* 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. [Proclamation – Building Safety Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela] [00:00:05] GOOD MORNING. UH, I AM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM VELA, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, A TIME TO HONOR THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDINGS AND SPACES IN OUR CITY ARE SAFE, RESILIENT, AND BUILT TO LAST. BUILDING SAFETY IS SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT BEHIND EVERY SECURE STRUCTURE IS A TEAM OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. THEIR EFFORTS PROTECT OUR HOMES, WORKPLACES, AND PUBLIC SPACES, OFTEN WITHOUT RECOGNITION. TODAY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING TEAM AT OUR ASK AUSTIN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THIS VITAL WORK. THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR KEITH MARS FOR YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP TO ASSISTANT DIRECTORS BRENDA DE LA GARZA, DANIEL WORD, ELAINE GARRETT, JOY DEEP SAMI AND TRACY ALLEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND DE DEDICATION. UH, WE ALSO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO BUILDING OFFICIAL TODD WILCOX. TODD, WHERE IS HE? DID I SEE HIM? OH, THERE, THERE HE IS. UM, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, JANET HET, UH, AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER MARIE SANDOVAL FOR YOUR IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT'S SUCCESS. UH, OFFICER DAVID KNOX, TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL, UH, FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK. YOUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SAFETY. INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER, SAFER, AND MORE RESILIENT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. UH, AND JUST ON A PERSONAL NOTE, UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, BUILDINGS IN DISTRICT FOUR THAT HAVE REQUIRED, UH, ATTENTION, UH, FROM, UH, CODE AND UH, FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT. AND, UH, IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE, UH, TO WORK WITH, UH, DIRECTOR MARS, UH, AND THE ENTIRE STAFF. UH, IT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THINGS, THINGS TAKE A LITTLE WHILE, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS SAFE, UH, THAT THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN BAD SHAPE ARE, ARE, YOU KNOW, BOARDED UP, ARE SEALED UP, ARE NOT, UH, PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. AND AGAIN, I JUST, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I'M BLOWING UP FOLKS PHONES ALL THE TIME ABOUT THIS BUILDING AND THAT BUILDING AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND, AND WE WE'RE GETTING TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FROM, FROM MY STAFF, FROM MYSELF TO ALL THE FOLKS, UH, AT, UH, UM, AT, AT, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT. AND LET ME PASS IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MARK AND SAY A FEW WORDS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, MITCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, VELA MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, ENJOYING THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL'S 2026 CELEBRATION. THIS YEAR'S THEME BUILT TO LAST REFLECTS THE ENDURING WORK OUR TEAM DOES EVERY DAY AND THE LASTING IMPACT SAFE BUILDINGS HAVE ON EVERYONE EVERYWHERE. I'M HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HERE AND OUR, OUR ENTIRE TEAM WITHIN THE CITY, AND DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE SO MANY DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO MAKE AUSTIN NOT JUST A SAFER PLACE, BUT A PLACE THAT WE WANT TO LIVE AND THRIVE. BUILDING SAFETY IS NOT JUST A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S A SHARED COMMITMENT WITH THOSE THAT BUILD YOUR FUTURE HOME LIBRARY OR SMALL BUSINESS. AS TODAY'S DEVELOPMENT BECOMES TOMORROW'S COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET TO THE PROCLAMATION ITSELF, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GROWTH AND STRENGTH DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY AND ESSENTIAL ROLE, OUR HOMES, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY BOTH IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE. WHEREAS OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE RESILIENCE OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVOTION OF BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION OFFICIALS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, TRADESPEOPLE, DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, LABORERS, PLUMBERS, AND OTHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT. WHEREAS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THESE PROFESSIONALS PLAY IN ENSURING SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS THAT SUPPORT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC VITALITY. AND WHEREAS THE 2020 THEME BUILT TO LAST ENCOURAGES, ENCOURAGES US ALL TO GET INVOLVED AND RAISE AWARENESS WITHOUT ABOUT BUILDING SAFETY ON A PERSONAL, LOCAL AND GLOBAL SCALE. AND WHEREAS IN OBSERVANCE OF BUILDING SAFETY MUST, AUSTINITES ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE BUILDING SAFETY RESILIENCY AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US BY OUR LOCAL BUILDING SAFETY PROFESSIONALISM. NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR PRO TEM CHITO VELA ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2026 AS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, TO ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW OR BACK AT THE OFFICE. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO, UH, KEEP UP THE GOOD [00:05:01] WORK. SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND LET'S TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM. [Proclamation - 50th Anniversary of the Martha Chapter #35 Order of the Eastern Star - To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison] GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS. I'M COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS LANE AND, AND MAYOR PRO TEM VELA. UM, IT IS OUR PROUD HONOR THIS MORNING AS WE PRESENT PROCLAMATIONS TO RECOGNIZE AND COME TOGETHER AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE LEGACY OF SERVICE HAS SPANNED GENERATIONS AND CONTINUES TO MAKE MEANINGFUL IMPACTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35 OF THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR HAS BEEN A STEADFAST PRESENCE IN AUSTIN SINCE 1976, ROOTED IN A TRADITION OF CHARITY, COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY AS PART OF, AS PART OF A GLOBAL FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED ON PRINCIPLES OF MORAL VALUES AND SISTERHOOD AND BROTHERHOOD. THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR HAS LONG STOOD AS A MODEL OF SERVICE AND OF UNITY HERE IN AUSTIN. MARTHA, CHAPTER NUMBER 35 HAS BROUGHT THOSE VALUES TO LIFE THROUGH ACTION. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. FOR NEARLY FIVE DECADES, ITS MEMBERS HAVE SERVED OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING FOOD AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO INDIVIDUALS, RATHER EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ASSISTING SENIORS, AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AND COMMUNITY CENTERS TO MEET CRITICAL NEEDS. THEIR COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AND TO FAMILY EMPOWERMENT HAS BEEN EQUALLY IMPACTFUL, PROVIDING CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT HELP BUILD SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND OPPORTUNITY. THIS WORK THAT REQUIRES CONSISTENCY, THIS IS WORK THAT REQUIRES COMPASSION AND IT REQUIRES A TRUE COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS. AS MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35 CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE. WE RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY THE YEARS, BUT THE COUNTLESS LIVES TOUCHED THROUGH THEIR, THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION TO LOVE, TO LOYALTY, TO CHARITY, TO HOSPITALITY, AND TO COURAGE. THEIR EXAMPLE REMINDS US THAT STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT THROUGH SERVICE AND SUSTAINED THROUGH CARE. AND FOR THAT, WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR THEM TODAY FOR THE PROCLAMATION. AT THIS TIME, I'LL READ SUCH, I'M GONNA PRETEND TO READ SUCH 'CAUSE IT'S TINY SCRIPT ON HERE, SO I'M GONNA READ SUCH IN BIG FONT, WHEREAS MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, A MEMBER OF DEBORAH GRAND CHAPTER, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR OF MOUNT CARMEL LAW, GRAND LODGE AF AND AM HEADQUARTERED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE CALLING HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE 1976. AND WHEREAS MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35 ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR HAS ASSISTED IN FEEDING AUSTIN'S HOMELESS AND SENIORS EITHER DIRECTLY TO THE HOMELESS OR VIA AUSTIN'S COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS ROSEWOOD OSA IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES SINCE 1976. AND WHEREAS MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35 ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED OUR YOUTH GROUPS IN THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING NECESSITIES SUCH AS CLOTHES COATS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE YOUTH THROUGH TUTORING, EDUCATIONAL, PARDON ME, THROUGH TUTORING EDUCATION, EMPOWER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS SELF-HELP TRAININGS, RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW SKILLS AND COMPUTER LITERACY SKILLS FOR ADULTS IN VARYING CAPACITIES SINCE 1976, WHEREAS MARTHA, CHAPTER NUMBER 35 ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY EXEMPLIFYING A, A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO SISTERHOOD AND SERVICE, AMPLIFY UPLIFTING HUMANITY AS WE STAND BESIDE THE BROTHERS OF THE MOUNT CARMEL GRAND LODGE SINCE 1976. AND WHEREAS MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE THROUGH LOVE, LOYALTY, CHARITY, HOSPITALITY AND COURAGE SINCE BEING CHARTERED IN 1976. [00:10:01] NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE COUN COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND MAYOR PRO TIM VELA AND OUR MAYOR KIRK WATSON, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2ND, 2026 AS MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35 ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR DAY RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND I'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JEAN JAMES. I AM ACCEPTING THIS, YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER. I ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF MARTHA CHAPTER NUMBER 35. MY MATRON IS ANNETTE STEVENS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU CAN KEEP IT, IT'S LIKE A CHRISTMAS PRESENT NOW. WE MIGHT SEE YOUR BOOT IN THIS ONE. [Proclamation – Air Quality Awareness Week – To be presented by Council Member Krista Laine] . GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER FOR JOINING ME TODAY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO STEVEN FONG AND RAMONE ATE OF THE CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, CAP COG AND AIR CENTRAL TEXAS, AND TO AMANDA MORTY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN, CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE FOR COORDINATING THIS OBSERVATION, UH, OBSERVANCE, EXCUSE ME. AIR QUALITY IS CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY, AND THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASE AND PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY AND MAKE UP ABOUT ONE THIRD OF ALL RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS. AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC, FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE NATION. AND WITH THAT GROWTH COMES A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS, OBSERVE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES THE CITY SO SPECIAL, AND BUILD A FUTURE THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND THIS IS WHY AUSTIN HAS SET BOLD GOALS TO REACH NET ZERO COMMUNITY WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS TO MAKE OUR STREETS MORE WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE, AND TO BUILD A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT GIVES EVERY AUSTINITE A REAL CHOICE BEYOND SITTING IN A CAR. THESE ARE CONCRETE COMMITMENTS AND THEY ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE AIR WE BREATHE EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY TIME WE INVEST IN PUBLIC TRANSIT OR CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS VIA URBAN TRAILS, EVERY TIME WE BUILD A PROTECTED BIKE LANE, EVERY TIME WE PLANT A TREE OR REDUCE VEHICLE TRIPS, WE ARE MAKING A DIRECT DEPOSIT INTO THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS WEEK, NATIONAL AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK IS A REMINDER THAT CLEAN AIR IS NOT A GIVEN. IT HAS TO BE PROTECTED. AND AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO DOING EXACTLY THAT. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND WHO WILL BE ACCEPTING THIS? YEAH, THERE YOU GO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WHEREAS, AND YEAH, THAT'S GREAT. OKAY. WHEREAS AIR QUALITY CAN THREATEN OUR ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY AND THE HEALTH OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND WHEREAS CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASE AND PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY. AND THEY MAKE UP HALF OF ALL CENTRAL TEXAS RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS IN 2025 AIR QUALITY IN THE AUSTIN ROUND ROCK, SAN SAN MARCOS, MSA WAS MODERATE OR WORSE ACCORDING TO THE AIR QUALITY AND INDEX FOR 57% OF DAYS. WHEREAS IN 2025, THE AUSTIN ROUND ROCK, SAN MARCUS MSA EXCEEDED THE FEDERAL EIGHT HOUR OZONE STANDARD, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK, THE REGION'S RISK OF BEING DESIGNATED NON-ATTAINMENT. AND WHEREAS IN 2025, THE AUSTIN ROUND ROCK, SAN MARCUS, MSA EXCEEDED THE FEDERAL ANNUAL FINE PARTICULATE MATTER STANDARD FOR A SECOND YEAR, WHICH INCREASES THE REGION'S RISK OF BEING DESIGNATED NON-ATTAINMENT. WHEREAS REMAINING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE N-A-A-Q-S IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT ALSO FOR THE REGION'S ECONOMY AND ABILITY TO CONDUCT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. AND WHEREAS THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS DESIGNATED MAY 4TH THROUGH EIGHTH 2026 AS NATIONAL AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK. AND WHEREAS THE GOAL OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS CLEAN AIR COALITION IS TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS AND TO REDUCE IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO THE EFFORTS OF THE REGIONAL CENTRAL TEXAS CLEAN AIR COALITION AND ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES TO TAKE ACTION, TO BE AIR AWARE AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT LOCAL AIR QUALITY BY VISITING CAP COGS, AIR AIR CENTRAL TEXAS WEBSITE@AIRCENTRALTEXAS.ORG, AS WELL AS BY PROMOTING AIR [00:15:01] QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE, TOGETHER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REMAINDER OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4TH THROUGH EIGHTH, 2026 AS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. OOH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WOULD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I THINK THE MIC IS OPEN BUT NOT REQUIRED. YEAH, NO, THAT'S GOOD. YEAH, THAT'S FINE. ALRIGHT, TAKE PICTURE THEN. LET'S SCOOT FORWARD AND GET A PICTURE TOGETHER. OKAY. [Proclamation – Jewish American Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Member Marc Duchen] GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'M MARK UCHIN, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR AUSTIN DISTRICT 10. I'M PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF OUR LOCAL JEWISH LEADERS AND TO CELEBRATE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN MAY. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES IS A RICHLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY. IT'S UNITED BY SHARED TRADITIONS, BY SHARED VALUES, AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. FOR MORE THAN 250 YEARS, JEWISH AMERICANS HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR NATION'S CULTURE, CIVIC LIFE, AND ECONOMIC LIFE. I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT STORY. LIKE MANY PEOPLE THAT COME FROM IMMI IMMIGRANT BACKGROUNDS, MY FAMILY FOUND OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND WE STRIVE TO GIVE BACK IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. OUR JEWISH TIES AND FAITH HELPED ANCHOR OUR NEW LIVES HERE IN AMERICA. HERE IN AUSTIN, THOUGH WE'VE GOT A GROWING, VIBRANT JEWISH COMMUNITY WITH SYNAGOGUES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN FAITH, CULTURE, AND SERVICE. I'M PROUD TO HAVE MANY OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS IN DISTRICT 10. AT THE HEART OF THIS WORK ARE A NUMBER OF JEWISH PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING TIK ALUM, WHICH IS REPAIRING THE WORLD THROUGH SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL ACTION. AND SADAKO, WHICH IS NOT ONLY CHARITY, BUT A RESPONSIBILITY TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND SUPPORT OTHERS. THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES THAT WE LIVE IN, BUT AUSTIN REMAINS AN OPEN, WELCOMING AND RESILIENT PLACE TO LIVE STRONG COMMUNITY AND SOLIDARITY MATTER MORE THAN EVER HERE. SO I WANT TO THANK FIRST RABBI STEINMAN FOR JOINING US TODAY, MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS CONDRE AND ALTER, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, UH, SORRY. AND, AND, UH, COUNCILOR LANE. UM, AND, UH, I WANT TO FIRST WELCOME EMILY FROM SHALOM AUSTIN TO SAY A FEW WORDS YEP. AND THEN HAND IT OFF TO THE RABBI. LET'S DO IT. ALRIGHT. GOOD MORNING. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF SHALA AUSTIN. MY NAME IS EMILY BOURGEOIS AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. MY WORK ACTS AS THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARM OF THE AUSTIN JEWISH COMMUNITY. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, INTERFAITH AND INTER-COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND EDUCATION LEADERS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR SHARED PRIORITIES, ESPECIALLY COMBATING ANTISEMITISM AND PROMOTING ACCURATE, MEANINGFUL REPRESENTATIONS OF JEWISH PEOPLE AND JEWISH CULTURE ACROSS THE CITY. THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT HERE AND AROUND OF THE AND AROUND THE WORLD. MUCH OF MY WORK HAS INVOLVED RESPONDING WHEN CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS NINE ARE TARGETED IN THEIR SCHOOLS. WHEN ANTI-SEMITIC GRAFFITI APPEARS ON OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP, WHEN NAZI FLYERS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WHEN HATEFUL RHETORIC SPREADS ONLINE AND BEYOND. THIS WORK IS DIFFICULT AND OFTEN HEAVY, BUT SOMEONE FAR WISER THAN I AM ONCE SAID THAT MOMENTS OF TRAGEDY, WHETHER TODAY OR AT ANY POINT IN JEWISH HISTORY, ARE INTERRUPTIONS IN THE JEWISH STORY. THEY ARE NOT THE STORY ITSELF. HATRED DOES NOT DEFINE US. WE ARE DEFINED BY 3000 YEARS OF SHARED HISTORY, RICH, RESILIENT, AND AS DIVERSE AS THE MANY COUNTRIES WE COME FROM. THIS IS WHAT JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATES HERE IN AUSTIN. WE CELEBRATE THE JEWISH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE HELPED BUILD THIS CITY. WE ARE IMMIGRANTS, ENTREPRENEURS, THINKERS, ADVOCATES, AND LEADERS. MICHAEL DELL BUILT A GLOBAL COMMUNITY HERE, AND HE AND HIS WIFE HAS HAVE TRANSFORMED LIVES THROUGHOUT PHIL THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. AUSTINITE DANIEL LUBETSKY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN BRIDGING DIVIDES IN CREATING A SHARED SOCIETY. OUR RESTAURATEURS NOURISH THE CITY THROUGH PLACES LIKE JU BOY BURGERS, LOCA DO, ORO AND ROSENS BAGELS. AND OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE HELPED LEAD, LEAD AUSTIN FORWARD WITH VISION AND INTEGRITY. JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IS A CELEBRATION OF CONTRIBUTION, RESILIENCE, AND BELONGING AND OF ALL THAT JEWISH AMERICANS HAVE GIVEN AND CONTINUE TO GIVE TO THE PLACES THAT WE CALL HOME. I WANNA THANK, UM, ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND I'M GONNA CALL UP, UM, MY, MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, RABBI ELEANOR STEINMAN, WHO'S [00:20:01] THE, UM, SENIOR RABBI OF TEMPLE BETH SHALE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EMILY. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR MARKING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH THIS MONTH. AS EMILY STATED, AND COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN STATED, THE JEWISH AMERICAN STORY ARE INTERCONNECTED IN DEEP AND PROFOUND WAYS FROM THE MOMENT THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED NEARLY 250 YEARS AGO. WE'LL CELEBRATE THAT VERY SOON WITH OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF WHAT IT MAKES, UH, WHAT MAKES US AMERICA AS ONE OF THE MANY RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL GROUPS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS SOUGHT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND EVERY PLACE WHERE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WELCOMED. AND THEY HAVE DONE SO JUST AS WE HAVE DONE HERE IN AUSTIN WITH TREMENDOUS INTENTION, WITH CAPACITY FOR CARING AND COMMUNITY, AND WITH STILL REMAINING ADHERENCE TO OUR FAITH AND OUR TRADITION. IT SAYS IN OUR TORAH, IN THE HEBREW BIBLE THIS WEEK IN OUR WEEKLY READING, THAT WE SHOULD PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT THE LAND. WE KNOW THAT SENTENCE VERY WELL AS IT WAS ON A BELL THAT WAS WRONG, JUST THAT ONE TIME. AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BE PART AS CONTINUE OF AMERICAN THRIVING AND JEWISH THRIVING HERE IN THIS COUNTRY AS WE CONTINUE TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL CITIZENS OF THIS WONDERFUL PLACE WE CALL HOME. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, RABBI. AND NOW WE'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, RABBI. THANK YOU. AND I'M JUST GONNA READ IT REAL QUICKLY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GENERATIONS OF JEWISH AMERICANS WHO HAVE HELPED WEAVE THE FABRIC OF AMERICAN HISTORY, WHO CULTURE AND SOCIETY, AND MADE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENTS. AND WHEREAS OUR CITY RECOGNIZES THAT THE ALARMING RISE IN ANTISEMITISM AND HATRED IS A THREAT NOT ONLY TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE, BUT TO ALL OF US. AND THAT WE MUST FOSTER THE CONDITION THAT ALLOW OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFE, TO BE HEALTHY, AND TO BE RESILIENT. AND WHEREAS WE OFFER HOPE AND OPTIMISM FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE VIBRANT HERITAGE OF THE JEWISH AMERICANS WHO HAVE ENRICHED OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITIES FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BY BRINGING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH TO OUR CITIES. AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS GROWN RAPIDLY IN THE LAST DECADE, NOW NUMBERING OVER 65,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AS LEADERS IN POLITICS, THE ARTS, ACADEMIA, TECHNOLOGY, MEDICINE, AND THE BUSINESS SECTORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND WHEREAS THE GREATER AUSTIN AREAS HOME TO A VIBRANT ISRAELI AMERICAN COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY THROUGH INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND GROWTH IN THE TECH SECTOR. AND WHEREAS AUSTIN IS HOME TO 15 SYNAGOGUES NOW REPRESENTING A DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF JEWISH PRACTICES ACROSS KABAD REFORM, CONSERVATIVE, MODERN, ORTHODOX, AND NON-DENOMINATIONAL MOVEMENTS. AND WHEREAS SHALOM AUSTIN SERVES AS THE HUB OF JEWISH LIFE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, SERVING THE JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY THROUGH THEIR WORK IN HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, JEWISH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, MAYOR WATSON AND MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND LANE AND, UM, AND ALTER, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY, 2026 AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WOO. OKAY. AND NOW I'M GONNA ASK QUICKLY THAT WE MOVE UP IN FRONT OF THE, UH, PODIUM HERE FOR A COUPLE OF PHOTOS. UH, [Proclamation – Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri] GOOD MO MORNING EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS COUNCIL MEMBER ZORIE. I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, AS WE CELEBRATE A API HERITAGE MONTH AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN. UH, WITH ME, WE HAVE SO MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS, UH, I I WAS AFRAID HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA SHOW UP, BUT THAT'S THE API COMMUNITY. WE'RE, WE'RE SMALL BUT MIGHTY. UH, BUT WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALTER LANE UCHIN AND MAYOR PRO VELA AND TRUSTEE, UH, WHITLEY CHU FOR, FOR BEING, FOR JOINING US TODAY, UM, TO COMMEMORATE ANOTHER API HERITAGE MONTH. UM, THE AUSTIN API COMMUNITY, UH, AS I, AS I ALREADY KIND OF NOTED, IS SMALL, BUT IT'S GROWING. UH, WE ARE AN IMPORTANT, UH, PART OF THIS [00:25:01] COMMUNITY. AND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOT OTHERS. WE ARE NOT FOREIGN. UH, WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, UH, FOR DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES, RIGHT? UH, WHETHER IT BE, UH, FOLKS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UH, WHETHER IT BE LAWYERS OR WHETHER IT BE PHYSICIANS, WHETHER IT BE, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS, WHETHER IT BE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR FOLKS WHO WORK IN THIS BUILDING AND, AND MAKE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS LOOK GOOD, . UH, AND I'M, I'M JUST SO THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S ALSO VERY DIVERSE. I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN THINK OF A API AND DEPENDING ON WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY THEY'RE IN, OR DEPENDING ON WHAT CITY THEY'RE IN, THEIR MIND WILL GO TOWARDS, UH, ONE SPECIFIC A API GROUP. BUT WE'RE A VERY DIVERSE, UH, COMMUNITY. UH, THAT ALSO MEANS A LOT OF REALLY GREAT FOOD . UH, SO I GOTTA SAY IT. UH, YOU CAN GO WRONG WITH ASIAN FOOD. UM, BUT, UH, BUT YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF THAT I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND, AND I WANT TO THANK SO MANY FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, UH, FOR LAYING THAT FOUNDATION, UH, FOR, FOR BEING THE FIRST OF. UH, BUT I KNOW THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT WORK THAT'S SOLD TO BE DONE. UH, I HAVE A NINE MONTH OLD AT HOME, UH, AND EVERY TIME I LEAVE FOR WORK WHERE I COME BACK, I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE AUSTIN THAT I WANT HIM TO GROW UP IN, AND THE AUSTIN THAT I WANT, UM, EVERYONE'S KIDS TO GROW UP IN. UH, AND THAT'S AN AUSTIN THAT IS DIVERSE, THAT IS KIND, THAT IS EMPATHETIC AND THAT SEES PEOPLE FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITIES, UM, AND, AND, AND UPLIFTS. SO, UH, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. UH, I'M SO HAPPY TO CELEBRATE WITH SO MANY FOLKS. UH, BUT BEFORE I READ, UH, THIS NIFTY P PRO THAT IS IN SUCH TINY WORDS, UH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO, UH, COMMISSIONER DECKER, VICE CHAIR RIGHT HERE. YES. VICE CHAIR ER, YEAH. UH, FIRST FOR A FEW WORDS. SORRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN, UH, MORE FUNNY THAN THAT. THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY SAID. UM, BEFORE WE READ THE PROCLAMATION, AND I AM A PRODUCT OF SO MUCH RESILIENCE IN OUR A API COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND A HISTORY OF CONTRIBUTION, NOT ONLY TO AUSTIN, BUT TO THIS COUNTRY. UM, AND THIS MONTH I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE A PRODUCT OF THAT. UM, AND I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE THEMES THAT WE FIND IN OUR A API COMMUNITIES OF FOOD AS LOVE AND INTERGENERATIONAL CARE, THEY ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT ALL COMMUNITIES. UM, AND SO I THINK THAT THIS MONTH IS NOT ONLY A REMINDER OF OUR RESILIENCE, BUT THE RESILIENCE WE HAVE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO BAND TOGETHER ACROSS COMMUNITIES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. OUR COMMISSION AND THE LEADERS HERE TODAY ARE GRATEFUL. UM, AND I WILL PASS IT BACK TO YOU. OH, GREAT. THANK YOU. YEAH. AND IF YOU WANNA HOLD ONE OF THE PROS OH, YES. AND I WILL READ THE OTHER PC. UM, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S QUITE A BIT, UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WE, WHEREAS AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHO TRACE OUR ANCESTRY TO ASIA AND PACIFIC ISLANDS HAVE CONTRIBUTED, I IMER, I MELY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PUBLIC SERVICE, ARTS CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND THESE RESIDENTS SPEAK MANY LANGUAGES, A LOT OF LANGUAGES, UH, HONOR COUNTLESS TRADITIONS AND PRACTICE DIVERSE FAITHS YET ARE UNITED BY A SHARED COMMITMENT, FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITY, AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION. AND WHEREAS ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER, A API COMMUNITIES COMPRISE APPROXIMATELY 9% OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S POPULATION AND ASIAN AMERICANS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING SINGLE RACE GROUP IN AUSTIN, REFLECTING THE INCREASING DIVERSITY, VITALITY AND FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR CITY. AND WHEREAS THE DIVERSITY WITHIN A API COMMUNITIES STRENGTHENS THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR CITY AND ENRICHES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND INSTITUTIONS. AND WHEREAS DURING ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, WE CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS A API RESIDENTS HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE TO AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC, VITALITY, CULTURAL LIFE, CIVIC LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING. AND WHEREAS EVEN AS WE CELEBRATE THESE CONTRIBUTIONS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A API COMMUNITIES HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION AND ACTS OF HATE, AND WE REAFFIRM OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, DIGNITY, EQUITY, AND BELONGING FOR ALL AUSTINITES. AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN 2014 WORKS TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL ON ISSUES INCLUDING, UH, SORRY, UH, ON ISSUES IMPACTING AUSTIN'S ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES, AND PROUDLY BRINGS THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD. AND WHEREAS IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE STAND TOGETHER AS AUSTIN NOW AND ALWAYS EMBRACING OUR DIVERSITY AS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND UNITY. NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ARI, ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND ALL THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2026 AS ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. SHOULD. * 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.