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[Distinguished Service Award – Assistant City Manager Veronica Briseño – To be presented by City Manager T.C. Broadnax]
BE IN AUSTIN AND WE GET TO KICK OFF, UH, THIS WONDERFUL DAY BY HONORING SOMEBODY THAT IS, UH, VERY SPECIAL, SOMEONE THAT MEANS A LOT TO ALL OF US.AND, AND FOR SOME OF US, UH, WE, WE'VE KNOWN HER, UH, AND, AND FOLLOWED HER CAREER FOR MOST OF OUR CAREERS TOO.
SO IT, IT'S REALLY, IT'S, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL.
UH, VERONICA IS FINISHING HER CAREER WITH THE CITY AT THE VERY SAME TIME, UH, AT THE VERY SAME PLACE THAT IT ALL BEGAN 26 YEARS AGO.
UH, SHE STARTED AS AN INTERN IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SHE WAS AN INTERN IN THE AUSTIN CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE 26 YEARS AGO, AND SHE'S TODAY RETIRING.
ONE OF THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS COME UP HERE WITH US.
YES, MAYOR PRO TIM AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL.
SHE, UH, SHE, SHE IS RETIRING AS AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER TITLES THAT SHE HAS HELD ALONG THE WAY.
SHE'S BEEN OUR CHIEF ECONOMIC RECOVERY OFFICER, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND FIR AND SHE WAS THE FIRST CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
HER, SHE'S HELD THE TITLE OF BEING THE INTERIM HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER, THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES DIRECTOR, AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS THE, IN THAT ROLE AS DIRECTOR, SHE WAS ALSO A COUNCIL MEMBER'S EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.
AND THAT WAS WHEN, I GUESS THE FIRST TIME YOU AND I GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER, UM, BACK IT SEEMS LIKE 26 YEARS, MAY HAVE BEEN 55 YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, CITY HALL YEARS, 55 YEARS.
ANYWAY, UH, BUT THAT'S WHEN SHE AND I FIRST GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER WHEN SHE WAS WORKING FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER THE FIRST TIME, UH, I WAS DOING THIS.
AND, AND WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS BACK THEN.
AND SHE'S ALSO HAD THE TITLE OF BEING THE COUNCIL AGENDA MANAGER.
SHE'S A PROUD LONGHORN, UH, HAS A DEGREE IN JOURNALISM AND A IN GOVERNMENT, AND SHE HAS A MASTER'S FROM THE PRESTIGIOUS LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS ALSO BEEN SOMEONE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS NOTICED AND PAID ATTENTION TO AND RECOGNIZED, AND SHE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS, INCLUDING ABANO GUO AWARD FOR LATINA APPOINTED OFFICIAL, THE AUSTIN LGBT CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARD FOR PRIDE IN GOVERNMENT, THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CAPITAL OF TEXAS AWARD FOR LATINA INDUSTRY LEADER IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AUSTIN UNDER 40 FINALISTS FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS CATEGORY, TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
AND BEYOND ALL HER ACHIEVEMENTS, SHE HAS ALSO FOUND TIME TO BE A MENTOR AND A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN AND LATINOS IN GOVERNMENT.
SHE HELPED CO-FOUND THE WOMEN, THE WOMAN TO WOMAN, CITY OF AUSTIN AFFINITY ORGANIZATION.
SHE SERVED FOR MANY YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HISPANIC NETWORK NETWORK AND THE ICMA, WHICH IS AN ICMA AFFILIATE.
AND SHE'S ALSO BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THE A AUSTIN HISPANIC LATINO NETWORK SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THAT WITH HER NEWFOUND TIME.
UH, AFTER SHE RETIRES, SHE'S GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME WITH HER TWO BOYS, GABRIELLE AND ANDRE, AND PLANNING A WEDDING WITH HER FIANCE ARTURO.
YEAH, LET, LET, LET'S
IT'S ABOUT TIME TO BE WORKING ON THAT, UM, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AND, AND, AND I'LL JUST SAY IN ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE OF THE LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP THAT I FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD WITH VERONICA, UH, YOU'RE GONNA BE VERY, VERY MISSED.
UH, THE COUNCIL'S GOING TO MISS YOU.
UH, THE COUNCIL'S GONNA MISS YOUR, YOUR, YOUR EFFORT AND, AND THE WAY YOU APPROACH PROBLEM SOLVING.
THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO MISS THE WAY YOU COME AT PRETTY HARD ISSUES, BUT YOU ALWAYS DO IT IN A WAY WHERE YOU, YOU, YOU TRY TO BE PROTECTIVE OF THE PROCESS AND YOU TRY TO BE PROTECTIVE OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SERVING.
AND IT'S NOT LOST ON ANY OF US.
THAT THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SERVED AS LONG AS YOU HAVE IS BECAUSE YOU CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ALL SERVING.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE MEANT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WHAT YOU FOR, WHAT YOU'VE MEANT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND FOR THE LEADERSHIP ROLE YOU'VE TAKEN.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD ACTS TO COME UP, UH, AND SAY A FEW WORDS AND MAKE A PRESENTATION MANAGER.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
TODAY IS A BITTERSWEET DAY FOR ME.
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FOR THIS CITY FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE IMPACT, UH, AND THE, THE, THE WAY THAT I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED BY HOW VERONICA, UH, IS, GOES ABOUT DOING HER WORK.UH, AGAIN, AS THE MAYOR SAID, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS HOW SHE SUPPORTS, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS CITY ORGANIZATION, FROM THE PEOPLE THAT SHE LEADS TO, HER COLLEAGUES, I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED.
AND AS SHE SHARED WITH ME HER DESIRE TO RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET AND ENJOY LIFE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, I WAS A LITTLE SAD, UH, BUT AS ALWAYS, UH, WAS APPRECIATIVE OF HER PUBLIC SERVICE AS WELL AS JUST GETTING TO THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND SO I ONLY HAVE GOOD WISHES FOR HER, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SUFFER A BIG LOSS.
YOUR STABILITY AND THE WAY YOU'VE GUIDED AND HELPED ME ON MY ONBOARDING, UH, HAS MEANT A LOT.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY HELPED ME, UH, TREMENDOUSLY OVER THESE LAST NINE MONTHS.
SO YOU WILL BE MISSED AS THE MAYOR INDICATED.
AND SO I AM GOING TO, UH, READ THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, UH, RECOGNITION THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO VERONICA FOR HER, AGAIN, 26 YEAR, UH, CAREER.
SO FOR HER UNWAVERING AND FIERCE COMMITMENT TO CONDUCTING THE PEOPLE'S WORK DURING HER MONUMENTAL 26 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, VERONICA ZENIO IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CER CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR 2025, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
THIS RECOGNITION IS GIVEN TO VERONICA SENIO.
SO I'LL GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME SENTIMENTS.
EXCUSE ME, I DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH MY DRY RUN WITHOUT CRYING.
SO
IS IT REALLY A DRY RUN IF YOU CRY
UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH, SUCH AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE TO BE ON THIS SIDE.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SEEING SO MANY EMPLOYEES RETIRE.
I SEE ONE JUST RECENTLY RETIRED IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.
I AM HUMBLED AND HONORED BY THIS AWARD WHEN I STARTED WITH THE CITY AS AN INTERN AT 23 YEARS OLD, I HAD NO IDEA.
ONE DAY I'D BE RETURNING FROM THIS, RETIRING FROM THE CITY, MAYBE RETURNING, UH, BUT I AM GLAD I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HERE FOR OVER TWO AND A HALF DECADES.
I HAVE WORKED FOR EIGHT CITY MANAGERS, ONE OF THEM TWICE, SIX MAYORS, ONE OF THEM TWICE,
AND I COUNTED THIS NUMBER SEVERAL TIMES IN THE CHOIR YESTERDAY.
AND I THINK WE, HE WANTS ME JUST TO SAY OVER 40 COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE WE GOT LOST TRACK AND ONE OF THEM TWICE AS WELL.
I'VE WORKED IN SIX CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WITH COUNTLESS EMPLOYEES AS AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, I'VE WORKED WITH 14 DEPARTMENTS AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MARIA LONZO FOR THE ROCKSTAR THAT SHE IS, FOR ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR TODAY.
AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THIS GREAT CITY.
THE CITY HAS BEEN A SECOND FAMILY TO ME, AND I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE THE RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE MADE.
OUR COMMUNITY IS LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A TALENTED, COMMITTED WORKFORCE WORKING EVERY DAY ON THE PEOPLE'S WORK.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY PARENTS.
THEY BOTH INSTILLED IN ME IN THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION.
BEING A COMMITTED EMPLOYEE AND SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME THE BEAUTY OF RETIRING AT AN AGE WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE REST OF LIFE.
MY MOM HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER, A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT VALERO ENERGY.
SHE STARTED AS A RECEPTIONIST.
SHE WAS THE VERY FIRST FACE YOU SAW WHEN YOU WALKED IN THE BUILDING, AND SHE RETIRED AS A HUMAN RESOURCES EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE.
AND SHE PUT HERSELF THROUGH COLLEGE ALONG THE WAY.
WE GRADUATED THE SAME YEAR, AND I GOT MY GRIT FROM HER WHEN HUMAN RESOURCES WAS, WHEN HUMAN RESOURCES WAS REPORTING TO ME.
I OFTEN TOLD PEOPLE I LOVE HR, AND THEY THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING.
MY MOM TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS.
MY DAD RETIRED AS THE CITY OF SAN, FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A CITY MANAGER.
SO I LITERALLY GREW UP IN CITY HALL.
HE TAUGHT ME SO MANY THINGS ABOUT CITY MANAGEMENT AS A CHILD.
AND THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS HE TAUGHT ME WAS
IT WAS A MOTTO THAT HE USED AS MANAGER, AND IT MEANT TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.
MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY DAD HAS SINCE HAD A SERIES OF HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO TALK, I TALKED TO SO MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, EVEN PERFECT STRANGERS.
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IN MY LIFE TAUGHT ME THE IMPACT.MY DAD, WHO IS LARGER THAN LIFE, HAD INFLUENCE ON THE LIVES OF SO MANY OTHERS.
IT MADE ME REALIZE IT'S NOT ONLY HIT
HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE AND ALL LIFE EVENTS HAD CLEARLY WERE CLEARLY IMPACTFUL TO MANY.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT IN MY TENURE AT THE CITY, I HAVE LED WITH EVEN AN OUNCE OF THESE TWO INTENTIONS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY BOYS, GABRIEL AND ANDRES.
THEY GREW UP IN THIS ORGANIZATION AND HAVE LEARNED MUCH ABOUT CITY MANAGEMENT THROUGH MY WORK.
I HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES OF THEM AT MEETINGS AND EVENTS, BUT I ESPECIALLY REMEMBER THEM AS TODDLERS RUNNING DOWN THE HALLS OF THE SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY PROBABLY WON'T APPRECIATE ME SHARING THAT TODAY.
UH, FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FIANCE, ARTURO.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE CAREER WINS AND THE NOT SO GOOD DAYS AND OFFERED SUPPORT ALL ALONG THE WAY.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I LOVE THE CITY AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE WORKED HERE 26 YEARS IS OVER HALF MY LIFE FOR NOW.
UM, AND I KNOW I'M BETTER FOR MY TIME HERE.
UM, WHY DON'T WE, WHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE GOOD
[Proclamation – Small Business Division 25th Anniversary – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes]
MORNING EVERYONE.MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, MAYOR PER TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO RECOGNIZE A CORNERSTONE OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
FOR OVER 25 YEARS, THIS DIVISION HAS BEEN MORE THAN A RESOURCE.
IT'S BEEN A LIFELINE FOR ENTREPRENEURS, FOR DREAMERS AND DOERS WHO ARE MAKING OUR CITY THRIVE THROUGH THEIR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. DEDICATED MENTORSHIP, UNWAVERING ADVOCACY.
THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION HAS NOT ONLY SUPPORTED SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO BUILT A CULTURE OF EQUITY OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED 25 YEARS AGO TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER AND ADVANCE SMALL BUSINESSES AS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ECONOMY.
AND WHEREAS FOR OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, A SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION HAS DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDING VITAL RESOURCES TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPOWERING THEM TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF OUR REGION.
AND WHEREAS THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION HAS CHAMPIONED INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION, SUPPORTING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ENTREPRENEURS AND ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS, FUNDING AND MENTORSHIP FOR ALL.
AND WHEREAS ON THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY, WE HONOR THE VISIONARY LEADERS, THE DEDICATED STAFF, THE RESILIENT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DIVISION SUCCESS AND THE GROWTH OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, I MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES, JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS LANE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025 AS SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION, 25TH ANNIVERSARY DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDING REMARKS IS INTERIM DIRECTOR ANTHONY SEGURA, UM, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND EVERYONE WHO'S HELPED US REACH THIS 25TH YEAR MILESTONE.
SUCH A CREDIBLE, UH, RECOGNITION FOR 25 YEARS.
THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF AUSTIN'S ENTREPRENEURS SUPPORTING BUSINESSES AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR JOURNEY.
OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE.
AND AS THE IMPACT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
IN 2024 ALONE, DELIVERED OVER 5,500 HOURS OF COACHING AND TRAINING TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW AND EXPAND.
PROVIDED OVER 1100 SMALL BUSINESS INTELLIGENT REPORTS, GIVING BUSINESS OWNERS THE DATA THEY NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
116 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS GRADUATED WITH OUR BUSINESS SKILL CERTIFICATE, PROVING THEIR EXPERTISE IN SIX CORE BUSINESSES.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, ACHIEVING AN AVERAGE CLIENT SATISFACTION RATING OF 97.7%, AND ALL OUR CLASSES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND NAVIGATORS PROGRAM.
WE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED AND INVESTED $500,000 IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANT SUPPORT.
THESE NUMBERS ARE MORE THAN JUST STATISTICS.
THEY REPRESENT THE ASPIRATIONS OF ENTREPRENEURS, THE RESILIENCE OF SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THE HARD
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WORK OF OUR DEDICATED TEAM AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.AS WE CELEBRATE THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY, WE AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION, EQUITY, AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL OF OUR AUSTIN SMALL BUSINESSES.
THIS MILESTONE IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT MAKES AUSTIN AN OP, A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY.
AND HERE'S TO THE NEXT 25 YEARS AND IMPACT OF INNOVATION.
AND WE'LL JUST DO A QUICK LITTLE GROUP PHOTO.
YOU GOT IT? DO YOU WANNA DO IT HERE? IS THIS GOOD OR DO YOU WANT GOOD MORNING AND
[Proclamation – Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair Days – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
HAPPY THURSDAY.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF TEXAS'S LARGEST REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIRS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PROUD TO SUPPORT AND BE HOME TO.
SINCE 1956, THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR HAS SHOWCASED THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL TEXAS STUDENTS AND THEIR PROJECTS.
THESE KIDDOS ARE OUR FUTURE MATHEMATICIANS, SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS, RESEARCHERS, ENGINEERS, AND IT'S AN AMAZING THING THAT WE GET TO FOSTER STEM STEM LEARNING IN OUR YOUTH.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TODAY FROM A AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN WATER, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS WATERSHED PROTECTION, THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC SYNOPSIS, THE THE TYREX GROUP AND MOZARTS ARTS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2025 WILL SHOWCASE, SHOWCASE THE TALENTS OF CLOSE TO 3000 ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC HOME CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FROM 14 COUNTIES WITHIN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA, INCLUDING TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON.
AND WHEREAS 2025 MARKS THE 69TH ANNIVERSARY OF AN AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR.
AND WHEREAS SCIENCE FAIRS LIKE THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2025 HELP SPARK AN INTEREST IN CHILDREN TO PURSUE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH CAREERS.
AND WHEREAS STEM TRAINED WORKFORCE, UH, A STEM TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS OVER 25 BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, AND CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE, INCLUDING AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS, AUSTIN WATER, THE THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND WATERSHED PROTECTION SU SUPPORT THIS FAIR FINANCIALLY.
AND WHEREAS CLOSE TO 800 BUSINESSES, PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DONATE THEIR TIME TO SERVE AS JUDGES AND GENERAL VOLUNTEERS.
AND WHEREAS WE CONGRATULATE THE PARTICIPANTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WINNING PRO WINNING PROJECT WILL GO ON TO STATE AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.
AND WE THANK THE AUSTIN SCIENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR ASSUMING MANAGEMENT OF THIS IMPORTANT EVENT.
NOW, I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF MY, MY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE DIOCESE AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, UH, FEBRUARY 19TH THROUGH 20 THROUGH THE 22ND, 2025 AS AUSTIN GREATER REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING BEAR DAYS IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR SUPPORTING OUR FAIR.
SINCE 1956, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND STUDENTS HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR FAIR.
OUR AIM IS TO ENCOURAGE STEM EDUCATION AT A VERY EARLY AGE.
SO WE TAKE 'EM FROM THIRD GRADE ON TO 12TH GRADE.
AS COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, WE COVER 14 COUNTIES AND THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE CLOSE TO 3000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR FAIR NEXT YEAR.
I'M SORRY, I WISH IT WENT NEXT YEAR,
WE COULD NOT BE DOING THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WHO SUPPORT US FROM ALL THE BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN THAT SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY, BUT ALSO WHO SEND US THEIR JUDGES AND VOLUNTEERS.
IT TAKES OVER 550 JUDGES TO EVALUATE OUR PROJECTS.
IT TAKES CLOSE TO 250 GENERAL VOLUNTEERS TO HELP US SET UP THE PROJECTS, MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN, I'M SORRY, NOT THE CHILDREN, THE YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUNG STUDENTS ARE OKAY WHILE THEY'RE BEING JUDGED.
SO IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1956.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE IT AND HOPE THAT IT WILL LAST.
OKAY, WE WANNA DO IT? GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
[Proclamation – Huston-Tillotson University 150th Anniversary – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND I'M THE PROUD REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT ONE RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.UM, THIS MORNING I GET THE PROUD HONORS TO REPRESENT AND PRESENT HONORS, UM,
[00:20:01]
TO TWO TRUSTED PILLAR ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.UM, WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY.
UM, TODAY AS WE TAKE THIS HONOR TO CELEBRATE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LEVEL OF ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES POINTED OUT THE DATE THAT WE HAVE TO REFER BACK TO, TO RECOGNIZE HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT'S TRANSPIRED DURING THE COURSE OF THAT TIME.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT BOTH INSTITUTIONS, BOTH HOUSTON TILLS AND UNIVERSITY AND EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO INDIVIDUALLY BE RECOGNIZED.
I'LL START WITH THE PROCLAMATION FOR HOUSTON TON UNIVERSITY.
I'M PLEASED TO CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE MILESTONE THAT IS THE HISTORY OF HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY, THE OLDEST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN IF YOU WANT ME TO.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY, AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A BEACON OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SHAPING FUTURE LEADERS AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR OVER A CENTURY AND A HALF, HT CONTINUES TO RANK AS ONE OF THE TOP HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND NUMBER ONE, I'LL SAY THAT ONE AGAIN AS WELL.
NUMBER ONE, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, HT LEADS OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ABSOLUTELY THAT DESERVES APPLAUSE THROUGH EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION.
IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE BOTH OF THESE HONORS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH FOR MORE REASONS THAN I CAN POINT OUT.
AND WITHOUT BEING SUBVERSIVE, I WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
THAT IF YOU ARE EMOTIONALLY REGULATED, YOU TRY TO IGNORE THE THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL.
BUT WHEN YOU REALIZE THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TAKE NOTICE.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, AS WE STAND THIS MORNING TOGETHER AND UNITY AND COMMUNITY RECOGNIZING TOO BLACK INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH TURBULENT TIMES WHERE THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN'T CONTROL, WE DON'T ASK FOR PERMISSION TO CONGREGATE AND TO CELEBRATE.
LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, HT LAUNCHED THE FIRST OF ITS KIND A MUSIC BUSINESS PROGRAM RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THE HBCU ALSO EXPECTS TO OPEN TWO PHYSICAL SATELLITE CAMPUSES IN LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO SINCE HT IS ACTUALLY THE CLOSEST HBCU TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AS WE HONOR THIS SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY AS A RAMLY TOGETHER, I AM PLEASED TO INVITE SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM HT TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT HT U'S JOURNEY, ITS IMPACT AND ITS CONTINUED MISSION AND OUR COMMUNITY TO UPLIFT STUDENTS AND TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHO'S GONNA SPEAK FIRST.
UM, YOU'LL HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL 'EM WHAT YOUR ROLE IS AT HD.
MY NAME IS SHAQUILLE DILL NAVE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING STRATEGY IMPACT AND INNOVATION COUNCILWOMAN NATASHA HARPER.
MADISON, WE JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS.
CELEBRATING US ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.
UH, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR SUS CENTENNIAL.
TRY TO SAY THAT WITH ME THREE TIMES.
UM, THAT IS OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY, CELEBRATING FOUR DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS.
TILLERSON COLLEGE, SAMUEL HOUSTON COLLEGE, HOUSTON TILLISON COLLEGE, AND HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY.
SO ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OUR AMAZING PRESIDENT, DR.
MELVA K WALLACE, OUR FACULTY, OUR STAFF, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR AMAZING STUDENTS, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE NATION, BECAUSE WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE PRIVATE HBCU IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND UNDER THIS DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP, WE ARE TAKING THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION BY STORM BEING THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN AUSTIN, WE ARE GOING TO THE FOREMOST INSTITUTION IN THE NATION.
I'M LINDA JACKSON AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT AT HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY.
MELVA K WALLACE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, WE, THE FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS ARE HONORED TO REPRESENT HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY.
[00:25:01]
THE CAMPUS ORIGINATED IN DALLAS, TEXAS AND WAS SEEKING A MORE WELCOMING, FRIENDLIER ENVIRONMENT TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO BLACK PEOPLE AND FOUND THAT PLACE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, ANCHORED IN EAST AUSTIN.WE ARE ALL, WE AND ALL OF THE THOUSANDS OF ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OUR DOORS.
WE ARE HONORED THAT ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN SHARE IN RECOGNIZING THE BEST PRIVATE HBCU IN TEXAS, THE BEST HBCU FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY, THE BEST HBCU FOR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND THE THIRD BEST HBCU IN THE NATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS AND SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY AND ITS EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION AND TO OUR COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT.
ALRIGHT, SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY IS THE OLDEST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, HAVING BEEN ESTABLISHED AS HOUSTON TILLSON COLLEGIATE AND NORMAL INSTITUTE IN 1875.
AND WHEREAS HTU IS A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, CONTRIBUTING TO AUSTIN'S REPUTATION AS A CITY OF QUALITY EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
AND WHEREAS HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY HAS CONTINUED TO GROW OVER THE COURSE OF GENERATIONS, OVERCOMING, OVERCOMING EVERY HURDLE TO EVERY HURDLE IMAGINABLE, RATHER, TO BECOME THE FINE INSTITUTION AND PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IT IS TODAY.
NOW THEREFORE, I NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REMAINDER OF THE BODY FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO THEREBY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 13TH, 2025 AS HOUSTON TILLSON SU ENTEN SU ENTAL SU ENTAL DAY IN AUSTIN.
CONGRATULATIONS THAT YOU, WHERE WOULD, GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
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NATASHA HARPER MADISON, PROUD REPRESENTATIVE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING EAST SIDEI, UH, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BY THE WAY, UM, FOR THE SECOND OF TWO VERY SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS TODAY OR NEXT.
RATHER, WE TURN TO AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN SHAPING OUR COMMUNITY, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.
WE'RE JOINED BY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTING EBENEZER TODAY.
THIS YEAR MARKS EBENEZER'S 150TH, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, 150TH YEAR AS A CHURCH AND HAS BEEN STEADFAST AS A LEADER IN FAITH, IN SERVICE AND ADVOCACY FOR THE COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN.
EBENEZER HAS BEEN A PLACE OF PEACE OF SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND IT'S BEEN THAT FOR GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES, THROUGH ITS LEGACY OF INSPIRING LEADERSHIP, EBENEZER HAS BECOME AN ICON IN EAST AUSTIN, MAKING HISTORY WITH THE EBENEZER CHOIR.
THAT BECAME THE FIRST BLACK CHOIR, BY THE WAY, TO SERVE ON A COMMERCIAL RADIO PROGRAM.
IN GET THIS Y'ALL 1938 EBENEZER'S BEEN REPRESENTING FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M TRULY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY PRESENT TO CELEBRATE THE HONOR.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ASSET TO OUR DISTRICT IN HONOR OF THIS GREAT AND INCREDIBLE MILESTONE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE SOME ADVOCATES OF THE CHURCH TO SPEAK ABOUT EBENEZER'S ONGOING LEGACY, LOVE, SUPPORT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INVESTMENTS, TRUE INVESTMENTS, INTENTIONAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I'LL ALLOW YOU GUYS TO SPEAK UP APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES.
AND PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, YOUR ROLE AT THE CHURCH AND HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN A MEMBER.
UH, OH, WAIT, WHY DID EVERYBODY GOOD MORNING.
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COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR AND RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 1875.WE CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO SHARE THIS DAY ALSO WITH HOUSTON TILLISON BECAUSE WE ARE PARTNERS AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK.
WE HAVE A STRONG, STRONG CONNECTION AND SO WE ARE VERY HONORED THAT THEY TOO ARE CELEBRATING THEIR SESQUI CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
SINCE FEBRUARY 18TH, 2024, OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN CELEBRATING THE MANY ACTIVITIES AND THAT OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE PAST 100 AND AND 50 YEARS.
AND WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING, LIKE WE'VE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT MINISTRIES THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE, THE THINGS, THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD UPON NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN METROPLEX, THE STATE, THE NATION.
AND WE EVEN HAVE INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS AS A CHURCH FAMILY.
SO WE ARE VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF, OF THE HISTORY OF THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE HELPED TO SHAPE THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE AUSTIN CITY IN AT LARGE.
JOINING ME TODAY ARE OUR PASTOR AND HIS WIFE, REVEREND ROBERTSON AND MRS. ROBERTSON, MEMBERS OF OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND ALSO MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION REPRESENTING DEACONS, DEACONESS TRUSTEES, AND SO FORTH.
AND WE'RE ALL IN SUPPORT THAT WE REALLY ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR CELEBRATING THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A CHURCH FAMILY.
AND HERE IS SISTER AND WE CALL HER SISTER AT OUR CHURCH, LEVON MARSHALL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA HARPER MADISON.
I AM IN A MEMBER OF HER DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO A LONGTIME MEMBER OF EBENEZER THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, BUT I WAS ALSO A LONGTIME AFFILIATED WITH HOUSTON TILLERSON COLLEGE UNIVERSITY.
MY AFFILIATION WITH EBENEZER THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH GOES BACK FIVE GENERATIONS.
I AM THE FOURTH GENERATION, AND TODAY I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER HERE WHO IS A PART OF THE FIFTH GENERATION.
MY FATHER WAS A MEMBER OF THE EARLY BRIGHT AND EARLY EBENEZER, BRIGHT AND EARLY CHOIR BACK IN THE THIRTIES.
MY MOTHER WAS A, A MEMBER OF THE USHERS IN 1940.
MY CHILDREN JOINED IN THE 1960S, SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE.
EBENEZER HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO OUR FAMILY.
I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO TO EBENEZER
IN FACT, MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME THAT IF I WENT TO ANY OTHER CHURCH, I WOULD BE PUT OUT OF THE FAMILY
THE INSTITUTION HAS MEANT SO MUCH.
ITS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.
I STARTED WITH REVEREND JC LOT WHO BAPTIZED ME, FOLLOWED BY REVEREND ROBERT L ROW FOLLOWED, FOLLOWED BY REVEREND GR MARVIN GRIFFIN.
AND THEN WE HAD PASTOR FREEMAN, AND NOW WE HAVE REVEREND ROBERTSON.
WE'VE MEANT A LOT TO EAST AUSTIN.
EAST AUSTIN HAS MEANT A LOT TO US.
ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGH THE YEARS HAS BEEN IN MUSIC.
OUR DIRECTOR, VI GIE CARRINGTON DEWITTE WAS A STONE OF HELP, NOT ONLY AT THE CHURCH IN AUSTIN, BUT IN THE STATE, THE NATION AND WORLDWIDE.
SHE WAS A COMPOSER OF MORE THAN 40 PUBLICATIONS.
OUR CHOIRS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
NEXT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL
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CHURCH, UH, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1952 AND MY DAUGHTER WAS ONE OF THE LAST ATTENDEES.THE ONE LAST THING I CAN SAY IS I WAS ALWAYS LATE TO PICK HER UP
AND EVEN THOUGH I WORKED AT HOUSTON TILLSON, WHICH WAS HALF A BLOCK AWAY, SHE WAS LATE EVERY DAY.
ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY THE 16TH AT 10:30 AM OUR CHURCH WILL BE CELEBRATING AT SSE CENTENNIAL SERVICE, UH, AT 10:30 AM AND WE INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND WORSHIP WITH US AS WE CELEBRATE 150 YEARS.
WE'RE LOCATED AT 10 10 EAST 10TH STREET IN AUSTIN.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA CLOSE OUT WITH A PRESENTATION OF THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO EBENEZER THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH.
UM, THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED TO EBENEZER THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH FOR ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY, WHICH IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT ON THIS 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR OF 2025, RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
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I'M SUSANNA AL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.IT IS MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO JOHN JARRELL, BETTER KNOWN AS JJ.
JJ IS RETIRING FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AFTER SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, JJ STARTED HIS CAREER RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND WORKED HIS WAY UP AS A VALUED MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
HE IS SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S CLOSED SYSTEM, UH, CLOSED SYSTEMS, UH, SYSTEM DIVISION.
HE LED MANY PROJECTS IN REPAIRING AND INSTALLING STORM SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
HIS EMPLOYEES AND PEERS APPRECIATE HIS ABILITY TO LEAD WITH CALMNESS AND A SMILE REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION THEY WERE FACING.
JJ IS ALSO TALENTED WITH MUSIC SKILLS AND HE HAS GRACIOUSLY DEMONSTRATED HIS DJING SKILLS AT THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL EVENTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES.
JJ, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY OF AUSTIN, AND OUR COLLEAGUES.
WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW TO READ YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, AND YOU COULD HOLD ONTO IT AS YOU, AS I'M READING ABOUT IT.
FOR OVER 39 YEARS AND SEVEN MONTHS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP IN THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT BUILDING AND MAINTAINING OUR STORM DRAIN SYSTEM TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE DURING FLOODS, WHILE SERVING AS A ROLE MODEL AND MENTOR, SHAPING THE CAREERS OF COUNTLESS OF EMPLOYEES BY LEADING WITH PATIENTS PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPASSION, JOHN JJ LL IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THERE IS NO GREATER CALLING THAN PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE RECOGNIZE TREMENDOUS VALUE IN HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION TODAY, 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR 2025.
JJ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? UH, YEAH.
UM, I LIKE TO, UM, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK UH, GOD ON MY, UH, SUCCESS.
UM, HE, UH, SHOWED ME, UH, A WAY AND I JUST KIND OF STUCK WITH IT, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN I GOT HIRED HERE AT THE CITY AS A YOUNG GUY, UM, I CAME IN AND, UM, STARTED MESSING WITH STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS. AND,
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UM, I DIDN'T KNOW TOO MUCH.I JUST KNOW THE WATER FLOW THROUGH 'EM
SO, UM, I GOT THE, YOU KNOW, LEARNING AND FIGURING OUT STUFF.
I SAID, WOW, I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO KEEP AUSTIN FROM FLOODING.
UH, BUT YEAH, I PUT IN A LOT OF STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS AND INFRASTRUCTURES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
UH, TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM FLOODING.
YOU KNOW, THE WORK IS COMING FROM THE ENGINEERS AND UPPER MANAGEMENT AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I REALLY ENJOYED WHAT I WAS DOING AND I LOVE TO SEE THE SMILE ON PEOPLE, CITIZENS', FACES.
WHEN THE JOB THAT I INSTALLED ACTUALLY PUT IN HAD HANDS ON, UH, IT ACTUALLY WORKED AND THE PEOPLE DIDN'T FLOOD ANYMORE.
THAT MADE ME HAPPY WHEN I SAW SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IT WORKED.
AND, UM, YEAH, I'M FINNA GO ENJOY