* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:05] GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I AM COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH [Proclamation – Desnudo Coffee Shop Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez] YOU TODAY ON DENU COFFEE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. UM, I WANTED TO TELL A QUICK STORY ABOUT HOW I CAME TO MEET MY FRIENDS FROM DENU. IT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I WAS BEING A BIT LAZY AND, UH, I HAD A DEAR FRIEND, UH, WHO OWNS A PLACE CALLED A LITTLE PLACE CALLED VERA CRUZ TACOS HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND MY SUNDAY, MY SATURDAY MORNING BLISS, WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE A SCHEDULE THAT INCLUDED 19 THINGS ON SATURDAY, WOULD BE WALKING TO VERA CRUZ, GRABBING A COFFEE, READING MY BOOK, AND GRABBING A TACO. UH, AND I WAS TALKING TO RENA, THE OWNER ONE DAY, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE AWESOME IF YOU COULD GET A COFFEE SHOP HERE IN THE FOOD COURT? THAT WAY I DIDN'T HAVE TO WALK THE WHOLE 20 STEPS OVER NEXT DOOR TO GRAB A COFFEE. UM, A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT, SHE CAME TO ME, SHE CALLED ME ON A FRIDAY AND SAID, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE ON SATURDAY. AND I SAID, I WILL TRY TO BE THERE TOMORROW. AND SHE SAID, UH, THERE ARE THESE AMAZING GENTLEMEN THAT ARE COMING IN. YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THEIR STORY. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE DOING. UM, AND I WENT THE NEXT DAY, AND WE HAVE BEEN FAST FRIENDS EVER SINCE. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM THAT WE, THE CITY ARE HONORING OUR FRIENDS FROM THIS NOODLE TODAY IS HOW THEY GO ABOUT BUSINESS. THEY ARE TRULY AN AUSTIN AND AN AMERICAN STORY OF, UH, UH, OF UPWARD MOBILITY AND HOW WE RISE TOGETHER. THEIR WORK FOCUSES ON HELPING SMALL FARMERS WITH RESOURCES, WITH EDUCATION, WITH CAPITAL. UM, THEY ARE THE CHANGE THAT THEY WANNA SEE, NOT ONLY IN THE WORLD, BUT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. UH, AND THEY ARE MOVING NONSTOP. THEY, UH, THEY HAVE JUST OPENED THEIR, UH, THEIR SECOND SHOP RIGHT HERE, TWO BLOCKS FROM CITY HALL. SO IF ANYBODY'S LOOKING FOR SOME COFFEE AFTER THIS, PLEASE HEAD OVER TO SECOND IN CONGRESS. YEAH, SEE, UM, AND THEY ARE, UH, THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE WITH GENUINE HEARTS, UM, AND GENUINELY GOOD COFFEE. UH, I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM SINCE THEY, UH, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE THEM IN DISTRICT THREE AND ESPECIALLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST AUSTIN. UM, AND THEY ARE JUST GREAT NEIGHBORS AND A GREAT TESTAMENT THAT WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU JUST POUR YOUR HEART INTO A BUSINESS AS OPPOSED TO SEEKING CAPITAL FROM A BUSINESS. SO NOW I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF READING A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN TEXAS'S HOME TO A REMARKABLE ESTABLISHMENT KNOWN AS DE COFFEE, WHICH BE HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND HAS PROUDLY SERVED OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FOR THREE YEARS, EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL WHO WALK THROUGH ITS DOORS. AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF DE OF THE DELO COFFEE OWNER, STAFF, AND LOYAL CUSTOMERS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO ITS ENDURING SUS SUCCESS AND PERSEVERANCE AND PER PRESERVING THE SPIRIT OF EAST AUSTIN. AND WHEREAS THIS NEW COFFEE HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN LOCAL EVENTS, FESTIVALS, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY AND ITS COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING AUSTIN'S LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS DEEP GRATITUDE TO THIS NOODLE COFFEE FOR ITS OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING THE CULTURAL VIBRANCY OF OUR BELOVED CITY. AND, AND NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ OF DISTRICT THREE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 24TH, 2023 AS THAT THAT NOODLE COFFEE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. NOW, I, I WILL INVITE MY DEAR FRIEND GIO TO SAY A FEW WORDS. , THANK YOU JOSE, FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. UM, I HAD THE HONOR TO MEET, UH, JOSE'S MOTHER, AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT, UM, BEING A, IN POLITICS, BECAUSE IN COLOMBIA THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICS AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE, UM, MEANING WAS. AND SHE MENTIONED IT WAS ABOUT BEING OF SERVICE OF PEOPLE. I THINK THAT JOSE TRULY, UM, SHOWS THAT, AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN DO THE SAME FOR THE COMMUNITY OF HOST. THANK YOU. . THANK Y'ALL. YOU WANNA TAKE THE PHOTOS OVER HERE? YEAH, THAT'D BE FINE. ALRIGHT. LOOKS GOOD. AWESOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS [Proclamation – National Co-op Month – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes] VANESSA FUENTES. I PROUDLY REPRESENT [00:05:01] DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE WORKER AND COMMUNITY-OWNED COOPERATIVES THAT ARE GROWING ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF COOPERATIVES THAT ARE, WHICH ARE BUSINESSES RUN BY PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE FUTURE OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESS LANDSCAPE. AND I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT A CO-OP INITIATIVE THAT IS HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, A GROCERY STORE, UH, CO-OP. UH, WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL NAME FOR IT YET, OF COURSE, BUT IT IS IN THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES. AND, AND I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT HAS MEANT IN MY COMMUNITY IN SOUTHEAST AND ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY. AND I LOVE THAT THE MODEL IS ALL ABOUT BEING PEOPLE OWNED, PEOPLE OPERATED, AND REALLY CENTERING OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M THRILLED TO HAVE THAT WORK HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT. I WANNA THANK THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY. UH, FOR CITY STAFF WE HAVE ANTHONY SEGURA, EXEC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR. OH, AND EATON ALSO OUT, NOT FEELING WELL. THERE IS, UM, EVERYONE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY. THERE'S A LOT OF ILLNESS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. UM, WE ALSO HAVE, EXCUSE JACQUELINE MESSICK, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, EXCUSE ME, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND JACQUELINE MAYO, BUSINESS INFORMATION COORDINATOR, EDD SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE DIRECTOR OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ENOVIA HOLT WRAP, WHO WILL BE RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS COOPERATIVES ARE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY THEIR MEMBERS WHO WORK TOGETHER FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. AND WHEREAS COOPERATIVES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY BY PROVIDING JOBS SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND ENSURING THAT WEALTH AND RESOURCES REMAIN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH CELEBRATED EVERY OCTOBER IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF COOPERATIVES IN DIVERSE SECTORS, INCLUDING AGRICULTURE, FINANCE, HOUSING, ENERGY, AND CONSUMER GOODS. NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN VANESSA FUENTES ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2024 AS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. WOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, AND GOOD MORNING AGAIN. I'M SO NOVIA HOLT RAB, THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND THIS MORNING WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER AS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH AND THE VITAL ROLE COOPERATIVES PLAY IN ENHANCING OUR COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELLBEING. COOPERATIVES ARE UNIQUE BUSINESS MODELS THAT PRIORITIZE PEOPLE OVER PROFITS, BUILT ON PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC CONTROL, MEMBER OWNERSHIP AND SHARED BENEFITS. CO-OPS IN MANY FORM COME IN MANY FORMS, WHETHER IT'S FOOD PRODUCERS AND GROCERS TO CONSUMERS, SERVICE WORKERS AND HOUSING COOPERATIVES ARE JUST TO, TO NAME A FEW. WHENEVER PEOPLE FACE COMMON CHALLENGES, SEEK COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS OR AIM TO ACHIEVE GOALS THAT ARE LARGER THAN WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN ACCOMPLISH ALONE. COOPERATIVES PROVIDE A POWERFUL, POWERFUL ANSWER. AND IN AUSTIN, COOPERATIVES ARE A DYNAMIC AND ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR ECONOMY THRIVING ACROSS DIVERSE SECTORS SUCH AS HOUSING, AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER GOODS, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. WITH MORE THAN 60, AGAIN, 60 COOPERATIVES IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING CREDIT UNION, THEY CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR COMMUNITY'S STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN STARTING COOPERATIVES. WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ADVANCEMENT TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND COACHING SERVICES. THESE PROGRAMS COVER HOW TO START WORKER OR HOUSING COOPERATIVES, CONVERT BUSINESS TO, INTO, UH, COOPERATIVES AND PROVIDE THE BOARDS OF THESE COOPERATIVE TRAINING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. SO I WANNA THANK THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, RIO GRANDE VALLEY CENTER FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO FOSTERING GROWTH OF COOPERATIVES IN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU. SPECIAL THANK YOU TO WHEATSVILLE CO-OP FOR ALSO JOINING US TODAY. DO WE HAVE OTHER CO-OPS WITH US? AND DID I MENTION GO AUSTIN BA WAS AUSTIN. I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER, BUT OF COURSE. GO. AUSTIN BA WAS AUSTIN, A CBA AUSTIN BUSINESS AND AUSTIN CO-OP BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. JUST ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD. YES. MAYBE [00:10:02] THEY MOVED THE FLAGS, I DUNNO. YEAH. UP IN THE CORNER. ARE WE OFFICIALLY CALLING? WE'LL LAY HERE. AWESOME. GET IN THERE. FEEL FREE TO SQUEEZE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE. YOU'RE GOOD. GOOD [Proclamation – Interpreter and Translator Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes] MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME. MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES. I PROUDLY REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND I'M THRILLED TO, TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN A SPANISH SPEAKING HOUSEHOLD, I ACTUALLY GREW UP ON LES. UH, AND I EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ANOTHER LANGUAGE AS YOUR PREDOMINANT LANGUAGE. AND FOR ME, THAT REALLY INSTILLED IN ME THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS AND INTERPRETATION, ESPECIALLY AS SOMEONE WHO'S NAVIGATING HELPING MY MY MOM NAVIGATE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS. UH, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT WE HERE AT THE CITY PRIORITIZE LANGUAGE ACCESS, DUAL LANGUAGE, MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, AS WELL AS HAVE INTERPRETATION SERVICES AVAILABLE IN ALL THAT WE DO. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I PRIORITIZE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU CAN COUNT ON ANY OF THE TOWN HALLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE FOLKS FROM, FROM LANGUAGE ACCESS THERE AVAILABLE. AND WE KNOW THAT THAT TYPE OF SERVICE IS TRULY UNIQUE AND NEEDED IN ENSURING THAT ALL AUSTINITES CAN NAVIGATE CITY SERVICES AND FILL AT HOME IN THE CITY THAT THEY CALL HOME AND LOVE. AND SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO, UH, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY WILL BE AKEISHA S MOTHERS WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE HEAR FROM, AND HAVE REMARKS FROM SUSANNA , UH, WITH THE TEXAS LANGUAGE ACCESS ASSOCIATION OR THE AUSTIN LANGUAGE ACCESS ASSOCIATION. SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THROUGHOUT OUR GREAT STATE PUBLIC HEALTH INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM BY ERADICATING LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN CLINICS AND IN THE COMMUNITY, REDUCING CLINICAL ERRORS, PROVIDING CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES. AND WHEREAS BRIDGING CULTURAL BARRIERS TO FACILITATE UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDERS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS TO EMPLOY THEIR LINGUISTIC SKILLS. AND WHEREAS CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE TO SERVE AS A VOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY BY CONVEYING, CONVEYING INFORMATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND SIGNED LANGUAGES INTO ENGLISH AND FROM ENGLISH INTO FOREIGN AND SIGN LANGUAGES. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL OBSERVE PUBLIC HEALTH INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR DAY IN TANDEM WITH OTHER STATES AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CELEBRATE THESE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROFESSIONALS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 20, 24. NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA FUENTES ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, DO P DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 AS PUBLIC HEALTH INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. WOOHOO. AKEISHA SMOTHERS WILL BE RECEIVING THE ATION. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. . I'M AKEISHA JOHNSON SMOTHERS WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THE INTERIM'S CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, EVERY DAY IS TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER DAY AS WE ENSURE EVERYONE HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION AND SERVICES REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK. WE WORK WITH UP TO 11 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO ENSURE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE, UM, THEY NEED FOR THEIR WELLBEING. PROVIDING LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION TO CREATE A HEALTHIER AUSTIN, WHERE WE DO OUR BEST TO CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION REGARDLESS OF WHAT LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS BEEN REALLY A PLEASURE, A PRIVILEGE, UH, TO WORK, UH, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ESPECIALLY WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. IN REALLY CLOSING THE GAP, THE LANGUAGE GAP, AND ALSO ALLOWING, UH, THE PROVISION OF REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, WE ARE, WE, WE, WE ARE VERY PROUD, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, WORK IN SO, SO MANY VACCINATION CLINICS IN, SO, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC MM-HMM. , UH, AND TESTING SITES. UM, IT, IT IS FOR ME A PLEASURE, UH, FROM IN LANGUAGE EXHAUSTING TO LEAD A TEAM OF REALLY COMMITTED INTERPRETERS, UH, IN WORKING, IN MAKING, UH, IN BUILDING EQUITY IN AUSTIN THROUGH, UH, LANG THROUGH LANGUAGE ACCESS AND THROUGH LANGUAGE JUSTICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. LET'S DO A GROUP LITTLE PHOTO OVER HERE. YES. [Proclamation – Hindu Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kell] [00:15:14] GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MACKENZIE KELLY AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN. I'M HERE TODAY ON A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION AS TODAY WE ARE GOING TO COMMEMORATE HINDU HERITAGE MONTH AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HINDU COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN. I'M ESPECIALLY PRIVILEGED TO REPRESENT THE LARGEST SHARE OF AUSTIN'S SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION IN DISTRICT SIX. AND IN MY TIME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE GREATLY ENJOYED LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF HINDU AUSTINITES. OCTOBER IS A SPECIAL MONTH WITH A CELEBRATION OF THREE LARGE FESTIVALS, NAVA, RIDI, RA, AND DEEPALI, AND WE WILL BE CELEBRATING DIWALI ON NOVEMBER 1ST. IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN IT YET, PLEASE COME TO CITY HALL AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL WR ART THAT IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM FOR DIWALI THAT WAS MADE BY HAND BY DISTRICT SIX RESIDENTS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING AND BEAUTIFUL. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS INVITED BY THIS ORGANIZATION HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE MONTH WITH THE INDIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN AT AN EVENT THAT I GREATLY ENJOYED. I, I SMILE JUST THINKING ABOUT THE MEMORIES THAT I MADE WHILE I WAS THERE AND ALL THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THEIR CULTURE. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN IT. PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE THE INDIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN, HAVE BEEN GREAT FRIENDS TO MY OFFICE DURING MY TERM AND THE, TO THE THAT OF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. AND THEY'RE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE OF US OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY AND IN GOVERNMENT. SO I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR HINDU HERITAGE MONTH, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN, TEXAS IS ENRICHED BY ITS DIVERSE CULTURAL, ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE, INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT HINDU AMERICAN POPULATION. AND WHEREAS AUSTIN, TEXAS APPRECIATES THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HINDU AMERICANS AND VARIOUS FIELDS LIKE EDUCATION, SCIENCE, LAW, MEDICINE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR PROFOUND COMMUNITY SERVICE. WHEREAS HINDU AMERICANS AND THE VEN DATA PHILOSOPHY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED NOTABLE INTELLECTUALS SUCH AS PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS, HENRY DAVID THOREAU, RALPH WALDO, AND EMERSON, WALT WHITMAN, JD SALINGER, CHRISTOPHER EWOOD, ALLIS HUXLEY, HUSTON SMITH, AND JOSEPH CAMPBELL. AND WHEREAS HINDU AMERICANS UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF PLURALISM, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE, AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE AUSTIN, TEXAS COMMUNITY AND, AND VI THEIR VITALITY AND WELLBEING. AND WHEREAS DESPITE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, HINDU AMERICANS FACE INCREASING INSTANCES OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, HINDU PHOBIA AND ANTI HINDU HATE CRIMES, UNDERSCORING THE NEED FOR INCREASED AWARENESS, TRAINING, AND PREVENTION OF THESE INCIDENTS. NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO COULD NOT BE WITH HER, WITH US HERE TODAY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM TODAY AND THIS MONTH AS HINDU HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR HINDU COMMUNITY AND HAVE HER SAY A FEW WORDS. OH, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NAMASTE. NAMASTE. AND GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU HONORABLE COUNCILWOMAN KELLY FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND SUPPORT FOR OUR HINDU, UH, COMMUNITY HERE IN GREATER AUSTIN. UM, I'M PRACHI BERA AND IT IS AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, INDIAN ASSOCIATION, INDIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN, AND THE HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. UM, LIKE SIMILAR PROCLAMATIONS BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN YEARS PAST, UH, THIS, UM, PROCLAMATION SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE OF INCLUSION AND ACCEPTANCE. UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, UM, REGARDING OUR TRADITIONS AND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS. UM, HINDUS, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, PROBABLY HAVE LIVED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE, UM, SWAMI VIVE AND FORMERLY INTRODUCED HINDUISM AT THE WORLD PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS AT CHICAGO IN 1893. UM, WE HAVE BROUGHT, UH, YOGA, UM, MEDITATION WITH ANTE PHILOSOPHY AND OUR UNIQUE CULTURE, UM, ART AND, UM, SO MANY OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS TO THIS, UM, COUNTRY. OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO ENRICH THE US ECONOMY, UM, IT'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND, UM, [00:20:01] SOCIETY IN GENERAL. IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE CITY'S SUPPORT FOR OUR ART. UM, THE ANCIENT ART PLI IS DISPLAYED OUTSIDE. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT, PLEASE DO NOT MISS IT. IT'S AT THE ENTRANCE. UM, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND PROUD TO CALL GREATER AUSTIN. OUR HOME, UM, OCTOBER, LIKE, UM, UM, COUNCILWOMAN KELLY LET US KNOW IS A MONTH IN WHICH MULTIPLE FESTIVALS LIKE NARA THREE, THE SHIRA DI VALLEY, UM, ARE CELEBRATED IN THESE FESTIVALS, BRING TOGETHER HINDUS SIX, UH, BUDDHISTS AND JANS, UM, LET US COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THIS, UH, WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, UM, OUR HERITAGE AND TRADITIONS, SHOWCASE THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, UM, THAT IS ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE COMMON VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS AND COME TOGETHER WITH ALL AMERICANS TO COLLABORATE TO BUILD A SOCIETY THAT IS PLURALISTIC AND, UM, TOLERANT. THANK YOU AGAIN. HONORABLE COUNCILWOMAN AND ALL OTHER, UM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WE APPRECIATE YOU, ESPECIALLY YOUR STAFF. UH, MR. UM, ERIC COOPER CASES. UM, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND UH, ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, WHO HAVE JOINED HERE, UH, TODAY, SO EARLY ON A WORKDAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND UM, EVA, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH PRACHI FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND FOR ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US. UM, HAPPY HINDU HERITAGE MONTH. LET'S GO TAKE A PICTURE. WE CAN TAKE RIGHT UP FRONT. WE'VE GOT SUCH A LARGE GROUP, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING [Proclamation – Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes] EVERYONE. I AM PAIGE ELLIS. I'M THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT EIGHT, WHICH IS SOUTHWEST AUSTIN. I'M HONORED TO JOIN WITH YOU TODAY TO RECOGNIZE TWO THINGS THAT AUSTINITES LOVE DEARLY, OUR TREES AND OUR MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION OF ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY TODAY, WE CELEBRATE NOT JUST THE BEAUTY AND THE MAJESTY OF OUR URBAN FOREST, BUT ALSO THE ESSENTIAL ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR CITY. TREES HELP COOL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND ARE CRUCIAL TO CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR AUSTINITES. I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD TO SUPPORT INCREASING FUNDING FOR TREE PLANTING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS WE AIM TO COVER HALF OF THE CITY WITH TREES BY 2050. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 41%, SO WE'RE CLOSE, BUT WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. TODAY'S CELEBRATION ALSO HONORS OUR VITAL MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, WHO ARE NOT ONLY AN ICONIC SYMBOL OF TRANSFORMATION AND ENDURANCE, BUT PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM CONTRIBUTING TO THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANTS, OUR GARDENS, AND OUR FOOD SYSTEM. MONARCHS THAT BREED EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH TEXAS AND SPEND THEIR WINTER IN CENTRAL MEXICO, WHICH TO ME DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BAD PLAN FOR THEM. . AND RECENTLY MY HUSBAND AND I HAD BRUNCH WITH A DEAR FRIEND IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE I GREW UP, AND HE ASKED, WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES? GENUINELY SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN PROTECTING THEM BUT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE VITAL ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN OUR ECOSYSTEM. AND I TOLD HIM, THEY ARE THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE. THEY ARE OUR FIRST INDICATION THAT THEIR HABITAT IS NOT WORKING WELL FOR THEM. AND VERY QUICKLY IT COULD BECOME A HABITAT FOR HUMANS THAT IS UNSUSTAINABLE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LISTEN TO THEM. THEY'RE MORE SENSITIVE THAN WE ARE TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR COMMUNITY. TREES AND PLANTS HELP US SHADE AND POLLINATE OUR FOOD FOR US. IF WE DON'T HAVE POLLINATORS AND POLLINATOR PLANTS, A LOT OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO US. SO I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING BOTH OF OUR TREES AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AS THEY'RE KEY TO BUILDING A GREENER, HEALTHIER AND MORE RESILIENT AUSTIN FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS KNOWN NATIONALLY FOR ITS OUTSTANDING PARK SYSTEM, ENHANCED BY A RICH FOREST CANOPY AND A DIVERSE BUTTERFLY POPULATION. AND WHEREAS TREES AND POLLINATORS ARE VALUED BY ALL OF AUSTIN'S RESIDENTS FOR ESSENTIAL ROLES THEY PLAY IN OUR DAILY LIVES, CONNECTING US TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, COOLING OUR CITY, AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. AND WHEREAS AUSTINITES CONTINUE TO VALUE THE BENEFITS OF NATURE TO OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, THE DILIGENT EFFORTS CHAMPION EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE FOR ALL AUSTINITES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. AND WHEREAS AUSTIN HAS ACHIEVED TREE CITY USA RECOGNITION FOR 33 YEARS BY MEETING THE PROGRAMS FOR REQUIREMENTS, A TREE BOARD OR DEPARTMENT, A TREE CARE ORDINANCE, AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY FORESTRY BUDGET OF AT LEAST $2 PER CAPITA AND AN ARBOR DAY OBSERVANCE [00:25:01] AND PROCLAMATION. AND WHEREAS I URGE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY SUP TO SUPPORT EFFORTS WHICH PROTECT AND NURTURE NATURE IN OUR CITY, THUS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME DURING THE SEVENTH ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL CELEBRATING ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY. NOW, THEREFORE, I PAIGE ELLIS ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 24TH, 2024 AS ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO AMANI FOR A FEW MORE WORDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS. UM, MY NAME IS AMANI LUPER. I REPRESENT, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND I AM THE COORDINATOR FOR THIS YEAR, THE SEVENTH ANNUAL, UH, ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL CELEBRATED ALL OVER AUSTIN. UH, THIS YEAR WE HAVE OVER 130 EVENTS, UH, THAT BEGAN ON OCTOBER 19TH AND WILL, UH, CONCLUDE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND. AND IT IS A CELEBRATION OF EVERYTHING, ALMOST EVERYTHING NATURE, UH, FROM TREES TO POLLINATORS, UM, ALL WINGED POLLINATORS, BATS AND BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES, AS WELL AS FUNGI AND SOIL HEALTH, UH, FOOD SUSTAINABILITY, UM, THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO SUSTAINING OUR LIVES ON THIS PLANET. AND SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL, UH, FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, PROMOTE AS WELL AS, UM, CELEBRATE WITH EVERYONE, UH, WHAT IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S, UH, SPECIAL CELEBRATION DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR. THANK YOU. WE SHOULD TAKE A PICTURE. YEP. WHERE DO YOU WANT PICTURES? YES, LET'S DO. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.