[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
READY TO, UM, START OUR MEETING OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OUR MONTHLY MEETING, UM, LET'S START BY, SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE FOR SUDDENLY NOT MAKING IT TO LAST MONTH'S MEETING.I HAD A MEDICAL FAMILY EMERGENCY THAT HAPPENED TO COME UP THAT DAY AND I JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT.
AND, UM, NEITHER COULD OUR VICE CHAIR.
SO I KNOW IT WAS SUPER SHORT NOTICE.
I APPRECIATE FOR EVERYBODY'S TIME AND, UM, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
I KNOW THAT KIND OF, UH, MESSED US UP A LITTLE BIT WITH WHITE CANE DAY AND PUSHING EVERYTHING TO OCTOBER.
UM, SO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR GRACE.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH, UM, CALL, ROLL CALL.
AND KRISTEN VASSO WILL NOT BE HERE.
UM, SO, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, WE DO NOT.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular meeting on April 8, 2022.]
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE MINUTES.UM, APPARENTLY THERE ARE COMMITTEE MINUTES FROM APRIL, 2022 THAT NEED TO BE APPROVED.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT OKAY TO APPROVE THESE EVEN IF YOU WERE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE THEN, OR IF YOU DID NOT ATTEND THAT MEETING.
UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE TO APPROVE THEM.
UM, NO ONE IS REQUIRED TO VOTE, HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IT DOES NOT GET PASSED AT THIS MEETING, UM, IT WILL CONTINUE JUST TO ROLL OVER MEETING TO MEETING.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? I AM.
I BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIE SENT OUT THESE MINUTES TO EVERYONE.
ARE YOU, IS IT YOUR, UH, IS IT, IS IT IN YOUR NAME? CHRISTIE? NO, MY NAME'S ELIZABETH.
A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING WHEN IT'S ON, WHEN YOU'RE ONLINE.
I'M THE VICE, I'M THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, CHRISTIE IS OUR, UM, DO YOU WANNA JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF? OH, YES.
I AM CHRISTIE ELLA, THE STAFF LIAISON.
SHE'S A PERSON THAT KEEPS OUR LIVES TOGETHER AND SHE SENDS OUT THE EMAILS TO EVERYBODY AND THAT SORT OF THING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE HER REAL WELL ON CAMERA, SO.
UM, SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL, UH, 2022? SO, MOVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? ARE THERE, DOES ANYBODY WANNA ABSTAIN? I, OKAY, GREAT.
AND THOSE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[2. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular meeting on September 13, 2024.]
SO NOW WE NEED TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER OF 2024.WE NEED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST ME, UH, MEETING MINUTES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE? I SO MOVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? MM-HMM,
ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? UH, DOES ANYONE WANNA ABSTAIN? NOPE.
[00:05:01]
UM, SO LET'S START[3. Presentation by Ana Montiel, Program Manager, Neighborhood Services Unit, and Dana Nielsen, Social Worker, Austin Public Health, on the work of the Self Sufficiency Case Management Program.]
WITH THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THE STAFF BRIEFING.THIS IS A PRESENTATION, UH, BY A PROGRAM MANAGER FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ANA MONTE AND I AM THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE MONTAO COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD CEN CENTER.
UM, I'M, I'M REALLY SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
UM, BUT IS IT, CAN YOU, CAN YOU SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT? SURE.
WE HAVE INTERPRETERS AND OTHER THINGS, AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE MONIS COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
I OVERSEE THE OPERATIONS OF SOCIAL WORK, NURSING, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND I ALSO OVERSEE THE RENTING UTILITY PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE FUNDING DEPENDING ON THE SEASON AND OUR, UM, PERIODS.
UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE DANA NIELSEN.
SHE'S OUR SOCIAL WORKER AT MONIS.
SHE'S GONNA BE THE ONE PRESENTING THE INFORMATION REGARDING CELL SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS DANA NIELSEN.
I AM, AS SHE MENTIONED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR PRESENTATION.
I'M SURE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE YOU WOULD RATHER BE DOING AT FIVE 30 ON A FRIDAY EXCEPT MAYBE SITTING IN OUR TRAFFIC
ALRIGHT, SO I WILL GET US STARTED.
UH, SO JUST AS A GENERAL OVERVIEW, UM, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT OUR PROGRAM ENTAILS OVERALL, WHAT ALL OF OUR CENTERS ARE ABLE TO DO, AS WELL AS THE SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT CLIENTS.
ONCE WE GO THROUGH THAT, I WILL BE GOING THROUGH A CASE MANAGEMENT FROM START TO CLOSE THROUGHOUT THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT HAS SIX CENTERS THAT ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT OF AUSTIN.
WE ARE HAVING ONE THAT'S OPENING UP SOON IN DOVE SPRINGS, BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS A EQUAL TIE BETWEEN OUR SOUTH AUSTIN LOCATION AND OUR MONTOPOLIS LOCATION.
ALL OF OUR CENTERS OFFER VERY SIMILAR SERVICES, UH, INCLUDING OUR, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL HEALTH OR CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK.
WE HAVE NOTARIES, WE HAVE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FORMULA, CAR SEAT EVENTS, AND CRIBS, AS WELL AS FAN DRIVES DURING THE SUMMER, HEALTH SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INFORMATION REFERRALS, AND AS MENTIONED, THE RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE BASED OFF OF OUR FUNDING.
HOWEVER, MY FOCUS IS SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
UH, WHAT MAKES THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IS THAT IT FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON FINANCIAL STABILITY AND INCOME BUILDING.
AND OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO INCREASE, UH, INDIVIDUAL'S INCOME ABOVE 125% FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND TO MAINTAIN THAT INCOME FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS.
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE REALLY DEPENDS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CLIENT.
UH, OFTENTIMES IT IS LEADS TO JOB LISTINGS.
IT MIGHT BE LEARNING ABOUT BUDGETING, UM, ALL THOSE FUN THINGS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT PROBABLY DIDN'T.
UM, AS WELL AS, UH, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL FOOD PANTRY SERVICES, UH, AND GIFT CARDS TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THE COSTS OF GETTING INTO A NEW JOB TO BE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND TO MAINTAIN ENROLLMENT.
HOUSEHOLDS ARE REQUIRED TO ACTIVELY COMMUNICATE THEIR NEEDS, UM, PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PAY STUBS AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, AS WELL AS, UM, GENERALLY JUST BE OPEN COMMUNICATION AROUND WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS.
UM, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE ENROLLED FOR AS LONG AS THEY KEEP UP THEIR INCOME ABOVE 125% FOR 90 DAYS OR WHENEVER THEY'RE NO LONGER ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING.
UH, THEN WE DO CLOSE OUT THAT CASE.
[00:10:03]
AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THIS IS THE VARIOUS INCOME LEVELS OF THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT COME INTO OUR PROGRAM.A MAJORITY OR A SLIGHT UNDER MAJORITY, UH, HAVE NO INCOME WHATSOEVER.
UM, THE REST HAVE SOME, BUT MOST ARE UNDER THAT 125%.
25% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY GOVERNMENT BENEFITS OR INCOME.
7% OF OUR, UH, HOUSEHOLDS ARE RECEIVING S-S-I-S-S-D-I OR SOME SORT OF RETIREMENT INCOME UPON ENROLLMENT.
AND 44% ARE UNDEREMPLOYED, MEANING THAT THEY DO HAVE A JOB, BUT THEY ARE NOT WORKING ENOUGH TO REACH THAT 125% FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
IN ADDITION, 7% OF OUR, UH, HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A HOUSING VOUCHER THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THAT GRAPH, HOW WE DETERMINE WHAT OUR FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL IS, IS BASED OFF OF THE GROSS INCOME, GROSS YEARLY INCOME.
IN ADDITION TO THE FAMILY SIZE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD COMES IN WITH.
TYPICALLY SPEAKING, OUR HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS ACTUALLY A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE.
UH, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EITHER ENTERING INTO OR COMING OUT OF A TRAINING, HAVE RECENTLY LOST A POSITION OR ARE SEEKING NEW EMPLOYMENT, UH, OR NEW NEW OPPORTUNITIES OUT OF THE REMAINDER.
UM, OUR, OUT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE HOUSEHOLDS, 46% OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS ARE ACTUALLY SINGLE PARENTS, UM, WHICH MEANS THAT A GOOD CHUNK OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE ARE SERVING ARE DEALING WITH CHILDCARE IN ADDITION TO TRYING TO INCREASE THEIR INCOME.
UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR, STARTING FROM JANUARY ONE, UP UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST, ALL OF OUR SOCIAL WORKERS SPOKE WITH A TOTAL OF 381 HOUSEHOLDS ABOUT THE VARIOUS, UH, SERVICES THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT PROVIDES, AS WELL AS THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
OF THAT 381 HOUSEHOLDS, A TOTAL OF 63 DECIDED THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND DECIDED TO ENROLL.
THIS IS A MAP OF KIND OF WHERE OUR DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS ARE COMING FROM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS STILL RUNNING ALONG THE I 35 CORRIDOR, SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE TO BE, YEAH, PRIMARILY HOWEVER, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A, A HIGHER LEVEL OF HOUSEHOLDS COMING FROM THE PFLUGERVILLE AREA AS WELL AS MOVING FURTHER DOWN SOUTH, UM, INTO THE DELL VALLEY AND DOVE SPRINGS AREA.
SO I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TALK THROUGH ONE OF OUR, UH, CASES THAT WE WORKED WITH.
SO THIS IS MR. SARAH AND JAMES SMITH.
SO SARAH, WHO, UH, IS 39, HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM WHENEVER SHE CAME INTO THE CENTER FOR A FOOD PANTRY APPOINTMENT.
THE HOUSEHOLD ITSELF LIVES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, UM, BUT GREW UP IN THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD AREA.
SARAH WAS WORKING AT A LOCAL FOOD PANTRY, BUT WAS RECENTLY LET GO AND WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE STABLE.
HER HUSBAND, JAMES, WHO IS ALSO 39, HAVE THREE KIDS IN THE HOUSEHOLD AGES 17, 15 AND 14, AND THEY OCCASIONALLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR GRANDCHILD.
WHO IS AGE FOUR? UH, JAMES IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS WORKING AT TIME OF ENROLLMENT FOR $16 AN HOUR AT DAIRY QUEEN.
UH, AND SARAH WAS RECEIVING CHILD SUPPORT FOR ONE OF THE CHILDREN.
JAMES WAS WORKING AROUND 46 HOURS PER WEEK AND BRINGING IN ABOUT $3,000 A MONTH FROM DAIRY QUEEN, WHICH PUT THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVEL AT 1 0 4.
[00:15:01]
SARAH'S MAIN GOAL COMING INTO THE PROGRAM WAS TO FIND A JOB THAT WORKED AROUND THE SCHOOL GOALS OF THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WOULD BECOME THE LEGAL GUARDIANS OF THEIR GRANDSON.MOVING FORWARD, JAMES WAS WANTING TO FIND A BETTER PAYING JOB, BUT WASN'T SURE IF HE HAD A SKILLSET OR THE CONFIDENCE TO FIND A BETTER JOB.
AND BOTH WERE INTERESTED IN GOING BACK INTO A GED PROGRAM TO COMPLETE THEIR SCHOOLING.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT THE SOCIAL WORKERS WILL DO IS ASSESS WHAT THEIR SKILL SETS ARE AND HOW BEST TO LEVERAGE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
SO FOR THE SMITHS, UM, THEY HAD APPLIED FOR SNAP AND WERE WAITING FOR A DECISION ON THAT.
UH, THEY HAD IDENTIFIED VARIOUS FOOD PANTRIES IN THE AREA, UH, AND HAD IDENTIFIED SOME OPTIONS FOR CHILDCARE SHOULD THE NEED ARISE MOVING FORWARD.
THEY DID SAY THAT THERE WAS SUBSTANCE USE CONCERNS IN THE PAST, BUT THEY HAD BEEN CLEAN FOR FOUR YEARS AND WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN AA AND NA MEETINGS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAD GONE THROUGH ALL OF THEIR SAVINGS, UH, AND THEY ONLY HAD ONE CAR AT THE TIME, SO BUS PASSES WERE GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT THEY WOULD NEED.
IN ADDITION, THEY WERE BEHIND ON PAYMENTS FOR THEIR, UH, APARTMENT, AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET.
HOWEVER, GIVEN ALL OF THESE BARRIERS, THEY DID HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE STRENGTHS.
THEY WERE LIVING IN ONE OF THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND HAD MANAGED TO MOVE OUT OF THE SHELTER AND INTO THEIR HO OWN HOME.
THEY'D REMAINED STRONG IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND THEY WERE WILLING TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON ANY OF THE NEEDS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.
AT THAT POINT, WE DECIDED TO START PLANNING WHAT THE NEXT MOVE WOULD BE TO HELP INCREASE THEIR INCOME AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND BETTER POSITIONS AND BETTER WORK.
WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS BASED OFF OF PREVIOUS JOBS, UH, DISCUSSED TRAININGS THAT MAY BE COMING UP, UPDATED THEIR RESUME TEMPLATES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE SOFT SKILLS THAT OFTEN AREN'T CAPTURED IN OTHER RESUME TEMPLATES, AS WELL AS THINKING PROACTIVELY ABOUT STRESSORS THAT MAY OCCUR AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS CHANGE, AND SO THAT THEY CAN MITIGATE THOSE STRESSORS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE ON THE HOUSEHOLD.
THEY ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS TO BUILD FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THESE CHANGES AND TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN BETTER UNDERSTAND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND BUDGETING SO THAT THEY WOULD START TO BREAK THAT CYCLE.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED WHAT FINANCIAL WELLNESS MEANT TO THEM, UH, AND HOW THEY FELT MONEY WOULD EITHER BE A BENEFIT OR A DETRIMENT, UM, AS THEY CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE CLIENT TO START PUTTING IN THE WORK.
UH, SO MRS. SMITH AND THE SOCIAL WORKER WOULD MEET ONCE A WEEK TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS.
UH, SHE STARTED PLOTTING OUT BUS ROUTES USING THE 31 DAY BUS PASS THAT THE CENTER WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, AND WAS ABLE TO FIND JOB OFFERINGS ALONG THOSE BUS ROUTES.
IN ADDITION, UH, MR. SMITH UPDATED HIS RESUME AND STARTED TO SPEAK MORE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT OTHER JOBS THAT COULD USE HIS SKILLSET.
THEY BOTH USED WORKSHEETS AND SKILL TRAININGS THAT WERE GIVEN TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN PERSONAL FINANCIAL GOALS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING MONEY SMARTS TO BE ABLE TO TEACH TO THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, UM, IN ORDER TO HELP MAKE THOSE DOLLARS STRETCH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THEY VISITED THE FOOD PANTRY AT THE CENTER AS MUCH AS THEY NEEDED, AS WELL AS ANY OF THE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WERE AVAILABLE.
SO AS THEY CONTINUE WORKING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, MR. SMITH ENDED UP HEARING ABOUT A SECURITY JOB AT A LOCAL WAREHOUSE PAYING $20 AN HOUR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A RAISE TO $25 AN HOUR AFTER 60 DAYS.
[00:20:01]
HE COMPLETED HIS SECURITY TRAINING, UH, AND THEN ENDED UP USING SOME OF THE EARNED GIFT CARDS THROUGH THE PROGRAM TO BUY BOOTS, WORK BOOTS, UH, FOR HIS NEW POSITION.MRS. SMITH ENDED UP FINDING A JOB AT CVS ON THAT BUS ROUTE, UH, FOR $15 OR AN HOUR.
AND WITH THE HELP OF THE SOCIAL WORKER MANAGED TO NEGOTIATE HER PAY UP TO 18, UH, DOLLARS AND 50 CENTS AN HOUR BASED OFF OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FIRST 30 DAYS.
THEY BOTH USE THIS TIME TO BUDGET AND DECIDE WHAT THEIR SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS WOULD BE AND HOW THEY WOULD PRIORITIZE THE BILLS MOVING FORWARD.
ONCE MR. SMITH ENDED UP STARTING HIS POSITION, THEY OBVIOUSLY HAD TO TRANSITION, UH, HOW THEY USED THE CAR, UH, WHAT KIND OF TASKS EACH FAMILY MEMBER WOULD NEED TO DO, AS WELL AS GENERAL SHIFT CHANGES.
AND, UM, JUST THE WHOLE FAMILY NEEDED TO ADJUST.
AND THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY HAD HAD PREVIOUS, IT REALLY ALLOWED THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING IN THE FAMILY UNIT AND HOW TO MITIGATE ANY OF THOSE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT AS THEY CAME UP.
UM, THEY ALSO WERE CONNECTED WITH HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCES, UH, FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR GRANDSON, WHO AT THIS TIME THEY WERE THE LEGAL GUARDIANS OF, AS WELL AS THEY BEGAN TO BE ABLE TO SET ASIDE SOME SAVINGS FOR ANOTHER CAR.
SO 90 DAYS LATER, UH, THEY HAD BEEN WORKING BOTH FOR, UH, QUITE SOME TIME AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE SECURITY FIRM.
MR. SMITH WAS STARTING TO TAKE ON DAY SHIFTS, WHICH ALLOWED HIM TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS.
IF MRS. SMITH HAD NIGHT SHIFTS, UM, THEY WERE CONTINUING TO BUILD AN EMERGENCY SAVINGS AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, SLOWLY DECREASING THEIR NEED TO VISIT THE FOOD PANTRY BECAUSE THEIR MONEY WAS GOING FURTHER.
THEY HAD LEARNED THE BUDGETING AND THE FINANCIAL WELLNESS AND WERE ABLE TO REALLY THRIVE IN THIS NEW FINANCIAL SITUATION.
UH, BY THE END OF THEIR 90 DAYS, THEY HAD INCREASED THEIR INCOME, UH, FROM 104 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL TO 208 POVERTY LEVEL, UH, WHICH IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING.
UM, THAT'S IT, THAT'S OUR PROGRAM.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING RESOURCES TO THESE FAMILIES, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR, UH, INFORMATION ON BUDGETING OR THINGS LIKE THAT, IF YOU HAVE A CLIENT THAT COMES IN THAT HAS A, UH, DISABILITY SUCH AS LET'S JUST SAY BLINDNESS, UM, DO YOU, ARE THOSE RESOURCES, UM, ACCESSIBLE? ARE THEY LIKE ONLINE? HOW DO YOU, UM, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT SORT OF THING? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO WE DO TRY TO HAVE A VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, SO PRINT VERBAL, UM, I HAVE SOME AUDIO BOOKS THAT I USUALLY RECOMMEND AS WELL AS ONLINE RESOURCES THAT ARE, UM, BUILT TO BE ACCESSIBLE.
AND I JUST WANT TO ADD WITH THAT, THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE ACCESS FOR, UM, SUPPORT THROUGH, WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT DOES BASICALLY INTERPRETATION.
SO IF THERE WAS A NEED, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LINK TO THAT AS WELL.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY NEEDED AND AMAZING PROGRAM.
UM, I, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GROW AND NOT ONLY JUST HAVE THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS MEET TODAY, BUT TO GROW AND TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT GROWTH OVER TIME.
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING, SHARING.
IT WAS A, IT WAS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THAT FAMILY, SO YEAH.
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM AGAIN? SO THE PROGRAM IS CALLED THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND IT'S THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT, WHICH IS A, A PART OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
[00:25:01]
FLYERS THAT WE CAN LEAVE TO DISTRIBUTE IF Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED.CHAIR MEYER, I'D JUST LIKE TO CALL THE ATTENTION THAT COMMISSIONER SALAZAR DID JOIN WHILE THE PRESENTATION WAS ONGOING AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE HIM OVER AS A PANELIST.
COMMISSIONER SALAZAR, DO YOU WANNA JUST TEST AND SEE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO UNMUTE? I KNOW YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS.
I SAW A BIT OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT I'M OKAY.
I WAS TRYING TO GET IN A BETTER WAY.
AND JUST TO COUNT YOU AS HERE, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO HAVE YOUR, UM, YOUR CAMERA ON.
UM, DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE LIKE ANY FORMAL OR INFORMAL STATISTICS ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS OR, OR HOUSEHOLDS WITH, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM? SO, I RAN THE NUMBERS SPECIFICALLY FROM JANUARY THROUGH AUGUST.
UM, AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RECEIVING SSI OR SSDI BENEFITS, WE DO HAVE, I BELIEVE IT WAS 7%.
UM, HOWEVER, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERALL ANY IDENTIFIED DISABILITY, WE HAVE NOT RUN THE NUMBERS FOR THAT.
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL TO LOOK INTO, UM, JUST TO, TO SEE WHAT, WHAT SORT OF POPULATION WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET GOALS FOR THAT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE, THE FAMILIES YOU SERVE HAVE SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY IN IT? OR IS THAT KIND OF OUTSIDE YOUR SCOPE? YEAH, I'LL ANSWER THAT.
UM, BASICALLY AT THIS POINT, THE PROGRAM IS VERY GENERAL.
UM, AND IT'S BASICALLY THE FOUNDATION IS JUST TO KIND OF MAKE IT DIVERSE.
SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAVE ONE FOCUS OR WHAT SPECIFIC METRIC REGARDING THAT, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS WHY WE'RE NETWORKING AND TRYING TO GET BACK ON, UM, AFTER COVID ESPECIALLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE INTERESTED BECAUSE WE ARE COLLECTING THE DATA AND WE'RE COLLECTING THE INFORMATION AND WE GO IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER REASON WHY YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF THE SERVICES NOW BEING LINKED.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE NURSING SERVICES, PANTRIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ON BECAUSE THAT'S OUR GOAL, TO TRY TO REALLY FIND THOSE POCKETS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GRAY AREAS BASICALLY TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHO REALLY IS IN THE NEED.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE NICHE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM.
[4. Approve the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities 2025 Regular Meeting Schedule. ]
ON TO THE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, NUMBER FOUR, UM, WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE 2025 REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE.I KNOW THAT WE ALL GOT, UM, A COPY OF THAT IN THE EMAIL FORM.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DATES THAT WERE CHANGED FROM OUR TYPICAL DATES BECAUSE OF HOLIDAYS.
UM, ONE IN FEBRUARY, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE VALENTINE'S DAY AND ONE IN MARCH TO ACCOMMODATE SPRING BREAK.
UM, I KNOW JUST PERSONALLY THAT FEBRUARY 7TH, I ALREADY HAVE A COMMITMENT TO DO, UH, NIGHT TO SHINE, SO I CANNOT BE THERE IF, UM, SOMEONE ELSE CAN, OR VICE CHAIR FRANKS, IF YOU CAN COMMIT TO FEBRUARY 7TH, THAT STILL WORKS FOR ME.
MOST LIKELY I CAN, UM, DO THE RUN THE MEETING.
THE MEETING AND I, YEAH, JUST THE FEBRUARY 7TH.
AND THEN D HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE DATES? I CAN READ 'EM OFF REAL QUICK.
LEMME JUST, JUST FOR CLAR, JUST FOR CLARITY, AND SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND READ 'EM OFF.
SO, UM, JANUARY 10TH, FEBRUARY 7TH.
MARCH 7TH, APRIL 11TH, MAY 9TH, JUNE 13TH, JULY 11TH.
AUGUST 8TH, SEPTEMBER 12TH, OCTOBER 10TH, NOVEMBER 14TH AND DECEMBER 12TH.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH, UM, ESPECIALLY THE FE FEBRUARY OR MARCH THAT WE CHANGED THEN? UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? ARE THOSE STILL, ARE THOSE STILL FRIDAYS OR ARE THEY, WHAT, WHAT DAYS ARE THOSE? YES, THEY, THEY ARE STILL THE SAME.
I BELIEVE SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, EXCEPT FOR MARCH AND FEBRUARY.
SO THE SECOND FRI THE SECOND FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY HAPPENS TO BE VALENTINE'S DAY.
AND, UM, TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE THAT WANNA CELEBRATE THAT, THIS WOULD MOVE IT TO FEBRUARY 7TH.
I HAVE A CONFLICT, BUT VICE FAIR, VICE CHAIR FRANKS SAYS THAT HE CAN ACCOMMODATE, UM, FEBRUARY 7TH AND THEN
[00:30:01]
AGAIN IN MARCH, UM, MOVING IT TO MARCH 7TH INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL SECOND FRIDAY BECAUSE OF SPRING BREAK.SO ALL OF THOSE ARE STILL, UM, FRIDAYS IS JUST THE FEBRUARY AND MARCH IS NOT THE SECOND FRIDAY.
AND IS THAT, UM, SENT TO US, OR DO YOU HAVE THAT OR DO WE HAVE THAT FORM? UM, YES, IT WAS SENT TO YOU, UM, THROUGH EMAIL.
I, I THINK THE, UM, THE MEETING AGENDA DRAFT WAS ALSO PART OF THAT EMAIL.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT DAY YOU SENT THAT? OKAY.
SO, UM, DO I HAVE, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE DATES? MOTION TO APPROVE.
IF WE CAN JUST HAVE OUR IT MOVE THE DRAFT DOCUMENT SO I CAN SEE EVERYBODY.
AND I CAUGHT COMMISSIONER SALAZAR AS THE MOTION, AND I'M SORRY, WHO WAS THE SECOND VICE CHAIR? FRANKS FOR A SECOND.
VICE CHAIR FRANK'S IS EVERYONE'S CAMERA ON? FOR EVERYBODY VOTING, IF YOU COULD JUST TURN ON YOUR CAMERAS.
DO WE HAVE EVERYBODY'S CAMERA ON? NOT YET.
FRANK'S, YOUR CAMERA ISN'T ON.
IT WASN'T, YEAH, IT WA IT WAS, BUT IT'S NOT CHAIR.
HE MAY BE LOGGING OFF AND REJOINING.
CAN, UM, CAN WE VOTE WITHOUT HIM OR NO? DO WE STOP QUORUM? WE, IF EVERYBODY PASSES IT, THEN WE COULD POTENTIALLY, YES.
UM, WE, WE CAN, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TRY, UM, EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF THESE DATES RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE AYE.
[5. Discussion of the Equity Based Preservation Plan and approval of a Recommendation to Council. ]
ALL RIGHT.SO, UM, THE NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS DISCUSSION OF THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AND APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL.
UM, WE DID GET THAT, UM, THAT RECOMMENDATION.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON IT? OH, WAIT, NO, WAIT, HOLD.
THERE'S A PROCEDURAL THING THAT I FORGOT ABOUT.
UM, WE NEED TO, I NEED TO HAVE A MOTION BEFORE WE DISCUSS AND AMEND IT.
I NEED TO HAVE A MOTION FOR, TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
IS THAT RIGHT? YOU CAN DISCUSS PRIOR TO APPROVAL, BUT IF YOU EVER, IF YOU GET INTO AMENDMENTS AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, IT'S BEST PROCEDURE TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
THAT MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE.
YES, THAT'S WHY I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS WRONG? OKAY.
SO, UM, DO YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN, JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN? YEAH, SURE.
SO, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAD THE PRESENTATION FROM THE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT OUR LAST MEETING.
UM, THANKS TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND MS. BERTRAND FOR THAT.
UM, SO I, I WENT AHEAD AND SET THIS AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST.
UM, I, I HAD, UH, A FEW COMMENTS THAT I WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH THE GROUP BEFORE WE TOOK A VOTE.
UH, SO I'VE GONE THROUGH THE, THE PLAN IN DETAIL, AND IT REALLY DOESN'T ADDRESS DIRECTLY HOW IT IMPACTS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, AND SO WHILE 18% OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, UH, WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, UH, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS WERE ACTUALLY REPRESENTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE CONSULTED.
UM, AND FROM A LAY PERSON'S PERSPECTIVE, MY THINKING IS THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATION RATHER THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION, PROBABLY TRENDS TOWARDS BEING LESS FAVORABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES JUST DUE TO THE IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING REGULATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, THE INCREASED RECOGNITION OF THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OVER TIME.
UM, I DON'T HAVE FURTHER INFO ON THAT BECAUSE, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN DOESN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO, UH, THAT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING, I'M SURE I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE, RE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON.
THE PLAN ITSELF, I THINK IS WELL THOUGHT OUT.
UM, BUT ITS SUBJECT MATTER SOMEWHAT FALLS OUTSIDE OF, UH, THE SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE'S MISSION.
[00:35:01]
ON THAT.UH, I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS WITH A NODE IN THE PLAN TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO THE HISTORIC, UH, LANDMARK COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THE RATIONAL, THE RATIONALE ON THE PLAN IS THAT IT WOULD REDUCE BARRIERS FOR PARTICIPATION.
UH, AND IT'S THAT SECTION OF THE PLAN'S FAIRLY CONCLUSORY.
IT DOESN'T REALLY STATE THE, ANY KIND OF FACTS SUPPORTING THAT.
UH, IT DOESN'T STATE THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION.
IT DOESN'T STATE WHETHER THAT'S GONNA BE TIED TO ANY SPECIFIC KINDS OF METRICS.
UM, AND I THINK TARGETED NEED-BASED COMPENSATION SEEMS MORE APPROPRIATE, UM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE ACCOMPANYING RECOMMENDATION THAT SIX OF THE MEMBERS BE FROM ALLIED PROFESSIONS, LIKE, UH, ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, UH, REAL ESTATE LAWYERS.
UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS SEEM LIKE THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA HAVE ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.
UM, BUT, UH, ALL THAT'S BEING SAID, UH, IN RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS THAT I THINK CHRISTIE CIRCULATED TO THE GROUP, UH, TO, UH, MS. BUR, MS. BERTRAND, UH, THAT ACCESSI, THE ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE COVERED BY THE HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.
SO I'D BE PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE PLAN IF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO INFORMALLY COMMIT TO ENCOURAGING ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, IN ALL THE MATERIALS RELATING TO DISCUSSING THE, UM, HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT AT LEAST ENSURES THAT THE CONCERNS OF IN, WITH, UH, INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING REPRESENTED IN THE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
UM, AND I THINK THAT ALSO GIVES US A BASIS TO KIND OF DRAW IT WITHIN OUR SUBJECT MATTER.
UM, THAT WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
UM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE I READ, UM, READ THIS? YES.
ARE WE GONNA MAKE THE AMENDMENTS THAT HE SPOKE OF PARTICULARLY THAT THERE WAS NO, UM, NO.
I'M GONNA READ THE, UM, THE, I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATION THAT HE WROTE AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO, UM, NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND BEFORE WE DISCUSS ANY CHANGES IN IT.
AND CHAIR BYER, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM MS. BERTRAND TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COULD DO IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING, UH, ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE TAX ABATEMENT? Y UM, DO YOU WANNA, YOU, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT, BUT, AND LIKE, TABLE THIS DISCUSSION AND ASK THAT BEFORE WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION? I JUST MEAN, SINCE SHE WAS ON THE CALL, I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE'D BE ABLE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW, OR WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE, UM, WOULD BE, WE'D HAVE TO, IS SHE, SHE'S ON THE CALL NOW.
IS THAT GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN? GOOD EVENING.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU ALL WOULD BE ABLE TO CONSIDER AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO KIND OF COMMIT TO ENCOURAGING ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS WHEN AND ALL THOSE MATERIALS DISCUSSING THE HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT? I THINK THAT IS, I'M HESITANT TO, I THINK AT THIS MOMENT I CAN'T MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT, BUT I THINK INFORMALLY THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
AND, AND, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK ON, UM, INCLUDING I JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL AT THIS MOMENT.
I CAN'T MAKE THAT PROMISE, BUT, UM, IT, IT ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE.
SO, UM, CHAIRMAN, MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD ADD TO THE RECOMMENDATION AND SAY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IF, IF WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE PLAN, YOU KNOW, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE TIED TO ENCOURAGING ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, THAT SOUNDS A HUNDRED PERCENT REASONABLE TO ME.
UM, I THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN AB I KIND OF ASSUMED THAT IT WAS KIND OF LIKE AN ALREADY DONE DEAL.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
UM, SO WHAT DOES TAX ABATEMENT MEAN? SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO TACKLE THAT.
SO, RIGHT NOW, UM, IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS, IF PROPERTY OWNERS REINVEST IN THEIR PROPERTIES WITH PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS, THEY CAN, UM, PAY LOWER TAXES ON THEIR PROPERTY FOR, UH, TO THE CITY, CITY PROPERTY TAXES FOR GIVEN LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN SEVEN AND 10 YEARS, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL, WHETHER IT'S OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTY, A HOMESTEAD, OR IF IT'S INCOME PRODUCING, WHETHER THAT'S RESIDENTIAL RENTAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
UM, AND WHERE IT'S LOCATED, UH, SO PROPERTIES IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN, UM, BY A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT TIME THRESHOLD.
SO BASICALLY IT'S A, IT'S A MECHANISM TO HELP PROPERTY OWNERS RECOUP SOME OF THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE SPENT, UM, ON, ON THESE IMPROVEMENTS
[00:40:01]
IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.THE PLAN PROPOSES EXPANDING THE ABATEMENT PROGRAM TO MAKE IT, UM, MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE OF MODERATE AND LOW INCOMES.
UM, AND ALSO TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF IT.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S, IT'S A BENEFIT, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A, A STRONG INCENTIVE TO, TO MAKE THAT REINVESTMENT.
BUT AS, AS, UM, COMMISSIONER KELLY MENTIONED THE TAX ABATEMENT, UM, ACCESSIBILITY, PERMANENT ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW TO COUNT TOWARD THE EXPENSES FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT, WHICH HAS TO REACH A CERTAIN THRESHOLD WHEN YOU USE THE WORD IN A DIFFERENT, WHAT IS THAT CORRECT, MICKEY? YOU'RE, CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? WE ARE CUTTING IT OUT.
I SAY WHEN THE WOMAN'S USING THE WORD ACCESSIBILITY, SHE'S USING IT IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT, THEN WE USE IT.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO I'M TALKING WITH THE TAX ABATEMENT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE, UH, TO AADA, A ACCESS TO OH, OKAY.
TO BUILDINGS INCLUDING, AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL.
BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE, A DA IMPROVEMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN ELIGIBLE EXPENSES FOR THIS INCENTIVE.
SO IN THAT CASE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO, UM, A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL? UM, ACTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE IT UNTIL WE GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S GONNA BE INCLUDED, BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, BONAFIDE CONSIDERATION, THEN THAT'S GONNA BE MOOT.
I, I THINK THE ISSUE WAS THAT IT WAS COMING UP TO THE COUNCIL PRETTY SOON, AND THAT WAS, I THINK BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE NEXT MEETING, I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEETING WOULD'VE ALREADY HAPPENED.
I THINK THAT WAS THE ISSUE THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS RUNNING UP AGAINST.
SO, I'M, I AM, I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED.
SO THE, AS IT STANDS NOW, THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM DOES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PEOPLE THAT, UM, MAKE THEIR HOUSES LIKE MORE A DA ACCESSIBLE, RIGHT? YES.
SO THEN, THEN, WHAT IS IT THAT WE WERE WAITING FOR? 'CAUSE I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT, SO WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE POINT OF CONTENTION? CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT TO ME AGAIN? MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT I, THAT THEY MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CONVEYED TO EVERYONE IN THE MATERIALS ABOUT THE HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT, SO THAT EVERYONE I SEE AND ENCOURAGE IT SO THAT PEOPLE UTILIZE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE RATHER THAN JUST SO THE OTHER PURPOSES.
SO, SO THE ISSUE IS IF IT'S A DEFINITIVE UNDERSTANDING IN HOW IT WAS WRITTEN IN THEIR INITIAL PROPOSAL? CORRECT.
I WONDER IF I CAN, I, I, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS THERE, THERE IS MONEY IN THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES OR WHO, PROPERTY OWNERS, IF THEY WANT TO, UM, MAKE THEIR PROPERTIES MORE A DA COMPLIANT OR MORE ACCESSIBLE.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT AS, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO COMMITMENT TO, UM, TO REALLY PUT THAT OUT THERE IN THEIR MATERIALS.
AND THERE'S NO KIND OF COMMITMENT TO TRY TO, UM, WHAT IS THE WORD? NOT ADVERTISE, BUT, YOU KNOW, TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? RIGHT.
SO I PERSONALLY, IF THIS IS NOT GONNA HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CITY, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
I, I, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY WE WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
UH, WHAT DOES ANYBODY ELSE THINK ABOUT IT? I'M ON THE SAME BOAT.
IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE ADVERTISED AS SUCH, THEN YOUR AVERAGE PERSON THAT'S GONNA ENGAGE IN THIS IS NOT GONNA USE IT FOR THAT MATTER.
AND I, AND I FEEL LIKE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR COMMITTEE KIND OF PUTS OUR SEAL OF APPROVAL.
AND IF, IF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WANT OUR SEAL OF APPROVAL AND WANT THAT POLITICAL BACKING, THEY NEED TO BE, UH, BRINGING MORE TO THE TABLE.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? AND I, I REALIZE THAT THERE'S LIKE A, A TIME ISSUE HERE AND THAT IT'S GONNA COME UP BEFORE THE CITY.
UM, BUT I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.
I THOUGHT, UM, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, MY ONE
[00:45:01]
SUGGESTION SO THAT WE COULD MAYBE GET THROUGH IT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, IF, IF ANYONE ELSE IS INTERESTED IN THIS THAT WE COULD AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION TO SAY THAT WE RECOMMEND THE PLAN CONTINGENT ON THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COMMITTING TO ENCOURAGING, UM, UTILIZING THE HISTORIC TAX ABATEMENT FOR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES.I, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
BUT JUST BECAUSE WE ENCOURAGE IT DOESN'T MEAN, DOES NOT MEAN THEY HAVE TO DO IT.
IF WE ENCOURAGE IT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE, WELL, THAT DOESN'T MEAN NO, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL, FOR ALL OF THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS AND ALL OF THESE BUILDER AND, YOU KNOW, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, IT'S, THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE CAN FORCE A BUILDER OR A PROPERTY OWNER TO DO ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED AN INCENTIVE, IS IT? WE'RE SAYING, HEY, IF YOU DO THIS, THE CITY WILL HELP YOU OUT IN THIS WAY OR THAT WAY, OR WHATEVER THE INCENTIVE IS.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL THOSE THINGS AND IT'S JUST NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AT THIS TIME.
THE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT, I WISH WE COULD, IT'D BE GREAT.
THE ONE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT IS THE WORD ACCESSIBILITY.
ACCESSIBILITY IS AN ABSTRACT TERM.
WE, WE NEED TO BE MORE DEFINITE IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
OTHERWISE ACCESSIBLE BOOK CAN MEAN ANYTHING.
'CAUSE I, SO FAR, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS RECOMMENDATION UNLESS IT WAS AMENDED LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, CHAIR.
I WONDER IF I CAN MAKE A CLARIFICATION.
SO WHEN I LAST CAME AND SPOKE TO Y'ALL, NOT, NOT TWO MONTHS, NOT RECENTLY, BUT IN THE SPRING, IT WAS TO INVITE THE COMMISSION, THE COMMITTEE TO, UH, AND, UM, TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT EQUITY-BASED PRESERVATION PLAN.
UM, WHICH WAS THEN, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK AS YOU HEARD AT, AT A PREVIOUS MEETING AND REVISED THE PLAN TO WHAT THE FINAL DOCUMENT, UM, THAT WE WILL BE TAKING TO COUNCIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
SOME OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ARE MATTERS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN, NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO BE REFLECTED IN THE PLAN.
IF YOU AND A RECOMMEND, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE ON A RECOMMENDATION IS, IS FINE.
UM, THE REC I THINK A RECOMMENDATION IS A WAY TO PROVIDE INPUT TO COUNCIL ON WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE INCLUDED, EITHER IN THE PLAN, THE FINAL PLAN THAT THAT GETS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL OR IN, IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.
SO AGAIN, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO IS OF COURSE, FINE YOUR DECISION AND FINE.
BUT THIS IS A WAY TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT TO COUNCIL REGARDING THE PLAN AT THIS STAGE THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO, AS STAFF, WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE PLAN DOCUMENT ITSELF AT THIS, AT THIS POINT AS STAFF.
ALTHOUGH COUNSEL CAN, CAN DIRECT THOSE CHANGES LATER ON.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
UM, SO DO WE, WHAT KINDA MOTION DO WE NEED? I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.
IN ORDER TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION, YOU WOULD JUST NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT WOULD PUT IT ON THE TABLE OKAY.
AND THEN, THEN YOU COULD OPEN IT UP FOR AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION? I MOVE, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
SO LET'S, UM, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO AHEAD AND START BY READING THE RECOMMENDATION.
UM, IT SAYS, WHEREAS THE COMMITTEE HAS CONSIDERED THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN, ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE COMMITTEE'S MISSION.
AND WHEREAS THE COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED TO RECOMMEND TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL THAT THE EQUITY BASED PRES PRESERVATION PLAN BE ADOPTED NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT THE MAYORS COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ENCOURAGES THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE EQUITY PRESERVATION PLAN.
UM, SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADD TO THE WORDING, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS THAT WE WANT? I WOULD SAY, UM, CHRISTIE, SHOULD I PHRASE THAT IN THE FORM OF AN AMENDMENT? YEAH.
IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND, AND THEN OKAY.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME PUT TO THE GROUP FIRST.
SO I'D SAY FOR THAT LAST SENTENCE WHERE WE'RE SAYING ENCOURAGE TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WE COULD SAY AT THE END OF THAT SENTENCE, UM, CONTINGENT ON THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COMMITTING
[00:50:01]
TO ENCOURAGING THE USE OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT TO IMPROVE PROPERTIES FOR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES.DON'T ASK ME TO SAY THAT AGAIN.
SO,
IT'S BEEN A LONG, KRISTY, DO YOU HAVE THAT OR SHOULD I REPEAT IT? IF YOU COULD REPEAT IT.
I JUST DON'T HAVE A TRANSCRIPT IN FRONT OF ME.
SO CONTINGENT ON THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COMMITTING TO ENCOURAGING THE USE OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOUR,
FOR, UH, ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTIES IN THEIR EXTERNAL MATERIALS.
I WAS GETTING A LITTLE TONGUE TIED.
I AGREE WITH, UM, COMMISSIONER FRANKS, WHY I THINK WE NEED, UH, WHAT WE NEED TO, UM, SAY SPECIFICALLY WHAT ACCESSIBILITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE, BECAUSE LAST, LAST, UM, I WOULD SAY WAS AROUND, UH, WAS, UH, IT WAS AT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRATIC DEBATE.
I WENT TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY HEADQUARTERS.
WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAMPS, WE NEED TO SAY RAMPS.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HANDRAILS, WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT HANDRAILS.
I I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LOT MORE SPECIFIC SO THAT WE'RE SERVING THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST A TIME CONSTRAINT, BUT I, I COMPLETELY AGREE, MICKEY.
WELL, IN THE RECOMMENDATION THERE, I DON'T BELIEVE THE WORD ACCESSIBILITY IS PART OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.
DOES THE, IN THE PLAN, ARE THERE DEFINITION, IS THERE A DEFINITION OF WHAT ACCESSIBILITY MEANS? AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE PLAN DOESN'T ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY.
UM, SO I'M, MAY I INTERJECT? YES, PLEASE.
UM, SO I'VE WORKED AT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE IN HISTORICAL BUILDINGS WHERE THEY DID ACCESSIBILITY STUDIES TO TRY TO MAKE, UM, DOORWAYS WIDER SO WHEELCHAIRS COULD GO THROUGH AND TURN.
AND, UM, A A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, RECEIVED, UH, CAME AT A BILL THAT WAS, UM, NOT WITHIN REACH.
SO THEN THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES THAT WERE ACCESSIBLE.
AND SO I'VE SEEN ORGANIZATIONS TRY TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE IDEAS THAT THEY COULD NOT RETROFIT EXISTING STRUCTURES, BUT, UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW WE CAN SUGGEST THAT IN THIS STATEMENT.
YOU KNOW, BASICALLY EXHAUST ALL OPTIONS AND THEN IF NOT, YOU NEED TO CREATE OTHER, ESPECIALLY FOR LIKE, UH, HERITAGE SITES.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF RUN UP AGAINST.
AND I'M, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, PUTTING REALLY STRICT PARAMETERS ON, ON THIS AT THIS POINT, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE THE CONSIDERATION TO BE MADE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE FORCED IN, IN THESE CASES WHERE THEY'RE SUCH PROTECTED SITES, WE CAN'T SAY TO MAKE A REASONABLE EFFORT, YOU KNOW, REASONABLE HAS A LEGAL DEFINITION.
WELL, I THINK THAT THE EQUITY PLAN, THE PURPOSE OF THE EQUITY PLAN WAS TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY'S, UH, RESOURCES FOR THESE DIFFERENT SITES MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS EQUITABLE ACROSS THE DIFFERENT, UM, DEMOGRAPHICS.
AND I THINK THAT AS FAR AS HOW IT APPLIES TO OUR COMMITTEE AND OUR WORK, IT'S A VERY SMALL SCOPE.
AND THAT SCOPE IS THE TAX ABATEMENT FOR MAKING YOUR, UM, PROPERTY ACCESSIBLE.
UM, SO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT VALID AND
[00:55:01]
SO IMPORTANT, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S OUTSIDE OF THIS SCOPE.AND IF WE, UM, IF, I MEAN, IF IT, IF THEY'RE GIVING, IF THEY'RE GIVING TAX CREDITS AND HELP FOR PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THEIR PROPERTY, I, I THINK THAT, THAT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN ASK FOR.
AND I THINK THAT ADDING THAT, THAT THEY WILL PRIORITIZE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT FOR RIGHT NOW, FOR THE EQUITY PLAN FOR WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, RIGHT THIS MINUTE IS ABOUT THE BEST WE'RE GONNA DO.
MAY I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? UH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF HISTORICAL SITES HAVE TO MEET LIKE A DA REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
THEY, THEY DON'T, UM, OR THEY DO.
SO, AND WHAT I RAN AGAINST WAS THAT THERE ARE PROTECTED SITES AND NOT EVERY AREA WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, BUT THEY DID HAVE TO HAVE ACCESSIBLE FEATURES LIKE, UM, CERTAIN, UH, FACILITIES NEEDED TO BE ACCESSIBLE.
WELL, SHOULD OUR LANGUAGE MAYBE INCLUDE, UM, SOMETHING ABOUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, A DA COMPLIANCE TAX ABATEMENT FOR UPDATING THINGS WITH A DA COMPLIANCE? DOES THAT, DOES THAT MAYBE HELP? DOES THAT MAYBE HELP THE CITIZENS MORE? I DON'T, I, I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BUT I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE, SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES MAY BE COMMERCIAL, THEY MAY BE PRIVATELY OWNED, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT RULES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTY.
AND I JUST, UM, LIKE I SAID, I THINK THAT A DA ACCESSIBILITY FOR EVERY PROPERTY WOULD BE AMAZING, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, THAT IS PART OF THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION OR THE EQUITY PLAN.
NO, NO, TOTALLY, TOTALLY FINE.
AS A POINT OF RECORD, SINCE WE, WE HAVE, THIS IS KIND OF GETTING MUDDIED UP, I'M JUST GONNA LET SAY I'M, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM OF THE VOTE, GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE TOTALITY OF THE INFORMATION OF HOW WE CAN TRULY IMPLEMENT IT.
UM, DO I, CAN I CALL FOR A VOTE OR DO I NEED A MOTION SO YOU CAN JUST TELL, CALL FOR ON EXACTLY.
MOTION VOTING ON EXACTLY, PLEASE.
WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE'S ALREADY A MOTION ON THE TABLE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
SO AT THIS POINT, YOU CAN, WE JUST VOTE, SEE IF THE, IF COMMISSIONER KELLY WANTED TO FORMALLY MOVE ADOPTION OF HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND IF THERE WAS A SECOND TO THAT, YOU COULD TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN IF IT WERE APPROVED, THEN YOU COULD VOTE ON THE WHOLE THING.
I THINK I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONTENTION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LANGUAGE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE BEST BET IS TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON A RECOMMENDATION, JUST VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL.
I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS ITEM, UM, OR THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN IS ON THE NOVEMBER 21ST AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S AN APPETITE TO POTENTIALLY VOTE TO POSTPONE AND CONSIDER AT A FUTURE MEETING, OR YOU CAN CONTINUE AND CONSIDER THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATION.
WELL, Y'ALL THINK I, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE TO POSTPONE AND CONSIDER IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
IF, YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CAN COME BACK WITH SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, FIRMER COMMITMENT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY TO PRI, JUST TO KIND OF PRIORITIZE THAT BEFORE, UH, COMMISSIONER, BEFORE YOU ACCEPT COMMISSIONER KELLY'S MOTION, UM, THERE IS STILL THE MOTION TO APPROVE AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
SO I GUESS YOU COULD POTENTIALLY CALL FOR A VOTE AND SEE IF IT PASSES AS IS.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOESN'T, IF IT DOESN'T PASS IT, IT DOESN'T.
UM, AND THEN IF SOMEONE WANTED TO BRING IT FORTH AT A LATER TIME, THEY COULD.
ARE WE VOTING FOR THE AMENDMENT, OR ARE WE VOTING FOR THE, FOR THE, THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
SO I, I AM GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE ON THIS RECOMMENDATION WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT AS IT'S WRITTEN, THE ONE THAT I JUST READ.
UM, I'M GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE FOR THAT RECOMMENDATION.
ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY, AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY, AYE.
[01:00:01]
ANY ABSTAIN? RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY, AYE, I'M, I'M, I'M ABSTAINING, JUST SO YOU KNOW.UM, SO THE MOTION DOES NOT CARRY.
UM, SO CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE IT, OR IS, WOULD THAT BE PUT IN FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? IT'S, IT'S ALREADY FAILED, SO IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BRING IT BACK, THEY COULD BRING IT UP AT FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, FUTURE, OR, OR SEND ME AN EMAIL AND GET A SPONSOR.
I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT WE HAD, UM, VOTE, UM, TO DO IT AT THE 21ST MEETING.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BRING THAT, UH, THIS IS JUST NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING THAT UP AGAIN.
WE CAN BRING IT UP AGAIN HERE A LITTLE BIT IN FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY.
UM, THANK YOU, CHRISTIE, FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT
[6. Presentation by Ron Lucey, Executive Director, and Norman Kieke, Community Outreach & Information Specialist, with the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities regarding information about local Texas committees and their impact on issues relevant to persons with disabilities, along with information on the annual Lex Frieden Employment Awards.]
NUMBER SIX, PRESENTATION BY RON LUCY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND NORMAN KIKI, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, OUTREACH AND INFORMATION SPECIALIST WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGARDING INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL TEXAS COMMITTEES AND THEIR IMPACT ON ISSUES RELEVANT TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, ALONG WITH INFORMATION ON THE ANNUAL LEX, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT.UH, IS THIS A HOT MICROPHONE? I THINK SO.
MY NAME IS RON LUCY, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BACK HERE, UH, AFTER HAVING SERVED AS A PAST MEMBER OF THIS, UH, COMMITTEE FROM THE MID 1990S TO THE, INTO THE TWO THOUSANDS.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE VERY IMPORTANT WORK.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS A CROWN JEWEL OF ACCESSIBILITY, AND IT DIDN'T GET THAT WAY ON ITS OWN.
IT, UH, CAME THROUGH HARD WORK AND ADVOCACY, UH, AND ALSO TALENTED CITY STAFF HELPING TO WORK WITH CITIZENS TO MAKE THIS A MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
UH, I WANNA START OUT BY WISHING Y'ALL A HAPPY NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISABILITY ACTIVITIES HAPPENING, UH, DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, INCLUDING WHAT MS. MEYER TALKED ABOUT.
UH, WHITE CANE DAY, UH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST WHITE CANE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
HOUSTON TRIES TO RIVAL AUSTIN FOR THAT TITLE, BUT THE AUSTIN ONE IS STILL THE BIGGEST.
AND, UH, MR. KIKI AND I WILL BOTH BE AT THE WHITE CANE DAY CELEBRATION NEXT WEEK ON THE 16TH, UH, BRINGING GREETINGS FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT.
UH, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO NORMAN TO TALK ABOUT OUR PLANS FOR, UH, THE LEX FREEDOM EMPLOYMENT AWARDS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, A, UH, LONG TENURE OF, UH, HOSTING EMPLOYMENT AWARDS TO CELEBRATE THE FULL EMPLOYMENT OF TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE, IN THAT EMPLOYMENT AWARDS PROGRAM, A GOVERNOR'S TROPHY, RECOGNIZING AN OUTSTANDING TEXAN FOR THEIR LIFETIME SERVICE TO TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES, AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE A MARTHA ARBUCKLE AWARD NAMED FOR A PROMINENT AUSTIN CITIZEN WITH A DISABILITY WHO IS KIND OF ONE OF THE FORERUNNERS OF THE, UH, AUSTIN MAYORS COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND WE'RE HOPING IN THE FUTURE THAT THIS COMMITTEE, UH, MIGHT SUBMIT A PROJECT THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IN, IN AUSTIN FOR CONSIDERATION, UH, WITH A MARTHA ARBUCKLE AWARD.
UH, THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA BE RECOGNIZING A HOUSTON PROJECT, SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO NORMAN, AND HE CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS PROGRAM.
HAVE A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT FOR THE MEETING TONIGHT.
I THINK JUST ONE EXCUSED ABSENCE, SO THAT'S WONDERFUL.
UM, AND, UH, I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU OR YOU ABOUT THE HISTORICAL FACILITIES REQUIRING TO BE ACCESSIBLE LATER.
UM, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE, UH, AT, AT THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE, NORMAN K**E.
I DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND INFORMATION, SO I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE, UH, ALL OVER THE STATE, UH, ABOUT, UH, LOCAL COMMITTEES THAT WE WORK WITH.
UH, WE HAVE 20 OF THEM RIGHT NOW.
THEY SUFFERED A HIT WITH THE COVID, UH, PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO MEET, AND SO THEY DISSOLVED.
UH, COMMITTEES JUST DISINTEGRATED, BUT WE'RE BRINGING SOME BACK AND, AND, UH, STRUGGLING TO WORK WITH, WITH, UH, SOME OF THOSE.
AND IT'S NICE TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.
OUR MISSION IS THE COMMITTEE IS THE, UH, TO FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO ENJOY FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO LIVES OF INDEPENDENCE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND SELF-DETERMINATION.
SO, I KNOW THAT MEANS A LOT TO YOU GUYS.
UH, RON MENTIONED THAT WE'VE, WE HAVE A HISTORY HERE IN THIS ROOM.
UH, VOICE SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS.
UH, WE STRUGGLED FOR A FEW YEARS TO PASS TO GET THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THE VISITABILITY ORDINANCE IN TWO DIFFERENT VOTES, UH, OVER A SPAN OF YEARS.
UH, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I WAS ATTACKED VERBALLY AT BARS WHEN PEOPLE WOULD HEAR ME TALKING ABOUT
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IT, AND PEOPLE PERIPHERALLY INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WOULD COME UP AND BE IN MY FACE.YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE COST OF THAT, THAT'S GONNA DRIVE PEOPLE OUTTA BUSINESS.
AND I WOULD JUST SLOWLY BACK AWAY AND, AND THEN DISAPPEAR INTO, INTO THE PARKING LOT.
BUT, UH, IT'S, IT, YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH PEOPLE THAT LIKE THAT OUT IN PUBLIC.
SO I DID NOT ENGAGE LIKE THAT.
BUT, UH, VERY HAPPY THAT CITY COUNCIL, UH, FINALLY SAW THEIR WAY THROUGH, UH, TO, UH, TO PASS THAT VISITABILITY.
UH, WE HAVE 12 VOLUNTEERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FROM KIND OF AROUND THE STATE, BUT A REALLY, REALLY HIGHLY EDUCATED AND INVOLVED GROUP OF PEOPLE.
VERY IMPRESSIVE AT OUR MEETINGS, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE GROUP REPRESENTS COLLECTIVELY ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
UH, AND WITHIN OUR 10 PRIORITY AREAS, UH, YOU COULD GUESS THEM, UH, EDUCATION, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UH, OUR NEWEST ONE IS CRIMINAL, UH, JUSTICE.
UH, WE, WE, FOR SOME REASON, WE KEPT OUR ISSUE AREAS AT THE NUMBER 10.
AND WE MELDED RECREATION INTO ACCESSIBILITY, WHICH IT IS, IT'S IN THE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS, ACCESS, UH, UH, RECREATION IS, UH, SO WE ADOPTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND WE GET SOME HAIRY, HAIRY CALLS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN JAILS.
JUST A QUICK WORD ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
WE'RE KIND OF IN A LEARNING MODE ON THAT.
WE LIKE TO LISTEN MORE THAN WE TALK IN WHEN WE GO AROUND THE STATE MEETING WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
BUT WE KNOW THAT MORE THAN 60% OF, UH, PEOPLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE DISABILITIES.
SO, UH, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF GREAT WORK HAPPENING WITH DIVERSION COURTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS ON, UH, HOW WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT ARE CRIMINALLY INVOLVED.
UH, SO THERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE, UH, CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL WITH THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
AND YOU JUST WANT TO GO, OH, WHO'S GONNA TAKE THIS CALL? PH? UM, SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WWW.GOV GOV.TEXAS.GOV/DISABILITIES AND READ ALL ABOUT US.
UH, IT'S GREAT NIGHTTIME READING, UH,
I KNOW I, Y'ALL HAVE A FEW OTHER THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, SO I'LL MOVE ON HERE.
OUR EMPLOYMENT AWARDS, LEX FRIEDEN IS THIS, UH, MIRACLE MAN THAT WAS INVOLVED IN, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICANS DISABILITIES ACT.
I HAPPENED TO BE WORKING FOR UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY HERE IN AUSTIN, AND WAS VERY ACTIVE WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SEE DRAFTS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AS WELL AS THE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARD.
SO IT WAS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE TIME I WAS DOING, I WAS THINKING, IS THIS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN? IS THIS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN? AND WHILE WE WERE IN COLLEGE STATION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, LEX FRIEDEN WAS THERE FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING.
AND, UH, WE SAW A VIDEO CLIP OF HIM AND SOME OTHER ADVOCATES, UH, GOING FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH, UH, THE PRESIDENT.
THEY GOT A CALL THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE SOME WAR BROKE OUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT, UH, VICE PRESIDENT BUSH HAD MADE TIME FOR THEM FOR A PHOTO OP.
JUST COME ON BY AND WE'LL DO A PHOTO OP OP, AND THEN YOU GOTTA GET OUT.
SO THEY WENT IN AND THEY WENT INTO, UH, GEORGE BUSH'S OFFICE CIRCLED AROUND HIM, AND HE SAID, YOU'LL, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS.
HE SAID, BARBARA AND I READ THROUGH THIS LAST NIGHT IN BED, AND I'M GONNA SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU PEOPLE.
AND, UH, YEARS LATER THERE HE WAS AT THE TABLE WITH TWO, YOU KNOW, TWO TEXANS AT THE TABLE SIGNING THE AMERICANS DISABILITIES ACT.
AND LEX WAS LOOKING BACK GOING, WHERE DID YOU GET THIS FILM?
AND, AND GEORGE BUSH SAYING, BARBARA AND I READ THIS IN BED LAST NIGHT, AND WE WERE, I'M GONNA SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU PEOPLE.
UH, SO IT WAS, UH, JUST SOME INSIGHT THAT I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT.
IT'S VERY AMAZING THE THINGS YOU LEARN IN THIS JOB AND A WHOLE NEW RESPECT FOR GEORGE BUSH.
I MEAN, UH, WE, I LOVE HIS ART AND HIS SENSE OF HUMOR AND, UM, THEN TO SEE THAT, THAT HE, HE JUST TURNED IT ON AND, UH, GOT GOT WITH IT.
UH, WE HAVE SEVEN AWARDS THAT WE, UH, GIVE OUT EMPLOYMENT AWARDS.
WE HAVE, UH, CO-WINNERS IN ONE OF OUR CATEGORIES THIS YEAR.
SO WE HAVE EIGHT WINNERS FOR SEVEN AWARDS.
UH, IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN OUR POSTER, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK ON OUR, UH, DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH POSTER THIS YEAR.
UH, SO THE ARTIST WILL BE UP IN, UH, AT, UH, DALLAS COLLEGE WITH THIS, UH, OCTOBER 30TH FOR OUR EMPLOYMENT AWARDS PROGRAM, WHERE WE UNVEIL THE POSTER.
AND IT'S KIND OF SILLY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE POSTER, BUT WE DO AN UNVEILING ANYWAY WITH, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? MISS TEXAS IS GONNA DO THE UNVEILING, AND SHE IS A COOL LADY.
YOU GOT GOOGLE, MISS TEXAS 2024.
GO, GO ABOUT 10 LINKS DOWN AND SEE THE TALENT.
SHE DOES A SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE ABOUT HER BROTHER WHO HAS AUTISM.
WHEN SHE, WHEN I WATCHED IT, I JUST WENT, FORGET YOUR LAW CAREER, BE AN ACTRESS.
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DO LIKE 32ND SEGMENT OF THAT WHEN I INTRODUCE HER.UH, SO SHE'LL HELP WITH THAT AS WELL AS THE AWARD, THE EMPLOYMENT AWARD PRESENTATIONS, UH, WITH THE AWARDS AND, UH, HELPING PEOPLE UP AND ON, OFF, ON AND OFF STAGE, UH, DALLAS COLLEGE.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING, HOW ARE YOU HERE IN AUSTIN? GOING TO ATTEND OUR AWARDS PROGRAM UP IN DALLAS.
UH, AND ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'RE GONNA BE RELEASING VIRTUAL TICKETS, UH, FOR Y'ALL TO ATTEND THROUGH ZOOM IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU'RE ATTENDING, UH, THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE THIS ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYBODY.
WE WILL HAVE IT LIVE CAPTIONED, AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE, UH, ON-CAMERA, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.
SO, UH, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY.
THERE WILL ALSO BE ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING FOR THE EMPLOYMENT AND DISABILITY COMMUNITY, UH, FOR CEUS ON, UH, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND, UH, EEO LAW.
SO IT'S BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND A CELEBRATORY OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AROUND THE STATE TO COME TOGETHER.
10:10 AM TO 2:00 PM ON OCTOBER 30TH.
UH, EVEN DURING LUNCH, WE'LL TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR LUNCH AND SIT DOWN.
AND THEN WE JUMP, I JUMP UP ON STAGE AND TAKE OFF WITH THE, UH, THE POSTER AND THE EMPLOYMENT AWARD.
SO WE'RE ENTERTAINING PEOPLE EVEN WHILE THEY'RE EATING.
UH, BOB PHILLIPS IS OUR MC, THE TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER FOR 50 YEARS IS OUR MC.
HE'S THE VOICE OF DAIRY QUEEN, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT,
BUT, UH, HE'S WON THREE AWARDS, UH, FROM THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE IN THE PAST AND SOME, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT HIS VIDEOS THAT WON AWARDS AND IT WAS, THEY'RE, UH, UNBELIEVABLE, UH, REALLY GOOD STUFF.
HE'S REALLY A SENSITIVE, UM, REPORTER WITH GOOD QUESTIONS AND, AND GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HE'S INTERVIEWING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED, UH, SEEING THAT.
I JUST KNEW HIM, YOU KNOW, I KNEW HIM FROM THE TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER, UH, BUT, UH, JUST I WENT BACK AND WATCHED HIS VIDEOS AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING.
UH, SO YEAH, JOIN US, UH, 10 TO TWO OCTOBER 30TH.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO DRIVE UP THERE.
IF YOU DRIVE UP AND SHOW UP IN PERSON, YOU GOTTA GIVE US $45
SO WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND WE CAN GET THOSE ONLINE TICKETS.
UH, NO, I THINK IT'S ONLINE OR NO, BE A LIST.
CAN THE LINK AND STUFF IS AVAILABLE ON YOUR WEBSITE? YEAH, SO THE BEST WAY FOR, IT'LL BE ANNOUNCED ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO NOT MISS ANY OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS IS TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GOV DELIVERY CHANNEL.
UH, AND, UH, IF YOU SEND US AN EMAIL, UH, WHICH IS REALLY EASY, IT'S GCPD@GOV.TEXAS.GOV, UH, WE'LL GET YOU SIGNED UP TO GET OUR REGULAR EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWSLETTERS.
WE PROMISE NOT TO, TO SPAM YOU TOO HARD.
WE AVERAGE ABOUT TWO, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS PER WEEK, AND THEY'RE PRETTY SHORT, UH, TALKING ABOUT OUR WARDS PROGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES OF TRAININGS FOR, UH, LOCAL COMMITTEES AND A DA COORDINATORS.
WE CALL IT OUR ACCESSIBILITY AND DISABILITY POLICY WEBINAR, WEBINAR SERIES.
AND, UH, A COUPLE TOPICS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP, UH, THIS NEXT WEEK WE'RE GONNA BE DOING ONE ON SELF-EMPLOYMENT FOR TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES DURING ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH DISABILITY DAY ON OCTOBER 17TH.
UH, IT'S A FREE WEBINAR, UH, AND, UM, IN DECEMBER, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING ONE ON ADAPTIVE DRIVING.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT, UH, WHETHER DRIVING IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU AS A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, INCLUDING, UH, BIOTIC DRIVING FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION, UH, DRIVING FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, UH, UH, DR.
ADAPTIVE DRIVING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
SO KINDA SOUP, SOUP TO NUTS ON ON THAT.
UH, WE HAVE A WHOLE LIBRARY OF PAST, UH, WEBINARS INCLUDING ONE ON ACCESSIBILITY FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
UH, THE TOPIC THAT Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, WHAT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE TEXAS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS IN THE A DA, SO THERE'S SOMETHING THERE FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THOSE, UM, THOSE RECORDED PAST WEBINARS ARE THERE ON YOUR WEBSITE.
UH, THEY'RE POSTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL, BUT YOU CAN BEST GET TO THEM THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND THEY'RE FULLY ACCESSIBLE.
THEY HAVE CAPTIONING AND A SL AND, UH, WE'VE ALSO POSTED THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS AS ACCESSIBLE PDFS.
SO THEY'RE A GREAT TREASURE TROVE OF REFERENCE MATERIAL ON, ON ACCESSIBILITY.
AND I, UM, SOMETIME IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I DID ATTEND A WEBINAR ABOUT THE, UM, INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY OF PARKS AND REC.
AND I FOUND IT VERY VALUABLE, SO I DO RECOMMEND IT.
PARKS AND REC IS DOING GREAT THINGS.
WE, WE DO TAKE REQUESTS, SO IF THERE'S EVER A TOPIC THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE US TO COVER FOR YOUR CITY, AND WE'RE SURE OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT AS WELL, WE, UH, RESEARCH, UH, THE TOPIC THAT YOU ASK US TO COVER AND WE BRING THE EXPERTS TO THE MICROPHONE.
[01:15:01]
YOU SO MUCH.UM, UH, WE OH, DO GO AHEAD, SAMANTHA.
I WAS, YES, I WAS GONNA ASK, THEY SENT ALL THE LINKS TO OUR LIAISON SO WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.
PARTICULARLY THE AWARDS AND THEN JUST SITTING HERE WAITING FOR IT.
IT, IT MAY BE MONDAY BEFORE WE SEND THOSE LINKS, IF THAT'S OKAY.
BUT, UH, THE, YOU DON'T WANNA DO, DO IT AT NINE O'CLOCK.
FRIDAY IS GOV TEXAS.GOV/DISABILITIES PEOPLE.
I SAY GOV DO TEXAS.GOV, THE FIRST GOV FOR GOVERNOR, LAST GOV FOR GOVERNMENT, SO GOV.XAS.GOV/DISABILITIES.
AND IT ALSO JUST COMES UP IN YOUR GOOGLE YEAH.
UM, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL OF YOUR WORK AND, UM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND GIVE US ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AS A COMMITTEE.
WE ARE JUST GETTING OUR FEET BACK UNDER US.
I THINK WE'RE MOSTLY FULLY STAFFED.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF POSITIONS OPEN AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR LIVES TOGETHER.
WELL, Y'ALL HAVE ENORMOUS POTENTIAL.
YOU'VE GOT A VERY IMPORTANT CITY, AND, UH, ACCORDING TO AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, YOU'VE GOT OVER 40,000 TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES, UH, LIVING RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN WHO COUNT ON Y'ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CITY MAINTAINS ITS LEADERSHIP FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
AND FROM OUR PAST EXPERIENCE, WE KNOW YOU HAVE A SUPPORTIVE MAYOR.
WE'VE WORKED UNDER THAT MAYOR BEFORE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND FOR GETTING US IN KIND OF AT THE, UNDER THE WIRE, UH, GETTING OUR INFORMATION OUT AND GETTING WHOEVER'S APPROVED US TO, PEOPLE APPROVED US TO BE ON THE AGENDA, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
[7. Discussion of ways to improve sidewalk accessibility by encouraging residents to park scooters in the street rather than on walkways.]
NUMBER SEVEN, DISCUSSION OF WAYS TO IMPROVE SIDEWALK ACCESSIBILITY BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO PARK SCOOTERS IN THE STREET RATHER THAN ON WALKWAYS.UM, I DID WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT OUR MEETING ADJOURNS AT SEVEN AND ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HAS REACHED OUT AND SAID THAT THEY HAVE A HARD STOP AT SEVEN AND IT IS NOW 6 48.
UM, SO WE NEED TO TRY TO GO THROUGH THESE THINGS QUICKLY AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUNT SOME THINGS AGAIN, THIS ONE WAS MINE.
WE CAN MOVE IT TO, WE CAN PROBABLY MOVE IT TO NEXT TIME IF IT'S, IF WE HAVE OTHER CRITICAL STUFF WE WANNA COVER.
DO, UH, DO YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO DO THAT? YEAH, I'LL MOVE TO MOVE THAT TO THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE, AYE.
[8. Update from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) representative on the JIC Budget Input Sessions for Fiscal Year 2026. ]
UH, UPDATE FROM THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE, UM, ABOUT THE BUDGET INPUT SESSIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU GUYS, AND I THINK THAT I'VE SENT YOU THE FLYER.
WE HAVE THE FIRST VIRTUAL TOWN HALL COMING UP THIS NEXT WEDNESDAY, AND I, I CAN SEND THE FLYER TO CHRISTIE ONE MORE TIME AND SHARE IT WITH YOU GUYS.
UM, AND I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT.
THERE'S, UH, ONE IN NOVEMBER COMING UP, UH, THAT'S, UH, IN PERSON AT GUS GARCIA, AND THEN THERE'S, UH, ONE MORE VIRTUAL ON THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER.
AND WE WOULD LOVE IT IF SOME OF YOU GUYS COULD COME.
THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE SPEND ALL YEAR ON 'EM.
JUST AS A REMINDER, I THINK THAT'S SORT OF, THAT IS, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE CAN'T ALL SHOW UP TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? LIKE WE HAVE TO THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S CORE, THERE'S A QUORUM CONCERN, HAVE LESS THAN QUORUM.
SO IF ANYBODY IS PLANNING ON SHOWING UP TO THOSE, CAN YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW NOW, JUST SO THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH A QUORUM SITUATION? YES.
IF WE CAN ALL GET WITH CHRISTIE, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN GOING, WE JUST DON'T WANT 'EM EVER MAKE QUORUM ON THEM IS THE ONLY THING.
SO LET, LET, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
SO IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON COMING TO ONE OF THOSE, UM, EITHER THE VIRTUAL OR THE IN-PERSON, PLEASE LET CHRISTIE KNOW SO THAT IF THERE, IF WE ARE IN AT RISK OF MAKING QUORUM, SHE CAN LET Y'ALL KNOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SHARE.
IS THERE ONE ON SATURDAY? IT, THE NEXT ONE IS ON WEDNESDAY? LET ME SEE.
I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO NOVEMBER.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO NOVEMBER.
HOLD ON, LET ME GET TO MY CALENDAR.
NO, IT LOOKS LIKE WE, NO, THEY'RE ALL ON WEDNESDAYS.
WHAT TIME IS THE, UH, ON WEDNESDAY? WHAT TIME IS IT AT? THEY'RE ALL AT 6:00 PM OKAY.
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I'LL GO TO THE ONE IN PERSON.THAT, THAT ONE'S ON THE SIXTH.
GUS GARCIA, I'LL SEND THE FLYER TO, TO CHRISTIE AGAIN RIGHT NOW AND MAYBE WE CAN SEND IT OUT ONE MORE TIME.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR GOING TO ALL THOSE JOINT INCLUSION COMMISSION AND KEEPING US UPDATED TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT TAKES TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY, SO I DO APPRECIATE IT.
[9. Discussion of Disability Employment and Entrepreneur Awards.]
ITEM NUMBER NINE, DISCUSSION OF DISABILITY, EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS.UM, I'M GONNA SAY THAT IT'S MY, MY FAULT FOR NOT BEING HERE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING LAST MONTH.
UM, DO WE WANNA HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS OR DO WE WANNA, UM, IS IT TOO LATE? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANNA TALK ABOUT IT.
SO MAYBE WE CAN LET THIS JENNA ITEM FALL OFF AND BE MINDFUL OF THIS MAYBE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR LIVES TOGETHER FOR NEXT OCTOBER.
IF WE'RE, DO I, CAN WE JUST MOVE ON IF YOU, NOBODY, NOBODY HAS ANYTHING TO SAY IF YOU YEAH, YOU CAN, I MEAN, YOU CAN WITHDRAW IT.
YOU CAN, IT WOULD BE BEST TO MAKE A MOTION TO FORMALLY WITHDRAW.
IF, JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH IT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO WITHDRAW DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER NINE? I'LL MOVE WHY YOU WITHDRAW.
MR. SALAZAR, DID YOU SECOND IF YOU COULD JUST TURN YOUR CAMERA ON PLEASE? YES.
YEAH, WE, I SECOND IF SHE MADE THE NEXT MOTION.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.
[10. Discussion of Disability Pride and Disability Awareness in 2025.]
ITEM NUMBER 10, DISCUSSION OF DISABILITY PRIDE AND DISABILITY AWARENESS IN 2025.UM, AGAIN, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD, UM, I THINK THAT OUR TIME FOR THIS YEAR UNFORTUNATELY IS KIND OF PASSED AND MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS IT AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.
DOES IT, DID ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THIS ITEM? I MEAN, CAN I GET A MOTION TO WITHDRAW IT? MOTION TO WITHDRAW.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
UM, SO ALL IN FAVOR OF WITHDRAWING DISCUSSION.
ITEM NUMBER 10, RAISE YOUR HAND OR SAY AYE.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
IS THE PART FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. I KNOW THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON IN NOVEMBER.CAN WE, UM, HAVE THE, UM, THE PLANNING, THE DEPARTMENT MEETING AGAIN? YEAH.
YOU WANNA ADD THE EQUITY MEETING TO, TO DISCUSS THAT AGAIN? OKAY.
UM, IS THAT THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN? IS THAT WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION OKAY.
SO I THINK MAYBE, UM, WOULD DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER NUMBER FIVE, ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THAT WE BRING THAT BACK UP AGAIN OR DO YOU WANT WRITE WITH A RECOMMENDATION? WELL, I'M JUST TALKING SO WE CAN SO HO HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UM, GIVE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR CITY COUNCIL.
SO YOU, YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION TO BRING UP THE, UM, FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE EQUITY BASED PRESERVATION PLAN AND THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, RIGHT? YES.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
AND THEN DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS THEY WANT FOR NOVEMBER? I HAVE AN ITEM OR, UM, SO WE MOVED OUR PRESENTATION BY AUSTIN PD ON THE, UH, DISABILITY REGISTRY AND ALSO THE DATA REPORTING, UM, FROM QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AT A PREVIOUS UM, MEETING.
BUT, UM, SO WE ARE MOVING THAT TO THE NOVEMBER MEETING, BUT THEY ALSO OFFERED FOR US TO MEET IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
AND, UM, I'M ALLOWED TO INVITE I THINK THREE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONERS AND, UM, VICE CHAIR RICHARD
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BONDY FROM THE, UM, JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE ALSO REQUESTED TO ATTEND THAT MEETING.SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE PLACE FOR ME TO DO THAT OR IF I SHOULD JUST DO THIS OVER EMAIL, BUT IF, UM, YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MEETING THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF AUSTIN PD, UM, JEFF GREENWALT, UM, AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THEIR DATA REPORTING STAFF, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SCHEDULE, UM, IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
WE, UM, WE DO HAVE A TRANSPORTATION SLASH PUBLIC SAFETY WORK GROUP.
SO IS THAT, BUT THAT MEETING HAS NOT BEEN FULLY SCHEDULED YET, IS IT? UM, MAYBE JUST SEND THE EMAIL, RIGHT CHRISTY, YOU THINK? YEAH, UH, COMMISSIONER CHANG, CAN YOU JUST SEND ME THE DETAILS AND THEN I CAN DISTRIBUTE TO COMMISSIONERS AND, UM, THEY CAN DECIDE WHO, UH, WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.
AND JUST A REMINDER THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE LESS THAN A QUORUM.
THANK, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND GETTING THAT SET UP.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST PUT ON THE FUTURE AGENDA TO HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE WITH THE CAC COMMITTEE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M GONNA HAVE ANY UPDATES, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
AND BECAUSE THE MEETING FOR CAC IS LITERALLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING, I HAVE NO TIME TO LIKE GO, OH, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT THAT ON THERE NEXT MONTH IN CASE THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
ANYTHING ELSE? I WILL JUST MENTION THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPONSORS FOR AVIATION TO COME IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WAYS THAT THEY'RE IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AT THE AIRPORT.
SO NOVEMBER, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE MIGHT BE, UM, FILLING UP.
UM, ALRIGHT, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR FUTURE IDENTITY ITEMS? NO.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MOVE, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR HAND.
AYE, WHOSE CAMERA'S ON? RIGHT.
THANKS EVERYBODY FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I, I FEEL REALLY HOPEFUL ABOUT OUR COMMITTEE NOW.
I SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND WE SEEM TO, ARE FINDING OUR FOOTING AND OUR DIRECTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO, SO MUCH.
HOPEFULLY SEE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY CHECK YOUR EMAIL.