* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] GOOD MORNING [Oralia Garza de Cortés Day – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela] EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO, UH, CITY HALL. IT'S AN HONOR TODAY TO, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, OR GARZA DE CORTES. I'M CHITO VELA MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH, UH, OR GARZA DE CORTES RIGHT HERE. I, IT'S A, IT'S A REAL UNIQUE PLEASURE AND HONOR TO RECOGNIZE, UH, OR BECAUSE MY, MY MOTHER, UH, IS A, IS A RETIRED LIBRARIAN NOW, , UH, AND WAS A, A HUGE FAN OF, UH, BILINGUAL CHILDREN'S BOOKS. SHE WORKED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. UH, I SPENT, UH, MANY, UH, SCHOOL DAY AFTER SCHOOL AT, UH, THE LIBRARY AT MY MOM'S LIBRARY, READING BOOKS, UH, A LOT OF SPANISH SPEAKING KIDS. SO THE WORK THAT, UH, ALIA DID IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART, UH, CONNECTS DEEPLY WITH ME. UH, SHE BROUGHT, UH, LITERATURE AND LITERACY AND JOY TO SO MANY, UH, UH, CHILDREN. UH, SHE PRESERVED, UH, SPANISH LITERACY AS WELL, A NATIVE LANGUAGE FOR A LOT OF, UH, KIDS. UH, AND, AND SHE'S BEEN HONORED IN, IN MANY, MANY WAYS. SHE'S A CO-FOUNDER OF THE URA RE AWARD, UH, ALONGSIDE SANDRA RIOS BALDERRAMA, UH, THE, UH, AWARD HONORS, UH, LATINO AND LATINA AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS WHOSE WORK REFLECTS THE LATINO, UH, CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, UH, A LIFELONG, UH, EDUCATOR, UH, AND, UH, AND, AND ACTIVE IN, IN THE WORLD OF, OF, OF AUSTIN LIBRARIES, OF TEXAS LIBRARIES, OF NATIONAL LIBRARIES. IT'S JUST A, A, A GREAT, UH, PLEASURE TO, UH, TO HONOR, UH, OR TODAY. AND I JUST WANT TURN IT OVER TO, OR TO SAY A, A FEW WORDS FOR US, UH, UH, MS. ADE CORTEZ, PLEASE. VERY GOOD. OKAY. UH, ENO DIAZ. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? WE GOT YOU. UH, COUNCIL VELA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND FOR YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY. I WANT TO THANK MY HUSBAND, ERNESTO, AND MY FAMILY, JACOB, AMY, ALMA, EVA LETTI, MY SISTER LUCAS, MY NE MY GRANDSON WHO, WHERE'S MAYA? OH MY GOD, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER. SHE'S SO BIG AND TALL OF THESE KIDS ARE GROWING THE LEAVING ME BEHIND. MM-HMM . THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT'S A REALLY GREAT HONOR, UH, AND A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE, AND FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL THIS WORK ALL THESE YEARS. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN THIS WORK. THERE JUST ISN'T, UH, TO SEE KIDS READING, TO SEE A COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN BOOKS JUST LIKE WE ALL ARE. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, ISN'T IT? YES. ABSOLUTELY. SO, UH, MY, MY WORDS TO YOU IS THAT, UH, WE'VE GOTTA CONTINUE THE WORK, AND YOU CAN'T JUST DO IT BY YOURSELF. YOU'VE GOTTA GET OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT AS WELL, AND YOU'VE GOTTA BE AT CITY HALL, MAKING SURE WE GET THOSE MONIES THAT WE NEED RIGHT HERE, CITY HALL, SEE YOU IN AUGUST, AND BEFORE THEN TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE BUDGET. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, UH, PROMOTING, UH, LIBRARIES AND, UH, AND BUDGET AND RESOURCES FOR LITERACY AND LIBRARIES, UH, IN, IN RETIREMENT AT, AT HER, UH, CEREMONY. IT IS GREAT. IT'S GREAT. UH, LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THIS, UH, BEAUTIFUL PROCLAMATION. UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS A LIBRARIAN ADVOCATE, BIBLIOGRAPHER AND SCHOLAR HAS BEEN A LEADING VOICE IN, UH, ADVANCING ACCESS FOR LATINO CHILDREN TO HIGH QUALITY LITERATURE, AND IN STRENGTHENING PUBLISHING STANDARDS FOR BOOKS WRITTEN BY AND FEATURING LATINO PROTAGONISTS AND STORYLINES. AND WHEREAS SHE IS THE CO-FOUNDER, ALONG WITH SANDRA RIOS ALMA OF THE PURA RE AWARD, NAMED IN HONOR OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S FIRST LATINA LIBRARIAN, WHICH RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING LATINO AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS WHOSE WORK CELEBRATES THE LATINO CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN. AND THE FIRST BUDHA RE AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN 1996, HELD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO. AND THIS AWARD HELPED INSPIRE A NATIONAL STRATEGY THAT CENTERED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AS A CORE COMPONENT OF FAMILY LITERACY. AND WHEREAS AS A LEADER WITH AUSTIN INTERFAITH GARZA DE CORTES LED EFFORTS TO SECURE FUNDING FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES, CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND IMPROVEMENTS AND FAMILY LITERACY INITIATIVES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SHE HAS WORKED TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS TO CHILD REFUGEES IN AUSTIN, WHILE CONTINUING TO SPONSOR THE DIRECT DELIVERY OF AWARD-WINNING BOOKS TO FAMILIES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO [00:05:01] AND WESTERN COLUMBIA. AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF HER FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE COMMON GOOD, HER ENDURING COMMITMENT TO LITERACY AND HER TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTER INTERNATIONALLY. UH, NOW THEREFORE, I VELA MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD, 2026 AS OR ADE CORTES DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO MENTION THAT THIS IS THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY. SO IT'S, UH, JUST A REALLY SPECIAL, UH, TIME. SO, WOW. THANK Y'ALL SO, SO MUCH. THANK Y'ALL. LET'S GET A, A PICTURE. I THINK EVERYBODY CAN MOSTLY STAY WHERE THEY ARE, BUT LET'S, UH, MOVE, UH, UH, YOURSELF AND, AND, UH, MR. CORTES HERE IN FRONT OF THE [KidsFestATX Community Resource Day – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela] [00:10:27] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM CHITO VELA MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, UH, REPRESENTING DISTRICT EIGHT. AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE 2026 KIDS FEST. UH, WE, THIS IS GONNA BE THE 21ST ANNUAL ST. JOHN UNITY WALK AND 11TH ANNUAL KIDS FEST, WHICH WILL BE ON, UH, SATURDAY MORNING, UH, AT 9:00 AM UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE, I WANT TO SAY THE FOURTH, UH, KIDS FEST THAT, UH, I HAVE BEEN TO. AND IT IS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS, UH, THAT I ATTEND. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, UH, PARADE THIS YEAR. THE, THE ROUTE'S, UH, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARADE THIS YEAR OVER TO THE VIRGINIA BROWN, UH, RECREATION CENTER. UH, AND THE EVENT IS FOR FAMILIES. IT, UH, PROVIDES RESOURCES. IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR KIDS. UH, IT, IT'S JUST A, A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT, UH, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO, TO CELEBRATE, UH, THE, THE ST. JOHN COMMUNITY AND TO CELEBRATE REALLY THE WHOLE NORTHEAST AUSTIN, UH, COMMUNITY. UH, AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST A, A, A A PLEASURE TO, TO BE PART OF IT AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO CELEBRATING ON, UH, SATURDAY, UH, GOTTA THANK AUSTIN VOICES, UH, FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH, UH, WHO HAVE BEEN JUST STRONG SUPPORTERS OF, UH, KIDS DEATH CHILD INCORPORATED, KIDS LIVING WELL, UH, LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S OFFICE OF VIOLENCE, UH, PREVENTION. UH, AND WITH THAT, LET ME, UH, TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TO, TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M PLEASED TO JOIN YOU. I AM PAIGE ELLIS, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR PRO TEM VELA FOR GETTING US KICKED OFF THIS MORNING. AS HE MENTIONED THIS SATURDAY, THE 21ST ANNUAL ST. JOHN UNITY WALK AND THE 11TH ANNUAL KIDS FEST. AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE. AUSTIN VOICES FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH CHILD INC. KIDS LIVING WELL, CITY OF AUSTIN'S OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND IN PARTICULAR TO MY FRIENDS AT LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, WHO'VE I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO COLLABORATE WITH DURING MY TIME ON COUNCIL. THE UNITY WALK AND KIDS FEST ARE JUST A SINGLE DAY, BUT THEY REPRESENT A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT TOUCHES EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION TO HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND THIS SATURDAY IS A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE THAT SUCCESS AND SEE IT IN ACTION. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING OVER THESE PAST NUMEROUS YEARS. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE ANGELA LAMPKIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILD INC, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION TODAY. ANGELA, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AGAIN. I'M ANGELA LAMPKIN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILD INC. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND MAYOR PROTO VELA, UM, FOR THIS RECOGNITION, UM, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE THAT MAKES KIDS FEST A TX POSSIBLE KIDS FEST. A TX IS A PROUD, COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF CHILD INC. HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START. AUSTIN VOICES FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH, UM, ALONGSIDE INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, INCLUDING LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE, BRINGING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S, UM, SAFETY FAIR AND KIDS LIVING WELL, UM, WHICH SUPPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH ACCEPTANCE MONTH. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, UM, HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES MORE THAN 150, UM, EXHIBITORS WHO WILL JOIN TOGETHER TO, UM, PROVIDE A DAY OF VALUABLE RESOURCES, UH, FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. UM, THIS EVENT REPRESENTS MORE THAN A SINGLE DAY. IT REFLECTS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO A CRADLE TO COLLEGE AND CAREER CONTINUUM WHERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY AND BEYOND. COLLABORATION AMONG NON NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE NOT ONE OF US CAN MEET, UM, EVERY FAMILY'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, BUT TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A NETWORK OF SUPPORT THAT IS ACCESSIBLE, TRUSTED, AND IMPACTFUL BY WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE BARRIERS, EXPAND ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND ENSURE FAMILIES RECEIVE THE, UM, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE. AT ITS [00:15:01] CORE, KIDS FEST, A TX, UM, WILL CONNECT IS A CONNECT IS ABOUT CONNECTIONS, REALLY CONNECTING FAMILIES TO RESOURCES THAT THEY DESERVE, AND THAT CREATES A LONG LASTING IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. VERY NICE. THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU TO ANGELA LAMPKIN. I APPRECIATE, UH, THE, THE WORDS, AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, READ THE, UH, PROCLAMATION. I ALSO JUST WANT TO, CAN LOSE OUT THAT THIS IS REALLY FUN EVENT FOR THE KIDDOS THERE, YOU KNOW, BOUNCY HOUSES AND LIKE LITTLE RIDES AND, UH, ALL KINDS OF STUFF. UH, SO, UH, I, I DON'T WANNA, THERE'S RESOURCES FOR THE PARENTS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, BICYCLES AND FOOD AND WHATNOT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR THE KIDS. SO THE KIDDOS WILL HAVE A, A GREAT DAY, UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A STRONG, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, THE VALUES AND SUPPORTS ITS CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, RECOGNIZING THAT INVESTING IN EARLY EDUCATION, THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH, FAMILY WELLBEING, COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING LIFELONG SUCCESS. AND WHEREAS KIDS FEST, A TX ORGANIZED, UH, BY CHILD INC. HEADSTART AND AUSTIN VOICES FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH IN COLLABORATION WITH KIDS LIVING WELL IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION DEDICATED TO EARLY LEARNING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD WELLNESS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ACCESS TO VITAL RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT A CRADLE TO COLLEGE, UH, AND CAREER PATHWAY. AND SERVING AS A CORNERSTONE EVENT THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES, PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS, AND REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH EQUITY, AND FAMILY SUPPORT IN SHAPING LIFELONG SUCCESS. WHEREAS ALONGSIDE KIDS FEST, A TX AT ST. JOHN UNITY WALK STANDS AS A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION OF OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, BRINGING TOGETHER FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, FAITH ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO CELEBRATE THE STRENGTH, UNITY, AND DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS UNSECURED FIREARMS PRESENT A PREVENTABLE RISK TO CHILDREN, AND THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED WITH SAFE STORAGE, EDUCATION, SAFETY DEVICES AND RESOURCES THAT HELP CREATE SAFER HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, I VELA MAYOR PRO TEM OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, PAIGE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT EIGHT, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 25TH, 2026 AS KID FEST, A TX COMMUNITY RESOURCE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. NO, THAT'S, UH, THANK Y'ALL, UH, SO MUCH FOR, FOR JOINING US TODAY. IT'S GREAT TO CELEBRATE A, A GREAT EVENT AND SUCH GREAT ORGANIZATIONS. AND, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UH, UH, TAKE A PICTURE. SHOULD, SHOULD WE MOVE OR, OR ARE WE KIND OF GOOD HERE? WHAT DO YOU [00:23:56] GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY [International Dark Sky Week – To be presented by Council Member Marc Duchen] NAME IS MARK UCHIN. I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY HERE FOR BEING TODAY FOR, FOR COMING HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK. I WANT TO FIRST TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOINED US THIS MORNING, STARTING WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UM, AND THE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE, UH, WORKED WITH US TO SUSTAIN OUR NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS ALONGSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THAT INCLUDES CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION, AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE AUSTIN CLIMATE ACTION RESILIENCE DEPARTMENT. OTHER KEY PARTNERS INCLUDE THE TRAVIS COUNTY NATIONAL RESOURCES, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, THE TECH, THE TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY AND DARK SKY TEXAS. TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY SPEARHEADED THE LIGHTS OUT INITIATIVE TO PROTECT THE BILLIONS OF BIRDS THAT MIGRATE THROUGH TEXAS. EVERY SPRING, AUSTIN ENERGY HAS HELPED IMPLEMENT NIGHTTIME ACTIONS TO DECREASE LIGHT POLLUTION, AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS PRESENT HAVE WORKED TO SHARE THIS MESSAGE AND TO RAISE AWARENESS [00:25:01] ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DARK SKIES ACROSS TEXAS. THIS PROCLAMATION ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF EARTH DAY AND PROTECTING THE BEAUTY OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. I'D LIKE TO FIRST HAND THIS OVER TO OUR WONDERFUL DISTRICT 10 CONSTITUENT, WENDY GORDON, WHO, BY THE WAY, IT'S ALSO HER BIRTHDAY TODAY, WHO HELPED BRING THIS ISSUE TO OUR ATTENTION RECENTLY. UH, AND THEN TO ASK SA FROM DARK SKY, TEXAS TO SHARE THE YEAR ROUND SIGNIFICANCE ON THIS ISSUE. SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WENDY, I WOULD LOVE TO HAND THIS OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M WENDY GORDON. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE OF LIGHT POLLUTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHEN'S ATTENTION AFTER SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH DEER IN NORTHWEST HILLS DURING DECEMBER BECAUSE OF THE NIGHT, CLAIRE FROM HOUSE LIGHTS, STREET LAMPS, ONCOMING CARS AND HOLIDAY DISPLAYS, LIGHT POLLUTION IN AUSTIN HAS GROWN ALONGSIDE ITS POPULATION. I'VE BEEN HERE 36 YEARS. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU I USED TO SEE THE MILKY WAY FROM MY YARD, BUT EXCESSIVE LIGHT IS DIMINISHING MY NIGHTLY EXPERIENCE IN THAT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US. I KNOW FROM WORKING ON THIS ISSUE THAT MORE LIGHT EQUATES TO MORE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES, NOT FEWER. FOR EXAMPLE, THE POLLINATOR CRISIS IS WELL-DOCUMENTED, AND APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF POLLINATORS ARE NOCTURNAL, WHICH MEANS THEY RELY ON DARKNESS TO DO THEIR WORK. BUT AS LEANNE HENON MAKES CLEAR IN HER BOOK, NIGHT, MAGIC KNIGHT IS BEING ERASED TO THE DETRIMENT OF ALL OF US. WE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO LIGHT POLLUTION, AND WE CAN VERY EASILY REVERSE IT. I TOOK SUCH A STEP RECENTLY. I TURNED OFF THE LED FLOODLIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT IS ON A LIGHT SENSOR. I REALIZED THAT EVEN I, AN ECOLOGIST WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SENSELESS DEATHS AND BIOLOGICAL DISRUPTION OF COUNTLESS CRITTERS IN MY CERTIFIED BACKYARD HABITAT. WHAT ARE THE EASY STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO COMBAT, COMBAT THIS PROBLEM USING OUTDOOR LIGHT ONLY WHERE IT'S NEEDED? NOT JUST BECAUSE WE CAN, USING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF LUMENS NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE. DIMMERS AND TIMERS HELP SHIELDING AND TARGETING LIGHT, SO IT POINTS DOWN AND NOT UP AT THE NIGHT SKY, USING WARM COLORED LIGHTS WITH RED AMBER TONES AND NOT BRIGHT BLUE AND COOL BULBS, CLOSING CURTAINS OR BLINDS TO PREVENT INTERIOR LIGHT FROM SPILLING OUTDOORS, WE CAN AND SHOULD TONE DOWN OUTDOOR LIGHTING. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, A B CAVE DRIPPING SPRINGS, BLANCO AND FREDERICKSBURG HAVE DONE JUST THAT AND ARE NOW DARK SKY, INTERNATIONAL, CERTIFIED DARK SKY PLACES. WE HAVE IT IN OUR POWER TO RECLAIM SOME AMOUNT OF DARKNESS HERE IN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, WENDY. SO HERE, DARK SKY TEXAS IS THE ONLY TEXAS CHAPTER OF DARK SKY INTERNATIONAL. AS SUCH, WE'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK LIGHT POLLUTION CONTINUES TO GROW AT AN ALARMING RATE OF 10% EACH YEAR, WORLD WORLDWIDE. FLOODING, FLOODING THE NIGHT WITH WASTED LIGHT, DAMAGING NOCTURNAL ECOSYSTEMS DIMINISHING OUR VIEW OF THE STARS AND WASTING RESOURCES. BUT THERE IS HOPE. THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO USE LIGHT RESPONSIBLY FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE, FOR PLANTS, FOR PEOPLE, FOR THE PLANET. THERE ARE FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR LIGHTING. THE PRINCIPLES GUIDE US TO USE LIGHT THOUGHTFULLY BY KEEPING IT TARGETED, LOW WARM, AND NEWS ONLY WHEN NEEDED. MANY PEOPLE OFTEN SAY LIGHT POLLUTION IS THE EASIEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM TO SOLVE. TURN IT OFF UNLESS YOU NEED IT. USE IT RESPONSIBLY. I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE, DARK SKY TEXAS ORG, AND OUR, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MANY REASONS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT LIGHT POLLUTION. LET'S SAVE THE NIGHT SKY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. HERE'S THE GOOD PART. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING THAT I'M GONNA READ AND THEN PRESENT TO WENDY AND THE FOLKS HERE FOR INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS LIGHT POLLUTION HAS SCIENTIFICALLY ESTABLISHED ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING DISRUPTING ECOSYSTEMS AND DIMINISHING HUMAN EXPERIENCES OF DARKNESS AND REST. AND WHEREAS LIGHT POLLUTION REPRESENTS ROUGHLY $3 BILLION PER YEAR OF WASTED ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CONTRIBUTES TO DIMINISHED ENERGY SECURITY. AND WHEREAS TEXAS SERVES AS A CRITICAL ENTRY POINT FOR NEARLY 2 BILLION BIRDS MIGRATING FROM SOUTH [00:30:01] AND CENTRAL AMERICA IN THE SPRING. AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING CAN DISORIENT MIGRATING BIRDS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE DEATHS OF MILLIONS OF BIRDS ANNUALLY. AND WHEREAS LIGHT POLLUTION CAN BE MITIGATED THROUGH RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR LIGHTING PRACTICES THAT ENSURE LIGHT IS USEFUL, TARGETED, LOW LEVEL CONTROLLED, AND WARM COLORED. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS DEVELOPING A CITYWIDE LIGHTING PLAN THAT WILL INCORPORATE DARK SKY PRINCIPLES AND ENFORCE RESPONSIBLE LIGHTING PRACTICES TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE, TH THROUGH BETTER PUBLIC LIGHTING. AND WHEREAS DARK SKY INTERNATIONAL TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, AUSTIN ENERGY AND OTHER GROUPS COLLABORATE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION, PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION RESOURCES AND SOLUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC TO ENCOURAGE THE PROTECTION AND ENJOYMENT OF DARK SKIES AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING. NOW THEREFORE, I MARK UCHIN ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PAIGE ELLIS, AND ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DUE HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 13TH THROUGH APRIL 20TH, 2026 AS INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK IN AUSTIN. YAY. AND I'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION HERE THAT I'D LOVE TO PRESENT TO MS. GORDON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UH, I THINK NEXT WE PROBABLY WANNA JUMP IN FRONT OF THE YES, COME TRY AND COME IN FRONT FOR A VERY COMPACT COMPACT. [Taniquewa Brewster Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison] GOOD MORNING. I'M, UH, CHITO VELA MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN HERE TODAY TO HONOR QUA BREWSTER. UH, IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR, UH, TO BE HERE TODAY. WE RECOGNIZE, UH, AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY LEADER WHOSE WORK HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT, UH, ACROSS AUSTIN. UH, QUA IS AN AUSTIN BASED ADVOCATE AND DEVOTED MOTHER OF FIVE WHO HAS SPENT YEARS SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH TENANT ADVOCACY, FOOD ACCESS, AND RESOURCE NAVIGATION, CONSISTENTLY SHOWING UP FOR HER COMMUNITY. SHE ALSO BRINGS THAT SAME COMMITMENT INTO HER PROFESSIONAL WORK AS A TRAINED BIRTH DOULA AND NOTARY, UH, CONTINUING TO SERVE OTHERS IN WAYS THAT ARE BOTH PRACTICAL AND DEEPLY PERSONAL. UH, WHAT STANDS OUT IS HOW HER LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PRESENT DURING, UH, CRITICAL MOMENTS, UH, ESPECIALLY DURING WINTER STORM. UH, YURI, UH, QUA PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING RESIDENTS AT MOUNT CARMEL VILLAGE, HELPING CONNECT NEIGHBORS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES DURING [00:35:01] A TIME OF, UH, GREAT NEED. THAT WAS A, A HORRIBLE TIME FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, JUST STAND UP AND, AND, AND GO AND HELP WHERE THE, THE HELP WAS NEEDED. UM, IN THE YEARS SINCE MOUNT CARMEL VILLAGE ASSOCIATION, WHICH, UH, QUA HELPED ESTABLISHED, HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A STRONG AND CONSISTENT VOICE FOR ITS RESIDENTS. HER WORK REFLECTS A BROADER COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT AUSTINITES NOT ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING, BUT THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED, INFORMED AND EMPOWERED WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. QUA BREWSTER'S EFFORTS SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT THAT COMMUNITY DRIVEN LEADERSHIP CAN HAVE ACROSS OUR CITY AND FOR HER SERVICE AND ADVOCACY. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HER TODAY. AND LET ME TURN IT OVER TO QUA TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I, I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR BEING HERE. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE CITY FOR RECOGNIZING ME AND MY COMMITMENT TO MY CITY AND CIVIC DUTIES. I'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT, CONTINUE TO WORK, AND CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP AUSTIN GREAT AND MAKE AUSTIN BETTER WHERE NEEDED. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU. AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND, AND GET TO THE, THE PROCLAMATION AND, AND, AND READ THE PROCLAMATION. I AM GONNA PUT ON MY GLASSES FOR THIS, EXCUSE ME. BUT BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF DEDICATED LEADERS WHO SERVE AS STRENGTHENS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ADVANCES EQUITY AND PROTECTS THE DIGNITY AND WELLBEING OF ALL RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS TANIKA BREWSTER HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO UPLIFT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN. AND WHEREAS SHE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVOCATE FOR TENANTS RIGHTS, EMPOWERING RESIDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT TO ENSURE FAIR TREATMENT, HOUSING STABILITY, AND PROTECTION FROM UNJUST DISPLACEMENT. AND WHEREAS QUA BREWSTER HAS CHAMPIONED THE CAUSE OF AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY HOUSING, RECOGNIZING THAT SAFE AND STABLE HOMES ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF FAMILIES AND TO THE LONG-TERM VITALITY OF OUR CITY. AND WHEREAS THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY, SHE HAS WORKED TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD INTEGRITY, AND STAND ALONGSIDE RESIDENTS IN THE ONGOING EFFORT TO FIGHT DISPLACEMENT AND PROMOTE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS HER DEDICATION EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE, JUSTICE, AND UNITY THAT DEFINES THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL CIVIC ACTION. NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARBOR MADISON, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD, 2026 AS TANIKA BREWSTER DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL, UH, SO MUCH, UH, FOR, FOR JOINING US, AND, UH, LET'S GET A, A PHOTO. YAY. [00:40:50] GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN. [Austin ISD Volunteer Program Appreciation Day - To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez] I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, PROUDLY REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE. AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE JOINED BY A ISD AND MANY OF OUR DEDICATED SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE AUSTIN ISD VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. APPRECIATION DAY VOLUNTEERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR SCHOOLS, TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR KIDDOS. THEY CREATE CONNECTIONS, SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND HELP FOSTER A STRONG SCHOOL COMMUNITY. OUR SCHOOLS ARE BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF THEIR SHARED COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR TO OUR STUDENTS', WELLBEING, EDUCATION, AND SUCCESS. AND I AM IN THIS BUILDING BECAUSE OF AUSTIN, ISD, AND THE AMAZING PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, NOT ONLY TO OUR SCHOOLS, BUT TO OUR CITY. YOUR TIME IS PRECIOUS, IT IS VALUED, AND IT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SERVES A VITAL BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY IN THE CLASSROOM FOSTERING A CULTURE OF SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP, AND EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. AND WHEREAS LA LAST YEAR, 18,600 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS COMPUTE CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME AND TALENTS FROM TUTORING AND MENTORING TO CHAPERONING CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, DIRECTLY ENHANCING THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND EXPANDING THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO CAMPUSES. AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN ISD VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FACILITATES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL MENTORSHIP AND SUPPL SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT THAT STRENGTHEN THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOLS THEY SERVE. NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DAES AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD, 2026 AS AUSTIN ISD VOLUNTEER PROGRAM APPRECIATION DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. NOW WE, WE WILL INVITE UP SANDRA WITH, UH, AUSTIN, ISD, THEIR VOLUNTEER SPECIALIST TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY. I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OUR SCHOOLS, OVER 16,000 THIS YEAR, AND STILL GOING UP THAT ARE ALWAYS SHOWING UP TO OUR CAMPUSES AND MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE, BUT ALSO TO EVERYONE WHO HELPS US SUPPORT OUR VOLUNTEERS, WHO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEM, AND THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR, FOR SUPPORTING US AND OUR VOLUNTEERS. OKAY. STEP, WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO. ALRIGHT, NOW Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL WANT TO COME UP YEAH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.