LIKE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

AND THEN JUST PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO MOVING FORWARD THE INCENTIVES FOR PLACEMAKING AND PRESERVATION THAT PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR CREATING TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN AUSTIN.

THERE'S A LOT IN THERE.

I JUST, AND BASED ON, ON THE, UM, BROAD INFORMATION, WE'VE GONE, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD SAY VERY SPECIFIC THINGS IN THAT LINE.

THAT'S JUST MY CONCERN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER IAN.

UH, SO THAT PARTICULAR, WHEREAS THE LAST ONE, UM, REALLY THIS DOCUMENT IS, IS IN SUPPORT OF PRESERVATION BIT LARGE AND AS, UH, THE BODY THAT OVERSEES HOT TAXES OR RATHER RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF HOT TAXES FOR EXPENSES SUCH AS USE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDS.

THIS EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN HELPS TO PROVIDE A CONTEXT IN WHICH WE CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THOSE INVESTMENTS.

AND BEFORE THIS, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN THE CITY SPENDING THE MONEY, BUT THERE'S NO SORT OF GUIDING DOCUMENT, UH, THAT'S MORE THEMATIC AN APPROACH THAT TALKS ABOUT ITS BROADER VALUE.

SO, UH, OUR SPEAKER HERE TODAY, UM, MS. BERTRAN JUST MENTIONED THAT THERE'S NO, UH, COHESIVE ECONOMIC STUDY THAT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE IMPACT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION HERE IN AUSTIN.

SO WITHOUT A PLAN THOUGH, WE CAN'T EVEN ACTUALLY ASK FOR ONE.

AND WITHOUT THAT PLAN, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT, UM, SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS IN HOT TAX, UH, PROJECTS, UM, THAT GO TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE BEST USE OF HOT TECH DOLLARS, RIGHT? SO, BUT WE WANT, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT IT IS THE BEST USE, IT IS THE MAXIMUM USE PER THE, THE STATE STATUTE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT THROUGH THIS BROADER FRAMEWORK THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY AVERAGE, EVERYDAY, AVERAGE DAY, AUSTIN NIGHTS, WHO COME AND, AND SPOKEN UP ABOUT THE VALUE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN AUSTIN.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO HOW WE SPEND HIGH TAX DOLLARS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE PAY THE STAFF TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT AND DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT IS IN THEIR WORK PLAN.

SO THIS IS REALLY JUST A, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE AN ADVISORY BODY, A WAY THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE CITY TO, UH, ESSENTIALLY ENDORSE

[00:35:01]

AND OUT OF THAT, UM, HOW BEST TO INVEST IN HOT TAX FUNDED PROJECTS.

COMMISSIONER CHA? SO I HAVE A, A HISTORY WITH DEALING WITH, UH, PRESERVATION GRANTS AND HOT TAX.

AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS USING HOT TAX FOR PRESERVATION IS IT'S GOTTA HAVE A TOURISM COMPONENT TO IT.

UM, AND I'M, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT A APPRO, YOU KNOW, SAYING WE, WE, WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLAN THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT, YOU KNOW, PUTS GUIDELINES FOR USING HOT TAX, YOU KNOW, SO WE MAKE SURE IT'S USED FOR TOURISM RELATED PROJECTS.

UM, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER SHANNON.

COMMISSIONER CHAPPEL, YOU HAD A COMMENT OR QUESTION? UH, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

UM, SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IS I THINK WHAT I'M GONNA BE HAPPY TO RECOMMEND THE PLAN BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE DON'T RECOMMEND THE PLAN, THEN WE CAN'T DO THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL CONNECTIONS TO DRAW AWARENESS TO THE PLAN.

AND COUNCIL CAN'T RECOMMEND THAT.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE HOLISTIC NATURE OF THAT.

AND THEN, AND I THINK LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF THE INSIGHTS IN THE PLAN, IF YOU GO BACK TO WHAT WE HEARD, AND SO FROM MY TAKEAWAY FROM THIS IS HELP OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS MAINTAIN THEIR UNIQUE LOOK AND FILL AUSTIN GROWS, WHICH SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO TOURISMS TOURISM, MAKE EAST AUSTIN REMAIN EAST AUSTIN, MAKE CLARKSVILLE REMAIN CLARKSVILLE, AND HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THAT? AND IT'S THROUGH THIS UNDERCURRENT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS PLAN DOES AND HAS IDENTIFIED, AND NOW WE JUST WANT TO CAPTURE THE RESULTS OF THE PLANNING.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CHAPEL.

COMMISSIONER SHANNON.

SO I DON'T SEE HOW ANY OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH TOURISM, WHAT YOU JUST RAISED.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

I MEAN, I, I AGREE.

NO, I, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE RECOMMENDING.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A HISTORICALLY A MORE COMMISSION.

UM, IT'S JUST OUT, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE.

COMMISSIONER TAPO, UH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT EXCEPT FOR, UH, YOU, YOU KIND OF SEE, UH, THIS WORK, HOW IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST, UM, TO THE BROKEN SPOKE, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THERE ARE OTHER CULTURAL AND TOURIST SIGNIFICANT VENUES AND PLACES, UH, THAT COULD DO THAT SAME THING.

AND SO THAT TOURISM ECOSYSTEM THAT GETS WRAPPED AROUND THAT IS, I THINK, HOW IT IMPACTS THIS BODY.

AND SO THIS IS AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I THINK THINGS MOVE PROCEDURALLY SLOW HERE, AND THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT ACCOMPLISHED.

AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT.

COMMISSIONER VAAN.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I THINK, UM, FROM MY INSIGHT, YOU KNOW, I, I'M A UT STUDENT THAT I USED TO BE A UT STUDENT OLDER NOW, BUT I GRADUATED WITH A HISTORY DEGREE.

SO FOR ME, LIKE HISTORY IS LIKE THE REASON WHY, AND HISTORIC AREAS AND PLACES ARE THE REASON WHY I GO TO A BUNCH OF CITIES.

AND WE'RE ALSO THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TOURISM TO MAINTAIN THE, THE CULTURE AND THE LIVELIHOOD AND, UM, EVERYTHING THAT MAKES THIS CITY SPECIAL.

I THINK ALSO IN, UM, OUR, I THINK IT'S OUR BYLAWS, BUT IT, WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT SAYS LIKE, REVIEW AND RECOMMENDS FOR MARKETING RELATED TO ADVISING AUSTIN, AUSTIN SPECIAL EVENTS, MUSIC, ART, CULTURAL AND OTHER EXISTING OR FUTURE TOURISM ATTRACTIONS.

WE CAN'T REALLY BE ABLE TO, IN THE FUTURE RECOMMEND THINGS IF WE DON'T PRESERVE THINGS NOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER IN THE FUTURE.

SO I THINK IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO TOURISM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BAAN.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE DIOCESE? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, SO I, IF I MAY JUST TAKE TARA'S PREROGATIVE, I, UM, THE REASON WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS IS BECAUSE IT AGAIN, PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK THROUGH WHICH I THINK, UM, COMMISSIONER CHAPEL SAID IT WELL, TO HELP PROCEDURALLY CONNECT THE CITY AND IT'S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF, OF, OF, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THE NASCENT FIELD, I THINK IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS HERITAGE TOURISM.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO COME AROUND TO, UH,

[00:40:01]

UM, AS SOMEONE WHO JUST APPLIED FOR THE, UH, HERITAGE TOURISM GRANT YESTERDAY, I, I, I DEFINITELY TOUCH THIS IN MY, MY DAILY WORK, UM, AND CAN ATTEST TO, UM, THE POWER OF THE HOT TAX FUNDED HERITAGE GRANT THAT BRINGS, UM, OUT OF STATE TOURISTS AS WELL AS LOCAL TOURISTS TO AUSTIN, UM, FOR HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, THAT, THAT, AGAIN, HELPS THAT POSITIVE, UM, CYCLE OF HOT TAX FUND COLLECTION.

UM, BUT THIS EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN CERTAINLY PROVIDES THE CONTEXT IN WHICH, UM, WE CONTINUE TO VALUE, UM, HERITAGE TOURISM, UH, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED USE OF HOT TAX FUNDED FOR HERITAGE PROJECTS.

SO THAT'S WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS PLAN.

AND THANK YOU, UH, MS. BAR BERTRAN FOR, UM, BRINGING SOME ADDED CONTEXT TO THE PLANNING, UH, PROCESS AND, UM, UH, ALL OF WHAT HAS GONE INTO PRODUCING THIS DOCUMENT.

UH, DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS BEFORE WE BREAK FOR A VOTE? I WANTED TO, I'LL MAKE A QUICK CLARIFICATION THAT THE PLAN DOES NOT, AND STAFF ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO THE HOT ELIGIBILITY, RIGHT? FOR MAKING PRESERVATION GRANTS, JUST AS, AS WAS MENTIONED.

BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALLS TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

UH, SO WE DO HAVE A, UH, WE HAD A, UM, MOTION THROUGH ONE AND A SECOND.

SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.

WE HAD A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BISON.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S FIVE, FOUR.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED OR AGAINST, UH, THE MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.

ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, AGENDA ITEM

[5. Presentation by Cody Scott, Facility Processes Manager of the City of Austin- Austin Public Library, regarding the Austin History Center Capital Improvements including building a destination for Tourism.]

UM, CODY IS THE RATHER, MR. SCOTT IS THE FACILITY PROCESS MANAGER FOR, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

AND HE WILL SPEAK TODAY WITH REGARD TO THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, INCLUDING HOW, UM, HOT TAX DOLLARS ARE MAKING THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER, UH, A TOURISM DESTINATION HERE IN AUSTIN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSION.

UH, MY NAME'S CODY SCOTT AS, UH, UH, THE CHAIR SAID.

I, I AM THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR FACILITIES.

UM, I OVERSEE ALL OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, SO ALL OF OUR BOND PROJECTS AND THE INTERNAL PROJECTS THAT WE MANAGE AS WELL.

UH, TWO OF WHICH ARE THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER AND THE FALK BUILDING, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

UH, THESE PROJECTS ARE PART OF THE 2018 BOND CYCLE, UH, BY MY PREDECESSOR, UH, JOHN GILLUM.

UH, AND I CAME ON BOARD AND STARTED THESE PROJECTS, UH, JUST AROUND TWO YEARS AGO.

SO, UH, TO UPDATE TODAY IS KIND OF TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE ON, UH, THE FALK BUILDING AND THE, THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER, HOW IT RELATES, UH, TO, UM, TO THE HOT, UH, FUNDS AND ALSO OUR FUTURE KIND OF ENDEAVORS AND IDEAS, OUR VISION FOR HOW WE SEE THIS FACILITY, THIS CAMPUS CHANGING.

UH, AND IF, IF YOU NOTICE ON THE TITLE OF THIS, IT SAYS AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER CAMPUS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE REDEFINING THE WAY THIS PROP THIS, THIS, THESE TWO PROPERTIES FUNCTION, UM, THROUGH THIS RENOVATION AND INTO THE FUTURE.

SO, UM, SO HERE I JUST HAVE A RENDERING OF A VISION OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE, UH, WITH A, WITH ANOTHER BOND CYCLE, UH, AND FUNDING, UM, FROM, FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES, UH, IN ORDER TO TAKE US TO THE PHASE TWO OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

UM, SO WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, UH, THE FALK BUILDING, UH, MOST OF THE RENOVATIONS WERE FOCUSED ON, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE ARCHIVES THAT ARE HOUSED AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER OVER TO THE FALK BUILDING, BECAUSE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER IS ONLY 40,000 SQUARE FEET AND ARCHIVES KEEP GROWING.

SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO MOVE THEM, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM THERE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE FALK BUILDING IS NO LONGER THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.

UH, SO PART OF THIS PROCESS WAS TO, UH, GET TWO OF THE FLOORS, THE SECOND AND THE THIRD FLOOR READY FOR US TO MOVE THE ARCHIVES OVER TO THE, THE FALK BUILDING.

WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO ONLY MOVE A CERTAIN PORTION OF THOSE ARCHIVES, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY NOW GOING TO MOVE THE ENTIRE COLLECTION MINUS SOME COLD STORAGE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AT THE HISTORY CENTER.

UM, AND, AND THEN THE READING ROOM FUNCTIONALITY THAT'S BEING HELD AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER RIGHT NOW, WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE FALK BUILDING.

SO WHEN THE FALK BUILDING OPENS UP NEXT YEAR, UH, IT WILL BE READY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME IN AND DO THEIR RESEARCH AT THE FALK

[00:45:01]

UH, AND A CONFERENCE ROOM THAT CAN BE USED LIKE WE HAVE AT OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY WHERE YOU CAN DO A SHARED LEARNING ROOM.

YOU GO ONLINE, YOU BOOK THAT ROOM, YOU HAVE A NICE MEETING, UH, WITH A VIEW OF THE CAPITAL.

SO, UH, AND AN EXHIBIT SPACE AS WELL.

SO RIGHT NOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE.

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS A, UH, ALMOST 50-YEAR-OLD BUILDING, UH, FROM A STRUCTURAL PERSPECTIVE.

IT IS 50 YEARS OLD, UH, FROM A.DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS WHY IT'S NOW ON HISTORIC, UH, DESIGNATION.

UM, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY GETTING THE HVAC SYSTEM, THE ABATEMENT OF THE ASBESTOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT DONE, UH, IN ORDER TO GET US READY TO USE THE BUILDING AGAIN IN A NEW CAPACITY.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, LEMME BACK UP REAL QUICK.

SO, PART OF THIS PROCESS, UH, AS WE GOT THROUGH THE PROJECT, UM, INTO YEAR TWO, ESSENTIALLY, UM, WE, WE HAD ENOUGH MONEY LEFT OVER IN OUR CONTINGENCIES TO TAKE THAT, THOSE FUNDS AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO, UH, TO FURTHER THIS AND USE THE MONEY, UM, TO, TO, FOR THE PUBLIC ACCESS.

SO WE STARTED RENOVATIONS IN THE FIRST FLOOR, PARTIALLY IN ORDER TO OPEN IT UP AND ALSO EXPOSE SOME OF THE ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY OF THE SPACE, UH, SO THAT, SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD COME IN AND USE THIS, UH, IN THE FUTURE.

SO AT THE HISTORY CENTER, UM, WE DID A LOT OF EXTERIOR STONEWORK.

SO AT THE HISTORY CENTER, ALL THE STONEWORK, THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1933.