Aug 18, 2025 Arts Commission

WE'RE HOSTING A VIRTUAL ANNIVERSARY PANEL ON AUGUST 28TH, FEATURING WRITERS FROM ACROSS OUR 19 YEAR HISTORY.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS AMANDA JOHNSON.

I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TORCH LITERARY ARTS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT TORCH.

AUGUST IS OUR ANNIVERSARY MONTH, AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.

IN CELEBRATING 19 YEARS OF SUPPORTING AND AMPLIFYING BLACK WOMEN WRITERS, WE HAVE PUBLISHED AND FEATURED OVER 300 EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED WRITERS FROM ACROSS THE DIASPORA, DELIVERED IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, READINGS, THE AWARD-WINNING TORCH MAGAZINE, AND AN ANNUAL RETREAT THAT HAS NURTURED THE LIVES AND CAREERS OF 22 FELLOWS, WHOSE BOOKS, FILMS, PLAYS, AND OTHER LITERARY ENDEAVORS HAVE RECEIVED GLOBAL RECOGNITION.

WE'RE PROUD TO DO THIS VITAL WORK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL LITERARY COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

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WE ALSO HAVE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON, INCLUDING OUR FALL 2025 SEASON, THE OPENING OF THE TORCH CENTER, OUR FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR SPACE COMING THIS FALL, AND A SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER, 2026 THAT WILL WELCOME OVER 200 ATTENDEES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.

OUR SUCCESS AND ABILITY TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF WRITERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO'VE COME TO ENJOY AND DEPEND ON OUR PROGRAMS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S THRIVE GRANT AND THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE COMMISSIONERS, THE ACME TEAM, CITY OFFICIALS, AND ALL WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO FUEL OUR FLAME AND THE FLAMES OF ALL ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT CALL AUSTIN HOME.

PLEASE VISIT TORCH LITERARY ARTS.ORG AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO LEARN MORE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT FUTURE EVENTS.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT TORCH HAS BEEN DOING.

OH, LOW THESE MANY YEARS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

NEXT WE'LL HAVE ZACH TRAEGER FROM MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, AND THEN NATALIE EARHART FROM ALMOST REAL THINGS.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TRY A DIFFERENT THING ONCE AGAIN.

SO I'M GONNA DO THREE MINUTES HERE.

TWO THOUGHT EXPERIENCE REGARDING THE EXPERIMENTS REGARDING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND AND CSAP CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE FUND PROGRAM.

SO, AS YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HEAR IN A SECOND, AND I DIDN'T TALK TO THE NEXT PRESENTERS, BUT IN MY OPINION, THE ACT OF BANNING FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR MUSIC MUSICIANS IN THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, PUNISHES BOARD PEOPLE, IT PUNISHES THOSE ON DISABILITY, VETERANS ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, FOOD STAMPS, OR WELFARE AND OPTIONAL FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.

ALTHOUGH IT'S NERDY, IT REALLY HELPS NAVIGATE THE TAX LIABILITIES AND ECONOMIC THE BURDEN, UH, FOR THOSE IN ECONOMICALLY PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS.

SO THE THOUGHT OF EXPERIMENT FOR THIS ONE IS, DO WE CARE ABOUT POOR PEOPLE IN AUSTIN? HOW MANY RICH MUSICIANS DO YOU PERSONALLY KNOW? HOW MANY MUSICIANS DO YOU KNOW THAT CAN FILL OUT A SCHEDULE C? CAN YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHAT A SCHEDULE C IS? CAN YOU FILL, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, BUT IN GENERAL, UH, THIS IS THE HURDLE.

SO IN REGARD TO THE CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR CSAP, THE BARRING OF NONPROFIT OWNER OCCUP OCCUPIED SPACES AND ART WORKSHOPS AND STUDIOS.

SO IN THE LAST 10 TO 15, 20 YEARS, I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THE PLACES THAT YOU'VE HAD THE MOST IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES MAKING ART OR BEING CREATIVE WITH OTHERS.

I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE THIS CURRENTLY.

NOW, CONSIDER THE INFORMAL SPACES THAT YOU HONED YOUR CRAFT IN AUSTIN OR IN GENERAL.

HAVE YOU MADE ART IN A WAREHOUSE HOUSE, GARAGE, OFFICE, SPACE PARK UNDER A BRIDGE IN A TUNNEL IN A NON-TRADITIONAL SPACE? WAS IT NOURISHING AND IMPORTANT, EVEN IF IT WAS HOT AND DIRTY? WHEN YOU ASK AROUND, DO YOUR FELLOW ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE PLACES IN AUSTIN IN WHICH TO CREATE THEIR WORK? HAS ACCESS TO THOSE SPACES GOTTEN BETTER OR WORSE SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE ARTS SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN 2017? HOW ABOUT SINCE THE ORIGINATION OF THE CSAP PROGRAM, WHICH CITY COUNCIL CREATED FOR NONPROFITS IN 2020? HOW ABOUT FOR THE ROUGHLY 80% OF AWARDED ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE CSAP PROGRAM IN 2023 THAT WOULD NOW BE INELIGIBLE DUE TO THE NEW GUIDELINES, BANNING ARTWORK, WORKSHOPS AND STUDIO SPACES? DO YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLABORATORS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE AFFORDABLE SPACES TO MAKE WORK AND GATHER FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE NONPROFIT OWNED SPACES LIKE THE VORTEX OR MOHA? DO WE WANNA INCENTIVIZE NONPROFIT OWNERSHIP OF SPACES, OR DO WE WANT TO USE EXCLUSIVELY USE PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR RENT SUBSIDIES IN PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES? IT STUBS MORE OF A CREATIVE SPACE THAN MOHA.

SHOULD THE ZAC THEATER BE MORE ELIGIBLE THAN BO STUDIOS? HOW ARE WE INCENTIVIZING AFFORDABILITY? IF THE ONLY SPACES WE ARE SUPPORTING WITH FUNDS ARE THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY COMMERCIALLY OPERATED AND WE'RE HELPING PAY FOR THE RENT INCREASE? WHO BENEFITS FROM THAT IN THE LONG TERM? IF LOAD CARDS AND OCCUPANCY ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE GRANT ELIGIBILITY, WOULDN'T WE WANNA SUPPORT SPACES IN GETTING THROUGH THE OFTEN COSTLY AND BURDENSOME COMPLIANCE HURDLES THAT ARE PUT IN FRONT OF THEM? IF THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS IS THAT WE DO WANT TO INCENTIVIZE COMMERCIAL FOR-PROFIT OWNERSHIP, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT IN PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THE RENT GO UP.

THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THE RENT GO UP IN PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT AND NON-PROFITS.

THE GOAL IS MISSION DRIVEN.

SO IF THIS GRANT IS GONNA SUBSIDIZE RENT GOING UP IN PRIVATE, UH, NON-OWNER OPERATED SPACES, SINCE THESE ARE ONLY HOT FUNDED DOLLARS, I THINK THESE ARE CHOICES WE COULD MAKE.

BUT I WOULD CONSIDER AS A BETTER NAME, THE COMMERCIAL SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DONE.

THANK YOU MR. TRAEGER.

APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND TAKING THREE MINUTES, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T REMIND YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING IT.

NEXT WE'LL HAVE NATALIE EARHART FROM ALMOST REAL THINGS, AND THEN CEDRIC SALON FROM ASIAN SEASON A TX.

MS. EARHART, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK

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YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING OR LETTING ME SPEAK.

UM, I'M NATALIE.

I'M FROM ALMOST REAL THINGS ARTS ORGANIZATION.

I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UM, WE HAVE TAKEN OVER THE AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR FROM BIG MEDIUM.

UM, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO DO THAT.

UH, THE STUDIO TOUR HAS BEEN AN AUSTIN STAPLE FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS.

UM, BIG MEDIUM LED IT TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST ARTS, UH, EVENTS IN AUSTIN.

SO WE'RE PLANNING ON CONTINUING THAT FORWARD, MAKING IT A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR ALL ARTISTS.

UM, SO THE APPLICATION IS OUT NOW.

IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE@ALMOSTREALTHINGS.COM SLASH AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR, AND I'M JUST HERE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW IT'S OUT.

THE DEADLINE'S AUGUST 31ST, WHICH IS COMING UP VERY QUICK.

UM, BUT WE JUST WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND PARTICIPATE IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM POSSIBLE.

UM, WE'VE EDITED THE APPLICATION TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ARTISTS AND ART GROUPS, UM, TO FILL OUT.

SO IT'S IN TWO PARTS.

SO THE FIRST PART OF THE APPLICATION ONLY TAKES LIKE THREE MINUTES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE SHOWING YOUR ART YET, YOU'RE JUST YOUR INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE.

AND THEN, UH, ONCE APPROVED, THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN PUT IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LOCATION AND THE ACCESSIBILITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, WE HAVE RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL, LIKE A DIRECTORY OF LOCATIONS THAT HAVE AVAILABLE SPACE FOR ARTISTS.

SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SHOW, YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT DIRECTORY AND IT HAS ALL THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND ALSO GUIDES FOR WRITING YOUR ARTIST'S STATEMENT.

UM, IF YOU ARE A STUDENT WITH A VALID ID, YOU ALSO GET 50% OFF, UH, THE COST TO APPLY.

SO IF YOU GUYS JUST COULD PLEASE HELP SHARE THAT LINK.

IT'S ALMOST REAL THINGS.COM/AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR.

AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR IS, CAN YOU JUST JUST COME BACK AND TELL US, RIGHT.

OH, YES.

SORRY.

UH, THE AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR, SOME JUST KNEW IT AS EAST OR WEST.

UM, IT'S A TIME WHERE EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE CAN OPEN THEIR DOORS.

SO ART SPACES, STUDIOS, HOME STUDIOS, UM, ARE INVITING THE PUBLIC IN.

SO IT'S LIKE A FREE SELF-GUIDED TOUR FOR ANYONE IN AUSTIN TO COME EXPERIENCE ART AND IDEALLY PURCHASE ART TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS YEAR, IT'S NOVEMBER 8TH AND NINTH, AND NOVEMBER 15TH AND 16TH.

SO THOSE ARE WEEKENDS, UM, FROM 12:00 PM TO 6:00 PM THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

COMMISSIONER.

NEXT WE, UH, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMISSIONER HUSSAINI IS ON THE DAAS.

NEXT WE HAVE CEDRIC LAN.

AM I SAYING YOUR NAME CORRECTLY? YES.

SALON FROM ASIAN SEASON A TX.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

UH, THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

I AM CEDRIC LAN, UH, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AGENCIES A TX, AND OUR MISSION IS TO SHOWCASE LOCAL ASIAN AMERICAN ARTISTS AND CREATORS HERE IN TOWN.

UM, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP AT BULL ART STUDIOS ON AUGUST 29TH.

UM, AT THE END OF THE MONTH, FROM SIX TO 10:00 PM WE'LL BE SHOWCASING 13 ARTISTS, AND WE'LL HAVE 10 VENDORS, UH, IN A SMALL VENDOR MARKET.

AND YOU CAN, UH, FIND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION@AGENCIESANDATX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOU, YOU COMING DOWN.

I WANNA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMMISSIONER KEYS AND COMMISSIONER CHARLA HAVE JOINED US ONLINE.

AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING I HAVE NEGLECTED TO DO FOR THREE MEETINGS.

NOW, I WANT TO INTRODUCE COMMISSIONER UNA HUI AND LET HER SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HERSELF AND WHAT HER, HER AREA IS.

SHE'S JOINED US IN JUNE, RIGHT? .

UM, HI.

NICE TO MEET Y'ALL.

WHAT DO YOU WANNA JUST, WHAT'S YOUR, YOUR DISTRICTS, WHICH YOUR DISTRICTS, WHAT YOUR AREA OF INTEREST IS OR EXPERTISE IS.

ART IS A WAY FOR US TO CONNECT WITHOUT USING WORDS.

SO I, I LIVE IN 10, BUT, UM, I THINK MIKE SEGAL NOMINATED ME.

SO IT WAS DISTRICT SEVEN.

UM, AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN OVER 25 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN TO THE STUDIO TOUR SEVERAL TIMES, AND I LOVE IT.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE, AND I'M GONNA CHECK OUT THIS, UH, THE, THE ONES THAT WERE LISTED.

AND, UH, I KNOW I WALKED IN LATE WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING, BUT I WAS LISTENING TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ON THE PHONE.

UM, I'VE WORKED IN TECH IN AUSTIN FOR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THE REASON I'M HERE, UH, THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE ARTS COMMISSION IS BECAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO ERADICATE HATE.

UM, I'M A VICTIM OF HATE CRIMES, AND FOR ME,

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I FEEL LIKE WORDS AREN'T WORKING VERY WELL ANYMORE.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT THIS MEDIUM BRINGS TO THE CITY AND HOW WE BRING MORE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND CONNECT OVER BUILDING COMMUNITIES.

SO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

SO NOW WE

[2. Presentation of how fiscal sponsors optimize the experience of all parties involved in City granting where they live — plus fiscal sponsorship best practices by Carman Gaines of Local Color, San José, CA. ]

ARE IN ITEM NUMBER TWO, PRESENTATION OF FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS.

WE HAVE CARMEN GAINES OF LOCAL COLOR, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, WHO'S GONNA GIVE US A PRESENTATION.

YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES.

MS. GAINES, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO AND TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE.

SUPPORTER OF FISCALLY SPONSORED, UM, FISCAL SPONSORS.

HI, THANK YOU.

SORRY.

NAVIGATING SOME, UM, TECHNICAL ISSUES.

UM, I ALSO, UM, I AM WITH LOCAL COLOR.

UH, I'M ALSO JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE, UH, THADDIUS SQUIRE, WHO SHOULD BE ON THE CALL.

UM, AND THESE SLIDES ARE RELATED TO THEM.

UM, BUT WHILE THADDIUS IS BEING CALLED UP, UM, I CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK TO MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

UM, SO LOCAL COLOR IS A 5 0 1 C3 WITH THE MISSION TO, TO CREATE EQUITABLE PATHWAYS FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TO THRIVE.

THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED BY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ERIN SALAZAR, IN 2015 FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE AS AN ARTIST.

AND WE MEET OUR MISSION THROUGH FIVE CORE PROGRAMS, PUBLIC ART AND CREATIVE SERVICES, WHICH ENGAGES ARTISTS FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS WITH CREATIVE FREEDOM AND EQUITABLE PAY.

OUR CREATIVE SPACES PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM, UM, ACTIVATING AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE WORKSPACES, GALLERIES AND GATHERING SITES.

OUR LOCAL COMMONS PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, WITH THE GOAL OF FOSTERING SUSTAINABILITY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AND ORGANIZERS BY LEVERAGING OUR 5 0 1 C3 STATUS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO GRANT FUNDING AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR SELF DIRECTED CREATIVE PROJECTS.

WE ALSO PROVIDE ARTS, EDUCATION, AND CREATIVE EXPERIENCES, WHICH ARE CUSTOM DESIGNED AND ARTIST LED PROGRAMS, BOTH ON AND OFF THE CAMPUS, AND DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FOLKS OF ALL AGES.

WE STARTED OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IN 2020 WITH THE SUPPORT AND TRAINING FROM SOCIAL IMPACT COMMONS.

TO DATE, WE'VE MANAGED OVER 670, 70 $3,000 IN PUBLIC DOLLARS ON BEHALF OF 29 FISCALLY SPONSORED MEMBERS, 23 ARE STILL ACTIVE TODAY.

WE'VE HAD ONE PROJECT THAT HAS SPUN OUT AND FORMED THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT.

5 0 1 C3 16 OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY, AND THAT WAS THROUGH THE CITY OF SAN JOSE'S OFFICE, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, INCLUDING THE CITY'S CREATIVE AMBASSADOR GRANT, WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS WHERE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP IS AN OPTION.

OUR FESTIVALS, PARADES, AND CELEBRATION GRANTS WHERE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP IS A REQUIREMENT AND DISCREPANCY FUNDS FOR, UH, PROVIDED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROJECTS, UH, HAPPENING IN THEIR DISTRICT.

WE'VE CONTINUED WORKING ALONGSIDE THE CITY OF SAN JOSE, UM, AND THAT'S PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO OUR WORK, BOTH ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED FUNDING, UM, AND PROCESSES TO SUPPORT ARTISTS, UH, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON GRANT PROCESSES AND NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.

UM, NAMELY ONE THAT STARTED IN 2024, LOCAL COLOR WAS ONE OF TWO FISCAL SPONSORS FOR THE CITY OF SAN JOSE, CLIMATE, ART AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE, UH, ARTIST COHORT, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN SUPPORT OF THE BAY AREA CREATIVE CORPS PROGRAM OF THE SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION.

AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA CREATIVE CORPS OF THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL.

AND WE CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH CITY PROGRAM STAFF, UH, TO MEET THE CITY'S 2030 GOALS OF CARBON NEUTRALITY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, UM, THROUGH ONGOING ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN AT OUR WORK SITES, AND AS A WAY OF BEING AN AMPLIFIER AND OUTREACH TO OUR ARTISTIC COMMUNITY, WE OFTEN SHARE OUR AGREEMENTS AND OPENLY SHARE OUR AGREEMENTS WITH ANYONE, FUNDERS OR OTHERWISE THAT ASK.

WE HAVE A TRANSPARENT, UM, MEMBER RESOURCE PAGE SO THAT ANYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT OUR PROGRAM CAN SEE THAT INFORMATION.

AND SOCIAL IMPACT COMMONS WAS FOUNDATIONAL IN US DESIGNING AND PUTTING ALL OF THESE RESOURCES TOGETHER.

SEVERAL OF THEM ARE ADAPTED FROM THEM AS A NATIONWIDE

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AND, UH, THEY'VE BEEN ADAPTED AND REVIEWED TO MEET STATE STANDARDS AS WELL AS TO FIT WITHIN OUR FOCUS OF SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS THAT ARE WORKING IN SAN JOSE AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

UH, OVER THE FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN MANAGING THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE BECOME CONSISTENTLY RECOMMENDED BY FUNDERS, NOTABLY THE SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

SILICON VALLEY CREATES, UM, AS WELL AS THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, WHO, WHEN THEY RECEIVE INQUIRIES FROM INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF GRANT, WILL RECOMMEND US OR OTHER FISCAL SPONSORS TO TAKE PART IN STEWARDING THOSE FUNDS.

THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE, UM, GILROY CITY OF GILROY, UM, ELEVATES THE ARTS GRANTS AS WELL, WHICH WAS A NEW GRANT THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY OF GILROY, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA.

WE ARE ALSO MANAGERS OF COUNTY FUNDS AS WELL.

AND THROUGH THE FISCAL SPONSORED PROGRAM, WE OFFER SUPPORT IN SEEKING OUT GRANT FUNDING AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL DONORSHIP.

THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE 10 YEARS OF BEING A NONPROFIT, WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES WITH OUR FISCALLY SPONSORED MEMBERS.

AND WHEN WE HIT THOSE UNEXPECTED BUMPS IN THE ROAD, WE'RE ABLE TO LEARN TOGETHER TO OVERCOME THEM.

AND ALL OF THAT GETS ADDED TO THIS COLLECTIVE AND SHARED RESOURCE HUB TO HELP THE FUTURE PROJECTS THAT COME OUR WAY.

WE ALSO ARE THERE TO BE A MUTUAL ACCOUNTABLE PARTNERS TO FUNDERS IN REPORTING, UM, KEEPING BEST PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO ACCOUNTING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS WELL.

AND I WILL YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME, BUT I'M OPEN TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS.

AND, UM, AGAIN, I HOPE THAT THAT REQUIRES ON THE LINE AS WELL TO, UM, GO OVER THESE SLIDES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, HE'S THERE.

NEXT WE HAVE

[3. Presentation of how fiscal sponsors optimize the experience of all parties involved in City granting where they live — plus fiscal sponsorship best practices by Thaddeus Squire of Social Impact Commons, Philadelphia, PA.]

ITEM NUMBER THREE, ANOTHER PRESENTATION ON FISCAL SPONSORED OPTIMIST FISCAL, HOW FISCAL SPONSORS OPTIMIZE THE EXPERIENCE OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN CITY GRANTING CHEMISTRY WHERE THEY LIVE.

THA IS SQUIRE OF SOCIAL IMPACT COMMONS, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES, MR. SQUIRE.

MR. SQUIRE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND YOUR MICROPHONE.

UH, YES, I'M, I'M WORKING ON, I GOT THE SOUND ON WORKING ON THE CAMERA.

HOPEFULLY THAT SHOULD DO IT.

THERE WE ARE.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UM, DO WE HAVE THE, THE SLIDES AVAILABLE THAT WE'RE, UH, UP FOR? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

GREAT.

UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AGAIN, THA SQUIRE FROM SOCIAL IMPACT COMMONS.

UH, WE ARE A NATIONAL NONPROFIT SUPPORTING ORG, UH, FOR THE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP ECOSYSTEM.

I ALSO WEAR, UH, A HAT AS ON THE STEER AS A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF FISCAL SPONSORS.

SO TOGETHER, BOTH THE ORGS I'M AFFILIATED WITH, UH, REPRESENT A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE OF ABOUT 500 FISCAL SPONSORS OPERATING NATIONWIDE.

UM, UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, NEXT.

SO, UH, I'M PLEASED TO JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF, UM, THE FIELD OF FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND HOW IT WORKS, UH, AND HOPEFULLY DISPEL SOME, UM, OR ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE SURFACING FOR THE, FOR THE COMMISSION.

FISCAL SPONSORSHIP GENERALLY IS A, A, UH, DESCRIBES A SET OF MODELS AND, UH, BUSINESS PRACTICES IN THE NONPROFIT SPACE THAT ALLOW, UH, A NONPROFIT, TYPICALLY A PUBLIC CHARITY C3, TO SHARE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ITS INFRASTRUCTURE WITH OTHER AUTONOMOUS OR INDEPENDENT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES.

UH, NEXT QUESTION.

IN THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY, UM, IT'S MOST OFTEN ARTISTS.

THE FIELD IS DEFINED BY ABOUT SIX MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN LEGALLY RECOGNIZED TO REALLY PREDOMINATE AND ARE, AND ARE MOST COMMONLY KNOWN AND PRACTICED OUT THERE.

MODEL C OR THE PRE-APPROVED GRANT MODEL, UH, IS PERHAPS THE MOST FAMILIAR.

UH, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A, A RE-GRANTING MODEL WHERE, UH, CHARITABLE FUNDS FROM DONORS OR INSTITUTIONS, UH, ARE RAISED ON BEHALF OF A PROJECT THAT COULD BE AN ARTIST OR A COLLECTIVE, OR AN ARTS ORGANIZATION IN, IN, IN FORMATION, UH, ANY OF THE, THE ABOVE CASES.

IT CAN ALSO OCCASIONALLY BE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING CHARITABLE WORK, UH, ON THE SIDE.

BUT

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AND I SHOULD MENTION, I, I STARTED A FISCAL SPONSOR FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN PHILLY.

THAT'S HOW I GOT TO THIS WORK, UH, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.

UH, IN THIS MODEL, THOSE FUNDS GO TO THE SPONSOR AND THEN ARE REGRANTED TO EITHER THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST OR AN ENTITY THAT COULD BE TAXABLE OR NON-TAXABLE, AND THEN THE ENTITY AND THAT, AND THAT ARTIST OR GROUP OF ARTISTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT, EMPLOYING FOLKS, PAYING BILLS, ET CETERA.

AND THEN THEY REPORT BACK UP THROUGH THE SPONSOR TO THE FUNDERS PER WHATEVER AGREEMENTS ARE IN PLACE.

NEXT MODEL, PLEASE.

THE OTHER PREDOMINANT MODEL, UM, IS MODEL A OR COMPREHENSIVE.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE PROJECT, INSTEAD OF BEING OUTSIDE THE SPONSOR IS ESSENTIALLY AN IN-HOUSE PROGRAM, UH, OF THE SPONSOR.

AND AS SUCH, ENJOYS ALL OF THE, UH, BACK OFFICE SUPPORTS, NAMELY FINANCE, HR, LEGAL, UM, INSURANCES, GENERAL LIABILITY AND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS, UH, AS WELL AS EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER, UM, OTHER, UM, BACKEND RESOURCES.

UH, IN THIS MODEL, THE SPONSOR RECEIVES ALL OF THE MONEY FOR THE GIVEN PROJECT OR ACTIVITY ON BEHALF OF THE PROJECT, AND PAYS ALL BILLS EMPLOYEES, ALL EMPLOYEES, UM, ENSURES ALL ACTIVITIES, DOES ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL JOBS, AND IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNTING AND NONPROFIT COMPLIANCE.

SO THIS IS AN ALL IN MODEL.

THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS MODEL FROM, SAY, BEING A CONVENTIONAL PROGRAM OF A NONPROFIT, IS THAT THE PROJECT RETAINS AUTONOMY OF ITS IDENTITY, UM, OFTEN A DIFFERENT WEBSITE, DIFFERENT PUBLIC, UH, PRESENCE.

IT RETAINS ITS OWN, UM, RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDERS AND, AND CONSTITUENTS, AND IT MOST IMPORTANTLY HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIT, AS IS THE CASE WITH ALL FISCAL SPONSORSHIP MODELS.

SO, IN NONE OF THESE MODELS, THE PROJECT IN, IN THIS INSTANCE, UH, YOU KNOW, TODAY THE ARTIST IS NOT HELD CAPTIVE BY THE SPONSOR.

THEY CAN LEAVE ANY TIME THEY WANT AT THEIR VOLITION.

BOTH OF THESE MODELS CAN BE USED FOR STARTUP PROJECTS, OCCASIONAL PROJECTS, UH, OR I SHOULD SAY, STARTUP NONPROFITS, OCCASIONAL PROJECTS, UH, OR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR, UH, A GIVEN ARTISTIC PRACTICE OR ORGANIZATION.

UH, IN THE ROUGHLY 60 YEARS OF, OF HISTORY BEHIND THIS PRACTICE IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, SOME COST CONVENTIONS HAVE ARISEN.

I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER THIS WHOLE SLIDE.

THIS DECK, OF COURSE, IS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSION AND EVERYBODY HERE.

UM, IT IS ALSO A PUBLIC DOMAIN, UM, DOCUMENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

UM, THE FIELD HAS DEVELOPED CERTAIN COST STANDARDS.

I DO WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE TOP.

UM, MODEL A TENDS TO, UM, UH, ALLOCATE 10 TO 15% OF REVENUE, UH, TO PROVIDE, UH, TO, TO RECOVER SOME OF THE COSTS FOR ALL THOSE SERVICES, THE FINANCE, HR, LEGAL INSURANCES, UH, COMPLIANCE AND, AND ALL THE THINGS I LISTED UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE SUITE MODEL C, UH, ON AVERAGE ALLOCATES BETWEEN FOUR AND 8%, UH, OF REVENUE FOR, UM, THE, THE GRANTS, UH, MANAGEMENT AND CHARITABLE COMPLIANCE WORK THAT ATTACHED TO MODEL C, UH, FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.

NONE OF THESE, THESE, UM, FINANCIAL CONVENTIONS ARE REGULATED, UH, OR MANDATED BY LAW.

THESE ARE CONVENTIONS OF THE FIELD, BUT THEY ARE, UH, SHARED AND PRACTICED WIDELY, UH, WITHIN, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, JUST TO SUM, UH, THE RE-GRANTING MODEL, MODEL C ON THE LEFT, YOU, YOU GET THESE SORT OF CORE SUPPORTS LISTED AT THE TOP, THE ACCESS TO A TAX EXEMPTION, ACCESS TO CONTRIBUTOR REVENUE SOURCES, SOME DEGREES OF, OF BOARD OVERSIGHT OF THOSE CHARITABLE FUNDS, AS WELL AS COMPLIANCE.

UH, THERE ARE ALSO OFTEN ADDITIONAL A LA CARTE SERVICES PROVIDED BY SPONSORS, UH, OF ALL MODELS ON THE MODEL A SIDE.

UH, OF COURSE, UM, THE, THE SERVICES ARE MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE, TRUE TO ITS NAME, UH, AND COMMENSURATELY.

UM, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COST ALLOCATION.

THERE ARE VARIOUS, UM, I, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE, THE QUESTIONS AND AND DISCUSSION IN AUSTIN ARE AROUND SORT OF BUSINESS MODELS AND THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP AROUND FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.

THE BUSINESS MODELS RUN, UH, THE GAMUT FROM SPONSORS THAT ARE HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED BY PHILANTHROPY TO PROVIDE THESE SUPPORTS WHERE THE ARTIST OR PROJECT INCURS NO COST, ALL THE WAY OVER TO SPONSORS THAT RECOVER ALL OF THEIR COSTS TO DELIVER THEIR SUPPORTS FROM THE PROJECT AND THE MONEY IT GENERATES.

MOST SPONSORS SIT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THEY ARE, THEY'RE ALLOCATING, UH, SOME COSTS FROM THE PROJECT, UH, BY WAY OF A FEE OR COST ALLOCATION, BUT ALSO SEEK SUBSIDY.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THERE IS, UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN GROWING QUITE ORGANICALLY BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STRESSES AND STRAINS THIS COUNTRY'S BEEN ENCOUNTERING.

SO THE FIELD IS, IS RAPIDLY EVOLVING.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT STARTED IN THE LATE FIFTIES, AND

[00:30:01]

UH, BUT ONLY RECENTLY IN THE TWO THOUSANDS, AND REALLY SINCE 2020, HAVE WE, WE'VE DONE, UH, CONCERTED FIELD BUILDING.

SO THIS IS A BIT OF THE REASON WHY THERE'S, UH, A LOT OF DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE, BUT NOT A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE OR, OR COMMON PRACTICE OUT THERE.

UM, WE DID A, A FIELD SCAN IN 2023.

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SIZE OF THE FIELD.

WE SURVEYED A HUNDRED FISCAL SPONSORS AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE OVER 12,000 CHARITABLE PROJECTS REPRESENTED, UH, BY THOSE, THAT SMALL SAMPLE.

AND, UH, ABOUT TWO AND A HALF BILLION IN REVENUE, UH, AND A WHOLE LOT OF JOBS IN EMPLOYMENT.

UM, SO THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, FIELD WITHIN THE CHARITABLE, UH, SECTOR.

WE FOUND THAT IT'S GROWING QUITE RAPIDLY.

IT'S THE GRAPH ON THE LEFT.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MOVE THROUGH THESE VERY QUICKLY TO HONOR OUR TIME.

THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UH, WE ALSO FOUND THAT FISCAL SPONSORS ON, ON, ON, UH, BALANCE, UH, HAVE MORE EQUITABLE, UH, SORRY, MORE DIVERSE STAFFS AND BOARDS THAN THEIR PEER UH, NONPROFITS.

UH, AND WE DID SOME BROADER RESEARCH WITH CANDID, UH, TO, TO SEE BEYOND OUR 2023 SAMPLE, HOW BIG THE FIELD IS.

WE THINK THERE'S ABOUT 500 FISCAL SPONSORS WE CAN IDENTIFY, AS I MENTIONED THERE, THERE ARE ABOUT ANOTHER THOUSAND, UM, OUT THERE THAT CLAIM TO BE SPONSORS, BUT WE DON'T REALLY AS A FIELD, A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

SO TO THE CASE OF WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, AS ONE OF THE OTHER, UM, UM, UH, STAKEHOLDERS THIS EVENING TESTIFIED, WE REALLY SEE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AS DRIVING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NONPROFIT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE, AND THE CHARITABLE FUNDS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.

WE ALSO SEE A TREMENDOUS CASE FOR EFFICIENCY.

IN FACT, WE DID A, UH, BY SIDE COST ANALYSIS, UH, WITHIN ARTS FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THEMSELVES OPERATING BELOW 2 MILLION, UH, AND FOUND THAT OPERATING UNDER A SHARED COMPREHENSIVE BACKBONE, THAT MODEL A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROVIDES, ACTUALLY ALLOWS FOR UP TO 50% SAVINGS AND OVERHEAD FOR THOSE ARTS PROJECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAN IF THEY JUST WENT OUT AND DID IT ALL ON THEIR OWN.

WE SEE A LOT OF SOLIDARITY, UH, WORK BEING DONE IN THE FIELD WITH COMMUNITIES OF IDENTITY, BE THAT RACE, GENDER, UH, ET CETERA, OR, OR ARTISTIC PRACTICE.

AND OF COURSE, FISCAL SPONSORS, AS CARMEN NOTED, UM, OUR REAL ASSURERS OF COMPLIANCE.

THIS IS JUST THE MATH BEHIND THAT BUDGET COMPARISON.

I WON'T DWELL ON IT.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, JUST TO CLOSE OUT, UM, IN SUM, UM, WE REALLY SEE THE BENEFITS FOR THE SPONSOR BEING, UH, SHARING THEIR RESOURCE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CREATING A LOT MORE EFFICIENCY, RESILIENCY, AND SCALABILITY FOR ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ARTS, UM, ECOSYSTEM.

WE SEE FISCAL SPONSORS REALLY AS COLLECTIVE CAPACITY BUILDING.

UH, NOT DRAINS ON CAPACITY, BUT CAPACITY ADS.

UH, AND WE REALLY FEEL PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME THAT MANAGING TOGETHER IS, IS STRONGER THAN BETTER THAN MANAGING ALONE.

OF COURSE, A LOT OF THE PRO THE BENEFITS THE PROJECT ARE THE MIRROR IMAGE OF THAT.

UH, THEY GET ALL OF THAT BACK OFFICE AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEY CAN FOCUS ON THE WORK AND MANAGE COST AND LIABILITY A LOT MORE, UM, SANELY THAN IF THEY WERE TRYING TO DO IT THEMSELVES.

UM, AND AS WELL AS THERE'S, YOU KNOW, FISCAL SPONSORS THEMSELVES OR FACILITATORS OF SHARED RESOURCE AND, AND, UH, FUNDING DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS COLLABORATION AMONGST PROJECTS.

SO TO CLOSE IS MY LAST SLIDE.

UH, WE REALLY SEE, UH, AND JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ANY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH A FISCAL SPONSOR STARTS WITH THAT KIND OF TRUST AND RAPPORT, WHICH IS WHY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, UH, REALLY ARE THE KEY, UH, TO THE FIELD.

UM, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLEAR AGREEMENT, UH, A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN ANY, UH, ARTIST OR ORGANIZATION USING A FISCAL SPONSOR, UH, THAT OUTLINES THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP COSTS, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.

THIS IS NOT, UH, AN INFORMAL TYPE RELATIONSHIP AND ONE THAT, UM, REALLY NEEDS TO BE PROVIDING VALUABLE SUPPORTS TO THE ARTISTS OR THE ORGANIZATION, NOT JUST SIMPLY FLOWING MONEY THROUGH.

UM, WE SEE THAT OFTEN OUT THERE JUST, UH, ORGANIZATIONS JUST ASKING AS A ACTING, AS A PASS THROUGH.

UH, WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT TO BE GOOD OR HEALTHY FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.

IT REALLY IS, UH, A VALUABLE OR IN VALUE ADDED SUPPORT RELATIONSHIP WHEN IT'S WORKING WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL CLOSE.

I'M HAPPY TO STICK AROUND FOR QUESTIONS.

UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SQUIRE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO OPEN UP?

[00:35:03]

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

IT COULD BE FOR, OH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD, MR. GO.

GO AHEAD.

I, I HAD TWO QUESTIONS.

UM, ONE WAS JUST WHO OR WHAT IS CANDID? AND THE SECOND ONE HAD TO DO WITH, UM, YOU SAID THAT FOR MODEL A PEOPLE SAW MAYBE A 50%, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS EFFICIENCY OR SAVINGS OF, UH, BEING ABLE TO HAVE SHARED RESOURCES.

AND I WAS CURIOUS, UM, WHAT, WHAT IT WAS FOR C SINCE THAT WAS THE OTHER MODEL THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED, AND, UM, IS THE MAJORITY OF THE SPONSORSHIPS Y'ALL DO USING MODEL A BECAUSE OF THAT SAVINGS? GREAT QUESTION.

SO, UH, WELL, CANDID, CANDID USED TO BE GUIDESTAR.

SO CANDID IS THE LEADING, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY ORGANIZATION FOR THE NONPROFIT SECTOR AT THIS POINT.

UM, AND, UH, THEY HOLD THE LARGEST, UM, DATABASE OF, OF CHARITABLE, UH, FINANCIAL DATA.

THEY, THEY GET THE IRS DIRECT FEED, UH, FROM THE MASTER FILE.

UH, SO THEY'RE A, A, BASICALLY A DATA PARTNER OF OURS.

UH, WE, WE GET A LOT OF OUR DATA FROM THEM.

WE, IN TERMS OF THE, THE COST COMPARISONS, AND I'LL NOTE THAT THE, THE COST COMPARISON STUDY WE DID WAS USING, UH, SMU DATA ARTS DATA, WHICH YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH.

UH, THIS USED TO BE, IT USED TO BE JUST DATA ARTS, AND THEN IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO, TO SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY.

AND THEY, THEY'RE THE DEEPEST, MOST GRANULAR DATABASE OF ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION DATA, UH, OUT THERE.

AND WE COMPARED STANDALONE ARTS NONPROFITS OPERATING BELOW $2 MILLION, ABOUT A THOUSAND OF THEM FROM THAT DATABASE WITH MODEL A.

BECAUSE MODEL A, I DIDN'T STATE THIS, YOU KNOW, IN MY, MY BRIEF OVERVIEW, BUT MODEL A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP INCREASINGLY IS SEEN AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO STANDING UP YOUR OWN NONPROFIT BECAUSE YOU GET ESSENTIALLY THE FULL BACK OFFICE SUPPORT.

UM, AND IN MANY CASES, YOU DON'T EVER NEED TO HAVE YOUR OWN NONPROFIT.

SO IT'S THE, THE COMPARISON BETWEEN STANDALONE STATUS AND MODEL A IS THE, THE ONLY TRUE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE COST ON THIS SIDE VERSUS THE COST ON THIS SIDE MODEL C, IT'S MUCH HARDER BECAUSE THERE ISN'T, IF YOU'RE A STANDALONE, THERE ISN'T SORT OF A STANDALONE NON-PROFIT EQUIVALENT FOR MODEL C BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IS JUST A REGRANTING, IT'S, IT, THE ONLY PROBLEM IT'S SOLVING IS ACCESS TO CHARITABLE FUNDS.

IT'S NOT SOLVING THE, HOW DO I GET INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT NOW, MANAGING CHARITABLE FUNDS, ACCOUNTING FOR THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, COMPLIANTLY, UH, STEWARDED IS A TYPE OF SUPPORT MODEL C DOES OFFER SUPPORT.

SO THERE IS MONEY, THERE IS SORT OF VALUE FOR COST IN MODEL C, BUT THE REASON IT'S SO MUCH LESS IS IT'S REALLY NOT PROVIDING ALL OF THOSE OTHER BACK OFFICE SUPPORTS.

SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE A KIND OF COHERENT COST COMPARISON FOR C BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LIMITED.

A AND THE STANDALONE, OR REALLY THE BEST COMPARISON, THAT'S ALL.

IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ADDING AS WELL.

I THINK FOR THE NATURE OF, UM, THE ARTS PRI UH, WE PRIMARILY HOLD MODEL C PROJECTS.

A LOT OF THE ARTISTS WE SUPPORT, IT'S A ONETIME GRANT OR ONETIME INITIATIVE, UM, OR AN OCCASIONAL EVENT, ANNUAL EVENT THAT IS OCCURRING.

AND SO THE REST OF THE YEAR, THEY'RE ACTING INDEPENDENTLY.

AND SO THE MODEL C FISCAL SPONSORSHIP RELATIONSHIP ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT SEEKING FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC INITIATIVES.

WHEREAS MODEL A, THERE IS A NUANCED, UM, SITUATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP.

ONE OF OUR MODEL A FISCAL SPONSEES IS AN ARTIST LIVING WITH DISABILITY AND RECE, UH, RECEIVE DISABILITY SUPPORT.

THEY CAME TO US BECAUSE THEY WERE GONNA RECEIVE A GRANT.

IF THEY WERE TO RECEIVE THAT ENTIRE GRANT THAT WASN'T GONNA GO TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY AS LIKE THAT, THAT FULL STIPEND, IT WOULD'VE CAUSED THEM TO LOSE, UM, THAT, UM, DISABILITY ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.

AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THOSE NUANCED BENEFITS OF FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AS WELL.

UM, BECAUSE AS THEIR MODEL, A COMPREHENSIVE FISCAL SPONSOR, WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS ON THEIR BEHALF, PAY THEM THE STIPEND THAT THEY BUDGETED THEMSELVES, AND DIRECTLY PAY ALL THE OTHER CONSULTANTS AND, UM, UH, PAY FOR ALL OF THE MATERIALS THAT, UH, WAS NEEDED FOR THEIR PROJECT.

AND WANTS TO CREATE AND CAN'T TAKE A GRANT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE DETAILS AND THE NUANCE.

ACTUALLY THE NUANCE IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE COST SAVINGS IS NOT THE ONLY DRIVER THAT DEFINES SUCCESS AND UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF THE MODELS, BUT ALSO THE OUTCOMES THAT THEY DRIVE IS IMPORTANT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE DETAIL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

AND MS. GAINES, YOU JUST ACTUALLY ANSWERED THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, WHICH WAS, I HAVE AN ARTIST THAT IS ON DISABILITY

[00:40:01]

SO A FISCAL SPONSOR CAN TAKE THE GRANT, PAY THEM THE SMALLER AMOUNT SO THAT THEY DON'T, 10 99 OUT OF THEIR DISABILITY, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO CREATE AND RECEIVE THE GRANT AND KEEP THEIR DISABILITY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH BOTH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, COMMISSIONER.

APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER SCHMACK HAS HER HAND UP.

I CANNOT SEE COMMISSIONER, THERE SHE IS.

COMMISSIONER MACH, .

THANKS SO MUCH Y'ALL FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS.

AND, UH, JUST REITERATING THAT EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE JUST DESCRIBING ABOUT THE ARTISTS ON DISABILITY IS THE SAME POINT THAT WAS MADE IN THE, IN ZACH'S OPENING STATEMENT ABOUT WHY, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD CONSIDER KEEPING THAT OPTION OPEN FOR MUSICIANS AS WELL.

THAT'S THE, THAT WAS THE PERFECT POINT THAT YOU MADE.

COMMISSIONER HOUSTON, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, MS. GAINES.

MR. SQUIRE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

FOUR, DISCUSSION OF ANNUAL RE REVIEW AND REPORT.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER

[4. Discussion of Annual Review and Report ]

DID EVERYONE GET A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THAT? I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO SAY ON THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID SEE THAT WE SENT AN ANNUAL REPORT IN AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS OKAY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON IT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ANNUAL REVIEW AND REPORT, SEEING THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD? WE ARE ONTO STAFF

[5. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. ]

BRIEFINGS.

OUR FIRST STAFF BRIEFING IS, UH, UPDATE ON HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX BY JESUS PANTEL, CULTURAL FUNDING SUPERVISOR.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

JESUS PANTEL, CULTURAL FUNDING SUPERVISOR.

UM, MY PRONOUNS ARE HE, HIS, I'M A LATINO MALE WITH LONG GRAY HAIR AND A SALT AND PEPPER BEARD, UH, WEARING A PURPLE SHIRT TODAY.

AND I WILL BE GOING OVER THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TEXT.

UM, UPDATE.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SAME, UM, SLIDE EXCEPT, UH, WE DID, UH, MAKE ONE CHANGE AT, UH, COMMISSIONER HUSSEIN'S, UH, REQUEST ON, UH, THE LAST SLIDE.

UM, THESE COME IN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, AND SO, UH, OCCASIONALLY THIS WILL HAPPEN WHERE WE DON'T GET THE, UM, INFORMATION IN ENOUGH TIME.

SO THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION, UM, AS LAST MONTH.

UM, SO THIS IS FOR, UH, UH, JUNE, UH, 2025.

UM, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION IN JUNE WAS $575,476.

UH, THAT MEANS, UM, OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND COLLECTION NUMBERS WERE $57,730.

UM, WITH THESE NUMBERS WE'RE APPROXIMATELY 70% TOWARDS OUR FY 25 APPROVED BUDGET.

UM, AND AS, AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A DELAY IN, UM, HOW HOT REPORTING HAPPENS.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST THAT, UH, THIS ONE WAS, UH, LATE THIS MONTH.

BUT, UM, THE PRESENTATION, UM, SHOWS FUNDS THAT WERE COLLECTED IN JUNE FOR HOTEL STAYS THAT WERE IN MAY.

SO JUST, UH, KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THESE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT, UH, DELAYED.

UM, SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE DRIVERS, UM, FROM, UM, LAST TIME THAT, UH, HELPED, UH, DRIVE SOME OF THE TOURISM, UH, WITH THE VARIOUS, UH, FESTIVALS, UM, NCAA EVENTS, UM, AS WELL.

UH, BELOW WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME IN FISCAL YEAR 24 IN ORANGE.

UM, THIS GRAPH CONTINUES TO SHOW OUR MONTHLY PROGRESS, UH, TOWARDS THE APPROVED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

UM, AND OUR HOT CULTURAL ARTS FUND ACTUALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 SO FAR ARE, UM, $11,321,678.

AND AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, THE FUNDS COLLECTED THIS YEAR IN FY 25 WILL BE USED TO FUND PROGRAMS, UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 26.

UH, SO NEXT YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.

UH, COMMISSIONER HUSSEINI, UH, WE'VE INCLUDED A CULTURAL ARTS FUND, HOT COLLECTIONS BY MONTH FOR THE PAST FEW FISCAL YEARS.

UM, AND FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY ON TRACK WITH WHAT WAS COLLECTED.

UH, AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, UH, THE 11,000 321 6 11 $11,321,678 I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, UM, IS HERE IN BLUE.

UM, IT'S, UH, $66,068,

[00:45:02]

UM, UM, AND IT IS 358,000 BELOW THIS TIME, UH, IN FY 23, WHICH ISN'T GRAY, BUT IT IS, UH, GREATER THAN WHAT WE WERE IN FISCAL YEAR 2022.

UH, PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON UTILIZING, UM, HOT FUNDS COLLECTED, UH, UH, PAST DECEMBER, UM, AS OPPOSED TO SEPTEMBER SINCE WE HAVE ACTIVITIES, UH, STARTING, UH, LATER.

UM, AND WE DO HAVE, UM, THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, UM, WHICH WILL BE, UM, STARTED TO BE, UM, ADDING IN THAT WE WILL BE COLLECTING, UH, NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

UM, AND NEXT SLIDE.

AND I'LL, UM, TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOT TAX.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MACH.

THANK YOU, JESUS.

UM, SO ARE THE STR COLLECTIONS IN THERE? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

THESE ARE FROM, UH, AGAIN, THIS WAS FROM LAST MONTH AND I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE NUMBERS WERE IN THERE.

I'M LOOKING OFF TO THE SIDE TO CONFIRM, BUT I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE.

CAN WE GET AN UPDATE ON WHEN, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN, THEY STARTED BEING COLLECTED IN APRIL, SO IT'D BE APRIL, MAY, JUNE.

SO I WOULD'VE THOUGHT WE WOULD START SEEING THEM 'CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING REPORTED QUARTERLY.

RIGHT? I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I CAN, UH, FIND OUT, UH, FOR NEXT TIME.

UM, BUT AGAIN, WE DID HAVE, UH, NUMBERS THAT CAME IN, UH, A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS MONTH.

DOES ANYBODY THERE KNOW WHEN WE'LL START TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING HOT FEELS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT GIVEN THE, YOU KNOW, PROJECTED SHORTFALL NEXT YEAR.

NONE OF US KNOW OFF THE TOP OF OUR HEADS.

I'M LOOKING AROUND HERE.

UM, BUT WE WILL, UH, CONFIRM AND, UM, GET THAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

UH, COMMISSIONER SCHMUCK, I REMEMBER ASKING THAT SAME QUESTION THREE YEARS AGO.

UH, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT MADE THAT I'M WONDERING IS NOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2023 AND THE 2022 YEAR WHEN WE WENT TO AN ACCRUAL METHOD.

IS THAT THE YEAR THAT THAT AMOUNT OF HOT FUNDS WENT TO THE, TO THE BANK FOR US TO BE, TO SHIFT AND THAT WOULD MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE? YES.

IN FISCAL YEAR 22, WE DID NOT AWARD ANY HOT FUNDS OUT.

SO WE LET EVERYTHING COLLECT.

UM, SO TO COMMISSIONER GRAY'S POINT, WHAT WE USED TO DO BEFORE IS WE WOULD, UM, MAKE AWARDS BASED ON PROJECTIONS OF HOW MUCH HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WE THOUGHT WAS, UH, COMING IN.

UM, AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING, UH, THE 20 YEARS OF MY TENURE WHERE WE WERE THIS CLOSE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY OUT THOSE FINAL, UH, 10% OF PAYMENTS, UM, IN THE 2008, UM, UH, DOT OR IN THE 2008 ECONOMY ECONOMIC CRASH, AND THEN 2020 WITH COVID.

WE WERE ABLE, LUCKILY TO AWARD ALL THOSE.

BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE MOVED TO, UM, ACCRUAL.

SO THAT WAY WE WON'T BE IN ANY JEOPARDY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, SCRAMBLING AT THE LAST MINUTE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, CONTRACTS ARE WHOLE.

BUT ALSO, DIDN'T WE KEEP AN AMOUNT IN RESERVE AT THAT SAME TIME THAT WOULD MAKE UP FOR THAT DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TWO FISCAL YEARS? IN THE HOT FUND NUMBERS, I BELIEVE, UH, MORGAN HAS MENTIONED ABOUT KEEPING RESERVES IN THE PAST.

SO, UH, 14 MILLION IS, UH, WHAT SHE BELIEVES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IT IS.

NOW WHAT MY POINT IS, IF PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT GRAPH, THEY THINK THAT THE HOP FUNDS ARE LOWER THAN THEY WERE.

IF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE HOP FUNDS FOR FUNDING, THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT HIGH NUMBER MAY BE JUST THAT RESERVE NUMBER.

'CAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S WHEN THAT WAS SHIFTED TO A RESERVE.

THAT'S ALL.

THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

COMMISSIONER GRAY.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, JESUS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR, OH, HERE WE GO.

I, I AM NEW, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

SO I'M JUST GONNA ASK, I WOULD LIKE TO SIT WITH SOMEONE, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO WORK ON WHAT I THINK THE SLIDE COULD LOOK LIKE TO SHOW THE ACTUAL, SO NOBODY'S GUESSING, SO THAT WHATEVER THE RESERVE IS WHERE WE ARE, THE ACCRUALS, LIKE, I THINK THERE'S A PRETTY WAY TO MAKE IT SIMPLE, BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD DO IT OVER EMAIL .

YOU OFFLINE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME LATER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK, WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU.

SO WHAT IS ALLOWED, UM, I WILL, UH, CHECK WITH THAT.

I KNOW, UM, STEPH, IN INTERACTION WITH, UH, THE, UM, UM, SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMISSION ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, LIMITED IN WHAT WE PROVIDE, UH, FOR OUR PROGRAMS. UM, BUT I CAN, UH, LOOK INTO THAT OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA CAUSE TROUBLE.

I'M LIKE TRYING TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO MAKE SURE IT, UH, MATCHES WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH

[00:50:01]

I KNOW YOU'RE VERY BUSY.

I JUST, I'M TRYING TO SAVE YOU TIME 'CAUSE I THINK THERE'S A SIMPLE WAY TO DO IT, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE FEEDBACK WAS TAKEN AND I VERY MUCH LIKE THE NEW SLIDE.

THANK YOU JESUS.

UH, COMMISSIONER SMALL.

HI.

I, THIS MIGHT, I'M LOOKING IN THE BACKUP AND IT, IT SAID THE SAME FROM WHAT I COULD SEE IS WHAT, WHAT WAS THE HOT COLLECTIONS FOR JULY, 2025? THERE'S JUST A DOLLAR SIGN FOR WHAT I SEE AND THE TOTAL, UM, SO THE TOTAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION WAS $575,476.

UM, BUT THAT'S FOR OLIVE HOT.

UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND COLLECTION, IT WAS $57,730.

AND THAT OKAY.

THANKS.

AND BRINGS OUR YEAR TO DATE TO 11 POINT, UH, 3 MILLION COLLECTED.

I DON'T KNOW IF OTHERS ARE SEEING THAT, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I SEE IN THE BACKUP ON SLIDE TWO, IT'S JUST A, IT IS JUST A DOLLAR SIGN.

IT SAYS TOTAL HOT EQUALS DOLLAR SIGN, CULTURAL ARTS FUND, JULY EQUALS DOLLAR SIGN WITH NO NUMBERED.

SO MAYBE JUST CHECK ON THAT IN THE BACKUP.

YES, I, I'M SEEING THAT ON THE SLIDE HERE.

UM, UH, SO IT IS BLANK ON THE SLIDE.

I THINK THIS WAS A TEMPLATE THAT MATT CREATED, UH, FROM LAST MONTH.

AND SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE UPDATED NUMBERS, I, UH, GOT IT.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, JESUS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

SIX, STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE UP UPDATE ON CULTURAL ARTS PLANNING PROGRAMS BY JESUS PUNTA.

NEXT WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER

[6. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. ]

OH, I'M BACK.

YOU'RE BACK .

ALL RIGHT.

AND, UH, FOR THIS PRESENTATION, I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE, UM, UM, UPDATES FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING PROGRAM.

SO, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, AND I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT CONTRACT CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS AND, UH, GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES.

UH, SO FOR CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS, UH, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WILL LOOK SIMILAR.

SOME OF IT WILL, UH, LOOK DIFFERENT.

UM, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER LAST MONTH I SAID WE HAD, UH, CLOSED OUT A FEW PROGRAMS. SO, UH, WE HAVE REMOVED SOME OF THE INFORMATION.

UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON CLOSING OUT, UM, FY 23 ELEVATE.

SO WE STILL HAVE, UM, A FEW OF THOSE.

UM, FOR FY 24 ELEVATE.

UM, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S ONLY 19%, UM, UH, PAYMENT THREE ISSUED.

UM, BUT A REMINDER THAT ELEVATE 2024 IS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT OCCURRED THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING RECIPIENTS, UH, USUALLY TAKE THE WHOLE TIME, UM, OF THE CONTRACT PERIOD TO DO THEIR ACTIVITIES.

SO WE ARE NOT EXPECTING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FINAL REPORTS FOR FY 24 ELEVATE, UH, TO COME IN UNTIL, UH, JANUARY, 2025.

SO THAT NUMBER WILL PROBABLY BE, UH, RELATIVELY LOW, UM, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

UM, FY 24 NEXUS WE'RE ABOUT CLOSED OUT WITH.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE THERE.

UM, AND THEN FY 25 AND 26 THRIVE.

UM, SO THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE TWO YEAR, UH, NEW THRIVE PROGRAM.

UM, OR NEW ON THIS SLIDE, UH, COMPARED TO THE THRIVE INFORMATION, I WAS THERE BEFORE.

UM, AND SO WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE WE ARE STILL, UH, WORKING ON, UM, UM, GETTING THEIR SECOND PAYMENT ISSUED.

UM, BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE NEW CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS.

SOME, SOME OF THE OLD INFORMATION FROM, UH, PREVIOUS MONTHS AND THEN SOME NEW INFORMATION WE'LL BE TRACKING, UM, AS THE MONTHS PROGRESS.

UM, NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES.

IN THE SPIRIT OF TIME, I'LL UH, JUST READ, UH, THE RECIPIENT'S NAMES, UH, SINCE THIS IS IN, UH, BACKUP.

UM, SO FY 24 25 CULTURAL FUNDING GRANTEE ACTIVITIES, UH, FROM IMAGINE ART.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS, UM, UH, BETWEEN THIS ARTS COMMISSION MEETING AND THE NEXT ARTS COMMISSION MEETING, UM, IMAGINE ART EAST AUSTIN CREATIVE COALITION, GROUND FLOOR THEATER.

UH, THE MOSAIC WORKSHOP, RED LIGHT LIST AND HOST PUBLICATIONS.

SO DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

WOMEN IN JAZZ, SONIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PROFESSIONALS ALSO HAVE EVENTS COMING UP.

AND NEXT SLIDE.

AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR JESUS ABOUT CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS? I DO WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING.

THE FISCAL YEAR 2024, ELEVATE HAS UNTIL WHAT DATE TO DO THEIR PROJECT.

[00:55:01]

SO AGAIN, OF 2025.

OF 2025.

SO, SO IT'S CALLED FISCAL YEAR 24.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE MONEY WAS, UM, ALLOCATED.

ALLOCATED TOWARDS IT ALLOCATED.

BUT IT'S FOR ACTIVITIES OCCURRING BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE DON'T EXPECT THE, THE, UH, REPORTS TO COME IN UNTIL JANUARY, 2026.

CORRECT.

THEY HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THEIR FINAL ACTIVITIES TO, UH, SUBMIT THEIR FINAL REPORT.

JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

COMMISSIONER GRAY, I KNOW THIS'S BEEN ASKED IN THE PAST A A FEW TIMES ACTUALLY, AGAIN, IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET DETAILS ABOUT THE STR, HOW IT'S INTEGRATED IN ANY NUMBERS THAT YOU WERE GIVING US OR IF THEY WERE THERE AT ALL FOR THESE, UH, CONTRACTS? I MEAN, FOR THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, I'LL, UM, YES, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT.

THAT OR WOULD BE FOR THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

YEAH, SAME PRESIDENT, I'M SORRY, I WAS WAITING UNTIL YOU WERE ALL AT THE ENDING.

AND I'M GONNA MAKE A POINT COMMISSIONER GRAY TO GET THAT ON THE AGENDA FOR THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND THANK YOU, UM, COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE ASKED IN THE PAST AS WELL.

ANYONE ELSE? I THINK WE'RE, OH, NOPE.

COMMISSIONER KEYS.

SO I'M NOT SURE.

UM, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? SORRY.

I'M NOT SURE WHEN, WHERE WE SHOULD POSE THIS QUESTION, BUT MY QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT THE DATA.

UM, LIKE I KNOW WE ARE NOW MERGING ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS UNDER ONE, BUT, UH, HOW, I KNOW IN PAST TIMES, LIKE EVEN WHEN WE TALKED TO JAIME ABOUT SOME OF THE, LIKE A IPP SELECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HOW, OR IS ANY OF THIS INFORMATION GOING TO BE MORE PUBLIC, UM, FACING? UM, SO FOR INSTANCE, IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR JUST MORE SUSTAINABILITY AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH US, BUT SAY WE HAVE AN OUR APPROVED LIST OF AWARDEES WHERE THAT IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MORE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EVEN USE LIKE OPPORTUNITIES THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, I'VE RECEIVED THESE GRANTS OR WHATEVER FROM THE CITY.

IT'S, IT'S HERE, LISTED HERE, PROVIDED LINKS.

I JUST, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE COMPILING THE DATA, HOW WE'RE USING THE DATA, HOW MOST OF OUR ARTISTS ARE MULTIHYPHENATE, HOW IF WE'RE NOW BUILDING THIS DEPARTMENT, WE'RE NOT LOSING THIS SILO DATA.

UM, AND INFORMATION, UM, LEGACY INFORMATION AND IMPROVING JUST THE SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH MOVING FORWARD.

MORGAN WILL RESPOND TO THAT ONE.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, MORGAN MESSICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ARTS CULTURE, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

SO WE ARE LOOKING OVERALL TO FIND SOME COMPREHENSIVE TECH SOLUTIONS AS WE HAVE BEEN PULLED TOGETHER FROM FIVE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT SOLUTION IN HAND TODAY.

AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE IS KIND OF GOING THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION OF LIKE SUPPORT SERVICES AND THE WAY THAT THEY'RE ADMINISTERING THOSE ACROSS THE 40 PLUS DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WE DON'T KNOW TODAY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT WHAT WE CAN ENSURE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE CONTINUITY OF THE DATA THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED HISTORICALLY.

AND SO OUR TEAM STILL HAS ACCESS, UH, THE TEAM FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHO CAME OVER, WHICH IS, UM, THE, THE TEAM THAT'S HERE PRIMARILY TODAY.

WE STILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE DATA THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED IN YEARS PAST THROUGH THE CRM SYSTEM AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE STILL HAVE ALL OF OUR LOGINS, WE STILL HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THAT.

AND WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING, UH, FOR MOVING FORWARD IS HOW WE TRANSITION THAT INTO A NEW SYSTEM.

UM, AND SO WE JUST DUNNO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TODAY, BUT WE WILL BE CONSCIOUS OF THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? AND IF NOT, LEMME KNOW AND I CAN SAY SOME MORE WORDS.

UM, YEAH, I MEAN I KIND OF HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

I MEAN LIKE, JUST, ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY MODELS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW? UM, ONLY BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

I KNOW LIKE HAVING WORKED WITH THE CITY, WE HAVE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE STILL FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, MAILCHIMP AND GETTING INFORMATION AND, AND ENGAGEMENT OUT MM-HMM .

AND THEN SOME ARE, YOU KNOW, SWITCHING TO PUBLIC INPUT MM-HMM .

SO I JUST KIND OF WONDERED WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT WAS FALLING OR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SETTLING AS A WHOLE AND IF THERE WERE ANY MODELS THAT HAD BEEN LOOKED AT, UM, FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW HOUSTON ARTS HAS LIKE A, A PUBLIC DIRECTORY FOR INSTANCE, THAT CAN SHOW LIKE THE HISTORY OF MAYBE UP TO FIVE YEARS OF ANY GRANTS OR OPPORTUNITIES YOU RECEIVED WITH THE CITY.

SO IT'S ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY BE LEVERAGED IN A WAY OF ALMOST VOUCHING AS A BADGE OF HONOR WITH OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, AN EXAMPLE AND I JUST WONDERED IF WE WERE LOOKING AT ANY MODELS.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

GOOD EVENING.

CANDACE COOPER.

I'M THE INTERIM CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR ACME.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND ABSOLUTELY WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH, UM, CORPORATE PIO TO CREATE A HUB ON PUBLIC

[01:00:01]

INPUT.

AND SO WHAT THAT HUB WOULD BE IS AN ACME HUB THAT WILL HOUSE ALL OF OUR DATA PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE DATA.

AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THAT OFFICE TO DO THAT.

JUST NOW, IN ADDITION, UH, TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE LOOKED AT BEST PRAC, WELL BENCHMARK CITIES BASED ON HOW THEY PRESENT THEIR DATA.

WE CERTAINLY WANNA LOOK AT A DIRECTORY.

UM, ONE OF THE CITIES CLOSE BY THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT HAS BEEN SAN ANTONIO.

WE TRULY LOVE HOW THEY HAVE THE PROFILE FOR THE ARTIST, UM, IN, IN TERMS IT ALSO HELPS WITH MARKETING FOR THOSE ARTISTS AS WELL AND THE DIRECTORY THAT THEY DO HAVE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE TOOLS, BUT ONE OF THE TOOLS WE ACTUALLY MET WITH THE TEAM IN SAN ANTONIO, AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN, UM, HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME SORT OF PLATFORM SIMILAR TO THAT ONE.

GOTCHA.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INSIGHT AND THANK YOU AS WELL.

MORGAN.

COMMISSIONER ANDERSON.

HI THERE.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD INTO THAT, UH, THOUGHT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE SO EXCELLENT TO RETAIN ALL THE INFORMATION COMING IN FROM FINAL REPORTS IN A WAY THAT'S MORE USABLE.

SO IT'S KIND OF A ADJACENT ISSUE, BUT SO, SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF CLAIMING OUR ECONOMIC WORTH AS AN ART CITY.

UM, SO I JUST HOPE THAT'LL ALL BE ONE AMAZING SYSTEM.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WE, UM, AS WE GO INTO STRATEGIC PLANNING LATER THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS PART OF THE PHASE TWO WORK OF THE CREATIVE RESET THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S DOING AS A WHOLE, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE LOOKING AT IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THAT AND SEEING HOW WE CAN BUILD ON THE GREAT WORK WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

SO WE'LL KEEP THAT IN MIND.

COMMISSIONER ALBA.

HI.

SORRY, I KNOW THIS IS ANNOYING THAT I KEEP BEATING THIS DRUM, BUT THE, AM I JUST, AND MAYBE NO ONE HERE KNOWS OFFHAND, BUT IF I LOOK AT THE FISCAL 26 CITY OF AUSTIN BUDGET, IT'S PROJECTING 1.67 MILLION IN REVENUE FROM HOT TAXES AND WE PROJECTED 170 MILLION JUST SHORT OF THAT, RIGHT FROM FISCAL 25.

IS THAT RIGHT? IF SO, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF $3 MILLION ONLY WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.

I JUST WANNA PUT THAT LIKE A, BE CORRECTED IF I'M READING THAT INCORRECTLY OR PUT IT ON ON THE RECORD AGAIN, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT.

UH, COMMISSIONER SCHACH, WHERE WERE YOU READING THAT FROM? SORRY.

WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING TO RESPOND FROM THE, THE BUDGET.

OH, JUST FROM THE BUDGET GENERAL, JUST THE BUDGET.

SO SORRY.

SO WHATEVER YOU ARE READING IN THE BUDGET IS WHAT OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, THE BUDGET OFFICE, WHAT THEY HAVE PROJECTED.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE BUILD OUR NUMBERS OFF OF FOR US.

THEY, THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION THAT WE BUILD ALL OF OUR PROJECTIONS ON.

UM RIGHT.

AND THEY'VE GIVEN THAT TO YOU ALREADY, OR NOT.

IF IT'S WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN THE CITY AS A GENERAL PROJECTION.

SO YES, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS $3 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT? TOTAL FOR ALL OF HOTEL.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY A NON, A NON-ISSUE, IF THAT'S CORRECT.

I, I BELIEVE THAT IS THEIR STANCE.

THEY, THEY DO NOT ANTICIPATE MUCH IMPACT.

THAT HAS BEEN THE MESSAGING I'VE HEARD.

UM, I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET DOC IN FRONT OF ME, SO I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, SPEAK TO IT SPECIFICALLY.

BUT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE READING, THEN THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE PREDICTING.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ANDERSON.

I HAVE BEEN ASKING AROUND COMMISSIONER SMALL BOX TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO MIGHT BE DOING THAT KIND OF PROJECTION.

AND SOMEONE SAID THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

SO I'M GOING TO, UM, DO A REQUEST TO STAFF TO, TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE IN CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THAT SPECIFIC PROJECTION.

'CAUSE IT, WE CAN'T, I CAN'T SEEM TO PIN PIN DOWN WHO'S DOING IT, BUT, WE'LL, WE'LL GET IT ON THE AGENDA.

COMMISSIONER GRAY AND THEN COMMISSIONER HUSSAINI, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? NO.

THANK COMMISSIONER ANDERSON , I THOUGHT YOU WERE QUESTION YOUR NOSE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR PUT, FOR LOOKING FOR THAT.

IT HAS BEEN A QUESTION SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER GOING AND WE REALLY DO NEED THAT INFORMATION.

I THINK IT, YEAH.

COPPER WORK SHORTAGE, WORKER SHORTAGE? THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

UH, SPEAKING OF CONVENTION CENTERS, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THE PUBLIC'S PEACE OF MIND AND FOR MY OWN, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT WHAT IS SET ASIDE AND HOT FOR THE ARTS IS IRONCLAD UNLESS THERE IS A CHANGE, RIGHT? ? UM, UH, I ONLY ASK BECAUSE IF 70% OF THE HOT FUNDS ARE GONNA BE GOING TOWARD THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER FOR 30 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF, RIGHT.

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THEY COULD TRY TO EAT INTO ARTS FUNDING IF IT GOES OVER BUDGET? WHEN IT GOES OVER BUDGET BECAUSE STEEL,

[01:05:01]

THE PERCENTAGE THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR US IS, UM, DEDICATED BY ORDINANCE.

LIKE WE HAVE OUR OWN SET ASIDE.

UM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A FORMAL PROCESS TO CHANGE THAT, UH, WHICH I DON'T THINK WOULD BE VERY POPULAR AND WOULDN'T PICK UP STEAM.

UM, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A FORMAL CHANGE TO WHAT IS ALREADY WRITTEN IN STONE.

SO THANK YOU.

NO.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

NOW WE HAVE STAFF

[7. Staff briefing regarding an update on Art in Public Places by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. ]

BRIEFING REGARDING AN UPDATE ON ART IN PUBLIC PLACES BY JAIME CASTILLO, ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MANAGER.

HE'S GONNA GIVE US AN UPDATE ON ALL THIS GOOD WORK THEY'RE DOING.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

HI MC CASTILLO, MANAGER FOR ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, QUICK UPDATE.

IT'S GONNA LOOK FAMILIAR.

UH, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR WORK IN OUR RESPONSE TO COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION.

UH, IF I DO, I HAVE TO CLICKER.

HERE'S A CLICKER THERE.

OKAY, THERE WE GO.

I GOT THE CLICKER.

UM, SO AS A REMINDER, WE, WHEN THE RESOLUTION CAME OUT, WE DECIDED TO, UH, APPROACH THIS WORK IN PHASES.

PHASE ONE WAS, UM, OUR, OUR PROGRAM ASSESSMENT.

WE LOOKED AT OUR POLICIES, WE LOOKED AT HISTORICAL DATA, WE DID BENCHMARKING.

WE STARTED REDLINING POLICIES, UH, ALONGSIDE THE A IPP PANEL GUIDELINES WORKING GROUP.

UM, AGAIN, AS A REMINDER FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE IDENTIFIED THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN, IN MORE OF LOCAL ARTS PARTICIPATION, AND THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PERCENT FOR ART PROGRAM.

AND FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS STARTED BUBBLING UP.

WE WANTED TO UPDATE OUR POLICIES FOR CLARITY.

WE WANTED TO UPDATE OUR COMMUNICATIONS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMATION AND EXPLORING RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS.

AND THEN WE BEGAN PHASE TWO, UM, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHERE WE ESTABLISHED ACROSS DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP AND INTRODUCED THESE, UM, THESE DRAFT, UH, ORDINANCE, UH, GUIDELINES AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND STARTED GETTING FEEDBACK FROM, UH, OUR, OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS.

UH, WE DID BENCHMARKING WITH UT LANDMARKS SPECIFICALLY, UH, AROUND THE CONVERSATION AROUND, UH, CURATORIAL SERVICES AS A DELIVERY MODEL.

UH, WE PRI PROVIDED UPDATES, UM, UP TO LEADERSHIP.

AND THE KEY THING HERE THAT, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD SINCE OUR, SINCE MY LAST UPDATE LAST MONTH, IS WE'RE HAVING LEGAL COORDINATION.

SO WE'VE NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT, WE'RE STILL HAVING ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS, UM, CONTINUING, UH, THE FEEDBACK, GETTING FEEDBACK AND, AND CLARIFYING WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

UH, BUT NOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE LEGAL LOOK AT, LOOK AT OUR DOCUMENTS, UM, AND PREPARE FOR, UM, THE OFFICIAL PROCESSES OF UPDATING THE ORDINANCE AND PRESENTING TO COUNCIL, UM, LATER IN NEXT MONTH.

UM, AND SO THAT, AND THAT WOULD ENTER US INTO PHASE THREE, WHERE WE PROVIDE THAT UPDATE TO COUNCIL AND, UM, HAVE THE ORDINANCE OFFICIALLY UPDATED AND THEN FOLLOW THAT UP WITH, UH, PRESENTATIONS TO, TO THE PANEL AND COMMISSION IF Y'ALL TO UPDATE THE GUIDELINES AND, AND ASSOCIATED POLICIES, UM, SO THAT THEY REFLECT THE UPDATES TO THE ORDINANCE.

AND WITH THAT, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LAUNCH OUR CALLS THAT WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE HAD ON HOLD SINCE MAY, AND START DEVELOPING THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE WOULD THEN INTRODUCE IN PHASE FOUR, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED RIGHT NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR.

AND SO I DID THIS REMINDER JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE DID, UH, PROVIDE A MEMO TO COUNCIL.

UM, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION, JUST REFORMATTED IN MEMO FORMAT, UM, AND EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT, IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME INFORMATION.

HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ARDEN PUBLIC PLACES? COMMISSIONER ESMAN, AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARZA.

JUST A QUESTION IN THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHEN YOU'RE SAYING PROGRAMS, DOES THAT MEAN SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING UP UNTIL THIS POINT? OR ARE YOU JUST REFERRING TO THE CALLS AS THE PROGRAMMING? NO, UH, WHEN, WHEN I WAS REFERRING TO, TO, YOU MEAN NEW PROGRAMS? NEW PROGRAMS NEW YEAR.

WE'RE, UH, REFERRING TO, UM, PAST PROGRAMS SUCH AS LAUNCHPAD, RIGHT? THAT WAS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.

UH, TEMPO.

UM, SO THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, WE'RE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AND SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, REINVIGORATE THEM, RETHINK THOSE TO REALLY DELIVER ON THIS IDEA OF CREATING MENTORSHIP AND CREATING A, A TIERED APPROACH TO OUR FULL A IPP PROGRAM, MAKING SURE THAT ARTISTS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM FROM EMERGING TO EXPERIENCE ARE ABLE TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES IN

[01:10:01]

OUR PROGRAMMING.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE SEEN, BUT WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

WHAT CAN WE DO RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAT THAT WOULD, THAT COMES FROM THE ORDINANCE UPDATE.

THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I WASN'T SURE, BECAUSE THINGS HAVE BEEN REALLY STRIPPED DOWN FOR THE LAST COUPLE ROTATIONS AND SORT OF CONSOLIDATING THE CALLS INTO DISTINCT PARTS OF THE YEAR.

SO I WASN'T SURE IF WE WERE EVER GONNA GET THOSE PROGRAMS BACK, BUT IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GONNA GET BACK INTO SORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT PORTION FOR ARTISTS GETTING INTO IN, AT DIFFERENT PHASES OF THEIR CAREER.

VERY EXCITING.

COMMISSIONER GARZA.

HEY THERE, HENRY, UH, TALKING ABOUT TEMPO.

IS TEMPO RUNNING THIS YEAR? IT IS, RIGHT? YES.

YES IT IS.

OKAY, GOOD.

AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT 'CAUSE UH, I ACTUALLY TYPED IN CITY OF AUSTIN AND TEMPO INTO GOOGLE.

AND WHEN I HIT, THE FIRST HIT THAT CAME UP, OF COURSE WAS YOUR DEPARTMENT.

IT SAID IN THERE THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO OPEN CALLS FOR TEMPO.

THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS ON THE CITY WEBPAGE.

AND THEN I WENT DOWN AND FINALLY FOUND IT LIKE FIVE, UH, OR SIX POINTS DOWN, AND THEN IT WAS THERE, UH, THROUGH ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT AWAY, YOU MIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO NAVIGATE AND LOOK FOR IT.

DOES THAT GONNA BE UPDATED OR ANYTHING SOON? YES, SIR.

THAT, THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS.

MAKING SURE THAT, UM, NOT ONLY ME, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE STAFF, UH, ABLE TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO OUR WEBSITE.

COOL.

SO THAT, THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

AND SO, SO FOR EVERYONE'S AWARENESS, TEMPO IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

UM, SO WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND THEY'RE CONDUCTING THAT, CALL IT, THE, THE CALL IS OPEN NOW THROUGH, I WANNA SAY THE END OF AUGUST.

UM, I SHOULD HAVE THAT, UH, SEARED INTO MY BRAIN.

BUT, UH, THE, THE CALL WILL BE OPEN FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS.

UM, IT'S OPEN NOW.

AND, UH, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS STEWARDING THAT PROCESS UNTIL WE, UM, UNTIL WE'RE DONE WITH THE RESOLUTION WORK AND WE'RE READY TO DO NEW PROGRAMMING AND, AND WE, AND SO WHILE THE TRAIL, UH, CONSERVANCY BE TAKING TEMPO NEXT YEAR AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THAT IS NOT THE PLAN.

GAR, COMMISSIONER ADJUSTMENT.

BECAUSE MY CONCERN WITH, WITH THE TRAIL IS THEY DO FANTASTIC WORK, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

I LOVE THE WORK THEY DO, BUT JUST THAT TEMPO AGAIN, IS GONNA BE DOWN AT TOWN LAKE, RIGHT? CORRECT.

THIS YEAR.

CORRECT.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT, UH, WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT TEMPO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IS CULTIVATE EXPLORATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

NOW, THE AREA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS LESS THAN TWO MILES, WHEREAS IF YOU GO DIAMETER CITY OF AUSTIN, NEW DIRECTIONS ABOUT 10 MILES.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY LET YOU GET IT TO WHERE IT GOES BACK TO WHERE IT'S MORE COMMUNITY BASED AND IT, YOU KNOW, WELCOMES PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND I ALSO LIKE TO, IF POSSIBLE, MAYBE WE COULD HOOK UP WITH, UH, THE STUDIO TOURS FOLKS AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER WHERE MAYBE TEMPO AND STUDIO TOURS ALL HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, YOU KNOW, FOR MUSICIANS.

IT'S ABOUT TIME WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING AND WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE A SO BY SOUTHWEST FOR OUR ARTS COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, UH, THE FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THE STUDIO TOURS GOING AGAIN, AND, UH, AND BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND, YOU KNOW, INCLUDE EVERYBODY.

I HAVE TIMELINES.

SO THE, THERE'S A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE AUGUST 19TH, TOMORROW THERE'S AN IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE, THE 21ST, AND THE APPLICATION IS DUE SEPTEMBER 8TH.

COOL.

AND THAT'S FOR TEMPO? MM-HMM .

AND EVERYTHING'S HOSTED ON THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY WEBSITE.

IF YOU GO TO THEIR HOMEPAGE, IT'S FRONT AND CENTER.

BUT I LOVE YOUR IDEAS, COMMISSIONER ZA.

ANYONE ELSE? WE GOTTA GET YOU, WE GOTTA GET YOU A COMMISSIONER.

WHEN ARE Y'ALL'S MEETINGS? THE PANEL MEETINGS? FIRST MONDAY EVERY MONTH.

FIRST MONDAY.

WHAT TIME? UH, SIX TO EIGHT.

WE'RE, THAT'S COMING UP AT ITEM 11.

THAT'S COMING UP ON ITEM 11.

ON TO ITEM EIGHT, STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING ACME FUNDING GUIDELINES.

I THANKS Y'ALL.

NEXT WE'RE

[8. Staff briefing regarding ACME Funding Guidelines final draft, by Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, ACME]

FINAL DRAFT BY MORGAN MESSICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ACME.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

MORGAN MESSICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ACME.

UM, WE'RE

[01:15:01]

ACTUALLY GONNA DO THREE THINGS TONIGHT IN ONE.

UM, SO BEFORE WE START OUR PRESENTATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE AND ANNOUNCE MELISSA ALVARADO AS THE INTERIM CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION MANAGER TAKING OVER FOR MATT SCHMIDT.

MELISSA IS OUR, UM, PERMANENT DIVISION MANAGER OVER AT HERITAGE TOURISM, WHICH FACILITATES THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT, WHICH YOU CAN SEE, UM, REFLECTED IN THE GUIDELINES AND ALSO TOUCHING THROUGH THROUGHOUT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE DO.

SO MELISSA HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT US THROUGH OUR APPLICATION LAUNCH, UM, SUPPORTING THE CULTURAL ARTS TEAM.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HER.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT SOME FACE TIME WITH HER TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSION.

UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION WAS CREATED IN 2019, AND THE ORIGIN OF THE DIVISION CAME FROM A HERITAGE GRANT WORKING GROUP THAT EMBODIED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.

AND IN THEIR BODY OF WORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY SAID TO LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION WAS DOING AND REPLICATE IT BECAUSE IT IS IN FACT A MODEL.

AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I LEARN FROM THEM CONSTANTLY.

UM, AND, AND, AND I'M HERE TO, TO SERVE YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

WELCOME.

AND THE SECOND THING WE'RE GONNA DO BEFORE WE HOP INTO MY PRESENTATION IS, UM, TAKE ONE MORE FINAL LOOK AT THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT INFORMED THE FINAL GUIDELINES, WHICH I WILL WALK YOU ALL THROUGH.

BUT WE WANTED TO GIVE INTERIM, UM, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, CANDACE COOPER, A CHANCE TO GIVE YOU ONE FINAL LOOK AT THAT AS WE HAVE BUILT REPORTS BASED ON ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGH THE CREATIVE RESET.

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HER FIRST, AND THEN ONCE SHE COMPLETES, I WILL, UH, WALK YOU ALL THROUGH THE GUIDELINES AND THEN I KNOW WE WILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION PORTION OF THE EVENING.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M OVER HERE, Y'ALL.

I SWITCH SEATS.

UM, OF COURSE, WHENEVER YOU DO A NON POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, IT'S A LITTLE MORE FANCIER.

I HAVE TO KIND OF COME OVER HERE, SO I'LL BE OVER HERE YOU ALL.

BUT AGAIN, I'M CANDACE COOPER, I'M THE INTERIM CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

WHEN WE WERE HERE ON LAST MONTH, YOU GUYS TALKED TO US ABOUT DATA, WHICH I TRULY APPRECIATE.

AND WE WERE NOT IN THE SPACE YET TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DATA BECAUSE EVEN AT THAT POINT WE WERE STILL COLLECTING IT.

AND SO TONIGHT I WANTED TO, I HAVE TWO, I'M GONNA QUICKLY GO THROUGH, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU, I DON'T WANNA STEAL MS. MORGAN'S THUNDER.

I KNOW SHE IS HERE TO SHARE THE FUNDING GUIDELINES, WHICH I KNOW YOU GUYS WANNA GET TO.

SO I'M GONNA KIND OF QUICKLY GO OVER OUR APPROACH.

I HAVE TWO LINKS HERE TODAY.

ONE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR APPROACH, AND THEN THE SECOND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ANALYSIS AND THEN WHAT'S TO COME.

'CAUSE GUESS WHAT? WE HAVE EVEN MORE DATA THAT WE WILL BE PLANNING ON SHARING ON THIS WEEK.

SO AS I GO THROUGH THIS, YOU ALL, UM, LET'S SEE.

UHOH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

OKAY, THERE WE GO.

NOW WE'RE READY.

ONCE SHE STARTS MOVING, NOW WE'RE READY.

OKAY, SO HERE'S THE CREATIVE RESET PHASE ONE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK APPROACH.

AND HERE IN THIS SLIDE, I'VE BEEN USING A TERM AND I SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE BUILDING THE PLANE WHILE WE WERE FLYING IT.

AND I SAID, I DON'T REALLY LIKE THAT TERM, BUT I CAME UP WITH A NEW ONE.

WE PAINTED THE MURAL WHILE THE GALLERY WAS ALREADY OPEN.

I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HEAR LIKE A NO.

PUBLIC FOR THREE TO FOUR WEEKS, WE WOULD HEAR FEEDBACK AND THEN WE WOULD SHUT THE FEEDBACK DOWN AND THEN WE WILL START BUILDING THE GUIDELINES.

SO NO ONE WANTS TO RIDE IN A PLANE THAT'S BEING BUILT, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL APPRECIATE BEING AT A GALLERY WHERE MAYBE THERE'S A NEW MURAL MURAL THAT'S ALSO TAKING PLACE.

WELL, WE WANNA, WE LOOKED AT PHASE ONE AS THE MURAL THAT WE CREATED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE DIDN'T COME IN WITH A FRESH PLAN.

THIS IS NOT OUR APPROACH.

OUR APPROACH WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TO COME IN AND TRULY CO-CREATE GUIDELINES THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS THERE ALONG WITH THIS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I WANNA KIND OF WALK THROUGH QUICKLY WHAT OUR APPROACH WAS.

AS I MENTIONED, OUR APPROACH WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WHAT MADE IT DIFFERENT IS THAT WITHIN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS, WE STARTED TO SEE NUMBERS THAT EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.

DIRECTOR MEANS WAS HERE ON LAST MONTH, AND SHE SHARED THESE NUMBERS WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU START TO SEE NUMBERS LIKE THIS THROUGH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS PERSPECTIVE AND OUTREACH, IT TELLS YOU THAT THERE'S MOMENTUM.

AND IT ALSO TELLS YOU THAT IT, YOU SHOULD IN NO WAY SHUT IT DOWN.

AND SO, ALTHOUGH WE CREATED THIS PLAN INITIALLY THINKING THAT WE WOULD GO OUT TO THE

[01:20:01]

WE FOUND VERY EARLY ON THAT WE CANNOT TAKE THAT APPROACH.

WE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED RED LINE DO, WE HAD ALREADY RED LINE DOCUMENTS BASED ON THE ARTS COMMISSION'S WORKING GROUP AND THE MUSIC COMMISSION'S WORKING GROUP.

WE HAD ALREADY CREATED A HISTORIC ANALYSIS.

AND WITH THIS TYPE OF MOMENTUM IN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS, WE KNEW THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED AND WAS ASKING FOR MORE.

SO WE TOOK THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME TRADITIONAL APPROACHES HERE.

WE'RE GOING GRASSROOTS STYLE.

SO WE USED SOME OF THE, WE WENT AND WE CREATED LISTENING SESSIONS.

I KNOW SOME OF YOU ALL WERE THERE AT THE LISTENING SESSIONS.

NOW, TYPICALLY IN A LISTENING SESSION, WE WOULD EVEN HAVE IT MORE TO WHERE IT'S NOT AS JUST ORGANIC AS YOU SAW.

WE WANTED IT TO BE MORE OF A SPACE WHERE COMMUNITY CAN MEET GREET, MORE LIKE A FAMILY REUNION.

I SAW A LOT OF SMILES IN THE ROOM DURING THE LISTENING SESSIONS AND FOLKS SAID, I HADN'T SEEN THESE PEOPLE IN FOREVER.

WELL, WE WANTED IT TO INTENTIONALLY LOOK LIKE THAT, TO CREATE A SPACE FOR FOLKS TO COME OUT AND JUST ORGANICALLY BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO THAT WAS A PART OF WHAT WE MEAN BY DOING IT DIFFERENT AND LEADING IN A WAY THAT WAKES MADE PARTICIPATION MORE INCLUSIVE AND MORE RESPONSIVE.

DURING OUR PHASE ONE, WE CREATED A SIX STEP PROCESS.

AND THIS SIX STEP PROCESS INCLUDED OFFERING MULTIPLE ENGAGEMENT CHANNELS.

THOSE MULTIPLE ENGAGEMENT CHANNELS CONSISTED OF ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS.

WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE JUST NOT OFFERING A SURVEY, BUT WE WANTED TO SIT DOWN ONE-ON-ONE DIRECTOR MEANS STARTED THIS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

ACTUALLY TRULY BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BEGIN, BECAUSE BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY, SHE ALSO BEGAN ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS.

WE OPENED OUR DOORS WIDE OPEN, AND WHEN SHE WASN'T AVAILABLE, THEN I MADE MYSELF AVAILABLE.

OUR DIVISION MANAGERS, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OUR STAFF, WE ALL MADE OURSELVES AVAILABLE AND OPEN FOR ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS.

WHEN IT CALLED FOR THAT, WE ALSO CREATED A LISTENING SESSIONS, WHICH I JUST TALKED ABOUT.

BUT WHEN THE CARVER LIBRARY, THE ROOM, THE SPACE WAS TOO SMALL BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE CAME.

WE DECIDE TO PIVOT AND THEN GO INTO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND CREATE A LARGER SPACE.

ALSO, WITH OUR FOCUS GROUPS, WE OFFERED MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES.

I HEARD YOU ALL WHEN YOU SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE FOCUS GROUPS DURING THE DAYTIME.

AND SO WE CREATED THEM DURING THE DAYTIME, DURING VIRTUAL GROUPS WHERE FOLKS COULD PARTICIPATE.

BUT THEY WERE IN MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE DAY.

WE HAD SOME MORNING SESSIONS, AFTERNOON SESSIONS, AND ALSO EVENING SESSIONS.

WE CREATED ALSO A FOCUS GROUP IN SPANISH.

UM, IN ADDITION TO SOME GROUPS REACHED OUT TO US AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WANT TO DO OUR OWN FOCUS GROUPS.

AND SO WE ALLOWED THEM, OF COURSE, THEY, WE MADE ROOM FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

NOT ALLOWED, BUT MADE ROOM FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

AND WE SHOWED UP TO LISTEN TO IN THEIR SPACES.

SO THE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTE IN A WAY TO HELP US TO CO-CREATE AND CO-WRITE OUR GUIDELINES.

WE EXTENDED TIMELINES.

EVEN THIS COMMISSION, YOU GUYS ASKED US, YOU SAID, WE NEED MORE TIME.

WE NEED MORE TIME.

AFTER THAT FIRST ITERATION OF RECEIVING THE FEEDBACK, WE HEARD YOU AND WE EXTENDED TIME EVEN THROUGHOUT THAT SPACE.

WE ALSO USE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AI TOOLS.

NOW, PLEASE DON'T ASK ME THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW ALL THE NAMES OF THEM, BUT WE USE STAFF, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ASSIST US IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD TOOLS THAT COULD QUICKLY ANA, UH, PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS OF OUR FEEDBACK, BUT ALSO WE TOOK EVERY SINGLE STICKY AND WE ALSO READ IT AND PUT IT INTO A SPREADSHEET.

THAT SPREADSHEET WE USED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE MANAGERS.

AND THE MANAGERS WENT THROUGH ALL OF THOSE STICKIES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY REVIEWED THE DATA.

SO NOT ONLY DID WE USE THESE TOOLS TO DETECT THEMES AND TO HELP US ALONG THE WAY AS WE WERE MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE REVIEWED EVERY PIECE OF DATA IT TOOK PEGGY, I BELIEVE, UH, OH, I DON'T HAVE MY COMMUNITY STAFF HERE, BUT IT TOOK PEGGY ALMOST A MONTH AFTER OUR LISTENING SESSIONS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE FEEDBACK WAS CONSIDERED.

WHO DID WE HEAR FROM? WE HEARD FROM ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS.

WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NONPROFIT LEADERS, MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS, EDUCATORS, VENUE OWNERS, MANAGERS.

AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

WE DID HEAR FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONCE WE HEARD FROM THEM IN JULY, WE POSTED THE DRAFT GUIDELINES

[01:25:01]

ON THE PUBLIC INPUT PAGE.

AND ONCE WE POSTED IT, WE KEPT IT UP.

FROM JULY 2ND TO JULY 20TH, WE PIVOTED AGAIN.

WE ONLY ANTICIPATED KEEPING IT UP FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

'CAUSE I TELL YOU, ANXIETY WAS GETTING PRETTY HIGH WITH OUR STAFF.

THEY WERE LIKE, HOW ARE WE GONNA WRITE ALL OF THIS? AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION IN.

BUT AGAIN, WE WERE CREATING THE MURAL WHILE THE GALLERY WAS STILL OPEN.

AND SO WE REVIEWED ALL OF THE COMMENTS.

WE WENT ON WHAT WE CALLED A ROAD SHOW.

WE CAME AND WE MET WITH THE MUSIC COMMISSIONERS, AND WE MET WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.

WE MET WITH YOU ALL.

WE WENT TO CMO, UH, OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, EXCUSE ME.

WE WENT AND MET WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE REACHED OUT TO ALSO OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO PROVIDED US ALL THE INPUT BECAUSE WE TRULY WANTED TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND SO DURING OUR FIRST DRAFT OF THE GUIDELINES, WE REREAD AND RECEIVED OVER A THOUSAND COMMENTS THAT WE CONSIDERED AND REVIEWED.

AND EVEN FROM THOSE COMMENTS, AND THIS IS JUST THE TOP FIVE IN TERMS OF THE COMMENTS, THESE WERE SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WE LOOKED AT JUST FROM THE COMMENTS ON OUR DRAFTING GUIDELINES.

THOSE COMMENTS TALKED ABOUT INCREASING BALANCE AND BALANCING FUNDING, SIMPLIFYING AND CLARIFYING THE PROCESS THAT WAS IMPORTANT THROUGHOUT.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY A THEME THROUGHOUT ALL OF IT.

AND SUSTAINING, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE CREATIVE VENUES AND OPERATIONALIZING OUR EQUITY GOALS.

AND NUMBER FIVE, INVESTING IN CAPACITY BUILDING ACROSS PHASE ONE RE RECURRING THEMES EMERGE.

WE LISTENED AND WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS, AND WE REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED ALL FEEDBACK.

AS THOSE THEMES CAME IN, WE HEARD YOU, AND THIS IS DI DIRECT QUOTES THAT CAME FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY SAY WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE VENUES.

OTHERS SAID, IT'S EXPENSIVE TO ENJOY THE ARTS.

WHILE ONE INDIVIDUAL TOLD US, AND THIS REALLY DID STICK WITH OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMS. WE HAVE ACTORS, BUT NO ACTION.

I WENT OVER TO MO AND I MET WITH ZACH.

I HAD, HE LEFT BEFORE HE COULD HEAR THIS, BUT I SAID TO HIM, ART MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY.

AND HE SAID TO ME, NO CANDACE, PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY.

THIS WAS A DIRECT QUOTE THAT CAME FROM HIM.

AND WE ALSO LEARNED THAT SOME OF OUR, UM, DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES WERE OUT THERE, DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE SEEN OR RECOGNIZED.

AND WE HEARD YOU BECAUSE NOW YOU SEE THAT MO WITHIN OUR FUNDING GUIDELINES, YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES THAT WERE HEARD ENHANCERS WERE MADE BASED OFF OF YOUR FEEDBACK.

THIS TALKS ABOUT OUR SIX PART ITERATION.

I TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO EXPLAIN IT.

WE LOOKED AT THE HISTORIC DATA.

WE REDLINED, WE HEARD FROM THE EARLY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE CREATED A ANOTHER DRAFT OF IT.

WE'VE EXTENDED OUR ENGAGEMENT PERIOD.

WE RELEASED THE DRAFT TO THE PUBLIC, THEN WE WENT ON A ROAD SHOW AND WE LISTENED AGAIN.

HERE ARE JUST SOME OF, FROM EACH PROGRAM, SOME OF THE STRENGTHS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT CAME FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT PHASE, UH, RELATED TO THE DRAFT GUIDELINES THAT WE RECEIVED.

WE THEN HAD TO TAKE THEM.

AND FROM JULY 20TH, WE HAD TO DO A QUICK WRAPAROUND OF GOING BACK.

WE EVEN WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH STAFF.

AND STAFF SAID, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE CERTAINLY GET THIS RIGHT.

HAVE WE REALLY HEARD FROM EVERYONE? WE HAD OUR CAD TEAM TO REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE FOR US.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THEY WENT IN AND THEY LOOKED AT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER TO IMPROVE IT.

WHAT WE LEARN IS WHEN EVERYONE IS SEEN AND EVERY VOICE IS HEARD, OUR COMMUNITY THRIVES.

WE DID NOT CONSIDER THIS PROCESS A CHECKING THE BOX.

IT WAS ABOUT CO-CREATING AUSTIN'S CULTURAL FUTURE.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE BEGINNING OR THE END TO THE CONVERSATION.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED BEFORE ACME EVER SHOWED UP OR APPEARED.

AND WE ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE, THOSE PAST REPORTS THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT, THAT WE HONOR THOSE IN THE WAY BY, BY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL, HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF WHAT OCCURRED.

BUT WE ALSO WILL BE MOVING INTO PHASE TWO.

AND THIS IS NOT THE END.

THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

WE WILL TAKE EVERYTHING THAT WE HEARD AND THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT SEE IN TODAY'S CULTURAL FUNDING GUIDELINES.

REST ASSURED YOU WILL SEE THEM THROUGHOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN PLANNING PROCESS.

THAT IS A 12 TO 18 MONTH PROCESS.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS NOT A ONE STOP SHOP.

IT'S NOT A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH.

OUR APPROACH WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE

[01:30:01]

LISTENED.

PHASE TWO IS TAKING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

NOW WE'LL BE GOING INTO OUR CULTURAL FUNDING.

WE WILL BUILD ON WHAT WE LEARNED IN PHASE ONE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL LISTENING IN PHASE THREE AND PHASE TWO ALL THE WAY THROUGH PHASE FOUR.

ALL RIGHT, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO GO OVER QUICKLY HERE.

THIS IS THE DATA THAT WE'VE, UH, RECEIVED UP UNTIL JULY 20TH.

WHAT'S REFLECTIVE HERE IS OUR SURVEY, OUR FOCUS GROUP, OUR LISTENING SESSIONS, AND OUR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS.

THIS IS OUR ANALYSIS, AND I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF GO THROUGH IT.

YOU GUYS WILL ALL HAVE THE LINK TO THIS.

WHAT IT TALKS ABOUT HERE ARE SOME OF OUR KEY FINDINGS WHERE ECONOMIC BARRIERS, PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY, AND OF COURSE AN EQUITY GAP.

HERE'S SOME OF THE VOICES YOU CAN CLICK.

THIS IS VERY INTERACTIVE.

IT TELLS YOU WHO WAS A PART OF SOME OF THE VOICES THAT WE HEARD FROM THE GEOGRAPHIC, UM, DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AS YOU GUYS CAN SEE, 95 ZIP CODES PARTICIPATED.

7, 8, 7, 4, 5 WAS THE HIGHEST ZIP CODE AND SOME OF THE LOWEST AWARENESS OPPORTUNITIES WAS WAS WITHIN 7, 8, 7, 3, 4.

I LOVE THIS BECAUSE THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY.

THIS TELLS US THE VOICES THAT WE MAY HAVE MISSED AND NOW THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO FIND THEM.

WHAT WE HEARD, THESE ARE THE SAME TOP THEMES THAT DIRECTOR MEANS TALKED ABOUT IN HER PRESENTATION ON LAST, UM, MONTH.

WE WERE NOT IN A SPACE WHERE WE WERE READY TO SHARE, BUT IT TELLS YOU THAT THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 11,801 TOTAL COMMENTS THAT WE REVIEWED.

AND THIS IS THE THEMES IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE OF WHERE THEY WERE.

HERE.

YOU CAN EXPLORE EACH THEME.

IT LITERALLY IS A TOUCH AND CLICK WHERE YOU CAN FLIP AND IT TELLS YOU, IT DIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO WHAT EACH OF THOSE THEMES TALKED ABOUT HERE.

YOU CAN GO THROUGH EACH PROGRAM.

IT TELLS YOU THE KEY STRENGTHS AND THE CHALLENGES.

I WANNA MENTION A-I-P-P-A-I-P-P.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE IN MARCH.

AND SO, ALTHOUGH A IPP WAS A PART OF OUR DATA COLLECTION, WE DID GO THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROCESS WITH A IPP.

HERE'S SOME OF THE KEY FOCUS AREAS, THE KEY FOCUS AREAS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES, THESE WERE THE MENTIONS IN WHAT FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT.

TRANSPORTATION, ACCESSIBILITY OF COURSE, WAS A REOCCURRING THEME.

AND THEN HERE, FOLKS, IS SOME OF THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE USED AT THIS TIME.

I WANNA JUST TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF.

UM, WITH ACME, YOU GUYS, THIS WAS A HEAVY LIFT.

WE DID NOT HAVE ALL THE STAFF WITH ALL THE SKILLS TO GET IT DONE.

IT WAS A START, STOP, START, STOP.

BUT WE DID IT.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF, THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR SHOWING UP.

THANK YOU TO THIS COMMISSION WHO CHALLENGED US WHEN WE NEEDED TO BE CHALLENGED, WHO ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, AND WHO ALSO HELPED US ALONG THE WAY.

UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE PRESENTED TODAY, IT IS NOT OUR END ALL BE ALL.

YOU WILL NOT, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO GO AROUND.

WE KNOW THAT.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO CREATE A ECOSYSTEM FOR EVERYONE AND FOR ALL, WE HAVE TO DO MORE AS A, AS AN AUSTIN AS A CITY.

AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THROUGHOUT THE, THE REMAINDER OF THE CREATIVE RESET PROCESS, WE WILL DO JUST THAT.

WE WILL LEARN WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.

SO IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE A FULL CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM FOR AUSTIN.

THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL PUT IN.

WE, WE, WE KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU LISTENED.

YOU HEARD YOU.

THE WIN-WIN DOCUMENT, CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY THAT ACME HAS SHOWN.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS UNTIL BEFORE WE MOVE INTO MORGAN'S PRESENTATION, IF I CAN MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT.

ALL OF THE DATA WILL BE ON THE OPEN PORTAL.

IT'S NOT THERE YET, BUT THEY WILL BE, UM, ADDING IT.

HOPEFULLY I'M CROSSED, FINGERS CROSSED THIS WEEK.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A WIN-WIN DOCUMENT.

WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU ALL IN MARCH, I SAID, HEY GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT? MOVING FORWARD, WHATEVER WE ACCEPTED, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

WE ACCEPTED.

IF WE DIDN'T ACCEPT IT, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW.

WE DID NOT ACCEPT IT AND IF, AND WHAT THE STATUS IS.

AND SO THERE'S A WIN-WIN DOCUMENT WITH OVER 2000, 2000 DIFFERENT COMMENTS WHERE IT REFLECTS WHAT YOU ALL, WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID AND WHETHER WE ACCEPTED IT, WHETHER WE DID NOT ACCEPT IT FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND WHETHER IT'S, UH, IF IT'S PENDING OR WHERE YOU'LL SEE IT THROUGHOUT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.

SO THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED AS WELL.

WE CALL IT

[01:35:01]

IT IS SO MUCH APPRECIATED.

COMMISSIONER HUSSAINI, I JUST WANNA ECHO THE THANK YOU OF THE AMOUNT OF WORK.

I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY IT TOOK US YOUR STAFF ONE MONTH TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE COMMENTS, AND THAT'S WITH AI HELPING.

SO I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW LONG IT WOULD'VE TAKEN MANUALLY.

AND SO I JUST WANNA EXTEND THAT.

AND THAT ONE THING YOU SAID REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME.

AND I, IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE WORK THAT THE TEAM IS DOING AND TRYING TO SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND NOT JUST THAT PIECE, BUT ALSO THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF GETTING THE DATA AND THEN ADJUSTING TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDED IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CONVERSATIONS ACCESSIBLE SO THAT YOU COULD GET WHAT YOU NEEDED.

SO JUST THANK YOU.

IT'S ALL SEEN AND APPRECIATED.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. COOPER.

TO HAVE AN ENTRY POINT, YOU WILL HAVE ONE SINGLE INTAKE, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

AGAIN, I'M MORGAN MESSICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ACME.

AND I'M GONNA TAKE US THROUGH THE GRANT FUNDING GUIDELINES AND THE PROCESS.

UM, THE SLIDES WILL BE AT A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHER LEVEL.

I WILL ELABORATE WITH SOME OF MY WORDS.

AND I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED THE FULL DRAFT OF THE GUIDELINES, THE FULL DRAFT OF THE SCORING RUBRIC AND THE FULL DRAFT OF THE APPLICATION QUESTIONS FOR EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM FOR YOU ALL.

UM, SHOULD ANYTHING BE MISSING OR YOU WOULD LIKE ANY OTHER INFORMATION, WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE AS WELL.

AND AS WE MOVE THROUGH OUR FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESS WITHIN THE CITY, WE'LL BE SURE TO POST THOSE ONLINE AS SOON AS THEY'RE FORMALLY APPROVED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE FINAL ACCESS TO, UH, REMOVING THOSE DRAFT WATERMARKS AS WELL.

SO SOME OF THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE BASED ON THE FEEDBACKS ARE SEEN, UM, THROUGH TWO AVENUES, LARGELY THROUGH THE GUIDELINES THAT WE DRAFTED AND THROUGH THE USER EXPERIENCE FOR THE APPLICANTS AND THE END USER.

SO WE HAVE A GROUPED TOGETHER LIKE APPLICANTS SO THAT SIMILAR APPLICANTS CAN COMPETE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE TYPE OF APPLICANT YOU ARE IN YOUR BUDGET SIZE TO CREATE AVENUES WHERE YOU'RE COMPETING WITH SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS.

ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT WE HAVE SEEN IS ENSURING THAT THERE ARE AVENUES FOR ALL THE CREATIVE TYPES WITHIN OUR ECOSYSTEM.

WE HAVE TWO PATHS FOR EVERY KIND OF ARTISTS, UM, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS HAVING TWO PROGRAMS TO APPLY FOR TWO PROGRAMS FOR ARTS GROUPS TO APPLY FOR TWO PROGRAMS FOR STATE LEVEL NONPROFITS AND TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR 5 0 1 C THREES AS WELL.

FISCAL SPONSORSHIP REMAINS AVAILABLE, UM, IN TWO OF OUR CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS, BUT IT IS NOT REQUIRED SEEING.

UH, OUR GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN SIMPLE, SIMPLIFIED INTO A SINGLE GUIDELINE DOCUMENT THAT HAS STANDARDIZED DEFINITIONS, FORMATTING, AND DEPARTMENT PROCESSES AND POLICIES LISTED BOTH THROUGHOUT IT AND AVAILABLE IN THE APPENDICES.

UM, AND THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT ON WHAT WE WERE DOING PREVIOUSLY.

IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH OUR PAST PROGRAMS, WE HAD INDIVIDUAL GUIDELINE DOCUMENTS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT.

UM, AND IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ENSURING THAT ALL THE LANGUAGE WAS THE SAME ACROSS ALL THE SAME DEFINITIONS WERE BEING USED, ET CETERA.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE, UM, CUT SOME OF THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, UM, I THINK WE ADDED THAT FOLKS DID NOT LIKE INCLUDING THE OPERATIONAL PERCENTAGE CAPS FOR FUNDING PROGRAMS. MORE FUNDING LEVELS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT FUNDING LEVELS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS TO KIND OF CREATE SOME MOBILITY FOR THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.

ON THE USER EXPERIENCE SIDE, SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU'LL SEE IS AN IMPROVED PANEL PROCESS, INCLUDING THE USE OF OLYMPIC STYLE SCORING.

AND THAT MEANS WHENEVER WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A PANEL, UH, GIVING A SCORE TO AN APPLICANT, WE WILL DROP THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST SCORE TO GET A BETTER MEDIAN.

WE NOW HAVE ADOPTED A UNIVERSAL APPEALS PROCESS ACROSS ALL ACME PROGRAMS TO ENSURE, UM, FAIRNESS, PARITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS ALL OF THEM.

WE HAVE ESTABLISHED POLICIES ON DOUBLE DIPPING AND CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS IN RESPONSE TO AUDIT CONCERNS THAT CAME DOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND AGAIN, TO BRING PARODY ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE LONG CENTER, UH, TO CREATE A STACKED APPLICATION LAUNCH, WHICH WILL HAVE ONE SINGLE INTAKE FORM.

SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO FILL OUT FIVE DIFFERENT FORMS FOR THE PROGRAMS

[01:40:01]

AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES FOR PANELS AND SCORING, SO WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF NOTES HERE.

AT A HIGH LEVEL.

UM, PANELIST, RECRUITMENT FOR ELEVATE AND THRIVE IS UNDERWAY, AND TRAINING WILL COME SOON FOR THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

THE ASSIGNMENTS WE MAKE FOR OUR PANELISTS WILL BE DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC, UM, INCLUDING, UH, EXHIBITION PERFORMANCE ARTS, EDUCATION ARTS SERVICE ARTS AND MUSIC THERAPY.

SO CREATING DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC PANELS WITH EXPERTS, UM, IS A KEY PART OF WHAT WE INTEND TO DO.

ADDITIONALLY, INDEPENDENT REVIEW BY PANELISTS, UH, WILL OCCUR AND THERE WILL BE A DEADLINE FOR THEM TO SUBMIT THEIR INITIAL SCORES.

ON THE DAY OF THE PANEL REVIEW.

WE'LL BE STREAMING THE PANEL.

AND, UM, FOR ANYBODY WHO IS NOT ABLE TO WATCH THE PANEL OCCURRING, THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO A PRIVATE LINK AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE, UM, WHICH WE'LL POST AFTER THE PANEL HAS CONCLUDED.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE DOING OLYMPIC STYLE SCORING FOR OUR SCORE CALCULATIONS FOR THE NEXUS PROGRAM.

OUR REVIEWER RECRUITMENT IS ALSO UNDERWAY.

SO WE ARE DOING A SLIGHTLY AUGMENTED VERSION OF THE PANEL PROCESS FOR NEXUS BECAUSE IT'S A MUCH SIMPLER APPLICATION, UM, TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE QUICKER.

AND ALSO DUE TO THE VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT IS OUR SORT OF BASELINE PROGRAMMING, UM, TRAINING FOR THAT WILL BEGIN SOON AS WELL.

AND THEN APPLICATION ASSIGNMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THAT, UM, OPENS AND STARTS.

ADDITIONALLY, THEY WILL UNDERGO THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UM, AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE DEADLINES TO SUBMIT THEIR SCORES AND COMMENTS, AND THEN THEIR SCORES WILL BE CALCULATED BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FOR THE AWARD DECISIONS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SCORING FOR ELEVATE AND THRIVE AWARD DETERMINATIONS WILL BE BASED ON THE SCORES WE RECEIVE FROM THE PANELS.

THEN TENTATIVE AWARDEE LISTS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE ACME LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHERE WE'LL CONDUCT AN INTERNAL REVIEW, UM, DISCUSS OUR CHECKS AND BALANCES AND MAKE FINAL AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS.

AFTER THAT, THE APPEALS PROCESS WILL BE OPEN AND WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE APPEALS PROCESS AS WE GET CLOSER TO LAUNCH DATE.

THEN WE WILL MAKE THE TENTATIVE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OPEN THE APPEALS PROCESS AS WELL FOR THAT PROGRAM.

WHENEVER WE ARE LOOKING AT PROGRAM IMPACTS FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, UM, WE COLLECT INFORMATION AND DATA FROM IN OUR REPORTS AND FINAL REPORTS, AND WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO FUNNEL UP TO THE CITYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND OTHER METRICS THAT WE REPORT ON AS A DEPARTMENT.

AND ALL OF THOSE MEASURES FALL UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF REACH AND ENGAGEMENT, PROMOTION, IMPACT, ACCESS, EXPRESSION, AND RESILIENCY.

AND I KNOW I'VE GONE OVER THIS A FEW TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, SO I WON'T DIVE INTO DEEPLY, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HERE FOR YOU.

ADDITIONALLY, UM, WITHIN OUR GUIDELINES AND ALSO IN OUR WHAT'S NEW DOCUMENT, UH, WHICH IS A COMPANION SORT OF HIGH LEVEL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE CHANGES PER PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN SEE.

WE HAVE A, UH, CHART THAT OUTLINES APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY AT A GLANCE.

AND THIS IS TO USE AS A TOOL FOR AN APPLICANT TO BE ABLE TO VISUALIZE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, WHERE THEY MIGHT FIT IN, WHAT PROGRAMS COULD THEY POSSIBLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER DIRECT THEIR QUESTIONS, BETTER REACH OUT TO STAFF, AND BETTER FIND INFORMATION ON THOSE PROGRAMS AS WE WORK TOWARDS LAUNCH DATE.

UM, THERE'S A LITTLE, UM, FINE PRINT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CHART TO JUST SEE THE PROGRAM SECTIONS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS AND ELIGIBILITY DEFINITIONS.

SO THERE IS, UM, THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, INSIDE OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS, UH, CAPITAL PROJECTS AND HERITAGE EVENTS PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE GRANTING OUT.

AND SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHECK SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE RESTRICTIONS THAT MIGHT APPLY.

SO HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN FOR OUR CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE THRIVE, ELEVATE, AND NEXUS.

SO THROUGH ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TO KIND OF GET TO WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE PROGRAMS, THIS IS THE FINAL VERSION THAT WE HAVE LANDED ON.

AND SO WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THIS IS A HIGH LEVEL LOOK AT THEM SIDE BY SIDE.

SO THRIVE IS FOR 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE THAT DESIGNATION.

BY THE TIME OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION, THEY MUST HAVE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OPERATING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OR ITS ETJ, AND THEY MUST HAVE AN ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF $60,000 OR HIGHER.

THE ELEVATE PROGRAM IS FOR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EITHER FEDERALLY DESIGNATED 5 0 1 C THREES OR REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IT IS FOR ARTS GROUPS, IT IS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS.

AND THE REQUIREMENT THERE IS FOR TWO YEARS MINIMUM OPERATING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN SLASH ETJ.

[01:45:01]

FOR NEXUS, OUR MOST ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAM, IT IS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTS GROUPS WHO HAVE AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE OR OPERATION.

UM, AND I WANNA SHOUT OUT TO COMMISSIONER HOUSTON FOR, UM, DISCUSSING WITH US WHAT EXPERIENCE LOOKS LIKE.

WE WERE ABLE TO SOFTEN OUR DEFINITION OF EXPERIENCE TO ACCOUNT FOR GAPS IN RESUMES OR NON-CONTINUOUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT CAN BE COMMON ACROSS ANY INDUSTRY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP THERE.

ALL RIGHT, THE THRIVE GRANT.

THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN FOR THRIVE APPLICATIONS FOR THRIVE OPEN EVERY TWO YEARS.

AND THE THRIVE GRANT IS A 24 MONTH GRANT AGREEMENT TERM.

AGAIN, APPLICANTS ARE NONPROFIT ARTS ORGS, AND WE HAVE BROKEN THEM DOWN INTO TWO CATEGORIES.

THOSE WHO HAVE A CREATIVE SPACE, AND THOSE WITHOUT A CREATIVE SPACE.

THE MAXIMUM AWARD GOES UP TO $250,000 OVER THE TWO YEAR PERIOD, WHICH WOULD BE UP TO ONE TWENTY FIVE, A HUNDRED TWENTY 5,000 EACH YEAR.

THE LOWER AWARD LEVEL, UM, FOR THOSE WITHOUT A CREATIVE SPACE GOES UP TO $170,000 FOR THE TOTAL AWARD, OR UP TO $85,000 PER YEAR.

GRAIN AWARDS ARE FOR THE TWO YEAR TERM, AND THEY'RE CAPPED AT 100% OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL BUDGET FOR SCORING CRITERIA.

YOU WILL NOTICE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DROPPED ACROSS THE BOARD IS BONUS POINTS RELATED TO NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS RESCISSIONS, UM, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO DO NOT RECEIVE FUNDING AND THRIVE OR ELEVATE IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

UM, SO NO BONUS POINTS WILL BE AWARDED FOR EITHER OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

THE CATEGORIES FOR THRIVE THAT WE'LL BE SCORING AGAINST INCLUDE CREATIVE WORK, THE ABILITY TO DELIVER AND PUBLIC CONNECTION FOR THE ELEVATE GRANT.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND THE GRANT AGREEMENT TERM IS FOR 12 MONTHS.

SO WE HAVE, UM, CREATED MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THIS PROGRAM.

SO WE HAVE 5 0 1 C3 ARTS NONPROFITS BROKEN DOWN IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN BY THEIR OPERATING BUDGET SIZE.

AGAIN, TO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE A LOWER OPERATING BUDGET, SAY UNDER $50,000, NOT COMPETING AGAINST ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE HIGHER OPERATING BUDGETS ABOVE 30, UH, $300,000.

THE AWARDS FOR 5 0 1 C THREES RANGE FROM, UM, UP TO $30,000 ALL THE WAY UP TO $80,000.

THE NEXT APPLICANT CATEGORY IS STATE OF TEXAS NONPROFITS AND ARTS GROUPS.

THESE GROUPS CAN GET FUNDING UP TO, UM, BETWEEN 30 AND $40,000.

AND THEN FOR THE LAST APPLICANT CATEGORY, WE HAVE ADDED INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BACK INTO THE ELEVATE PROGRAM, UM, BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THIS COMMISSION, FROM FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO FROM OUR EXPERTS ON STAFF TO CREATE THAT SECOND AVENUE FOR A PROGRAM OUTSIDE OF NEXUS IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL ARTIST.

SO WE HAVE AWARDS UP TO $30,000 FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, AND THE, UM, THRESHOLD IS A MINIMUM OF TWO YEAR PRODUCTION HISTORY.

AGAIN, THESE AWARDS ARE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM, AND THEY'RE CAPPED AT UP TO 100% OF THE APPLICANT'S, UH, MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED ANNUAL BUDGET.

THE ELEVATE SCORING CRITERIA SIMILAR TO THRIVE IS SCORED IN THE CATEGORIES OF CREATIVE WORK ABILITY TO DELIVER AND PUBLIC CONNECTION.

THE LAST PROGRAM WE'LL TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IS THE NEXUS GRANT.

UM, THIS APPLICATION WILL BE OPEN TWICE A YEAR, WHICH IS A CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HAD, UM, BEEN DOING IN THIS MOST RECENT CYCLE.

THESE GRANT AGREEMENTS WILL BE 12 MONTH GRANT AGREEMENT TERMS, AND THE APPLICANTS ARE FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ARTS GROUPS WHO HAVE A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE, AND THE AWARD AMOUNTS WILL BE $5,000 OR $10,000 FLAT.

THE WAY THAT WE WILL DIVVY UP THE AWARD AMOUNTS IS THE HIGHEST SCORING APPLICATIONS WILL RECEIVE THE $10,000 AWARD THRESHOLD.

AND THE NEXT HIGHEST SCORING SET OF APPLICATIONS WILL RECEIVE THE $5,000, UM, AWARD THRESHOLD FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THE CATEGORIES WHERE YOU'RE SCORING IN ARE CREATIVE WORK, ABILITY TO DELIVER PUBLIC CONNECTION AND BONUS POINTS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED PRIOR FISCAL YEAR NEXUS FUNDING.

SO THE NEXT STEPS FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE TAKING FORWARD AS PART OF OUR, UM, ENHANCEMENT IS TODAY AUGUST 18TH.

WE ARE HERE SEEKING YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND SUPPORT FORMALLY.

OUR NEXT STEP ON OUR ROAD SHOW WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, WHERE WE'LL BE ASKING THE SAME, SEEKING THE RECOMMENDATION AND SUPPORT FROM THE MUSIC COMMISSION.

THEN YOU WILL SEE US ON SEPTEMBER 19TH SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, MADE UP OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE VISITED THEM LAST MONTH, AND THEY FORMALLY ASKED US TO COME BACK WITH OUR FINAL AND ALSO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION, WHICH WILL BE THE LAST STEP ON OUR ROAD SHOW.

SEPTEMBER 25TH, WE ARE

[01:50:01]

PLANNING TO MOVE FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL REQUESTING THEIR ACTION TO FORMALIZE AND APPROVE OUR GUIDELINES, WHICH WILL GIVE US THE GREEN LIGHT TO, UM, WORK TOWARDS OUR PLANNED APPLICATION OPEN DATE.

OUR APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH WE'RE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LONG CENTER, WILL TAKE THREE FORMS. SO AS PART OF OUR STACKED APPLICATION PART WHERE WE ARE DOING ONE SINGLE INTAKE, THE FIRST STEP FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON, NO MATTER WHO YOU'RE, WHAT YOUR DISCIPLINE IS, IS TO FILL OUT YOUR INTAKE FORM.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP YOUR PROFILE.

WHO ARE YOU, UM, AS AN ARTIST, AS AN ORGANIZATION? WHAT IS YOUR DISCIPLINE? JUST INTAKING YOUR INFORMATION TO GET YOU INTO THE FUNNEL.

SO ONCE YOU ENTER IN, THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THE OPENING OF THE ELIGIBILITY FORM, AND THIS WILL BE HOW WE DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS, UM, YOU ARE MO MOST ELIGIBLE FOR, TO SHOW YOU WHERE YOU SHOULD FOCUS YOUR ENERGY ESSENTIALLY.

AND THE LAST STEP AFTER YOUR ELIGIBILITY FORM WILL BE THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE APPLICATION, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE, UM, IN THE TIMELINE BELOW.

SO I'LL GO OVER THAT.

THE APPLICATION TIMELINE WE'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY IS LATER THIS MONTH.

WE WILL OPEN THAT INTAKE FORM AND WE WILL BE PROMOTING THAT THROUGH ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND DIRECTLY THROUGH EMAIL WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN OUR SYSTEM, UM, PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED BEFORE, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE ECOSYSTEM THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO.

ADDITIONALLY, IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL BE OPENING THE ELIGIBILITY FORM.

THAT'S THE NEXT STEP OF THE PROCESS.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE HOPING TO GET A YES ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, WHICH WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS OUR PLANNED APPLICATION OPEN DATE OF OCTOBER 21ST, UM, WHERE ALL THE APPLICATIONS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE.

THEY WILL BE OPEN.

UM, YOU, YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER INTO THAT APPLICATION FUNNEL THROUGH DECEMBER 1ST.

THAT'S WHEN WE WILL BE CLOSING THAT.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE REVIEW PERIOD, AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH ALL OF THAT IN JANUARY.

AND WE HOPE TO HAVE FUNDS OUT BY THE END OF FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH.

UM, THE SOONER THE BETTER.

AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THROUGH THE APPLICATION AND PANEL PROCESS, WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AFTER WE ACTUALLY GET THE APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL AND CAN WORK ON THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE LONG HOPE TO PROVIDE, UM, A BIGGER FORECAST ON WHEN WE PLAN TO OPEN APPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

SO BASED ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS TIME AROUND.

AND WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED HERE IS THE LAUNCH CALENDAR THAT WE ARE FORECASTING THROUGH 2027.

SO THIS FALL, WE PLAN TO OPEN ELEVATE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT.

IN MARCH, WE WILL OPEN NEXUS.

NEXT JULY, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER STACKED LAUNCH WITH ELEVATE THRIVE OPENING BACK UP AUSTIN LIFE MUSIC FUND AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT.

THE SECOND SET OF NEXUS WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER, FOLLOWING THROUGH THROUGH 2027.

THE FIRST PROGRAM OF THAT YEAR WE WILL OPEN WILL AGAIN BE NEXUS WITH ANOTHER JULY SUMMER LAUNCH FOR ELEVATE AUSTIN LIFE MUSIC FUND, C CSAP, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT, FOLLOWED BY NEXUS AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE HELPED US DO THROUGHOUT THIS TIME.

WE HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR YOU ALL TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. MESSICK, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

BEFORE WE MOVE INTO DISCUSSION, I JUST NEED TO TAKE A COUNT OF WHO IS IS VOTING ON THIS AGENDA ITEM TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FORM.

I WILL BE VOTING ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

COMMISSIONER ANDERSON HAS TO LEAVE.

COMM I WILL BE VOTING.

COMMISSIONER SMBA, YOU'RE VOTING COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER GARZA IS VOTING.

SMALL BLOCK IS VOTING COMMISSIONER CNI IS NOT VOTING.

COMMISSIONER CHARLA, MAY, MAY I ASK A QUICK QUESTION ON THAT? I I, COULD YOU QUALIFY THE QUESTION A BIT MORE? I MEAN, ARE THERE, UM, UM, THE QUESTION IS AROUND ARE WE GOING TO VOTE FOR, OR ARE WE JUST GONNA COST A VOTE? OR ARE YOU RE, ARE YOU RECUSING YOURSELF OR ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO REGISTER A VOTE ON THE AGENDA ITEM? GOT IT.

AND IS THERE ANY FURTHER GUIDANCE AS FAR AS THE RECUSAL GOES, AS FAR AS, BECAUSE I SAW SOME NOTES AROUND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, ET CETERA.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER GUIDANCE AVAILABLE ON THAT? UM, I WILL BE VOTING ANYWAY, BUT, UH, UH, I THINK SOME CLARIFICATION AROUND THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS, MAYBE ALSO TO DECIDE, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT YEAH, THE, THE ONLY GUIDANCE WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY FOR TONIGHT IS THAT IF YOU SIT ON A BOARD OR ARE PLANNING YOURSELF TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

[01:55:01]

IN THIS NEXT CYCLE THAT YOU RECUSE YOURSELF FOR PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WE ARE GOING TO GET SOMEONE FROM LEGAL IN WITH US NEXT MONTH TO, TO ZERO DOWN IN EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.

GOT IT.

BUT YOU WILL BE VOTING COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER MAYOR CHARLA.

YOU WILL BE VOTING.

SO WE CAN'T TAKE AN OFFICIAL VOTE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM, BUT WE CAN SEND A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO REGISTER THAT, THAT, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO REGISTER.

SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? SO, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT BEING NEW, SO I DON'T, I'M NOT ON THE BOARD, I'M NOT APPLYING FOR ANYTHING FOR, BUT BEING NEW, IT'S, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO HAVE AN OPINION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

SO MAYBE I SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF IN INSTEAD OF VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BECAUSE, WELL, NO, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THE GUIDELINES THAT ACME IS PRESENTING, AND WE AGREE THAT THEY ARE AS THEY STAND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE LIKE THE, THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE OFFICE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES.

DO YOU FEEL OKAY ABOUT THAT? UM, SURE.

UH, COMMISSIONER SCHMO, PLEASE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START COMMISSIONER MVA.

NA, GO AHEAD AND THEN I'LL ASK, IT'S CLARIFYING ALSO.

UH, YEAH, I, I, I, WHAT IS THE VALUE OF, UH, VOTING AND JUST A COUPLE OF US, UH, VOTING ON THIS IF THERE'S NO QUORUM? BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, I WOULD, I WOULD RECUSE AS WELL.

UH, BECAUSE AS FAR AS MY EXPRESSED, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT FOR THIS, UH, UH, FOR THIS, THIS GUIDELINE, IT'S ALREADY THERE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD, UH, BE FORMALLY PARTICIPATING IF THEY DON'T HAVE A QUORUM IN THE VALUE OF THAT.

UH, I'LL HOLD MY THOUGHT.

YEAH, IVAN, I, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION ON, ARE WE SAYING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WHO MIGHT HAVE A CONFLICT, A PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST, CAN ALSO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? OR JUST THAT THEY'RE INELIGIBLE FROM TAKING A VOTE? FROM THE WAY THAT I READ THE ETHICS GUIDELINES, THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION OR THE VOTE.

UH, WE'RE HAVING LEGAL COME IN NEXT MONTH TO, TO ZERO DOWN IN EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.

BUT THE GUIDELINES THAT I READ SAY YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION AND YOU CANNOT VOTE.

I OKAY, I'M, I THINK I'M WITH, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ME IS GONNA DECIDE, BUT I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BEING ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING SO CRUCIAL IF O IF ONLY HALF OF THE SEATED COMMISSIONERS CAN TAKE PART IN THE DISCUSSION.

PARTICULARLY BECAUSE AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, I FEEL LIKE THE ONES WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED AND, AND WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS HAVE THE ABSOLUTE MOST TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THE PROGRAM BETTER THAN ANYONE THAN, SO I WANT, I WANT TO REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ASK FOR.

WE ASK TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE GUIDELINES THAT ACNE COMES UP WITH.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM.

WE CAN'T GIVE AN OFFICIAL VOTE TO COUNCIL, BUT WE CAN SAY THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE NO PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST FEEL THAT THE, THESE GUIDELINES ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ARTS IN AUSTIN.

WE CAN, WE CAN SEND THAT RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.

IT CAN'T, IT JUST CANNOT BE AN OFFICIAL VOTED RECOMMENDATION 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COURT.

BUT THE OTHER, BUT, BUT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE FINAL DRAFTS OF THE RECONFIGURED CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS. LIKE WE CAN'T EVEN HAVE A FULL, FULL COMMISSION DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

IS THAT, AM I, UM, SORRY IF I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING.

I, I, I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND VERIFY.

UM, THANK YOU.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A CONFLICT, THE RULES THAT GOVERN YOUR CONDUCT DEAL WITH CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THREE BASIC WAYS THROUGH PROHIBITION.

PROHIBITION, THE CONFLICT IS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT IT WOULD DISQUALIFY YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD OR SERVING ON THE BOARD.

[02:00:01]

MIGHT CLO CLOSE A PRIVATE OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH RECUSAL.

YOU HAVE A CONFLICT WITH THE SPECIFIC MATTER BEFORE THE BOARD, AND YOU MAY NOT TAKE PART IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS OR THROUGH THE USE OF YOUR PERSONAL JUDGMENT, A CONFLICT NOT ADDRESSED BY ETHICS LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

YOU MUST USE PERSONAL JUDGMENT TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

COMMISSIONER CHARLA? UH, I THINK, I THINK JUST SOME JUST FLAT OUT CLARIFICATION FROM LEGAL ON THIS WOULD'VE BEEN NICE IN THE MOMENT WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

BECAUSE FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME, UH, THAT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE, BUT ESSENTIALLY JUST CHAIRS THE BOARD OF A NONPROFIT, UH, IT IS A DIFFICULT SPOT TO BE IN, UH, BECAUSE, BECAUSE I'M ESSENTIALLY RECU, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE PUTTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS JUST BY BEING ON THE BOARD FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.

UM, SO, AND, AND IT'S SOMETHING I RAISED MY HAND BECAUSE THIS, THIS WHOLE GUIDELINES, UH, AND THAT THEY, UH, ARE, UH, ABLE TO PROGRESS, UH, IS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, IN MY MIND.

AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED AND VERY CLEARLY HAVE SUPPORTED, UH, THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

UH, BUT IF WE, ESPECIALLY EVEN DON'T HAVE FORUM AND A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION CANNOT BE SENT OUT, I AM, UH, GOING TO RECUSE AS WELL.

UH, BECAUSE I THINK MY OPINIONS ON THIS ARE PRETTY WELL KNOWN AT THIS POINT, BUT I, BUT A VERY CLEAR CLARIFICATION FROM LEGAL AT, AT SOME POINT.

JUST, JUST, JUST SPELL IT OUT FOR US WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

AND, AND MY APOLOGIES, IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT IT COULD BE CONFUSING UNTIL TOO LATE TO GET THEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

SO THAT'S MY, MY BAD.

BUT IT, WE ARE GETTING THEM SET UP FOR NEXT MONTH.

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, MORGAN, SINCE Y'ALL AREN'T GOING TO COUNCIL UNTIL THE 26TH, UNTIL THE 25TH, FOR US TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE SEPTEMBER MEETING THE FOURTH, THE SECOND MONDAY BEFORE THE 22ND COUNCIL 25TH, IS IT POSSIBLE? YES.

UM, WELL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ATTACH IT AS BACKUP TO OUR REQUEST FOR CONSULT ACTION.

THAT I DON'T KNOW.

UM, UM, BUT IF WE NEED TO TABLE IT, WE CERTAINLY CAN.

UM, AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR YOUR, THE QUESTION ABOUT INVITING LEGAL, UM, WE DID NOTE THAT AS, UH, INVITING LEGAL OR THE CLERK'S OFFICE, SINCE THEY'RE THE FOLKS WHO ADMINISTER THE, THE TRAINING, UM, THAT INCLUDES THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

WE CAN INVITE THEM, BUT, BUT IT'S UP TO THEM, LIKE IF THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE OR NOT.

WE WILL EXTEND THE INVITATION ON, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, AND WE'LL REPORT BACK WHAT THEY SAY.

SO, COMMISSIONER CHARLA, COMMISSIONER SCHLOCK, COMMISSIONER GARZA, COMMISSIONER ZANEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TABLING UNTIL NEXT MONTH? UH, COMMISSIONER GRAY HAD A QUESTION.

WELL, I JUST, I THINK THAT LEGAL GOES BEYOND JUST ONE, UH, RECOMMENDATION OR CONVERSATION.

I THINK IT'S, IT SEEMS BIGGER THAN IT SEEMS. IT DOES, LIKE SITTING ON THE COMMISSION, SO I, YOU KNOW, MAY I KNOW, UH, YEAH.

I MEAN, I'M AN ARTIST THAT WORKS IN THIS CITY AND WAS HOPE AND BUT I KNOW HOW TO RECUSE MYSELF.

I KNOW HOW TO ABSTAIN.

BUT IF IT'S A BIG THING, THOSE ARE TWO, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT DOES HAPPEN SO I CAN MAKE DECISIONS AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER SMOOT.

YEAH, AND I WOULD ADD THAT I THINK THAT THE ABSTAINING FROM THE, THE VOTE IS A, IS A DIFFERENT MATTER IN, IN MY UNDERSTANDING FROM TAKING PART IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE GUIDELINES.

LIKE, I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF QUORUM DICTATES THAT WE NEED TO POSTPONE OR, OR WE NEED THE SPECIFIC LEGAL OPINION IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE VOTE, THAT'S ONE THING.

BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WITH BEING ON THIS TOTALLY COMPRESSED TIMELINE, THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE A FULL COMMISSION DISCUSSION ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES.

LIKE, THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME.

AND I UNDERSTAND, I KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU READ OUT LOUD, COMMISSIONER HOUSTON, BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO FOLLOW WITHOUT READING ALONG WITH YOU.

UM, BUT THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE NOT HAVING A DISCUSSION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS BODY ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE VERY ECOSYSTEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

DOESN'T, DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME.

I, AND I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY.

COMMISSIONER CHARLA.

QUESTIONS OVER COLLECTIVELY, AND IF THOSE COULD GET AN, UH, UH, ADDRESSED OVER EMAIL AND, YOU KNOW, WE THEN WE HOLD OUR PIECE AND WE, WE MOVE WITH THAT.

UM, I THINK, UH, IF, IF LEGAL IS NOT, UH, ABLE TO COME IN, AT LEAST IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMISSIONERS TO JUST SEND

[02:05:01]

UH, BUT JUST COMPREHENSIVELY, WHOEVER HAS WHATEVER QUESTIONS, I MEAN, THEY JUST USE CASING THIS, RIGHT? ESSENTIALLY.

BECAUSE IF DISCUSSING THIS IN THE LAST MEETING WAS, OKAY, THEN WHY IS IT NOT OKAY TODAY? YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DISCUSSION FOR MONTHS, RIGHT? SO, UM, WHAT PRECLUDES IS FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING ABLE TO DISCUSS IT TODAY.

UH, SO THAT'S ONE THING.

THE OTHER THING IS OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE QUESTION IS MORE PERTAINING TO ACTUALLY CASTING A VOTE, UH, WHICH WAS OKAY IN THE PAST, BUT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S, THAT IS IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

SO IF THAT CAN GET ADDRESSED ALSO WHAT RULES, RIGHT? IF YOU ARE LIKE, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I WORK AS A BOARD CHAIR FOR A NONPROFIT.

UH, I'M NOT AN EMPLOYEE VERSUS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VOTING.

IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE OR IS THERE NOT? I DON'T KNOW.

UH, I'M JUST SAYING IF WE, IF MAYBE WE CAN JUST SEND OUR QUESTIONS IN AND IF LEGAL CAN JUST GET THOSE ANSWERED, UM, AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN LIVE WITH THAT AND MAKE A DECISION AROUND THAT.

BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS SO FAR, BUT WE CAN'T TODAY.

UH, RIGHT.

IF IT, BECAUSE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST, .

SO, 'CAUSE EVERYBODY HAS HAD INPUTS IN THIS SO FAR.

SO ANYWAY, UH, I THINK, I THINK IN SOME WAY, IF WE CAN JUST HAVE OUR DOUBTS OR QUESTIONS, AND EVEN IF IT IS A NUANCE THING AND MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT CALL, YES, SURE.

BUT, UM, BUT THEN IF IT IS A NUANCE, THEN IF A HARD LINE IS GOING TO BE DRAWN LATER ON, THEN I, AT LEAST I THINK AS ARTISTS AND AS, AS YOU KNOW, ARTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN VARIOUS ROLES THAT WE PLAY, WE AT LEAST NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT HARD LINE IS.

RIGHT? IF, IF ONE OF THE MEMBERS DECIDES TO VOTE TODAY OR, OR HAVE COMMENT TODAY, UM, IS THEIR ORGANIZATION OR ARE THEY THEMSELVES GONNA BE, UH, NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY? OR IS THAT GOING TO BE LEFT TO JUDGMENT? THAT'S ALL.

UH, THAT'S THE ONE I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT IS HARD AND FAST REQUIRED FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IS LEFT TO A COMMISSIONER'S JUDGMENT? AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, USE OUR OWN FUNCTIONS AND HOWEVER WE WORK WITH THAT TO MAKE A CALL ON WHETHER WE APPLY LATER OR NOT, WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS, WHICH IS JUST LET US HELP US UNDERSTAND THE HEADLINE, WHICH IS WHY, WHICH I, WHICH IS WHY I'VE ASKED FOR A PRESENTATION.

I JUST COULDN'T GET IT ON THIS MONTH'S AGENDA.

COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD.

UH, CHAIR, I'M NOT, I'M NOT EVEN, UH, YEAH, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SUGGESTING, UH, IN ANY WAY THAT, UH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD'VE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE IT TODAY.

BUT, BUT I MEAN, THAT'S FINE.

AT THIS POINT, SINCE WE HAVE A, THE LITTLE WINDOW IT LOOKS LIKE.

UM, AND I THINK REALLY IF WE COULD SEND YOU, UH, AND JESUS THE QUESTIONS, MAYBE IF, UH, IF THERE'S A WAY TO ROUTE IT, UH, AND, AND JUST GET THE ANSWERS.

JUST ONE SECOND.

COMMISSIONER GRAY AND THEN COMMISSIONER HUSSAINI.

I JUST WANNA BRING UP THE FACT THAT AS COMMISSIONERS, WE WENT THROUGH TRAINING AND READ AND, AND AGREED TO THESE, TO THE GUIDELINES OF BEING ON A COMMISSION OF WHEN TO RECUSE YOURSELF AND WHEN TO ABSTAIN.

SO I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IN WHAT WE AGREED TO BE AS COMMISSIONERS CHAIR.

CAN I JUST MAKE A POINT? I'M, I'M JUST TO GO BY THE, BY BY WHAT I AGREED TO AS A COMMISSIONER.

MAY JUST MAKE A QUICK POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

SO WHEN YOU ALL, UM, ABSTAIN FROM SOMETHING, YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THAT ITEM ITSELF, RIGHT? BUT THERE WAS THE PRESENTATION THAT HAPPENED IN ITEM EIGHT IN WHICH YOU STILL CAN, CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS.

SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS AROUND THE PRESENTATION THAT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UH, UM, MESSICK HAS JUST PRESENTED, THAT CONVERSATION CAN HAPPEN.

YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE, YOU CAN'T MOVE ON TO THAT FORMAL ITEM AND HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT YOU'RE GONNA, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A VOTE ON IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT QUORUM.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? BUT THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A Q AND A HERE WITH, WITH THAT PRESENTATION THAT OCCURRED.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EVERYONE BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED.

AND MORGAN, DID YOU, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP, DIDN'T YOU? I WAS GONNA SAY THE SAME THING.

COMMISSIONER HUSSAINI.

AN ARTIST AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE.

COMMISSIONER HUSSAINI.

UH, ACTUALLY THE CLARIFICATION THAT YOU JUST GAVE WAS REALLY HELPFUL.

UM, IN ADDITION TO BEING NEW, UH, AS A, A COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR AS THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE.

UM, MY EXPERTISE IS STRATEGY, OPERATIONS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

I WANNA APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE YOU LAID OUT LIKE A, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ALL THESE BOARDS AND WE'RE GONNA DO THIS STUFF AND WE HAVE TO THEN, YOU KNOW, GET AN APPROVAL BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE NEXT STEPS.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WHERE I CAN HEAR THE QUESTIONS, UM, THE DISCUSSION POINTS, THE PUSHBACK, THE AGREEMENT FOR THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY ONES WHO ARE MORE INVOLVED IN THE ART SCENE, WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR ME TO MAKE A VOTE AND ACTUALLY REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS TRYING TO SERVE.

'CAUSE I AM NOT

[02:10:01]

UH, THE PRESENTATION SEEMED SOLID, BUT I'M FAR AWAY FROM THE NUANCE AS EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT CARMEN AND THADDEUS WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WHEN THEY WENT INTO THE MODEL A VERSUS MODEL C AND THE SAVINGS, I, I DON'T HAVE THAT INSIGHT.

SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO ME.

SO MAYBE WE, I DON'T KNOW IF BACKUP IS THE RIGHT THING, BUT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR POINTS THAT WE WANNA MAKE FROM THE PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED SO THAT I CAN MAKE A VOTE THAT'S RELEVANT.

OTHERWISE, I ALSO HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO VOTE ON SOMETHING WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY VOTE MEANS.

UM, SO I JUST SHOULD, THIS, THIS MAY BE A FLAW OF THE CHAIR.

I MOVE FORWARD TOO FAST.

SO LET'S, WE'RE NOT IN ITEM NINE YET.

WE'RE IN ITEM EIGHT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESENTATION, THE STAFF BRIEFING ON THE ACME FUNDING GUIDELINES.

WE'RE IN ITEM EIGHT.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MORGAN ABOUT HER BRIEFING? COMMISSIONER MACH AND THEN COMMISSIONER CNI AND THEN COMMISSIONER CHARLA, AND THEN, UM, I DO, ONE OF THEM IS, ARE WE, UM, 'CAUSE C SAP WASN'T A BIG PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS ON THAT AS WELL? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, OKAY.

I JUST, YEAH, NO, NO, I DON'T MM-HMM .

AND APOLOGIES FOR THAT.

I STARTED GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT CSAP KIND OF LATE AND, AND, AND MY FAULT.

I SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THAT.

BUT, UH, IT IS OF COURSE IN THE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE IN THE BACKUP AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT AS WELL.

FOR SURE.

WE'VE SEEN ALL, WELL, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST QUESTION IS I, I WAS ALSO, I COULD WE, COULD YOU GO OVER THE RATIONALE FOR, I FEEL CONFUSED ABOUT WHO CSAP IS TARGETING NOW? UM, I THINK SOME OF WHAT ZACH TALKED ABOUT IN, IN HIS PUBLIC COMMENT, TOUCHED ON SOME OF THAT HAD SIMILAR COMMENTS IN MY OWN NOTES ABOUT, UM, PARTICULARLY THE NONPROFIT NONPROFITS WHO OWN THEIR OWN SPACE AND, AND KIND OF LIKE THE, THE, THE CHANGE WHAT FEELS LIKE A CHANGE IN DIRECTION FROM THE LAST ROUNDS OF CSAP.

AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

LIKE, WHO IS THIS TARGETING NOW AND, AND WHAT'S THE RATIONALE OF, UH, NOT HAVING NONPROFITS WHO OWN THEIR OWN SPACE BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE IT USED TO BE REALLY ABOUT THAT PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE SPACE.

OF COURSE.

SO I'M LOOKING AT, UM, FROM THE WHAT'S NEW DOCUMENT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ASSETS WE HAVE, THERE IS A COMPARISON CHART FOR THE FORMER VERSION OF CSAP AND THE CURRENT VERSION.

UM, AND, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, FOLKS WHO OWN THEIR CREATIVE SPACE WERE NOT ELIGIBLE PREVIOUSLY.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A CHANGE INTO THIS VERSION.

BUT I THINK TO ANSWER MORE BROADLY THE QUESTION OF WHO IS THIS FOR OR WHY, WHY IS THAT THE DECISION AROUND WHO THE FUNDING IS FOR? UM, MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THE HISTORY OF CSAP IS IT WAS CREATED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND HAS HAD A COUPLE OF VERSIONS, UH, AS THERE WERE EMERGING NEEDS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THEY PIVOTED TO WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.

AND I BELIEVE EVEN INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS WERE ABLE TO GET C SAP, UM, DURING THAT TIME.

AND SO WE'VE KIND OF BEEN REBUILDING THAT IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID.

AND SO LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE, SURVEYS AND PAST FOLKS WHO'VE RECEIVED THE FUNDING TO SEE WHAT IS THE HIGHEST NEED THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REACH.

AND SO THE GOALS FOR CSAP, UM, REALLY ARE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT OWN THEIR CREATIVE SPACE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE HIGHER OVERHEAD COSTS.

THEY ARE IN, UM, A TOUGHER SITUATION WITH THEIR LEASES.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE SORT OF THE POWER OF THOSE WHO OWN THEIR SPACE.

THEY HAVE TRIPLE NETS, THEY HAVE OTHER KIND OF THINGS THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

AND SO WE HAVE PIVOTED TO, UH, FOCUS OUR FUNDING TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE RENT STIPENDS, PROPERTY TAXES, GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND OTHER HIGH LEVEL SPACE RELATED RELATED NEEDS, INCLUDING DIS DISPLACEMENT RELATED EXPENSES.

AND SO, BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE ITEMS ARE HIGHER DOLLAR, ESPECIALLY THINGS LIKE INSURANCE, PROPERTY TAXES, DISPLACEMENT, WE PIVOTED FROM THE LOWER THRESHOLD OF LIKE $5,000 AWARDS TO NOW HAVING A STANDARD $60,000 AWARDS ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT THOSE HIGHER LEVEL NEEDS.

JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT THOUGH.

BUT IF, IF THEY DON'T OWN THEIR SPACE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES THAT IT GETS PASSED TO THE NET THROUGH IN THE TRIPLE NET FOR RENTERS.

BUT THAT'S POINT, RIGHT? BUT I, YEAH, I THINK THAT POINTS I WOULD MAKE THE SAME.

[02:15:01]

COULD WE RECONSIDER EXCLUDING THEM, I GUESS IS THE QUESTION? BECAUSE THAT, THAT DOES FEEL LIKE IT IS CREATING A SYSTEM THAT IS A LOT OF LANDLORDS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INCENTIVE TO KEEP RENTS LOW.

SO THROUGH ALL OF THE FEEDBACK WE DID, SO JUST SUBSIDIZE IT LIKE INDEFINITELY THROUGH ALL THE FEEDBACK WE DID, WE DID NOT RECEIVE A HIGH LEVEL OF FOLKS WHO REQUESTED THAT CHANGE.

THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS RECOMMENDED ACROSS THE BOARD FROM PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE, THE FEEDBACK LOOP.

SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO IMPLEMENT AT THIS TIME.

UM, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY IS KIND OF RE-LOOKING AND REFOCUSING AT THE WORK THAT RALLY AUSTIN DOES, WHO IS SUPPORTING THOSE WHO OWN CREATIVE SPACES ALONG WITH THOSE WHO RENT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAMS THAT EXIST.

AND AS WE MOVE INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING AS A DEPARTMENT FOR US, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT GAPS ARE NOT FILLED BY THESE FUNDING PROGRAMS. UM, AND I'LL ALSO SAY, UH, CREATIVE SPACE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ONLY HAS $500,000 PER FISCAL YEAR ALLOCATED TOWARDS IT.

IT'S A PRETTY SMALL FUNDING POOL AND IT REALLY CAN'T SERVE THAT MANY PEOPLE, WHICH IS THE REASON WE PUSHED IT TO BE BY, BY A**L, UH, ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS TO TRY TO, UM, CAPTURE MORE FUNDS TO MAKE IT A MORE MEANINGFUL PROGRAM WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO LAUNCH IT.

BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GROWING BASED ON THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE AT THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL THOSE OTHER GAPS IN OTHER WAYS.

SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT CLEARLY PEOPLE WHO OWN CREATIVE SPACES HAVE NEEDS AS WELL, BUT THIS PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A WAY TO FILL THAT GAP.

I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT DOWN THE LINE, 'CAUSE I, I DO REALIZE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP LATE, BUT THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT POSSIBLY REMOVING THAT RESTRICTION BECAUSE IT'S JUST, IT SEEMS ARBITRARY.

THEY HAVE THE SAME, THEY HAVE THE SAME BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE LEASING DO, AND SOMETIMES MORE BECAUSE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN UPKEEP.

SO IF THEY HAVE A ROOF THAT IS DAMAGED IN THE STORM, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING TO REPAIR THAT ROOF ON THEIR OWN.

SO, AND THE SECOND, AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO OTHER QUESTIONS 'CAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT ASK IT.

BUT THE OTHER, THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS THE, THE PROHIBITION ON, UM, WORKSPACES RENTED OR, OR PROBABLY RENTED AND THE NUMBER OF PLACES THAT WILL BE EXCLUDED WAS THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS CSAT, BUT WE CAN MOVE ON.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT DOES, IT DOES FEEL VERY NARROWLY TAILORED AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING ABOUT WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO'S IT'S INTENDED TO SERVE.

YES, WE DID, WE DID, UH, TAILOR TO SPACES THAT HAVE, UM, A GATHERING SPACE.

SO WE WERE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE SENDING THE, AGAIN, SMALL AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE YEAR OVER YEAR TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HOSTING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVENTS, UM, HOSTING OTHER CREATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS IT JUST DIDN'T EMERGE AS A GOAL FOR US TO FUND, SAY, AN INDIVIDUAL STUDIO SPACE OR A HOME OFFICE SPACE WHERE THEY MIGHT DO THEIR CREATIVE WORK BASED ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED IN THE PAST.

SO THAT WAS JUST THE DIRECTION THAT THE PROGRAM WENT.

COMMISSIONER GRAY, YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT CSAP? YEAH, YEAH.

I THINK I JUST, IT MAY BE WISE TO DEFINE, UM, THAT MIXED USE SPACE A LITTLE MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

'CAUSE I FEEL THAT THERE ARE MANY CREATIVES, ESPECIALLY PERFORMING CREATIVES THAT ARE IN MIXED USE SPACE AND HAVE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS IN SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL THEATER.

IT MAY BE A STUDIO OF SOME SIDE OR A GALLERY, UH, BIG MIXED USE.

AND I ALSO, UM, THINK THAT THE ZONING RESTRICTION, WHICH IS NOT THE, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICTS OF ZONING THAT ARE, THAT ARE LEGAL WITHIN THE, THE CITY THAT'S ALSO LIMITED, PROBABLY A BIG HUNK OF THE ARTISTS, UM, THAT COULD BENEFIT AND HAVE IN THE PAST FROM CSAP FUNDS, WHICH HAPPENED, I BELIEVE CSAP STARTED ABOUT FIVE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO COVID.

UM, AND IT WAS BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF AN A RENT INCREASE OR HOW MUCH THEIR BUDGET WAS.

AND I THINK IT MAY BE ILL THOUGHT OUT TO MAKE IT A JUST A $60,000 AWARD WHEN YOU MAY HAVE MANY CREATIVES OUT THERE WITH RENT SITUATIONS THAT, UH, COULD BENEFIT GREATLY WITH HALF OF THAT OR 20% OF THAT.

AND JUST ON THE CSAP ISSUE, JUST TO THE TOP OF MY MIND, I BELIEVE, UM, THE VORTEX IS NOW OWNED BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WAS WILLED TO MS. CULLUM, SO SHE WOULD BE KNOCKED

[02:20:01]

OUT, BUT SHE'S A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE THAT DOES NONPROFIT WORK.

AND SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT I WANT.

UM, SO NOW MOVING ON, UH, COMMISSIONER NEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER CHARLA.

THEREFORE, THAT IS INCREDIBLY CONFUSING.

UM, THANK YOU.

SO I WANNA SPEAK TO CSAT BUT ALSO JUST, UH, UM, THRIVE AS WELL.

SO IN THE GRANT GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, THE WAY THAT CREATIVE SPACE IS DEFINED IN THRIVE VERSUS THE WAY CREATIVE SPACE IS DEFINED IN CSAP ARE TWO DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS.

UM, AND I ALSO STRONGLY FEEL ABOUT THIS, THAT HAVING MULTIPLE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CREATIVE SPACE MEANS IS GOING TO BE SUPER CONFUSING FROM AN APPLICANT STANDPOINT.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IN CSAP, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE GUIDELINES, EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING, OR ON THE DAAS IT EXPLICITLY DISQUALIFIES SPACES THAT HAVE LIKE STUDIOS, WORKSHOPS, PRACTICE SPACES, CREATIVE OFFICE, CREATIVE OFFICES.

AND IF YOU DO CREATIVE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY OR YOU'VE BEEN TO A CREATIVE SPACE, YOU KNOW THAT THEY, THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF CREATIVE SPACE IN AUSTIN, RIGHT? SO NONPROFITS THAT ARE RUNNING CREATIVE SPACES, THEY'RE MULTI-USE AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN APPLAUDED A YEAR AGO.

THAT YOU'RE MAKING USE OF THE SPACE THAT YOU HAVE IN A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IS SO EXPENSIVE.

NOW, THOSE SAME NONPROFITS ARE GONNA BE PENALIZED BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET THIS LIKE, LEGAL DEFINITION CRITERIA OF A VENUE.

SO LET ME PUT THAT IN ANOTHER TYPE OF SCENARIO.

IT WOULD MEAN THAT THE VORTEX OR MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT.

BUT COYOTE UGLY ON DIRTY SIXTH STREET WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS GRANT.

OKAY? THAT IS THE REALITY OF THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO NO BUDGETARY CAP.

SO A $10 MILLION BAR THAT IS MAKING PROFITS COULD WRITE A GRANT THAT WOULD MAKE THEM QUALIFY FOR THIS.

NOW THE PROBABILITY OF THAT HAPPENING MAY BE LOW, BUT STILL LIKE MY JOB IS TO POKE HOLES IN THIS AND I'M SEEING A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WANNA POKE HOLES IN.

UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS NONPROFIT VERSUS COMMERCIAL SPACE PRIORITIZATION.

LIKE NONPROFITS ARE ELIGIBLE AND IN THE STRUCTURE AND THE DEFINITIONS AND SCORING, SCORING CRITERIA CLEARLY FAVORS TRADITIONAL MUSIC VENUES LIKE THAT IS WHAT IT'S FAVORING.

UM, AND FOR-PROFIT MUSIC VENUES AT THAT BECAUSE THE SMALL AMOUNT OF NONPROFITS THAT OWN THEIR SPACE ARE NOW BEING PENALIZED AS WELL.

AND THE LAST THING THAT I WILL SAY ON THIS IS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PRESENTATION FROM RALLY AUSTIN ON WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING TO SAVE CREATIVE SPACES IN THE AUSTIN AREA, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SINCE 2020, SINCE THAT BOND HAS CAME OUT.

AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HURDLES, BUT THE REASON WHY THIS GRANT CAME TO FRUITION WAS BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING OUR CREATIVE SPACES.

THAT IS HOW THAT BOND CAME TO FRUITION IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

I'M IN COMMISSION, I PLAY AT LOCAL VENUES.

I ALSO RUN AN ARTS NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES CREATIVE SPACE TO PLACES LIKE THE VORTEX THAT NEED REHEARSAL SPACE.

I ALSO WOULD BE INELIGIBLE FOR THIS.

SO, UM, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH CSAP ARE NEWER TO THE ARTS COMMISSION.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT WHO PAST RECIPIENTS WERE AND HOW THOSE VENUES HAVE ACTIVELY BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THIS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE HEALTHSCAPE THAT WE'RE IN.

UM, AND I JUST SEE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH CSAP AND IT, IT IS A BANDAID AND IT DOESN'T FIX THINGS, BUT YOU'VE JUST MADE IT A LOT HARDER FOR NONPROFITS.

I'M SPECIFICALLY SAYING NONPROFITS, ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING SPACE TO THOUSANDS OF ARTISTS IN AUSTIN THAT ARE PRODUCING WORK HERE, THAT ARE BRINGING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INTO AUSTIN FOR TOURISM.

BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT HAVE SPACES FOR THESE ARTISTS TO CREATE WORK, IF WE DO NOT HAVE SPACE FOR THESE ART GROUPS TO REHEARSE, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE HAVE 200 VENUES THAT ARE FREE TICKETS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO WORK TO PRESENT.

AND THAT IS ALL I GOTTA SAY.

MIC DROP.

GOODBYE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER NEY.

I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SCHEDULE RALLY.

UM, THEY WERE GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, BUT ASKED TO BE PULLED OFF AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM IN SEPTEMBER.

SO WE DO HAVE THAT

[02:25:01]

PENDING COMMISSIONER.

OH, MAY I RESPOND? THERE WASN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR A SPECIFIC OH, I'M SORRY, QUESTION.

BUT I DID HAVE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MIXED IN THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID, SO I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE.

UM, THERE IS AN APPENDIX.

THE FIRST APPENDIX IN THE DOCUMENT IS, UH, THE DEFINITIONS.

AND THERE IS ONE SINGLE DEFINITION FOR CREATIVE SPACE AND THERE IS ONE SINGLE DEFINITION FOR MULTI-USE.

SO I WILL JUST SHARE THOSE FOR THE RECORD HERE.

UM, OUR STAFF COLLABORATED TOGETHER, THOSE WHO, UH, DEVELOPED AND WORKED ON CSAP AND THOSE WHO WORKED ON THRIVE IN THE OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL.

SO WE CAME TOGETHER FOR ONE SINGLE DEFINITION FOR THE DEPARTMENT CREATIVE SPACE AND ESTABLISHMENT WHERE ARTS CULTURE PROGRAMMING IS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION.

THE LOCATION IS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE AND ABLE TO BE RENTED BY CREATIVE PRODUCERS.

THE SPACE MAY PRESENT ONE OR MORE ART FORMS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIVE MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, VISUAL ART, FILM, MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, ET CETERA.

THE OPERATOR OF THE SPACE MAY BE A FOR-PROFIT OR A NON-PROFIT ENTITY.

THE DEFINITION FOR MULTI-USE IS A COMMERCIAL CREATIVE SPACE THAT PROVIDES A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE AREA OR AREAS THAT CAN BE USED FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF CREATIVE EVENTS, INCLUDING ARTS, EXHIBITIONS, CONCERTS, PLAYS, FILM SCREENINGS, ET CETERA.

RIGHT? BUT THEN YOU GO TO CSAP AND YOU'VE FURTHER DELINEATED WHAT CREATIVE SPACE IS IN WHICH YOU SAY THE GUIDELINES EXPLICITLY, EXPLICITLY DISQUALIFY SPACES THAT ARE NON-TRADITIONAL SPACES.

SO STUDIOS, WORKSHOP, PRACTICE SPACES, CREATIVE OFFICES.

SO YOU SEE HOW THAT IS CONFUSING THAT THAT'S NOT, THAT THAT IS NOT ONE DEFINITION.

YOU'RE GIVING ONE DEFINITION IN YOUR APPENDIX AND THEN YOU'RE FURTHER EXCLUDING OTHER NONPROFITS IN CSAP SPECIFIC SPECIFICALLY.

SO THAT WAS MY LEADING QUESTION ACTUALLY.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALIGNS.

'CAUSE AGAIN, OUR INTENTION IS TO HAVE ONE DEFINITION FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

EACH PROGRAM MAY HAVE SPECIFIC DELINEATIONS WITHIN IT.

UM, AND I'LL SAY AGAIN, PART OF THE INTENTION WITH THE CHANGES FOR CSAP WERE TO EXCLUDE PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE A HOME OFFICE SPACE.

UM, WHILE THEY MIGHT BE PRODUCING ART THERE, THAT WASN'T THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE FUNDS.

SO WE WILL LOOK AT THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S CONFUSING, WE'RE HAPPY TO EXAMINE IT.

THAT'S MUCH MORE CLEAR THAN THE LAST ONE I SAW.

DO YOU USE THE VORTEX INSTEAD AS THE EXAMPLE AND NOT LIKE AN INDIVIDUAL STUDIO SPACE? 'CAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'VE HEARD FROM THE, THE OWNER OF THE VORTEX COUNTLESS TIMES THAT COMMISSION ABOUT THE BARRIERS THAT THEY'RE FACING.

SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE COUNTERING WITH LIKE WHAT Y'ALL WERE THINKING ABOUT AS INDIVIDUAL STUDIO SPACES, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS.

AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD AS WELL, I THINK PERHAPS CSAP ISN'T HIGH A PRIORITY PERHAPS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IN MANY WAYS THAT'S THE POINT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER CHARLA, AND THEN COMMISSIONER KEYS.

BEEN THERE SINCE I'VE AT LEAST MOVED TO AUSTIN IN SIXTH GRADE AND BEEN OPEN AND BEEN UNDERUTILIZED, I'VE NOT DR.

UH, THANK YOU CHAIR.

IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS LIKE FURTHER QUESTIONS AROUND CSAP, IF WE WANT TO TAKE THAT, THAT'S FINE.

I CAN, UH, I CAN SPEAK UP LATER.

I JUST WANTED TO HAD A QUICK COMMENT ON THRIVE.

UM, YEAH, I, I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT CSAP.

UM, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS NOW AT THIS POINT.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE A PAGE OUT OF COMMISSIONER HUSAIN'S BOOK AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

ARE WE EVALUATING THE CITY FACILITIES FOR THE UTILIZATION AND SEEING MAYBE WHICH ONES MAY BE UNDERUTILIZED AND OFFERING MAYBE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, AN INCENTIVE AND WORKING WITH LIKE THE CITY OWNED FACILITIES ALSO, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR THE PRIVATE PARTNER? UM, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OF SOME CITY OWNED FACILITIES? AN EXAMPLE SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE IN D ONE, THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX.

I'M STILL, I WORK AT THE CITY AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS FOR PROVIDING SPACE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THE ONLY ORGANIZATION I, I WORK WITH CREATIVES ALL OVER, AND THE ONLY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO COVER THE EXPENSES AT THE MILLENNIUM, THE QUOTES HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN ORGANIZATIONS.

AND I KNOW BECAUSE I BROKERED THE DEALS.

AND SO I, IT'S BEEN THAT, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THEY ARE RENTING THE MILLENNIUM OUT FOR A DAY AND THEY'RE QUOTED AT $10,000.

AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF IT'S A CITY OWNED FACILITY AND IT ESSENTIALLY RESEMBLES, IS COMPARABLE TO THE CARVER MUSEUM, UM, DORY MILLER AUDITORIUM, THE SPRINGS RECREATION CENTER.

WHY IS THAT SPACE

[02:30:01]

DRIVEN BY AND SEEN THAT SPACE HAVE MORE THAN 20 CARS IF IT WASN'T AN EVENT THAT I WAS WORKING ON DIRECTLY.

AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE WE, ARE WE EVALUATING ALL OF THESE SPACES? FOR INSTANCE, WE JUST OPENED TURNER ROBERTS RECREATION CENTER THAT HAS THE POOL AND ALL THESE OTHER, ALL THESE OTHER, UM, JUST AMENITIES.

BUT ARE WE EVALUATING MAYBE SOME OF THESE SPACES AND LOOKING AT HOW WE COULD UTILIZE THOSE AND MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC? BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BOOK DORY MILLER AUDITORIUM AND HAVE ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT EMAIL THREADS OF ME REACHING OUT AND NOT GETTING THE ANSWER FROM ANYONE.

UM, SO I, I JUST, IT, IT'S, I KNOW WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT THE CITY WORKING IN SILOS, BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT CREATIVE SPACE SPACES, ARE WE EVALUATING THAT WITH PARKS AND RECREATION AND ANY OTHER, UM, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WHERE THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN MAKE UP FOR SO LITTLE FUNDING, UM, AND SPACE? RIGHT NOW? THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, AS WE MOVE INTO PHASE TWO OF THE CREATIVE RESET, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT NOW HAS CONSOLIDATED BOTH THE PURVIEW OF THESE GRANT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE CULTURAL CENTERS AND A FEW OF THE OTHER AMENITIES THAT YOU LISTED, INCLUDING, UM, THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH COMPLEX, UM, UMLA AND SOME OTHERS THAT FALL JUST OUTSIDE THE REALM OF CULTURAL CENTERS.

AND WE ARE GONNA BE EVALUATING THE HIGHEST AND BEST PUBLIC USE OF THOSE SPACES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ALREADY VERY PRESENT THERE.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE RENTAL POLICIES AND SEEING HOW WE MIGHT MARRY SOME OF THAT WORK WITH OUR OTHER DEPARTMENT LEVEL PRIORITIES, WHICH WILL OF COURSE INCLUDE CULTURAL FUNDING.

UM, AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WE DON'T HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TODAY, BUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE STARTED AND ACTUALLY OUR CULTURAL STAFF HAVE BROUGHT THAT UP AND STAFF MEETINGS TO SAY, HOW CAN WE HELP SUPPORT YOUR ARTISTS MORE? HOW COULD WE MAYBE HOST A GALLERY FOR FOLKS, UM, LIKE AN EXHIBITION FOR FOLKS WHO ARE RECEIVING FUNDING? SO WE HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS BEING THROWN AROUND, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SOLID TODAY, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THOSE BACK TO THE TABLE AS THOSE CONVERSATIONS MOVE FORWARD.

GOTCHA.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD, UM, AS THE HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION MANAGER THAT THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, UM, FEBRUARY, 2025, COUNCIL APPROVED $250,000 OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND FOR SCHEMATIC DESIGN PHASE FOR THE DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM.

ALSO OUR, SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE FACILITY IS ALSO UNDER, UM, THAT PURVIEW AS WELL? YES, THE FACILITY HAS JOINED, UM, ACME ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER CULTURAL FACILITIES.

GOTCHA.

SO IT WOULD BE EVALUATED FOR ABSOLUTELY.

ANYTHING ELSE ON CSAP? COMMISSIONER CHARLA? THANK YOU CHAIR.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR, UM, AND KEEPING THIS PROCESS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST, JUST TRANSPARENT AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S, IT WAS A PRETTY, UH, BROAD APPROACH TAKEN WITH, WITH PRETTY BROAD FEEDBACK, ET CETERA.

I ALSO LIKE TO HEAR THAT, THAT IT'S NOT STATIC, THAT THERE'S, THERE'S GONNA BE A NEXT PHASE AS THIS GETS ROLLED OUT.

UH, THE, THE, THE FEEDBACK IS GONNA BE ONGOING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR FUTURE, UH, APPLICATIONS OR, OR CRITERIA WOULD BE TWEAKED BASED ON OUTCOMES AND FURTHER FEEDBACK AS WE GET.

SO OVERALL, YOU KNOW, UM, THANK YOU REALLY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT ACME HAS DONE.

AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE, UH, UM, ENGAGED, UH, BROADLY AND DEEPLY IN THIS.

UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION AROUND, UH, THRIVE, UM, THERE, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OPERATING BUDGETS, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD JUST PROVIDE THE CLARITY THAT WHEN, SINCE WE ARE ALSO NOT DOING PENALTIES ANYMORE, UH, WE, WE PROVIDE CLARITY THAT THE NEXT YEAR'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHEN SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THRIVE, UH, IT'S, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE GRANT THAT THEY ALREADY GOT THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND THAT DOESN'T BECOME A PART OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.

UH, THAT IT'S SOLELY, IT'S, IT'S, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M ASSUMING THAT IT'S A OPERATING BUDGET THAT'S BEEN INDEPENDENTLY BUILT BY THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF.

UH, MY, AM I MAKING SENSE THERE? YOU'RE SAYING WHEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR OPERATING BUDGET, DOES IT INCLUDE THE GRANT THEY HAD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR? YES.

YEAH, I THINK IT DOES.

I THINK ANY GRANTS THAT AN ORGANIZATION RECEIVES CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR OPERATING BUDGET, EVEN IF IT CAME FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RIGHT? JESUS, I BELIEVE SO.

IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT CHANGING THE GRANT AMOUNT

[02:35:01]

THOUGH.

I MEAN, DOESN'T IT JUST SO AUTOMATICALLY JUST GIVE AN UN UNFAIR GRANDAGE TO THIS ORGANIZATION? OH, I'M SORRY.

IF YOU RECEIVE THE THRIVE GRANT, IT'S A TWO YEAR GRANT.

YOU GET THE SAME MONEY EACH YEAR.

UM, YES, YES.

YOU'RE GUARANTEED THE FUNDING EACH YEAR.

AND THAT'S THE SUSTAINABILITY ASPECT OF IT, IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO REAPPLY.

IF YOU TURN IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION AND YOU'RE IN GOOD STANDING, YOU AUTOMATICALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH YEAR TWO FUNDING.

YEAH, THAT'S NOT, UH, SORRY, SORRY, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M REFERRING TO.

I'M REFERRING TO IF MY OPERATING BUDGET WAS 60 AND I GOT 60,000 IN THRIVE, SO I GOT 60,000 THIS YEAR, I GOT 60,000 NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT? SO THAT'S GUARANTEED ONCE I AM, UH, ONCE I'M APPROVED.

UM, BUT NOW I WANNA APPLY FOR THRIVE AGAIN THE NEXT TIME IT BECOMES AVAILABLE IN TWO YEARS FOR ME.

AND NOW, DOES MY OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDE MY 60,000 PLUS THIS NEW 60,000? UH, DOES THAT BECOME A NEW OPERATING BUDGET THAT NOW I CAN USE TO GET THE GRANT? YES.

OR, AND NOW IT DOUBLES UP AFTER THAT, IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YES.

I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S AN UPPER THRESHOLD, I GET IT.

BUT THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS IS THAT INCLUSIVE OR, OR, AND, AND HAVE WE THOUGHT THROUGH IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T CREATE ANY KIND OF AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE FOR THIS ORGANIZATION NOW THAT CAN USE THE GRANT MONEY TO JUSTIFY THEIR, UH, LARGER OPERATING BUDGET INSTEAD OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT BASICALLY BUILT IT THEMSELVES.

BUT ANYWAY, UH, I JUST WANTED CLARITY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THAT FRONT.

THE ANSWER IS YES, IF YOU RECEIVE THRIVE FUNDING AND, UM, NEXT YEAR, THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WHEN YOU, WHEN WE LOOK AT YOUR OPERATING BUDGET FROM THE, THE PREVIOUS YEAR, IT WILL INCLUDE, UH, BOTH THRIVE FUNDING AND ANY OTHER GRANT FUNDS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORK THAT YOU DID.

I I HAVE NOT COMPLETELY THOUGHT THROUGH THIS, BUT, UH, IT DOESN'T CREATE ANY KIND OF AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE, RIGHT? UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, ANYBODY CAN ANSWER THAT, BUT, UH, YEAH, JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

UH, , THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD IN GRANTS THAT GRANT MONEY IS PART OF THE OVERALL OPERATING BUDGET OR PROJECT BUDGET.

GOT IT.

AND THEN IDEALLY, IN MY MIND, WHAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THEIR OPERATING BUDGET TO A SUSTAINABLE LEVEL SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GET LARGER GRANTS GOING FORWARD.

SO THAT'S HOW THEY GROW.

COMMISSIONER SCH MABA, OH NO, GO.

I WAS GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT IT ALREADY GOT ANSWERED.

UM, BEFORE I GO BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER CINI, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ON THRIVE? OKAY, COMMISSIONER NEY.

SO, UM, THIS IS NOT BACKTRACKING TO CSAP, THIS IS ME MAKING A COMPARISON.

SO WE HAVE THE DISCREPANCY OF, UH, CREATIVE SPACE, RIGHT? AND CSAP AND CSAP IS A GRANT THAT KIND OF BRIDGES OVER FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION.

SO I SEE ANOTHER DISCREPANCY, WHICH DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE TO ME, WHICH IS IN ON THE ARTS GRANT, RIGHT? ELEVATE THRIVE NEXUS, YOU HAVE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AS AN OPTION, WHICH IS GOOD, IN MY OPINION.

I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE AN OPTION.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED OR STRIPPED AWAY, BUT FOR MUSIC, IT IS BANNED.

AND SO I REALLY WANNA UNDERSTAND THOSE TWO THOUGHT PROCESSES BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE CHATTY WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT IT REALLY DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S A LARGE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THE MUSIC AND OR THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION AND THE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION.

AND THAT IS WHY I'M GETTING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION IS DEFINING CREATIVE SPACE, RIGHT? AND IT MAKES SENSE.

BUT THEN YOU GO TO CSAP, WHICH IS IN THE MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT DIVISIONS LIKE NET OR SOME SPORT ANALOGY I'M TRYING TO DO RIGHT THERE.

AND IT CHANGES.

SAME THING WITH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.

YOU GO TO ARTS, IT'S OPTIONAL.

YOU GO TO MUSIC, IT'S BANNED.

AND LIKE, THESE THINGS DO NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.

LIKE, WHY IS IT THAT A MUSICIAN CAN'T HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR, BUT A MEDIA ARTIST THAT ACTUALLY IS A, COULD BE A MUSICIAN, CAN HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR ON THIS OTHER WAVELENGTH.

LIKE IF WE'RE TRYING TO FORMALIZE THINGS AND MAKE THEM, UM, STRATEGICALLY OUTLAYED SO THAT IT, IT FLOWS SEAMLESS AND YOU CAN HAVE THIS PORTAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE APPLICANT.

THOSE ARE SOME MAJOR RED FLAGS FOR ME.

SO I CAN SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT.

I SAW, UH, COMMISSIONER CHARLA HAD HER HAND UP AS WELL.

UM, WE KNOW SHE HAS SOME INSIGHT TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION, BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS WHEN THE AUSTIN LIVE MUSIC FUND CAME INTO EXISTENCE AS A FIRST OF ITS KIND MUSIC GRANT PROGRAM, UM, IN THE NATION, THEY WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE MUSIC COMMUNITY, WITH THE MUSIC COMMISSION TO BUILD THAT OUT.

AND THAT JUST WAS NOT A PART OF WHAT EMERGED AS A PRIORITY FOR THAT COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME.

AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH, UM, THIS

[02:40:01]

ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

AND ACTUALLY WHILE ZACH WAS DOING HIS PRESENTATION EARLIER, I HEARD HIM MENTION THAT.

SO I PULLED UP THE WIN-WIN DOCUMENT AND SEARCH TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE, UM, MENTIONED THAT AS A REQUEST.

AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMMENT IN THE THOUSANDS, UM, ACTUALLY MENTIONING THAT FOR LIVE MUSIC FUND.

SO AGAIN, IN THIS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, IT DIDN'T ARISE AS A NEED THAT WE HEARD.

UH, I'M SURE WE'VE HEARD IT IN OTHER WAYS.

WE'RE HEARING IT HEAR FROM YOU NOW.

SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD, BUT IT DIDN'T, UH, RISE AS A NEED DURING THIS PROCESS, AND IT DIDN'T ARISE AS A NEED WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY CREATED THIS PROGRAM.

GOT IT.

SO IF IT DIDN'T ARISE AS A NEED, THEN WHY BAN IT? LIKE WHY NOT JUST MAKE IT OPTIONAL LIKE YOU ARE MAKING IT IN THE ARTS? I THINK BAND IS A STRONG WORD.

IT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.

UH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T ASKED.

I MEAN, WHAT MEANS IT'S NOT? WELL, WE DID A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE WERE COMMITTED TO BUILDING PROGRAMS THAT WERE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY ASKED US TO DO, AND OUR COMMUNITY DID NOT ASK US TO DO THAT.

AND LIKE, I CAN SEE THAT WE DON'T LIKE THAT ANSWER, BUT THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE TRUTH OF WHY IT'S NOT THERE.

BUT I THINK WE CAN COMMIT TO ENGAGING FURTHER ON THAT TO SEE LIKE, IS THAT A GAP? IS THAT A NEED? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD REMOVE BARRIERS? UM, PERHAPS PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, LIKE THE MUSICIANS.

AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE PRESENTED IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

UM, AND WE CAN COMMIT TO DOING THAT IN THE FUTURE.

COMMISSIONER CHARLEY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY, UM, LIVE MUSIC DIDN'T OFFER THE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OPTION? IT'S, I THINK IT, THE CONCEPT DOESN'T JUST EXIST, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE, UH, THE, THE IDEA OF BRINGING, UH, A FIRST OF ITS KIND GRANT TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WAS ESSENTIALLY TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL MUSIC INDUSTRY ENTERPRISE, RIGHT? SO, UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS, THE CONCEPT DOESN'T EXIST IN THAT WORLD, LIKE IT DOES IN THE ART WORLD.

AND SO IT'S NEVER COME UP.

THE NEED HAS NEVER QUITE BEEN EXPRESSED.

UH, THERE WAS A REASON FOR KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DEDICATING THAT GRANT, UH, TO THAT INDUSTRY AS IT IS.

IT HAS BEEN.

SO, UM, OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE INSIGHT INTO EVERY CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD WHEN, YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT DIRECTLY PARTICIPATING, UH, NECESSARILY IN THOSE, UH, WHEN THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, UH, WAS BROUGHT TO FRUITION.

BUT IT'S, IT DOESN'T EXIST.

UH, AND THERE'S NOT BEEN A, UH, DEMAND FOR THAT, UH, IN THE INDUSTRY.

ALSO, FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT, IT IS A VERY, UH, CREATIVE ARTS CONCEPT PER SE.

UH, AND I'VE NOT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, UH, SO, UH, THERE, THERE WAS A REASON FOR, FOR HAVING THAT DEDICATED FUND THE WAY IT IS AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN A NEED.

WHAT WE'RE CALLING, YOU KNOW, OUR SECTOR, OUR PURVIEW.

CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? BECAUSE COMMISSIONER SMALL, A LOT THAT EXPLANATION, COMMISSIONER CHARLA, BECAUSE IT, IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE ASKING TO PROVE A NEGATIVE IF SOMEONE DOESN'T KNOW THAT A THING AN OPTION EXISTS, LIKE HOW WOULD THEY KNOW TO ASK FOR IT IN A SURVEY? AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE, TO HAVE THESE NUANCED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIKE WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND, AND HAVING APPLES TO APPLES, UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S POSSIBLE ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, OF WHICH MUSICIANS CERTAINLY ARE PART OF.

SO I JUST CONTINUE TO REITERATE THAT, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER HOUSTON MADE THE PERFECT POINT EARLIER IN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS, ABOUT NOT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE NOT APPLYING FOR A GRANT BECAUSE IT'LL TAKE THEM OFF OF DISABILITY OR SOME OTHER SORT OF PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE ON.

LIKE WE KNOW THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T APPLIED BEFORE.

SO I JUST, I, I UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSE THAT IT DIDN'T COME UP AS A PRIORITY IN THE SURVEY, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT'S REALLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT'S AN OPTION, SO THEY WOULDN'T KNOW TO ASK FOR IT.

CHAIR, CAN I, COMMISSIONER JMAN? YEAH.

AND WE TOTALLY HEAR YOU MORGAN.

AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL ATTACKED 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S YOUR JOB TO DEFEND SORT OF WHAT YOU'RE PRESENTING.

AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY ACTIVATED CONVERSATION, I THINK WE'RE ALL MAKING VALID POINTS AND WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, RIGHT? IT DIDN'T COME UP IN THE SURVEY BECAUSE THIS IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND GRANT.

THIS IS AN ECOSYSTEM THAT ISN'T, OR A PORTION OF OUR ECOSYSTEM THAT ISN'T ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING THOSE SERVICES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

IT IS THERE, OUR JOB AS A BOARD WITH THAT, THAT CONSCIOUSNESS AND THAT WISDOM TO BRING THAT TO THAT SECT OF PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOW ALL UNDER THIS ONE UMBRELLA, WE ARE ACME.

AND HAVING THAT ABILITY TO USE A FISCAL SPONSOR THEN ALSO FEEDS THE ECOSYSTEM BECAUSE THOSE FISCAL SPONSORS ARE THEN BENEFITING FROM THOSE CONTRACTS AND THE PERCENTAGES THAT THEY'RE GETTING.

SO IT, IT CLOSES THE LOOP.

AND TO FAYE'S POINT, IT'S JUST ABOUT CONSISTENCY.

IF WE'RE GONNA OFFER IT TO ONE DEFINITION OF ARTISTS, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR OTHER DEFINITIONS OF ARTISTS, BE THEY MUSIC, BE THEY VISUAL ARTS OR

[02:45:01]

SO IT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE LIKE TO, JUST TO RESETTLE.

AND IT'S LIKE, YES, TO HEIDI'S POINT, YOU DON'T KNOW TO ASK FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EXISTS, BUT IT DOES KIND OF COME FULL CIRCLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INCLUDED.

BECAUSE IT COULD BE LIKE, YES, YOU CAN USE A FISCAL SPONSOR.

WHAT'S A FISCAL SPONSOR? IT'S HYPERLINKED.

HERE'S A LIST OF APPROVED ACME FISCAL SPONSORS OR ONES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN USED BY OUR CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION PEOPLE FOR 20 YEARS.

SO IT JUST, AGAIN, IF WE'RE TALKING HOLISTICALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SERVING, MAKING SURE THAT RESOURCES LIKE THAT, THAT WILL ALLEVIATE ISSUES LIKE PUTTING YOUR DISABILITY AT RISK, UM, WHICH WE KNOW WE HAVE BOTH OF THOSE.

UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, DIFFERENT ABILITIES IN BOTH THEIR MUSIC AND ARTS SPACES, THEN WHY WOULDN'T THEY BOTH BENEFIT FROM HAVING ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE THAT? AND I THINK EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY HEATED AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AMONGST OTHER THINGS, I JUST WANNA, LIKE, THE FOCUS IS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE SEEING THAT AS, AS A BODY BEING ASKED TO SPEAK UP ON NOT JUST OUR THRIVE NEXUS ELEVATE, BUT CSAP AND HERITAGE AND MUSIC, THAT IT'S A ONE DOCUMENT GUIDELINE, RIGHT? SO IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ADVOCATING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY IN THIS ROOM, THAT DON'T NEED, DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S JUST, JUST, I JUST WANNA RECENTER AND KIND OF, WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH HERE.

I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ADD, JUST FOR CLARITY ON THE PARODY ACROSS PROGRAMS, FISCAL SPONSORSHIP IS, UM, NOT AVAILABLE IN ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS. IT'S AVAILABLE IN THRIVE AND ELEVATE FOR REFERENCE.

YEAH, IT'S NOT IN, NOT IN NEXUS.

NEXUS DOES NOT EPISTLES, YES.

COMMISSIONER GRAY, JUST SOMETHING THAT THAT, UM, I THINK COMES INTO PLAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN FEEL DEFENSIVE ON BOTH SIDES OR WHAT ANY SIDE WHEN WE'RE FEELING DEFENSIVE.

I THINK I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE ROLE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION WAS TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY AND AS WELL HOPEFULLY REFLECT THE GUIDELINES AND VISION OF THE CITY, WHICH I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO, WHICH I'M ACTUALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT IT'S EXCITING.

UM, SO MANY THINGS INCLUDING WHAT HAS COME A COUPLE OF TIMES IN CONVERSATION, MORGAN, THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, THE GUIDELINES THAT THE WORKING GROUP HAD, THE COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES OR THOSE RED LINES, YOU KNOW, THAT THE THING THAT SOME THINGS WERE TAKEN BECAUSE THEY WENT THROUGH THAT GROUP.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT GROUP? SOME OF THE THINGS WERE NOT AGREED UPON, BUT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF DISCUSSION.

NOT A SURVEY, NOT THIS THING GOT 10 RESPONSES.

AND THIS GOT ONE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES AS AS COMMISSIONER, UH, ZIMAN SAID, SOME PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THE THINGS SOME PEOPLE AREN'T.

AND SOME OF THE LOUDEST VOICES MANY TIMES ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AND NOT NECESSARILY THE THINGS THAT'S AT WORK.

AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING YOU PROBABLY DON'T ALREADY KNOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS GO A LONG WAY.

I JUST WANNA CIRCLE BACK.

DID YOU SAY THAT FISCAL SPONSORSHIP IS APPLICABLE IN THRIVE OR, 'CAUSE I KNOW AT ONE POINT IN ONE ITERATION IT WAS AND NOT A NEXUS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS CHART SAYS.

NO, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VERSIONS, SO I DON'T HOLD YOU TO HAVING A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY OF THE MOST CURRENT, BUT THAT'S A PRETTY CLEAR DIS THAT'S, I REMEMBER HAVING AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

THE LAST MEETING.

ELEVATE ELEVATED NEXUS I HAVE FROM THE 12TH OPEN, SO SORRY, YES, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN THRIVE, BUT AVAILABLE IN ELEVATE AND NEXUS.

ELEVATE NEXUS.

A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.

SO COMPARABLE PROGRAMS TO MY APOLOGIES, LIVE MUSIC, BUT ALSO NOT AVAILABLE IN THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT.

SO IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE IN TWO OF THE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN THIS DOCUMENT.

AND APOLOGIES I'M NOT FAMILIAR AND HAVE NOT HAD THE CAPACITY TO DIVE INTO THE HERITAGE PROGRAMS. YEAH.

UM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN TERMS OF SERVICE, THOSE BEING SERVED BY LIVE MUSIC INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS ENTITIES PARLAYS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.

JUST IDEAS MAYBE NEXT TIME COMMISSIONER NEY, I GUESS WHEN I MEANT ALL GRANTS, I MEANT ALL GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS.

SO ALL GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS ON THE ARTS COMMISSION SIDE OR ARTS, CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION SIDE, IT'S AN OPTION.

AND THE, THE BONE I HAVE WITH IT WITH ALL OF THIS IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU NEED UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU.

AND AS A, AS A MUSICIAN IN AUSTIN FOR 20 YEARS, IF YOU WOULD'VE ASKED ME 10 YEARS AGO ABOUT

[02:50:01]

SO I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT DOUBLING DOWN AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ON WHAT THAT MEANS.

OTHERWISE, LIKE LITERALLY WHAT WAS THE POINT IN HAVING THESE PEOPLE COME FROM CALIFORNIA TODAY AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHY FISCAL SPONSORSHIP IS SO AWESOME.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT SHOULD BE A MANDATORY, I'M JUST SAYING GIVE FOLKS THE OPTION AND THEN EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES RIGHT.

AND SUPPOSED TO DO WELL.

SO I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE EDUCATING PEOPLE ON ALL OF THEIR CHOICES.

THANKS FOR THAT FEEDBACK.

WE'LL WORK WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER CHARLA AND THE MUSIC COMMISSION TO BRING THAT FORWARD AS AN IDEA FOR THE FUTURE.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THRIVE COMMISSIONER SMALL BOX.

AND SORRY IF I'M JUST CONFUSED OR NOT READING IT PROPERLY, BUT THERE'S AN EXTRA OR IS THRIVE FOR THOSE WITH CREATIVE SPACES? A TOTAL OF 110 POINTS SINCE IT SAYS THERE'S UP TO 40 POINTS IN ONE OF THE CATEGORIES.

I'M JUST CON I FOUND THAT CONFUSING.

UM, SO I IMAGINE THAT'S SOMEBODY READING IT MIGHT ALSO FIND IT CONFUSING.

SCORING IS NOT BASED ON A HUNDRED POINTS SCORING RUBRIC, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD, THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. GOT IT.

SOME OF THEM MIGHT EQUAL A HUNDRED AND SOME OF THEM DON'T.

JUST DEPENDING ON, UM, IF THERE'S EXTRA CRITERIA THAT'S BEEN ADDED.

WE'LL BE SURE TO THAT WITH EVERYBODY WHEN WE DO OUR WORKSHOPS AND ALL OF OUR OUTREACH.

YEAH, IT MIGHT JUST WANNA BE PRESENTED MORE CLEARLY BECAUSE THAT, I WAS LIKE, WHERE DOES THE OTHER 10 POINTS COME FROM? OKAY.

I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE ELIGIBILITY AT A GLANCE TABLE.

UH, THE WORD FOR PROFIT COMES UP MANY TIMES, BUT THEN IN THE ELEVATE ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES, I DON'T SEE THAT FOR PROFIT, BUT THAT THERE IS A CHECK MARK, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE.

YES, THANK YOU.

SO, UM, I THINK WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THE ELIGIBILITY AT A GLANCE CHART, WE WERE TRYING TO USE THE SIMPLEST TERMS FOR A PERSON WHO MIGHT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS A BUSINESS AND LLC.

ALL THESE DIFFERENT IDENTIFIERS YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF, EITHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR A BUSINESS THAT YOU HAVE FORMED AND FOR PROFIT WAS THE WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MOST CLEARLY COMMUNICATE TO JUST PEOPLE AT LARGE.

HOW YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF CATEGORIZED HERE.

UM, IF IF YOU'RE FEELING LIKE THERE'S SOME LIKE DISCREPANCY ACROSS LIKE THE WAY THAT'S PHRASED, WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT BACK AND LOOK THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.

BUT THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE THIS, UM, ELIGIBILITY AT A GLANCE BE SORT OF LAYMAN'S TERM FOR SOMEBODY TO FIND THEMSELVES WITHIN IT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE, IT'S ALL OF US INDIRECTLY WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO WILL WE JUST, UM, DO SOME VERBIAGE IN THE ELEVATE SPECI SPECIFIC PAGES THAT ADDRESS THAT FOR-PROFITS ARE, JUST SO THAT IT'S CLEAR? YES, DEFINITELY.

UM, WE WILL LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME PARITY THERE AND THAT IT'S MENTIONED SO IT'S CLEAR.

ANYONE ELSE WITH ELEVATE? I DO WANT TO, UM, ONCE AGAIN, KUDOS TO YOU ALL FOR HEARING WHAT PEOPLE SAID AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE NEA RELIEF BONUS POINTS AND PULLING THOSE OUT.

I WANNA POINT OUT THAT IN THE CITY'S BUDGET, THERE IS A LINE ITEM FOR NEA RELIEF FOR PEOPLE WHO LOST IT.

UM, WE JUST NEED TO GET IT THROUGH, THROUGH THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS.

AND THEY, THE CITY, THE COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THERE'S A, THERE'S A DEFICIT THERE AND WANT TO FIND A WAY TO RECTIFY THAT SHORTFALL.

SO IT IS IN THE BUDGET.

MY ONLY OTHER REQUEST IS IN VERBIAGE, INSTEAD OF SAYING THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER, IF WE CAN SAY THEY'RE COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GROW THE ECOSYSTEM AND DO OUR BEST.

AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE BETTER THAN EACH OTHER.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SHARE THE WEALTH.

SO IF WE CAN CHANGE OUR VERBIAGE TO COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING IF THAT'S OKAY.

YES, MR. GRAY.

UM, I JUST, SOMETIMES I FEEL AS IF SOME OF THE ARTISTIC SENSIBILITIES OF THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE ARTS PRODUCING ALL OF THE THINGS WE DO IN THE ARTS FOR DECADES, WHEN SOMETHING, WHEN WE ARE ARTISTS, SOMETHING LIKE ONE WORD CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

AND IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE LAUGHS.

I JUST WANNA ADD THAT IT IS, IT'S DISHEARTENING TO SEE THAT YOU MAY NOT FEEL, YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT THAT'S MAKING A REFLECTION ON THOSE OF US THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE GUIDELINES AND SUPPORT FOR.

[02:55:01]

IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE HOW YOU SAY SOMETHING AND RESPOND TO THESE THINGS THAT ARE JUST NUMBERS.

PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT.

AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW MUCH WORK HAS GONE INTO IT.

YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED YOUR BUTT OFF.

I KNOW YOU HAVE, BUT PLEASE DON'T.

IT CAN BE JUST ONE WORD.

THAT ONE WORD CAN MAKE A REALLY, REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE.

IT REALLY CAN.

SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THAT SOMETIMES.

THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK.

AS A FELLOW ARTIST WHO ALSO DOES WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, I WAS JUST LAUGHING BECAUSE VERBIAGE IS IMPORTANT.

I'VE READ THESE GUIDELINES LITERALLY A THOUSAND TIMES.

I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS THOUSANDS OF TIMES.

I'M SURE IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.

OKAY, WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT.

PUNITIVE, THANK YOU.

TRYING TO FIND SOME LIGHTHEARTEDNESS, BUT I APPRECIATE NO, I'M SURE, I'M SURE.

AND I RESPECT YOU FOR THAT.

I RESPECT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, FOR, UH, MORGAN, FOR THE STAFF BRIEFING? UH, COMMISSIONER MVA.

'CAUSE WE DIDN'T, DID I LIKE SPACE OUT AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT NEXUS? WE DID.

I DID NOT ASK ABOUT NEXUS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SCHMUCK.

SO WE CAN ASK , UM, SIMILAR, SLIGHTLY CONFUSED ABOUT OUR FOLKS BECAUSE IT SAYS AWARD ASKS ARE BASED ON PROPOSED ARTS PROJECT.

THERE'S 5,000 OR 10,000, BUT IT'S GONNA GO BY HIGHEST SCORING APPLICATIONS.

SO ARE, DOES EVERYBODY APPLY FOR 10,000 OR DO YOU CHOOSE 5,000 OR 10,000? IN WHICH CASE HOW DOES THE HIGHEST SCORING THING UP DECIDE WHETHER YOU'RE GETTING 10 OR FIVE? I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING THAT OUT.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

'CAUSE ORIGINALLY WE HAD THREE FUNDING LEVELS IN NEXUS AND IT WAS BASED ON THE PROJECT.

AND THEN OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, UM, IT CHANGED TO 5,000 OR 10,000 BASED ON SCORING.

AND I THINK THAT WE JUST NEGLECTED TO UPDATE THAT.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE A NOTE FOR THAT.

SO, SO EVERYONE IS APPLYING FOR 10 NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PROJECT SIZE IS.

THEY WILL BE AWARDED BASED ON SCORES, THE HIGHEST SCORING APPLICATIONS, RIGHT? WHEN THEY ALL GO IN A SPREADSHEET, THE TOP PERCENTAGE WILL GET $10,000 AND THEN THERE WILL BE A BREAKING POINT AND THE BOTTOM HALF WILL GET THE $5,000.

UM, SO THE 10,000 WILL GO TO THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE NEXUS APPLICATION, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ONLY FIVE QUESTIONS.

IT'S A, IT'S A VERY SHORT APPLICATION.

AND THEN ONE OTHER THING ON THAT IS, AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, BUT IT FEELS PARTICULARLY IF IT'S BREAKING DOWN BASED ON HIGHEST SCORE AND IF YOU'VE NEVER RECEIVED FUNDING, YOU'RE AUTOMATIC.

LIKE IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING IN THE PAST, YOU'RE GONNA GET A ZERO OUT OF 10 FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S 10% OF THE A HUNDRED POINTS.

THAT JUST FEELS LIKE THAT THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE IT'S PERPETUALLY I THINK IT'S AWESOME THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT NEW APPLICANTS, BUT PARTICULARLY IF GRANT AMOUNT IS BASED ON YOUR SCORE AND NOT THE PROJECT BUDGET, THAT FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUST KIND OF AUTOMATICALLY PRIVILEGING BRAND NEW APPLICANTS FOR GETTING THE HIGHEST AMOUNT.

SO I DON'T KNOW, IT JUST FEELS LIKE THAT COULD USE A LITTLE RETHINKING.

AND MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE IN THIS ROUND.

Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DO SO MUCH AT ONCE AND I APPRECIATE IT.

BUT IS ACTUALLY HAVING, ESPECIALLY FOR, FOR NEXUS AND ELEVATE, LIKE ESPECIALLY FOR NEXUS TO HAVE PROJECT BUDGETS LIKE THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE VARIATION BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO REALLY DO NEED, THEY'RE TRYING TO LIKE PULL TOGETHER THE LAST $2,500 TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND THEY COULD REALLY USE THAT AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED $10,000, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD SURELY COME UP WITH $10,000 TO DO STUFF WITH.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE SUCH LIMITED FUNDS, IF WE COULD IN THE FUTURE CONSIDER HAVING LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE GRADIENT IN THE AVAILABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL GRANTS, THAT THAT MIGHT HELP US DO MORE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES.

ANYTHING ELSE ON NEXUS? ANY OVERALL QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF BRIEFING, UH, THAT MORGAN GAVE US? COMMISSIONER ZIMAN, ARE BUDGET SHEETS GOING TO BE SUBMITTED? THERE'S THE INTAKE FORM AND THEN WILL BUDGETS BE INCLUDED IN THE MORE NUANCED PORTIONS OF THE APPLICATION? FOR, FOR NEXUS SPECIFICALLY? WELL MORE, MORE FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS, JUST YES.

IBEL, YES, I BELIEVE BUDGETS AND THEN FOR NEX FOR NEXUS, I DON'T BELIEVE WE ASK FOR BUDGETS WITH NEXUS, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE DO FOR THE OTHER PROGRAMS. YEAH, I'M GONNA DO A DOUBLE CHECK AND IF WHAT I SAID IS NOT TRUE, I WILL REACH OUT AND LET YOU ALL KNOW.

OKAY, COOL.

I DIDN'T GET, 'CAUSE IF IT'S TIERED AND THE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GONNA BE STANDARDIZED FOR ALL THE NEXUS BITS.

SO WE TRIED TO BRING NEXUS DOWN, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE YEAR MINIMUM EXPERIENCE, ENTRY POINT, TRY TO CREATE AN AVENUE FOR FOLKS WHO REALLY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE AND NEED SOMETHING TO GET OFF

[03:00:01]

THE GROUND.

AND THEN ALSO, UH, INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BEING ABLE TO GET A HIGHER AWARD AMOUNT IN THE ELEVATE GRANT UP TO 30,000.

SO WE WERE TRYING TO CREATE A GOOD SPREAD FOR THEM, BUT UM, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

YEAH, NO, I I THINK I'M REMEMBERING BACK FROM PREVIOUS ITERATIONS THAT THERE WERE JUST AS MANY REQUIREMENTS FOR 5,000 AS 30,000.

AND SO JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT WILL BE THE LIFT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES THAT ARE APPLYING FOR A LOWER, A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER AMOUNT OF MONEY.

ARE WE GONNA KIND OF PUT THEM THROUGH THOSE HOOPS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH LAST TIME? BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE SIMPLIFIED IT.

UNDERSTOOD.

AND I'LL JUST DOUBLE CHECK AND LIKE I SAID, IF WHAT I SAID HERE IS NOT TRUE, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP AND WE'LL BE SURE TO LOOK INTO THEM.

GREAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, COMMISSIONER SMALL BLOCK AND THEN COMMISSIONER CNI.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CHENEY.

WHEN, UM, I KNOW WE SAW THE LIKE PROBABLE STAGGERING, UH, OF WHEN THE GRANTS ARE GONNA BE RELEASED.

DO WE, CAN YOU, CAN YOU GIVE US THE LATEST, UH, PROJECTED TIMELINE ON WHEN ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK FROM THIS UPCOMING ROUND, PARTICULARLY OF ELEVATE THE ONES THAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET OUT QUICKLY.

I CAN FOR SURE GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TO THAT NEXT MONTH.

UM, I'LL FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE AS WE WORK THROUGH IT WITH THE LONG CENTER.

UM, BUT I BELIEVE THE GOAL IS BY THE END OF FEBRUARY.

$5 MILLION BUDGET BECAUSE THEIR, UM, ACCESS TO RESOURCES LIKE GRANT WRITERS IS GOING TO BE STARKLY DIFFERENT.

UM, SO SOMETHING ELSE THAT I SAW THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, UM, FOR ELEVATE THAT WAS NEW WERE, UM, THE BUDGET, UM, BRACKET.

SO LIKE, YOU KNOW, OPERATING BUDGET OF UNDER 50 AWARD UP TO 30 50, YOU KNOW, 50,001 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND, A HUNDRED THOUSAND ONE TO 299, AND THEN GREATER THAN $300,000, UM, WHICH I FIND CONCERNING.

'CAUSE IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE THESE 50 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DIFFERENCES.

AND THEN YOU GET TO 300,000 AND THEN THERE'S REALLY NOT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A $300,000 BUDGET, WHICH WOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED A SMALL NONPROFIT, UM, TO LIKE A $3 MILLION BUDGET OR A $10 MILLION BUDGET, OR A $7 MILLION BUDGET.

AND SO THE $300,000 BUDGET IS STILL BEING PUT IN A CATEGORY WITH A $7 MILLION BUDGET.

UM, SO I, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE RATIONALE OF THOSE DIFFERENT BUCKETS.

I KNOW THAT THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS DOES IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN THIS, WHICH I FEEL IS A BIT MORE EQUITABLE THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE THEIR DIFFERENT, UM, SCORING, UM, BUCKETS BASED ON BUDGET SIZE.

SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? SURE.

SO WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THIS MODEL, UM, THE FORMER VERSION YOU SAW LAST TIME WE CAME TO PRESENT INCLUDED AN OPERATING, LIKE A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR OPERATING BUDGET AS LIKE THE CAP.

AND SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT MODEL, WHICH WE SAW AT SIMILAR, UM, AT PEER CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, WE WERE DOING BENCHMARKING.

UM, WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SAN ANTONIO 'CAUSE THEY'RE ONE OF OUR CLOSEST GEOGRAPHICALLY.

UM, AND ALSO A CITY THAT'S SIMILAR TO OURS.

THEY, UM, HAVE A SIMILAR MODEL AND I THINK THEY MIGHT GO UP TO 500.

IT'S LIKE $500,000 OR HIGHER.

UM, SO WE JUST WORKED THROUGH A FEW VERSIONS OF THIS AND GOT FEEDBACK AND WE REMOVED THE OPERATING PERCENTAGE CAP, UM, LARGELY ON REQUEST FROM THIS COMMISSION AND FROM OUR STAFF AND FROM SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WROTE IN, UM, IN RESPONSE WHEN WE POSTED THE GUIDELINES.

AND SO WE WERE TRYING TO JUST CREATE THE THRESHOLD THAT MATCHED FOLKS WHO HAVE APPLIED WITH US BEFORE TO AGAIN, HELP THEM COMPETE, UH, WITH SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, BUT WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING IS PER PERHAPS YOU THINK IT'S TOO LOW OR MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A CAP ON, LIKE IF YOUR BUDGET IS ABOVE CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU WOULDN'T, YOU SHOULDN'T BE A PART OF THIS, UM, AS POSSIBLE OPTIONS.

I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THAT.

LIKE I THINK THAT ANYBODY, SO I THINK ULTIMATELY WITH THRIVE, YOU, YOU REALLY HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THRIVE IS FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO GET TO INSTITUTIONAL STATUS.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE THE LEADING LANGUAGE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THRIVE WAS FOUNDED ON.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT IT'S STILL FOUNDED ON, RIGHT? ELEVATE IS MERELY A PROJECT GRANT AND IT, IT'S CONFUSING TO FOLKS BECAUSE YOU CAN USE, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS FUNDS, BUT OPERATIONS IS A PART OF A PROJECT.

IT'S PART OF ANY PROJECT, BUT IT'S FOR A LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT YOU WANNA DO, RIGHT? SO I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS IF YOU HAVE A $5 MILLION BUDGET OR A $50,000 BUDGET.

WHAT I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IS PUTTING AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A $300,000 BUDGET BEING IN THE SAME BUCKET AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A

[03:05:01]

UM, THEIR STAFFING CAPABILITIES.

THAT ABILITY TO DELIVER QUESTION THAT EVERYBODY HAD QUALMS WITH, WITH MYSELF INCLUDED, IS GOING TO BE STARKLY DIFFERENT.

AND SO JUST, I WORRY ABOUT THE JUDGING CRITERIA OF YOU, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY A ORGANIZATION LIKE FUTURE FRONT THAT HAS A $400,000 BUDGET BEING PITTED AGAINST AN ORGANIZATION, UM, THAT HAS A MUCH LARGER BUDGET BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY, RIGHT? AND LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH, WITH REVIEWING MANY, MANY GRANTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER.

I'M NOT SAYING I KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK EITHER OF THOSE THINGS ARE THE RIGHT ANSWER IN MY OPINION.

LIKE I, I'M JUST NOT A FAN OF BUDGET CAPS IN GENERAL.

I THINK IT'S WEIRD.

UNDERSTOOD.

UM, BUT, UH, BUT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WE, WE LOOKED AT PEER CITY MODELS WHEN WE DID OUR BENCHMARKING AND ADAPTED IT TO THE POOL OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND WE'LL LOOK AT THAT.

COOL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MORGAN REGARDING THE DRAFT GUIDELINES? UH, COMMISSIONER, MAYOR CHARLOTTE, BUT JUST A QUICK CLARIFICATION.

I I JUST HAD THAT, SO, SO, SO WITHIN CERTAIN BUDGETS, ARE THEY COMPETING WITHIN THEIR OWN BUCKETS? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, WHEN WE BUILD OUR PANELS, UH, THE PANELS WILL LOOK AT APPLICANTS THAT FALL INTO EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL BUCKETS.

DEFINITELY TELL ME EVERYTHING.

COMMISSIONER GRAY.

I HAD A SCHEDULING QUESTION WITH REGARD TO, UH, THE, UH, WHAT AM I THINKING, FEBRUARY IS THAT ANNOUNCEMENT OR HOPEFUL FUNDING? I THINK OUR GOAL, AND WE WERE, WE WERE UM, KIND OF WORKING BACKWARDS FROM LIKE WHAT WOULD BE OUR GOAL TO HAVE MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

AND OUR HOPE WAS, WE KNOW DECEMBER IS KIND OF A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY, RIGHT? SO WE WERE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH PANELS IN JANUARY AND THEN HAVE THOSE DECISIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, EARLY FEBRUARY, WORK THROUGH THE APPEALS PROCESS AND THEN HAVE FINALIZED CONTRACTS, UM, PREPARED BY THE END OF FEBRUARY AND THEN GET MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

SO WE WERE TRYING TO WORK BACKWARDS FROM THAT TO SEE HOW IT COULD BE POSSIBLE.

NO, THAT MAKES SENSE.

WE'LL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE BUILD IT OUT FURTHER WITH THE LONG CENTER AND AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE CITY COUNCIL DATE, UM, THAT WE'RE AIMING FOR, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 25TH.

YEAH, I KNOW THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BEEN TOUGH 'CAUSE IT KEEPS PUTTING PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE, ALTHOUGH JULY'S NOT GONNA BE EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE TIME TO DO A GRANT.

UH, IT DOES KIND OF SHIFT BACK TO THAT TRADITIONAL, YOU GOTTA RENT A VENUE, YOU GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IF, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH A GALLERY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER ZIMAN, UM, THE INTAKE FORM THAT EVERYBODY WILL FILL OUT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK IF YOU'RE MAKING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THRIVE AND ELEVATE? DO I APPLY FOR ELEVATE? DO I APPLY FOR THRIVE IF I APPLY FOR THRIVE? SURE.

HAVE I MISSED OUT ON MY OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK? OKAY.

TELL ME.

DEFINITELY.

SO THE INTAKE FORM IS, IS REALLY BASIC.

IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE WHO YOU ARE, LIKE ALL THE FACETS OF YOU AS AN ARTIST, AS A CREATOR, AS A PERSON, AS A BUSINESS.

IT'S BASICALLY JUST YOUR PROFILE.

IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR PROFILE.

AND THEN THE NEXT STEP WILL BE ELIGIBILITY WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

UM, AND I'M GONNA LOOK TO MELISSA BECAUSE UH, I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE CONVERSATION ON BUILDING THAT OUT.

SO I WILL LET HER SPEAK TO THIS.

UH, THANK YOU.

WITHIN THE INTAKE FORM, YOU ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SELF-SELECT A PROGRAM OF INTEREST.

UM, AND WE HAVE DESCRIPTIONS ON THOSE PROGRAMS. AND BASED ON WHAT YOU ANSWER IN THE ELIGIBILITY FORM, WE CAN FURTHER CLARIFY IF YOU ARE IN FACT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THAT PROGRAM.

SO IN REGARD TO EVALUATION, THE PREVIOUS ROUND WE HAD, AND WE FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH IT, WHEREAS LIKE IF YOU CHECKED BOTH BOXES, YOU WERE ALSO EVALUATED FOR BOTH PROBLEMS, SI BOTH PROGRAMS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

AND WE FOUND THAT A LOT IF YOU DIDN'T GET THRIVE, THEY KIND OF THREW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER.

AND FOLKS THAT WERE TRYING TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE AND VIABLE FOR ELEVATE ENDED UP BEING NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, SORT OF DISCARDED FROM THE CONSIDERATION PILE.

WILL THE, HOW WILL THE PANELS SORT OF ROLL OUT SO THAT THEY'RE EVALUATED FOR THRIVE AND THEN IF THEY DO OR DON'T GET IT, THEY THEN ARE INCLUDED IN THE EVALUATIONS FOR ELEVATE? SO THE INTAKE FORM IS ONE THAT WAS DEVELOPED, UM, WITH INPUT FROM OUR ENTIRE STAFF.

'CAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF, UH, OF OUR PROGRAMS. THE NEXT STEP IS THAT ELIGIBILITY FORM AND THAT'S WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL TEAMS WILL DIVE IN FURTHER.

UM, TAKING THAT HINDSIGHT INTO CONSIDERATION TO

[03:10:01]

BUILD THAT ELIGIBILITY FORM SO THAT IT CAN BETTER INFORM A, A, A GOOD OUTPUT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, WE'RE STILL IN DRAFT MODE IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHAT THAT ELIGIBILITY FORM LOOKS LIKE FOR EACH OF OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. YEAH.

LAY IT OUT.

ME, JESUS.

UH, SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR, UH, QUESTION CORRECTLY, UH, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A JOINT LIKE THRIVE SLASH ELEVATE APPLICATION.

EACH UH, DIFFERENT FUNDING PROGRAM IS GONNA HAVE ITS OWN APPLICATION, UH, FORM.

SO THE INTAKE FORM, UH, LIKE MELISSA WAS TALKING ABOUT WILL HELP YOU DETERMINE, WELL, LIKE MORGAN WAS SAYING, WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL, GIVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, THEN YOU FILL OUT THE ELIGIBILITY, THEY'LL TELL YOU WHICH ONES YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR.

UM, AS A REMINDER, THRIVE, UM, IS IN THE BEGINNING OF ITS TWO YEAR PROGRAM, SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE LAUNCHING, UH, THIS TIME AROUND, BUT IN THE FUTURE MM-HMM .

UH, THE CURRENT PLAN, UM, IT CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.

BUT THAT EACH PROGRAM HAS HAS ITS OWN APPLICATION.

SO RIGHT.

I GET, I GET, I GET THE APPLICATION PORTION.

I GUESS MY QUESTION COMES AROUND THE DISTINCTION IF I'M ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH THRIVE AND ELEVATE.

AND NOW, AND THIS ITERATION, WE DON'T HAVE THRIVE SORT OF UP AGAINST ELEVATE AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THE PREVIOUS ROUND IT WAS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

DIFFERE YEAH.

YOU REMEMBERING.

AND THAT WAS, I'LL SAY THAT WAS A WELL-INTENTIONED EFFORT TO SAY HOW CAN WE TOTALLY GET OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE TO FILL OUT LESS APPLICATIONS? IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

IT WAS, YEAH.

AND PERHAPS WE WEREN'T ABLE TO EXECUTE IT AS WELL AS WE HAD HOPED.

MAYBE WE'LL REFER THAT LATER.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD ONLY BE LEARNED THROUGH, THROUGH DOING IT.

RIGHT? I MEAN, WE CALLED IT A PILOT VERY INTENTIONALLY.

THIS IS A PILOT, WE'RE GONNA TRY IT.

LET'S SEE IF THIS ACTUALLY SAVES TIME AND ENERGY.

LET'S SEE IF IT CREATES PAIN POINTS.

AND BOTH WERE TRUE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THE PAST CONTEXT IN MIND ALONG WITH ALL OF THIS BEAUTIFULLY MIND DATA THAT WE HAVE FRESH SO THAT WE'RE NOT FALLING INTO THE SAME PITFALLS OR MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT DOWN THE ROAD.

'CAUSE WE FOUND, WE SAW STATISTICALLY THAT IF YOU HAD CHECKED BOTH BOXES, IT, YOU KIND EITHER GOT THRIVE OR WERE VIABLE AND THEN IT PANELISTS FOR, I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE EXPERIENCE, BUT IT, IT DIDN'T ROLL OUT THE WAY WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO.

AND SO JUST MAKING SURE FOR THE NEXT ROUND WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE TWO PROGRAMS ROLLING OUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT THOSE PANELS ARE HAPPENING COMPLETELY SEPARATELY, THRIVE SHOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN FIRST SINCE THAT'S THE LARGER AMOUNT.

THEN IF YOU DON'T GET THRIVE, YOU'RE THEN CARRIED OVER TO THE ELEVATE PANELS, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE THRIVE PANELS.

GUCCI COOL.

JESUS KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THAT ISN'T WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THOUGH.

THAT SOUNDS DIFFICULT, BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT, UM, HOW THESE PROGRAMS WILL WORK.

HOW, I MEAN, I'M HYPOTHESIZING HERE, RIGHT? BUT I THINK THE THING THAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE ONE PANEL, THE SAME PANEL EVALUATING A SINGLE NONPROFIT OR A GROUP OF NONPROFITS FOR, FOR TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION IN THAT SAME TIME AND PLACE.

AND THE REASON I DIDN'T, MY LITTLE RAISED EYEBROWS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THEN, UM, IS THAT PERSON WOULD'VE TO FILL OUT TWO DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICATION'S JUST GONNA PORT OVER, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT .

BUT I THINK THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK IF, IF I'M SOMEBODY THAT IF I'M AN ARTS ORGANIZATION YOU CAN COPY PASTE A LOT OF IT.

SAY AGAIN HEIDI, SO YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE A LOT OF IT.

BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFERENT GRANTS.

BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE ALSO SAID THAT THERE ARE LIKE VERY SPECIFIC NUANCED QUESTIONS FOR EACH APPLICATION.

AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO ASK AN APPLICANT TO BE SPECIFIC WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

MM-HMM.

THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT GRANTS.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY FAIR TO MAKE SOMEBODY CHOOSE OR TO SAY IT'S TOO CHALLENGING TO ADJUDICATE TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OR TO SEQUENCE IT OUT.

I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BODY OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ONLY APPLYING FOR THRIVE, SO THEN MM-HMM .

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? MM-HMM SO IT CAN BE SEQUENCED IN A WAY THAT IT IS INTENTIONAL.

I DO RECALL JESUS, YOU SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT THAT BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE, IF YOU DON'T GET THRIVE AND THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS HAVE LOTS OF PROJECTS THAT WOULD WANT, AND YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PROGRAM FOR THEM, THAT OBVIOUSLY ELEVATE NEEDS TO BE THERE FOR THEM.

UM, AND THAT IT WOULD, THEY WOULD MAKE THE CHOICE OF WHICH ONE TO TAKE.

I REMEMBER YOU SAY, IS THAT, AM I REMEMBERING THAT CORRECTLY? UH, THAT, UH, WOULD BE AN OPTION.

I THINK WE KIND OF JUST, UM, BECAUSE THE THRIVE AWARD WAS, UH, HIGHER, WE JUST UM, UM, ASSUMED THAT, JUST ASSUMED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THAT BOARD, WANT THE, THE LARGER AWARD AMOUNT.

CORRECT.

OKAY, GREAT.

THERE, THERE'S ALSO THE ADDED LAYER OF LIVE MUSIC FUND.

UM, 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T RECEIVE A CULTURAL FUNDING AWARD IN THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.

RIGHT? SO IN YEAH.

THE DOUBLE DIPPING.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

WE WORK WITH THE INDIVIDUALS TO SEE WHAT, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU LIKE.

MAYBE THAT'S, I'M REMEMBERING LAST YEAR, AT LEAST WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT, THE, THE APPLICATION DEADLINES AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINES THAT THEY, BECAUSE I REMEMBER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A RECIPIENT THAT'S LIKE, WELL I GOT THIS AND I GOT THIS AND SO I HAVE TO KIND OF MAKE THE CALL BY THIS DATE.

I JUST, THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET CRYSTAL CLARITY ON IF YOU APPLY, IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH THRIVE AND ELEVATE AND YOU APPLY, ARE THEY STAGGERED AS SUCH? SO THAT IF YOU APPLY FOR THRIVE AND DO NOT GET IT, YOU CAN STILL APPLY FOR ELEVATE? THEY WILL BE OPEN AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.

SO THERE'S THE ACCEPTANCE DEADLINE THAT GIVES US, YEAH.

GIVES US THE WIGGLE ROOM.

I'M NOT CHAIR, BUT SCHOCK DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? YEAH,

[03:15:01]

UM, SO IF YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE I SHOWED, SO YOU JUST APPLY FOR BOTH, YOU WOULD APPLY FOR BOTH AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY TO BE OFFERED BOTH, YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO PICK WHICH ONE.

ALL PANELS WERE MULTIDISCIPLINARY.

AND MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE COULD THINK ABOUT STAGGERING THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THAT THERE IS, YOU'RE NOT APPLYING FOR TWO THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK THAT JUST SOUNDS LIKE HELL FOR APPLICANTS AND FOR YOU GUYS IN EVALUATING EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME.

YEAH, WE WOULD, WE WOULD BE REALLY OPEN TO ANY IDEAS AROUND THAT.

I'LL SAY IT, IT'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE TO KIND OF IDEATE ON THE BEST LAUNCH CADENCE BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE OPTIONS ARE EITHER ALL AT ONCE OR BACK TO BACK AND SAY YOU ACCEPT AN ELEVATE AWARD AND IT'S A 12 MONTH CONTRACT, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO STAGGER THRIVE IN SUCH A WAY IF YOU WANTED THOSE PEOPLE TO BE ELIGIBLE.

LIKE IT'S JUST KIND OF HARD TO, TO MATH THE CALENDAR TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE FOR PEOPLE.

UM, BUT WE ARE VERY OPEN TO FEEDBACK ON THAT BECAUSE, UH, IT'S NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE.

AND, AND I'M SURE THAT WE'LL KEEP IMPROVING THAT.

AND SINCE WE'RE ON PANELS, IS ELEVATE GOING TO BE EVALUAT? I SAW THAT THE PANELISTS ARE LIKE, IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT EVALUATING IN, IN KIND OF THEIR DISCIPLINE OF, OF UH, EXPERTISE.

SO WILL THERE BE DISCIPLINARY SPECIFIC PANELS FOR ELEVATE AND THEN ADD ON? SO I JUST ASK IT ALL AT ONCE AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GOING TO PANEL REVIEW? OR, OR IS IT JUST EXTERNAL REVIEW OUTSIDE REVIEWERS FOR NEXUS? SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PANELS FOR NEXUS OR WE ARE, I WILL LET MORGAN ANSWER THE NEXUS PANEL QUESTION 'CAUSE SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THAT THAN I DO.

BUT I CAN SEE YOU BOTH AT EACH OTHER.

I'LL, I'LL TAKE, I'LL TAKE THE, THE SIMPLE ONE FIRST.

SO WE, UH, IT IS ESSENTIALLY, EXCUSE ME, IT IS ESSENTIALLY A PANEL FOR NEXUS.

IT'S JUST A SCALED DOWN PANEL BECAUSE IT'S FEWER, UM, NARRATIVE QUESTIONS AND IT'S GONNA BE A MUCH HIGHER APPLICANT POOL THAN OUR HIGHER LEVEL PROGRAMS. AND SO, UM, IT'LL BE MIRRORED AFTER THAT PROCESS WITH DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC FOLKS.

IT JUST WON'T BE LIVE STREAMED.

IT'LL BE KIND OF SCALED BACK AND IT'LL HAVE A SECONDARY, UH, REVIEW WITH INTERNAL STAFF.

AND THEN FOR THE ELEVATE PANELS AND, UH, DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC, UM, IT'S NOT EXACTLY DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC.

LIKE THOSE OF YOU WHO REMEMBER OUR OLD CORE FUNDING PROGRAMS WHERE WE HAD LIKE A THEATER SPECIFIC PANEL, A, YOU KNOW, FILM SPECIFIC PANEL.

UM, INSTEAD WHAT WE HAVE IS, UM, PER, AND I MAY GET THE, UM, EXACT NAMES, UM, ARE INCORRECT, BUT IT'S LIKE THE PERFORMING ARTS, UH, PANEL BASICALLY AND THE EXHIBITION ARTS PANEL.

SO VISUAL ARTS.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT A THIRD ONE FOR LIKE, ARTS SERVICE, ARTS EDUCATION.

AND SO, UM, PRE-PILOT PROGRAMS, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC, LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEATER, UH, FILM, DANCE, ET CETERA.

UM, PILOT PROGRAMS. WE DID MORE OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PANEL.

SO NOW THIS IS A BIT OF A HYBRID WHERE IT'S, UM, AGAIN, PERFORMING ARTS.

SO YOU'LL HAVE THEATER, DANCE, YOU KNOW, MUSIC, UM, IN, UH, ONE SET OF PANELS AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE MORE YOUR EXHIBITIONS OR YOUR VISUAL ARTS, UH, FILM, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UH, BUT IT'S STILL SOMEWHAT MULTIDISCIPLINARY IN THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE PERFORMING ARTS PANEL, WE'LL BE SURE THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, DANCERS, UH, THEATER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, UH, RECOMMENDED.

HOPEFULLY THAT MAKES SENSE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, WE'RE GONNA CLOSE DISCUSSION.

MOVING TO

[9. Discussion and possible action on recommendation of the updated ACME funding guidelines. ]

ITEM NUMBER NINE, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE FOUR, POSSIBLY FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION THAT COULD ACTUALLY VOTE.

I AM GOING TO MAKE THE SUGGESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN EVEN MAKE A VOTE ON THIS, THAT WE DO A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THOSE FOUR TO FIVE COMMISSIONERS SAYING THAT WE SUPPORT THE ACME RECOMMENDATION SO THAT ACME CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT IN THEIR BACKUP.

THEN AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, WE TALK TO LEGAL AND DO A VOTE AT THAT POINT THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO INTO THEIR BACKUP.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT I JUST SAID? IT MAKES SENSE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LEGAL.

I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT IS EITHER, BUT I, IT'S NOT LEGAL TO DO A, A LETTER REPORT WHO COULD JUST SEND OUR INDIVIDUAL

[03:20:01]

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I I WAS GONNA SAY, I THINK THAT'S THE MOVE HEIDI IS LIKE, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY LAYERS AND IT'S VERY CONFUSING AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN ON FELIPE AND I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD THE LONGEST AT THIS POINT, WHICH FEELS VERY STRANGE.

BUT WE USED TO JUST GET IN THERE AND IF WE, IF THERE WAS A DIRECT CONFLICT, CONFLICT OF INTEREST, OR IF WE NEEDED TO RECUSE OR ABSTAIN, WE COULD, BUT THERE COULD STILL BE A UNIFIED MOVEMENT.

LIKE WE DIDN'T, WE WEREN'T OSTRACIZED FROM THE PROCESS, WHICH IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IS HAPPENING NOW.

SO THE DISTINCTION IN LEGAL LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE IT JUST WASN'T ENFORCED WHEN WE IN THE OLDEN DAYS, BUT IT JUST FEELS VERY CONFUSING.

AND SO I THINK INSTEAD OF SITTING HERE FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK, THEN WE SHOULD JUST INDIVIDUALLY WRITE TO OUR COUNSEL PEOPLE A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO SAY, YES, WE SUPPORT THESE GUIDELINES, OR THIS IS WHY, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S A, A CLEAR PATH FORWARD WITH US UNIFIED, NAMELY, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL HAVE CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.

LIKE, I DON'T CURRENTLY SERVE ON A, AN OFFICIAL BOARD, BUT I'M ON AN ADVISORY BOARD AND LIKE, YOU'RE NOT ON A BOARD, BUT IF YOU'RE LIKE PERFORMING WITH CERTAIN THEATERS, DOES THAT CREATE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? SO LIKE, THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THE ARTS COMMISSION IS THAT WE'RE VERY INTENTIONALLY SELECTED BY OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE INGRAINED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE ARE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD.

SO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE, THESE, YOU KNOW, BUMPERS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE CUTTING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SEE THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES.

SO IT'S JUST LIKE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ACTUAL LEGAL PARAMETERS LIKE WILL OUT OUTLINE FOR US, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE, LIKE IF THAT'S NOW BEING A HARD LINE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY TO COMMUNICATE SUPPORT.

RIGHT? SO IT JUST FEELS VERY LIKE THIS.

SO ANY CLARITY IS WELCOME FROM STAFF, BUT I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT FORMAL MOTION WE CAN TAKE IF WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A QUORUM THAT CAN MAKE A VOTE.

SO IS IT LEGAL TO DO A NON QUORUM LETTER OF SUPPORT TO COUNSEL FOR THE GUIDELINES? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT AS A BODY TO DO THAT, TO MAKE A MOTION.

AND IF, IF HALF OF US CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE, IT'S JUST LIKE IT'S ALL TIED IN.

RIGHT? MORGAN, ARE YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING? YES.

I, I'LL FIRST SAY I AM NOT THE EXPERT ON, UM, THE NUANCES OF TEXAS OPENMEDIA ACTS OR THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS IT RELATES TO RECUSALS.

I DID RECENTLY DO MY, UM, MY LIAISON TRAINING.

UM, BUT THE, THE FOCUS WAS REALLY HEAVILY ON LIKE US LEANING INTO THE COMMISSIONS TO BE THE EXPERTS ON THE RULES.

UM, AND SO I WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER IF I HAD TO GUESS.

I WOULD SAY I DON'T THINK WITH THAT, THE MAKEUP OF WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

AND I'LL ALSO SAY, I THINK IF YOU WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, IT HAS TO BE AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND NOT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMISSION.

UM, IS WHAT I THINK I KNOW, BUT I'M NOT THE EXPERT THAT JUST, I'M SORRY.

THAT JUST FEELS BANANAS.

'CAUSE IT'S A PART OF OUR OBLIGATION TO REPORT TO OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE.

HOLD ON.

I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION THOUGH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

CAN, CAN WE WRITE A NON QUORUM LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE GUIDELINES TO THE COUNCIL? SHELBY MITCHELL, OUR LIAISON FOR THE MUSIC COMMISSION IS WRITING ME TO SAY SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT WE CAN, AND I WOULD, UH, TRUST HER OPINION MORE THAN MINE.

SO I WILL GO WITH NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE CAN WRITE INDIVIDUAL LETTERS AS OUR COUNCIL PERSON'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ARTS COMMISSION ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATION.

THAT'S OUR WHOLE JOB.

SO I, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THAT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED.

WE CAN'T SAY THE WHOLE COMMISSION FEELS THIS WAY, BUT YOU CAN SAY ME AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORTS OR DOES NOT SUPPORT THE GUIDELINES AS WRITTEN.

ABSOLUTELY.

I ALSO JUST, OH, SORRY.

I JUST WANNA REMIND, LIKE WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED LETTERS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILMAN ILLA HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU GUYS EXPLICITLY SAYING LIKE, LET US DO OUR JOB.

RIGHT? AND NOT YOU GUYS, BUT I'M SAYING LIKE, THEY'RE TRUSTING US TO COME TO THEM AS THEIR DELEGATES.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR ROLE IS.

PEOPLE THAT GOT THE MONEY BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS ON ONE SHEET ON LIST AND IT WAS APPROVED.

GOES ALL THE WAY BACK FULL CIRCLE.

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MOVE THROUGH THIS SPACE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR SOMEBODY WHO MAY WANT TO APPLY FOR FUNDING OR MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.

SO THERE NEED, WE NEED THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WELL, I DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION FROM LEGAL, I JUST NEED IT WRITTEN DOWN.

WELL, FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES, I THINK YOU'LL REMEMBER, YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS TOO.

THE ARTS COMMISSION USED TO BE SO CLOSE TO ALL OF THIS, AND I'M GLAD IT'S NOT THAT CLOSE, THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION ACTUALLY VOTED ON THE

[03:25:01]

AND AT THAT TIME, IF SOMEBODY WAS INVOLVED WITH ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY RECUSE THEMSELVES THEMSELVES.

THEY WERE ALSO WALK OUT.

EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING SLI, IT'S LIKE I REMEMBER HAVING TO WALK OUT, I WAS PACKING OVER HERE, BUT I COULDN'T REMEMBER IF THE DISCUSSION STUFF, BUT DISCUSSIONS WERE, IT WAS EVERYBODY.

SO LIKE, FOR SOMEBODY, 'CAUSE I DO REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION THAT I MAY OR MAY NOT ASK FOR FUNDING.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL MY COUNCIL MEMBER ANYTHING BECAUSE I'M GONNA RECRUIT RECUSE MYSELF.

I THINK IT'S 'CAUSE I KNOW I'M THE PERSON THAT'S YEAH.

I JUST KNOW THAT.

SO, AND A FIDUCIARY BOARD, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT THAT'S ALSO, AND OUR BYLAWS SAY IT, THAT'S OUR DECISION.

AND WE HAVE TO TRUST OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS OR OUR COMMISSION MEMBERS BECAUSE I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S, IT'S GONNA HAVE TO GO TO A WHOLE NOTHER LEGAL THING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE LITTLE THINGS WE'RE DOING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS STUFF HAPPENS ON ANY COMMISSION AND BOARD AROUND THE WORLD.

SO WE DO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO WHAT I WILL DO IN THE THE MEANTIME IS THAT I WILL WRITE A NON, I'LL SEND IT THROUGH JESUS ELLA, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T, WHO HAVE INDICATED THEY DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT WHAT, WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT THE GUIDELINES.

COPY ACME.

SO THAT ACME HAS THAT INFORMATION FOR THEIR BACKUP SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY, WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO CAN EXPRESS AN OPINION FEEL LIKE.

UM, I, AND THEN NEXT, NEXT MONTH WILL HAVE THE FULL PRESENTATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT THE INS AND OUTS ARE.

I THINK WHILE WE'RE AT THIS, TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HELP YOU MAINTAIN THE SCHEDULE YOU'RE ON.

IF YOU CAN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M SAYING HERE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'RE UNDERSTAND THE INTENT.

LET'S SAY YOU DIDN'T GET WHAT YOU NEEDED TODAY.

WHEN IS OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GIVE YOU SOME ANSWERS SO THAT HOPEFULLY THE THING MOVES ALONG THE WAY WE NEED TO WITHOUT BEING DISRUPTED.

I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK AHEAD AND SOLVE FOR WHAT YOU NEED.

SO WE'RE NOT WAITING ANOTHER MONTH TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I'LL SAY WHATEVER WE'RE ABLE TO GET FROM YOU IS WHAT, WHAT WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE.

WHETHER IT'S THIS, UM, SUGGESTION FROM CHAIR HOUSTON, UM, UH, WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE TIMELINE THAT WE PRESENTED.

UM, WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO ALL THOSE, UM, DATES FOR PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING GOING TO COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 25TH.

THAT'S OUR GOAL.

SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP PUSHING ALONG AND AS WE ARE ABLE TO ADD IN SUPPORT, UM, WE OF COURSE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING TO, TO TRY AND HIT THOSE GOALS THAT WE HAVE AS A DEPARTMENT.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT YOU SAID WAS THAT, THAT IF, IF WE, IF WE CAN VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING, IF WE FIGURE OUT THAT THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN DO A VOTE, WE CAN STILL DO THE VOTE.

IT JUST MIGHT NOT GET INTO BACKUP.

TRUE.

COMMISSIONER GRAY.

I THINK MAYBE A, A FURTHER AGENDA, WHOEVER, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE NEXT MONTH.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS.

MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE CITYWIDE.

WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR A COMMISSION? REMEMBER IF WE CAN'T ANSWER IT IN OUR OWN BYLAWS.

BUT THEN I HAVE A BIG QUESTION FOR YOU.

AND IT, DO YOU NEED THE ARTS COMMISSION'S APPROVAL? IT IT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR US TO PUSH IT FORWARD.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TO NEED TO COUNCIL IT'S NOT REQUIRED.

WE OF COURSE WOULD LOVE IT.

RIGHT? YEAH.

SO I WAS GONNA SAY, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A FORMALITY.

I MEAN, IT'D BE GREAT IF IT WAS, BUT I, I THOUGHT I REMEMBERED THAT, SO, YEAH.

AND, AND BEFORE WE GO TOO MUCH FURTHER DOWN THIS PATH, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN KICKING A DEAD HORSE FOR A MINUTE.

UM, GETTING CLEAR ON WHAT PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PROCESS HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

AND IF I HEARD CORRECTLY, THIS GROUP NO LONGER VOTES ON WHO ACTUALLY GETS A GRANT.

IT'S COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM US.

AND SO I JUST HAVE TO ASK IF THIS IS A GOOD USE OF TIME.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ALONG.

WHAT IS A, IF WHAT IS A GOOD USER TIME? IF WE'RE NOT VOTING ON WHO GETS A GRANT AND WE HAVE NO IDEA, THERE'S LIKE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING AND THE CRITERIA HAS BEEN SET AND WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH NUANCES RIGHT NOW OF LIKE, WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF A VENUE? I DON'T, SO, SO TO ANSWER, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE, THE, THE POINT IS THAT WE AS COMMISSIONERS ARE CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN POLICY AND ADVISING CITY COUNCIL ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT POLICY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT, WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TOLD US IT WANTS.

LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE SUPPORT THE GUIDING THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY'RE PUTTING FORWARD.

AND SO THIS IS AN EFFORT FOR US TO SHOW THAT SUPPORT TO COUNSEL THAT YES, ACME HAS DONE ITS DUE DILIGENCE.

WE BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE

[03:30:01]

AND I THINK THE POINT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE DECISIONS ON INDIVIDUALS GETTING MONEY, WE, THIS BODY HAS BEEN DOING THAT FOREVER.

I ALSO DON'T, I ALSO THINK THAT THERE, AND I BELIEVE MORGAN OR SOMEONE SAID THIS EARLIER, THAT COUNCIL OR SOME SUBSET OF COUNCIL ASKED FOR THIS TO COME BACK TO US.

REMEMBER LAST MONTH WE WEREN'T GONNA BE ASKED TO MAKE A VOTE ON THIS, ON THE GUIDELINES AT ALL.

SO I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AT LEAST SOME SUBSET OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FOR OUR OPINION AND SUPPORT.

UM, AND I STILL DON'T THINK THAT EVEN THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD HAVE TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM A VOTE ON SOMETHING ON, ON GUIDELINES, I GUESS, BUT CERTAINLY ON ANY SORT OF GRANT MAKING DECISION, CAN STILL EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOUR COUNCIL PERSON WHO APPOINTED YOU.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF YOU BEING ON THE COMMISSION IF YOU CAN'T MAKE COMMENT TO YOUR COUNCIL PERSON ABOUT AN ISSUE.

I, I DON'T THAT, I'M JUST VERY CONFUSED BY THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT THE COMMISSION COMMENT'S BEEN COMING FROM ARTISTS FOREVER IN GUIDELINE SITUATIONS.

SO, I MEAN, IF I DON'T KNOW COMMISSIONER MAYOR SHARLA.

THANKS, CHAIR.

UH, I I I WAS, THAT'S WHERE I WAS RAISING MY HAND.

I AGREE WITH, UH, WITH HEIDI, UH, COMMISSIONER MALACH HERE BECAUSE I MEAN, EVERYONE'S, YOU'RE FREE TO TALK TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER , AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT.

IF, IF, IF THE IDEA HERE IS, UH, WHAT THE DYNAMIC SEEMS TO HAVE SHIFTED IS EARLIER WHEN I HAD JOINED THE COMMISSION EARLY ON, I HAD ASKED THESE QUESTIONS AND IT WAS LIKE, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT MAKING THE DECISION ON WHO EXACTLY GETS THE GRANT.

YOU COULD, YOU COULD, YOU COULD VOTE, YOU COULD APPLY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS EVOLVING.

AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING WHERE IS IT NUANCE AND JUDGMENT, UH, AND WHERE IS THE HARD LINE? RIGHT? AND, AND IF THERE IS A HARD LINE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND, IS HAS SOMETHING CHANGE THERE WHERE THERE IS ACTUALLY A HARD LINE.

BUT BEYOND THAT, AS AN APPOINTEE OR A NOMINEE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK EVERYONE'S FREE TO TALK TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, IF THEY WANNA EXPRESS AN OPINION.

I DON'T SEE HOW, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE REGULATED OR IT SHOULD BE, UH, WHAT'S THE POINT, UH, YOU KNOW, OF, OF DOING THIS ROLE.

SO I AGREE WITH THAT.

I MEAN, I THINK IT JUST COMES DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, ARE WE ABLE TO TAKE A FORMAL VOTE? MAYBE WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.

IF THERE IS A HARD LINE THERE IN TERMS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HAS ANYTHING CHANGED FROM WHAT IT WAS BEFORE? UH, AND WE EITHER TAKE A VOTE OR WE DON'T, IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR, UH, COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A VOTE, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT REQUIRED.

SO I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.

I THINK IF THIS WAS THE BANKING COMMISSION AND THERE WERE A BUNCH OF BANKERS THAT WERE JUST IN, IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT THE REGULATIONS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON HOW THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WORKS WITH WHATEVER IT IS, THE $5 BILLS AND THE $2 BILLS.

BUT IF THERE'S A VOTE ON THE FLOOR THAT SO AND SO BANK IS GONNA DO, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

THAT PERSON CAN'T THAT ON THAT.

THAT'S HOW I SEE, THAT'S HOW I SEE THE GUIDELINES.

I THINK THE ENTIRE COMMISSION SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE GUIDELINES.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIFICS OF ANYTHING THAT IS RELATIVE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, THAT ORGANIZATION, THAT WHATEVER, THAT'S WHEN YOU RECUSE YOURSELF.

AND THAT'S HOW I'VE ALWAYS, THAT'S HOW I'VE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS TRUE TOO.

BUT WE, WE HAVE TO GET SOMEONE TO SAY THAT TO US.

IT'S IN OUR BYLAWS.

I, I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS TRUE.

WHO IS IT, WHAT IS IT THAT'S PUSHING, HAVING TO KNOW MORE THAN, THAN THAT'S ALREADY THERE? I MEAN, IS THERE, IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S ON THE COMMISSION THAT NEEDS TO NOT BE ON THE COMMISSION? NO.

IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A QUESTION OF PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND HOW ARE WE AVOIDING THAT HAPPENING? AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN REAL CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, WHICH IS WHY I'M TRYING TO GET SOMEONE IN TO SAY SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE HAVE ETHICS GUIDELINES THAT SAY, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS.

IF YOU CAN ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, AND YOU SHOULD PROBABLY RECUSE YOURSELF.

BUT WE WE'RE NOT, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED TO VOTE BEFORE.

SO I'M WANTING TO GET SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS SO THAT WE'RE NOT STEPPING ON ANY GUIDELINES.

I JUST THINK THIS, AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE SOLVED TONIGHT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IN NEXT MEETING WHEN WE HAVE SOMEONE TELLING US MM-HMM .

WHAT THE SPECIFICS ARE.

COMMISSIONER KEYS AND THEN COMMISSIONER

[03:35:01]

HUSSEINI.

UM, YES.

I THINK THAT WAS WHAT KIND OF CONFUSED ME.

AND I APOLOGIZE, MY POWER JUST RANDOMLY WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTORED.

UM, BUT I WAS CONFUSED INITIALLY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR FOR ME, BUT THEN SOMEONE MENTIONED THE APPEARANCE OR THE, YOU KNOW, PERCEPTION OF, YOU KNOW, THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN WHAT MAKES IT VERY, VERY UNCLEAR IN JUST SAYING, MY PERCEPTION IS DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER COMMISSIONER'S PERCEPTION IS DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER COMMISSIONER'S PERCEPTION.

SO I THINK THAT WAS WHAT WAS UNCLEAR TO ME.

UM, AND FOR INSTANCE, I'M A CITY EMPLOYEE, SO I DON'T PLAN ON APPLYING FOR ANY FUNDING AT ALL, BUT IN A SERIES OF DEPARTMENTS BEING ABSORBED AND WHATNOT, I'VE ENDED UP AT CPIO AND IT'S NOT EVEN OFFICIAL JUST YET.

AND SO I'M LIKE, NOW I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND IF LIKE, WHAT MY POSITION LOOKS LIKE IF I'M NOW ON THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM THAT'S HELPING ADVISE WHAT THE OUTPUT IS.

AND SO LIKE, I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER GRAY, I'M TOTALLY UP TO, YOU KNOW, IF I DON'T NEED TO BE HERE ANYMORE, WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WAS ALSO WHAT SOME OF THAT, UM, VAGUENESS, UM, CAME FROM IN JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

IT WAS LIKE, OH, IT WAS KIND OF REINFORCED.

NOW IT'S THE PERCEPTION, UM, AND THE APPEARANCE OF THAT.

WHAT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA SEND, I'M GONNA SEND, UM, HAVE JESUS ELLA SEND DOWN, SEND AROUND THE PRINTOUT FOR ETHICS FOR CITY OF AUSTIN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, SO EVERYONE WILL HAVE IT IN FRONT OF THEM BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.

AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT MEETING TO GET IT FIGURED OUT.

BUT IT IS 8 41, UM, 9 41 AND WE NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE.

SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, AGENDA ITEM NINE WILL BE THAT I WILL BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO CONTACT THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER INDIVIDUALLY AS A CITIZEN AND COPY ACME SO THAT ACME CAN HAVE SOMETHING IN THE BACKUP.

BUT IF IT'S AT AS A CITIZEN, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.

EXACTLY.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WE CAN'T, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I WE DO.

I'M ABLE TO, I'M ABLE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.

UH, RECTAL REQUIREMENTS.

WE NEED TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

SO THE RECRUIT, THE RECRUIT, I, I REALLY DON'T WANNA GET INTO THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESENTATION NEXT, NEXT WEEK, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS WHO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT APPLYING FOR FUNDING WHO CAN SEND A LETTER TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COPY ACME AND SAY THAT THE, WE THINK ACME HAS DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SAYING THIS AS A COMMISSION, AS A CITIZEN, WE'RE SENDING IT FROM OUR COMMISSION EMAIL.

SO THAT DOES CARRY SOME WEIGHT.

WE ARE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, BUT WE ARE SITTING ON THIS COMMISSION.

SO THAT DOES CARRY SOME WEIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO FOR NOW.

AND THEN WE'LL SEND OUT ALL THE STUFF TO EVERYBODY SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE QUESTIONS TO ASK EACH OTHER.

ITEM NUMBER 10,

[10. Appoint new representative to the Downtown Commission. ]

THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MEETS THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 5:30 PM IS ANYBODY WILLING TO SIT ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION? I HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN APPOINT ANYBODY UNLESS YOU CIRCLE BACK TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

LIKE, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BECAUSE IF YOU APPOINT SOMEBODY AND THEN THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST THERE, THEN IT JUST, WE WE'RE JUST CONTINUING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

OKAY, THEN WE WILL, WE WILL MOVE THAT TO NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.

IS THAT OKAY WITH EVERYONE? WE DON'T VOTE IN DOWNTOWN COMMISSION AS REPRESENTATIVES.

WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A VOTE.

WE HAVE A VOICE.

WE CAN EXPRESS OPINION.

WE SIT BUT DON'T VOTE.

BUT WE DO NOT VOTE ON ANYTHING THEY PRESENT.

WELL, THERE WE GO.

THERE'S NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE YOU DON'T VOTE.

AND, UH, LET ME JUST SAY I THE ONLY COMMISSIONER HERE WHO HAS EVER BEEN ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, I WAS IN THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE AGAIN? NO, MA'AM.

I WOULD NOT , BUT WHAT I DO RECOMMEND IS THAT EVERY SINGLE COMMISSIONER HERE TAKE A FIVE MONTH TERM ON THAT COMMISSION.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS TO, SHOULD BE ON THERE FOR FIVE MONTHS AT LEAST, SO THAT EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO GROW TO SEE HOW OUR CITY WORKS TO BE ENRICHED BY BEING ON THAT COMMISSION.

COMMISSIONER.

GAR, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? I MEAN, TO SPLIT IT UP BECAUSE IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE LAST ONE LEFT.

WE COULD, SOMEONE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE.

SO WHAT CONFIRM WITH, OKAY, SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS, IS I'M GONNA VOLUNTEER TO SIT ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR

[03:40:02]

NOW.

, IF YOU'LL TAKE THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS, I'LL TAKE THE SECOND FIVE MONTHS.

I'LL TAKE THE FIRST.

THAT'S WHAT, YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S AN END POINT.

YOU'RE NOT JUST THERE FOREVER.

I REMEMBER, UH, BRUCE, BRUCE WAS ON THERE LIKE FOR 10 YEARS.

I WANNA BRING US BACK.

UH, DON'T HATE ME EVERYBODY, BUT I WANNA BRING US BACK TO 0.9 ON 'CAUSE I DID HAVE A, A QUESTION OR COMMENT AFTER WHAT COMMISSIONER KEY SAID.

COMING BACK TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONVERSATION.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PERCEPTION IS BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE SOLVING FOR HERE.

SO I'M GONNA SEND THE DOCUMENT OUT.

THROUGH JESUS, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO READ EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE DOCUMENT.

OKAY? AND THEN HE'S, UM, WE'RE ALSO GONNA RESEND THE SIGN IN SHEET.

THAT HAS THE CRU GUIDELINES ON THE BACK.

I JUST DON'T WANNA SPIN WHEELS AROUND WHAT I DON'T KNOW.

WHATEVER I UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY.

SO, UH, I MOVE THAT I BE APPOINTED TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.

ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOVES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE NOW NEED TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO

[11. Appoint new liaison to the Arts in Public Places Panel. ]

ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.

JAIME HAS BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY FOR US TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.

ART IN PUBLIC PLACES MISSED THE FIRST MONDAY FROM SIX TO EIGHT.

HE, HE SAYS THEY GET OUT IN TWO HOURS.

YEP.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE HEIDI SCHMUCK.

COMMISSIONER SCH NO, NO.

I THINK SHE SAID NO.

SAID I HIT YOU.

NO, I DIDN'T.

I JUST HEARD MY NAME.

YOU'VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE A IPP.

DO YOU ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION? YES.

NOBODY ELSE WANTS IT.

I'LL DO IT.

SO HE IS BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GRAY, THAT COMMISSIONER SMALL BOX, SIT ON THE A IPP PANEL.

SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

SECOND BY ZISMAN.

ALL IN FAVOR? HOW LONG IS THE TERM GONNA BE? HOW FIVE LONG DOES, HOW DOES, HOW LONG DOES A P YOU FIVE TO BE COOL WITH ME? WHAT IS THE TERM UNTIL YOU KICK HER OUT.

WE'LL CLARIFY TERM APPOINTMENTS FOR NOT, AND THIS IS ANOTHER NON-VOTING SEAT, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

THEY'RE ACTIVE.

THIS IS AN ACTIVE SEAT, RIGHT? NO, YOU DO.

IT'S AN ACTIVE SEAT.

THIS PART OF THE PANEL.

SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THAT LOOKS UNANIMOUS TO ME.

SO WE'VE GOT TWO COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.

THE JOINT ARTS MUSIC COMMISSION WORKING GROUP ON URBAN CORPS.

ITEM 12, UPDATE FROM

[12. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Schmalbach, and Gray(chair).]

ISSUES WITH COMMISSIONER, SMALL AND GRAY CHAIR.

UM, MINE SAYS ITEM 13, BUT IT MAY HAVE CHANGED, SO I APOLOGIZE.

UH, WHAT DO YOU HAVE AT 12? WE OUR MEETING NEXT? HMM? WHAT DO YOU HAVE AT 12? IT'S ALL BACKWARDS.

OH, OKAY.

NOT BACKWARDS.

IT'S UH, WHICH ONE WAS THIS ONE? I GOT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

MAYBE THAT'S A DIFFERENT ONE I PICKED.

FROM THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THE MOST RECENT RELEASE OF CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS. WORKING GROUP WITH COMMISSIONER SMALL Q AND KEYS AND ANDERSON CHAIR, COMMISSIONER ANDERSON HAD TO STEP OFF THE DAAS THAT THAT WORKING GROUP IS PAUSED WHILE ACME DOES THEIR RESET.

I PICKED IT UP OVER THERE AUGUST.

I KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT MEETING.

I KNOW.

, DID YOU PRINT THIS? UHOH? DOESN'T MATTER.

WE'RE BOTH ON THE SAME THING.

WE MEET LAST.

IT DOES TAKE 13 ON HER.

YEAH, IT SAYS THIR.

EVERYTHING'S THE SAME.

UH, WE HAVE A MEETING NEXT, UH, WEEK.

SO WE HAVE NOT MET YET.

[13. Update from the Community Feedback on most recent release of the Cultural Funding Programs Working Group with Commissioner’s Schmalbach, Houston, Keys, and Anderson (Chair). ]

SO WE DON'T HAVE A REPORT FROM THAT WORKING GROUP AS OF TODAY.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]

WE HAVE A BOND PRESENTATION COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER.

WE'RE TRYING TO SCHEDULE RALLY AUSTIN FOR A PRESENTATION.

UM, WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT STAFF, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE, UM, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS PROJECTIONS FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HOT TAX PROJECTION STAFF.

PLEASE ALSO REACH OUT FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL, QUARTERLY REPORTING AND HOW THAT FEEDS INTO OUR REPORTS.

UM, IN OUR NEXT MEETING, WE ARE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ARCS COMMISSION ROLE AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST PRESENTATION.

SO THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION AND, UH, UM, WHAT WE DO.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I WOULD ALSO, LIKE WE DIDN'T GET ARTS PRIORITIES DONE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET ARTS PRIORITIES AS ACME MOVES INTO THEIR SECOND PHASE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING IS GONNA BE HELPFUL FOR THEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PRIORITIES

[03:45:01]

ARE AS THEY START LOOKING AT IT.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? COMMISSIONER LA ARZA.

NOTHING NEW.

JUST, UH, DON'T FORGET TOMORROW STUDENTS, TEACHERS ARE GONNA BE HITTING THE ROAD.

THERE'S GONNA BE 80,000 PEOPLE ON THE ROAD TOMORROW.

THAT'S HOW MANY KIDS ARE AND TEACHERS GO TO SCHOOL HERE IN AUSTIN.

SO GIVE YOURSELF A LITTLE EXTRA TIME.

WATCH OUT FOR THE SCHOOL ZONES AND, UH, BE SAFE.

WATCH OUT FOR OUR LITTLE KIDS.

THEY'RE OUR ANGELS AND WE LOVE THEM.

COMMISSIONER GARZA.

THANK, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARZA.

IT IS, IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON.

UH, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, YOU GUYS WITH, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT NINE 50.

WOO.