[00:00:02]
[MUSICAL PERFORMANCE]
FOR MUSICAL PERFORMANCES.WE HAVE, UH, RACHEL SPENCER, UM, BROUGHT TO US BY COMMISSIONER GOLD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ARTIST? SURE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? UM, HEY, Y'ALL.
UM, SO I MET RACHEL AT THE, UH, THE GEN CONFERENCE, THAT'S A JAZZ EDUCATION NETWORK, UH, IN RENO, NEVADA.
AND WE HAPPENED TO BE ON A FLIGHT HOME TOGETHER, UH, AND JUST REALLY GOT TO TALKING AND, AND REALLY HIT IT OFF.
UM, AND I LEARNED THAT SHE ACTUALLY LIVES IN MY DISTRICT IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, AND SHE'S A WONDERFUL TRUMPET PLAYER, UM, CURRENTLY, UH, WORKING ON FINISHING HER PHD OR HER, UH, DMA, I BELIEVE, UH, AT UT IN, UH, JAZZ.
AND, UM, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HER AT HER WEBSITE, WHICH IS RACHEL SPENCER MUSIC.COM.
AND I THINK, UH, MAYBE THE BEST PLACE TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER.
BUT, UM, SHE ALSO POSTS ABOUT HER GIGS ON HER INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, WHICH IS ALSO RACHEL SPENCER MUSIC.
SO GO CHECK HER OUT ON INSTAGRAM AND, UM, SHE'LL HAVE AN ALBUM COMING OUT LATER.
AND, UM, YEAH, I THINK YOU GUYS ARE REALLY GONNA ENJOY, UH, HER MUSIC.
I UNDERSTAND THIS WAS, UH, AN EXTENDED PERFORMANCE THAT WAS KIND OF, UH, I THINK WE GOT A SNIPPET OF IT.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, UH, COMMISSIONERS, SHELBY, THANK YOU AS WELL.
YEAH, IT'S REALLY COOL THAT, I MEAN, A LOT OF US ARE MUSICIANS AND KIND OF ARE OPERATING EVEN WITHIN MUSIC IN OUR KIND OF DIFFERENT WORLDS, RIGHT? AND TO, TO HEAR, HEAR SOMEBODY FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT, UH, GENRES IS FANTASTIC HERE.
UM, MOVING ON, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, WE HAVE MR. RYAN SAUNDERS, PLEASE COME UP.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I KNOW THAT I HAVE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SO I'LL DIVE IN REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS JUST THE INTERACTION
[00:05:01]
OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND MUSIC VENUES, LIKE BARS THAT ARE HAVING LIVE MUSIC IN IT WITH RESIDENTIAL.AND JUST MAKE A SUGGESTION OF, UM, THE LOWER GREENVILLE, LOWEST GREENVILLE AREA IN DALLAS HAS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A BETTER INTERACTION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
SO THEY BOTH HAVE EQUAL VOICE AND IT'S NOT PUTTING A LARGE BURDEN ON THE CITY AND POLICE TO TRY TO MANAGE THE NOISE ORDINANCES.
AND, UM, I LIVE IN THE EAST OF CHAVEZ STREET NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE HAVE A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT WITH THE SCOOT IN.
AND THAT'S PROVEN TO BE REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ALLOW LIKE NEIGHBORS AND SCOOT IN TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND FIND LIKE A GOOD, HAPPY MEDIUM OF HOW TO LIKE, INTERACT AND LIVE IN A CLOSE AREA WITH LIKE, THE LOUD MUSIC.
AND THAT'S CREATED A REALLY GOOD SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.
UM, A LOT OF THE BARS ALONG EAST CHAVEZ STREET, THEY'RE NOT APPLICABLE TO THE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED MUSIC, UM, GUIDELINES BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOUR WALLS.
THEY LEAVE THEIR DOORS AND WINDOWS OPEN TO THEIR BARS.
AND SO THE MUSIC COMES OUT JUST AS LOUD AND YOU CAN HEAR IT THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'M JUST RIGHT OFF OF EAST SESAR CHAVEZ STREET, AND ALSO A PD DOESN'T MEASURE THE C NOISE, THE BASE NOISE, THEY ONLY MEASURE THE A NOISE.
SO A LOT OF THE BASE WOULD NOT EVEN BE, UM, DETECTED BY APDS NOISE METERS.
UM, AND THEN JUST A BETTER, LIKE, UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S APPLICABLE UNDER THE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED NOISE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE BARS HAD, HAS A GARAGE DOOR, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE UNDER THE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED NOISE, BUT THEY'RE NOT HELD TO THOSE STANDARDS 'CAUSE THEY LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN UNTIL 2:00 AM THEY HAVE DJS AND THEY'RE NOT TURNING OFF AT 10:00 PM.
UM, JUST BECAUSE OF TIME AT ANOTHER TOPIC THAT I WANNA BRING UP, UM, KIND OF ONCE AGAIN, LIVING IN THE EASTAR CHAVE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD AND THERE'S A LOT OF US THAT ARE WORKING TO CREATE A VISION PLAN AND REALLY LIKE WORK TO LIKE HELP, UM, CREATE MORE RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED AND NOT BE GEARED TOWARDS TOURISTS AND LIKE OUTDOOR INTERESTS OR OUTSIDE INTERESTS.
AND JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE COME INTO CONTACT IS JUST THE EX REALLY HIGH EVENT FEES AND PERMITTING BARRIERS TO DOING LOCAL, LIKE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
UM, A LOCAL ART GALLERY OWNER AND I HAD A PROJECT IN THE ALLEYWAY, AND WE JUST DID A COMMUNITY CLEANUP WHERE WE JUST HAD OVER 40 PEOPLE DO, UM, MULCH AND CLEAN TRASH CLEANUP.
AND WE PAINTED MURALS IN THE ALLEY, AND WE TRIED TO DO IT MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO.
AND WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE CITY BEFORE WE EVEN MADE IT THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT HOOPS, WE WERE ALREADY AT A $3,000 BILL TO LIKE CLOSE DOWN ONE BLOCK OF THE ALLEY TO DO THIS CLEANUP.
SO THEN WE WERE JUST ADVISED, JUST DO THE CLEANUP, MAINTAIN YOUR, YOU KNOW, SPACE TO ALLOW VEHICLES AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND SO NOW WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY TO DO AN EVENT, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE EVENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THE HIGH EVENT HURDLE PERMITS FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS VERSUS LIKE LARGE COMMERCIAL IS A BARRIER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
IF, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, ANYONE'S, UM, INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE TOPIC FURTHER, PLEASE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PLEASE DO SO.
YEAH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT UNDER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. YEAH, IT'LL ALSO MAKE THE, OF COURSE, THE MEETING MINUTES FOR, UH, FOR THE TODAY'S, UH, AGENDA.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ON TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES, IF EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MEETING MINUTES, UH, FROM, UH, JANUARY 6TH, THE MEETING.UH, PLEASE MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER CARVALHO.
DO WE TAKE A SECOND FROM YOU? COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL? UH, ALL IN FAVOR? UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND? I'M ABSTAIN.
WE HAVE ONE ABSTAIN AND, UH, APPROVAL FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.
UM, COMMISSIONER GOULD, UH, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAD ANY COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, WE GENERALLY, THERE'S NO INTERACTION WITH, UH, THE SPEAKER, SO, UM, I HAD MOVED ON JUST CHECKING IN.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INVITATION TO SPEAK UP IF WE HAD SOMETHING TO CHIME IN, BUT I CAN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THE PERMITTING ISSUE AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT UP AT SOME POINT.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT, THAT, I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT AS A BARRIER AND I KNOW OTHERS HAVE TOO.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT BEING BROUGHT UP.
UH, WHEN WE GET TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UH, WE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO STAFF
[2. Upcoming State Legislative Session briefing by Rick Ramirez, Intergovernmental Relations Officer.]
BRIEFINGS, UM, ON UPCOMING STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BRIEFING BY RICK RAMIREZ, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER.[00:10:05]
MY NAME IS RICK RAMIREZ.I'M THE DEPUTY INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, TONIGHT I'M GONNA BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
UM, INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW TEAM.
UM, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE 89TH SESSION.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME KEY CITY BILLS AND ISSUES AND, UH, SOME PARTICULAR, UH, BILLS OF INTEREST TO THIS COMMISSION.
SO, AS I SAID, THERE ARE SOME NEW FACES AT, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
Y'ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH BRI FRANCO, WHO WAS THE, UH, PREVIOUS OFFICER.
UH, SHE IS NO LONGER HERE WITH THE CITY.
UH, SHE'S LIVING IN ITALY, HER AND LIVING HER BEST LIFE.
UM, WE HAVE CARRIE ROGERS, WHO'S OUR NEW, UM, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER.
SHE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ABOUT 10 WEEKS NOW.
UH, I JUST STARTED, UH, I STARTED WITH THE CITY IN, UH, JUNE OF LAST YEAR.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE UNDER ME, UM, WITH LEGISLATIVE, UM, SERVICES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOCAL REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, AND WE JUST, UH, STARTED A NEW, UH, PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE, UH, UNIFIED GRANTS PROGRAM, UH, HERE AT THE, UH, OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
AND THIS WILL BE A, UH, A UNIFIED STRATEGY ON HOW TO GO FOR COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
SO, VERY EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
THIS IS OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AT A GLANCE, AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THIS INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.
UH, OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, UH, FOCUSES ON, UH, PRESERVING OUR LOCAL AUTHORITY.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE LOCAL DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
UH, WE WANT TO OPPOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES, UH, OR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PLACE AN UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE CITY.
UM, WE WANT TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S NATURAL RESOURCES.
UM, WHAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE RIGHT IS A ONE-PAGER THAT WE DID FOR THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
YOU CAN SCAN THAT QR CODE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU, UH, TAKE YOU TO OUR WEBSITE.
UH, OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA HAS MANY, MANY DIFFERENT POSITION STATEMENTS ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BILLS, BUT THESE ONE-PAGERS ARE KIND OF A GENERAL SNAPSHOT OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
SOME THINGS THAT WILL INFLUENCE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION GOING INTO THE 89TH.
UM, IT IS GONNA BE A POLITICALLY CHARGED SESSION.
THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME OVERARCHING ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE WAY THAT WE EXPERIENCE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
OBVIOUSLY, THE ELECTION RESULTS, WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THAT IMPACT, UM, TRICKLING DOWN TO THE STATE LEVEL.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE SEEN THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW, UM, UH, COMMITTEES THERE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT ARE KIND OF MIRRORING THE SAME TYPES OF AGENCIES THAT WERE CREATED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND I'LL GO OVER, UH, ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, AND, AND A FUTURE SLIDE.
BUT WE HAVE A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
AND THAT DOES CHANGE THE WAY THAT LEGISLATION GOES THROUGH, UH, THE LEGISLATURE.
WE HAVE NEW HOUSE RULES AND COMMITTEES THAT'S GONNA MAKE A MAJOR IMPACT, UH, SCHOOL FINANCE AND SCHOOL VOUCHERS, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A CITY GOVERNMENT AND WE DON'T, UM, HAVE ANY IMPACT ON SCHOOL FINANCE OR VOUCHERS.
UH, THAT'S GONNA BE A VERY BIG TOPIC GOING INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND WE MONITOR THAT KIND OF, UH, LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.
UM, THE MORE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE ISSUE, THE LESS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER.
AND SO IT IMPACTS THE WAY THAT WE MOVE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, THE POWER GRID, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD THAT BIG HURRICANE DURING, UM, THE SUMMER, UM, LAST SUMMER, UH, THERE IN HOUSTON.
AND THAT, UH, IMPACTED, UH, WHAT THE INTERIM COMMITTEES WERE TALKING ABOUT.
SO WE WILL SEE SOME LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACT ON, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BIG THREE.
THE BIG THREE ARE THE, UH, THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARE PEOPLE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, GREG ABBOTT AND DAN PATRICK.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH HOUSE SPEAKER DUSTIN BURROWS.
HE WAS RECENTLY ELECTED, UH, AS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, THE REPUBLICANS WILL, UH, MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN THE 89 SESSION.
[00:15:01]
REPUBLICANS AND 11 DEMOCRATS.THERE'S THREE NEW FRESHMEN, UH, IN THE HOUSE.
THERE'LL BE 88 REPUBLICANS AND 62 DEMOCRATS.
THERE'LL BE 31 FRESHMEN, SOME CHANGES IN THE HOUSE.
SO WE DO HAVE A NEW SPEAKER, UH, SPEAKER DUSTIN BURROWS, UM, OUT OF LUBBOCK.
HE'S NOT NEW TO THE LEGISLATURE, BUT HE IS NEW TO THIS ROLE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE AS FAR AS NEW HOUSE RULES IS THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY MINORITY, UH, PARTY CHAIRS, UH, IN ANY OF THE COMMITTEES.
UH, HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE MINORITY VICE CHAIRS.
SO THERE WILL NOT BE ANY MI MAJORITY, UH, VICE CHAIRS AT ALL.
UM, THERE'S SOME NEW AUTHORITY FOR THOSE VICE CHAIRS.
AND THOSE VICE CHAIRS CAN NOW BRING UP LEGISLATION, UH, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S TYPICALLY LEFT FOR JUST THE CHAIR OF THOSE COMMITTEES.
THERE'S GONNA BE TWO NEW STANDING, UH, SUBCOMMITTEES.
THERE'S THE DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, WHICH YOU ALL, UH, MAY RECALL FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CALLED DOGE.
AND THEN THERE IS THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL, UH, AFFAIRS, UH, COMMITTEE.
THAT'S ALSO GONNA BE A NEW COMMITTEE AS WELL.
UH, THERE WERE SIX STANDING COMMITTEES THAT WERE ABOLISHED.
SOME OF THEM WERE, UH, BROUGHT INTO OTHER COMMITTEES.
UM, AND SO THEY KIND OF UNIFIED THOSE.
UM, THERE'S THE NEW TRADE AND, UH, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, COMMITTEE.
AND THAT WRAPPED UP THE, UH, INTERNATIONAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, UH, COMMITTEE.
SO THOSE GOT WRAPPED INTO THAT ONE.
UH, THERE'S 11 NEW, UH, STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES.
THERE'S A NEW, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND THAT INCLUDES THE, UH, COUNTY AND REGULATION, UH, AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, I'M SORRY, COUNTY AND REGIONAL AND STATE AND FEDERAL, UM, UH, COMMITTEES.
AND THAT'S ALL WRAPPED INTO THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL.
THERE ARE 31 FRESHMEN HOUSE MEMBERS, AND THAT'S THE MOST THAT WE'VE HAD, MOST FRESHMEN THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THE 83RD SESSION.
BACK IN 2013, THERE HAD BEEN A TOTAL OF ALMO OVER 3000 BILLS.
NOW THIS WAS THE SAME PRESENTATION WE GAVE TO THE, UH, ARTS, UH, COMMITTEE, BUT NOW THERE'S OVER 3000, UH, HOUSE BILLS AND OR BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED.
UM, ON THE FIRST WEEK, THERE WERE 1,670 BILLS THAT WERE FILED, AND THAT IS, UH, ABOUT A 67% INCREASE, UH, THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.
WE'RE EXPECTING THIS YEAR TO REACH A, A, A RECORD OF MAYBE 10 TO 11,000 BILLS IN, UH, ANY GIVEN, UH, YEAR.
WE'VE USUALLY REACHED ABOUT 8,000 BILLS.
SO WE ARE GONNA SEE PROBABLY THE MOST BILLS EVER FILED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH MEANS WE'RE GONNA BE WATCHING A LOT OF BILLS.
AND THERE'S NO OTHER, UH, ENTITY THAT'S IMPACTED BY LEGISLATION MORE THAN CITIES.
CITIES COVER EVERYTHING FROM PICKING UP YOUR TRASH ARTS, UM, AND, UH, PUBLIC SPACES.
UH, YOU HAVE POLICE AND FIRE, EMS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COVERED BY CITIES, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE, UH, IMPACTED MORE THAN MANY OTHER, UH, ORGANIZATIONS.
SO, I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS, UH, DIS ANNEXATION AND ETJ.
YOU MAY REMEMBER SOME BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED, UH, IN, IN PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS REGARDING DIS ANNEXATION, ETJ THAT'S GONNA COME BACK.
UH, AUSTIN WATER AND AUSTIN ENERGY ARE TWO UTILITIES.
UH, WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA SEE LEGISLATION THAT MAY IMPACT THOSE.
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY IS, UM, WHAT WE CALL, UH, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE CALLS TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING.
HOMELESSNESS WILL BE A BIG ISSUE.
LAND USE, PREEMPTION, DEBT RESTRICTIONS, AND OBVIOUSLY DEI.
UM, THERE WAS A, UH, EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS ISSUED OVER THE WEEKEND REGARDING DEI AND STATE AGENCIES.
UH, I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET INTO LEGISLATION.
UM, BUT BACK IN 2023, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED, UH, SENATE BILL 17, BANNING DEI FROM HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO THAT IS KIND OF AN EXECUTIVE OR EXECUTIVE ORDER, KIND OF GOING OVER AND BEYOND THAT ONE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ONE A LITTLE BIT LATER.
SO WE'LL GET INTO SOME OF THE MAJOR CITY RELATED BILLS, AND THEN I'LL TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BILLS THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST, UH, TO THIS COMMISSION.
THE DISTRICT OF AUSTIN IS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN FILED BEFORE.
IT BASICALLY WOULD ESTABLISH A DISTRICT OF BOSTON AND GET RID OF THE, UH,
[00:20:01]
CITY OF AUSTIN.UM, THIS BILL HAS BEEN FILED IN THE PAST AND, AND HAS NOT MOVED, BUT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE WATCHING.
THERE'S ALSO SOME BILLS RE UH, RELATED TO DEBT.
UH, HB 1453 WOULD BAN THE USE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, UH, AND SB FOUR 70 WOULD BAN THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION EXCEPT FOR, UH, WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT FOR A WIRELESS COMPANY.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, HB 1715, AND THAT WILL BE A BIG, UM, UH, BILL FOR THIS COMMISSION.
AND SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
UH, THIS ONE IS, UH, RELATED TO, UH, CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES CONTRACTS REGARDING THE CARRYING OF HANDGUNS, UH, BY LICENSE HOLDERS.
SO THIS BILL WOULD, UM, MAKE IT SO THAT, UH, ANY AN EVENT ORGANIZER COULD NOT, UH, PROHIBIT THE USE OF FIREARMS, UH, IF AT, AT AN EVENT, IF THAT EVENT WAS HELD ON A, UM, UH, GOVERNMENT PROPERTY LIKE THE CITY.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, IN PARTICULAR FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
AND, UH, A LOT OF OTHER, UM, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS AND THOSE KIND OF, UH, THINGS.
IT'S ALSO, THIS BILL WAS KIND OF DIRECTLY FILED BECAUSE OF, UM, THE, UH, FAIRGROUNDS IN, UH, DALLAS.
UH, MANY DIFFERENT CITIES ARE, WE'VE BEEN CONTACT, WE'VE BEEN CONTACTING MANY DIFFERENT CITIES ABOUT THIS BILL.
IT IS A, UH, BILL THAT'S OF INTEREST TO MANY, MANY.
WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO APOLOGIZE WHEN I I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING.
ALL I DO IS TRY TO TELL YOU DON'T MEAN YOU.
WELL, I TELL YOU, I STARING AS WELL.
WHY YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL? BECAUSE SWIM WITH ME FREE WILL HAVE A, I DON'T ANY TROUBLE NEEDS A SAYING.
YOUR BACK IS, I'M HERE TO SAY, UH, RELEASE THEMSELVES FROM THE ETJ.
THIS ONE, UH, AIMS TO KIND OF CLAW SOME OF THAT BACK.
UM, HOMELESSNESS, DATA SHARING BILL, THE H HB, UH, 6 36.
AND WE ALSO ARE BEING TOLD THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER BILLS THAT WILL BE FILED THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THIS ONE.
UH, BUT THAT BILL BASICALLY ALLOWS FOR, UM, CITIES TO BE ABLE TO SHARE DATA BETWEEN EACH OTHER.
WHENEVER THERE IS SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT GOES FROM ONE CITY TO ANOTHER.
UM, IT'S, UH, A BILL THAT WE PROBABLY WILL BE SUPPORTING.
UH, THERE'S AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BILL.
UH, THERE'S, UM, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TAKING A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW TO FIND OUT WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE.
THERE'S A RIGHT TO CURE BILL, HAVING TO DO WITH, UM, IF YOU'RE LATE ON YOUR RENT.
UH, IT ALLOWS YOU TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF CURE THAT, UH, ISSUE BEFORE YOU'RE EVICTED.
THERE'S A BIRTH CERTIFICATES IN HOMELESSNESS BILLS, UM, HP 5 0 5 AND HP 10 42.
UH, THOSE WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO DO SO AT NO COST.
AND THERE'S, UH, PAYDAY LENDING BILLS, UH, REGULATING THE, THE PAYDAY LENDING INDUSTRY NOW TO SOME BILLS THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST.
MORE OF MORE INTEREST TO THIS COMMISSION.
UM, WE HAVE HB 1 67, HB 1521, AND HB 4 36.
THIS IS THE, UH, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION BILLS.
UH, BASICALLY THESE BILLS WOULD PROHIBIT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, UH, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CITIES, UH, FROM HAVING A DEI PROGRAM.
UM, ACTUALLY, UH, HB 1521 GOES A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND, UH, PROHIBITS, UH, AN OFFICIAL CITY PHYSICIAN FROM
[00:25:01]
MENTIONING CERTAIN WORDS.UH, THOSE WORDS WOULD BE IMPLICIT BIAS, CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, ALLYSHIP, TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY, MICROAGGRESSIONS, GROUP MARGINALIZATION, ANTI-RACISM, SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION, SOCIAL JUSTICE INTERSECTIONALITY, NEO PRONOUNS, HETERONORMATIVITY, UH, DISPARATE IMPACT, GENDER THEORY, RACIAL OR SEXUAL PRIVILEGE, OR ANY RELATED FORMULATION OF THESE CONCEPTS.
UM, THAT'S A BILL THAT WE ARE HAVING ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT, MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY IMPACT US.
THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT, UM, UH, THAT ARE, WE HAVE ACTUALLY AN, UH, AN EQUITY OFFICE THAT, THAT IS DIRECTLY, UH, TARGETED BY THIS BILL.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS AS WELL THAT HAVE FUNDING THAT'S TIED TO THEM, UH, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT VERY CLOSELY.
UH, AS FAR AS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR, THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING, UH, STATE AGENCIES AND THEIR USE OF DEI.
UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, PROGRAMS, CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH, UH, HOT TAXES.
UM, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THOSE HOT TAXES ARE FROM THE LOCAL PORTION OF THE HOT TAX, NOT THE STATE.
UM, WE ARE STILL GONNA BE LOOKING AT WHAT THOSE IM, WHAT THE IMPACT IS OF THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER ON OUR PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS, UM, NOTHING THAT WOULD BE IMPACTING IT.
AND WE CAN PROVIDE AN, AN UPDATE OR AN EMAIL, UH, TO THIS COMMISSION TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THAT IMPACT MIGHT BE.
THERE'S ALSO BILLS, UH, HP EIGHT 40 AND SB THREE 17, HAVING TO DO WITH MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS.
UM, BASICALLY SAYING IF IT'S A MEMORIAL THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 25 YEARS, UH, YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CERTAIN PROCESS IN ORDER TO REMOVE THEM.
UM, YOU HAVE THE FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION, HP 1452, UM, AND THEN THE TEXAS AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION.
THIS IS BY SENATOR MILES, IT'S SB 2 83.
AND THAT WOULD JUST CREATE THAT COMMISSION.
UM, I THINK I'M AT THE END OF, YES, I'M AT THE END OF LEGISLATION, AND I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UH, QUESTIONS COMMISSIONERS? UH, COMMISSIONER PATTISON, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT, UM, A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR US.
UM, I GUESS I WANNA START WITH THE, TRY TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE, THE FIREARMS MM-HMM
LEGISLATION AND HOW THAT WOULD INF AFFECT EVENTS BEING HELD LIKE IN CITY PARKS AND, UH, YEAH.
SPECIFIC OR REC CENTERS, OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROPERTY WHERE WE, THERE MIGHT BE MUSIC EVENTS.
SO THE LEGISLATION WAS PRETTY BROAD.
IF IT, IT, IF IT'S AN EVENT THAT'S HELD ON CITY OR GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE CITY, IT COULD BE A UNIVERSITY, IT COULD BE A COUNTY.
IF IT IS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, THEN, UH, THE EVENT ORGANIZER CANNOT PROHIBIT THE USE OF FIREARMS, UH, ON THERE.
UM, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS VERY CLOSELY AND VERY CAREFULLY.
UM, THERE WOULD BE AN IMPACT TO, UH, LARGE EVENTS.
UH, ACTUALLY IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A LARGE EVENT.
IT'S ANY TYPE OF EVENT, UH, THAT WE'RE HOLDING ON THERE.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH, UH, EVENT ORGANIZERS AS WELL, AND THERE ARE SOME EVENT ORGANIZERS WHO ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN, UH, WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF, UH, VIEW ON THE USE OF GUNS BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM OUTTA STATE OR WHATEVER IT IS.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE AN IMPACT AND THEY MAY LOOK ELSEWHERE, NOT WANT TO COME TO TEXAS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, IF THAT NEW LAW WENT INTO EFFECT.
SO IT IS A VERY REAL, UH, THREAT TO THE WAY THAT, UM, WE WOULD HOST, UH, EVENTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE, UH, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
UM, SO YEAH, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH MY LIST REALLY QUICK.
AND THEN I'LL LET THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS POP IN.
UM, SO ON THE, SO DEI AND IS FOR US, HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT QUESTION AROUND GRANT FUNDING MM-HMM
AND, UM, SO SOME OF WHAT'S COMING FROM THE STATE IS PRETTY, PRETTY CLEAR, PRETTY PRETTY CLEAR CUT.
BUT I'M WONDERING, UM, ABOUT ESTABLISHING OR DISTINGUISHING FOR FINANCIAL NEED.
DOES THAT, IS THAT ALLOWED OR DOES THAT FALL UNDER,
[00:30:01]
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S CONSIDERED THE DEI INITIATIVES THAT ARE NOT PROHIBITED? SO FROM OUR READ, UH, AND, AND I HAD LISTED OUT, UH, THE, UH, DIFFERENT WORDS THAT WOULD, UM, KIND OF IMPACT OR KIND OF TRIGGER DEI, UM, ECONOMIC NEED AND THAT SORT OF THING IS NOT IN HERE.UH, INCOME IS NOT IN HERE AS WELL.
UM, AND SO RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, ALLYSHIP, ALL TRANSGENDER, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT, THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THEIR EYES, A DEI PROGRAM.
BUT IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S BASED ON INCOME OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT THE BILL IS WRITTEN, THAT'S NOT IN THIS BILL.
THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO KNOW.
UM, AND YOU BROUGHT UP THE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PHRASES, UM, JUST NOW, I MEAN, YOU REFERRED BACK TO IT MM-HMM
AND MENTIONED IT EARLIER, CERTAIN PHRASES THAT ARE KIND OF NOT ALLOWED.
SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BETTER? LIKE, ARE CERTAIN PROGRAMS, LIKE PROGRAM LANGUAGE IS NOT ALLOWED TO, TO INCLUDE THOSE PHRASES? OR IS THAT JUST BEING
UH, ON, YOU KNOW, EITHER INFLUENCING HIRING PRACTICES OR, UH, WHO YOU CHOOSE FOR, UH, A, A GRANT PROGRAM OR WHO YOU, WHAT YOU DO AS FAR AS, UH, ANY ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS, YOU CANNOT CONSIDER RACE OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS AS A PART OF, YOU KNOW, WHETHER SOMEBODY GETS, UH, SOME KIND OF A, A, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL BENEFIT OR, UM, YOU KNOW, A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.
UM, THAT'S MANY OF THESE BILLS.
AND SO, UH, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMS AND, UM, ASK YOURSELF IF, IF, IF THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT HAS TO DO WITH RACE OR GENDER OR ANY OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
UH, SO YEAH, I THINK FOR OUR COMMISSION IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE WRITING RECOMMENDATIONS, WE JUST SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF OUR LANGUAGE ON THINGS, WHICH IS KIND OF CHILLING, HONESTLY.
UM, UH, AND THEN, SO I HAD A QUESTION, ACTUALLY.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL FINANCE, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A HUGE TOPIC MM-HMM
AND YOU SAID IT WASN'T REALLY, I, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT'S A, THAT'S A SCHOOL DISTRICT ISSUE, BUT DOES THE, AND DOES THE CITY HAVE SOME, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THE, THE CITY HAS A REASON TO BE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE RECAPTURE FORMULAS WORK.
I'M GETTING A LITTLE BROAD HERE.
THIS ISN'T REALLY MUSIC COMMISSION SPECIFIC, ALTHOUGH MANY OF OUR MUSICIANS ARE TAXPAYERS.
UM, SO YEAH, W WILL THE CITY BE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FORMULAS? THE CITY IS NOT, UH, INVOLVED WITH, UM, THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDING OF SCHOOLS.
NOW, CITIES IN GENERAL ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ADEQUATE FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLING, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S THE LARGEST PART OF YOUR TAX BILL.
AND IF YOU WANNA SEE REAL TAX RELIEF, YOU WANT TO SEE THEM DO THAT AT THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE TAX BILL.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, UM, OUR FOCUS WHEN WE'RE AT THE LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY BILLS AND SO MANY THINGS THAT, UH, NEED OUR ATTENTION ARE GONNA BE THOSE CITY CORE, CITY RELATED ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY.
AND SO WE'LL BE SPENDING MOST OF OUR TIME ON THOSE TYPES OF BILLS.
UH, COMMISSIONER EDDA, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, TWO QUESTIONS, JUST TO CLARIFY.
FOR, FOR MYSELF AND FOR THE PUBLIC, I GUESS.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE OPEN, UH, THE, THE WEAPON SITUATION, SO AT A PRIVATE CLUB OR VENUE, CAN THEY SAY, CAN THEY PROHIBIT GUNS? OR ARE YOU SAYING JUST ON CITY? HOW'S THAT WORK? JUST ON GOVERNMENT, UH, PROPERTY? SO IF YOU, IF IF, IF IT AN EVENT ORGANIZER IS ORGANIZING AN EVENT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, UM, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROHIBIT GUNS.
AND THEN, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, AND THEN WHAT IF THE, IF THESE BILLS PASS, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE TIMELINE? UH, YEAH.
SO EACH INDIVIDUAL BILL, UM, HAS A DIFFERENT EFFECTIVE DATE.
SOME OF THEM ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, SOME OF THEM ARE, ARE EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW, SEPTEMBER 1ST.
SOME OF THEM ARE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST OF THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE EFFECTIVE DATES MM-HMM
UM, UH, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
UM, BUT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE WILL NOTIFY AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE AWARE OF EFFECTIVE DATES, MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COMPLY WITHIN THE
[00:35:01]
ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME.AND ALSO, IF THERE IS A BILL THAT HAS AN EFFECTIVE DATE THAT IS MAYBE TOO SHORT OR THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR A CITY TO COMPLY WITH, WE WILL SPEAK WITH THOSE LEGISLATORS AND MAKE SURE THAT, SEE IF WE CAN GET A CHANGE SO THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE CAN MAYBE BE PUSHED OUT SO THAT CITIES CAN HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RESPOND WELL, OKAY.
BUT SO THEY'RE NOT IN EFFECT NOW.
AND I'M SORRY THAT THAT'S A VERY, UM, UH, IMPORTANT DISTINCTION YOU MAY SEE OUT IN, IN THE NEWS, UH, SOMETHING PAST THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR SOMETHING PAST THE SENATE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT A BILL HAS BEEN OR BECOMES LAW.
UM, ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU REMEMBER, UH, YOUR SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, UH, CARTOON.
IT, IT HAS TO GO FROM ONE HOUSE, AND IT GOES THROUGH COMMITTEES, IT GOES THROUGH PUBLIC, UH, SCRUTINY AND ALL THAT.
IT WILL BE VOTED IN THAT HOUSE, AND THEN IT NEEDS TO DO THE SAME THING OVER IN THE OTHER HOUSE.
UH, AND IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH ALL THE COMMITTEES, ALL THE SAME, UM, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND FLOOR VOTES AND ALL OF THAT.
ONCE THOSE, UH, THAT BILL HAS MADE IT FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, THEN THE TWO, UM, HOUSES HAVE TO CONFER WITH EACH OTHER AND MAKE SURE IF THERE IS A CHANGE TO THE BILL, THAT THEY BOTH AGREE TO IT.
UM, SO AT THAT TIME, IF THEY DON'T AGREE TO IT, THE BILL WILL JUST LIKELY DIE AND HAVE TO START THE WHOLE PROCESS OVER AGAIN.
BUT USUALLY BY THAT TIME, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT IT WILL BECOME A LAW.
UM, ONCE THOSE, ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THEN THAT BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VETO A BILL.
AND MANY BILLS WERE VETOED LAST SESSION BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL VOUCHER ISSUE.
AND SO, UM, JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS 140 DAYS AND IT ENDS, UH, AT THE, IN, IN JUNE.
AND SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LONG PROCESS FOR MANY OF THESE BILLS AND AFTER, AFTER JUNE, WELL, SOME OF THEM ARE EFFECTIVE, WE'LL PASS.
SOME OF THEM CAN BE EFFECTIVE DURING THE SESSION.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON, UH, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, HOW MANY VOTES THEY GET MM-HMM
BUT, UM, THE IMPORTANT THING IS WHEN YOU SEE ARTICLES THAT ARE OUT THERE SAYING, IT PASSED THE HOUSE, OR IT PASSED THE SENATE, UH, IT JUST PASSED THAT HOUSE, OR IT JUST PASSED THE SENATE UNTIL YOU READ AN ARTICLE THAT SAYS IT IS A NEW LAW, THAT'S WHEN YOU, UH, THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THE BILL HAS FINALLY MADE THE FINAL HURDLE MM-HMM
KEEP AN EYE ON, UH, ALL THE UPDATES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING.
'CAUSE WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, UH, IN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE, HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
BUT WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MM-HMM
UH, AND SO, UH, RIGHT NOW, UM, BILLS CAN'T EVEN BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE.
UM, THE, THE GOVERNOR JUST, UM, UM, UH, ISSUED HIS EX UM, HIS PRIORITIES, THOSE BILLS CAN START, UH, TO HAVE HEARINGS.
UM, BUT ANY OTHER BILL OUTSIDE OF THE, UM, THE EXEC, THE, UH, PRIORITY BILLS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD ISSUED, AND NONE OF THOSE BILLS CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A HEARING UNTIL 60 DAYS AFTER THE START OF THE SESSION.
I, WE APPRECIATE THE FACTS AND THE DATA.
I THINK IT HELPS US, UM, BE MINDFUL OF OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR WORDING OF EVERYTHING THAT'SS HAPPENING.
WE KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, SO PRETTY, YOU KNOW, CLEAR WHAT WE THINK SOME OF THESE OUTCOMES MAY BE.
BASED ON THEIR PLATFORMS. UM, SO I THINK THIS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
SO SAY, FOR INSTANCE, WITH SOME OF THE, IN THE NEWS, LIKE, ARE CERTAIN JUDGES ALLOWED TO BLOCK LAW BY SAYING, IS THAT WITHIN THE POLICY? YEAH.
ANY, UH, SO WITH THE THREE BRANCHES, YOU HAVE OUR LEGISLATOR BRANCH, WHICH IS THE, THE BRANCH THAT'S THERE TO MAKE LAWS.
UM, THERE'S NO REC, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THE LAW HAS TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL MM-HMM
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, IF THERE IS A LAW THAT THERE IS A QUESTION ON ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY, IT WILL USUALLY BE CHALLENGED.
UH, AND THAT WILL, IT WILL BE TAKEN TO COURT, AND THEN THE JUDGES DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE LAW WAS CONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT.
AND THEN THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS AND IT GOES UP AND KEEPS ON GOING THROUGH APPELLATES AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO, UM, THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT OUR SYSTEM WORKS.
EVEN IF A BILL BECOMES LAW, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT, UH, DOESN'T PASS, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER, AND A JUDGE MIGHT BLOCK IT AND SAY, YOU CAN'T, UH, IMPLEMENT THIS LAW UNTIL IT'S FIGURED OUT THROUGH THE COURTS.
UH, AND THAT'S HAPPENED MANY TIMES.
UH, THANK YOU MR. RAMIREZ, FOR YOUR, UM, FOR THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE, UH, BROUGHT US HERE TODAY WITH MM-HMM
[00:40:01]
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO KIND OF HAVE A DIALOGUE AND REACH OUT TO YOU, YOU KNOW, CONCERNING, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT POLICIES OR DIFFERENT THINGS AND ALL THAT? IS THAT SURE THING? YEAH, I THINK, I BELIEVE WE PROVIDED OUR, UH, CONTACT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.AND, AND ANY, JUST IF, IF YOU WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT A BILL OR IF YOU WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A BILL, LIKE WE, WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
SO CALL US, WE'LL TALK ABOUT A BILL, AND WE'LL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND WHERE WE'RE AT.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS THERE, I BELIEVE THAT ABBOTT ISSUED, UM, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 11 EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
I DON'T THINK I SEE THEM IN THIS DOCUMENT.
IS THAT, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE US INFORMATION? UH, SURE.
UH, PROVIDE SHOW, UH, YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT.
UH, COMMISSIONER AL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING US AWARE OF ALL THIS AND FOR REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, WE ARE THE MUSIC COMMISSION.
IT'S CLEAR TO SEE THAT CERTAIN IDEOLOGIES ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT, BUT CERTAIN OTHER IDEOLOGIES ARE ON THEIR WAY UP, INCLUDING THE PRIMACY OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.
AND THIS ISN'T A QUESTION SO MUCH, IT'S JUST A PLEA THAT WHEN BRINGING UP MATTERS, HAVING TO DO WITH MUSIC TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO WHATEVER COMMITTEES THERE ARE, THAT WHEN AUSTIN TALKS ABOUT MUSIC, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME KIND OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL BENEFIT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN INDUSTRY JUST LIKE AMARILLO HAS A CATTLE INDUSTRY, AND HOUSTON HAS THE ENERGY INDUSTRY, AND BROWNSVILLE HAS THE SPACE INDUSTRY.
MUSIC IS AN INDUSTRY IN AUSTIN AND DESERVES THE SUPPORT AND RESPECT OF ALL MONEYMAKING FOLKS.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, JUST TO, UH, TAKE, TAKE THE FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT, UH, THE BILL ON WEAPONS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S GONNA IMPACT INSURANCE COSTS, UH, WITH OUR MAJOR FESTIVALS THAT HAPPEN ON, UH, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT PROPERTY MM-HMM
AND, UH, ALL THOSE KIND, DO ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS FACTOR IN, UH, IS AT WHAT LEVEL ECONOMIC IMPACT FACTORS IN, INTO SOME OF THESE BILLS.
WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE IMPACTS OF THIS BILL.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, SO WE'RE COLLECTING ALL OF THE COMMENTS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, BILLS.
SO I'M NOT READY TO KINDA SHARE EXACTLY WHAT THAT IMPACT WOULD BE, OF COURSE.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CARVALHO.
I JUST HAVE A PERSONAL NOTE ON IT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS, UH, REALLY GREAT INFORMATION AND, UH, EYE-OPENING AND SCARY AND COOL.
AND WHAT ALL, ALL THE THINGS MM-HMM
UM, MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE, THE WAY IT'S AFFECTING INSURANCE POLICIES IS REALLY RECENT BECAUSE WE HAD TO APPLY FOR, UH, I, I OWN A MUSIC VENUE IN SOUTH AUSTIN CALLED THE FAR OUT, AND WE HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR OUR INSURANCE POLICY EVERY YEAR.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR COMPLAINING ABOUT INSURANCE, AND IT WAS AT LIKE $86,000 A YEAR, AND IT WENT UP TO $120,000 A YEAR BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE SO SCARED OF THE, THE ABILITY TO CARRY GUNS AT MUSIC VENUES AND THE INABILITY OF VENUES TO BE ABLE TO STOP PEOPLE FROM HAVING CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES WHEN IT'S, IT'S NOT REALLY THAT TANGIBLE OF A LAW OR, OR A LAW AT ALL.
UM, IN, AS A PRIVATE PLACE, WE CAN TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE IT, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INSURANCE COMPANIES IN, IN TEXAS IN GENERAL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO IN, IN PRIVATE SPACES.
SO THAT'S A MASSIVE, MASSIVE BLOW TO AN ALREADY KIND OF LIKE, HURT INDUSTRY.
SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO, AND THANKS FOR BRINGING LIGHT TO, TO HAPPENING IN GENERAL.
UM, I, I HAD A QUESTION AROUND, UM, SO WE, SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE, UH, GRANTS THAT ARE, UM, ACTIVE CURRENTLY ON BOTH ON CULTURAL ARTS, OUTSIDE AS WELL AS MUSIC, UM, THE COMMISSION, UH, COMMUNITY STAFF.
WE ARE ACTIVELY DISCUSSING ON, YOU KNOW, HOW THESE GRANTS WOULD EVOLVE, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR AND IN FUTURE BASED ON SOME PILOTS THAT WE RUN.
WHAT IS YOUR, UH, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE ON, UM, UH, WHAT DO WE DO RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, DO WE CONTINUE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND PUT OUT RECOMMENDATIONS? UM, DO WE GO ON HOLD, UH, WHAT IS THE, AT LEAST YOUR READ ON THE IMPACT OF THESE GRANTS THAT WE ARE EXPECTING WOULD RULE OUT IN MAY, JUNE THIS YEAR.
SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EXEC EXECUTIVE ORDERS FROM
[00:45:01]
THE, UH, PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, CORRECT.UH, THE ONES THAT WERE FREEZING, UH, FUNDING, I, I'M REFERRING TO THE, UH, MUSIC AND CULTURAL ARTS GRANTS THAT GET FUNDED BY WHAT TAXES.
AND HOW THESE BILLS WOULD IMPACT, I MEAN, AND, AND I WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN STAFF IS LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE MM-HMM
ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOME OF THESE GRANTS.
UM, AT THIS POINT, IF WE LOOK AT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, WE ARE EXPECTING THAT IT WOULD ROLL OUT IN MAY OR JUNE.
IS THAT REALISTIC? UH, AND THE, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING, SPENDING TIME, UH, GIVING SEVERAL HOURS TO, UH, DISCUSSING THESE GRANTS AND HOW THEY MIGHT EVOLVE IN FUTURE.
UM, WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE? DO WE JUST CONTINUE AS, AS, AS USUAL? SO, UM, I, I'LL PREFACE THIS.
UH, I, I DON'T GIVE LEGAL ADVICE AT ALL.
AND NEITHER DOES THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE.
UM, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO SPEAK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT, UH, AND WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT, UH, A, A PATH FORWARD MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY IN GENERAL, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST FOLLOW THE LAW, UH, AND AS, AS THE WAY IT, IT STANDS AND, AND, UM, GET ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN HELP YOU GET THROUGH THAT.
AND, AND, AND JUST, JUST TO MAKE A NOTE, UH, TO THE COMMISSION IS, I MEAN, WE ARE, AND, AND, AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH MUSIC, UM, TWO YEARS BACK WE HAD CITY LEGAL COME IN AND SPEAK ABOUT, UM, UM, NOT NECESSARILY APPLYING, UH, UH, A CRITERIA OF RACE OR GENDER OR, UH, SEXUALITY, ET CETERA, UM, TO THESE, UH, FUNDS BASICALLY.
AND MUSIC KIND OF HAS REALLY TRIED TO STAY AHEAD OF, UM, THESE COMING AT US AND WE PIVOTED AWAY AND USED, UM, ECONOMIC FACTORS IN OTHER, OTHER, UH, UH, OTHER CRITERIA, UH, AND NOT, NOT RACE-BASED, UH, GRANTS ON, ON SPECIFICALLY ON THE MUSIC SIDE.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS GOING IN TODAY, UM, THAT ALSO ARE, UH, CLEARLY TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THAT AND, UH, BASING OUR GRANTS ON, YOU KNOW, PURELY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TOURISM NEEDS, ET CETERA.
UH, SO, SO WE, WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING ACTIVELY AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, STAYING ALERT, UH, IN ADDRESSING, UH, THESE CHALLENGES.
UM, BUT IT WOULD BE STILL, AS INFORMATION COMES IN THROUGH THE CITY, WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR FROM STAFF AND, UH, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE OR THE ATTORNEY ON HOW WE SHOULD BE PROCEEDING FORWARD.
OTHER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOU MUCH MR. RAMIREZ? YES, THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS
[3. Live Music Fund collections briefing by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Economic Development Department. ]
LIVE MUSIC FUND COLLECTIONS, BRIEFING BY KIM MC CARSON, PROGRAM MANAGER, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION EDD.KIM MCC CARSON PROGRAM MANAGER WITH, UH, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UM, THERE IS NOT A REPORT TONIGHT.
THE STA CITY STAFF MEMBER WHO PROVIDES THESE NUMBERS FOR US IS, UH, EITHER OUT OR UNAVAILABLE.
UM, AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER FOR DECEMBER.
SO WE, UH, PLAN TO CATCH UP NEXT MONTH WITH BOTH THE DECEMBER AND JANUARY NUMBERS.
[4. Austin Live Music Fund briefing by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music and Entertainment Division.]
AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND BRIEFING BY ERICA SHAMLEY, DIVISION MANAGER, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION.ERIC IS SHAMLEY MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION MANAGER.
I'M STILL RECOVERING FROM A COUGH, SO I HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS HERE TO HELP WITH THAT.
UH, SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TODAY ON THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND, OUR CURRENT PROGRAM THAT'S ROLLING AND ALSO PREPARATIONS FOR THE FY 25 PROGRAM.
SO, OH YEAH, SO FIRST THE LATEST STATS OF THE 2024 PROGRAM.
UH, HERE'S JUST THE UPDATED INFORMATION.
WE GIVE THIS TO YOU EVERY MONTH THAT, UH, YOU CAN KIND OF GO THROUGH AND SEE.
UH, WE HAVE 131 SIGNED AGREEMENTS SO FAR FOR 2024, UM, 134, UH, GRANT AGREEMENT ORIENTATIONS, WHICH IS GREAT.
SO WE'RE JUST WAITING ON PEOPLE TO SIGN THEIR AGREEMENTS, UH, AS WELL AS WE JUST NEED TWO MORE OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FORMS SO THAT PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE LONG CENTER.
[00:50:01]
FIRST PAYMENTS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.85%, 42ND PAYMENTS PAID OUT SO FAR, UH, 17%.
AND WE HAVE ONE GRANT AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY COM IS DONE AND HAS BEEN FULFILLED BY THE AWARDEE.
SO, COMMUNITY FEEDBACKS, UH, SO FAR, AND THIS STARTED AS YOU KNOW, IN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER WE STARTED KIND OF GIVING YOU A RUNDOWN OF HOW DID IT GO IN 2024 AND, UM, WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR FROM NOT ONLY YOU GUYS, BUT FROM COMMUNITY ON POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AND UPDATES TO THE PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY AND WE'VE ADDED A COUPLE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN HEARING FROM COMMUNITY SO THAT WE HAVE IT IN ALL ONE PLACE.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDES WHAT THE GRANT BUDGETS WOULD BE OF CARVING OUT, UH, $300,000 FOR SMALLER MINI GRANTS.
UM, I KNOW WE HAD TALKED AT THAT ABOUT IT BEING EMERGING ARTISTS, BUT WE'RE, AS WE HAD DISCUSSED LAST TIME, THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE JUST MINI GRANTS FOR ANYONE.
'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF HARDER TO FIND WHAT'S EMERGING, WHAT ISN'T, YOU KNOW, UH, IT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT, UM, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO PROVE.
AND SO ALSO $3.5 MILLION WOULD BE FOR $20,000 GRANTS FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS FOR TWO YEAR AGREEMENTS.
AND THEN AGAIN, $1 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR LIVE MUSIC VENUES FOR $60,000 GRANTS.
UH, BASED ON FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR, UH, THAT WE WOULD REMOVE THE QUESTION OF FOR ACCESS TO SERVICES OR ECONOMIC FACTORS RELATED TO BANKING, BECAUSE, UM, OUR ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT IT WAS A WASH.
IT DIDN'T HELP ANYONE GAIN MORE POINTS OR LOSE POINTS, UH, WHICH IS, SO WE JUST WON'T USE THAT QUESTION.
UM, AS DISCUSSED WITH, UH, THE COMMISSION BEFORE OF, YOU KNOW, BASED ON FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED AFTER THE APPLICATION CLOSED AND ALL OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE BEEN GATHERING SO FAR, NOT ONLY FROM MUSICIANS BUT FROM VENUES, OUR SUGGESTION TO THE WORKING GROUPS WAS TO LOOK AT THE SCORING SECTIONS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, RESPONDED MOST TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HAD BEEN.
SO A NEW SCORING SECTION FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS THAT PRIORITIZE APPLICANTS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AUSTIN'S MUSIC ECOSYSTEM.
AND I KNOW THE WORKING GROUP WAS, UM, WORKING ON WAYS TO EVALUATE THAT AND, YOU KNOW, BULLETS UNDER THAT SCORING OF WHAT THAT COULD BE.
AND THEN FOR VENUES A NEW SCORING SECTION FOR LIVE MUSIC VENUES THAT PRIORITIZES APPLICANTS WHO SHOWCASE LIVE MUSIC AS ITS CORE FUNCTION.
AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, VENUES THAT OPENED UP TO BE VENUES, THAT'S THE CORE FUNCTION OF EVERYTHING THEY DO.
THEY CAN STILL HAVE REVENUE GENERATING ELEMENTS OF THEIR BUSINESS, LIKE FOOD AND SELLING COFFEE OR DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE WE GOTTA DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SURVIVE AND EARN MORE REVENUE TO PAY THE RISING COSTS.
BUT, UM, STILL THIS WOULD BE TO PRIORITIZE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE VENUES THAT WE'RE ALWAYS INTENDED TO BE A LIVE MUSIC VENUE.
AND THAT IS THEIR CORE BUSINESS.
OH, I THINK I JUST LOST THE PRESENTATION.
EVERY APPLICATION WILL HAVE A MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWER.
EVERY TIME YOU CLICK ON AN ANSWER, IT POPS ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BAR THAT SAYS, UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTATION.
THAT WAY WE WON'T MISS ANYONE'S DOCUMENTATION THAT EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE IS ONE OF THEIR MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWERS, UM, THE PROCESS.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF EXPLAINS IT IN THAT NEXT BULLET.
AND THEN NARRATIVE SECTIONS WILL ONLY APPEAR WHEN AN APPLICANT IS PROVIDING THE EVIDENCE FOR A MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWER.
AND VERY, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY SAYING, JUST GIVE US A VERY BRIEF, UM, DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU'RE UPLOADING JUST TO ASSIST THE EVALUATORS ON WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE WORKING GROUP ON YOUR ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2025 PROGRAM.
I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR DEDICATING ADDITIONAL TIME AND VOLUNTEER TIME TO THIS TASK, UH, TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME MORE FEEDBACK.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE, UH, LAUNCHED ANOTHER SURVEY.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ASKING, WHEN IS THE SURVEY GOING TO BE LIVE? IT'S BEEN LIVE FOR I THINK ABOUT THE LAST MONTH.
UH, THOSE LINKS THERE GO TO EACH SURVEY PAGE FOR EACH CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAM, UH, INCLUDING THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND AND THE THREE PROGRAMS THAT ARE, UM, UH, FACILITATED BY THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO EACH PAGE AND YOU CAN BE PROMPTED WITH ALL DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK.
UH, WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU, UM, MOSTLY I THINK IT'S LIKE A PROS ANSWER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE EVERY IDEA THAT COULD COME AT US.
SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO THOSE LINKS, ADD YOUR IDEAS, AND WE'LL BE SHARING DATA AND SHARING THE INFORMATION OF WHAT WE HEAR.
AND SO THIS IS KIND OF AN UPDATE OF THE, WHAT USED TO BE CALLED SPEAK UP AUSTIN.
THIS IS, UH, THE TOOL IS CALLED PUBLIC INPUT AND EVENTUALLY WE WILL SHARE THROUGH THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN PORTAL SO THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL SURVEY TOOL,
[00:55:01]
UM, THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING TO ALL DEPARTMENTS TO, UH, CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND GET, COLLECT ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.SO, UM, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, SHARE THIS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKS, LET PEOPLE KNOW TO GO TO THESE LINKS AND PLEASE PROVIDE US YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS.
UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE AND SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK.
NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER LINK TO GO TO THE MAIN PAGE THAT WILL THEN TAKE YOU TO EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM PAGES.
IT WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH JULY, 2025.
UH, WE WILL PROVIDE REGULAR KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REPORTS ON WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT THAT INFORMS, UM, THE FINAL GUIDELINES FOR 2025 AND BEYOND.
UH, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU IKA COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS.
I, ERICA, UH, DID YOU, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? SORRY,
UM, THE $5,000 GRANTS, WEREN'T WE SHOOTING FOR A $500,000 AMOUNT THERE DID CHANGE OR DID I JUST MISREAD IT BEFORE? UM, I SOMEHOW THOUGHT THEY WERE A HUNDRED OF THOSE.
YEAH, IT WAS ALWAYS, THAT'S THE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUDGET FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, GOT IT.
I, I, YEAH, I SOMEHOW HAD A HUNDRED GRANTS, UH, NUMBER IN MIND.
IT COULD BE THAT YOU'RE THINKING OF THE NEXUS GRANT, WHICH IS 500,000 IN ALL FOR $5,000 GRANTS, WHICH IS BEING DELIVERED AT ONCE.
IN FACT, THAT APPLICATION IS OPEN NOW, IS OPEN RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S THROUGH CULTURAL ARTS.
AND THE SURVEY IS AN ONGOING SURVEY IT LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT? IT'S NOT LIKE YOU PAUSE IT, TAKE THE FEEDBACK FROM THAT AND TRY TO ROLL IT INTO THE NEXT, UH, ROUND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND AND THEN OPEN THE SURVEY AGAIN.
WELL, WE WILL, IT JUST SEEMS TO BE ONGOING FEEDBACK.
IT WILL KIND OF CLOSE JULY, 2025 SO WE CAN COLLECT WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN IT WILL OPEN BACK UP AGAIN BECAUSE WE WANNA CONTINUALLY GET, UH, UH, FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS FOR CONSIDERATIONS FOR FUTURE UPDATES.
UM, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, LIKE THIS IS OUR THIRD PROCESS OF UPDATES WITH THE COMMISSION AND WITH COMMUNITY AND, UH, TO KIND OF RESPOND TO WHAT WE'RE HEARING.
UH, AND SO WE'RE, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THAT.
THIS IS JUST ONE MORE TOOL TO HELP US, UH, YOU KNOW, ASSIST COMMUNITY WITH PROVIDING THAT FEEDBACK IN A MORE, YOU KNOW, MEANINGFUL, EASIER WAY WITH THIS TOOL.
UM, IS THERE, UH, A MARKETING PLAN OR HOW MUCH OF A BUDGET DO YOU ALL HAVE FOR, UM, MARKETING OUT THE SURVEY FOR LIVE MUSIC FUND? AND ALSO CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY, UM, PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO THE CITY AND WHAT THAT FEEDBACK IS? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE REPORT NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
AND SO I'M JUST GETTING KIND OF PROVIDED THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WITH THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO GO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.
THE INFORMATION IS HANDLED BY OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND THEY WILL PROVIDE THE, THE DIVISION WITH THOSE REPORTS.
UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, WIDESPREAD MARKETING, I THINK THIS HAS ALL BEEN MARKETED JUST TO AWARDEES AND APPLICANTS SO FAR TO TRULY GET THE, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INTERACTED WITH THE PROGRAM SO FAR.
UH, BUT THE INTENT IS, AND I HAVE RECOMMENDED AS WELL, PLEASE SHARE THIS FAR AND WIDE SO THAT WE CAN GET AS MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TO THE TABLE TO GIVE US THEIR FEEDBACK.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
[5. Revisiting budget recommendation to form a “Stormy Weather Fund” to feasibly administer micro-grants to musicians who have lost wages due to city-wide extreme weather-related closure, lead by Commissioner Gould.]
ITEMS. UM, I THINK, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO, ARE WE MOVING THIS TO THE NEXT MONTH? SO RIGHT NOW I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO, UH, REMOVE THE AGENDA.COMMISSIONER GOLD UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO LEAVE.
SO, WE'LL WE CAN, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANNA DO WITH THIS.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO, IT'S OUR LAST MEETING.
DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS IN ORDER TO DROP THIS ITEM? UH, OR COULD WE MOVE ON? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE COMMISSIONER WHO'S SPEAKING TO THIS.
COULD WE PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE FROM TODAY'S AGENDA? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER ROSETO.
I MOVE THAT WE STRIKE IT FROM THE AGENDA, BUT I THINK THE STORMY WEATHER FUND IS A GREAT THING.
I REALLY HOPE SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN AND WE CAN GET AUSTIN ENERGY TO PAY.
SO I MOVE THAT IT BE STRICKEN FROM THE AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND.
ALL IN FAVOR? I THINK WE DON'T NEED A VOTE THERE.
[6. Update on Austin Convention Center Expansion by Vice Chair Patterson.]
ON TO I AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, UPDATE ON AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION BY VICE CHAIR PATTERSON.UM, YEAH, SO THIS, UH, THE CONVENTION CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE JOINT ARTS AND MUSIC LAND USE WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSELY
[01:00:01]
AND BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CONVENTION CENTER STAFF.UM, AND THAT WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN ON A BIT OF A HIATUS THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS FROM THE START OF THE YEAR.
BUT WE'RE MEETING AGAIN THIS WEEK.
UH, BUT I DO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
UM, THAT'LL BE USING THE CONVENTION, THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER SPACE, UH, AND THEN IT'S GONNA GET FENCED OFF AT IN BEGINNING OF APRIL AND DEMOLITION WILL START IN MAY, UH, TO BEGIN ON THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER, THE QUOTE UNQUOTE EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, SO ON AN ARTS NOTE, SOME OF THE PUBLIC ART IS GONNA BE REMOVED AND REPURPOSED AND USED IN THE, THE NEW BUILDING.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A MURAL, UH, BY JOHN YANCY, A LARGE MOSAIC.
UM, THAT'S FAIRLY ICONIC AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAVE THAT ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.
SO, UH, JUST A PLEA OUT THERE IF ANYBODY IS LIKE AN ART RESTORATION, UM, EXPERT AND WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE CITY WITH THAT, LIKE REACH OUT.
UM, OTHERWISE IT'S JUST SORT OF A HEARTBREAKING SITUATION.
UM, BUT ONE, UH, BIG DEVELOPMENT IS THAT IN THE FALL IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SECTION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, SO THAT WAS GONNA BE KIND OF LIKE THIS, THIS ADDITIONAL SECTION THAT WAS GONNA HAVE A TOWER THAT UM, COULD INCLUDE A HOTEL, UM, HOUSING, UM, POSSIBLY OFFICE SPACE THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE, UM, THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE TO, UH, HAVE THAT PURPOSE.
SO THERE WILL BE A, THAT FOOTPRINT WILL STILL BE USED FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT IT'S, UM, NOT CLEAR RIGHT NOW OR, YOU KNOW, NOT PUBLIC RIGHT NOW, LIKE WHAT THE, HOW THAT'S GONNA BE USED.
THAT'S OF A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO OUR WORKING GROUP.
'CAUSE WE HAD PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW THAT AREA, THE GROUND FLOOR OF THAT COULD BE USED FOR, UM, LOCAL BUSINESSES PARTICULARLY THAT WERE ARTS OR MUSIC, UM, FOCUSED POPUP MARKETS AND SO ON.
SO I SPOKE WITH, UH, CONVENTION CENTER STAFF, UH, LATE LAST WEEK AND THEY'RE GONNA BE MAKING A PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL, UM, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
AND AFTER THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
SO THEY'VE KIND OF STARTED WITH, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE WITHIN HALF A MILE OF THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, SO THAT'S MOSTLY I THINK THE HOTELS, UH, BUT THEY ARE GONNA BE EXPANDING THAT OUT AND I'VE ASKED IF THEY COULD HAVE A SPECIAL, UM, PUBLIC SESSION SPECIFICALLY FOR ARTS AND MUSIC.
AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE ARTS AND MUSIC COM COMMUNITY ATTEND THAT AND SOME MORE INFO TO COME, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD BE IN APRIL.
SO WE'LL WAIT TO GET THROUGH, UM, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AND HOPEFULLY HOLD THAT, UH, IN EARLY APRIL.
BUT, UM, DEFINITELY DO CONTINUE TO WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC, UM, INPUT FROM THE ARTS AND MUSIC LEADERS IN AUSTIN ABOUT HOW THE CONVENTION CENTER CAN BENEFIT THOSE INDUSTRIES.
AND THAT MAY LOOK LIKE, UM, BOTH HELP HELPING HAVING THE CONVENTION CENTER BE A VE VEHICLE FOR PROMOTING ARTS AND MUSIC IN AUSTIN.
GETTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER TO, TO, TO GO AND PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC ART AND GALLERIES AND VENUE MUSIC VENUES AND SO ON.
UM, BUT ALSO TO DRAW PEOPLE THAT AREN'T CONVENTION CENTER ATTENDEES, UM, TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AREA.
SO THAT IT'S MORE OF A PUBLIC BUILDING WITH PUBLIC BENEFITS.
BUT PLEASE, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, LIKE KIND OF PUT A PEN IN THAT.
UM, AND I KNOW LAUREN, SO LAUREN GOULD, WHO WE, AS WE JUST NOTED THAT SHE JUST, UM, HAD TO HOP OFF 'CAUSE SHE HAD A GIG, BUT THIS WAS HER LAST MEETING.
BUT SHE'S BEEN ON THAT WORKING GROUP, SO SHE'S GONNA CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THAT WORKING GROUP AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
AND SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH, UM, CONVENTION CENTER, UM, THINGS SINCE I THINK LIKE 2019.
SHE'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY.
IF ANYBODY HAS, UM, ANYTHING CONVENTION CENTER RELATED QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO ADD, GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN.
COMMISSIONER PATON? UH, COMMISSIONER AL? YEAH.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER PATERSON, I, I HAVE A QUESTION.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER IS SUCH A CHARGED ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE CAPITAL SITE VIEW CORRIDOR LIMITATIONS.
AND HEARING THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PLANNED SKYSCRAPER GOING UP THAT WAS PUBLIC PRIVATE, WHO GETS THE SKYSCRAPER? DO YOU KNOW? UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA BE BUILT ON THAT PIECE OF
[01:05:01]
LAND AT ALL.SO IT, IT, FINANCIALLY IT WAS FELT THAT IT WAS NOT FEASIBLE GIVEN THAT, UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A BIT OF A HOUSING BOOM SO THAT, THAT WASN'T REALLY CONSIDERED TO BE LIKE A PROFITABLE ENDEAVOR.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF HOTELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THERE'S ALSO, UM, AN ISSUE WITH THE, THE CONVENTION CENTER HILTON THAT THERE'S, UM, UH, I FORGET THE LEGAL TERM FOR IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM AND SO THEY CAN'T LIKE, HAVE ANOTHER CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.
AND THEN OFFICE SPACE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IS NOT QUITE AT THE PREMIUM THAT IT WAS AT, AT ONE POINT WITH A LOT OF WORK FROM HOME EMPLOYEES.
SO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT IT'S REALLY NOT POSSIBLE TO BUILD IT AND THEN BUILD ONTO IT LATER.
THEY'VE EITHER GOTTA DO IT NOW OR NOT.
SO IT'LL JUST BE, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, A JUST A FEW STORY, YOU KNOW, THREE STORIES HIGH AT THE MOST, I GUESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FEET THAT THAT WOULD BE, BUT I GUESS IT'S, SO IT'S NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE CAPITAL VIEW ANY LONGER.
HOW, UM, THE SKYSCRAPER THING THAT, THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT, WHERE, WHERE IS THAT AT? IS THAT LIKE AT GR GROUND ZERO CONVENTION CENTER? OR IS THAT YEAH, SO, UM, NO STAFF SHOWED US A MAP AT ONE POINT, SO I, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL GONNA BE, EVERYTHING THERE IS GONNA BE COMPLETELY FLATTENED AND REBUILT.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE NOT, THE EXPANSION IS NOT ADDING ON, IT'S LIKE A TOTAL DO OVER.
SO IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA OCCUPY THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT.
AND THEN I THINK MAYBE I'M, I'M NOT SURE IF, IF IT, IT'S GONNA BE A BIT LARGER THAN THAT OR NOT.
UM, THERE HAD BEEN AT ONE POINT A DISCUSSION THAT THE CITY HAD TRIED TO ACQUIRE THE LAND TO THE WEST OF IT, BUT THAT LAND HAD BECOME SO VALUABLE THE OWNERS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN SELLING TO THE CITY.
UM, ONE THING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, I THINK IS A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF THINGS ARE GONNA GO UNDERGROUND SO THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO, TO BREAK IT UP INTO SMALLER BUILDINGS WHERE INSTEAD OF ONE GIANT BUILDING SO THAT THE STREETS CAN GO THROUGH AND THERE COULD BE THREE WAYS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND SO ON.
UH, SO THAT, THAT'S, UH, KIND OF AN INTERESTING THING.
THE, SO, UH, SECTIONS 1 56, 3 51 AND 3 52 OF THE TAX CODES SPECIFICALLY DEAL WITH COMMERCIAL, UM, ESTABLISHMENTS AND RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS AROUND THE AREA OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AS A WHOLE.
THE ONE THING THAT, THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME, 'CAUSE I DID A LOT OF READING WHILE I WAS NOT HERE, WAS, UH, THE, IF THERE'S AN ESTABLISHMENT OF BUSINESS OR A HOTEL THAT'S WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, THEN THEY'RE LIKE, THERE'S SOMETHING KIND OF, UH, INCENTIVES OR REBATES AND THINGS THAT THEY CAN GET FOR BEING CLOSE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
'CAUSE THEY TECHNICALLY WILL PROMOTE TOURISM.
BUT ONE THING THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME ABOUT THAT IS IF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, ALL THESE OTHER SKYSCRAPERS AROUND, THEY'RE LIKE A CONVENTION CENTER BASICALLY HAS TO HAVE A SPACE INSIDE OF IT TO HAVE A CONVENTION.
AND THERE ARE OTHER HOTELS THAT ARE NOW BUILT THAT HAVE THOSE EXAM BASICALLY QUALIFICATIONS TO DO JUST THAT.
SO OUR FUNDING IS TIED TO THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE, IT CAN BE DONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THAT'S JUST GONNA REQUIRE THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR US TO DO.
BUT, UH, WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH IS WHEN THAT CONVENTION CENTER IS FINALLY BUILT, GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE HOT MONEY'S GOING TO SERVICE THAT DEBT NOW, UH, WHEN IT'S FINALLY BUILT, WHAT HAPPENS TO LIKE OUR FUND, BASICALLY OUR LITTLE LIKE VISA FUND.
SO, UM, TO SOMETHING, YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A, IT'S CERTAINLY A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN ASKED PUBLICLY AND AS RECENTLY AS THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CITIZENS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WHAT THE REAL COMPLETE COST OF THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL BE.
I DID ASK CONVENTION CENTER STAFF IF, IF DEBT SERVICING WAS INCLUDED IN THE $1.6 BILLION AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS, SO THAT'S NOT ADDITIONAL.
BUT THERE ARE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND RIGHT.
AND WE'VE SEEN HOW, YOU KNOW, IN AUSTIN, HOW WELL WITH EVERYTHING THAT COSTS, COSTS ARE GROWING.
UM, LIKE FOR PROJECT CONNECT, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, ONE THING THAT I, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED, HONESTLY, TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT THE USES OF HOT ARE AND HOW ALL THE FINANCING WORKS.
AND A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT GOES INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER IS, OR, OR, SO THE HOTELS GENERATE, UM, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, OR THEY, THEY CHARGE THAT TAX TO TOURISTS.
BUT A LOT OF THAT IS USED FOR CONVENTION CENTERS.
SO THAT'S TECHNICALLY WHAT'S GONNA HELP PAY FOR THIS EXPANSION.
UM, BUT ALSO A LOT OF THAT MONEY
[01:10:01]
GOES BACK TO THE HOTELS IN THE FORM OF, LIKE, THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL BUY DOWN HOTEL ROOMS AND SO ON TO GIVE, UM, SO THE CONVENTION CENTERS CAN HAVE DISCOUNTED HOTEL NIGHTS AND SO ON.SO, SO MUCH OF THE MONEY THAT GOES IN THE SYSTEM KIND OF JUST GETS RECIRCULATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER ITSELF IN THE SURROUNDING HOTELS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED A TEA PIT.
IT'S A TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, BUT, UM, THE USES OF THAT ARE SOMEWHAT LIMITED TO, TO REALLY, AGAIN, THEY GO BACK, THE HOTELS PUT MONEY INTO IT, BUT IT'S REALLY FOR THEIR, THEIR USE.
AND, UM, SO THAT, THAT, THAT IS A KIND OF NARROW, UM, AND ALSO CITY, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT CITIES HANDLE THIS DIFFERENTLY.
THE PERCENTAGE, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STATE STATUTES ABOUT LIKE, WHAT THE PERCENTAGES CAN BE FOR USES LIKE ARTS AND MUSIC PROMOTION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BUT IT DIFFERS A LITTLE BIT CITY BY CITY.
SO, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT LOBBYING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND, AND CHANGING SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT, IT, I MEAN, I'M NOT A LAWYER AND I'M NOT A FINANCE PERSON AND I'M NOT SUPER CLEAR ON IT, BUT I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT, IT COULD BE THE PERCENTAGES COULD BE DIFFERENT AND THEY COULD BE HIGHER FOR ARTS AND MUSIC.
UM, I'M SURE SOMEBODY IS GONNA EMAIL ME AND TELL ME THAT THAT'S WRONG, BUT I'VE HEARD IT BOTH WAYS FROM PEOPLE THAT KNOW BETTER THAN I DO.
UM, SO YEAH, IT WAS A BIG EXPENSIVE BUILDING AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SOUTH BY IS GONNA BE HOUSED IN OTHER VENUES AND HOTELS FOR FOUR YEARS.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT COST AND IS IT GONNA CANNIBALIZE, UM, MUSIC AND ARTS FUNDING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS HOT REVENUE.
SO I THINK AS A COMMISSION, WE JUST, WE WANNA CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON HOW THE CONVENTION CENTER CAN BE LEVERAGED TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND MUSIC ECONOMIES.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, AS WAS STATED EARLIER BY COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL.
I MEAN, THAT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER HERE.
UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, CONVENTION CENTER STAFF HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO TALK WITH AND SO ON.
BUT, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO, TO ASK, ASK QUESTIONS AND BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE WANT AND, AND SHOW A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, STAYING ON TOP OF THAT.
UH, I, I'M SURE THIS ITEMS WILL SHOW RIGHT BACK ON RICHARD NEXT TIME.
UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMMISSIONER GO'S SERVICE AS WELL, AND ESPECIALLY ON HER STAYING ON, ON THE, ON THE BOARD.
[7. Presentation on 2024 Austin Live Music Fund Survey conducted by Austin Texas Musicians (ATXM) by Pat Buchta, Chief Executive Officer, ATXM.]
UH, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS PRESENTATION ON 2024 AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND SURVEY CONDUCTED BY AUSTIN, TEXAS, MUSICIANS, A TXM BY PAT TER, C-E-O-A-T-X-M.THEO HERE, UH, YEAH, PAT, UH, AND THEO RIGHT HERE.
THEO LOVE, WHO'S GONNA, UH, JOIN US TONIGHT? I'M SORRY.
UH, JUST TO GET LITTLE BIT OF CONTACTS.
I KNOW EVERYBODY KNOWS US HERE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT, UH, BE AWARE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR SIX YEARS NOW, UH, DOING THIS WORK IN OUR, CAN YOU STAND
UM, UH, FOR SIX YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR VERY FIRST PROJECT WAS TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO CREATE THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
UH, AS SUCH, IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY AND I THINK WE STILL, UH, FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, FOR THE 6,000 MUSICIANS THAT WE DO REPRESENT, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, AS SUCH, UH, THIS, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT WHAT WE PRESENT TONIGHT, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME DIFFERENT FEEDBACK TONIGHT, WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING HERE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENT, UH, TO THE WORKING GROUP'S, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE WORKING GROUP, WE GOT SOME STUFF DONE, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS REALLY THE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE SURVEY FEEDBACK, UH, THAT WE GOT FROM THE MUSICIANS WE REPRESENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
UH, THEO IS GONNA KINDA READ THROUGH AND I'LL JUST PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT WHERE WE NEED TO.
FIRST, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OUTREACH.
UM, WE THINK IT'S GOOD TO ENGAGE
[01:15:01]
IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH CITY VENDORS CONTRACTS TO REACH EXPANDED AUDIENCES AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.OBVIOUSLY THE LANGUAGE AROUND THAT IS, UH, KIND OF RISKY RIGHT NOW, SO DIFFERENT WAYS TO PIVOT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, AND I THINK USING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DAWA AND AUSTIN TEJANO MUSIC COALITION AND A TX MUSICIANS MAY BE PRIME CONTENDERS FOR THIS WORK, UM, SHOULD ALSO HOST AND ENGAGE PARTNERS TO HOST COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS, FEATURING PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS, SHARING TIPS FOR SUCCESS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE, UH, TALA AND MOHA FOR TIPS FOR APPLYING.
UM, I WON THE GRANT IN 2023 AND THEN HOSTED PERSONALLY MY OWN DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS, TRYING TO JUST KIND OF PASS ON THE INFORMATION.
UM, AND THEN YOU COULD SHARE VIDEO CONTENT OR TESTIMONIALS, PROFILING SUCCESS, SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS.
UH, COULD WE GET THE VOLUME UP ON THE MIC A BIT? IS IT POSSIBLE? YEAH, I'LL GO LOUDER.
SHARE A PREVIEW OF THE APPLICATION AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO APPLICATION OPENING.
I'LL, I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK NOTE HERE.
UH, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ACRONYMS THERE, TALA IS THE TEXAS ACCOUNTS AND LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, AND OF COURSE, MOHA MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING, UH, SOME ASSISTANCE, UH, FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS.
APPLICATIONS BY LARGE MUSICIANS, FELT LIKE THE APPLICATION PORTAL WAS MUCH EASIER TO USE IN 2024.
UM, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE USING AND BUILDING UPON THE CURRENT SUBMITTABLE SUBMITTABLE PLATFORM.
MUSICIANS DID REMARK THAT CERTAIN SCORING RUBRICS RELEVANT TO BANKING AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS WERE NOT EXPLAINED FULLY IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT ALL APPLICATION QUESTIONS, AND WE DO MEAN ALL ARE ASSOCIATED.
UH, UH, ALL QUESTIONS AND ASSOCIATED SCORING ARE BETTER EXPLAINED WITHIN THE APPLICATION.
WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH THE SCORING.
UM, AND HERE, I THINK, UH, IF WE ARE TO GET INTO, UM, DEFINITIONS AROUND, UH, WHAT AN EMERGING MUSICIAN IS AND WHAT, UH, A WORKING MUSICIAN IS, I KNOW THERE'S SOME, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME CHALLENGES WITH DEFINING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT MEANS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR FIVE YEARS WITH OUR A TXM PRO MEMBERSHIP LEVEL.
IT'S A FREE MEMBERSHIP, BUT YOU KNOW, IT REQUIRES YOU TO FULFILL, UH, FOUR OUTTA SIX OF THESE, UM, REQUIREMENTS.
SO, SUCH AS, UH, YOUR PERCENTAGE OF INCOME FROM MUSIC RELATED BUSINESSES IS 40% OR HIGHER.
UM, ONE OF THE FOLLOWING, NUMBER OF LIVE MUSIC GIGS, A MINIMUM OF 25 NUMBER OF MUSIC LESSONS TAUGHT A MINIMUM OF MINIMUM OF 300 AND A NUMBER OF STUDIO GIGS, A MINIMUM OF 25.
THAT'S PER YEAR, PER YEAR REGISTERED THEIR BUSINESSES WITH COUNTY OR STATE DBA AND LLCS CORP OR SOLE PROPRIETOR LIVED IN AUSTIN ONE YEAR OR LONGER.
MUST RESIDE IN AUSTIN, OR WHAT IS THIS? EC CJ UH, EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.
HAS LONG ONLINE PRESENCE WITH AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICIAL WEBSITE, MA MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE.
FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, PATRONAGE PLATFORM.
PATREON, BANDCAMP HAS A MINIMUM OF FIVE COMMERCIAL RELEASES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
PHYSICAL OR DIGITAL, FULL LENGTH ALBUMS, EPS OR SINGLES.
UM, THE LEVELS OF THE GRANTS, I THINK THE WORKING GROUP AS WELL AGREED TO THE 5K AND 20 K.
UM, THIS PERSONALLY, I, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE 5K AND EVEN SMALLER.
LIKE, I, I LIKE THE IDEA OF FIVE, 10, AND 15, JUST BECAUSE I'D RATHER SEE MORE MUSICIANS GET THE MONEY.
I GOT THE $10,000 IN 2023, AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'M STILL EATING OFF OF WHAT THAT DID FOR ME AS A MUSICIAN.
I STILL MERCH MY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE REHEARSAL.
THE SHOW I HAVE NOW IS IN HOW I'M GETTING BOOKED NOW.
UH, NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE IF I DIDN'T GET THE GRANT THEN.
SO THESE SMALLER AMOUNTS GO FURTHER THAN I THINK WE THINK THEY ARE.
SO I'D RATHER SEE MORE MUSICIANS GET THEM.
'CAUSE $20,000 IS, IS IS A LOT.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.
UM, I'LL, I'LL COMMENT HERE TOO THAT, UH, OUR INITIAL RECOMMENDATION WAS FIVE, 10, AND 15.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND'S RECOMMENDATION IS GONNA REFLECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF WHERE THE WORKING GROUP LANDED, BUT HONESTLY, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE SMALLER GRANT AMOUNTS ARE GONNA GET US A LOT FURTHER, UH, IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
SO IN THIS WAY, WE'RE REACHING, REACHING MORE PEOPLE.
AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTER IS AN INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZES MARKETS AND PROMOTES LIVE, LIVE EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, MUSIC FESTIVALS, OR PERFORMANCES OPERATES INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY VENUE.
RECORD LABEL OR MAJOR ENTITY COMPANY
[01:20:01]
IS TYPICALLY SELF-EMPLOYED OR RUNS A SMALL BUSINESS WORKING ON CONTRACTUAL BASIS WITH ARTISTS, VENUES, OR EVENT ORGANIZERS.INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS MUST HAVE VERIFIABLE BUSINESSES AND SPECIFICALLY ASSO ASSOCIATED WITH PROMOTING ARTISTS AND EVENTS BEING CONTRACTED WITH VENUES AND OR FESTIVALS.
AND THIS IS STOLEN STRAIGHT FROM COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND'S DEFINITION.
THIS IS WHERE WE GET INTO THE MEAT OF, OF THE WORK, I THINK HERE.
UH,
NOW SCRUTINIZE ALL STATE PROVISION GRANTS AND UNFORTUNATELY, ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO, I THINK THIS MEANS DEI, UH, I'M SORRY.
DEI DETERMINATIONS NOW JEOPARDIZE CONTINUED FUNDING.
THIS TEXAS LEGISLATURE'S UPCOMING HOUSE BILL 1 67 PLAINLY STATES THAT THESE INTENTIONS PLAINLY STATES THESE INTENTIONS.
FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION, WE SUGGEST ENGAGING MULTIPLE LEGAL SOURCES, INCLUDING CITY LEGAL AND TA LAI THINK THAT WAS RECOMMENDED EARLIER AS WELL.
GREENLIGHT LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT GUIDELINES BEING PROPOSED.
THESE SHOULD LIKELY MAKE UP 50 SCORED POINTS RATHER THAN 30.
AND MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS LOCAL SHOWS, PRODUCE TEACHING GIGS, ET CETERA, WOULD ALREADY BE ADDRESSED WITH MUSICIAN ELIGIBILITY.
GREEN LIGHT MUSIC INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTIONS AND SCORE AT 25 POINTS.
GREEN LIGHT QUESTIONS RELATED TO ACCESSIBILITY AT FIVE POINTS AFTER DETERMINING WITH CITY LEGAL THAT THIS DOES NOT POTENTIALLY ENDANGER THE FUND FOR REASONS LISTED DENIED AWARD, 20 POINTS FOR MUSICIANS WHO DID NOT RECEIVE THE LIVE MUSIC FUND AWARD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AWARD AMOUNTS IN LINE WITH LAST YEAR'S AWARD AMOUNTS, 78% MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, AND 22% VENUES ABOUT THIS WAS REALLY, REALLY AWESOME TO SEE.
I WAS KIND OF WORRIED HOW MUCH VENUES WERE GETTING.
SO TO SEE THAT SO MANY MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS ARE GETTING THE MONEY, UH, MEANS THE WORLD TO ME PERSONALLY.
POST AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT, A MAJOR CRITICISM SEEMED TO BE THE MUSICIANS, UH, COULD NOT ACCESS THEIR SCORES TO UNDERSTAND SPECIFIC SCORING AND DETERMINE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
WHILE THIS MAY TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL AUTOMATION, WE SUGGEST BUILDING A SYSTEM INTO SUBMITTABLE THAT WILL ALLOW FOR DETAIL AROUND INDIVIDUAL SCORING.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY MANY, THAT COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WITH CULTURAL ART GRANTS MAY BE BENEFICIAL IN THIS REGARD.
UM, AND HERE I'LL JUST SAY THAT, UH, WITHIN THE WORKING GROUP, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE A TON OF TIME TO, UH, DONATE TO, UH, OR REALLY TO WORK AROUND VENUE, UH, GUIDELINES.
AND, UH, SO I DO WANT TO YIELD SOME TIME IF WE CAN, UH, TO NICOLE, UH, THE IDIOT, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT.
UM, IF THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO HERE TODAY, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE VENUES HAVE, UM, PLENTY OF TIME TO DELIVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, UH, SO THAT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.
UM, IF I MAY, I THINK, UH, MS. KAPALO HAS ALREADY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER NINE, AND, UH, I WOULD BE GLAD TO OFFER A TIME TO TAKE, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS SUBJECT UP AS WELL THERE.
COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? UH, I CAN SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY.
UM, CAN YOU ASK NICOLE IF THAT'S OKAY? THAT'S FINE, YES.
FUNDING, EXPLORE NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE STR TAX REVENUE AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE'VE SEEN THAT THE FUND HAS, UH, GROWN A LITTLE BIT, UH, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT.
AND SO I THINK THAT IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, REALLY TO SOLVE A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS, UH, WE NEED TO GO AFTER MORE REVENUE SOURCES.
UH, I KNOW COMMISSIONER CARVALLO, UH, BROUGHT UP MANY MONTHS AGO THAT, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAXES ARE BEING UNTAPPED IN THIS, UH, CITY.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE AS AN ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON WITH YOU GUYS AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S, UH, IT, UH, YEAH.
ANY QUESTIONS? I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, ERICA, COMMISSIONER PRICE, UH, I SEE YOU GOT THE MEMO ON THE BURGUNDY.
I'M SORRY FOR GET THE MEMO, BUT WE'RE IN THE COOL KIDS CLUB TODAY, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU PAT, UH, FOR, UH, THE PRESENTATION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING A SUPPLEMENTAL TO, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE INTERACTIONS TODAY, UM, ALSO FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKING GROUP, UM, BETWEEN THE 10 AND 20 K, I THINK THE, ONE OF THE, JUST A QUICK POINT, UH, JUST
[01:25:01]
SO WE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, IS WHEN IT'S 20 K, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD.SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY TALKING ABOUT 10 K AVERAGE FOR TWO YEARS.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER PRICE.
PAT, THEO, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY SEEING ALL THE, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN IN, SEEING THAT A LOT OF IT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ADOPTED, IT'S INCREDIBLE, ESPECIALLY THE CRITERIA OF, OF OUTLINING HITTING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT OUTLINES IT NICELY.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S ABSOLUTELY FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO THE STR, IS THERE ANY TRACTION THAT HAS BEEN MADE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF? AND THEN WHAT KIND OF LIMITATIONS ARE WE FACING TO ACTUALLY GO AFTER SHORT-TERM RENTALS? SURE.
I'D ACTUALLY, UM, LO UH, LOB THAT QUESTION OVER TO COMMISSIONER CARVALLO, WHO MAY HAVE MORE NO,
WELL, I THINK I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON.
SO, UM, PARTLY BASED ON, UH, THE BRAZIL LAWSUIT, BUT ALSO BASED ON THE WORK THAT, UM, THE TOURISM COMMISSION, UM, A WORKING GROUP OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION, UH, WORKING WITH, UH, THE JOINT, UH, LAND USE WORKING GROUP THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT A, THAT A CHAIR, UM, DID PUT FORTH A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO GO ABOUT FIXING SOME OF THE REGULATION ISSUES.
AND SO, UM, TOMORROW, THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THESE EXTRA SEATS UP HERE, THERE'S GONNA BE A JOINT MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO TAKE UP NEW RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, FROM THE CITY.
UM, SO USING, SO THIS GROUP, WE DID APPROVE THAT SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARTS COMMISSION MIRRORED THAT AS WELL AS TOURISM COMMISSION.
SO IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE COMMISSION WORK THAT THAT REALLY DOES, YOU KNOW, MOVE THE NEEDLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO I WOULD, UM, SO THERE'S GONNA BE THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
UM, SO ONE IS TOMORROW, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO LATE TO SIGN UP FOR THAT, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT.
BUT, UM, THERE'S TWO MORE IN FEBRUARY.
SO EVERYBODY MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN LIKE A PURPLE CARD IN THE MAIL.
SO IF YOU GOT A PURPLE POSTCARD AND IT'S GOT THOSE DATES ON THERE AND YOU HAVE A, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE MUSIC COMMUNITY TO GO AND GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT.
UM, BUT YEAH, SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT SOMETHING'S SHAKEN LOOSE ON THAT.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING GROUP MEMBERS AND AND COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT, UM, HELPED OUT WITH THAT.
AND A SHOUT OUT TO ARTS, ARTS AND TOURISM FOR SURE.
THANK YOU TO, UH, ANOTHER, TO ANSWER A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT QUESTION, UM, I DID SPEAK WITH PAIGE ELLIS'S OFFICE, AND THEY ARE, UM, VERY MUCH KIND OF GUNG HO ABOUT, UM, THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR A FUND FOR MUSICIANS.
SO, YEAH, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LICENSE MORE SHORT TERM RENTALS AND CAPTURE A LOT OF THAT LOST, UH, HOT REVENUE THAT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF LICENSURE ISSUES.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME STREAMLINING OF LICENSURE FOR, OR LICENSURE FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE SMALLER, YOU KNOW, LIKE MOM AND POP, UM, OPERATORS, BUT A LITTLE MORE SCRUTINY ON CORPORATE OPERATORS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HELPING, UM, YOU KNOW, BETTER, BETTER ENFORCEMENT TO HELP THOSE, THOSE SHORT TERM RENTALS BE BETTER NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK TO ALSO CONTROL SOME, UH, PROLIFERATION OF, OF, OF CORPORATE, UM, SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
SO THAT, BY THAT I MEAN LIKE A COMPANY THAT, THAT'S THEIR, THEIR BUSINESS IS TO OWN A LOT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE'VE ALL STAYED IN AN AIRBNB, BUT IN A CITY WHERE WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, A HOUSING, HOUSING CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE.
AND THAT AFFECTS, I WOULD GUESS, MUSICIANS DISPROPORTIONATELY AND OR DISPROPORTIONATELY.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, ALSO THEN OUR COMMUNITY IS, UH, IS LOSING OUT ON THOSE HOT TAXES, LIKE KINDA GET SQUEEZED FROM BOTH SIDES IN ADDITION TO MAYBE ALSO SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE HAVE SDRS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE NOT, NOT LICENSED AND, UM, NOT, NOT GOOD NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOISE AND OTHER COMPLAINTS.
SO THIS, WHAT'S GOING FORWARD WILL HOPEFULLY FIX ALL THESE, THESE ISSUES.
AND I, I THINK, UM, TOURISM, THE TOURISM WORKING GROUP IN PARTICULAR DID A GREAT JOB OF, UM, LIKE IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS AGAIN, WITH, WITH HEART, WITH HELP FROM THE ARTS AND MUSIC WORKING GROUP.
SO CONCRETE SOLUTIONS FOR THINGS.
AND A LOT OF THAT IS GONNA INVOLVE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE PLATFORMS AND OTHER CITIES DO THIS, UH, SUCCESSFULLY SO WE CAN TOO.
AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA GO FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S, IT CAN TURN OUT TO BE GREAT NEWS.
'CAUSE THERE ARE DEFINITELY ARE, YOU KNOW, SOME,
[01:30:01]
ONE OF THE PERSON FROM THE WORKING GROUP, A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT WORKS IN KIND OF THE REAL ESTATE SPACE IDENTIFIED, I, I THINK HE, HE HAD ALL THESE SPREADSHEETS, UM, SO THANK GOD FOR MATH PEOPLE, AND HE'S SAID PROBABLY LIKE 3 MILLION A YEAR IN, UM, IN HOT IS WHAT'S BEING LOST.SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A LOT THAT COULD BE COMING FILTERING THROUGH.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I, WELL, THANK YOU GUYS.
I KNOW THIS IS AN ONGOING DIALOGUE.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS AND AS EVERY MONTH, TOMORROW NIGHT, WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY MUSICIAN MIXER NIGHT SHIFT, UH, AT COSMIC ON PICKLE ROAD FROM SEVEN TO 11:00 PM YOU'RE ALL INVITED AND WE CAN CONTINUE THIS DIALOGUE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL THING YOU ALL DO THERE.
[8. Equitable Austin Live Music Fund guidelines following presentation by Secretary Strickland.]
UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS EQUITABLE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND GUIDELINES, FOLLOWING PRESENTATION BY SECRETARY STRICKLAND.THANK YOU CHAIR FOR, UM, RECOGNIZING ME AND FOR COMMISSIONER PRICE FOR THE SECOND THAT ALLOWED FOR, UM, THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE LIVE, FOR THESE GUIDELINES TO, UH, TAKE PLACE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF FUNDING FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I HAVE A STATEMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO, UH, READ TO START WITH.
FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM MUSICIANS, INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS ON THE GROUND, DOING THE WORK IN THE AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE IN THE SURROUNDING CITIES.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MUSICIANS OF ALL GENRES, BACKGROUND, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE, AND CRETE, INCLUDING SOME THAT HAVE RECEIVED AN LMF GRANT AND OTHERS THAT HAVE NOT.
I BELIEVE I HAVE TO, WHAT I HAVE TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY IS NOT JUST MY OWN WORK, BUT THE WORK OF MANY THAT POUR OUT TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL LOVE.
SO, VERY MUCH THE LAST TIME I SPOKE, UH, MY ADVICE WAS TO ALL THOSE THAT WERE ANGERED, THAT WE'RE NOTIFIED ABOUT NOT RECEIVING FUNDING IN THE DEBT OF SUMMER, WHERE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE MADE IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY SUMMER PROGRAMMING TO TAKE PLACE.
MY ADVICE WAS TO HOLD ON, AND I'M GLAD TO, THAT WE ARE ALL CONTINUING THAT WORK AND I THINK THE COMMISSION FOR CONTINUING THAT WORK.
UM, IN MY ABSENCE, I WANT TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT, UH, TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE HERE NOW THAT WILL WATCH THIS YEARS FROM NOW, UM, OR THAT WILL WATCH THIS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UM, UH, WILL WATCH THIS IN THE FUTURE OR PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING NOW.
I WANT TO GIVE CONTEXT TO EVERYONE IN OUR AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE AS TO UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY I AM ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS INSTEAD OF WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
I STAND BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES TODAY BECAUSE AS A COMMISSION, AND I'VE STATED THIS BEFORE, WE MUST CHOOSE WHETHER TO SERVE CITY GOVERNMENT, WE, AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.
WE MUST KEEP IN MIND HOW WE GOT BEHIND THESE SEATS THAT WE SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER THAT ELECTED FOR US TO BE THERE.
I AND MYSELF AM INCLUDED IN THAT.
WE TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE TO UPHOLD, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHILE WE HAVE A GOOD DIALOGUE WITH MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE DO NOT SERVE THEM.
WE DO NOT SERVE ANY PRO NONPROFITS OR ANY AFFILIATES OF THOSE NONPROFITS.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE CREATED TO BE INDEPENDENT, TO ADVISE COUNCIL.
WE ARE UNPAID UNELECTED SERVANTS OF THE CITY AND HOPES THAT WE REMAIN UNBIASED, NONPARTISAN.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE TODAY.
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, I RECEIVED A SCREENSHOT, A TEXT MESSAGE FROM PAT BTA, AND THE, UH, THE TEXT MET READ, UH, WTF, ITS CONTEXT INCLUDED A VERY PROCEDURAL MESSAGE THAT READS, HEY, NICOLE AND PAT LEY IS EDITING DOWNER, LMF VENUE DOCUMENT AND MUSICIAN INPUT.
SHE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU THROUGH
[01:35:01]
THE WEEKEND BEFORE SHE SENDS IT OFF TO STAFF ON SUNDAY.HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO JOIN HER AT COMMISSION TO EXPAND ON YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS MESSAGE WAS FROM GAVIN GARCIA, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF EQ AUSTIN.
I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, FOR, UM, IS, IS THERE ANY, WAS, WAS GAVIN ON THE DIOCESE SPEAK TONIGHT OR WAS THERE ANY, UM, RECORD OF GAVIN SPEAKING ON AGENDA YEAH.
UM, SO THEN MY QUESTION VERY SIMPLY IS, WHY IS GAVIN NOTIFYING NICOLE AND PAT ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU CHAIR ARE WORKING ON AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC FUND? AND I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION TO YOU DIRECTLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT ACTUALLY.
UM, SO MY ASSOCIATION WITH GAVIN IS HE IS THE FOUNDER, UM, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT CALLED EQ AUSTIN.
I CHAIRED THE BOARD OF THAT NONPROFIT, ESSENTIALLY, AND I AM A VOLUNTARY, UH, BASICALLY, UH, CHAIR OF THAT BOARD AS FAR AS GAVIN'S ASSOCIATION WITH, UH, MR. PAT BTA OR MISS, UH, NICOLE RIO GOES,
UM, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT COMMUNICATION IS WITHIN THAT CIRCLE, ESSENTIALLY.
AND EVEN THOUGH I'M THE CHAIR OF EKI AUSTIN, I HAVE NEVER BEEN INVITED DO I EVER PARTICIPATE IN MM MEETINGS? THANK YOU.
MY NEXT QUESTION, UH, DID GAVIN OR OTHERS WORK ON THE GUIDELINES THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE WORKING GROUP OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION PRIOR TO US WORKING IN THE WORKING GROUP? IS THAT, IS THAT A CLEAR QUESTION? CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? SURE.
DID, DID, DID GAVIN GARCIA EQ AUSTIN MUSIC MAKES AUSTIN WRITE GUIDELINES TO GIVE TO THIS COMMISSION TO WORK WITH AS A BASELINE FOR US DECIDING WHAT TO DO WITH OUR FUND? YES.
IS THIS IN A PRESENTATION? IT IS.
IT, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT, IT'S, IT'S RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION.
IS THERE ANY PRESENTATION YES.
ACCORDING TO RULES REGULATIONS, CAN YOU, DO YOU ANSWER, UM, SHELBY OR ERICA, COULD YOU PLEASE, UH, JUST SPEAK OUT WHAT, WHAT YOU ARE, UH, RECOMMENDING HERE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
IS THIS STILL PART OF THE STATEMENT OR ARE WE IN HERE? IT IT IS IT, IT'S PART OF MY OPENING STATEMENT FOR THE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE WOULD ASK THAT EVERYBODY WHO ON, I THINK TONIGHT STATES, I CAN'T SPEAK TIMELINE, BUT SPEAK ON WHAT'S IN YOUR PRESENTATIONS, PLEASE.
AS FAR AS PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HERE, WANNA BE MINDFUL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
SO THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS, WE CAN SAVE THOSE FOR THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE HERE.
IT'S A YES OR NO ANSWER, BUT LET'S JUST KEEP, ACTUALLY YOU HAVE TO, ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED AS PART OF YOUR STATEMENT NEEDS TO BE SHARED, UH, AS PART OF A TRANSPARENT SHARE WITH COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY CAN BE HERE AND COMMENT JUST LIKE WE WOULD WITH ANY COUNCIL MEETING OR ANY COMMISSION MEETING.
SO TYPICALLY, UH, WE, THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOESN'T ALLOW, UH, OPEN-ENDED STATEMENT.
IT NEEDS TO BE VERY CLEAR IN THE AGENDA OF WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED, UM, AND PRESENTED WITHIN THAT PRESENTATION.
AND THIS IS JUST SOME, YOU KNOW, RULES AND REGULATIONS AROUND TRANSPARENCY TO BE SURE THAT COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE DISCUSSED SO THAT THEY CAN JOIN AND ALSO, UH, DECIDE TO DO PUBLIC INPUT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO.
SO IT'S JUST, UH, RULES ACROSS ALL COMMISSIONS AND COUNCIL MEETINGS AND SUCH.
SO, AND, AND SHELBY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS KEEPING US ON TRACK.
SO I, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS IF WE COULD JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE, YOUR, I'M GONNA TAKE THE, THE UNAVAILABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AS A, AS A YES.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PRESENTATION ARE CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING REGARDING HOT, UM, STATUTES, PROBLEMATIC STRUCTURES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST, AND SOLUTIONS ON HOW THOSE PROBLEMS CAN ACTUALLY BE FIXED
[01:40:02]
ACCORDING TO OUR TAX CODE.UH, THERE ARE LITERAL DEFINITIONS THAT ARE DEFINED AS A MEANS FOR PROVISIONING DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT CODES, DIFFERENT WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO FOR INSTANCE, A HOTEL OR HOSPITAL OR ANY OF THESE THINGS, THEY HAVE TO BE ACTUALLY DEFINED IN OUR TAX CODE BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BE USED.
UH, AND THERE'S A DEFINITION OF A MUNICIPALITY DEFINITION OF A CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, AND THOSE GUIDELINES, BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TELL YOU THE, WHERE THE FUNDS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO, WHAT THEY'RE APPROPRIATE AS, AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO, BUT THOSE THINGS HAVE A, AN ACTUAL DEFINITION SO THAT NO ONE IS UNCLEAR ABOUT THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE, ACCORDING TO, UH, THIS IS SECTION 3 51, SUB CHAPTER B 1 0 1 DASH FOUR IS THE ENCOURAGEMENT, PROMOTION, IMPROVEMENT AND APPLICATION OF ARTS, INCLUDING INSTRUMENTAL VOCAL MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA, FOLK ART, CREATIVE WRITING, ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, ALLIED FIELDS, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC ARTS, CREATIVE ARTS, MOTION PICTURES, RADIO, TELEVISION, TAPE AND SOUND RECORDING, AND OTHER ARTS RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION, PERFORMANCE, EXECUTION, AND EXHIBITION OF MAJOR ART FORMS. THIS SAYS NOTHING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN USE MONEY TO JUST GO IN A STUDIO AND USE THAT MONEY TO MAKE A RECORD AND HAVE NO WAY OF ACTUALLY PROMOTING THAT RECORD.
NOW, PREVIOUSLY BEFORE I HAD QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT THESE PROVISIONS ACTUALLY WERE, THE ISSUE, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE, UH, WAS ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS ALEX VALLE WHO WALKED INTO A WORKING GROUP MEETING THE FIRST TIME AROUND, AND THEN WE ADDED STUDIOS AS PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.
AND WHEN WE DID THAT, UM, WE BASICALLY PUT THIS AS IN AS LIKE PORK ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT MUSICIANS WERE GETTING FUNDING THE FIRST TIME AROUND.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT IT LENDS ITSELF TO MUSICIANS IN PARTICULAR, BEING ABLE TO GO IN THE STUDIOS, HAVING RECEIVED GRANT MONEY, AND THEN USE THAT GRANT MONEY, UM, IN A WAY THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX GUIDELINES.
SO THE HOT FUNDS MUST BE USED FOR A PERFORMANCE EXHIBITION PERFORMANCE.
UM, AND THIS IS BASED ON MY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT I'VE BEEN GATHERING, WHICH TWO, TWO MUSICIANS RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE 2023 GRANT TO MAKE AN ALBUM.
YET THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE YET TO ACTUALLY COME OUT OF THE STUDIO WITH AN ALBUM.
ONE MUSICIAN WHO RECEIVED A GRANT IN 2023, RENTED A VENUE, HAD A FEW FRIENDS COME OUT AND RELEASE THEIR SELF-PRODUCING AND SELF-PRODUCING THE ENTIRE RECORD FROM HOME, FROM PRE-PRODUCTION.
AND MASTERING ONE MUSICIAN WHO RECEIVED A $30,000 GRANT SAID IT'S WAY TOO MUCH MONEY, BUT WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND IT.
SEVERAL MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS DO NOT LIVE, AND AUSTIN RESPECTFULLY RECEIVE 15, 10, AND $15,000 IN FUNDING FROM THE LAST ROUND OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
THE CURRENT PROBLEMS THAT EXIST INVOLVE THE MISUSE AND APPROPRIATION OF THOSE FUNDS.
THERE'S ALSO NO RESIDENTIAL VERIFICATION OF APPLICANTS ON BEHALF OF ALL LIVE MUSIC FUND.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ASKING AT LEAST A COUPLE OF FORMS OF ID THAT THEY LIVE WHERE EXACTLY WHERE THEY SAY THEY LIVE, UM, BEFORE WE ARE ALLOWING FOR THEM TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE MONEY.
ANY EFFECTIVE, UNOFFICIALLY DESIGNED SIZE GRANT FOR THE INTENDED PUBLIC FACING EX EXHIBITION PROJECTS AS OUTLINED IN THE HOT GUIDELINES.
UM, OUT OF THE 2023 STATS, THERE WERE $3.5 MILLION, 660 APPLICANTS.
20% OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
77.8% OF THE MONEY WENT TO MUSICIANS, 132 INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, AND 514 MUSICIANS RESPECTIVELY.
UM, 368 AWARDED APPLICANTS WITH A 56% EFFICACY RATE FOR FUNDING WITH THE 2024 STATS, OR 1013 APPLICANTS, 14% INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, AND 78.7% MUSICIANS, 132, I'M SORRY, THE HUN, THE INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS AND THE MUSICIANS.
BUT THE APPLICANTS WERE AWARDED CORRECTLY, THAT'S 137, UM, AWARDED APPLICANTS AND 120 AWARDED MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 11% FOR MUSICIANS AND
[01:45:01]
INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TWO NUMBERS, THE, FROM THE 2023 AND THE 2024 STATS, 77.8% OF MUSICIANS THAT APPLIED ACTUALLY RECEIVED THEIR FUND.
AND THE 20 24, 78 0.7% OF MUSICIANS THAT APPLIED RECEIVED THE FUNDING.
THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE FACT, WELL, LEMME BACK UP HERE.
SO WE, IT WAS 3.5 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR.
IT'S 4.5 MILLION IN THE SECOND YEAR.
HERE'S THE THING, WE AWARDED VENUES $1.4 MILLION.
SO THAT'S THEIR BUCKET OF MONEY RIGHT THERE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE GAVE OUT TOO MUCH MONEY TO MUSICIANS LAST YEAR, AND WHEN WE DID THAT, OUR EFFICACY RATE WENT DOWN TO 11%.
SO THE MONEY BASICALLY WAS EXACTLY THE SAME.
THE, THE, THE FUNDING WAS THERE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE DID THE FIRST TIME AROUND.
WE JUST GAVE OUT MORE MONEY CONTRARY TO THE WORK, TO, TO, TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS WORKING GROUP.
AND THIS IS WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION BEFORE, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE NEFARIOUS WHEN I'M ASKING ABOUT GAVIN GARCIA OR THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UM, THE GUIDELINES FOR THE WORKING GROUP THAT MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT HAS SET OUT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE NEFARIOUS ABOUT THAT.
THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION IS, IS THAT IF WE AS A MUSIC COMMISSION ARE RECOMMENDING GUIDELINES TO MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, OR TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THOSE GUIDELINES ARE BEING KIND OF SIDELINED WHILE OTHER GUIDELINES ARE PUT IN PLACE, THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR OUR MUSIC COMMISSION.
THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR US TO EFFICIENTLY BE ABLE TO DO OUR JOBS.
NOW, YOU DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, AND THAT'S FINE.
UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE HARD CONVERSATIONS, I BELIEVE THAT THE HARD CONVERSATIONS ARE NECESSARY.
UM, AND I'M WILLING TO HAVE THEM, AND I'M WILLING TO HAVE THOSE TALKS.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO COME TO THE TABLE AND BE HONEST AND TALK.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE A FUND FOR A, FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE AS A WHOLE, AS AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM, AND NOT HAVE IT BE JUST FOR A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF ONE ORGANIZATION.
AND I WILL ALSO SAY THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS RELATES TO IT.
THERE ARE 11 PEOPLE AND ONE PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING, GRANT FUNDING AS IT RELATES TO LIVE MUSIC.
THERE ARE 11 PEOPLE OUT OF $9 MILLION OUT OF 1700 APPLICANTS, THERE ARE 11 PEOPLE FROM ONE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS RECEIVED MONEY FROM THIS FUND.
THE CHANCES OF THAT HAPPENING STATISTICALLY TOGETHER ARE LESS THAN 1%.
11 MUSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO A PARTICULAR NONPROFIT OUT OF THE ENTIRE APPLICANT POOL.
STATISTICALLY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AN ANOMALY OF LESS THAN 1% THE PROBLEM.
UH, SO THE, SO IF THE, GOING BACK TO THE EFFICACY RATES HERE, 22% OF VENUES WERE ACTUALLY FUNDED, UM, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE APPLICANTS IN THRIVE, ELEVATE AND NEXUS, THE EFFICACY RATE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS IS 2340 AND 45% RESPECTIVELY.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND IS GET TO A MINIMAL EFFICACY RATE OF AT LEAST 22 TO 23%.
WE ACCOMPLISH THAT WITH THE NEW GUIDELINES THAT ARE SET FORTH BY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THOSE NEW MUSIC GUIDELINES DID NOT COME FROM US.
THEY CAME FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE GUIDELINES CAME FROM, UH, UH, UH, UH, A, A, A PLACE OF WHO KNOWS.
AND THOSE GUIDELINES WERE THEN GIVEN TO US AND PRESENTED AS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, NOT EVEN 48 HOURS LATER, KUTX IS PICKING THIS UP AS THIS IS THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT ROLLOUT OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
AGAIN, IT UNDERMINES THE HARD WORK THAT THIS COMMISSION IS ACTUALLY
[01:50:01]
DOING.AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE, OR WE'LL WATCH THIS LATER, I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS EXACT SAME THING FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
SO YOU COULD PROBABLY UNDERSTAND WHY I'M HERE ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAAS AND WHY, UH, I'M GIVING A PRESENTATION LIKE THIS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT $5,000 AND $20,000 GO TO THE ARTIST.
WE'RE USING CREDENTIAL AS A, AS A MEANS OF DETERMINING WHAT AN ARTIST IS TO RECEIVE.
LIKE BASICALLY WHAT AN ARTIST, UM, IS RECEIVING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AS AN ARTIST.
AND THEY WERE BASICALLY GOING YES OR NO AFTER THAT, AFTER WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ESTABLISHED OR EMERGING, WHICH, BY THE WAY, THIS SAME EXACT NONPROFIT USES THIS SAME EXACT TERMINOLOGY TO DESCRIBE THEIR ARTISTS ON THEIR WEBSITE ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING.
JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
MIGHT WANNA CHANGE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SO USING THEIR CREDENTIALS FOR THE ARTIST.
WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE AN ARTIST THAT JUST MOVED HERE, AND MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR A, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT THEY'RE WAY MORE ESTABLISHED IN ANOTHER CITY, BUT THEY'VE COME HERE AND NOW THEY WANT TO KIND OF GET THEIR FEET WET.
ARE THEY EMERGING OR ARE THEY ESTABLISHED? WHAT SIZE GRANT DO THEY QUALIFY FOR WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR THEM TO DO? THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
UM, AND THEN, AND THEN THE ARTIST, ACTUALLY, THE PROJECT IS DETERMINED AFTER THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS DOOR OF EITHER THE NARROW $5,000 OR THE Y $20,000.
UM, THE, AGAIN, THE EMERGE THE EMERGING ARTIST.
UH, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO CONSIDER QUESTIONING, UM, AROUND THAT WITH, UH, HOWEVER, YOU'RE GOING TO DEFINE HOW YOU'RE GONNA DISTRIBUTE THIS MONEY.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO REWRITE THE TAX CODE, OR YOU'RE OPENING UP YOURSELF TO BE SUED, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, SOME SORT OF GUIDELINE THAT YOU'RE JUST PUTTING IN AND NOT REALLY CHECKING AND, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UM, HOW TO QUANTIFY AN ARTIST RECEIVING OR DESERVING OF SOME FUN.
UH, THE QUESTIONS CONCERNING ACCESSIBILITY, UH, THE SHOULD NOT REALLY BE ON THE ONUS OF THE ARTISTS THEMSELVES.
UH, THE POINT OF ACCESSIBILITY QUESTIONS, UH, WE HAVE PHONES, WE HAVE TABLETS, WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY.
THERE'S THE INTERNET, THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE WEB BROWSER OUT THERE, EVERY SINGLE DEVICE THAT'S ELECTRONIC HAS THE ABILITY TO HAVE PROVISIONS WITHIN THEM THAT WILL GIVE ACCESSIBILITY TO PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THESE DEVICES.
AND THE ONUS SHOULD NOT BE ON, UH, THE ARTISTS IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
UM, YOU ARE NOT REWARDING ARTISTS FOR HAVING ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES IN THEIR PROGRAMMING.
YOU'RE SIMPLY PENALIZING THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME IDEAS IN MIND CONCERNING THEIR APPLICATIONS.
THERE WILL BE PROJECTS WHERE AN ACCESSIBILITY ISN'T A MAIN COMPONENT OR SIMPLY DOESN'T APPLY AT ALL.
THESE ARTISTS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY DO HAS TO BE AND HAS TO BE MAINTAINED.
IT DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER HOOP TO JUMP THROUGH JUST TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST.
AND AUSTIN, OR THE ETJ, THE QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACK QUESTION, EXCUSE ME.
UH, THE QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACK QUESTION.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACT IS EXACTLY, IT'S A GEOGRAPHIC AREA DEFINED BY THE UNITED STATES, UH, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD, WHERE AT LEAST 50% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE INCOMES BELOW 60%.
THE MEDIAN AREA INCOME, GROSS INCOME, EXCUSE ME.
UH, OR WHETHER POVERTY RATE IS 25% OR HIGHER.
ALL THE QUESTIONS CONCERNING QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACKS LOCATION OF RESIDENCE EXCEPT FOR VERIFICATION OF RESIDING IN AUSTIN OR THE ETJ SHOULD BE REMOVED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, IT PENALIZES AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO DO NOT LIVE WITHIN THE, WITHIN A QCT.
NOWHERE IN HOT GUIDELINES 1 56, 3 51 OR 3 52, DOES IT STATE THAT A QT, THAT A QCT IS REQUIRED FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION.
SO WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS THEN? WE KEEP IT SIMPLE.
WE ABIDE BY THE HOT GUIDELINES, MAKING SURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS ARE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROJECTS THAT IS IN, IN AN EXHIBITION FORMAT.
WE CREATE THE MOST EQUITABLE GRANT PROGRAM THIS YEAR, GIVING HUNDREDS OF GRANTS TO MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS AND VENUES.
WE GO BACK TO A PROJECT BASED APPLICATION THAT IS PEER REVIEWED IN ADDITION TO BEING SCORED BY AN ALGORITHM.
[01:55:01]
NOW, MAYBE THIS PART OF IT WILL WORK OUT IN 2026 BECAUSE THRIVE IS ALREADY, UM, NEXT EXCUSE, EXCUSE ME, NEXUS IS ALREADY OUT.UM, SO, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT A PEER REVIEW IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING BEING DONE BY A ROBOT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IS ALREADY BAKED INTO THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF OUR INTENDED APPLICANTS.
UM, THAT PROBABLY SOUNDS CRAZY.
UM, BUT WE DON'T, THE BENEFACTORS OF DEI, UM, THIS IS ACCORDING TO, UH, UH, UH, UA US, UH, ARTICLE, I'M SORRY, MS. MICROSOFT NETWORK ARTICLE THAT I HAVEN'T READ MSF FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT IT REFERENCES THE U UH, THE, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
UM, WHITE WOMEN ARE ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST BENEFACTORS OF DEI.
LATINO AND HISPANIC AND HISPANIC AMERICANS COME IN SECOND.
ASIAN AMERICANS THIRD NATIVE AMERICANS, FOURTH FOLLOW UP VETERANS, L-G-P-T-Q-I-A, AND THEN AFRICAN AMERICANS.
SO WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE INJECTING DEI INTO ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING.
THE LAST FUND OF THE APPLICATION, 39% WHITE.
THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE HAVE A MAJORITY WHITE DEMOGRAPHIC HERE IN AUSTIN OF THE ETJ AND MSA, BUT HISPANIC AND LATINO AMERICANS ARE 21% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 16% MULTIRACIAL, 8% ASIAN AMERICAN, 3%, PREFER NOT TO SAY 6%.
WE COULD DO A LOT OF REALLY GREAT THINGS WITH THESE NUMBERS, UM, BY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK, JUST BY A SIMPLE WAY OF, OF, OF TARGETING, UM, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THESE APPLICATIONS.
IT'S, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE THING TO DO.
UM, AND WE COULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY, WE CAN ENCOURAGE ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING AND PUBLIC OUTREACH, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A VERY SMART AND SYSTEMATIC WAY.
WHERE DO WE WANNA SEE THESE NUMBERS MOVED TO? IT'S ALREADY BAKED INTO OUR RESULTS AND, AND INTO OUR FUND.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS PROJECT BASED, NOT MERIT BASED APPLICATIONS.
UH, VERIFICATION, TWO FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION TO PROVE THAT THE ART IS HIS, WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE, AND THAT THEY LIVE WHERE THEY SAY THEY ACTUALLY LIVE THE PROJECT.
WHAT DOES THE ARTIST WANT TO DO? THE PROJECT CAN BE, CANNOT JUST BE SOME STUDIO PROJECT.
IF THERE HAS TO BE AN EXHIBITION KUBOTA TO THE WORK.
AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO STUDIOS TO, TO, TO MUSICIANS GOING INTO STUDIOS AND DOING THESE THINGS IN THE STUDIO.
I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD THING AND IT'S NECESSARY, BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN EXHIBITION COMPONENT TO WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD, UM, PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT HAVE THOSE THINGS IN MIND.
BUT I HAVE ALSO SEEN, UM, AND TALKED TO A, A FEW MUSICIANS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAD AND, AND, AND THEY ARE, UM, DISAPPOINTED, AND THEY HONESTLY FEEL LIKE THE CITY LET THEM DOWN IN SOME WAY BECAUSE OF THIS.
BECAUSE YOU GIVE THEM ALL THIS MONEY AND THEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
AND THERE'S TRAINING PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON HOW YOU SHOULD USE THE FUNDS, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE COULD DO RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM THAT DIFFERENT BOOKING AGENCIES, DIFFERENT TALENT AGENCIES, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO, TO, TO LITERALLY INNOVATE THE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER GROUP JUST DECIDING THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, GONNA JUST, YOU KNOW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SYSTEM AND THE PROOF OF WORK.
WHAT HAS THE ARTIST DONE TO QUALIFY THEM RECEIVING THE FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT THAT THEY WANT TO CREATE? THAT'S WHERE THE 10 YEAR QUESTION COMES FROM.
AND THE RECORD OF SUSTAINABILITY.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE SO FAR INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR CAREER WITHOUT LMF TO BASICALLY JUSTIFY ASKING FOR THESE FUNDS? WE START WITH A PROJECT BASED APPLICATION TO FUND THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS, DEPENDING ON THE NEED AND DEMONSTRATION OF THE ARTIST TENURE.
NUMBER ONE IS A MICRO-GRANT, SMALL PUBLIC FACING PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE TOURISM AND ARE IMPACTFUL FOR TOURISM IN AUSTIN.
SECOND PROJECT, INTERMEDIATE SIZE GRANTS AT $10,000 FOR MORE AMBITIOUS PROJECTS, SMALL FESTIVALS, MUSIC RELEASES WITH VIDEO COMPONENT MIXING, MASTERING MERCHANDISE, PRESSING DISTRIBUTION, EXPANDED GRANTS, $15,000 FOR MORE EXPANDED PROJECTS THAT MAY REQUIRE A COMPONENT
[02:00:01]
OF A RELEASE, HEAVIER PRODUCTION, TOURING, ET CETERA.AND THE 15,000, I DIDN'T PUT THIS IN THERE, WOULD BE FOR TWO YEARS WITH A FOUR POINT WITH A THOUSAND APPLICANTS, ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE A THOUSAND APPLICANTS WITH A 4.5 MILLION BUDGET, $4.5 MILLION BUDGET, EXCUSE ME, THAT'S MUSICIANS RECEIVING $1 MILLION AT 7 18, 17 VENUES AT $60,000 EACH.
$3.46 MILLION WILL GO TO MUSICIANS.
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THAN THAT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT I, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THAT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE.
SO, MICROGRANTS AT 15, UH, AT 5K 115 FUND, 115 SMALL PROJECTS, INTERMEDIATE SIZED GRANTS AT 10,000 115.
THAT'S ALREADY BETTER THAN THE LAST TWO FUNDS COMBINED.
THAT'S BETTER THAN THE LAST FUND.
AND 116 GRANTS FOR, UH, THAT ARE EXPANDED FOR PROJECTS TOTALING 346 FUNDED APPLICATIONS AND $1 MILLION FOR MUSIC VENUES, 17 OF THEM AT $60,000 EACH GRANT, RECIPROCITY SHOULD ALSO, BY THE WAY, EXIST, AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR LATER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE APPLICANT POOL OF MUSICIANS APPLYING FOR FUNDING.
NEXT IS AN ELEVATE SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECIPROCITY.
CULTURAL ARTS AND MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO STREAMLINE THEIR GRANT PROCESSES.
ONE APPLICATION THROUGH SUBMITTABLE FOR MULTIPLE GRANT PROGRAMS. IF A HIGH SCORING APPLICANT IS DENIED LIVE, LIVE MUSIC FUND, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EXHAUSTED FUNDING, THEIR APPLICATION SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE CONSIDERED OR MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE FOR NEXUS OR ELEVATE, BECAUSE THERE ARE MUSICIANS THAT HAVE ALSO RECEIVED ELEVATE AS WELL.
VERIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS AND PROVISIONS FOR LIVE MUSIC FUND AWARDS SHOULD BE TIGHTER, VERIFY THE APPLICANTS LIVE WHERE THEY SAY THEY LIVE.
INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS SHOULD HAVE TIGHTER REQUIREMENTS WHEN APPLYING FOR GRANTS, MEANING THAT MUSICIANS SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO APPLY AS INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS JUST BECAUSE THEY PUT ON A FEW SHOWS A YEAR.
MUSIC VENUES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY LOCAL ARTIST GUARANTEES IF THEY ARE, IF THEY'RE RECEIVING LIVE MUSIC FUNDING.
THESE GUARANTEES SHOULD REFLECT THE STANDARD CITY RATE OF PAY OF COMPENSATION FOR MUSICIANS.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY A VENUE SHOULD BE GETTING $60,000 AND THEY'RE NOT GIVING THAT MONEY DIRECTLY TO MUSICIANS, OR AT LEAST SOME OF IT.
ACCESSIBILITY SHOULD BE ON THE ONUS OF THE MUSIC VENUES BECAUSE THEY, THEY ALREADY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH CITY CODE IN ORDER TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AND STAY IN BUSINESS.
LET'S CREATE THE MOST EQUITABLE GUIDELINES FOR LIVE MUSIC FUND 25 26, AND LET'S RECOMMEND THOSE GUIDELINES TO COUNSEL SO THAT THEY GET DONE EXACTLY THE WAY THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THEM.
I'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
AL UH, UH, SCOTT, THAT WAS, UH, REALLY INTERESTING STUFF.
THERE WERE A LOT OF NUMBERS THAT WERE GOING AROUND.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS SHOOT, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE BIG PICTURE THAT GETS PAINTED.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THIS YEAR ARTISTS GOT MUCH BIGGER GRANTS YES.
THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR, UH, MORE THAN THE MUSIC COMMISSION REQUESTED FROM OUR, OUR WORKING GROUPS.
UM, YOU ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THESE ARTISTS WITH LARGE GRANTS, UH, ENGAGED IN WITH THE MONEY ARE THOSE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF WHAT IS ALLOWED BY THE HOT TAX, UH, UH, BY THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
CORRECT? THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT I SAID.
COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL, WHAT I, WHAT I POINTED OUT WAS THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, AND IT'S, AND IT'S RARE, IT'S NOT VERY MANY OF THEM.
BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UH, USED THOSE FUNDS FOR SPECIFICALLY A STUDIO PROJECT THAT MAY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO COME OUT.
UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, AN ORGANIZATION.
CORRECT? UH, HOW MANY MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE THERE? I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S NOT ON, IT'S NOT ON THEIR WEBSITE.
UH, BUT YOU MEANT, BUT YOU SUSPECT THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THAT ORGANIZATION ARE GETTING THESE VERY LARGE GRANTS.
AND YOU'VE ALSO, UH, POINTED OUT THAT SOMEBODY FROM THAT ORGANIZATION, I'M, I ASSUME WE'RE TALKING, UH, UH, FORMER CHAIR GARCIA HERE.
UH, ARE WE TALKING THE SAME ORGANIZATION? CORRECT.
SO SOMEONE FROM THAT VERY SAME ORGANIZATION HAPPENED TO KNOW THE CITY GUIDELINES BEFORE THE MUSIC COMMISSIONERS DID.
BUT THAT, THAT MAY BE THE CASE.
THAT IS, I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE ON THAT.
[02:05:01]
IS THAT THERE ARE MUSICIANS THAT ARE FEATURED ON THIS WEBSITE THAT HAVE BEEN AND ARE AFFILIATED WITH, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION.AND THOSE MUSICIANS HAVE ALSO RECEIVED GRANTS.
NOW, THAT BEING SAID, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
OH, THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH AN ORGANIZATION HELPING RE HELPING MUSICIANS RECEIVE GRANTS.
THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MUSICIANS RECEIVING THE GRANTS.
THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION TALKING TO, UH, A MEMBER OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE OUT THINGS.
I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THEIR JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AS A BODY AND AS A COMMISSION.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE, WHEN YOU ARE DIRECTING POLICY FROM ONE ORGANIZATION TO SERVE, ANOTHER THING IS, AM I, IF I, IF I'M MAKING SENSE THERE, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE PROBLEM.
BECAUSE IT UNDERMINES THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALL DOING BEHIND THIS DAIS ONCE A MONTH.
AND, AND FINALLY, THAT THE GUIDELINES FOR THE 2024 GRANTS WERE NOT WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED, BUT THEY WERE NOT, NOT WHAT WE RECOMMENDED TO EDD.
THEY WERE INSTEAD WHAT THE LONG CENTER AND EDD DECIDED WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR PROCEDURAL REASONS AND WERE PRESENTED TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION WITHOUT ADEQUATE DISCUSSION OR ACCOUNTABILITY.
I, I, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE DISCUSSION.
IT WAS, I, I BELIEVE THE DISCUSSION WAS VERY PASSIONATE.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT I DID ASK, UH, UH, ERICA SHAMLEY IF THAT WAS, IF SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA, AND SHE SAID YES, AND THEN THEY WENT AND DID THEIR THING.
UM, AND THEN 10% OF MUSICIANS GOT FUNDED.
AND I, AND I WANT, AND I WANNA SPEAK TO THAT TOO, AND I, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE POOL OF MUSICIANS HERE, AND AUSTIN IS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
AND THE REASON WHY I'M SAYING THAT IN THIS CONTEXT IS BECAUSE DURING THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT, MUSICIANS WOULD BASICALLY COME DOWN THROUGH THE SOUTH AND PLAY AT THESE JUKE JOINTS AND THESE LITTLE SMALL BARS INSTEAD OF PLAYING IN THE GRAND OLE OPRY AND ALL THESE OTHER PLACES.
THE REASON WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE.
AND WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT BASICALLY, IF THERE WERE NO MUSICIANS HERE, THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE NO LIVE MUSIC.
THIS IS A CITY THAT WAS BUILT ON LIVE MUSIC, WAS BUILT ON TECH, BUT WAS ALSO BUILT MAINLY ON LIVE MUSIC.
AND SO FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAXES THAT ARE COLLECTED ARE IN A LARGE PART, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THESE MUSICIANS ARE HERE AND THEY'RE PLAYING MUSIC, RIGHT? SO IF THAT'S THE CASE AND THEY GET 10% OF THE FUND, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.
IT WAS A WRONG DECISION TO DO THAT.
AND I SAY THAT AS SOMEONE THAT APPLIED FOR THE GRANT, I APPLIED FOR IT AND I GOT DENIED THE GRANT.
AND I TOOK SOME TIME AND I WAS ANGRY ABOUT IT.
BUT THEN I STARTED ASKING SOME QUESTIONS AND THIS BECAME WAY BIGGER THAN ME.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER? COMMISSIONER CARVALHO? UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.
I, AND I DON'T HAVE, LIKE A REALLY BIG QUESTION, MOSTLY TO POINT OUT THAT NO ONE WOULD PUT FORTH THIS MUCH EFFORT IN RESEARCH IN TO THIS IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REALLY DEEP LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE MUSIC SCENE THAT THEY'RE SERVING.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR FERVOR AND PASSION AND YOUR INTELLIGENCE, AND IT REALLY COMES THROUGH WHEN YOU SPEAK.
AND I, I REALLY LIKE YOU FOR THAT.
UH, MY ONLY REAL QUESTION IS THAT THIS PRESENTATION DOESN'T, UH, REALLY PRESENT THE WAY THAT YOU PRESENTED IT.
IS THERE SOMEWHERE THAT I CAN SEE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE PUT OUT SOMEWHERE THAT, THAT I CAN KIND OF DISSECT IT ON MY OWN? IT TAKES ME LONGER THAN TO NO, IT'S, IT'S OKAY.
IT WAS A, IT WAS, I'M NOT THAT SMART.
I, NO, I PRINT, I, UH, PRINTED THIS OUT MYSELF AND I WAS LIKE, THAT'S A VERY LONG PRESENTATION.
IF YOU NEED IT, LET AGAIN, LET ME KNOW.
IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN, CHECK YOUR, CHECK YOUR ALERTNESS THE OTHER TIME, CHECK YOUR CALENDAR, AND THEN THE DOCUMENTS IN YOUR CALENDAR THROUGHOUT OUTLOOK.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
THAT WAS REALLY, UH, THOROUGH AND ALSO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, LIKE MM-HMM
YEAH, I LIKE THE MINIMALIST DESIGN.
UM, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT AS YOU WERE SPEAKING IS LIKE, UM, SO I THINK WE, WE DID VEER INTO LIKE, PROCE LIKE WORKING GROUP PROCEDURES, AND THAT MIGHT BE A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER TIME.
'CAUSE I, I DO THINK IT'S OKAY TO GO OUTSIDE THE WORKING GROUP AND ASK PEOPLE
[02:10:01]
THEIR OPINIONS.UM, ARE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T ON THE COMMISSION.
I MEAN, WHEN I WAS FIRST ON THE COMMISSION, THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT WAS ON TOURISM THAT LIKE, HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THINGS A LOT.
AND I WAS ON THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WORKING GROUP.
SO I DIDN'T EVER THINK THAT THAT WAS LIKE BAD
BUT THAT MIGHT BE A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.
UM, AND THEN I JUST ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO MY OWN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATUTE.
UM, THE, THE 3 5, 1 0.10, 1.4.
I, I, I FEEL LIKE THE LANGUAGE OF THE STATUTE, WELL, IT'S LIKE, IT'S SHORT AND IT'S BROAD, SO IT'S KIND OF OPEN TO INTERPRETATION.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THE, THE LANGUAGE THAT USES WORDS LIKE, UH, PROMOTION OF MUSIC AND ARTS AND, UH, STUDIO RECORDING IS SPECIFICALLY IN THERE.
AND ALSO TELEVISION RECORDING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE STATUTE WAS PROBABLY WRITTEN A LONG TIME AGO.
BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, TO ME THAT, UM, SAYS LIKE, VIDEO PROJECTS, LIKE, UM, LIKE A VIDEO PRODUCTION.
SO TO ME, LIKE THOSE THINGS ARE EXPLICITLY COVERED BY, IN MY INTERPRETATION OF THE STATUTE.
SO I, I THINK THAT THOSE ARE IMPORTANT USES OF THE FUND THAT EXTEND OUT, OF COURSE, LIVE MUSIC PER PERFORMANCE, LIKE OF COURSE THAT, THAT SHOULD IS PART OF IT.
BUT I, I THINK THAT IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE I, I, IF I'M, I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT I THINK THE FUNDS CAN BE SPENT, LIKE IF YOU HIRE A GRAPHIC DESIGNER TO DO YOUR ALBUM COVER, OKAY, STAFF IS NODDING AT ME.
SO THAT FALLS UNDER PROMOTION.
OR IF YOU HIRE SOMEBODY TO BUILD YOUR WEBSITE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PUT ON A BIG EVENT AND YOU, THERE, THERE'S, SO, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS THIS MONEY COULD BE SPENT, UM, THAT I, I FEEL LIKE IF THERE'S ANY MUSICIAN THAT REALLY IS, THEY, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW TO SPEND ALL THEIR FUNDS.
ALTHOUGH I THINK A BUDGET WAS PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO, BUT LIKE, I'M HAPPY TO, IF THEY WANNA REACH OUT TO ME, LIKE I'M HAPPY TO MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS JUST AS A PERSON THAT WORKS IN COMMUNICATIONS AND PROMOTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY CAN USE THAT, ANY UNSPENT FUNDS TO, TO BOOST THEIR CAREER.
'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE INTENT OF IT.
UM, AND I KNOW WE ARE, WE, WE'VE ALREADY REDUCED THE GRANT AMOUNT FROM 30 TO, TO 20 TO AN ANSWER TO THE, SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
I, I, I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I, I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT IT, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS TAPE AND SOUND RECORDING, WHICH COULD BE STUDIO, BUT IT ALSO COULD BE IN PUBLIC OR, OR SOMETHING.
THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE IN THESE GUIDELINES THAT, UM, SAY SPECIFICALLY THAT THE MONEY IS USED FOR STUDIO.
THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE THAT SAYS THAT.
AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE WOULD BE LIKE, SO FOR INSTANCE, PHOTOGRAPHY.
YOU COULD USE IT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, RIGHT? SO, BUT IF I'M AN, UM, AN ANALOG, IF I'M, YOU KNOW, IF I'M TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND I'M GOING IN MY DARK ROOM AND I'M MAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND I'M FRAMING THEM AND I'M PUTTING THEM UP IN MY HOUSE AND I'M USING HOT MONEY TO DO THAT, THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE HOT FUNDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR, TO PUBLICLY EXHIBIT THE ART THAT YOU ARE CREATING IN THE STUDIO.
AND THE GUIDELINES DON'T SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT YOU CAN USE THE MONEY FOR A STUDIO PERFORMANCE.
AND SO IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE 49% STUDIO AND THEN 51% EXHIBITION.
BUT, UM, THERE IS, THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS THAT SAYS THAT I CAN GO IN THE STUDIO AND SPEND ALL OF THIS MONEY DOING THIS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IT.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
SO, WAS CITY LEGAL, I MEAN THIS YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY TOO.
COMMISSIONER SAID THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND.
THIS WAS, UM, DEFINITELY, UM, I KNOW YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT.
UM, AND IT WAS DEFINITELY A DEEP DIVE INTO A LOT OF THOUGHTS THAT I THINK, I KNOW I'M STILL PROCESSING A LOT OF THE INFORMATION.
UM, SO, BUT I'M NOT ON THE WORKING GROUP FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, BUT WHO ALL, JUST FOR PUBLIC, WHO ALL WAS ON THE LIVE, THE WORKING GROUP? SO, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS FROM THE COMMISSION, UM, I CHAIRED THE GROUP.
UH, WE HAD, UH, COMMISSIONER CARVALHO, WE HAD, UH, COMMISSIONER PRICE, SO, UM, AS THREE COMMISSIONERS AND, AND COMMISSIONER, YES, I ATTENDED ONE MEETING.
UM, SO THESE WERE THREE COMMISSIONERS THAT, UH, WHERE, YOU KNOW, AVAILABLE FOR SURE, UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND, UH, WHO HAD INFORMED US THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA BE AVAILABLE AT THE COMMISSION TILL MARCH.
UH, BUT I DID COURTEOUSLY REACH OUT AND HE WAS AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN IN PART OF THE SESSIONS.
[02:15:01]
UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE, UM, UH, MS. KAPALO, NICOLE KAPALO HAD REACHED OUT TO ME, UM, ASKING TO PARTICIPATE.SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS A COURTESY, YOU KNOW, I REACHED OUT TO HER AND WE GOT HER ADDED TO THE GROUP.
UM, COMMISSIONER PRICE, UM, SUGGESTED TO BRING IN, UM, MR. PAT BTA, UM, SINCE HE'S BEEN COMING AND GIVING US FEEDBACK FROM A TXM MEMBERSHIP.
UM, IF THE COMMISSION REMEMBERS I FOR HAVING ENGAGED, UH, UH, MR. KAPALO AND MR. BTA, UH, IS THE REASON WHY I ENDED UP MAKING ASK AT THE COMMISSION TO SEE IF WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANY MORE MEMBERS.
UM, BUT THAT WAS THE, UH, SUM TOTAL MEMBERSHIP.
WE HAD A VERY SHORT RUN OF ONE MONTH TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST NOTE THAT GAVIN GARCIA AND I IN OUR WORKING GROUP, EITHER CORRECT.
I'M, UM, I THINK THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT, I I KNOW OBVIOUSLY WHO GAVIN GARCIA IS.
I DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH CONTACT WITH HIM.
OH, SORRY, WHAT WAS THE COMMENT AGAIN ELSE THAT HE WAS, THAT HE'S NOT IN OUR WORKING GROUP.
RIGHT? OF COURSE HE'S NOT, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WHOLE PIECE CAME FROM, BUT WE'LL COULD PUT A PIN IN THAT FOR NOW.
IN TERMS OF THE GAVIN GARCIA PIECE.
UM, SO YOU ALL GOT TOGETHER, YOU WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND ONE OF THE MEETINGS I ATTENDED, I DID ATTEND ONE OF THE MEETINGS.
UH, THE MEETINGS BASICALLY, UH, THE WAY THAT THE MEETING STARTED WAS WE WENT DIRECTLY FROM THE GUIDELINES THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT SET FORTH, WHICH WAS A COMPLETE NON-STARTER FOR ME.
SO I DECIDED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET THAT FEEDBACK, AND THEN I JUST DECIDED IT'S NOT WORTH MY TIME TO BE THERE ANYMORE.
SO BASICALLY IT WAS A PRETTY ROBUST WORKING GROUP.
AND THEN ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN VOTE ON.
SO EVERYBODY PUT IN THEIR OPINIONS, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TEXAS, UM, AUSTIN, TEXAS MUSICIANS, YOU PUT IN YOUR SEPARATE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN VOTE ON TONIGHT.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND, UM, THAT YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RECOMMENDATION OUTSIDE OF THE WORKING GROUP, BASICALLY.
UM, BUT, AND THEN WITHIN THAT THERE ARE NUMBER OF POINTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND, BASED ON PREVIOUS MEETINGS, WE'VE ALREADY ANSWERED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
I PER, PER LEGAL, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND PER, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FROM LOCKHART SUBMITTING A GRANT THAT THEY WERE GONNA DO A PROGRAM IN AUSTIN, WE ALREADY SAID THAT WAS OKAY.
THERE'S, OKAY, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE THAN SEVERAL DISCUSSION POINTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY IRONED OUT IN 20 23, 20 24, CORRECT? CORRECT.
BUT THESE ARE JUST MORE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT WE SHOULD DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO HOW WE'RE USING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
I I, THE, THE DEEPER DIVE, UH, COMES FROM DOING MORE WORK TO ADMINISTER MORE GRANTS TO MORE MUSICIANS AND, AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS.
THE, THE FRAMEWORK IS THAT, THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, LEGAL OR, OR, OR, YOU KNOW, HOT GUIDELINES.
THOSE THINGS WE CAN WORK WITH, BUT THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO MORE MUSICIANS.
SO I, I GUESS WHAT WE HAVE ASKED CONSISTENTLY AND THE, OR I HAVE DEFINITELY THE LAST TWO MEETINGS.
SO FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS, WE SAID STAFF, HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS OUR TIMELINE? AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT, AND MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE COULD DO FOR OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE GRANT FUNDING PROCESS AT ALL THIS YEAR.
AND YOU, WE, SO WE'VE ALMOST REALLY RUN OUTTA TIME TO MAKE HUGE CHANGES RIGHT NOW.
SO THESE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE WORKING GROUP, YOU'RE, WE, WE WANNA MEMORIALIZE THIS INFORMATION AND WE WANNA LOOK AT IT AT A LATER TIME, BUT YOU WANT IT TO BE ARCHIVED AND MEMORIALIZED RIGHT NOW, CORRECT? NO, NO.
I, I, I WANT, I, I WANT THESE GUIDELINES HAVE AMENT FOR THIS YEAR, AND THE, FOR THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE, WHAT THE REASON IS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY SPEEDING THIS PROCESS UP.
UH, THE LAST ROUND OF FUNDING LAST YEAR DID NOT COME OUT UNTIL MAY.
AND THEN THEY, UH, THE PRO APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED UP UNTIL, I BELIEVE SOMETIME IN JUNE.
AND THEN MUSICIANS WERE NOTIFIED.
EVERYONE WAS NOTIFIED IN AUGUST THAT WHETHER THEY RECEIVED THE FUNDING OR DID NOT RECEIVE THE FUNDING, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY WE WERE SPEEDING IT UP LIKE THIS.
[02:20:01]
ACTUALLY, UM, WITH COMMISSIONER PRICE AND PAT BTA DID TALK TO TC BRANICK ABOUT, UH, THIS ISSUE.AND, UH, WE DID KIND OF, UH, BRANICK BASICALLY SAID THAT HE WOULD, UH, SEE WHAT HE COULD DO ABOUT DELAY, NOT DELAYING, BUT UM, SLOWING IT DOWN SO THAT WE'RE BACK ON THE SAME TIME STRUCTURE AS WE WERE LAST YEAR.
MY, MY, MY HYPOTHESIS, MY MY IDEAL IS THAT IF WE ROLL OUT ANOTHER FUND WITHOUT SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OF THAT FUND BEING ROLLED OUT, THERE'S GONNA BE MORE PEOPLE UPSET THAT THEY DIDN'T GET MONEY BECAUSE OF SOME SORT OF PROVISION OR SOMETHING.
BECAUSE WE'RE HASTILY MAKING DECISIONS INSTEAD OF REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
OKAY, SO, SO, I'M SORRY, THE LAST PART, I'M SORRY.
ONE LAST PART, THE OTHER PART, IT'S NOT GONNA PLEASE EVERYONE, BUT I BELIEVE THE GOAL IS TO TRY AND PLEASE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO BASICALLY WITHIN THIS, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING, WE'RE BUILDING A BIG SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ON YEAR TWO OF THIS, THIS THREE OF THIS WHOLE PROJECT.
AND, UM, WE'VE ALREADY ANSWERED SOME OF THESE THINGS PER, PER LEGAL AND BUILDING THESE, BUT YOU, YOU WANT TO CHANGE SOME OF THOSE FROM THE VERY, FROM THE, THE BEDROCK OF THE, SOME OF THE DEEPER THINGS CAN WAIT.
THE, MY BIGGEST CONCERN AGAIN, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING OUT AS MUCH MONEY TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE UP THE GUIDELINES FOR HOW WE ARE ADMINISTERING THESE GRANTS FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE SHOULD AWARD FIVE, 10, AND 15.
UM, I GUESS THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO COMMUNICATE, UM, VERY MUCH AT THIS, THIS JUNCTURE IS THAT STAFF YOU'VE ENDURED A LOT TONIGHT.
YOU, I I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW PERSONALLY FROM ME THAT, UM, THIS IS A CONTENTIOUS TIME RIGHT NOW IN SOCIAL MEDIA, ON FACEBOOK, ON INSTAGRAM, IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF ATTACKS BEING GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND, UM, I FIND IT IMPERATIVE THAT WE, UM, TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND THAT WE, UM, SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SOME OF THESE STAFF MEMBERS, I KNOW I'VE KNOWN GREG GONZALEZ IN THE 19 HUNDREDS OVER THERE, AND YOU'VE DONE, YOU'RE A MUSICIAN, YOU'RE A GRAMMY AWARD.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU OVER HERE ARE EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOBS, AND YOU TAKE THEM VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND I PERSONALLY HAVE FAITH IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU AS A COMMISSION.
AND WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT MUSICIANS OUT IN AUSTIN.
THIS IS, UM, AN EXTREMELY, UH, COMPLEX PROGRAM OF GIVING OUT $4.5 MILLION.
AND, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A BREATH HERE AND DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON THE GUY, THE WHAT YOU, THE, THE TIMELINE THAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT YOUR TEAM CAN HANDLE.
AND, UM, IF WE NEED TO BRING IN CITY COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR OR WHATEVER TO HELP US GET THIS DONE, THEN LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US AS A VOLUNTEER.
WE ARE ALL SEASONED PROFESSIONALS.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT COULD BE THE MAYOR OR THE CITY COUNCIL OR OUR FUTURE BOSS OR SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA BE IN OUR BAND.
SO WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE A LOT OF THESE IDEAS, A LOT OF THESE IDEAS I THINK WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED AND KIND OF FINALIZED, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT WE VOTE ON.
AM I CORRECT WITH THAT? IT'S, IT'S AN OUTCOME FROM THE WORKING GROUP.
SO I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW.
UH, CASDA, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, COMMISSIONER BLEVINS AND I WILL COME TO YOU NEXT.
UH, YES, I, I DID HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND, YOU, THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION IN HERE, AND SO I, I HOPE I'M UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THESE THINGS CORRECTLY.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF TAKE A PAUSE AND, AND LOOK AT SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INTO
[02:25:01]
THE NEXT, UM, CYCLE.I'M NOT COMFORTABLE MAKING A DECISION ON SOME OF THESE TONIGHT, BUT I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, ONE OF THE, AND MAYBE THIS IS A LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATION, THAT THE VENUES THAT WERE, ARE AWARDED $60,000, UM, THAT THEY GIVE 51% OF THEIR INCOME TO MUSICIANS.
IS THAT WHAT IT, IT DOES, IT, IT DOESN'T HA I, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE 51%, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE DOING A LIVE MUSIC FUND, UH, FOR VENUES AND MUSICIANS, THEN IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT, UH, THAT MUSICIANS WERE COMPENSATED FAIRLY FOR MUSIC, FOR VENUES THAT ARE NOT ONLY RECEIVING, UM, AND, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE LIVE MUSIC FUND MONEY, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE LIQUOR TAX REBATE PROGRAM, OF WHICH QUITE A BIT OF THAT MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN, UH, RECOUPED ON THEIR END AS WELL.
DO WE KNOW WHAT, FOR THOSE PROMOTERS OR VENUES, EXCUSE ME, THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED, UM, THESE GRANTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHAT THEY'VE SPECIFICALLY USED THOSE FUNDS FOR? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PUBLIC OR NOT.
HEY, PEDRO'S NODDING HIS HEAD YES, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW.
AREN'T WE EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WITH HOW THEY USE THE FUNDS? SO ESSENTIALLY, UM, YOU CAN USE THE FUNDS FOR ANYTHING THAT'S ALLOWED, UH, LISTED AS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE, UM, UNDER, UM, UNDER THE, UM, THE GUIDELINES BASICALLY.
AND THAT COULD BE RENT, IT COULD BE PROGRAMMING, OUTREACH, UH, MARKETING, UM, A MYRIAD OF EXPENSES THAT ARE LOVABLE UNDER HOT CODE.
AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO KIND OF A LIST OF INELIGIBLE EXPENSES, UH, THAT ARE ALREADY, UH, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THE COMMON ONES THAT ARE LISTED.
UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS WITH REGARDS TO A PERCENTAGE OF THE APPLICANT WHO SCORE, UM, GET A HIGH SCORE, BUT THEY DON'T RECEIVE A GRANT THAT THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THRIVE ARE NEXUS? YES.
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THOSE OTHER ARTISTS WHO ARE CREATIVES WHO ARE APPLYING FOR GRANTS WHO THRIVE ARE NEXUS AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT THROUGH THE LIVE MUSIC FUND LEGALLY.
UM, YOU CANNOT APPLY, YOU CANNOT GET A GRANT FROM BOTH SIDES.
UH, BUT THE CODE, UH, BASICALLY PROHIBITS YOU GETTING A GRANT ON THE LIVE, ON THE MUSIC SIDE AND ALSO ON THE, UH, CULTURAL OUTSIDE WITHIN THE SAME YEAR.
THAT, AND, AND JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THE MUSICIANS THAT, OR INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS THAT GOT DENIED THAT WE'RE HIGH SCORING APPLICANTS, YES, THEY MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE, DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GONNA GET THE APPLICATION, BUT IT DOES, YOU KNOW, IMPLY THAT, UH, THAT THERE'S A CHANCE FOR THEM TO, UH, THAT WE'RE CROSS POLLINATING BETWEEN DIFFERENT PLATFORMS AND ALSO THIS IS, AND THAT, THAT PART OF IT, THAT PART OF THE PROVISION, I BELIEVE SHOULD BE A LONG-TERM PROVISION AND, UH, WITH OUR, UH, WITH THE RELEASE OF 26 27, UH, LIVE MUSIC FUND.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW.
AND ALSO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE, RIGHT? ABOUT ARTISTS COMING OVER AND BASICALLY HAVING THEIR LIVE MUSIC FUND, ONCE WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO ACTUALLY ADMINISTER 20, 30 AND $40,000 GRANTS, IF WE CAN GET THIS STR STUFF DONE, THEN I WOULD, I I, I THINK IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
I MEAN, IT, IT'S ALREADY ALLOWED, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD, UH, ALL OF THE ARTISTS ARE BASICALLY SHARE IN THE SAME POT DEPENDING ON THEIR CONCENTRATION, THEIR MEDIUM, AND WHAT IS THE, WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO DO ANYWHERE FROM 5,000 TO, YOU KNOW, 30 OR $40,000 GRANTS ONCE WE ACTUALLY GET THIS STR TAX SITUATION FIGURED OUT.
GOT, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AL.
UH, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF.
UH, THE LONG CENTER ADMINISTERS THE GRANTS, AND I WOULD SUSPECT, I DON'T, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE NUMBERS, BUT IT COSTS THEM ALMOST AS MUCH, UH, TO DO A $5,000 GRANT AS IT DOES TO DO A $30,000 GRANT TO AN INDIVIDUAL MUSICIAN.
AND ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS HAS BEEN, UH, JUSTIFIABLY, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY FROM THE LIVE MUSIC FUND GOES TO MUSICIANS AND DOESN'T GET TAKEN UP BY THE LONG CENTER? AND
[02:30:01]
IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF GRANT, UH, GRANT FUNDING FOR MUSICIANS, AS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT HERE, UH, I PRESUME THAT WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY GOING TO THE MUSICIANS AND A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL MONEY GOING TO THE LONG CENTER.UH, AM I RIGHT IN THAT ASSUMPTION? AND IF WE WERE WILLING TO TOLERATE A HIGHER COMMISSION GOING TO THE LONG CENTER, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE SMALLER GRANTS FOR MUSICIANS? HELLO EVERYONE, UM, ERICA SHANLEY, MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION MANAGER.
UH, REGARDLESS IF IT'S ANY THIRD PARTY, WHETHER IT'S A LONG CENTER OR ANOTHER THIRD PARTY OR CITY STAFF, UH, EACH GRANT, UH, EQUATES TO A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT HAS TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, MONITORED AND MANAGED ALL THE WAY FROM ALL THE REPORTING, YOU KNOW, AND THE PROGRESS REPORTS, THE REPORTING AND THE PAYMENTS.
UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WANTED TO DO HIGHER GRANTS WAS, AS WE'VE STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED IT MANY TIMES, IS, UM, BETTER INVESTMENT A MORE, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED INVESTMENT IN THE CAREERS AND BUSINESSES OF OUR APPLICANTS AND AUTHORITIES.
BUT ALSO IT DOES, YEAH, IT'S COST MORE ADMINISTRATIVELY.
THE MORE GRANT AGREEMENTS YOU HAVE, THE MORE, UH, PROGRESS REPORTS YOU HAVE TO CHECK.
AND THE MORE YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF TRANSPARENT POLICY AND PROCESSES THAT ENSURE AN AUDIT PROOF, YOU KNOW, USE OF THE FUNDS, WHICH ARE TAX FUNDS.
AND THAT IT'S NOT THE THIRD PARTY, IT'S NOT JUST THE LONG CENTER, IT'S CITY STAFF.
IT'S WHATEV WHOEVER HAS TO DO IT.
SO, UM, WHAT I WOULD THEN FOLLOW UP WITH IS WITH THIS HIGHER AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GRANT MORE ARTISTS, GRANTS AND, UH, OF, BUT OF SMALLER AMOUNTS, UH, OUR TRANSACTIONAL COSTS ARE GOING TO GO WAY UP.
AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE WORKING GROUP DISCUSSED AND IS THAT SOME, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW DO WE FEEL AS A COM AS A COMMISSION ABOUT OUR TRANSACTIONAL COSTS GOING UP? WE DIDN'T, UH, SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS, UH, TRANSACTIONAL COSTS.
UM, WE DISCUSSED BASICALLY THE TWO CATEGORIES, UH, OF THE 5,000 AND 20,000 ALSO SAW, UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND'S RECOMMENDATION OF FIVE, 10, AND 15.
UM, AT THE END WE CAME OUT, AS YOU ALSO SAW IN MR. BTAS PRESENTATION AS WELL, WITH, UH, UH, WITH 5,000 AND 20,000, UM, ASSUMING THAT THIS WOULD NOW INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GRANTS ANYWAY WITH, WITH GIVING $5,000 GRANTS.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN ESTABLISHED OR A TENURED ARTIST, UM, UM, EVEN IF I GO INTO THE STUDIO, $20,000 TO MAKE AN ALBUM IS, UH, IT'S NOT EXTRAVAGANT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT, IT TAKES THAT MONEY ONCE YOU HAVE TO RECORD RELEASE, MAYBE GET A LITTLE BIT OF PR, UH, SO $20,000 TO DO AN ALBUM OR VIDEOS OR, UM, UH, FOR AN INDEPENDENT PROMOTER TO, UM, DO A A COUPLE OF SHOWS AT SOME STANDARD VENUES, UM, IS NOT, UH, IS, IS, IT'S VERY, UH, IT'S, IT'S VERY DOABLE.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY, NEITHER IS IT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IT'S JUST, IT IS AN A NUMBER THAT HAS REAL IMPACT ON SOMEBODY'S CAREER.
UM, AND I THINK THE WAY WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS OKAY, AND I COULD SPEAK MORE TO IT IN THE NEXT TWO AGENDA ITEMS, UH, UH, IS THAT THIS IS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, SO SOMEBODY WHO GETS A 20 K GRANT CANNOT APPLY FOR IT AGAIN IN THE NEXT YEAR, ESSENTIALLY.
SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK THERE.
UM, I DO WANT TO DO A QUICK TIME CHECK.
WE HAVE TWO MORE AGENDA ITEMS TO GO.
UM, IF COMMISSIONERS COULD PLEASE, UH, UH, COMPLETE THEIR QUESTIONS OR IF YOU COULD PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS POINT.
UH, CLOSING STATEMENT HERE, I DO WANNA SAY THAT I DO RESPECT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
I DO, BUT IT IS ALSO, UH, UH, MY JOB AS A CITY COMMISSIONER TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M GIVING THE BEST FEEDBACK THAT I CAN AND DOING THE BEST JOB THAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST JOB THAT WE CAN DO.
UH, THE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AWARDING $5,000 GRANTS AND $20,000 GRANTS VERSUS AWARDING 10, 5, 10, AND 15.
I BELIEVE THAT NUMBER'S PROBABLY LIKE 50 OR 60 OR SOMETHING WITHIN THERE.
THAT'S THE, LIKE, THE DIFFERENCE, THE COLLECTIVE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIVE AND 10 VERSUS FIVE, 10 AND 15, I'M SORRY, FIVE AND 20 VERSUS FIVE, 10, AND 15.
[02:35:01]
IS NOT, I DON'T THINK ENOUGH TO MAKE A HILL OF BEANS ABOUT.UM, AND I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A HILL THAT I'M WILLING TO DIE ON.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'LL COME BACK TO THE DICE NOW.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND.
I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO JUST ADD THAT YOU WILL, UM, A LOT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, ACTUALLY, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN REFLECTED, UM, IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S BEING PUT UP FOR VOTE, UM, AT THE, IN THE LAST AGENDA ITEM, UM, SINCE THERE WAS SOME, UH, DIRECT IN INNOVATION, UM, AROUND, UH, THE GROUP THAT I WORK FOR, UH, I DO WANT TO, UM, SHARE, UH, AS I THINK MOST OF YOU WOULD BE AWARE THAT I SPEAK WITH A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I CHAIRED, UH, THE BOARD OF EQ AUSTIN, SO OBVIOUSLY I SPEAK WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE.
I ALSO SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE PREVIOUS CHAIRS ON THIS COMMISSION FOR ADVICE.
UM, I DON'T OPERATE JUST IN THE THREE HOURS THAT I COME TO THIS COMMISSION.
SO, UM, YES, I'M CONSTANTLY TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MR. GARCIA, UM, FOR ADVICE.
I WILL ALSO JUST MAKE FOR THE NOTE THAT MY QUESTION, UH, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, UH, GAVIN WAS INVOLVED IN THESE RECOMMENDED GUIDE, THESE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION WAS NOT ANSWERED.
ALRIGHT, UH, UM, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA
[9. Update from the Austin Live Music Fund Working Group on Live Music Fund criteria by Chair Nagavalli Medicharla.]
ITEM.UH, THIS IS A WORKING GROUP UPDATE.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF TOUCHED UPON THIS A BIT.
UH, MR. MS UHAT, JUST GIVE ME TWO MINUTES JUST TO, JUST TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE.
UM, SO WE FORMED THIS WORKING GROUP, UH, IN DECEMBER, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD A PRETTY SHORT RUN, UM, BOTH SINCE I ALSO SIT ON THE ARTS COMMISSION, WE HAVE, UH, AN ASK FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION AS WELL, AS WELL AS HERE, UH, FROM STAFF TO TURN IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, IN THE FEBRUARY, UH, MEETING, ESSENTIALLY IN ORDER FOR IT TO HAVE ANY REAL IMPACT ON THE ROLLOUT IN MAY OR JUNE.
UM, ON THE MUSIC COMMISSION, WE, WE RAN A COUPLE OF WORKING GROUPS.
THE FIRST ONE WAS JUST, JUST WITH THE COMMISSIONERS TO LEVEL SET ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WHEN WE ARE GOING TO SCHEDULE THESE MEETINGS.
AND I ALREADY SPOKE TO, UH, HOW I GOT, UH, MS. KAPALO AND MR. PAT BTA, UM, INVOLVED AFTERWARDS.
UM, WE USED THE EDD, UM, BASELINE, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE EDD DRAFT OF WHAT WAS ROLL, UH, WHAT WAS, UH, ROLLED OUT LAST YEAR IN 2024 PLUS WHAT STAFF HAD ALREADY INFORMED US THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADD THIS YEAR.
AND USE THAT AS A BASELINE ESSENTIALLY, TO THEN GO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WORKS, WHAT WE THINK WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
BECAUSE THE ASK WHEN WE FORMED THIS WORKING GROUP WAS TO COME BACK WITH SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO STAFF ON, ON, ON THE SUGGESTIONS, THE DRAFT THAT THEY WERE ALREADY BUILDING.
SO THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE WORKING GROUP, IS TO GIVE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT WAS BEING, UH, PUT UP AS A DRAFT, ESSENTIALLY.
RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT WAS THE REASON THE, THE DRAFT WAS USED AS A BASELINE BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR JOB AS A COMMISSION TO COME UP WITH THAT ENTIRE DRAFT.
SO USING A BASELINE IS HELPFUL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AND, UH, WHAT IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM THAT WE WILL, UH, WE WILL SHARE IN THE, IN THE ACTION ITEM IS ESSENTIALLY, UM, TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO COMBINE IF, IF, IF THE COMMISSION IS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, CONDUCIVE TO THE IDEA IS ONE IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS THAT THE WORKING GROUP AGREED TO IN THE, IN THE LAST MEETING.
AND THE LAST MEETING HAD, UH, MR. PAT ER FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, COMMISSIONER, PRICE, COMMISSIONER CARVALHO, AND MYSELF, UH, AND WE AGREED THAT WE WOULD GO IN WITH ONE RECOMMENDATION FOR MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS WITH THE SHORT RUN AND WITH THE MOST OF THE DISCUSSIONS, INCLUDING AT THIS COMMISSION BEING FOCUSED ON INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS AND ESSENTIALLY MUSICIANS, UM, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY TO DISCUSS VENUES AS PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP PLUS, UM, OTHER THAN I THINK, UH, PARTICIPANTS THAT WERE REALLY, UH, INVOLVED WITH VENUES, UM, I'VE NOT SEEN SUBSTANTIVE FEEDBACK AROUND, AROUND, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO CHANGE ANYTHING SIGNIFICANTLY AROUND THE VENUES.
SO ONE OF THE ACTION ITEMS OUT OF THE LAST WORKING GROUP WAS TO FOLLOW UP FOR
[02:40:01]
ME, WAS TO FOLLOW UP, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER CARVALHO AND, UH, MS. KAPALO TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE OR SEE IN FOR VENUES IN THE, IN THE, IN THE 2025 ROLLOUT.SO A LOT OF THE ACTION AND THE FOLLOW UP THAT WAS HAPPENING POST THE LAST WORKING GROUP MEETING WAS ESSENTIALLY AN ATTEMPT OUT OF THIS WORKING GROUP TO SEE IF WE CAN ALSO INCLUDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE VENUES ALONG WITH INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS AND FOR MUSICIANS.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS ARE COMING FROM.
SO ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT DISCUSSED IN THE WORKING GROUP, WHEN I SHARED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE VENUES HERE TODAY, IT IS, IT HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF THE WORKING GROUP AS A, AS AN ACTION ITEM OUT OF THE WORKING GROUP.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, JUST CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE, UM, ADMITTEDLY THAT SEEMED TO HAVE CAUSED SOME CONFUSION.
UH, WITH THAT, I WILL DEAL TO, UH, MS. KAPALO, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, UH, COME AND, UH, SPEAK.
UM, I WOULD REQUEST TO, UM, UM, JUST TRY TO KEEP YOUR, UH, COMMENTS CONCISE, BUT ABSOLUTELY PLEASE, UM, I, I DON'T WANT TO CONSTRAINT YOU IN ANY WAY.
IT'S AFTER MY BEDTIME ANYWAY,
NICOLE KLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ROAD RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AND ALSO PARTICIPATED ON THE WORKING GROUP, UM, TO GET THINGS STARTED, JUST TO THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION FOR ALLOWING US TO BE ON THE WORKING GROUP AS WELL TO MY OTHER WORKING GROUP COLLEAGUES, UM, FOR BEING PART OF THAT.
UM, OFTENTIMES WE DON'T ALL AGREE ON THINGS AND BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SEEING OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
UM, TO KICK THINGS OFF, UM, THERE'S OFTENTIMES A LOT OF VENUES THAT CAN'T BE HERE TO EXPRESS THEIR THANK YOU.
SO, JUST WANTED TO READ A COUPLE QUICK STATEMENTS THAT I THINK ARE HELPFUL AS WE GRAPH THESE PROGRAMS. UM, ANGELA THARP, UM, OWNER AND OPERATOR OF FLAMINGO CANTINA FOR 30 PLUS YEARS WANTED ME TO SEND THIS MESSAGE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LIVE MUSIC FUND GRANT HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL IN KEEPING MY BUSINESS OPERATING AND STAFFS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BUSINESS HAS BEEN SLOWLY RECOVERING, BUT INCREASED EXPENSES ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT BEFORE, MORE DIFFICULT THAN BEFORE TO OPERATE A SUCCESSFUL LIVE MUSIC VENUE WHOSE MODEL IS MUSIC FIRST.
WITHOUT THIS GRANT, I FEEL THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES AND POSSIBLY CLOSED OUR DOORS.
THE RELIEF HAS HELPED ME REFOCUS OUR STRATEGY TO KEEP MUSIC ALIVE IN AUSTIN.
ADDITIONALLY, PARTNERS AT CHESS CLUB, WE WOULD LIKE, WE WOULD'VE HAD TO CLOSE OUR DOORS WITHOUT THIS FUNDING.
AS A CRITICAL MUSICIAN INCUBATOR CLUB IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, WE ARE THE LAST OF THAT BREED.
THIS GRANT LETS US CONTINUE THE VISION AND SUPPORT THE MUSIC ECONOMY.
JAKE GARCIA AND VENUE PARTNERS FROM THE 13TH FLOOR HAVE SHARED THAT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR ABILITY TO EXPAND OUR MEDIA REACH, ASSIST IN COVERING RISING OPERATING COSTS, AND DIRECTLY FUND MUSICIANS TO PLAY OUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED STAGE.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR SUPPORTING OUR RED RIVER VENUE.
EXCUSE ME, I'M ALSO GETTING OVER A COUGH.
SO, UM, WITH THAT SAID, UM, AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, WE DID NOT GET INTO A LOT OF VENUE DISCUSSION DURING THESE WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE SPENT THIS TIME JUST COVERING A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.
UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I DID SEND, UM, TO THE CHAIR ON FRIDAY ALSO, UM, WERE GIVEN A COPY TO THE CITY AS WELL.
UM, AND THOSE WERE JUST PARTICULARLY VENUE, UM, RELATED GOALS, UM, AND CRITERIA.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE GRANT CATEGORIES OF AWARDING GRANTS AT THE THREE 30,000 LEVEL AND 60,000 LEVEL REMAIN THE SAME.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY, UM, SUGGESTED CHANGES TO THOSE.
UM, IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO SEE THE FUND RETAINED.
UM, WE KNOW IT ONLY HELPS 16 TO 17 VENUES PER YEAR, BUT THAT GOES A LONG WAY IN THIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF KEEPING THESE VENUES ALIVE.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COMMISSION AND STAFF LEAN HEAVILY INTO A VERY LEAN DEFINITION OF WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR A LIVE MUSIC VENUE.
I WANTED TO SHARE SOME CONTEXT ON THAT.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING A LOT OF SCENARIOS, UM, AND PARTICULARLY WANT TO STRESS THAT THE DEFINITION THAT HAS BEEN USED IS REALLY, UM, THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE LIVE MUSIC PROGRAMMING IS THE PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF A BUSINESS.
AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING THAT IF THERE ARE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT DO FEATURE MUSIC OR CREATIVE USES.
UM, BUT THEIR PRIMARILY FUNCTION IS NOT MUSIC THAT THEY MAY BE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND SOME CONTEXT TO THAT IS, SORRY, VENUE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE PLACE EMPHASIS, EMPHASIS ON THIS DEFINITION AS THE GOVERNING GOVERNING CLAUSE AND GOVERNING DEFINITION FOR THIS PROGRAM.
[02:45:01]
EVIDENCE THEN THAT IS UPLOADED AS THE GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OF THE VENUE.WE'VE CHECKED IN WITH THE TEXAS MUSIC OFFICE AND THEY'VE CONFIRMED THAT THROUGH THE LIQUOR TAX REBATE PROGRAM, THEY DO NOT CONSIDER BUSINESSES SUCH AS BREWERIES OR HOTELS OR COFFEE SHOPS THAT HAVE MUSIC BASED PROGRAMMING TO BE, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR THAT LIQUOR TAX REBATE.
WE ARE ALSO, AND I THINK A COMMISSIONER HAD MENTIONED THIS, UM, THE INDUSTRY INSURANCE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY, UM, CHALLENGING TO NAVIGATE RECENTLY.
UM, MUSIC ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY ARE CURRENTLY MAKING STRIDES TO GET THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESS THAT OFFERS MUSIC 365 A YEAR VERSUS A BUSINESS THAT MAY JUST DO MUSIC PROGRAMMING.
IT'S A VERY BIG THING AS WE NAVIGATE INSURANCE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, INCONGRUENT APPLICATIONS OR INCONGRUENT APPLICATION OF THE LEGAL DEFINITION IS MAKING EXTREMELY DIS DIFFICULT AND IS A RISK TO OUR LOCAL AUSTIN MUSIC SYSTEM AS WE START THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS A VENUE AND WHAT IS NOT A VENUE.
UM, AND OUR PARTNERS SUGGEST THAT IN A GOAL OF ESTABLISHING INDUSTRY NORMS, THAT THE APPLICATION OF THIS DEFINITION BE CONCURRENT ACROSS ALL OF THEM.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE RETAIN THE RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS OFFERING SUPPORT TO MUSICIANS, PROMOTERS, AND VENUES.
UM, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT KIND OF THE, THE DETAILS OF THIS PROGRAM, UM, THE CRITERIA THAT WE ARE SUGGESTING WOULD BE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON ECONOMIC IMPACT AT 50% PROGRAMMING AND TOURISM AT 45%.
AND WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT THE REMAINING 5%, UM, LOOK AT ACCESSIBILITY, BUT WE WOULD ASK THAT, UM, LEGAL ADVISEMENT OCCUR ON THAT JUST WITH ALL OF THE CURRENT STATE AND FEDERAL THINGS COMING DOWN TO DOUBLE CHECK.
UM, AND I THINK LASTLY WHAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, ON THE MUSICIAN SIDE OF THINGS, AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHARE THIS IN OUR WORKING GROUP, WE RECEIVED FROM THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, SEVERAL REQUESTS FROM MUSICIANS THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WHO WERE ASKING TO USE VENUE SPACE FOR FREE.
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW MUSICIANS ARE INTERACTING WITH VENUES, UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S NOT A VENUE THAT I KNOW OF THAT CAN OPEN UP THEIR SPACE FOR A WHOLE DAY TO SHOOT A MUSIC VENUE AND NOT BE COMPENSATED.
SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, UM, AS, AS IT RELATES TO THAT PROGRAM.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, LEMME MAKE SURE I HAVE ALL MY NOTES HERE, AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT ONE OF THE CURRENT COSTS, UM, OF AN OR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES IS MUSICIAN PAY FOR THE VENUE SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, AND SO THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN THERE.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME COMMENTS ABOUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT VENUES ARE GIVING FUNDS TO MUSICIANS, AND THAT IS ALREADY, UH, A COST.
AND SOME OF THOSE, UM, QUOTES THAT I READ ARE ALSO ATTRIBUTING TO HOW THOSE FOLKS ARE SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.
ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS? OKAY, MOVING ON.
[10. Discussion and possible action to approve of recommendation for the evolution of the Austin Live Music Fund criteria in 2025 and beyond following presentation by Chair Medicharla.]
GO TO DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND CRITERIA IN 2025 AND BEYOND.FOLLOWING PRESENTATION BY CHAIR, MAD CHAIR, I QUICKLY WANTED TO CHECK IN.
SHELBY, DID YOU STILL HAVE ANY COMMENT OR COULD WE GO AHEAD AND, UH, SHARE THE, YOU CAN WAIT UNTIL AFTER Y'ALL GOT IT.
UM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO SHARE THE RECOMMENDATION, THE DOCUMENT, UM, ON EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE IT WITH THEM.
SHOULD I JUST READ IT THEN? OKAY.
SHE HAS, YOU DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.
SO THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S TITLED THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND 2025 AND BEYOND FOR MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, FOLLOWED BY THE SECOND PAGE, UH, OR THE THIRD PAGE TALKS ABOUT, UH, THE SAME FOR MUSIC VENUES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, ESTABLISH THAT THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE WORKING GROUP.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE VENUE'S RECOMMENDATION AND PROVIDED CLARITY AROUND, UM, THAT ONE AS WELL.
SO, UH, LET ME JUST READ THIS OUT AND UH, THEN PLEASE, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE, FOR MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, BUILDING ON THE PILOT ROLLOUTS OF THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND IN 2023 AND 2024, THE MUSIC COMMISSION PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE USE OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS TO SUPPORT
[02:50:01]
MUSICIANS AND INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS IN THE COMMERCIAL MUSIC SECTOR FOR MUSICIANS, THE GRANT CATEGORIES DIVIDE THE GRANT INTO TWO DISTINCT APPLICATION CATEGORIES, EACH WITH TAILORED GRANT AMOUNTS, 5,000, $20,000 TO BETTER SERVE, EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS DOLLAR 5,000 GRANTS TO SPAN OVER ONE YEAR AND DOLLAR 20,000 GRANTS TO SPAN OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, UH, FOR THE GRANTS AT 15 AND $30,000 UNDER ELIGIBILITY.
WE LEFT THIS THE SAME AS WHAT EXISTS TODAY.
THIS IS YOUR MINIMUM THRESHOLD TO BE ABLE TO APPLY TO THE GRANT AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THE APPLICANT HAS REGULARLY PERFORMED AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN, SOLO, OR AS PART OF A BAND IN LIVE PERFORMANCES TO PUBLIC AUDIENCES, OR SIX RELEASED RECORD RECORDINGS OR SINGLES, OR SIX PROMOTIONALLY RELEASED MUSIC VIDEOS.
HERE'S THE NEXT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT YOU WILL RUN INTO IS, IS THE SCORING ME METRICS AND ALL THE SCORING PERCENTAGES.
AND ALSO WHAT WE ARE EMPHASIZING, UH, THE SCORING ON, WHICH DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE, IS APPLICATION SHOULD BE SCORED WITH MAJORITY EMPHASIS ON MUSICIAN CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT 50% OF THE WEIGHTAGE AND LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AT 25% OF THE WEIGHT.
LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT EXISTED BEFORE I UNDERSTAND.
AND, BUT THE MUSICIAN CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UM, SECTION IS NEW, INCLUDE PAST.
THE NEXT ONE IS INCLUDE PAST AND FUTURE MARKETING PLANS AS SCORING CRITERIA AT 20% OF THE WEIGHT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IN LAST YEAR'S APPLICATION, WE SCORED ONLY ON FUTURE MARKETING PLANS.
THIS TIME THE ASK IS THAT WE SCORE ON PAST MARKETING PLANS AS WELL AS FUTURE MARKETING PLANS.
AND THE LAST ONE IS IN INCORPORATE A SCORING ELEMENT FOR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES SUCH AS ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL AVAILABILITY OF SIGN LANGUAGE, INTERPRETERS AT EVENTS, ET CETERA, AT 5% WEIGHTAGE.
THE WEIGHTAGE IS DEFINITELY SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER ON THIS ONE IN THIS RECOMMENDATION THAN WE WOULD SEE IN LAST YEAR'S APPLICATION.
IF SOMEBODY IS MAKING THE EXTRA EFFORT ON ACCESSIBILITY, UM, OUR IDEA WAS AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME SIGNIFICANCE.
IF YOU ALSO NOTICE LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AROUND ECONOMIC, OR ALL THE QUESTIONS REALLY AROUND, UM, ECONOMIC, UH, NEED, LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND HAD ALSO PRESENTED IN HIS, IN HIS RECOMMENDATION HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT.
QCT IS NOT THERE IN THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, BANKING, I THINK, UH, STAFF HAD ALREADY REMOVED THAT.
UH, WE REMOVED, UH, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE IDEA THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY REALLY DISCOURAGING MUSICIANS FROM AVAILING OF, UH, INSURANCE, LIKE FROM ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SAM.
SO THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ALL OUT.
THE SIGNIFICANT PIECE, AGAIN, IS THE SPLIT OF THE GRANTS BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND A REALLY, A MAJORITY EMPHASIS ON MUSICIAN CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS.
THERE IS NO CHANGE HERE FROM WHAT ALREADY EXISTS AND HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
GRANT RECIPIENTS CAN ALLOCATE FUNDS TOWARDS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING LIVE PERFORMANCES, STUDIO AND VIDEO PRODUCTION, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES OUTLINED UNDER THE HOT CODE.
AND THESE ARE ALREADY LISTED ON THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, UH, WEBSITE FOR INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, UH, FLOW UNDER GRANT CATEGORIES, WE HAVE FIVE AND 20,000 TO BETTER SERVE, EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED PROMOTERS, RESPECTIVELY, 5,000 AGAINST SPANNING OVER ONE YEAR AND 20,000 OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS UNDER ELIGIBILITY.
WE LEFT IT THE SAME AS WHAT EXISTS TODAY.
NO MORE THAN THREE STAFF AND AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THE APPLICANT HAS CURATED AND PROMOTED LIVE SHOWS FEATURING MUSICIANS AND BANDS, AND MUST NOT BE CONTRACTUALLY TIED TO ONE VENUE APPLICATIONS.
AGAIN, THE SCORING REMAINS THE SAME.
AS FOR, UH, MUSICIANS, APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SCORED WITH MAJORITY EMPHASIS ON MUSIC PROMOTER CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT 50%.
AND LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AT 25% INCLUDE PAST AND FUTURE MARKETING PLANS AS SCORING CRITERIA AT 20%.
INCORPORATE A SCORING ELEMENT FOR ACCESSIBILITY
[02:55:01]
FEATURES SUCH AS A DA COMPLIANT WEBSITES AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL AVAILABILITY OF SIGN LANGUAGE, INTERPRETERS AT EVENTS, ET ET CETERA.AT 5% ALLOWABLE USE OF FUNDS, AGAIN, UH, REMAIN THE SAME.
GRANT RECIPIENTS CAN ALLOCATE FUNDS TOWARDS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING OPERATIONAL AND MARKETING COSTS, PRODUCTION AND EVENT EXPENSES, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES OUTLINED UNDER THE HOT CODE.
THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION HERE THAT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, WE, WE ACTUALLY ADOPTED THIS FROM WHAT COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND HAD SUGGESTED.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD BROADEN THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS TO EFFECTIVELY INFORM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT LIVE MUSIC OPPORTUNITY FUND OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN I WILL MOVE ON TO THE VENUES.
UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO QUICKLY SHARE FOR PERSPECTIVE IS, UH, UM, JUST, JUST A SCORING CRITERIA THAT I SAT AND WORKED ON, UH, THAT I CAN SHARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW SAY THE, THE RUBRIC FOR, UH, MUSICIANS, FOR EXAMPLE, COULD TRANSLATE TO, INTO A QUESTIONNAIRE OR AN APPLICATION.
UM, BUT ANY QUESTIONS, UM, UH, AROUND MUSICIANS AND PROMOTERS SO FAR? OKAY, MOVING ON ON THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND 2025 AND BEYOND FOR MUSIC VENUES, AGAIN, BUILDING ON THE PILOT ROLLOUT OF THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND FOR MUSIC VENUES IN 2024, THE MUSIC COMMISSION PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE USE OF HOT, HOT TAXES OR HOT FUNDS TO SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN THE COMMERCIAL MUSIC SECTOR.
FOR VENUES, THE GRANT CATEGORIES REMAIN THE SAME AT 30,000 FOR VENUES WITH, UH, LIVE MUSIC VENUES WITH OPERATING BUDGETS UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND, 60,000 GRANT AWARDS FOR LIVE MUSIC VENUES WITH OPERATING BUDGETS, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND WITHIN APPLICATION SCORING CRITERIA.
UM, WE WILL, WE WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE WHAT, UH, UH, NICOLE ALREADY, UM, BASICALLY EMPHASIZED IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE GOVERNING CRITERIA AS IT EXISTS TODAY WITH, WITH, UH, BASICALLY, UH, THE POINT OF ENTRY BEING THAT THE VENUE ALREADY MEETS THE LIVE MUSIC FUND DEFINITION.
AND THE REASON WE ARE LEANING TOWARDS IS THAT, IS ESSENTIALLY, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRIORITIZE, AS I BELIEVE EVEN IF WE EXPAND, EXPAND THE DEFINITION WOULD, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRIORITIZE, UM, TO THE POINT WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIVE MUSIC WHEN YOU QUALIFY THE DEFINITION FIRST, AND THEN BE ABLE TO APPLY OTHERWISE, UH, BASICALLY NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO THE POINT, UH, IS THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE OF HOW LIMITED THE FUNDS ARE WITH, UH, 76 OR 77 APPLICANTS, WE WERE ABLE TO FULFILL ABOUT 17, UH, VENUE APPLICATIONS.
UH, SO AS IF WE SEE THE POD GROW SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE IT CAN BECOME A CONSIDERATION.
BUT OUR UM, ASK RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE, WE STAY STICK WITH THIS DEFINITION.
SO, APPLICATION SCORING CRITERIA, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CODIFIED DEFINITION FOR A LIVE MUSIC VENUE AS THE GOVERNING CLAUSE OF THE APPLICATION DEFINITION.
AN ESTABLISHED AN ESTABLISHMENT WHERE LIVE MUSIC PROGRAMMING IS THE PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF, UH, THE BUSINESS AND OR THE BUSINESS IS A LIVE MUSIC DESTINATION.
AND WHERE THE VENUE ESTABLISHES THE ABILITY OF AN ARTIST TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR WORK BY PERCENTAGE OF SALES GUARANTEE OR OTHER MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH, FOR EVERY PERFORMANCE.
A LIVE MUSIC VENUE IS A DESTINATION FOR LIVE MUSIC CONSUMERS AND OR ITS MUSIC PROGRAMMING IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF ITS BUSINESS, AS INDICATED BY THE PRESENCE OF AT LEAST FIVE OF THE FOLLOWING DEFINED PERFORMANCE AND AUDIENCE SPACE, MIXING DESK PA SYSTEM, AND LIGHTING THE RIG BACK LINE AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING.
SOUND ENGINEER BOOKER PROMOTER STAGE MANAGER, SECURITY PERSONNEL, UM, MOVING ON CHARGES ADMISSION TO SOME MUSIC PERFORMANCES THROUGH TICKETING OR FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE FEES.
MARKETS ACTS THROUGH SHOW LISTINGS I PRINTED IN ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS.
HOURS OF OPERATION COINCIDE WITH PERFORMANCES PROGRAMS. LIVE MUSIC AT LEAST FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK, APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SCORED WITH MAJORITY EMPHASIS.
NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE SCORING CRITERIA.
GOVERNING DEFINITION, ONCE AGAIN, LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AT 50% PROGRAMMING AND TOURISM AT 45%.
AND ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES AT 5% PENDING REVIEW BY LEGAL.
[03:00:01]
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD, UH, GIVEN ALL THE, THE NEW INFORMATION WE ARE GETTING ABOUT STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, ET CETERA, I THINK WOULD APPLY TO EVEN INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS AND, UH, UH, IN PROMO PROMOTERS AND MUSICIANS AS WELL.WHEN WE SAY ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES AT 5%, UM, IT IS PENDING, UH, REVIEW BY LEGAL, UM, AND TO THE LAST POINT, ALLOWABLE USES FOR FUNDS.
THIS REMAINS THE SAME AS WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, UM, PAST RECOMMENDED BY THIS COMMISSION IN THE PAST, AS WELL AS, UH, ACCEPTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
GRANT RECIPIENTS CAN ALLOCATE FUNDS TOWARDS, TOWARD A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING OPERATIONAL AND MARKETING COSTS, PRODUCTION AND EVENT EXPENSES, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES OUTLINED UNDER THE HOT CODE.
UM, I WOULD PAUSE HERE FOR A MOMENT AND SEE IF, UM, THE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO JUST GO AHEAD AND SHARE A SAMPLE DOCUMENT? UM, OR WOULD WE LIKE TO, ARE WE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO GO AND, UH, TAKE A VOTE AT THIS POINT OF ALLELE TO THE COMMISSION HERE? UM, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT, UM,
UM, SO MY COMMENT IS I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT, UM, BETWEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DOCUMENT FROM, UH, FROM SCOTT AND, UH, FROM A TXM AND UH, WHAT STAFF HAD SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT STAFF HAD MADE AS THEY STUDIED THIS AND THIS DOCUMENT.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP AND ALIGNMENT.
UM, SO THAT WAS MY ONE COMMENT.
AND THEN THE AMENDMENT I WOULD PROPOSE IS THAT, UM, AND SO JUST TO REFRESH EVERYBODY, 'CAUSE I'M A ROBERT'S RULES KIND OF NERD, BUT THE WAY THAT THIS WOULD WORK IS I WOULD PROPOSE THIS AMENDMENT, UM, SO I'M MOVING THAT WE DO THIS, IF WE CAN CALL FOR A SECOND, IF NOBODY SECONDS, THEN IT JUST GOES AWAY.
UM, IF IT'S APPROVED, THEN THE DOCUMENT WOULD BE, WE WOULD VOTE ON WHETHER THE DOCUMENT, I GUESS, THEN WE WOULD, WE WOULD VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN WE WOULD VOTE ON THE DOCUMENT AS AMENDED.
SO WHAT I WOULD JUST SUGGEST IS THAT IF, UM, SO THIS IS REALLY MINOR, BUT IF, UM, A RECIPIENT IS APPLYING AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED A GRANT IN THE PAST, THEY, UH, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION OF HOW THEY SPENT THE GRANT FUNDS.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD'VE PROVIDED A BUDGET AND STAFF HAS CHECKED ON THAT, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO PROVIDE LIKE A DOCUMENT SHOWING HOW THEY USED THE FUNDING IF, IF USING THE, AND ERICA.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, IS THAT HELPFUL TO STAFF OR IS THAT IT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE FINAL REPORTS? SO ALL FINAL REPORTS OF ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS FROM 20 23, 20 24 IS YOU'RE REQUIRED TO SHOW HOW YOU SPENT THE MONEY ON THE BUDGET.
UH, EVERYONE'S TOLD TO HAVE RECEIPTS AVAILABLE IN CASE THERE'S ANY AUDIT OR, YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE, LIKE ALWAYS PULLED OFF TO THAT.
SO IF THEY, IF THEY APPLY AGAIN, THEN WE'LL, WE WILL KNOW LIKE THE LONG CENTER WILL THEY KNOW TO GO BACK AND CHECK.
WELL, ARE YOU CHECKING TO SEE THAT THEY'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THE SAME ITEMS AGAIN? LIKE WHAT'S THEIR POINT? NO, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SPENT THE MONEY THE WAY THEY SAID THAT THEY DID IT.
OH, THERE'S, THEY CAN'T EVEN GET THEIR FINAL 10% UNLESS THEY HAVE A FINAL REPORT THAT IS COMPLETE AND VETTED BY CHE TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT, UH, EXPENSES WERE YOU SO COULD THE APPLICATION JUST HAVE A CHECK BOX? LIKE DID YOU THEY WOULDN'T EVEN BE, DID YOU RECEIVE A GRANT? THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANOTHER GRANT UNTIL THE PREVIOUS GRANT IS CLOSED.
SO THAT, AND THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS. OKAY.
'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH CROSS-CHECKING YES.
I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.
SO STAFF AND LONG CENTER ARE WAY AHEAD OF ME ON THAT.
NO, BUT THAT WAS A, I MEAN, THAT WAS A VERY VALID QUESTION, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE, UM, UM, IF YOU, WE ALSO NOTICE WE, WE DON'T HAVE PENALTIES ANYMORE THAT, THAT WERE EXISTING BEFORE IN THESE, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A CULTURAL ARTS GRANT BEFORE, OR YOU GOT SOME OF THE GRANT LMF BEFORE, UM, THERE IS NOT A MENTION OF PENALTIES IN THIS RECOMMENDATION AND THAT WAS ALSO INTENDED.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT SOMEBODY
WOULD, UH, COMMISSIONER CARVALLO, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR, UH, WERE YOU GOING TO MOTION TO VOTE? NO, NO, I WAS JUST, IT WAS ANSWERED BY SOMEBODY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME, SO I GOT, YES.
UM, AND WE CAN STILL, WE CAN STILL HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION, BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MOTION
[03:05:01]
TO VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND 2025 AND BEYOND FOR MUSICIANS, INDEPENDENT PROMOTERS AND MUSIC VENUES.DO I HAVE A SECOND FROM, UH, I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER.
SHOULD WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND? UH, DO YOU ABSTAIN OR ARE YOU VOTING? UH, NOT IN FAVOR.
I, ALRIGHT, SO WE, THE MOTION, UH, IS APPROVED, UH, WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER RAY PRICE VOTING? YES.
COMMISSIONER CASADA VOTING YES.
VICE CHAIR PATTERSON VOTING? YES.
COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL VOTING? YES.
DID I HAVE A YES FROM YOU? OKAY.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND VOTING NO.
UH, I AM, UH, VERY THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT WITH, UH, INTO THIS BY EVERY COMMISSIONER, BY THE WORKING GROUP, INCLUDING, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND, BECAUSE, UH, UH, EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT NOT BE COMPLETELY PLEASED WITH THIS, THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE MADE THEIR WAY INTO THIS RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMUNITY AND, UH, THANK YOU STAFF, UH, FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS AS WELL.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL HAVE, UH, MUSIC PERFORMANCE NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH? YES.UH, I CAN, I'M SURE WE ALL CAN USE THE BREAK.
UNDER DISCUSSION ITEMS, UH, UH, WE YEAR WOULD, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, FOLLOW UP ON THE STORMY WEATHER FUND OR, UH, WOULD YOU YES.
LET'S, UM, SHOULD WE GET BACK ON THAT? LET'S DO THAT.
SO SAME ITEM AND JUST LED BY, INSTEAD OF COMMISSIONER GOULD, IT'LL BE LAUREN GOLD, WHICH SHE, SHE'LL CAN PRESENT.
UM, SO WE'LL INCLUDE THAT, UH, UPDATE IN AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION IS STILL ON.
UH, NO, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT ONE BACK YET.
UM, BUT I INSTEAD LET'S JUST DO A LAND USE WORKING GROUP UPDATE.
SO THAT WILL COME UNDER WORKING GROUP UPDATES.
YEAH, I THINK THE, UM, PAT, I WOULD CHECK BACK WITH YOU OKAY.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING LATER ON AND WE WOULD, UH, GET YOU ADDED IF NEEDED.
UM, THEN COMES WORKING GROUP UPDATES.
UH, WE WILL GET AN UPDATE FROM THE LAND USE WORKING GROUP.
YEAH, I HAVE, UH, ONE OTHER DISCUSSION ITEM, UM, BASED ON OUR, OUR SPEAKER THAT WAS HERE EARLIER AND OUR, OUR CITIZEN COMMUNICATION PERSON.
UH, SO LET'S, MR. SAUNDERS? YES.
SO, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE.
SO LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION ON, UH, NON-PROFIT EVENT PERMITTING DISCUSSION ON NON-PROFIT EVENT PERMITTING.
THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION ITEMS THOUGH.
UH, WORKING GROUP UPDATE IS FROM THE LAND USE WORKING GROUP.
UM, I WOULD, UH, UH, I WOULD JUST LEAVE THE WORKING GROUP UPDATE FROM THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WORKING GROUP, UM, WITH, UH, WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, JUST, UH, JUST AT LEAST WRAP IT UP AND SO THAT WE CAN MOTION TO CLOSE IT IF NEEDED NEXT TIME.
SO WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT ON FOR THAT REASON, UH, DISCUSSION OR IF THERE IS A NEED TO CONTINUE, WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP THAT OPEN, BUT THAT DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE, SO I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST RETAIN THAT ITEM THERE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONERS.
WE, THIS IS, IT SEEMS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, TAKE OVER.
I, I FEEL PRETTY EMOTIONAL ABOUT, SO TWO, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING FOR TWO COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER GOLD AND COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL.
AND I, I THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AND I KNOW I'LL BE ECHOED.
UM, WOW, YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY LEADER AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME.
EIGHT YEARS OR INPUT IN EIGHT YEARS.
[03:10:05]
GO BIRDS.UH, WHAT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY, I WANNA THANK, UM, WELL FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK, UH, EDD STAFF.
UH, YOU HAVE SUPPORTED US, UH, AND RESPECTED US.
AND EVEN WHEN THERE ARE BUREAUCRATIC, UH, ISSUES THAT YOU NEED TO WADE THROUGH, YOU DO LISTEN TO US AND YOU RESPECT US.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY COMMISSIONERS, ALL MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND FORMER COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.
I WANT TO CALL OUT THE GREAT THINGS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
UH, ALSO, I'M PARTICULARLY THE, MY PERSONAL HIGH POINT WAS WORKING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, HOPE THAT I HAVE LEFT THE MUSIC SCENE OF AUSTIN A. LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO, DESPITE HAVING SURVIVED COVID ONGOING GENTRIFICATION AND THE ROBBERY OF REVENUES FROM MUSICIANS IN THE ENTIRE MUSIC ECOSYSTEM.
UH, THESE ARE DARK DAYS, BUT PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK WE'RE MAKING.
COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COMMISSION.
UM, I PERSONALLY HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU.
UH, WE'VE HAD SOME AMAZING DEBATES, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE HAD AND GONE, WENT AND HAD DINNER RIGHT AFTER.
SO IT IS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH YOU.
I HOPE, UH, UH, YOU WON'T BE A STRANGER, UH, TO ME PERSONALLY AND TO THE COMMISSION.
I HOPE WE CAN PULL YOU IN SOMETIMES, UH, WHEN WE NEED YOUR HELP, UH, AND THAT YOU WILL, UH, STAY IN TOUCH WITH WITH US.
UM, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER GOLD.
UH, I THINK WE CAN WE'LL THANK HER WHEN SHE'S HERE NEXT TIME.
YEAH, BUT I, I DOT, SHE'S STILL ON THE HOOK TO HOLD FOR HER SERVICE.
SHE'S STILL ON THE HOOK TO HELP IN THE WORKING GROUP AND OTHER THINGS, SO YES.
WE'VE ALL LOVED WORKING WITH LAUREN, AND SHE'S SO THOUGHTFUL.
AND, UH, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UH, SHELBY, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO ADD, SO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND THEN WILL JOIN THE MEETING.
MAN, I FEEL LIKE SINGING ON A MIC LIKE THIS, PLEASE EXCUSE MY VOICE.
I AM RECOVERING FROM NOT FEELING THE BEST.
UM, BUT MY FIRST DAY BACK AT WORK IS WITH YOU ALL AND IT IS A PLEASURE.
UM, WE GOT STUFF DONE TONIGHT.
UM, COMMISSIONER ROSENTHAL, THANK YOU FOR SERVING, UM, COMMISSIONER GOLD.
UM, IF Y'ALL WILL, WE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE RUSHED OUT.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER AND REMIND ALL OF YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE ABOUT JUST THE CONDUCT AND HOW WE CARRY OUT OUR MEETINGS.
UM, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WORKING WITH YOU AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, AND AS A CONNECTIVE COMMUNITY, THAT MEANS I PROTECT THIS SPACE BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING FOR THEM.
AND SO THAT MEANS WHEN WE SHOW UP HERE, I WOULD ASK AND REQUEST THAT WE HAVE RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER IN OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE ROOM, AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN THE ROOM.
AND SO MOVING FORWARD, THINGS THAT WILL NOT BE CONDONED BECAUSE I'M OVERSEEING NOW, ANYBODY ELSE COMING AFTER ME, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.
BUT WHAT WILL NOT BE CONDONED IS MENTIONING OF ENTITIES NAMES IN ANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT BEING USED AS A SOURCE.
'CAUSE YOU CAN SPEAK ON GROUPS IF YOU'RE USING THEM AS A SOURCE, YOU SPOKE TO THEM, THAT'S FINE.
BUT IT IS VERY CRUCIAL THAT WE REMAIN OUTSIDE OF FAULTY PERCEPTION, MISINFORMATION, AND ANYTHING THAT WILL CREATE A SPACE THAT WILL CONFUSE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT AS IT CAN ALSO BE OFFENSIVE.
AND SO, AS I PROTECT THIS SPACE FOR ALSO MY STAFF, BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING HARD, I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL NEVER FORGET THAT WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU, NO MATTER IF WE'RE FRIENDS OR NOT.
WHEN WE GO TO WORK, WE ARE MINDFUL OF YOU ALL AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU BRING, THAT ALSO MEANS YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND WE ALSO CREATE A SPACE FOR YOU TO DO THAT.
ERICA AND KIM ARE RELENTLESS WITH HOW THEY SHOW UP AT THE PODIUM FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
ACCUSATIONS WILL ALSO NOT BE TOLERATED UNDER MY PROVISION.
AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM AND MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE I DO, I WANTED TO GET THIS ON RECORD BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE NEW PEOPLE COMING HERE.
AND I, LIKE I SAID, I'M GONNA BE A PIT BULL FOR THIS SPACE
[03:15:01]
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT US IN THIS ROOM, IT'S ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE GETTING DONE AND HOW PAT SHOWS UP WITH HIS GROUP THAT CAN'T BE HERE, BUT HE'S GONNA HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM, AND THEN HE'S GONNA REPRESENT.IT'S JUST A LOT OF STUFF THAT CAN BE LOST IN TRANSLATION.
SO PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF EACH OTHER AND THE CONVERSATIONS YOU CAN HAVE OFFLINE AND PREPARE YOU FOR THIS SPACE.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF COMMUNITY AND THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SPEAKING OF OR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA HEAR ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT, OR COMMUNITY OR ORGANIZATIONS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND AGAIN, PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF OUR STAFF AND THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND KNOW THAT WE RESPECT YOU ALL SO MUCH THAT WE WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS BEST WE CAN.
IF WE DON'T KNOW IT, WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.
AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE PROVEN THAT.
UM, BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AGAIN FOR JUST BEING THE BRIDGE BETWEEN COMMUNITY.
I RESPECT YOU ALL SO MUCH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I APPRECIATE HOW YOU SHOW UP WITH PASSION.
AND IF IT'S NOT RESPECT, IT'S A COURTESY OF HOW WE SHOW UP IN THIS ROOM.
AND THE COURTESY JUST ASKS YOU JUST TO STOP FOR A SECOND AND JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS AND THE WORK THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO GET DONE.
I'M SLEEPY TOO, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND KIM AND ERICA, GREG, EVERYBODY, UH, THANK YOU STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP AND PARTICIPATED TODAY.
UM, AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO ADJOURN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? DO I HAVE A, A MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM COMMISSIONER, UH, PATTERSON.
UH, SECOND FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER PRICE.
AND UH, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.