* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [City Council Proclamations on July 24, 2025.] [00:00:04] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. I AM COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE, AND OUR OFFICE HAS ALWAYS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE AMAZING PEOPLE DOING AMAZING THINGS IN THIS CITY. AND TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION. WHAT STARTED AS A SMALL DREAM BETWEEN TWO SISTERS WANTING TO SHARE THEIR CULTURE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY HAS BLOSSOMED INTO AN AUSTIN CLASSIC. IF YOU STILL HAVEN'T HAD A VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL TACO, YOU'RE MISSING OUT, ESPECIALLY MY FAVORITE, THE MIGAS TACOS, UM, WHICH I EAT WITH, UH, WITH BLACK BEANS AND ON CORN. SO MAKE SURE YOU GET IT JUST THE WAY THAT I GET IT, ASIDE FROM THEIR ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE FOOD. AND WHAT, WHAT MAKES VERACRUZ AND THE AMAZING WOMEN BEHIND IT SO SPECIAL IS THEIR HEART FOR COMMUNITY. THEY SHARE ADVICE AND TIPS WITH INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS. THEY HOST THEIR NEIGHBORS AND GIVE BACK TO OTHERS WITHOUT A QUESTION. I AM SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEM TODAY, AND I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT ANYTIME, ANYTIME THERE'S A COMMUNITY NEED, ANYTIME THERE'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT, THEY JUMP IN WITHOUT, WITHOUT QUESTIONS ASKED. THEY PROVIDE SPACE, THEY PROVIDE COMMUNITY, AND THEY PROVIDE AN AREA FOR FOLKS TO FEEL AND BE THEMSELVES. SO THEY'RE, THEY DO NOT ONLY BRING AMAZING, AMAZING FOOD, THEY BRING AMAZING COMMUNITY AND SPACES FOR IT, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL IS A WOMAN AND IMMIGRANT OWNED BUSINESS, FOUNDED BY SISTERS RENA AND MARIZA VAZQUEZ, WHO BROUGHT THEIR VERACRUZ HERITAGE TO AUSTIN THROUGH FRESH, AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD SERVED WITH HEART AND PURPOSE. AND WHEREAS VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL HAS BECOME A BELOVED STAPLE IN AUSTIN BY CELEBRATING MEXICAN CULTURE THROUGH FOOD, SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS, AND ELEVATING TRADITIONAL FLAVORS WITH INTEGRITY AND CREATIVITY. AND WHEREAS THE BUSINESS CONSISTENTLY GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BY PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL FESTIVALS, DONATING MEALS, MENTORING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, AND PARTNERING WITH NONPROFITS TO UPLIFT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL PROVIDES MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL WHILE FOSTERING A WORKPLACE CULTURE ROOTED IN DIGNITY, FAIRNESS, AND GROWTH. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION TO SUSTAINABILITY, CULTURAL PRESERVATION, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN, DIVERSE, GENEROUS, RESILIENT, AND FULL OF UR. NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE DAIS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 24TH, 2025 AS VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS, REYNA, I DID WANT TO ADD ONE OTHER THING. UM, I LOVE CEVICHE AND IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE CEVICHE AT RA CRUZ MUELLER, YOU ARE JUST MISSING OUT. IT IS THE BEST IN THE CITY. SO GO GET THAT FOR YOURSELF, REINA. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY SISTER FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME AND FOR THE TEAM BEHIND US. UM, THIS IS SO SPECIAL FOR US. THANK YOU JOSE VELASQUEZ FOR ALWAYS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE. UM, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, Y'ALL GET UP HERE TOO. COME ON AND MAKE SURE I CAN SEE EVERYBODY'S FACE. HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1. ONE MORE. 3, 2, 1. BEAUTIFUL. AND JACKIE, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE RIGHT HERE. GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS. I AM COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. I'M JOINED THIS MORNING BY SKIP VASQUEZ, DIRECTOR OF PLANNED GIVING AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY. AND TODAY WE'RE GIVING A PROCLAMATION TO CELEBRATE [00:05:01] BLACK EARTH WISE LEADERS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. IN RECOGNITION OF BOLD, BRILLIANT, AND VISIONARY BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS WHO SAFEGUARD OUR ECOSYSTEMS ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION AND HEAL OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS LAND, THEY SAFEGUARD OUR ECOSYSTEMS, UM, WHILE SAFEGUARDING OUR ECOSYSTEMS AND HEALING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LAND. WE HAVE FOLKS LIKE DR. AMANDA MESSINA. SHE'S THE CHAIR OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY. WE ALSO HAVE FOLKS LIKE JASON IPAT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY. WE CELEBRATE BLACK EARTH WISE LEADERS DAY TODAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. IN LARGE PART, ANECDOTALLY, UM, BEING IN SPACES THAT, UH, REALLY TOUT THE, UH, THE VALUE OF STEWARDSHIP AND, UM, SUSTAINABILITY. UH, YOU OFTEN DON'T SEE FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE ME. I OFTEN DIDN'T SEE FOLKS THAT LOOKED LIKE ME. AND SO WHEN I STARTED TO, I REALLY WAS DRAWN TO RECOGNIZING THAT TAKING CARE OF OUR PLANET, TAKING CARE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IS EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY, UH, REGARDLESS OF CULTURE, CLASS, RACE, OR, UM, OR ANY OTHER DIFFERENTIATOR. SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION, BLACK EARTH WISE LEADERS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS BLACK EARTH WISE LEADERS IN AUSTIN HAVE LONG CHAMPIONED THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION AND REGENERATION OF OUR LAND, AIR, AND WATER FROM ANCESTRAL FARMING PRACTICES AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY EFFORTS TO GROUNDBREAKING INNOVATION AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, THEY LEAD WITH A COM WITH A COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP THAT BENEFITS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS WORK IS OFTEN DONE WITHOUT REC RECOGNITION OR ADEQUATE RESOURCES, THEIR LEADERSHIP EXTENDS ACROSS SECTORS WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENT GARDENS IN FOOD DESERTS, DESIGNING CARBON REDUCING TECHNOLOGIES, ADVANCING, ADVOCATING FOR QUAL AIR QUALITY IN FRONTLINE NEIGHBORHOODS, OR RESTORING NATIVE PLANT KNOWLEDGE AND LAND CONNECTION THROUGH INTERGENERATIONAL EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO UPLIFT AND HONOR THOSE WHOSE LABOR LEADERSHIP AND LIVED EXPERIENCE HAVE MOVED US TOWARD A MORE JUST SUSTAINABLE AND EARTH WISE FUTURE. NOW, THEREFORE, I NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 24TH, 2025 AS BLACK EARTH WISE LEADERS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND SKIP BASQUEZ FROM HT WILL ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE LIGHTS ARE DIFFERENT. YEAH. . YEAH, THEY'RE DIFFERENT TODAY. I LIKE THEM. . WELL, IT'S JUST GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES. I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I'M JOINED ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA SHARPER MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER FOR A VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION. AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW, SO DOES OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THE SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT MAKE OUR CITY TRULY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL. SO TODAY I'M EXCITED TO CELEBRATE A POWERFUL COLLABORATION, THE AUSTIN PROCUREMENT CONSORTIUM FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES FROM CAPACITY BUILDING AND BUSINESS COACHING TO REAL CONNECTIONS WITH PUBLIC SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN MAKING SURE AUSTIN BUSINESSES HAVE THE CHANCE TO THRIVE. I WANNA THANK OUR CONSORTIUM PARTNERS, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UT HUB OFFICE, DR. JOHN SHIPLEY, DR. JOHN SIBLEY BUTLER, AND THE IC TWO INSTITUTE, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER JEFF ILIAN, DONNA SIMMONS WITH CAP METRO DANITA CALDWELL WITH AUSTIN ISD, AND ERIC WILKES FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP. YOUR LEADERSHIP IS DRIVING REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN. AND FINALLY, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD NEXT, WHO WILL BE ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE AUSTIN PROCUREMENT CONSORTIUM, A PARTNERSHIP COMPRISED OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, TRAVIS COUNTY CAP, METRO AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS C TWO INSTITUTE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HUB OFFICE, THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHO HAVE SHARED VISION TO SUPPORT AND FOSTER THE GROWTH OF UNDERUTILIZED [00:10:01] BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY MAY THRIVE IN CENTRAL TEXAS. AND WHEREAS THE CONSORTIUM MEMBERS STRIVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO CERTIFIED FIRMS AND SMALL BUSINESSES BY CONNECTING THEM TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES NECESSARY TO BUILD CAPACITY AND SUCCEED AS SMALL BUSINESSES WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS THIS COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION OF THE CONSORTIUM MEMBERS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCH OF THE READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES, A PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS EDUCATION, BUSINESS COACHING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TAILORED TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS INTERESTED IN BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC, DOING BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS. AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN PROCUREMENT CON CONSORTIUM COMMENDS THE CERTIFIED FIRMS AND SMALL BUSINESSES FOR THEIR DEDICATED EFFORTS, THOUGHTFUL PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPLETION OF THE RTP FOR THE HUB PROGRAM CURRICULUM. AND WHEREAS TODAY'S EVENT CELEBRATES AND HONORS THE CONSORTIUM MEMBERS FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND PARTNERSHIP TO THIS INITIATIVE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SMALL BUSINESSES FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROGRAM, THE TIME YOU'VE INVESTED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EXPAND YOUR CAPACITY AND YOUR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS. NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES MAYOR PRO TEM, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER MADISON ANTAR ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 24TH, 2025 AS AUSTIN PROCUREMENT CONSORTIUM DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND LET ME MOVE TO THIS WAY. 5 0 6 FEET LOOKING FOR FEET. HERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. COME ON IN. WE'RE SUPER CO HERE. WE ARE COMFORTABLE HERE LIKE JENGA. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MOVE OVER HERE TO GIVE YOU SOME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD MORNING GUESTS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM TC BRANICK AUSTIN CITY MANAGER AND IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN ADVANCING EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR REGION. I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK THE IC SQUARED INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT. I WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE OUR PARTNERS AT TRAVIS COUNTY CAPITAL METRO AUSTIN, ISD, UT AUSTIN HUB OFFICE, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S VERY OWN SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HELPING BRING THIS INITIATIVE TO LIFE BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR DEDICATION AND RESILIENCE BODY. THE SPIRIT OF THE READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM. SINCE THE CITY BEGAN SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM IN 2022, 60% OF THE PARTICIPANTS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES BY SMBR PROGRAMS LIKE THE READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM ARE MORE THAN JUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS TRAINING. THEY ARE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN ACTION. WHEN WE SUPPORT DIVERSE BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE STRENGTHEN AUSTIN'S ECONOMY AND SECURE A MORE VIBRANT FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR SUPPORTING THE VISION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. YOU ARE ON. YOUR ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND OUR PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS IS TRULY INVALUABLE. TOGETHER, LET'S KEEP SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER AS WE WORK TO MAKE A BETTER AND FAIRER AND MORE EQUITABLE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE PROCLAMATION, STEP FORWARD. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. UH, JULY IS CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH AND THIS MORNING I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK [00:15:01] IN THE CHRONIC ILLNESS HEALTHCARE SPACE COULD JOIN US, INCLUDING DR. JASON MARTIN AND KELLY HEDEN. DR. JASON MARTIN IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT ASCENSION SETON. ASHLEY WAGNER FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, JOSIE GOMEZ, MICHELLE AO, LISA BUENTELLO, AND FRITZ FROM THE A LS, UH, SORRY, FROM THE UM, AND VERONICA BEHAR FROM THE AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND AND DIANA AVALO AND FRITZ FROM THE A LS ASSOCIATION. I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING THE SPONDYLITIS ASSOCIATION, MYSELF AND DIANA'S HERE ON BEHALF OF A DISTRICT 10 CONSTITUENT. WE HAVE AND A FRIEND WHO HAS A LS. SO LET'S START WITH WHAT A CHRONIC ILLNESS IS. THEY ARE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT LAST FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, REQUIRE ONGOING MEDICAL CARE, MAY NOT HAVE A CURE, AND ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH DAILY IMPACTS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE MOBILITY AND DIET, UH, CONSTRAINTS, AS WELL AS THINGS LIKE PAIN AND FATIGUE. AND SO THE BIG ONES THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF INCLUDE HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND ARTHRITIS. BUT THERE ARE ALSO CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT AFFECT FEWER PEOPLE KNOWN AS RARE ILLNESSES AND ARE THINGS LIKE A LS AND MS. AND THERE'S ALSO NEWER CONDITIONS LIKE LONG COVID AND LYME DISEASE AND ALL TOLD SOME 50 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS OF SOME KIND, WHICH MEANS THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY THAT'S DEALING WITH SOME KIND OF AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW. ONE GOAL THAT INSPIRED ME TO RUN WAS FINDING WAYS TO DE-STIGMATIZE THESE ILLNESSES. I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ELECTED OFFICIALS SPEAK A LOT MORE OPENLY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN TROUBLED THAT OUTSIDE OF A COUPLE PEOPLE I KNOW OR HAVE FOUND THAT HAVE DIABETES, I COULD FIND LITERALLY NO ACCOUNTS OF LEADERS SPEAKING OPENLY ABOUT COPING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES. AND SO I'D LIKE TO HELP FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN'T CHANGE ATTITUDES ABOUT HOW DO WE APPROACH CHRONIC ILLNESS AND HOW IT'S SEEN AS A BARRIER TO PUBLIC SERVICE. AND MY SENSE IS THAT INSTEAD WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT AS THOUGH, AS AN ADVANTAGE OR AS A, AS A, AS A SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN OFFER THAT WE'VE GOT A LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT CAN ADD DEPTH AND PERSPECTIVE TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, AS WELL AS JUST A SOURCE OF ADVOCACY FOR FOLKS THAT NEED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR HEALTH OR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. WHEN I CAMPAIGNED LAST YEAR, I WAS SURPRISED THAT EVEN SUPPORTERS WHO I KNEW THAT HAD CHRONIC ILLNESSES ADVISED ME NOT TO TALK ABOUT MY CHRONIC ILLNESS AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS, PRESUMABLY 'CAUSE THEY WORRIED THAT VOTERS WOULD INTERPRET THAT AS MAYBE BEING UNABLE TO RELATE TO IT OR EVEN AS A VULNERABILITY OR WEAKNESS THAT SOMEHOW THAT WOULD MAKE ME UNELECTABLE. AND GENERALLY THEN I DID NOT TALK ABOUT MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH SPONDYLITIS. EVEN THOUGH I WOULD SAY MORE THAN ANYTHING OVER THE LAST 32 YEARS, IT SHAPED MY LIFE, MY PERSPECTIVE, AND MY ATTITUDES AS I'VE OVERCOME THOSE YEARS. THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO PROCLAIM TODAY IS CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS DAY IN AUSTIN AND SHARE PROCLAMATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING WITH ME THIS MORNING. IN SOLIDARITY, WE STILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO IN THE SPACE TO RAISE AWARENESS, TO EDUCATE, TO CHANGE PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES CAN DO AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH. AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE FACING THIS ILLNESSES CAN APPROACH LIFE WITH ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE WITH A DEGREE OF HOPE, WITH A DEGREE OF OPTIMISM, WITH ACCEPTANCE AND WITH FULFILLMENT. AND SO LET'S GET TO THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN I'M GONNA INVITE DR. MARTIN AND DIANA AND OTHERS TO SPEAK BRIEFLY FOR A MINUTE OR TWO ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH CHRONIC HEART DISEASE A LS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE ILLNESSES. SO IF WE CAN GET THE PROCLAMATIONS, THANK YOU. SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILLION AMERICANS WITH SOME KIND OF FORM OF CHRONIC ILLNESS, WHICH IS ROUGHLY ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE, WHEREAS THE AUSTIN, UH, WHEREAS CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH IS OBSERVED IN JULY TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND DESTIGMATIZE CHRONIC ILLNESS. WHEREAS THESE CHRONIC ILLNESSES INCLUDE THINGS LIKE CHRONIC HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, ARTHRITIS, AND ALSO NEWER ILLNESSES LIKE LYME DISEASE, LONG COVID A LS. WHEREAS THE ILLNESSES AFFECT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CENTER OF TEXAS AREA AND DRAMATICALLY IMPACT AND PLACE CONSTRAINTS [00:20:01] ON THEIR LIVES. WHEREAS AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS ARE CONSISTENTLY BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE HEALTHCARE RESOURCES, ADVOCATES, AND NETWORKS TO SUPPORT THE PATIENTS AND THE FAMILIES WITH THOSE OF CHRONIC ILLNESSES. WHEREAS NEW RESOURCES, TREATMENTS, AND HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING DEVELOPED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES. NOW THEREFORE, I MARK UCHIN, COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DUE HERE ABOUT YOUR CLAIM JULY, 2025 AS CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN. AND WITH THAT SAID, WE'VE GOT THESE FANCY PROCLAMATIONS THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS A COPY OF AND THAT WE CAN GET SOME PHOTOS OF IF ANYBODY WANTS TO JOIN ME AS I HAND THIS OFF, WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL COPIES AND WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT. OKAY. AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA INVITE, UH, DR. MARTIN TO KICK US OFF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SAYING, UH, YOU KNOW, A MINUTE OR TWO ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING YEAH. WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS AT AT ASC EATON. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAND OFF TO THE VARIOUS FOLKS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS AND KIND OF DO A ROUND ROBIN HERE. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HEY THERE. GOOD MORNING. I AM JASON MARTIN, THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR ASCENSION SETON MEDICAL CENTER. AUSTIN, ON BEHALF OF OUR 16,000 ASSOCIATES AT ASCENSION, TEXAS, UH, WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND WE SUPPORT YOU AND PRAY MORE AWARENESS AROUND CHRONIC ILLNESS TODAY. UM, FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ASCENSION SETON FAMILY, IT ALSO INCLUDES CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL IN THE CITY AS WELL, JOINING LEVEL ONE, UH, TRAUMA FACILITY FOR CHILDREN. UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT DEL SETON MEDICAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, WHICH IS ALSO THE ONLY LEVEL ONE TRAUMA FACILITY HERE IN THE CITY. UM, MY HOSPITAL, WHICH IS SINGLE CENTER AUSTIN, THE ONLY HEART TRANSPLANT, UM, FACILITY IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS. WE STATED EARLIER THAT, UH, CHRONIC HEART DISEASE AS ONE OF THESE CHRONIC ILLNESSES, UM, YOU KNOW, IT STILL REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN AMERICA. UH, WE'RE COMMITTED PROVIDING FOR THOSE, UH, THOSE PATIENTS WITHIN OUR CITY AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT REVOLVE AROUND THAT. YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE CHRONIC HEART DISEASE AS STATED, UM, AMONGST OTHER CHRONIC ILLNESSES. AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TREAT THOSE PEOPLE OPENLY, PROVIDE EMPATHY AND CARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WITHIN OUR CITY. UM, THERE SHOULD BE NO STIGMATISM AS YOU TOUCHED ON, UM, THAT IS AN OUTDATED THOUGHT AND SHOULD NO LONGER BE IN EXISTENCE WITHIN OUR HEALTHCARE POPULATION TODAY. UM, YOU KNOW, FOR OVER 120 YEARS, SUN SETON HAS, UH, DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PASSIONATE, PERSONALIZED CARE TO ALL OF, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE CITY. UM, WE PROVIDE OVER ABOUT $540 MILLION PER YEAR OF CHARITY CARE AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO THIS CITY. UM, WE TOUCHED ON HEART DISEASE. WE HAVE MANY OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING PULMONARY HYPERTENSION, CYSTIC FIBROSIS, OSTEOARTHRITIS CARE, THIS COMPREHENSIVE CARE, UM, TO INCLUDE SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP KIND OF DEBUNK SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SPOKE OF. UM, THIS COMPREHENSIVE CARE IS WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST WAY AND, UH, THE PATH FORWARD FOR OUR CITY. SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND BRINGING AWARENESS TO CHRONIC ILLNESS TODAY. THANKS SO MUCH. NO, THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS. ALRIGHT. THANK VOLUNTEER. ASHLEY, DO YOU WANNA JUMP IN? SURE. OKAY. YES. HI, I'M ASHLEY WAGNER. I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, UM, WITH OVER 459,000 TEXANS, UH, OVER THE AGE OF 65, LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S IN APPROXIMATELY 10% OF, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 65 LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S. UM, I'M NOT ALONE IN, UM, IN, IN DEALING WITH THE PAINFUL, LONG GOODBYE OF SOMEONE THAT I LOVE. UM, I REALLY, WE KNOW THAT THERE ISN'T A CURE, BUT THERE ARE TREATMENTS TO PROLONG, UM, A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS PROCLAMATION IS SO IMPORTANT, UM, TO GET THE WORD OUT TO DE-STIGMATIZE, TO LET OTHER PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS HELP, UM, IF TREATED EARLY. UM, I ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MY MOM AND MY GRANDFATHER. MY MOM LIVED WITH ALZHEIMER'S FOR ALMOST A DECADE, UM, BEFORE WE LOST HER A FEW YEARS AGO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. UM, IT BRINGS AWARENESS TO FAMILIES LIVING WITH IT, UM, AND IT BRINGS AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE UPCOMING LEGISLATION ASKING FOR RESEARCH AND SUPPORT TO END CHRONIC DISEASES LIKE ALZHEIMER'S. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW THANKS FOR BEING HERE. DIANA, DO YOU WANNA GO SHOTS FROM A LS? SURE. UM, ON BEHALF OF THE A LS ASSOCIATION, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILMAN FOR RECOGNIZING TODAY. UM, CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS DAY AND MONTH. UM, A LS IS A RARE DISEASE. IT HAS NO CURE. UM, THE ASSOCIATION HERE IN TEXAS WORKS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED WITH A LS, WHICH IS ABOUT 5,000 TEXANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. UM, BECAUSE THERE IS NO CURE, OUR JOB IS [00:25:01] TO ADVOCATE AND TO ADVANCE NOT JUST RESEARCH, BUT LEGISLATION TO MAKE THIS DISEASE LIVABLE. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BRING A SPOTLIGHT TO OUR DISEASE AND THIS AWARENESS RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MICHELLE. VERONICA. VERONICA. I'M SORRY. DO YOU WANNA PUT OKAY, WE COVERED A ILLICIT THANK. OKAY, VERONICA, GO FOR IT. HI, MY NAME IS VERONICA BARON. I AM A TWO TIME KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT WITH MY FIRST ONE BEING HERE IN AUSTIN WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE. AND I'M ALSO AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE AMERICA KIDNEY FUND AND SOON TO BE PART-TIME LOBBYIST. I THINK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHERS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS. I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED, UM, DURING CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. SOME OF Y'ALL MADE IT ALL THE WAY HERE FROM SAN ANTONIO TO JOIN US THIS MORNING, , AND THAT'S A BIG EFFORT. SO, UH, AND NEXT YEAR WE'LL DO THIS AGAIN AND WE'LL HAVE HOPEFULLY FEATURING A DIFFERENT, UH, HIGHLIGHTING SOME DIFFERENT ILLNESSES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE DESTIGMATIZING GOING FORWARD AND, UH, AND DRAWING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION TO THESE ISSUES. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING AND WE'LL HAVE COPIES OF THE PROCLAMATION FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS, UH, THAT, THAT WOULD LIKE ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOB. GREAT JOB. YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, AND I AM JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE JOSE VELASQUEZ AND MARK UCHIN WITH SOME LEADERS THAT CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT GUN SAFETY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. TODAY I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED BY KIM CALDWELL AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCKE, ARMS FOR LIFE, THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. GUN VIOLENCE IS A PROFOUND TRAGEDY THAT AFFECTS FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS. UNSUPERVISED OR UNSECURE ACCESS TO FIREARMS POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR OUR CHILDREN AND EVERY LIFE LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE LEAVES A RIPPLE EFFECT, CREATING A WAVE OF GRIEF AND LOSS THAT TOUCHES US ALL. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUALLY WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND THE IMPORTANCE AND THE EFFICACY OF SAFE GUN HANDLING AND STORAGE. I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE TO OUR ADV ADVOCACY GROUPS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND EDUCATION AROUND GUN USE. YOUR DEDICATION IS THE BACKBONE TO THIS INITIATIVE, AND I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN THERE WILL BE BRIEF REMARKS BY KIM CALDWELL AND ASSISTANT CHIEF ASKEW, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS UNSECURED GUNS POSE CLEAR SAFETY RISKS, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN, AND WHEN GUNS ARE NOT STORED SAFELY AND ARE ACCESSIBLE TO UNSUPERVISED MINORS, THE RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES. AND WHEREAS FIREARM RELATED INJURIES ARE THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE AGES ONE TO 44 IN THE UNITED STATES, AND CURRENTLY ABOUT 132 PEOPLE DIE FROM A FIREARM INJURY EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND WHEREAS ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT EVEN MODEST INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN HOMES SAFELY STORING FIREARMS COULD PREVENT ALMOST A THIRD OF YOUTH GUN DEATHS DUE TO SUICIDE AND UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM INJURY. AND WHEREAS EDUCATING AND RESOURCING COMMUNITIES TO PRACTICE SAFE GUN HANDLING AND STORAGE IS A PROVEN, ACTIONABLE AND MEANINGFUL WAY TO CREATE SAFER HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR CITY, STATE, AND COUNTRY. NOW, THEREFORE, I PAY JEALOUS ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST, 2025 AS GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER [00:30:01] ELLIS. YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP FOR SAFE STORAGE MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. AND THANK YOU TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND TO THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, UH, FOR FUNDING LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE'S WORK TO ENSURE THAT EVERY GUN IS LOCKED WHEN NOT IN USE. AS A MEMBER OF THE LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE TEAM AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS VIOLENCE PREVENTION MOVEMENT, I'M PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE LIFE-SAVING POTENTIAL OF LOCKING GUNS. GUN INJURIES ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN OUR CITY AND THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. AND EVERY LAST ONE OF US HAS THE POWER TO HELP MAKE AUSTIN SAFER BY CHAMPIONING SAFE FIREARM STORAGE. THIS YEAR, LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE PUBLISHED SAVE THE DAY, LOCK IT AWAY, A FIRST OF ITS KIND GRAPHIC NOVELS SHOWING KIDS WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE IN A WORLD WITH GUNS. WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY SHERWIN PERINO, OUR ILLUSTRATOR, JENNY PULA ROSS, OUR PROJECT MANAGER, AND MIKE GRAVELY OF QUICK PRINT, OUR PUBLISHER, AND I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE WRITTEN THE BOOK WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR FOUNDER, LISA ROSS, WHO HAS DEDICATED SO MUCH OF HERSELF TO PREVENTING GUN TRAGEDIES LIKE THE ONE THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF HER SON JOHN ROSS. IN HER BOOK AT CLOSE RANGE, LISA SHARED THAT JOHN LOVED A STORY OF SORROW WHERE A SACRIFICE WAS MADE FOR SOME GREATER GOOD. PLEASE DON'T ASSUME THAT THE CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAFE AROUND A GUN. VISIT LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE.ORG FOR FREE ACCESS. TO SAVE THE DAY, LOCK IT AWAY, AND WHILE YOU'RE OH, IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH. AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN REQUEST A FREE GUN LOCK TO BE MAILED TO YOUR HOME. JOIN US THIS AUGUST AND EVERY MONTH AS WE CREATE THE SAFETY OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SCOTT ASKEW. I AM AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND, AND ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, I'M HONORED TO STAND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS AND AND ASIDE LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A WHOLE IN PROCLAIMING AUSTIN, I'M SORRY, AUGUST AS GUN SAFETY AWARENESS. MONTH GUN SAFETY IS NOT JUST A LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE, IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. AND EVERY YEAR PREVENTABLE TRAGEDIES INVOLVING FIREARMS AFFECTING FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR CITY ARE TRAGICALLY HAPPENING. THROUGH, THROUGH AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP, WE CAN SAVE LIVES AND WE CAN MAKE AUSTIN SAFER FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND HER LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING INITIATIVES, OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIP THAT EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY WITH TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO PREVENT GUN RELATED TRAGEDIES. LET'S USE THIS MONTH, LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND LET'S SH THROUGH THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN REMEMBERING THAT GUN SAFETY IS LIFE SAFETY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE WE TAKE A PICTURE. YES, YOU ALL LIKE TO STEP IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM. THAT'D BE FANTASTIC. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.