[00:00:04]
I GET IT WRONG AGAIN, COMMISSIONER.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MAY 12TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO ORDER AT 6 41.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SERVE THE POOR AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL ]
SO THEN WE GO RIGHT INTO THE PUBLIC CON, PUBLIC CON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? YES.
UM, WE WILL START WITH MR. CARLOS SOTO FROM THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK.
MY NAME IS CARLOS ALEJANDRO SOTO, AND I'M RESEARCH PLANNING AND EVALUATION COORDINATOR.
COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK, OR CAN IS A PARTNERSHIP OF GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFIT, PRIVATE AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO LEVERAGE MUTUAL RESOURCES AND IMPROVE THE SOCIAL HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I FINALLY, AFTER 10 YEARS, I CAN SAY THAT
ANYWAY, OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE, UH, GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, UH, UH, PEOPLE FROM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
CAP METRO O HAKA ARE ON OUR BOARD.
ASCENSION SETON, UH, ONE VOICE, UNITED WAY GOODWILL, UH, A CC ACTUALLY, OUR CHAIR RIGHT NOW IS CHRIS SERINI FROM A CC.
AND TOGETHER FOR OVER 30 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING COLLABORATION, UH, EFFORTS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CHALLENGES THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION.
UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDERS ARE AT THE TABLE WHEN ASSESSING AND ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY FACES AND INCREASING UNDERSTANDING ABOUT EMERGING ISSUES AND TRENDS AND TO IDENTIFY PROACTIVE STRATEGIES.
AND SO THE BACK OF THAT FLYER ALSO HAS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT WE'VE CREATED TO INFORM, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE.
LIKE ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WAYS TO GET ENGAGED IN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THEM.
THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL IS ANOTHER GREAT GROUP WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHOW UP, UH, TO, UH, HELP IDENTIFY STRATEGIES FOR HELPING RESIDENTS AND, UH, DISCUSSING LOCAL ISSUES.
AND, UM, WE ALSO MAKE, UH, UH, STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS LIKE, UH, THE, THE CENTRAL TEXAS LANGUAGE ACCESS FUND BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETIMES COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT DON'T HAVE BUDGETS LARGE ENOUGH TO CREATE LANGUAGE ACCESS RESOURCES AND COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LANGUAGE ACCESS MANDATES, RIGHT? SO THE FUND HELPS KIND OF, UH, COVER THAT GAP.
AND SO THE SMALLER FLYER HAS, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAN COMMUNITY DASHBOARD AND THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY REPORT.
THE DASHBOARD'S BEEN PUBLISHED FOR 17 YEARS ALREADY, AND IT HAS 18 INDICATORS ON, UH, SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES.
BUT, UM, THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY REPORT HAS SOME INDICATORS SPECIFIC TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
AND THESE BOTH TOOLS HAVE DISAGGREGATED DATA BY RACE, ETHNICITY, AGE, SEX, AND, UH, AS MUCH AS WE CAN DISAGGREGATE.
AND FINALLY, THE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY FORUM, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING THESE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY FORUMS ON DIFFERENT, UH, ISSUES.
UH, THE LAST TIME WAS ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND THIS ONE IS GONNA BE ON SKILLED TRADES, UH, ELECTRICAL FIELD, SPECIFICALLY EARN AND LEARN, UH, PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET PAID WHILE THEY ARE LEARNING.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REACH OUT MY, UM, EMAIL OR OUR EMAIL IS THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE MS. ZIA JOSEPH SIGNED UP NEXT.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS.
MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I DON'T HAVE VERY MANY SLIDES TODAY, BUT I DO THINK THE ONE THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS IMPORTANT.
THIS IS THE RUNDBERG AREA NORTH PLAZA.
[00:05:01]
RIGHT ON THE CORNER THERE.CIRCLE C DOBY MIDDLE SCHOOL IS IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT YOU'LL SEE STUDENTS RUNNING ACROSS THE STREET.
CARS CAN TURN LEFT, GO STRAIGHT.
IT'S LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THE HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY IS TO THE LEFT OF WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE RUNNING.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED $47.5 MILLION FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE SIDEWALK IS PLAIN, IT IS NOT TERRACOTTA LIKE THE OTHER SIDEWALKS.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE TRASH CAN HAS BEEN REMOVED, BUT CAPITOL METRO RECEIVED $6 MILLION FROM TDOT FOR BUS STOP INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO PUT TRASH CANS AND OTHER FURNITURE AT THE STOPS.
I DO WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AUSTIN'S HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.
THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE WALK BIKE ROLL 2023, UPDATE TO THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN ON PAGE 37.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THESE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES, THE CITY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IT, HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO DISCRIMINATE.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT TOPIC, BUT IT'LL COME UP LATER WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS IT RELATES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S SOMETHING QUITE SUSPECT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PROJECT.
IT'S 27 ELDER UNITS FOR $20 MILLION.
WHEN I DID THE MATH, THAT'S APPROXIMATELY $743,000 PER UNIT FOR 99 YEARS.
TRYING TO FIND THE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, IS OPAQUE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THIS WENT BEFORE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ASKED FOR $1 MILLION FOR A FUNDING GAP, SPECIFICALLY FOR GENERATORS, AND THE STAFF GOT THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE UP TO 6 MILLION.
WHEN I LOOKED UP THE INFORMATION, THE BACKUP MATERIAL IS GONE, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS STILL UNDER REVIEW, THERE'S 358 PAGES ONLINE, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY FOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS BASICALLY OPAQUE AS WELL.
SO WHEN IT SAYS UNDER REVIEW, I'M NOT SURE WHO'S REVIEWING IT, WHERE IT'S BEING REVIEWED, OR IF THIS IS TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
I'LL SPEAK MORE TO IT WHEN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEN I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.
AND PRESIDING OFFICER HASSO, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE FROM ONLINE, WHICH WOULD BE VICE CHAIR.
HELLO? CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
IS THIS FOR ME TO MAKE, UM, UH, UH, WHAT CLASS? VICE CHAIR WE'RE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK IF YOU HAD WANTED TO SHARE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
SO, UM, I WANTED TO BRING SOME, UM, SORRY.
I WANTED TO, UH, BRING SOME AWARENESS TO AN EVENT THAT HAPPENED.
UM, A YOUNG MAN WAS, UM, TAKEN AWAY FROM US AS AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER AT THIS RESTAURANT CALLED CAJUN EATS, OWNED BY, UH, DO'S BROTHERS, D-U-M-E-S.
ONE OF THEM IS NAMED JERMAINE.
AND, UM, THERE'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF ACT OF GUN VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY AT THIS LOCATION.
UM, AS Y I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL AWARE OF THE VIDEO CIRCULATING ON THE NEWS OUTLETS.
THEY'VE BEEN REAL INSENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE FAMILY THAT'S IMPACTED.
UM, IT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE IT'S MY COUSIN AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING LATE.
I'M WITH FAMILY AND I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN BRING JUST MORE, HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS THAT, UM, HAVE A LACK OF SECURITY SURVEILLANCE AND, AND PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE INCIDENTS.
UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO HAVE THEM COME IN AS WELL, ADD THEM ON THE AGENDA SO THEY CAN SPEAK TOWARDS IT OR EVEN OPEN, HAVE A, UH, OPEN, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
UM, IT'S IN AUSTIN JURISDICTION, EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED IN PFLUGERVILLE, BUT, UM, IT'S STILL IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC RECORD AND SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS
[00:10:01]
THIS ONGOING GUN VIOLENCE THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN.HE WAS AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
HE WAS A FATHER OF KIDS, UM, AND THERE'S JUST NO REMORSE, AND THEY'RE VERY INSENSITIVE.
THEY EVEN, UM, PUT HIS NAME ON A PICTURE ON A FLYER WITHOUT TALKING TO FAMILY AND SAID THEY WERE GONNA PROVIDE A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS.
THEY'RE NOT, UM, PARTICIPATING OR, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT OPEN TO THE, UH, ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
UM, THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM AS FAR AS WHO KILLED HIM.
THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE KILLERS.
I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW HIS NAME.
HE'S A GREAT MAN, DIDN'T HAVE A HATEFUL BONE IN HIS BODY, AND HE WAS TAKEN AWAY TOO SOON.
HE WAS 27 YEARS OLD, BLACK MAN.
ALL HE DID WAS WAS A GOOD MAN, STAYED IN HIS ROOM, MIND HIS BUSINESS.
AND WHEN HE FINALLY GOT OUT, HE WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US IN A SPLIT SECOND.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.AND WE HAVE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF MINUTES THERE.
IF YOU GUYS COULD GO BACK THROUGH, BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION ON THE MARCH MINUTES.
SO IF YOU COULD LOOK THOSE OVER, PLEASE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP FOR COMMUNITY OR FOR COMMENT OF THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS.
I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, I WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, AND I DID SEND IT VIA EMAIL AS WELL.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR MARCH 10TH MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH, YOU'LL SEE IT SAID, QUOTE, ENOVIA JOSEPH SPOKE REGARDING BUS SHELTERS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON MOPAC.
HOWEVER, I SAID NOTHING ABOUT MOPAC.
IF YOU LOOK IN THAT BOARD PACKET, YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSCRIPT, YOU'LL SEE THAT I MENTIONED NORTH LAMAR MANY TIMES.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE MINUTES WERE CORRECTED, IT BASICALLY JUST SAYS, I MAKE COMMENTS.
SO WHY THAT IS PROBLEMATIC, IT IS BECAUSE THE FALSE INFORMATION IS NOW PART OF THE PERMANENT RECORD.
SO IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE MY NAME, SEARCH A TXN, YOU WOULD THEN FIND THOSE MINUTES, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE INCORRECT.
SO MY ASK IS SIMPLY FOR YOU TO CORRECT IT.
IF YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD AND JUST PUT SOMETHING GENERIC THAT'S DIFFERENT.
BUT THE MINUTES, THE OFFICIAL RECORD NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED TO SAY THAT I ACTUALLY MENTIONED TITLE VI BUS STOPS SHELTERS OR DISCRIMINATORY SHELTERS ON NORTH LAMAR.
NOT THAT I MADE COMMENTS, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NEGATE WHAT WAS SAID AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY CONCRETELY THERE BEFORE.
SO MY COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY ARE REGARDING VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE ON MARCH 10TH, SUSANNA ALMANZA ALSO SPOKE TO YOU, AND THEN SHE FOLLOWED UP ON APRIL 14TH, AND SHE CONTINUED HER THOUGHTS FROM THE EQUITY OVERLAY.
YOU'LL REALIZE THAT ON, UH, APRIL 14TH, YOU ACTUALLY PASSED A RESOLUTION.
SO BASICALLY YOU HAVE TAKEN THE COMMENTS OF ONE CITIZEN, PUT IT IN THE MINUTES SPECIFICALLY, AND, AND YOUR AGENDA PACKET.
HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE SHARED IS NOT THERE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN SIDE AS WELL.
YOU HAD VANESSA FUENTES ACTUALLY, UH, ACTUALLY APPLAUDING THE PEOPLE IN THE MONTOPOLIS AREA AND THE PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN FOR THE CO UH, THE CIRCUIT OF AMERICA'S PROJECT.
THAT'LL BE THERE WITH ONE HOTEL.
BUT YET WHEN THERE'S TITLE SIX INFORMATION AND OPPOSITION TO WHAT COUNCIL IS DOING, UH, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT THERE.
AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU THE ONE COMPARISON, WHICH IS EAST VILLAGE, THE 425 ACRE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS FROM SAMSUNG HAS THREE HOTELS IN THAT AREA.
AND THERE'S NOTHING, THERE'S NO TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, UH, COMPARABLE.
AND WHEN THERE'S OPPOSITION STATED THAT INFORMATION IS NOT PUT IN THE, IN THE BOARD PACKET, IT'S NOT PUT IN IN THE COUNCIL RECORD.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU AS THIS 10 SECONDS WRAPS UP,
[00:15:01]
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GOLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.SO CAN WE UPDATE THOSE? SO, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT WE MADE SURE TO, UH, RECORD, WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, AND THIS IS THE NEW GUIDANCE FOR THE NEW BRANDING OF ALL COMMISSIONS ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO WE, THAT'S THE TEMPLATE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING.
UM, AND THAT IS A RESULT OF, UM, OUR INQUISITION OF THAT.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
ALL OF THE COMMENTS WILL NOW FOLLOW THIS TEMPLATE.
WHICH IS STATING THE NAME AND SAYING THAT THEY COMMENTED.
UH, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECORDED, UM, WITH THE RECORDED RECORD FOR THIS OR THE VIRTUAL RECORD OF THIS.
IS THERE A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE MEETINGS OR NO? I BELIEVE IT'S AVAILABLE, BUT IT'S JUST THE RECORDING AT THE MOMENT AND IT DOES TRANSCRIBE IT UNDER THE VIDEO.
I BELIEVE SO DO WE HAVE, UM, A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES? I HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, SO IT, SO IS EVERYTHING IN THERE THAT NEEDS TO BE STATED THAT SHE SAID TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON THE RECORD? SO THE COMMENTS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, AND I BELIEVE ANY OTHER COMMENT BASED ON ITEMS WILL NOW SHOW A NAME AND IT SAYS COMMENTED.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THAT, THE VIRTUAL RECORD IS ONLINE.
THAT IS THE GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
SO AGAIN, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES OR ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES? UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I, I'M, I'M HESITANT BECAUSE I, I REALLY DON'T AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF JUST LIKE LEAVING IT AS SO AND SO PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT.
LIKE I THINK THAT'S JUST A LITTLE AGREED.
UH, IT MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE ICKY TO BE HONEST,
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AND LIKE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, OR THAT THE BRANDING NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED IN SOME WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES FEEL, UM, LIKE IT GIVES LIGHT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO SPEAK.
BUT, UH, YEAH, I REALLY DISAGREE WITH IT BEING THE WAY IT IS,
AT LEAST I CAN MAKE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT.
YEAH, IF I CAN ALSO SAY THAT, UH, WE HAVE A, A STANDARD WHERE PEOPLE SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
SO MAYBE WE NEED A STANDARD FOR THE COMMENTS BECAUSE I, I ALSO DON'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT KEEPING OUT SOMEBODY'S COMMENTS THAT THEY MADE PUBLICLY, NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY ARE.
BUT IF IT'S THREE MINUTES AND THAT THREE MINUTES IS A COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS, IT SHOULD SUFFICE, SUFFICE.
WE CAN DEFINITELY REACH OUT AND SEE IF IT WOULD, IF IT WILL BE ACCEPTED.
BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT IT DOESN'T PASS, UH, STANDARD WHEN WE SEND IT.
AND I THINK IT, IT, THE GUIDANCE THAT WE WERE GIVEN IS BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, UM, UNIFORM ACROSS THE CITY.
AND IF I MAY, UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS.
UM, AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP, UM, SOMETIME AGO, UM, AFTER DIRECTOR DEAN, UH, CAME TO THE, JOIN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND SHE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES AND WHAT WE INCLUDE IN THEM.
THEY ARE NOT, IF YOU READ ANY OF THE MINUTES, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE NOT A WORD FOR WORD TRANSCRIPTION.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE THAT WE FOLLOW FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
SO WE'RE NOT ABLE, UM, WE SHOULDN'T GET THINGS WRONG IF SHE TALKED ABOUT, UM, WE SHOULDN'T MENTION, UH, I FORGOT, UH, BUT SHE SAID, YEAH, WELL I KNOW MS. JOSEPH HOPE SO, BUT NORTH LAMAR IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE, SO WE SHOULDN'T.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WANNA GET AWAY FROM, UM, THE ERROR WITH THE HUMAN JUDGMENT OR LACK THEREOF IN TERMS OF PAYING ATTENTION TO EXACTLY WHAT WAS STATED.
SO IN ORDER TO REMOVE THOSE ERRORS, ANY BIASES THAT
[00:20:01]
PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING FORTH, UM, THE TRANSCRIPTS OR MAKING A COMMENT FOR THE MINUTES, IT'S JUST VERY SIMPLE.AND THEN THE RECORD IS ACTUALLY ONLINE IN THE RECORDED, UM, IN THE RECORDINGS.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE, UH, WE DON'T HAVE LATITUDE IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
SO IS IT THAT WE CAN JUST PUT THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT BE, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED THAT THEY DON'T WANNA PUT ALL THE COMMENTS BECAUSE IT'S TOO LONG.
WELL, RIGHT, AND THEN IT ALSO HAS TO DO, AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE HAD, UM, REACHED OUT BECAUSE OF, OF THESE MINUTES WAS THE ACCURACY.
AND SO AS NEFERTITI, UM, SAID, IT'S TAKING OUT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ERROR.
SO WE, SO I BELIEVE IF WE DISAGREE, THIS WOULD BE A WHOLE CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
IT'S NOTHING WE CAN DO AS, AS A COMMISSION, RIGHT? TODAY THERE ARE SOME CITY POLICIES OR POLICY MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT OFFICIAL WORD, BUT THERE, THERE ARE SOME CITY STEPS GUIDANCE THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT AND, AND THAT WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE FOR TODAY.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? CAMERA'S ON PLEASE.
CAMERAS FOR OUR, UM, VIRTUAL COMMISSIONERS PLEASE.
AND ALL THOSE OPPOSED AND ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.
SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE STAFF BRIEFING.
SO WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APRIL MINUTES.
I'M GOING TO APPROVE THE APRIL MINUTES.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
AND ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, THE MOTION PASSES.
[2. Staff briefing regarding Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) activities and outcomes. Presentation by Angel Zambrano, Program Manager III, Austin Public Health. ]
NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE STAFF BRIEFING ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK, GRANT ANGELS AND BRANO.UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
THIS SHOULD BE PRETTY SHORT THIS MONTH.
SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE FIRST PAGE.
I DID MAKE THE CHANGE TO THE MISSION AND WE UPDATED OUR, UH, THE MISSION STATEMENT ON THE WEBSITE AND OUR INTERNAL SHAREPOINT AS WELL FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
IT READS NOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT AIMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY BY PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, CONNECTING RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
YOU GUYS HAD, UM, VOTED TO CHANGE IT TO AIMS TO IMPROVE.
WE DO THAT THROUGH PROVIDING BASIC NEEDS, PREVENTIVE HEALTH, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE, THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS THERE.
UM, WHICH I WILL ELABORATE DURING OUR, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.
IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET, WE RECEIVED MORE FUNDING, UM, SINCE LAST MONTH.
AND THAT WAS NOT A SURE THING.
UM, ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS THIS MONTH IS THE TRANSITION SIDE OF POVERTY.
LAST MONTH WE HAD, UH, 11, WE'RE UP TO, UH, 17.
SO WE HAVE SIX MORE TRANSITIONS, UH, FROM OUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY CASE MANAGEMENT, UH, CLIENTS AND THE SOCIAL WORKERS THAT WORK WITH THEM.
UM, THE REST IS, YOU CAN READ ON YOUR OWN TIME, A LOT OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION, SOME RENT FROM OUR SMALL, UH, RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE TWO, WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UPDATE.
NOTHING NEW ON SOUTH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
WE HAD A MEETING THIS WEEK WITH, UH, CONTRACTORS
[00:25:01]
AND OTHER FOLKS, AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT, UH, IT WILL HAVE A SOFT OPENING IN AUGUST.SO, GOOD NEWS IN SOME WAYS, BUT, UH, THAT STAFF REALLY WANTS TO BE BACK AT THEIR CENTER.
LET'S GO DOWN TO NUMBER SEVEN, THE CSBG FUNDING UPDATE.
I REPORTED HERE LAST MONTH THAT, UH, THE FUNDS WERE BEING HELD BY THE OFFICE OF, UH, MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND WE MAY NOT GET THEM IN TIME.
WE HAVE 13 STAFF THAT, UH, THAT ARE PART OF THIS FUNDING FOR THEIR PERSONNEL COSTS.
UM, BETWEEN THAT TIME AND NOW, THE MONEY WAS RELEASED AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN NOW HAS UP TO $855,640.
SO WE GOT QUARTER TWO AND QUARTER THREE.
SO WE HAVE FUNDING THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
UH, THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL GET, UM, FOURTH QUARTER BEFORE SEPTEMBER AND WE'LL BE GOOD FOR 26.
UM, OUR LOBBYIST AND FOLKS IN WASHINGTON ARE HOPING TO, TO PASS OR, OR TO, UM, INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD GUARANTEE CSPG FUNDING FOR 10 YEARS GUARANTEED.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ROLLERCOASTER EVERY YEAR TO SEE IF WE'RE GONNA BE FUNDED OR NOT.
BUT THAT'S STILL UP IN THE YEARS.
FUNDING FOR 27 ON IS NOT A SHORT THING STILL.
JUST A REMINDER FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEWER, THAT 321 MILLION THAT WAS RELEASED, UH, IS FOR, UH, EVERY STATE.
AND ABOUT 1000 AGENCIES LIKE OURS DEPEND ON THAT FUNDING TO PROVIDE, UH, BASIC NEEDS SERVICES.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT BUSINESS AS USUAL, UM, WE HAVE OUR JUNETEENTH EVENT AT BLACKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
I JUST GOT THE SAVE THE DATE TODAY, SO I'LL SEND THAT OUT TO MIGUEL SO HE CAN SHARE IT WITH YOU ALL.
I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO STOP BY IF YOU CAN.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT EVENT AT BLACKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
UH, VERY WELL, WELL-ATTENDED, AND A LOT OF VENDORS, MUSIC CULTURE AND THE CELEBRATION OF, UM, OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE HISTORY BEHIND JUNETEENTH.
UM, ONE MORE THING THAT I DID NOT PUT IN HERE, BUT MORE TO COME.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, TO PROVIDE A SMART THERMOSTATS TO HOUSEHOLD UNDER 200%.
AND, UM, THEY'RE F THEY'RE FREE, THEY'RE THE ECO B BRAND AND UH, THEY'RE GONNA HELP IN THE LONG RUN.
UM, AUSTIN ENERGY, UM, ASSESS ENERGY USED DURING TIMES OF CRISIS AND HIGH HEAT.
AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO KIND OF WORK WITH, WITH THE DATA THEY GET FROM THOSE ECO BS TO, UH, SAVE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MONEY ON THEIR BILL.
AN AVERAGE OF, I THINK 25 TO $50 A MONTH SAVINGS IF THEY USE IT THE RIGHT WAY.
UM, AND THEY'RE FREE AND THEY GET INSTALLED BY PROFESSIONALS, RETIRED, UH, INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
IT'S, WE'RE TRYING TO GET A THOUSAND OF THEM OUT, UH, TO OUR CLIENTS AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE, UM, HAKA PROPERTIES AND OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL QUALIFY.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY INNOVATIVE AND EXCITING PROGRAM WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
ARNOLD, ARNOLD, IS I STILL SURE NOW? OH, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY.
SO THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, UM, REGARDING THIS IMPACT SHOT, UH, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, ARE THESE ALL THE ZIP CODES Y'ALL SERVE LISTED HERE? AND IF NOT, WHY AREN'T THEY MISSED IT? I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
COMMISSIONER, THE IMPACT SHORT, RIGHT HERE ON THIS GRAPH THAT SAYS RENTAL NSU RENTAL STATUS UTILITY ASSISTANCE APRIL, 2026, AVERAGE ASSISTANCE AMOUNT, 1,650.
OH, THE BACKUP THAT I SENT TO YOU GUYS.
THESE ARE THE, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING FOR YOUR OWN READING.
UH, THIS IS THE TOP ZIP CODES THAT WE SERVED FOR RENTAL AND UTILITY CODES.
THE TOP SIX, CORRECT? THERE'S MORE ZIP CODES WE SERVE, BUT THIS REPORT KIND OF PULLS THE, THE TOP SIX AND PUTS THEM ON THE REPORT.
YEAH, I, I THINK THAT ALL ZIP CODES SHOULD BE LISTED FOR TRANSPARENCY, DATA WISE, DEMOGRAPHIC AND ASSISTANCE TRACKING.
I KNOW FOR SURE THERE'S, THERE'S PLENTY OF INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE IN 7, 8, 7 2, 1 7, 8, 7, 5 2 THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE.
AND IF THEY'RE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE,
[00:30:01]
THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE IF Y'ALL GOT THAT BLANK SPOT RIGHT THERE, BLANK SPOT, WHY AREN'T THEY INCLUDED IN THAT? HAVE YOU AT LEAST TO INCLUDE ALL OF ZIP CODES, UH, POINT TAKEN.WE CAN, UH, ADD THE ZIP CODES TO THE, UH, BACKUP AS WELL.
THERE MIGHT BE 30, 40 ZIP CODES.
UH, BUT THESE ARE JUST THE TOP SIX IN THIS REPORT.
WE, WE, WE DEFINITELY NEED THAT.
UM, THE SECOND THING, MY SECOND QUESTION IS HOW DO Y'ALL SELECT THE RECIPIENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING RENTAL ASSISTANCE? WELL ASSISTANCE IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2026.
UH, WE HAVE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
UH, PEOPLE CALL THE RENT LINE ON MONDAY MORNINGS AND IF THEY GET THROUGH FOR THE NUMBER OF SLOTS, THEY GO THROUGH A ELIGIBILITY PROCESS.
SO THEY NEED TO, TO BE IN A CRISIS, THEY NEED TO LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, CITY OF AUSTIN.
THEY NEED TO, UM, HAVE UH, PROOF OF, UH, INCOME.
IF THEY HAVE NO INCOME, THEY DO A DECLARATION OF INCOME STATEMENT SAYING THEY HAVE NO, NO FUNDS AND THEY JUST SIGN THAT.
UM, ONCE THAT HAPPENS, WE KIND OF VET THEM AND HAVE TO WORK WITH THE LANDLORD TO MAKE SURE THE LANDLORD IS ON BOARD TO UH, TAKE OUR PAYMENT.
UM, SO IT'S, THAT'S THE PROCESS.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IF BLACK PEOPLE OR AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP 44.44%, WHY ARE THEY ONLY RECEIVING 15.83? UM, THERE'S BEEN COMMENTS MADE THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE BEING OVERLOOKED AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
WE ARE THE ONES BEING PUSHED OUT, ESPECIALLY IN THESE HISTORIC BLACK FREE MEN COMMUNITIES SUCH AS 7 8, 7 5 2, WHICH I DON'T SEE ON THERE.
7, 8, 7 2 1, WHICH I DON'T SEE ON THERE.
AND 7 8 7 0 2, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIRST ZIP CODES THAT HAVE BEEN GENTRIFIED.
SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS MAP, IT STARTS TO HAVE ME RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE BEING RECEIVED BY BLACK AND OR AFRICAN AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEED IN MAKING COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS AND GIVING THEIR TESTIMONIES.
AND ALSO WORKERS THAT WORK AT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS THAT ARE BLACK AND HISTORICALLY DISPLACED AND ARE BORN AND RAISED.
AUSTIN NATIVES ARE ALSO STATING BLACK PEOPLE ARE BEING OVERLOOKED BY THE SUPERVISORS THERE.
UH, THE DATA SHOWS THAT 44.44% OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT RECEIVED RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN APRIL WERE, UH, BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN.
SO IT SAYS THE HOUSEHOLD BY RACE, BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN.
AND IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE NSUO ACES ASSISTANCE, APRIL, 2026, SERVED 4,535, YOU'LL SEE THAT BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN ONLY MAKE UP 15 POINT 83%.
AND THEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ZIP CODES THEY ARE IN AS WELL.
I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE DETAILS REGARDING THIS, UM, PRESENTATION OR REPORT REGARDING RACE, ETHNICITY, HOW MANY BLACK OR BROWN, WHITE, WHO DON'T WANNA PREFER NOT TO SAY OR IN EACH ZIP CODE SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHERE THESE FRONTS ARE GOING AND IF THEY'RE REALLY MAKING AN IMPACT.
AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND ALSO USES THE SAME SERVICES ALONG WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I DON'T GET NOTHING FROM THIS.
I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THE IMPACT THAT'S ON THIS SCREEN.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M RAISING THESE CONCERNS.
SO IT SAYS 15 28 3, THAT'S, I WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT.
I THINK THE CON I WAS THINKING THIS IS FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE ON THIS CHART.
SO WHEN YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN TERMS OF RENT AND UTILITY, IT'S 44.44%.
THIS ONE HAS, WE SERVE 4,535 SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO THESE FOLKS.
AND IT BREAKS IT DOWN THIS WAY.
I CAN LOOK INTO THE DATA ON THE, UH, BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME ERROR OR IF SOME OF THESE OTHER RACE ETHNICITIES LISTED ARE FALLING OUT, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PART OF THE, UH,
[00:35:01]
BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN.UH, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE ACCURATE DATA ON THIS PAGE, BUT I WANTED JUST, UH, FOR THE RECORD ON THE RENT UTILITY ASSISTANCE ON DID SERVE HOUSE, AS YOU SAW THERE, 44 POINT, UM, WHAT WAS IT AGAIN? 44.44 HOUSEHOLDS WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN FOR RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
NOW I'LL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THE, UH, THE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND SEE IF THOSE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT.
UH, 'CAUSE IT DOES SEEM LOW TO ME, 15%, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE, UM, IT BREAKS IT DOWN A LITTLE MORE HERE AND I WANT TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT CORRECT FOR THAT.
ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE, IF, IF Y'ALL ARE PROVIDING WRAPAROUND RESOURCES MM-HMM
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE GAP? BECAUSE IF THEY NEED UTILITY ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THEY'RE GONNA ALSO NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE AS WELL.
WHY IS THAT SUCH A HUGE GAP IN THAT? AND WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW THE SAME FOR THE RACE AND ETHNICITY, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING SERVED IN THESE ZIP CODES.
AND IF IT TAKES US AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF TO GET THAT, LET'S DO IT.
IF YOU'RE ALL UP FOR REVIEWING AN HOUR AND A HALF OF DATA, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I MEAN, I'M JUST HERE TO SERVE YOU GUYS JUST, UH, HOW YOU'RE GONNA USE YOUR TIME AND HOW YOU WANT THIS THAT HAS, TOM HAS NO, IT'S NO ISSUE WHEN WE OUT HERE TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.
UM, IT CAN I SPEAK OR IS AM AM I IN A LINE? UM, YOUR FLOOR COMMISSIONER? YEAH.
I MEAN, UH, UNLESS VICE CHAIR SOMEBODY ELSE RAISED THEIR HAND FIRST ACTUALLY HAND.
YEAH, I HAD A A COMMENT THAT IF, IF WE WANNA WAIT FOR A MOMENT THAT'S FINE.
UM, OR I'LL JUST, THAT'S OKAY.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH, UM, SO, UM, THOSE ARE REALLY, REALLY GREAT POINTS THAT VICE CHAIR ARNOLD BROUGHT UP, UH, BECAUSE IT DID SPARK MY INTEREST TO, TO DIG A LITTLE, A DIG A LITTLE DEEPER.
UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY HELP TO DISPEL ANY PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE DEGREE WITH WHICH DISTRIBUTION IS HAPPENING.
UH, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT IT IS BEING SKEWED.
UH, SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY VALID POINTS, UH, THAT VICE CHAIR ARNOLD BROUGHT UP AND, UM, ENSURING WE'RE BEING EQUITABLE IN THIS WORK.
BUT MY, MY QUESTIONS, UH, MOVE IN A LITTLE DIRECTION, A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ON HOW, SO THE PART ABOUT FUNDING THROUGH Q3 REALLY STRIKES ME, UH, BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY CENTERS DOES THIS AFFECT AND WITH THIS RISK SITUATION IS THE RISK OF CLOSURE OF CENTERS NOT TO CREATE ANY KIND OF UNNECESSARY FEAR FOR THOSE PARTICULAR STAFF OR PERSONNEL AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS? YOU DON'T NEED A NAME, BUT I WOULD BE CURIOUS OF QUANTITY.
HOW MANY CENTERS DOES THIS AFFECT AND IS THERE RISK OF POTENTIAL PAUSE AND SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES? UH, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE $1.1 MILLION WE RECEIVE IN CSBG FUNDING, IT'S AROUND THAT.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT, IT'S CLOSE TO 1.1 MILLION PER YEAR FUNDS, 13 STAFF ACROSS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
SO WE HAVE STAFF WHO ARE PAID THROUGH CSBG FUNDING AT ALL THE CENTERS EXCEPT ON TOP THIS 'CAUSE IT'S NEW.
SO THAT WAS ALL GENERAL FUND THROUGH THE BOND AND DOVE SPRINGS 13 STAFF.
AND REMIND ME AGAIN HOW MANY CENTERS WE HAVE? UH, SEVEN.
THAT'S VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION TO HAVE, UM, AND PUTTING ALL THE GOOD JUJU ON THE LOBBYISTS THERE IN DC TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS IN REGARDS TO THAT NEW AUSTIN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM MM-HMM
AND YOU SAID YOU WANT TO OFFER IS A THOUSAND A MAX THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS OF THE PROGRAM WITH WHICH PEOPLE ARE QUALIFYING, HOW THEY'RE SIGNING UP FOR IT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND AGAIN, THIS LINKS BACK TO WHAT VICE CHAIR HONOR WAS DISCUSSING MM-HMM
IN TERMS OF EQUITY ACROSS THE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. UH, RIGHT.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S A VERY NEW, UH, PILOT THAT AUSTIN ENERGY'S DOING WITH WITH US AND THEY WANNA EXPAND IT TO THE WHOLE CITY.
[00:40:01]
EVERYONE WHO'S ELIGIBLE WILL HAVE ONE OF THESE SMART ECO B THERMOSTATS.SO I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WE DO MORE OF THIS, UH, PARTNERSHIP AND THEY HOST OR WE HOST THEM AT OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER EVENTS.
UM, I'LL DEFINITELY HAVE MORE DATA ON WHO RECEIVES THESE DEMOGRAPHICS, HOW MANY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE OUT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'M TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THAT ACTUALLY.
SO YOU JUST BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE THIS, UH, FOR SIGNUP AT THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION.
IS IT ONLY ACCESSIBLE AT THESE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES OR TIMES AND WONDERING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? 'CAUSE I'M NOT NECESSARILY, ALTHOUGH IT'S A GREAT THING TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED, I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT IT TRULY IS, UM, SHARED AMONGST ALL COMMUNITIES.
IT IS NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVED THROUGH CENTERS MM-HMM
BUT THOSE WHO MAY HAVE INTEREST TO SIGN UP WHO MIGHT BE NEW ENTRANTS INTO THE CENTERS PROGRAMS AND WRAPAROUNDS.
I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION FOR NEXT MONTH.
FOR RIGHT NOW IT IS AT THE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUST STARTING AT THOSE DISTRIBUTIONS AND MOVING ON, EXPANDING, LIKE I SAID, MAYBE TO HACKER PROPERTIES, KIND OF REACHING OUT TO SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WHO MAY BE ABLE TO, UH, GET THE WORD OUT TO THEIR, UH, CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW WE'RE STARTING AT OUR OWN DISTRIBUTIONS JUST TO GET, JUST TO GET THE PROCESS GOING.
IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THE LANGUAGE TO SAY IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY A PART OF THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION OR WORKING WITH THE CENTERS FOR, UM, THEIR WRAPAROUND RESOURCES GET ON IT SO THAT WAY THEY CAN BE A PART OF AND TAKE A PART OF THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
SO, UM, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR WHEN WE'RE SHARING THIS INFORMATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE, IT DOESN'T TURN INTO A SITUATION OF THOSE THAT ARE IN THE KNOW MM-HMM
RECEIVE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. RIGHT.
SO SAD IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW OR IF YOU WERE NOT ALREADY A PART OF THE SYSTEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF THAT THAT ALREADY HAPPENS AND YEAH.
AT LEAST I FEEL MY CONTRIBUTION TO THIS COMMISSION IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION BACK MM-HMM
AND GIVE INFORMATION TO SO WE CAN TRY TO BREAK MORE OF THAT DOWN SO IT'S NOT CREATING THAT SPACE OF LIKE A HALF AND HALF NOTS SITUATION WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY OF PORT
SO, UH, I'LL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW IF I FIND OUT SOMETHING EARLIER, I'LL GO THROUGH MIGUEL WITH AN UPDATE.
IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM, A FLYER, HOW WE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT.
AND THEN THIS IS THE LAST THING AND IT'S A GREAT THING, A SHINE ON, UM, THE, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT JUNETEENTH 'CAUSE I LOVE GOING TO THE BLACK WIND JUNETEENTH EVENT.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR PUTTING THAT OUT TONIGHT.
BUT THEN THE OTHER ONE ABOUT THE FAN GIVEAWAY, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT EVENT THAT Y'ALL HAD AND HOW THAT WENT? I CAN'T GIVE ANY FOR SUMMERTIME.
I THINK IT WAS LIKE A COOL LOG OR A COOL, IT WAS, IT WAS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT IT WAS WITH IN TANDEM WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, UPDATES, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU UPDATES NEXT MONTH ON THAT.
AND OUR FAN DRIVE THAT'S GETTING GOING WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, FAMILY ELDER CARE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FANS FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS THIS SUMMER.
SO I'LL PUT THAT ON MY NOTES FOR, UH, NEXT MONTH.
ESPECIALLY IF PEOPLE CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR IT BY THE TIME YOU'RE MAKING PRESENTATIONS.
UM, RIGHT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS FINISHED WITH JUST THAT, UH, NO, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVEN PICKED UP MANY FANS YET, SO IT'S OH, IT HASN'T IN TERMS OF OUR OWN PROGRAM.
SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW NEXT MONTH.
UM, SO FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, I LOOKED UP A COUPLE ON GOOGLE MAPS AND CURRENTLY THE PHOTOS ARE, UM, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE OLD OR UM, WHAT, BUT THEY'RE NOT SHOWING, UH, A VERY GREAT PHOTO AND IT'S ONLY ONE ON A FEW OF THEM.
UM, SO IT DOESN'T REALLY TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU SEE IT ON GOOGLE MAPS.
ALSO, WHEN YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE TO EVEN LEARN ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE, IT SAYS PAGE NOT FOUND ON OVER THREE OF THEM CURRENTLY.
UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO FYI, UH, THE GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS COULD PROBABLY BE IMPROVED JUST TO KIND OF GET MORE REVIEWS.
I THINK THE, UM, MONTOPOLIS COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH HAS A RECREATIONAL CENTER, HAS THE BEST, UH, THERE'S LIKE 183 REVIEWS ON THERE.
SO I THINK, UM, THE MORE THAT Y'ALL CAN KIND OF HELP IMPROVE THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR WHEN SOMEONE SEARCHES PANTRIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, STUFF COMES UP ON GOOGLE MAPS.
[00:45:01]
ABOUT, UM, AT CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, UH, BASED ON THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE COMING IN, DO YOU, UM, THE BASIC NEEDS, I'M ASSUMING LIKE SOMETIMES LIKE SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONERS ARE THINGS THAT Y'ALL PROVIDE IN LIKE THE, THE PANTRY OR, OR THINGS LIKE THAT? UH, IT DEPENDS WHAT WE GET FROM LIKE THE AMAZON PICKUPS OR THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK.SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
UH, WELL DO Y'ALL TAKE LIKE COMMUNITY DONATIONS AT ALL? LIKE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD? WE CAN'T ASK FOR DONATIONS, BUT WE DO TAKE THEM.
UH, 'CAUSE IT WAS JUST A THOUGHT, UH, WHEN I WAS LIVING IN SHELTERS OR JUST LIKE WHEN I WENT TO COMMUNITY PANTRIES, WHEN I WAS HOMELESS, A LOT OF PLACES DIDN'T PROVIDE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY WORKED FOR MY SKIN TYPE OR MY HAIR TYPE.
SO LIKE AS A BLACK GIRL, I DIDN'T GET, LIKE THE SHELTER DID NOT PROVIDE, UH, BLACK HAIR SUPPLY.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, OF COLOR COMING IN TO TRY TO ASK FOR, UM, MORE, UH, DIVERSE
SO EVERY MONTH YOU COME IN, YOU GIVE US VANITY STATISTICS AND YOU GIVE US FLAT SPREADSHEETS.
THIS DOESN'T TELL US HOW THE PROGRAM IS WORKING.
RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER.
I AM ANYWAY 'CAUSE I'M A DATA ARCHITECT, SO I WANT DATA.
AND, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT ALL DATA IS SIDELOADED, SO YOU GOTTA GO AFTER IT HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE.
AND THEN ONCE YOU GET IT, YOU CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT'S MISSING HERE.
SO IF WE STICK TO THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION, HOW, HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION ACTUALLY.
I THINK IT'S WORKING IN TERMS OF, UH, DURING THE DISTRIBUTION, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR CENTERS MM-HMM
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT THAT DAY OR THOSE NEXT FEW DAYS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE STANDING THERE IN FRONT OF A HUMAN BEING PROVIDING THREE DAYS WORTH OF FOOD, FOUR DAYS, WHATEVER WE HAVE DURING OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, WE'RE MAKING AN IMPACT IN THOSE THREE DAYS.
WHEN YOU RISE UP TO THE LEVEL OF SOCIETY, IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL DON'T HAVE A LIVING WAGE, THEY DON'T HAVE NATIONAL HEALTHCARE, THEY CAN'T PAY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SO AT THAT LEVEL, I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND SAY WE'RE NOT MAKING MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
BUT AT THE GROUND LEVEL, WHEN I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF THAT HUMAN BEING AND THAT FAMILY OR THAT CHILD WITH HIS MOM AND WE ARE PROVIDING A CAR SEAT OR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES OR A NOTARY SERVICE THAT A BANK WOULD CHARGE YOU $30 OR 50 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT, WE ARE DEFINITELY STRONGLY IMPACTING THAT PERSON'S LIFE AT THAT MOMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
WE ARE NOT TASKED WITH CHANGING SOCIETY AS MUCH AS WE WOULD WANT TO.
WE CAN'T EVEN LOBBY AS CITY EMPLOYEES.
ALL I CAN DO IS COME HERE, REPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THE DATA THAT I REPORT IS THE DATA I GIVE THE STATE AND THEY LOOK AT THAT AND THEY GO, OH WOW.
AUSTIN CITY OF AUSTIN HAS, UM, 49 TRANSITIONS OUT OF POVERTY THIS PAST YEAR AND THEIR GOAL WAS 41.
THAT'S SUCCESS FOR THE STATE BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES IN THE STATE ARE NOT MEETING THEIR TRANSITION GOALS.
IT'S ALSO HUGELY IMPACTFUL FOR US ON THAT DAY WHEN THAT PERSON TRANSITIONS, MAYBE IN THREE MONTHS THEY'LL LOSE THAT JOB OR IN SIX MONTHS.
BUT WE'RE RIGHT THERE AGAIN WITH FAITHFULNESS AND LOVE TO HELP THEM THAT DAY.
AT THE 30,000 DAD ARCHITECT LEVEL, IT'S NOTHING.
PEOPLE STILL STRUGGLE AND SUFFER ON THE DAY-TO-DAY LEVEL.
WE CAN GO HOME AND SLEEP AT NIGHT AND SAY, WE HELP THESE FAMILY OR 200 FAMILIES TODAY, OR 10 PEOPLE WITH CAR SEATS AND THEN SHOW THEM HOW TO INSTALL THEM AND DRIVE THEIR KIDS SAFELY AROUND TOWN.
SO THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 18 YEARS.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE IT? WHERE, WHERE ARE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO SAY THAT THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING? NOT BUSINESS.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT IN, WE'RE NOT IN BUSINESS SOCIAL SERVICE.
WE ARE A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY THAT IS HELPING FOLKS.
SO WHEN I COME HERE AND I SAY WE SERVED OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH FOOD ASSISTANCE, TO ME THAT'S SUCCESS.
[00:50:01]
GRANULAR LEVEL ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, WE'RE MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE.MR. ZAMBRANO 47 ZIP CODES IN, IN TRAVIS COUNTY LACK FOR OUT OF THE 47 ZIP CODES IN TRAVIS COUNTY, 18 LACK OF FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE, SEVEN OF THOSE ARE PARTIALLY OR FULLY FOOD DESERT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SOMETHING THAT HASN'T CHANGED THIS BECAUSE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE METRICS TO MEASURE, BUT IT MEASURE THAT.
BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT'S ROLE TO CREATE GROCERY STORES.
WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HEB WILL ONLY PUT A GROCERY STORE BASED ON REAL ESTATE.
SO WE HAVE SEVEN ZIP CODES THAT ARE FOOD DESERTS.
SO WE KNOW THAT HE B'S NOT PUTTING A GROCERY STORE IN THERE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THEM REAL ESTATE WISE.
BUT WE CAN PUT A, A HALF A ONE, WE CAN PUT NOT A FULL SERVICE ONE.
SO FOR 18 YEARS, WE BASICALLY HAVE A TEMPORARY TAXPAYER FUNDED MUNICIPAL SERVICE THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S HELPING BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PERFORMANCE METRICS IN FRONT OF US TO SAY THAT.
SO THE, SO THE, SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.
THE CITY SPEND, THE CITY GIVES THE CENTRAL FOOD BANK MONEY EVERY MONTH TO BUY FOOD, TO GIVE AWAY JUST THE FOOD THAT IS NOT CORRECT.
WELL, IS DONATED FOOD IS DONATED.
SO THEN IF THE FOOD IS DONATED, HOW, HOW MUCH MONEY, WHAT, WHAT IS THIS? I'M STILL CONFUSED HERE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE METRICS IN FRONT OF ME TO SAY, IS THIS PROGRAM WORKING? I THINK I ALREADY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
I THINK YES, IT IS WORKING ON A DAY TO DAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN CRISIS AND NEED FOOD, A CAR SEAT, A FOOD PANTRY SERVICE, HELP FINDING A JOB.
SO WE HELP THEM THAT THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOES NOT TELL US THAT THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING BASED ON WHAT YOU SAY.
IT'S BASED ON NUMBERS AND IT'S BASED ON PERFORMANCE METRICS TO SAY, HOW IS THIS PROGRAM HELPING PEOPLE WHERE THERE'S STILL 18 ZIP CODES IN TRAVIS COUNTY WITH NOT A FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE.
LET, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE BECAUSE SAY IF THIS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR THIS PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTING, BUT IF HOW MUCH ALL THIS MONEY IS GOING TO SOMETHING THAT'S TEMPORARY, WE NEED SOMETHING, A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
THE, UH, AND, AND I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FOOD AND THAT'S ALL I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU COMMISSIONER.
IT IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION BY ANY MEANS.
IT IS ADDRESSING THE CRISIS AT THE TIME IT'S HAPPENING AND DOING OUR BEST AS THE CITY OR AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THAT.
MOST HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY DO NOT OFFER THE SERVICES WE OFFER.
WE'RE ACTUALLY A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY.
MOST HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOCUS ON EPIDEMIOLOGY, UH, COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND FOOD SAFETY AT RESTAURANTS.
WE NEED MORE INFORMATION TO FIND OUT IF YOUR PROGRAM IS DOING WHAT IT SAYS IT'S DOING.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY THAT I DON'T NO, YOU DON'T.
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT, OH, IT'S WORKING BECAUSE IT'S DOING THIS.
THAT'S NOT HOW PROGRAMS ARE, ARE MEASURED.
THEY'RE MEASURED WITH PERFORMANCE METRICS AND THEY'RE MEASURED WITH JUST THE DATA, NOT WHAT PEOPLE SAY, BUT IT'S DATA.
AND SO I CAN'T MAKE A A, THERE'S NO WAY TO MAKE AN OBJECTIVES ASSESSMENT OF HOW YOUR PROGRAM IS WORKING.
AND THAT'LL BE MY LAST COMMENT.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.
I THINK FOR ME, AS SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND DATA VERY WELL, I'M GONNA MAKE IT MY PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GO TO THE CENTERS AND TALK TO PEOPLE THAT I SEE THERE.
UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT LIKE AT LEAST I CAN DO MY DUE DILIGENCE TO CHECK IN.
UM, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
I THINK ALSO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
[00:55:01]
THE MORE THAT WE CAN HAVE BETTER OPTION OPTIONS AND BRIDGING GAPS, THE BETTER.I I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S NOT WORKING WELL AND TALKING ABOUT LIKE THESE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS BEING NOT EFFECTIVE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE PEOPLE CAN GO AND AT LEAST GET AC WHAT I WANNA DO IS BRIDGE THE GAPS AND FIND THE THINGS THAT AREN'T BEING DONE AT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OR COULD BE APPROVED AND UP IMPROVED UPON, UM, TO MAKE THEM BETTER AND TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE AND FIND WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T BEING SERVED IN WITHIN IT.
BUT I, I HAVE A HARD TIME BEING SUPER CRITICAL BECAUSE OF LIKE THE, WE, YES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, BUT ALSO LIKE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THEIR DAILY MEALS FROM THESE PLACES, UM, WHO ARE GETTING AC WHO ARE TALKING TO A CASE MANAGER ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING SERVED AND WE CAN FIND THE GAPS WHEN IT COMES TO AN EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPROVING THESE THINGS.
UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M GONNA COME FROM WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE THE CDBG STUFF.
UM, SO I WILL BE COMING IN PROBABLY TOMORROW TO ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS JUST TO CHECK IN AND, AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN FROM CLIENTS, UM, AND THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS ABOUT LIKE WHAT WORKED FOR THEM AND WHAT THEY DID GET.
UM, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO THAT FOR THIS ONE, BUT I DID REALLY APPRECIATE THAT IN THE LAST FEW.
UM, SO, AND TIFFANY, I, COMMISSIONER TIFFANY, I KNOW THAT LIKE, UH, IN THE PAST WE LIKE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD THE BEST DATA WHEN IT COMES TO CDBG, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MR. SOBRANO IS VERY OPEN TO INCLUDING AND, AND ADDING THINGS IN AS WELL.
SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC THINGS, LIKE I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S DEFINITELY LIKE HE'S VERY RECEPTIVE TO, TO ADDING THINGS IN.
I HAVE A LAST, UH, LAST QUESTION AND, UH, I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR, FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS ACCESS THESE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS THAT HAS BEEN THERE WITH MY PARENTS TO GET RESOURCES.
AND THAT CALLS ABOUT 60 TIMES ON MONDAYS UNTIL I GET A RESPONSE.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M GONNA SPEAK FROM.
UM, I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS AND I I HAVE A COMMENT THAT TO ALSO ADD ON TO, I APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL DO, BUT YOU CAN STILL CAUSE HARM WHILE SERVING.
AND ALSO WITH CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, THE HEALING PROJECT, WHICH I AM THE FOUNDER OF CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, ALLOWS YOU TO COTE TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
'CAUSE I MADE THE DECISION TO GO OUT THERE AND DISTRIBUTE FOOD WHEN IT WAS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, TOOK IT TO THE FREE FRIDGES, DIDN'T HAVE A INTAKE FORM, DIDN'T DO THAT.
SO WHOEVER EVER OVER THE FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM, THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THAT WHEN THEY DO THEIR MONTHLY REPORTING BECAUSE I DO THE MONTHLY REPORTING FOR OUR FOOD PROGRAM AT THE HEALING PROJECT AND THEY ARE ALLOWING US TO COTE TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO IF Y'ALL ARE NOT WORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, I SUGGEST Y'ALL HOP ON THAT LIKE YESTERDAY BECAUSE IF THE, IF THERE'S STILL, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE FOOD SCARCITY.
WELL, FOOD INSECURITY IF WE'RE NOT COLLABORATING, IF WE'RE NOT CONNECTING, IF WE'RE NOT MEETING THE NEED.
SO, UH, MY QUESTION IS WHY IS THERE SUCH A BIG GAP ON THIS? UM, TRANS ON THIS, I BELIEVE IT'S PAGE 11 UNDER FOUR FOUR E HOUSING OUTCOME DESCRIPTION, HOUSEHOLD WHO AVOIDED EVICTION TARGET IS 700, ENROLLED 94 94 SUCCESS RATE 13%.
WHY IS THAT SUCH A BIG GAP? UH, THE STATE, UH, ASKS OF US TO PROJECT WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF EVICTION, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUNDING WE'RE GONNA HAVE FOR THE ACTUAL DEMAND.
SO IT ALL, SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A MOVING TARGET.
WE AIM HIGH AND SOMETIMES WE MEET THAT GOAL BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING AND THE RENT PAYMENTS ARE SMALLER.
AS YOU SAW IN THAT OTHER REPORT, THE AVERAGE PAYMENT FOR APRIL WAS ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE HAVE PAID PEOPLE'S RENT UP TO, YOU KNOW, SEVEN, $8,000 DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
WE HAVE TO STAFF THAT CASE AND ACTUALLY PUT IT THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE ARE THEY GONNA BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN HOUSING, ET CETERA.
BUT WE HAVE MADE SOME VERY HIGH RENT PAYMENTS IN THE PAST, SO WHEN WE DO THAT, WE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO REACH THE, UH, THE GOAL THAT WE HAD TO SET A YEAR BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S A, THAT'S A STATE.
HOW MUCH ARE Y'ALL ALLOCATING TOWARDS HOUSING AND, AND AVOIDANT EVICTION? WE ONLY GET AROUND $690,000 A YEAR FOR THAT.
AND ARE Y'ALL SERVING DUPLICATED OR UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AND FOOD? UNDUPLICATED FOR, FOR HOUSING.
[01:00:01]
SO WE CAN HAVE, WE CAN, UH, HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED HELP FROM US BEFORE.BUT FOOD IS ANYBODY WHO PEOPLE CAN COME MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEY CAN GO TO EVERY SINGLE CENTER EVERY MONTH, UM, EVERY WEEK DEPENDING ON THE, UH, THE EVENT.
WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE AWAY FOR FOOD.
HOW, HOW OFTEN CAN SOMEONE APPLY FOR YOUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AFTER THEY RECEIVE HELP? ONE TIME THAT YEAR? UH, HOW LONG DID THEY HAVE TO WAIT TO APPLY AGAIN OR HOW MANY TIMES CAN THEY RECEIVE HELP? UH, THREE YEARS FOR THAT YEAR.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE DO Y'ALL HAVE IN LEADERSHIP AT CHILD NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS? LET'S SEE, WE HAVE, UM, SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, SUPERVISORS, WE HAVE, UH, HEALTH WORKERS, SUPERVISORS.
WE HAVE 3, 4, 5, 6, AND, UH, ROSEWOOD SUPERVISORS, I WOULD SAY TWO, UM, AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPERVISORS OUT OF SEVEN.
1 2, 3 HISPANIC AND TWO CAUCASIAN.
AND IF I MIGHT ADD, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS AFRICAN AMERICAN AND THE PHYSICIAN THAT RUNS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS AFRICAN AMERICAN, BOTH FEMALE.
THE TWO HIGHEST POSITIONS THAN A PH? YES.
SEE THAT'S MORE THE GAP IS WE NEED PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US RIGHT NOW THAT ARE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THAT ARE BLACK ARE TELLING US, TELLING ME THAT THEY ARE NOT HELPING BLACK PEOPLE.
THEY'RE HELPING MORE HISPANIC PEOPLE THAN BLACK PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHAT'S BEING DIRECTLY TOLD TO ME BY MY FAMILY MEMBERS.
THERE ARE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THERE.
THEY HAVE TO GO LIVE ON FACEBOOK TO GET MORE BLACK PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO THOSE FOOD PANTRIES.
I JUST, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION BASED ON, ON THIS CHART.
SO THE COUNT OF ZIP CODES ON THIS SPECIFIC ONE IS, IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING SERVED AT THE FOOD BANKS, NOT AT FOOD BANK? I'M SORRY.
THIS, THIS ONE IS FOR ALL FOOD SERVICES.
IT COULD BE A FOOD PANTRY, A MARKET, AND A FRESH FOOD FOR FAMILIES.
SO THEN YOU AND THIS, SO HERE'S A CRITICISM ON BLANK, RIGHT? THE FIVE HIGHEST NEEDS FOR ZIP CODE FOR FOOD IS 7, 8, 7, 5, 3, 7, 8, 7, 4, 1, 7, 8, 7, 4, 4, 7, 8, 7, 2, 4, AND 7, 8, 7, 2, 1.
BUT THERE'S ONLY TWO OF THEM ON HERE.
SO THIS, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS.
UH, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS.
CAN I JUST QUICKLY MAKE A COMMENT? UM, A ANGEL, I THINK WE'RE BACK IN, IN THE SPACE WHERE WE WERE MONTHS AGO, UM, WHEN I SPARKED A THINKING AND A CONVERSATION THAT ALSO WAS INCLUSIVE OF WHERE WE GOT THE STRATEGY WORKING GROUP AND LACKING CONTEXT IN A LOT OF THIS DATA, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE METRICS ON THERE, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I POINTED OUT EVEN WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE COMMISSION, WAS INQUIRING AT THE DATA THAT WAS LISTED HERE.
YOU HAVE YOUR TARGET AND THAT IS A TARGET THAT YOU ALL DISCUSSED AND THAT IS A PART OF THE GRANT AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND THEN IT SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING SERVED FROM THAT PARTICULAR POOL OR THAT PARTICULAR TARGET THAT YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO REACH.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT TARGET IS WHAT IS, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL OR NECESSARY IN SATISFYING YOUR GRANT GOALS.
AND WE'RE BACK AT THE SPACE AGAIN OF MISSING CONTEXT,
[01:05:01]
NOT A BIGGER, A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND ATTEMPTING AND THE EFFORTS YOU'RE MAKING TO TRY TO CLOSE THESE GAPS.SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HEARING IS CONTEXTUALLY REQUESTED
AND I KNOW WE WENT DOWN THE ROAD WHERE ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS Y'ALL OFFERED WAS, WAS PROVIDED THE STORY.
AND I SEE THIS MONTH WE DO NOT HAVE A STORY.
I DIDN'T BRING IT UP CORRECT BECAUSE IT WASN'T, UM, THE TIMELINESS OF TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT.
UH, BUT THAT'S ONE THING I'VE, I NOTICED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A STORY THIS MONTH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PORTION OF CONTE CONTEXT.
SO I THINK GATHERING THIS INFORMATION AND A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT TODAY IS RECOGNIZING WHERE AND HOW CONTEXT FITS VERY WELL.
AND I'M KNOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE, THE THE STRATEGY WORKING GROUP DISCUSSION A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT ESSENTIALLY THE FOUR THINGS WE WENT OVER AT THE RETREAT, HOUSING, HEALTH, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, AND DIGITAL ACCESS.
I'M READING THOSE FROM MY SCREEN
BUT IF, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR DATA THAT YOU HAVE HERE, I, UH, FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE AND BEING A, UH, A STRATEGIST AND A SYSTEMS THINKER, WHEN YOU HAVE THIS DATA, SEE HOW IT ALIGNS WITH THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE CONTEXT BECAUSE IT IS A BIG GAP.
FOR INSTANCE, THE HOUSEHOLDS WHO AVOIDED EVICTION, THE TARGET IS 794 IS ENROLLED, 94 IS ACHIEVED, THE SUCCESS RATE IS 13%, 87 PERCENT'S A BIG OLD GAP.
SO WHAT IS THE CONTEXT ABOUT THAT? IS IT BECAUSE SIMILAR TO WHAT NEFERTITI HAS SAID IN THE PAST WHERE THE REQUEST LINE FOR THE, UM, OH GOODNESS, THE, THE PROGRAM NAME'S ESCAPING ME, I'M HOME HERE OR THE I AM HOME.
THAT WAS DONE THROUGH THE CITY.
UM, THAT, THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THEY WERE GETTING WHAT, 2200 REQUESTS AND THEY COULD ONLY SERVE 20 TO 30 PEOPLE.
THAT GIVES US CONTEXT, THAT SHOWS THE DEMAND AND THE SUPPLY.
AND IF YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME KIND OF CONTEXT, AGAIN LOOKING AT THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES THAT WE DISCUSSED AS A COLLECTIVE AT OUR RETREAT, I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP IN PROVIDING SOME TYPE OF ANSWERS AND, AND CLOSING THE GAP OF UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF MY PEERS HAVE EXPRESSED TONIGHT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT SUGGESTION THERE AND HOPEFULLY THAT CAN HELP YOU AS WELL IN PROVIDING INFORMATION.
SHOULD YOU ALSO GET ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF CONTEXT OR PERFORMANCE METRICS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES? YEAH, I, HOW CAN I RESPOND TO THAT? I CAN RESPOND WITHOUT A QUESTION, BUT YES, SIR.
UH, VICE CHAIR, UM, I'LL, I THINK WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED ENOUGH CONTEXT.
UH, WE TEND TO FOCUS, I BELIEVE, ON SORT OF BRIGHT SPOTS WHEN I COME HERE AND KIND OF SHOW YOU GUYS WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE SERVE, HOW MANY SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
UM, I WILL THINK THAT OVER THE NEXT MONTH IN TERMS OF KIND OF TWEAKING THIS REPORT, MAYBE CHANGING IT COMPLETELY AND HAVING IT COME THROUGH THE LENS OF, I'D HAVE TO USE THE TOP FIVE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE HERE FROM OUR, UM, STATE.
SO IT'LL BE THROUGH HOUSING, BASIC NEEDS, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH AND INCOME, AND REPORT THE DATA THROUGH THAT SO WE CAN COME BACK AND SAY A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THE NURSING SERVICES WE PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE GAPS AND LIMITATIONS THAT EXIST FOR THAT.
UH, DEFINITELY FOR YOUR HOUSING.
UM, WE DID TALK LAST MONTH ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE GET, HOW THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT EVERY MONTH AND SAY, WE GOT 3000 CALLS THIS MONTH AND WE GOT 10,000 CALLS AND WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SERVE 20 PEOPLE, KINDA LIKE A WIND DID.
AND THEN YOU GUYS GET A MORE CLEAR PICTURE.
OH MY GOODNESS, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A HUGE GAP THAT WE CAN'T ADDRESS 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING.
THAT'S FOR YOU ALL TO ADVOCATE STRONGLY THROUGH YOUR POWER HERE AND LEVERAGE TO COUNCIL.
'CAUSE IF COUNSEL WERE TO SAY, HERE'S $3 MILLION, WE WOULD VERY EASILY MEET THE 700 TARGET WITH
[01:10:01]
600 AND SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WE'RE SPENDING TWO TO $4,000 PER FAMILY TO HELP THEM AVOID EVICTION.YOU DO THE MATH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THE 700.
SO, UM, DEFINITELY OPEN TO PROVIDING MORE CONTEXT.
YEAH, WE DEFINITELY NEED WELL APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M JUST, EVEN WITH, UM, EVEN WITH, UH, I BELONG IN AUSTIN'S SITUATION, THEY CO DISTRIBUTED IT THROUGH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WITHIN Y'ALL GRANT DELIVERABLES OR REQUIREMENTS OR ELIGIBILITY, IF Y'ALL CAN JUST COTE TO WHO Y'ALL MISSING TO FILL THAT GAP.
AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT'LL HELP US ADVOCATE, IT'LL HELP US NAVIGATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OTHER RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
'CAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT.
BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE DOES, WE CAN ALSO FULFILL THAT NEED THROUGH RESOURCE NAVIGATION.
AS SOMEONE THAT LEADS A SMALL NONPROFIT, WE KNOW WHO WE SERVE, WE KNOW WHO WE MISS, WE KNOW WHO WE CAN'T SERVE.
WE HAVE THOSE, WE HAVE THAT DATA AND WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
WE'RE USING GOOGLE FORMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND VOLUNTEERS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ONE, ONE MORE.
I CALLED YOU VICE CHAIR
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THAT COMMENTARY ON HOW ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK AND WE SEE IT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR PRESIDING AS A CHAIR AND MR. ELIAS'S ABSENCE.
I DO WANT TO URGE US TO FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
UM, I THINK EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION, UM, IF THEY WISH BEFORE ANYONE HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK THE SECOND TIME.
UM, THAT'S JUST KIND OF HOW I FEEL.
AND I MEAN, I, I COULD CERTAINLY USE SOME GUIDANCE BY STAFF, BUT I MEAN, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO LIKE TABLE THIS DISCUSSION TO LIKE CLOSE THIS DEBATE, CLOSE THIS DISCUSSION.
DO WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE? IF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN MOVE ON FROM THIS ITEM PRESIDING OFFICER.
[3. Public Hearing on Needs Assessment for Annual Action Plan. Public Hearing held by Veronica Samo, Public Information and Marketing Program Manager, and Julie Smith, Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Housing.]
NEXT IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.UM, AND WE'VE GOT VERONICA, IS IT SAMO? SAMO.
AND JULIE SMITH AND MIGUEL WILL TAKE OVER AND MIGUEL WILL TAKE OVER.
SO, UH, WE WILL FOLLOW THE CITY COUNCIL'S, UH, MOTIONS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, AND SO I WILL HAVE MS. VERONICA SAMMO FROM AUSTIN HOUSING, UH, EXPLAIN THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE'RE HAVING.
AND IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE THE, UH, THE SLIDE UP ON, ON THE SCREEN.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL, SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST STEP, UM, BY CITY STAFF.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR FEEDBACK.
UH, WE HAVE ONE, UH, COM COMMUNITY CITIZEN, UH, SIGNED UP AND THEN WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
SO MS. SAMO, IF YOU CAN START US OFF.
VERONICA SAMO, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR AUSTIN HOUSING.
UH, WE ARE HERE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT RELATED TO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
AND AS A SLIDE NOTES, UH, JUST A REMINDER, THE ACTION PLAN GUIDES HOW THE CITY INVESTS A $14 MILLION OF GRANT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OTHERWISE, SOMETIMES REFERENCED AS HUD.
AND, UH, SO WE ARE HERE TO, UH, JUST RECEIVE WHAT COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE.
AND, UM, SO I'LL PAUSE THERE AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER.
THIS IS TODAY MAY 12TH TO THURSDAY, MAY 21ST.
SO IS THIS A STRICTLY DIGITAL PRESENTATION? NO.
SO THIS IS, UH, SO IF YOU'LL REMEMBER IN UH, FEBRUARY WE PRESENTED OUR GENERAL OUTREACH AND
[01:15:01]
HOW WE PROMOTE OUR RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MARCH.YOU RECEIVED, UH, JUST A PROMOTIONAL BLURB ON GETTING OUT THE WORD ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THE MY COMMUNITY NEEDS, WHICH IS THE EVERGREEN SURVEY WE USE TO COLLECT WHAT DO YOU NEED AS A RENTER, AS A HOMEOWNER, AS ANYONE SEEKING RESOURCES.
UM, WE COLLECT THAT FEEDBACK, ANALYZE IT, PROVIDE THAT TO LEADERSHIP THAT CAN THEN INFORM THE ACTION PLAN INVESTMENTS.
SO TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING IS SPECIFICALLY ON THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON MAY 21ST IS AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE THE, RECEIVE THE FIRST VERSION OF THE DRAFT ACTION PLAN BASED ON PREVIOUS YEAR'S INVESTMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THAT.
SO IT'S TWO DISTINCT, UH, HEARINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
OKAY, BECAUSE I'M JUST TRYING TO GETTING CLARITY IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IT'S, IS THIS BEING IN THIS MEETING CONSIDERED A PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
AND WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER SIGNED UP TO PROVIDE COMMENT.
THAT'S WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS FOR.
'CAUSE AND ANYTHING Y'ALL HAVE TO SHARE, UM, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SHARE THAT BLURB FROM MARCH AND INTO APRIL AND SHARE THAT WITH YOUR NETWORKS, IF YOU'VE RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK, WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND CAPTURE THAT.
YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION, BUT GO AHEAD.
COMMISSIONER MOORE BY CHAIR ARNOLD HEADER, HER HAND UP COMMISSIONER, UH, HASSO.
SO, UM, I'LL JUST GOOGLE REAL QUICK TO SEE IF I'LL SPEAK COMMUNITY NEEDS AND, UM, IT, IT STATES IDENTIFIES COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE ASSESSMENTS, WHERE WERE THEY DISTRIBUTED AND HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATED, AND IF THEY DID PARTICIPATE, WAS IT VIRTUALLY, WAS IT IN PERSON, WAS IT DOOR TO DOOR? AND IT ALSO STATES KEY RESOURCES INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS FOR RENT, FOOD AID.
AND WE JUST HAD A DISCUSSION ON THAT.
SO I, SO THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE, UH, HUD FUNDING HAS DIFFERENT, EACH AREA OF HUD FUNDING HAS ITS OWN ACTION PLAN.
SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU MAYBE PULLED UP A DIFFERENT ACTION PLAN.
UM, IF YOU CAN SHARE THE LINK THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WE CAN OFFER CLARITY TO SEE IF THIS IS THE SAME.
THE, THE WEBSITE THAT WE USE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE 14 MILLION THAT HUD GIVES THROUGH THIS ACTION PLAN IS SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG/MY COMMUNITY NEEDS.
SO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME TO SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG? YES.
SO WHAT ZIP CODES WERE THEY FROM AND WHAT'S THEIR ETHNICITY? OKAY.
DO Y'ALL HAVE THAT DATA? I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON.
UM, HOW MANY, SO FAR WE'VE HAD 217 SURVEY RESPONSES.
UM, AND SINCE WE'RE STILL IN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PERIOD, WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED FULL ANALYSIS.
SO THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS PART OF THAT OPEN PERIOD, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY BRING THAT TO YOU IN A FUTURE MEETING.
AND IS THE ASSESSMENT OR THE SURVEY GIVEN ONLINE OR AT THESE IN-PERSON, UH, OR EVENTS Y'ALL ARE HOSTING OR ARE, HOW ARE Y'ALL DISTRIBUTING THESE SURVEYS? YES, SO ALL OF THE ABOVE.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER BACK IN OUR FEBRUARY PRESENTATION WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED OUR OUTREACH CHANNELS, UM, I THINK THAT PRESENTATION'S PROBABLY STILL AVAILABLE IN BACKUP.
BUT WE, FOR THIS YEAR IN, UM, THIS PARTICULAR PROMOTIONAL PERIOD, WE'VE PROMOTED IT AT NEARLY A DOZEN TABLING EVENTS.
WE HAVE IPADS ON SITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN INTERACT WITH OUR RESOURCES.
UM, WE HAVE A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.
WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 14,000 RECIPIENTS ON THAT.
WE DO PAID PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH THROUGH EL MUNDO AND CHRONICLE.
UH, WE ALSO SEND DIRECT EMAILS TO OUR ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS.
WE HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED THAT WE CONTACTED LAST MONTH WITH SOME HIGHLIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY COULD CROSS PROMOTE OUR, OUR RESOURCES.
AND, UM, AND THEN OF COURSE WE, WE SHARED DIRECTLY WITH Y'ALL, UM, IN MARCH AND APRIL
[01:20:01]
TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT TO YOUR NETWORKS AS WELL.SO WHAT I RECEIVED IS Y'ALL DO AT TABLE EVENTS TO GET THE MOST IMPACT FOR IN PERSON.
SO AS SOMEONE THAT'S DIRECTLY IMPACTED, I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COME TO TABLE EVENTS FOR IN PERSON TO GET PEOPLE AS MM-HMM
TOMATO TO TOMATO, PEOPLE ARE COMING IN PERSON TO TABLE AND EVENTS, RIGHT? YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU SET A TABLE UP, YOU PROVIDE RESOURCES, RIGHT? OUTREACH, AS WE KNOW AS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO THOSE EVENTS.
SO HOW CAN Y'ALL FILL THAT GAP AND GO DOOR TO DOOR VERSUS SHOWING UP AT TABLE EVENTS? IF, IF WE CAN PAY Y'ALL HOURLY TO BE AT A TABLE EVENT, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY Y'ALL HOURLY TO GO DOOR TO DOOR TO THE MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IF WE WANT THIS 14 MILLION TO IMPACT THEM AND NOT CONTINUOUSLY BE AN INTENTIONAL DESIGN THAT'S DETERIORATING OUR MARGINALIZED LOW INCOME PEOPLE TABLE EVENTS ARE NOT GONNA GET IT.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE OUR FIRST THING THAT WE THINK OF WHEN WE'RE PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
IF WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS HOUSING CRISIS, IF WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, WE CAN'T HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING RESOURCES.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 14 MILLION.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW, UM, ONCE THE FUNDING IS RECEIVED, HOW IT'S ADMINISTERED.
I DO SEE, UM, I FILLED OUT THE SURVEY BY THE WAY.
I DO SEE SOME STUFF LIKE CHILDCARE.
I SEE SOME LIKE FAMILY BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAMS. IT'S NOT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT THAT ADMINISTERS THESE, THESE PROGRAMS, RIGHT? SO HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS LEAD, UM, JUST AS THE ENTRY POINT AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM HUD.
AND WE DO HAVE, UH, PARTNER DEPARTMENTS, AUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT ARE ADMINISTERING MORE SPECIFIC, UM, GRANT PROGRAMS WITHIN THAT 14 MILLION.
SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, THESE ARE THE QUALITATIVE, THE SURVEYS, WHERE'S THE QUANTITATIVE DATA? WHO HOLDS THAT DATA? SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING THAT AND ANALYZING IT.
SO PART OF IT IS, UM, MEETING DIRECT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST, JULIE SMITH, UM, IS COLLECTING MORE OF THAT, THOSE QUANTITATIVE TOUCH POINTS.
UM, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW.
SO THEN IF I'M GONNA DO MY OWN ANALYSIS ON YOUR PRO, ON YOUR DEPARTMENT, WHERE DO I GET THIS DATA? UH, OBVIOUSLY AUSTIN PUBLIC DATA, BUT WHAT ARE, BECAUSE THERE'S CHILDCARE, THERE'S LOANS, THERE'S HOUSING.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO, AND ALSO I, I'LL MENTION TOO, THIS IN AND OF ITSELF IS ALSO IN, IN-PERSON QUANTITATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE.
SO WE CAPTURE THAT WITHIN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PERIOD.
UM, WHEN YOU GO TO THAT WEBSITE, MY COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY THE SURVEY, BUT THE CONTEXT OF WHERE IT FITS.
SO THE ACTION, THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS THERE, YOU CAN GO BACK AND SEE PRIOR, UM, TO, I THINK WE'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR, LET ME DOUBLE CHECK, BUT EVERY FIVE YEARS HUD REQUIRES A CONSOLIDATED PLAN THAT PROJECTS OUT FIVE YEARS.
UM, AND THEN WITHIN THAT FIVE YEAR CON PLAN, YOU'LL HEAR THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN REFERRED TO AS A CON PLAN ARE THE INDIVIDUAL ACTION ACTION PLAN YEARS.
SO ALL OF THAT, THE BREAKDOWNS OF EXACTLY HOW THE FUNDING IS USED, UM, AND UM, THE, THE GOALS FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SERVED, ALL OF THAT IS CAPTURED WITHIN THE ACTION PLAN.
COMMISSIONER RIC? YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, UM, THERE MIGHT BE SOME GAPS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING UNHOUSED FOLKS TO DO A SURVEY LIKE THIS.
UM, THERE'S THE, UM, OH GOSH, WHY AM I FORGETTING THE NAME? THE PERKS THAT HAPPEN MONTHLY.
UM, THE NEXT ONE IS GONNA BE ON MAY 9TH AT TARA'S LIBRARY FROM EIGHT OR 9:00 AM TO ONE 30, I THINK.
UM, AND I EVEN SAYING LIKE, JUST GO THERE, LIKE OBVIOUSLY TABLING, LIKE I THINK THAT DOING VERBAL INTERVIEWS IS ALWAYS BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THIS BECAUSE HANDING SOMEONE A TABLET AND EXPECTING THEM TO FILL THIS OUT WHEN THEY HAVE IDS THAT
[01:25:01]
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THEIR DAILY NEEDS IS PROBABLY NOT REALISTIC.UM, AND ALSO IF WE WANT THE BEST INFORMATION, IF WE'RE NOT INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE, UNHOUSED OR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, THEY'RE MORE THAN LIKELY PROBABLY NOT JUST BECAUSE LIKE THERE'S OTHER STUFF THAT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON AND WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM ANYTHING IN RETURN OR LIKE, THERE'S NO PROMISE OF ANYTHING.
UM, SO I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET EFFECTIVE ANSWERS FROM EVERY POPULATION IF WE, THERE'S NO SOME KIND OF LIKE, HEY, HERE'S A $5 GIFT CARD, OR LIKE WE CAN RIGHT.
UM, BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT THE PERK, LIKE EVEN IF IT'S JUST TALKING WITH CASE MANAGERS BEFOREHAND, THE DIFFERENT NONPROFITS THAT ARE GONNA BE THERE, FIGURING OUT SOME WAY TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO DO THESE INTERVIEWS FOR YOU GUYS, OR JUST LIKE HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO WANT TO DO THIS.
UM, AND ALSO WITHIN THE SURVEY THERE'S A DEMOGRAPHICS AREA.
LIKE THERE'S THE FIRST PART WHICH IS JUST LIKE, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED AND DO YOU WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEN THERE'S THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE LIKE, WHO IS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND IF YOU'RE UNHOUSED YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A HOUSEHOLD IN THAT WAY, SO, AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY DESCRIBING LIKE, WHAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE LIVE IN A REGULAR HOME? LIKE WHAT DOES YOUR HOUSEHOLD LOOK LIKE? OKAY.
UM, SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME, SOME SOMEBODY MIGHT JUST LOOK AT THAT AND BE LIKE, I DON'T EVEN, I CAN'T EVEN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
THINK IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM.
UM, SO JUST SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITHIN THAT.
UM, AND ALSO PEOPLE CAN LEAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY TO ME.
AND IT'S REALLY LONG AT SOME POINT.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN LEFT.
DO Y'ALL FILTER OUT PEOPLE OR IS IT JUST ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING? LIKE IF SOMEBODY'S LIKE SAYING LIKE, F**K YOU GUYS, LIKE, YOU CAN STILL JUST BE LIKE,
IT'LL LET US KNOW WHAT A CERTAIN CERTAIN WORDS SAID AND WE CAN, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT FOR THE ONLINE? YES.
SO THE, THE SYSTEM DOES SENSOR OUT CURSE WORDS.
YEAH, I WAS, BUT I DON'T THINK'S IT'S NOT GONNA LIKE TAKE AWAY THE ENTIRE COMMENT.
SO YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO, SO IT'S, IT'S STILL TRANSFERRING.
AND PART OF WHAT YOU, UM, WERE DESCRIBING ALSO REMINDS ME THAT WE'VE BEEN REALLY INTENTIONAL IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF IN OR FIRST TWO YEARS, I SHOULD SAY THE LAST, THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THIS CON PLAN CYCLE THAT WE'RE IN AND HOW WE'RE COLLECTING THIS FEEDBACK EVEN BEYOND JUST THE HUD REQUIRED PERIOD FOR WHAT THEY WANNA SEE AS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT OR PUBLIC HEARING.
AND KEEPING THIS TOP OF MIND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO THAT WE CAN MAKE REALLY INFORMED DECISIONS AND HAVE COMMUNITY NEEDS CAPTURED THAT CAN INFLUENCE MORE THAN JUST THE 14 MILLION.
UM, TO GET AWAY FROM CHECKLIST OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, SO THIS IS SOMETHING, YES, WE HAVE THE EXTRA HEAVY PROMOTION DURING THIS TIME, BUT IT'S LIVE ALL YEAR LONG.
ANYONE CAN DO THE SURVEY ALL YEAR LONG AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT ALL YEAR LONG, EVEN BEYOND THIS.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE, UM, THAT HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I ASK MY NEXT QUESTION? NO.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, ARE Y'ALL HOSTING THESE TABLE EVENTS AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS? BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE AND IT'S, IT'S AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OTHER THAN THE FOOD PANTRIES THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS OPERATE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY ADD INTO OUR LIST RIGHT NOW IT'S BASED ON OUR STAFF CAPACITY AND WE'VE HAD, UM, TEAMS FROM ACROSS DIVISIONS IN OUR PART, UH, DEPARTMENT HELP US BE IN AS MANY PLACES THAT WE CAN BE.
UM, SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I CAN ADD INTO OUR LIST WHEN YOU'RE ON OUR SPEAKUP AUSTIN.ORG/HOUSING HUB, WE KEEP A LIST OF, UH, WHERE YOU CAN FIND US IN COMMUNITY AND JUST AS, AS RECORD IF YOU'RE CURIOUS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
BUT THAT'S GOOD FEEDBACK WHERE WE CAN, UM, BUILD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER PRESENCE THAT I, I REVIEWED THE LIST I REVIEWED OH, GOOD EVENTS.
WHY IS IT IF WE'RE IN PARTNERSHIP AND WE'RE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME MISSION TO MEET THE NEED, WHY AREN'T WE TAPPING INTO THE FOLKS THAT SERVE 22,000 PEOPLE? RIGHT? IT'S THE ONES THAT ARE IN NEED, THE ONES THAT ARE IMPACTED, THE ONES GETTING THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
[01:30:01]
AND THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE.WE'RE TRYING TO BE IN AS MANY PLACES AS WE CAN.
I THINK Y'ALL SHOULD START WITH THEM AS WELL.
ALL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? THE CDBG SURVEY IS CURRENTLY NOT SHOWING ON THE SURVEYS AND PROJECTS ON THE GENERAL SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG.
LIKE, I'M NOT SEEING IT WHEN I SCROLL THROUGH.
SO JUST FYI LIKE IT MIGHT BE GETTING MISSED IF THEY DON'T AUTOMATICALLY HAVE THE QR CODER LINK.
COMMISSIONER TISHA, QUICK QUESTION.
I KNOW IN THE PAST YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED SPEAK UP UNDERGOING A RENOVATION OR REDO.
IS THAT STILL ON THE DOCKET OR DID THEY COMPLETELY TABLE? UM, THE SPEAKUP WEBSITE.
LIKE THE PLATFORM, THE MAIN ENTITY ITSELF, RIGHT.
AT ONE POINT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION.
BUT A WHILE AGO THEY HAD MENTIONED THAT SPEAKUP WAS GOING TO UNDERGO SOME, UM, SOME REDO AND SOME A REFRESH, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITYWIDE PLATFORM, CITYWIDE WEBSITES HAVE UNDERGONE A REDO.
UM, AND I AM, I'M WONDERING IF THAT IS A PART OF THIS CURRENT PLAN BECAUSE IT, IT EXISTED EVEN BEFORE THE LOGO CHANGED AND THE CITY WEBSITE WAS GONNA BE CHANGED.
SO BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE TO CURRENT THINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF OUTDATED INFORMATION LIKE COMMISSIONER RIC MENTIONED, UM, THAT'S STILL ON FRONT PAGES AND YOU CAN'T REALLY NAVIGATE THINGS EASILY, ESPECIALLY CURRENT SURVEYS.
YOU HAVE TO DIG FOR THEM OR YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE EXACT ADDRESS TO ACCESS IT.
WE, UM, USE LIKE THE PLATFORM SPEAK UP.
AUSTIN AS A WHOLE IS MANAGED BY OUR AUSTIN COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM THAT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO, UM, WE'RE JUST LIKE ONE LICENSE OF THAT.
SO I'LL CHECK AND SEE WHAT, WHAT THE LATEST IS, UM, AND ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM ANY COMMISSIONERS.
SO THAT WILL BE THE FIRST AND THE SECOND OF THOSE STEPS.
AND NOW WE WILL GO FOR INTERESTED PARTY SUPPORTING.
UM, AND WE HAVE ONE, UH, ONE CITIZEN, MS. NOIA JOSEPH SIGNED UP FOR THIS.
AND IT'LL BE THE SAME THREE MINUTES, UH, AS IT DOES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS, I'M Z NOIA JOSEPH.
RESPECTFULLY, MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD ASK YOU TO REPOST THIS ITEM.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HYPERLINK THAT'S IN YOUR BACKUP, IT SAYS, NOT FOUND.
SO I'M NOT REAL SURE EXACTLY WHAT INFORMATION WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE COMMENTING ON.
I KNOW YOU HAVE AN FY 25 26 DRAFT ACTION PLAN FOR HUD.
AND SPECIFICALLY, I JUST WOULD ASK, UH, STAFF TO PULL UP THE PREVIOUS SLIDES THAT I SHOWED YOU.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND SHE'LL PUT IT UP.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AUSTIN'S HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.
CITY POLICIES HAVE FORCED SEGREGATION GUIDED FUNDING AWAY FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, DISCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND ALLOW GENTRIFICATION TO CREATE DISPLACEMENT.
THAT IS WHAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER.
WE NEED A MORATORIUM ON SURVEYS, AND WE ACTUALLY NEED THE STAFF TO COME TO US AND TELL US WHAT THEY DID WITH THE PREVIOUS INFORMATION.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY AUDITOR'S INFORMATION, THE STAFF DOES NOT USE THE DATA.
THERE'S A 2023 REPORT AND ONE THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE AS WELL WITH THE MAYOR AS THE CHAIR IN 2026.
SO MORE DATA IS NOT GOING TO PRODUCE DIFFERENT RESULTS TO VICE CHAIR ARNOLD'S POINT, I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YES, YOU COULD INVEST SPECIFICALLY IN HOUSING, BUT THERE IS A REPORT FROM ECHO 2024.
IT'S THE STATE OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHICH ACTUALLY SAID THAT THE REPORT OR THE ASSESSMENT TOOL QUOTE, UH, USED LOCAL DATA ANALYSIS SHOWED DISPROPORTIONATELY PRIORITIZE WHITE PEOPLE FOR HOUSING OVER OTHER RACES AND ETHNICITIES.
[01:35:01]
ON PAGE 15.SO THE CITY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE DISCRIMINATION MARCH 4TH, 2021, ITEM 67, THEY APOLOGIZE TO BLACK PEOPLE FOR INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PROBLEMATIC IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION AS YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE FUNDING THAT VETERANS ARE ACTUALLY SPECIFIED AS A SPECIAL GROUP.
BUT EVEN THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER, DAVID GRAY, DOES NOT ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FACT.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE FEDERAL REGISTER FROM 2014 SAYS CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SPECIFICALLY THE VA IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VETERAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING IF CASE MANAGEMENT IS REQUIRED BY THE CITY REQUIRING THIS CASE MANAGEMENT.
YOU ARE DENYING VETERANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HOUSED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME, BUT WOULD SIMPLY ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE IN THE, IT'S 5 5 1 0.141 ACTION.
VOIDABLE, TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
UM, WE DO NOT, UH, PRESIDE IN OFFICER HASSO.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THE, UM, REBUTTAL OR THE OPPOSITION.
UM, AND SO WE WILL GO TO ANY COMMENTS AND THEN WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AS SOON AS YOU'RE READY.
COMMISSIONER MOORE, I DID HAVE A COMMENT AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, WE HEAR YOU.
UM, AND, AND THE THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS, IS TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS AND THAT A LOT OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC PORTAL WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED EASILY.
I, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT'S MISSING.
AND SO WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO FIND WHERE IT IS.
YOU HAVE TO GET IT, THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY I HEAR YOU.
IF I CAN JUST CLARIFY A LOGISTICAL THING TOO, BECAUSE I THINK, I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE CONFUSED.
WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT, THE U THE URL WORKS, RIGHT? SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE, BUT YOU'RE ABLE TO CLICK WITH YOUR MOUSE AND THAT LEADS TO NOTHING.
AND SO, LIKE ME, YEAH, IF I'M LOOKING, IF I'M ON MY COMPUTER AND I'M LOOKING AT A DIGITAL, I'M NEVER GONNA PULL OUT AND USE THE URL.
I'M ALWAYS GONNA CLICK JUST LIKE, AND THAT LINK GOES NOWHERE EVERYWHERE.
IT LETS YOU CLICK, IT GOES NOWHERE.
SO HAVING AN ABILITY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE CLICKING TO LEAD TO SOMETHING WITHIN THE PDF AND CAPTURE YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S HYPERLINKED IN THE NEXT BACKUP UPLOAD TOO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I MEAN, JUST TO, UM, THE, THE FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN LINKS ARE BROKEN AND THE YEARLY ACTION PLAN LINKS ARE BROKEN TO OH, THANK YOU.
I WONDER IF THAT WAS PART OF OUR WEBSITE MIGRATION THAT WE'RE STILL FINDING ALL THE BREADCRUMBS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON.
[4. Presentation on the report and findings set to be considered by the Infrastructure Working Group. Discussion led by Commissioner Tiffany Moore. ]
THE DISCUSSION ITEMS, PRESENTATION ON THE REPORT AND FINDINGS BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUP.COMMISSIONER MOORE, PRESIDING OFFICER HASSO, IT'S, UH, TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUP.
I APOLOGIZE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUP.
SO, SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A FINAL ANALYSIS, NOR IS IT FI A FINAL, FINAL, UH, THERE'S A LOT THAT'S MISSING HERE.
AND ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS, LET ME GET TO FIRST IS THE MI UH, THE MISSING SHELTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, THEY HAVE VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA AND IT SAYS THAT A STOP DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE SHELTER OR A BENCH UNLESS IT MEETS A SPECIFIC THRESHOLD OF PASSENGERS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, AND WHEN I DID THIS MYSELF AND RAN AND SAID, HOW MANY OF THESE, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I WENT FIRST STARTED WITH, HOW MANY OF THESE 25
[01:40:02]
STOPS ARE MISSING? SHELTER A BENCH.AND THAT'S WHAT I CAME UP WITH, 80%.
NOW WHAT'S MISSING HERE IS GROUND TRUTH IN WE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, WE HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY PHOTOS, AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT, UM, IN MIND.
SO THEN THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SH ACCURACY THAT THIS IS CORRECT BECAUSE I PULLED THIS DATA FROM THE 3 1 1 CALLS AND IT'S ALL PUBLIC DATA THAT I USED TO SAY, HOW MANY OF THESE, HOW MANY PEOPLE CALL TO THIS ONE PARTICULAR STOP AND SAID THAT THERE'S NO SHELTER AND THERE'S NO BENCH.
AND THE MOST, AND THE THE BIGGEST FACTOR THAT CAME INTO THIS IS THE A DA RELATED COMPLAINTS.
AND PEOPLE CALL, THEY COMPLAIN, THEY'LL LEAVE THE TICKET OPEN.
AND, AND IT, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, THAT COULD BE DIFFERENT FROM IF WE GOT INTERNAL RECORDS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW EVERYTHING.
SO US AS A WORKING GROUP, WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER, TALK ABOUT THIS AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIND OUT IF THESE 80% OF THESE ARE MISSING SHELTER.
AND IF THEY ARE, WE NEED TO DOCUMENT IT.
AND THEN WE NEED TO ALSO GET INTERNAL RECORDS BECAUSE THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I DIDN'T PUT IN THE ENTIRE ANALYSIS BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DID IT.
AND SO THAT THERE'S NO CREDIBILITY THERE WITH OUR GROUP.
SO OUR GROUP NEEDS TO MEET TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO GO OVER THESE, THIS BASIC ANALYSIS AND ASK OURSELVES, IS THIS THE TRUTH? AND THEN WE NEED TO MOVE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS IS CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A DA RELATED COMPLAINTS.
NOW ALSO, THERE'S A JURISDICTIONAL THING GO THING GOING ON HERE, AND IT'S WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND IT'S WITH CAP METRO.
AND IT SAYS THE ISSUE ATTRIBUTION BY AGENCY BECAUSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIDEWALK SURROUNDING THE BUS STOP.
WHEREAS CAP METRO, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, THE, THE SHELTER FOR THE BENCH, FOR THE TRASH CAN.
UH, THE MAINTENANCE IS, UH, ANOTHER ISSUE BECAUSE THEY SERVICE THAT OUT.
SO WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT SAYS WHO'S RESPONSIBLE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE A DA COMPLAINTS AND THAT SIDEWALK, WHEREAS CAP METRO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 82% OF THAT.
AND THE, AND WHAT I FOUND IS VERY CONCERNING AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS, HOW WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD TOWARD THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER LYRIC? UM, I MEAN, WE HAD CAPITAL METRO COME IN A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND I HAD ASKED THEM THE QUESTION AROUND, UM, THEY HAD PRESENTED THE SPECIFIC STOPS AND THE PROCESS FOR, UM, IMPROVING THOSE STOPS.
BUT WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD AN END DATE FOR IMPROVING ALL OF THE CAPITAL METRO BUS STOPS THAT DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND SHELTER, THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE ONE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S A VERY EASY THING TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL AND SAY THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE AN END DATE TO ACCOMPLISH MAKING SURE THAT ALL BUS STOPS AND, UM, UH, ANY, ANY BUS STOPS HAVE ADEQUATE SHELTER, UM, AND LIGHTING.
UM, IT WAS A REALLY HUGE AND VERY CLEAR GAP TO ME THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A BIG ASK FOR THEM TO HAVE A END DATE.
ANYBODY ONLINE COMMENTS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOPE.
[5. Election of Community Development Commission Vice Chair. Election will be held by the presiding officer. ]
ON TO NUMBER FIVE.ELECTION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION VICE CHAIR.
AND THE ELECTION WILL BE HELD BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
START? YEAH, RIGHT TO START HERE.
OH, START ON ALL BOARDS ELECT PLEASE.
YEAH, BUT IT'S FOR THE, THIS IS A SPECIAL CALL TO ELECTION.
I CHANGED THE DATES FROM, UH, THE NORMAL TO MAY 12TH.
ALL BOARDS, ALL BOARDS ELECT A CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ANNUALLY FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR.
[01:45:01]
TO APRIL 30TH IN THE ABSENCE OF A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR.I, COMMISSIONER HASSO WITHOUT OBJECTION.
OH, WELL, I'M SERVING AS CHAIR PRO TEM FOR THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD CHAIR TODAY.
SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL VOTES ARE PUBLIC, NO BALLOT SYSTEM FOR ANY ELECTION AND NO REQUIREMENT TO REELECT OFFICERS.
I'M SUPPOSED TO THE VICE CHAIR.
THE VICE CHAIR WILL FILL IN FOR THE CHAIR'S RESPONSIBILITIES IF THE CHAIR CANNOT.
AND SO THE VICE CHAIR RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, WILL FOLLOW THAT, WHICH WILL BE LEAD A BOARD MEETING, UM, APPROVE DRAFT AGENDAS, APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUPS AND COMMITTEES FOR INPUT FROM MEMBERS, AND THEN COMPLETE ANNUAL REVIEW AND REPORT.
SO I WILL CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIR.
CANDIDATES MAY NOMINATE THEMSELVES.
EACH CANDIDATE MUST ACCEPT OR DECLINE THE NOMINATION AND WILL HAVE TWO TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THEIR QUALIFICATIONS IF THEY ACCEPT.
IT'S OKAY IF THE NOMINATOR OH, IF I COULD ALSO TALK ABOUT THE CANDIDATE TOO.
UM, DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THE WHOLE THING? YES.
PRESIDING OFFICER, I APOLOGIZE.
SHOULD I JUST READ THE WHOLE THROUGH THE WHOLE THING? YEAH, PLEASE.
UM, THE NEXT STEP, I WILL CALL FOR A SECOND FOR EACH NOMINATION IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE NOMINATIONS WERE RECEIVED.
STEP THREE, THEN WE WILL CONDUCT THE VOTING, TAKING EACH NOMINATION.
IN TURN, I WILL READ THE NAME OF THE COMMISSIONER WHO WAS NOMINATED, THE NAME OF THE COMMISSIONER, WHO MADE THE NOMINATION, AND THE NAME OF THE COMMISSIONER WHO SECONDED THE NOMINATION.
WE WILL THEN HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
I WILL CALL EACH COMMISSIONER AND EACH COMMISSIONER WILL RESPOND WITH A YES OR A NO.
ALL COMMISSIONERS MUST BE VISIBLE ON SCREEN IF VOTING REMOTELY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? YES.
I, I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER TISHA WAS THE VICE CHAIR.
UM, SHOULD I MAKE A COMMENT? YEAH.
UM, I AM RESIGNING FROM MY ROLE.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I CAN'T, UM, JUST FULLY SHOW UP AS MYSELF IN THIS SPACE CURRENTLY.
UM, I JUST HAVE A LOT GOING ON PERSONALLY AND, UM, AS WELL AS JUST TRYING TO, UH, LEAD A NONPROFIT AND TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF FOLKS.
AND, UM, FAMILY WISE, THEY ARE ASKING ME TO, YOU KNOW, POUR MORE INTO THEM.
I'M CURRENTLY, UM, RESIGNING FROM THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE DISAPPOINTED AND I I LOVE Y'ALL AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND THE COMMISSION NEEDS Y'ALL AND I PLAN TO ALWAYS STILL BE INVOLVED IF THAT'S EVEN MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO WOULD ANY COMMISSIONER AT THIS TIME LIKE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION? AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN NOMINATE YOURSELF.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER TIFFANY MOORE.
DO YOU ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION? BOY, I AM GONNA HAVE TO DECLINE THAT ONLY BECAUSE I'M VERY NEW AND I'M JUST LEARNING AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S, THAT'S MY ROLE RIGHT NOW.
I LIKE TO OPEN THAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAS BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH AND UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESSES.
COMMISSIONER TISHA, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER LYRIC FOR THIS PARTICULAR ROLE.
COMMISSIONER LEAR, DO YOU ACCEPT? UM, I CAN ACCEPT WITH A CONDITION THAT I
UM, I JUST WANNA DO MY DUE DILIGENCE, SO I'M REALLY READY FOR THAT.
UM, IF COMMISSIONER ACHILLES COULD TAKE THAT FOR JUNE, SO I CAN THEN STEP IN IN JULY.
SO I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO GO AHEAD AND ELECT YOU
AND, AND HELP YOU WITH, WITH WHAT YOU,
[01:50:01]
YOU NEED TO GET, I, I MEAN, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE PARLIAMENTARY TRAINING'CAUSE I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE, THE CHAIR, I'M VERY HAPPY TO, TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE SUPPORT, BUT WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT YOU IN THAT.
SO DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR THE NOMINATION FOR COMMISSIONER? I'LL SECOND.
OH, I HAVE TO GO EACH COMMISSIONER.
I THINK WE HAVE TO ASK IF, I THINK WE NEED TO JUST MAKE SURE THERE'S NO OTHER OH.
ANY OTHER NOMINATION? WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE.
TECHNICALLY NO OTHER NOMINATIONS.
SO COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ? YES.
AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER MONIQUE.
'CAUSE I WAS INITIALLY NO SHADE.
COMMISSIONER MOORE, I WAS INITIALLY GONNA ELECT YOU, BUT I WAS LIKE, I DUNNO, I DON'T WANT US TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING WE DID THE LAST TIME, BUT I'M SO EXCITED.
UM, AM PRESIDING OFFICER HASSO.
I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO VICE CHAIR ARNOLD FOR ALL OF YOUR GREAT WORK AND EVERYTHING THAT, UM, YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMISSION.
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[6. Update from the CDC Strategy Working Group. Discussion led by Commissioner Tisha. ]
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX, THE UPDATE FROM THE CDC STRATEGY WORKING GROUP.AND THE DISCUSSION IS LED BY COMMISSIONER TEISHA.
AND CONGRATS COMMISSIONER LYRIC.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY POINT OUT SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE ALREADY DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT OF IT EARLIER TODAY ABOUT HAVING THINGS IN CONTEXT.
UM, BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT STRATEGY AND OF COURSE WITH THE WORKING GROUP, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WAS TO CONSIDER SOME HEADLINES BECAUSE HEADLINES SHAPE CONVERSATIONS, HEADLINE, SHAPE, NARRATIVE AND HEADLINE SHAPE DECISIONS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY POINT OUT SOME HEADLINES THAT WERE SENT TO ME, WHETHER THEY WERE SHOCKING, SURPRISING, OR SOMETHING THAT SPARKED SOMETHING WITHIN.
UM, AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER LONGORIA.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING YOUR FEEDBACK FOR THAT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE PRESENTED WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY OPENS TO HELP ADDRESS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
SO THIS IS THE RAW COMMUNITY, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT IT WAS, UH, ESSENTIALLY CREATED OBVIOUSLY TO HELP CURB SOME OF OUR, UM, HOMELESSNESS, UH, CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.
THERE WAS ANOTHER HEADLINE, SAFE ALLIANCE WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE EXAMS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AMID FUNDING SHORTFALL.
WHEN WE THINK OF THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS HERE IN AUSTIN, AND ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A CRIME OR AN ACT OF VIOLENCE, UH, PERPETUATED ONTO SOMEONE THAT THERE ISN'T A PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT IT CAN LEAD TO A FAIR, UM, UM, RESOLVE OR, OR A FAIR CONSIDERATION FOR A PARTICULAR ACT OF VIOLENCE ON SOMEONE HERE.
THE OTHER HEADLINES, UM, THAT ARE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IS THE CITY COUNCIL VOTING ON AUSTIN'S TRUST ACT.
UM, SO THERE WAS AN APPROVED, UH, ORDINANCE ON HOW THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WILL UTILIZE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY HERE IN THE CITY.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT AND CONSIDER IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THIS LAST PIECE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO PARTS OF IT.
WE TALK ABOUT A ISD IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THEMSELVES OUT OR, OR CLIMB THEMSELVES OUT OF THIS SPACE OF DEFICIT, BUT HOW THAT AFFECTS THE NOT ONLY ENROLLMENT RATE, BUT THE FAMILY RETENTION RATE HERE IN AUSTIN AND HOW WE'RE SERVING IN AN EDUCATION SPACE.
BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE HEADLINE WHERE AUSTIN IS BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITY RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT IS A PIECE OF INFORMATION WHERE IT'S 50% MORE, UH, BY SOME
[01:55:01]
MEASURES.THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE RECOGNIZING IN TERMS OF AUSTIN BEING THE SECOND MOST SUCCESSFUL CITY.
SO WE'RE TAKING INTO CONTEXT THESE HEAD HEADLINES AND THEN CONSIDERING WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION CAN WE UTILIZE NOT ONLY ON THE COMMISSION AND SERVING IN THE SPACES WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES THAT I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER THAT WE AS A COLLECTIVE MENTIONED AND AGREED UPON IN TERMS OF THE HOUSING, THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION, HOW THINGS ARE COMMUNICATED AND DIGITAL ACCESS.
SO ALL OF THOSE HEADLINES COVER THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS OF FOCUS.
BUT WHY I BRING THEM UP IS BECAUSE IN THE STRATEGY WORKING GROUP, WHEN WE CAN GET TOGETHER, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IS THIS JUST INFORMATION THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE IS SHARED AND IS ON THE PUBLIC RECORD? AND OR DO WE DETERMINE WAYS OF INTERVENTION? SO LOOKING AT IT FROM INTERVE, FROM INFORMATION TO A PLACE OF INTERVENTION, BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE ON THIS COMMISSION, IT'S NOT JUST FOR FOR NICE TITLES AND SAYING THAT WE ARE ON A COMMISSION.
IT'S A PART OF BEING THAT ADDITIONAL VOICE OF BEING AN EXTENSION OF REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE A PART OF.
SO WHEN WE ARE CONSIDERING THESE PARTICULAR THINGS, WHEN WE SEE THESE HEADLINES, WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES, IS THIS JUST INFORMATION OR DOES IT REQUIRE A SPACE OF INTERVENTION? SO I'LL USE JUST TWO, TWO LAST THINGS WHEN I THINK OF THE INTERVENTION PIECE.
SO TO GO BACK TO VERONICA WITH THE PLAN, UM, AND THERE WERE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT TABLING AND OUTREACH, AND THEN WE HAD SOME OF THE, THE POINTS OF HOW CERTAIN PARTS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE DIGITALLY.
SO WHY COULD NOT OR NOT WHY COULD NOT, LET ME START OVER.
WHY COULD WE NOT HAVE RECEIVED MAYBE A TESTING LINK WHERE IT'S SENT TO THE ENTIRE COMMISSION AND SAYS, HEY Y'ALL, CAN Y'ALL BE A QUICK FOCUS GROUP FOR US? CAN YOU GO OVER THERE, SEE IF YOU SEE ANY TYPE OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT OR NEED TO BE REVIEWED BEFORE WE LAUNCH IT TO THE PUBLIC SO WE CAN ENSURE THERE AREN'T BARRIERS AND LIMITATIONS.
THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF A, OF AN INTERVENTION.
SO WE AS A COMMISSION WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, OR AS A STRATEGY WORKING GROUP
AND I WOULD SAY THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT BREAK UP INTO, UM, THAT SPACE OF INFORMATION AND INTERVENTION IS LOOKING AT CALLS TO ACTION, WHAT ACTION STEPS COULD BE TAKEN, SUGGESTED ACTION STEPS, AND THEN OF COURSE RECOMMENDING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THIS COMMISSION.
SO, UM, THERE'S A FRAMEWORK AROUND IT, THAT'S JUST ONE PARTICULAR EXAMPLE THAT WE COULD USE.
AND VERONICA, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT LIKE THAT, BUT BECAUSE YOU JUST COMPLETED YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN EARLIER WITH AN ANGEL, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE WITH CONTEXT, HAVING FURTHER CONVERSATIONS, EVEN IF IT'S JUST SOMETHING WITH ONE-ON-ONE, UM, TO START.
AND THEN HOW CAN YOU HAVE A, HOW CAN THERE BE A BETTER APPROACH TO SHARING CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION WITH THE COMMISSION? LIKE THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF INTERVENTION.
SO IT'S A FRAMEWORK I'M CALLING THE TWO STEP, THE CDC
UH, BUT AGAIN, AS A STRATEGY WORKING GROUP, WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER TO BETTER CLARIFY AND, UM, CONSTRUCT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAMEWORK.
I'VE ALREADY CREATED THE FOUNDATION PARTS OF IT, BUT WE CAN GO THROUGH CLARIFICATION PROCESSES.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STRATEGY WORKING GROUP, UM, GETTING TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE CAN'T MAKE QUORUM THOUGH, BUT I WOULD INVITE OTHERS IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT CONVERSATION AND CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW WE CAN USE THE CDC TO GO FROM INFORMATION TO INTERVENTION AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU GUYS WE'RE UP TO.
UM, I THINK OVERALL WHAT'S MISSING IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES IS CALLED A COMMUNITY AGREEMENT, RIGHT? SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND A DEVELOPER'S COMING IN AND THEY WANNA DO A, B, C OR D YOU KNOW, SORT OF LIKE WITH PODER CAME IN LAST WEEK, LAST MONTH, AND THEY'RE, THESE COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS CAN BE VERY POWERFUL IN A SENSE THAT YOU USE THEM, YOU GET THESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER AND YOU MAKE YOUR CLAIM WHAT YOU WANT.
THE DEVELOPER MAKES CLAIMS WITH WHAT THEY WANT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPERS AREN'T GOING AWAY, BUT
[02:00:01]
WE CAN PUT, WE CAN HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THESE COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS SO WE CAN WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ONLY GOING TO DECIDE ON WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THEM.AND IF YOU AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CAN COME TOGETHER, SIX, SEVEN, HOW MANY, WHOEVER GET TOGETHER AND START CREATING THESE AGREEMENTS WHERE YOU CAN COME TO AND HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
WE, WE, YES, WE, WE NEED THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE DON'T WANNA BE KICKED OUT.
IF YOU BUILD THIS, THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE US.
AND THEN THESE AGREEMENTS BECOME PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND THEY CAN'T BREAK 'EM.
ONCE IT'S IN WRITING, THEY, THEY CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING, BUT ONCE IT'S IN WRITING, IT CAN'T BE CHANGED.
SO I THINK WHEN WE WOULD LOOK AT WHAT, HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AND HAVE A SOLUTION IS COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. LONGORIA? UM, TISHA, I LIKED THAT YOU INCLUDED YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOUR EMAIL.
THAT WAY I COULD JUST TEXT YOU THESE HEADLINES.
THAT WAS A REALLY EASY WAY TO COMMUNICATE FOR ME, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK, UH, I'VE BEEN PART OF MANY OTHER WORKING GROUPS AND SOMETIMES I CHECK MY EMAIL ONCE A WEEK AND I THINK JUST THE TEXT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE, JUST EASIER.
WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT POINT.
THAT BRING, I TRY TO DO THINGS ON DEMAND.
SO THOSE WHO ARE AVAILABLE FOR STRATEGY WORKING GROUP, I TRY TO MEET EVERYBODY WHERE THEY'RE AT IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE INPUT, UH, AND IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT IS BEST AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SCHEDULE.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE ENGAGEMENT.
I KNOW TRYING TO GET A GROUP OF FOLKS TOGETHER IS NOT THE EASIEST THING, EVEN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN WE GIVE TIME HERE.
UM, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN TRULY HAVE A TIME, UM, WHERE WE CAN MEET, UH, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO RESORT TO, UH, UTILIZING TEXT MESSAGES OR ON DEMAND RESPONSE.
BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT FEEDBACK.
THAT, THAT'S, THAT AT LEAST IS HELPFUL AND, UM, BEING ADAPTABLE TO EVERYBODY'S AVAILABILITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER MOORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AGREEMENT.
THAT ABSOLUTELY IS A COMPONENT OF IT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I KNOW OUR ACTING CHAIR, UM, NO HE IS NOT HERE, BUT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS HE MENTIONED WAS FROM A CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, WHERE HIS OFFICE WATCHES THESE RE UH, RECORDINGS AND THESE, UH, RECAPS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE MORE CONTEXTUAL CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THEIR OFFICE OF THINGS TO CONSIDER, UH, GREATER.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY MENTIONED WAS RECOGNIZING, LIKE YOU SAID, DEVELOPERS AREN'T GOING AWAY.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST GROWTH, WE ARE AGAINST GROWTH THAT IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF EQUITABLE CONSIDERATION.
AND SO THE, THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY MENTIONED WAS, IS THERE A LEVER OR IS THERE A SPACE THAT WE COULD COEXIST WHENEVER THERE'S NEW DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING OR THERE'S NEW DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS OR NEW DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REQUESTS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES, UM, THAT MIGHT HELP TO ENCOURAGE AND ENFORCE, UH, SOME COMMUNITY EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, SO THE LAST THING IS THE FUTURE AGENDA
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]
ITEMS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? COMMISSIONER LYRIC? UH, SORRY, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT ALL CAN BE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.UM, LIKE THE CURRENT ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING AND I THINK I WOULD JUST LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, UM, BECAUSE OF JUST THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN.
I WILL, UH, PUT THAT ON THERE ON THE ROSTER.
AND AGAIN, JUST A QUICK REMINDER TO ALL COMMISSIONERS IF IT IS BROUGHT UP WITHIN THE MEETING AND ESPECIALLY THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. IF THERE IS NO DISSENT, IT'S A TACIT AGREEMENT AND IT WILL BE MOVED UP ON THE ROSTER.
OH, IF YOU COULD UNMUTE YOUR AUDIO'S CUT OUT.
IT'S, IT'S NOT SHOWING FOR SOME REASON THE HEADSET MIGHT HAVE DIED.
'CAUSE UH, WE DON'T SHOW IT MUTED ON THIS SIDE.
[02:05:05]
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME NOW? YEAH.UM, I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN, UM, ADD BUSINESSES, UM, LIKE RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE OF ORGANIZATIONS, UM, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO AGENDA ITEMS WE CAN REACH OUT, UM, AND IF, IF THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S INQUIRY FORMS AND, AND RIGHT HERE, BUT WE WOULD JUST NEED MORE, UM, INFORMATION AND WHAT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT BETWEEN CITY STAFF IS THERE'S REALLY NO OBLIGATION FOR THEM TO COME TO SPEAK.
WELL I'M JUST GONNA PROPOSE IT ANYWAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, UM, THE RESTAURANT DOWN SOUTH CAJUN EATS TO THE AGENDA ITEM TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUOUSLY CONTINUOUS, UM, GUN VIOLENCE AND CRIME THAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE IN THEIR PARKING LOT.
THEY RESIDE IN PFLUGERVILLE, BUT THEY ARE IN AUSTIN JURISDICTION.
AND ONE MORE TIME, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.
IS THAT, UH, CAJUN EATS? IT'S DOWN.
DOWN SOUTH S-O-U-T-H CAJUN, C-A-J-J-U-N EATS EATS.
THEY'RE LOCATED AT 1 5 4 2 4 FM 1825 VILLE, TEXAS 7 8 6 6 0.
AND IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE CAN ADJOURN THE MEETING.
IS THAT CORRECT? I HAD, I HAD A QUICK, OH, SORRY, MY HAND ON FOR A SECOND.
UM, I WANTED TO GO BRING SOMETHING BACK THAT I HAVE SENT REQUESTS, UM, OFF THE DAAS ABOUT.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO ASK AGAIN ABOUT THIS COM THE COMMUNITY, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT, UM, FROM COMMUNITY AS ASSESSMENT SURVEY WHERE I HAD MENTIONED IT WAS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA FROM LAST YEAR AND IT'S MADE A RESURGENCE AGAIN.
AND, UM, IT'S A LOCAL CONSULTING COMP, NOT LOCAL, IT'S A CONSULTING COMPANY OUT OF OUT OF GEORGIA THAT IS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, SO I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK FROM THAT.
THEN THERE ALSO WAS AN ASSESSMENT DONE FROM ACME, UM, THAT THEY WERE DOING A COMMUNITY WIDE ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT AND THEY'RE CURIOUS ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THE CULTURE INSTITUTIONS HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT WRAPPED UP A LITTLE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SO IF THAT COULD ALSO BE BROUGHT HERE, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE FROM THAT.
UM, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH.
AND THEN THERE IS THE LAST PRESENTATION, AND IT IS COMPLETELY DRAWING A BLANK ON ME, BUT IT USED, IT WAS A PART OF THE, I THINK IT'S THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DISTRICT WAS DOING A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND I BELIEVE IT INVOLVED SIX SQUARE OR SIX SQUARE WAS TANGENTIALLY INVOLVED WITH IT, BUT THEY ALSO HAD A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT, UH, IN TERMS OF HAVING THAT RESULTS.
SO IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY RESULT COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE IN THE ETHER FLOATING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND JUST CURIOUS THE, THE FEEDBACK FROM THOSE THREE ITEMS. I HAD SENT THOSE PREVIOUSLY AS REQUESTS, UM, OFF THE DAAS, BUT I WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK SO IT IS ON RECORD, UH, TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THOSE AS, UM, FUTURE TOPICS.
AND ONE LAST THING, THIS IS FOR COMMISSIONER LYRIC WITH, UM, THE ENCAMPMENT.
I, I KNOW WE WERE ON THAT CALL TOGETHER FROM DAVID GRAY WITH THE HSO, UM, THE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
BUT I THINK PRESENTING TO EVERYONE, IF YOU ALL WERE NOT A PART OF THAT CALL, IT GAVE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE STRATEGIC NEXT STEPS AND THE STRATEGIC PLANNING OF, UM, ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, THE HOMELESSNESS SITUATION THAT WE HAVE HERE, NOT TO, UM, IDENTIFY IN THAT SPACE.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO PUT THOSE THINGS AGAIN HERE IN AN ON RECORD
AND COMMISSIONER TEACHER, JUST TO, UM, SPECIFY IT'S, SO IT'S A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SURVEY FROM LAST YEAR AND THAT IS THE CONSULTING COMPANY OUT OF GEORGIA.
IS THAT THE A PD THAT DID COME AND DO THE, UM, PRESENTATION BEFORE OR IS THIS A SEPARATE ONE? DIFFERENT? I DON'T RECALL, BUT IT WAS, UM, A PD.
WELL WE, UM, THEY DID, THEY DID COME AND, UM, AND PRESENT, BUT I WILL, UH, REACH OUT TO YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU, UH, WOULD LIKE AND THEN WE CAN PRESENT IT, UH, IN THERE.
AND THEN I WILL ALSO, I CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO THEM, UH, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION.
UM, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE WAS ACME AND WHAT THINK WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS,
[02:10:01]
UM, WAS ALSO A SURVEY, IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT.AND THAT THE COMMUNITY WIDE SURVEY THEY DID AND THEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DISTRICT, UM, AND SIX SQUARE ON THEIR COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AS WELL.
NOW I'LL CLARIFY IF IT'S ABSOLUTELY THOSE NAMES.
UM, BUT IT WAS PREVIOUS ONES I SENT OFF DS AND THE ON THE FORM REQUEST.
UM, SO I'LL JUST TRY TO GO BACK AND SEE WHICH ONE OF THOSE ARE TO MAKE SURE, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S IN THAT AREA NOW.
CAN I, CAN I, I'M NOT OFFICIALLY ANYTHING THAT DOES AGENDAS, BUT I DO WANNA SAY COMMISSIONER TISHA, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A, A DEEPER CONVERSATION WITH THE VICE CHAIR AROUND.
I WONDER IF YOU GET A HOLD OF THOSE THREE THINGS YOURSELF FIRST AND KIND OF GLANCE OVER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRAID IT TOGETHER AND AN ACTIONABLE, UM, WAY FOR THE COMMISSION MIGHT BE HELPFUL BECAUSE I'M JUST, I'M THINKING OF THE LIKE TIME REAL ESTATE, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S THREE DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS AND IF WE'RE GONNA ASK, IF WE'RE ALL GONNA ASK 12 QUESTIONS, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT 45 MINUTES EACH AND SO WE'VE GOT TWO HOUR AND THEN, AND THEN WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING, RIGHT? SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THOSE AGENDA SETTING MEETINGS IS IF WE HAVE EIGHT REQUESTS, WE ONLY HAVE TIME FOR FOUR OF THEM ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES ONE, CAN WE GET TO COME TWO, DID WE ACTUALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION THREE? BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS TOO, RIGHT? THREE.
UM, LIKE WHAT IS MOST TIMELY AND MOST LIKELY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH.
SO WHEN YOU GUYS DON'T SEE AGENDA ITEMS END UP HERE, THAT WAS ALL THE CALCULUS GOING ON MM-HMM
IS THAT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TIME TO GET FOLKS HOME BEFORE 11 O'CLOCK.
RIGHT? UM, AND SO WE'RE, IT'S NEVER INTENTIONAL AND SOMETIMES WE JUST CAN'T GET FOLKS ON THE AGENDA, RIGHT? WE JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK.
BUT, SO I DO WONDER IF WITH THAT, IT MAY MAKE SENSE TO KIND OF CHAT THROUGH A LITTLE BIT HOW WE WOULD STRUCTURE THE CONVERSATION TO HELP THEN MIGUEL WHEN HE REACHES OUT TO FOLKS.
SO I CAN COMMIT TO CONNECT WITH YOU ON THAT AND THEN WE CAN HELP INFORM VICE THE INCOMING VICE CHAIR, UM, AGENDA SETTING CONVERSATIONS TOO.
DOES THAT YEAH, THAT WONDERFUL.
IT GOES RIGHT INTO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFORMATION VERSUS INTERVENTION.
SO, UM, WITH THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY STRING SOME THOROUGH SOME THREAD LINES, UH, BETWEEN THOSE AND OF COURSE, UM, MAKE SOME, MAKE SOME DECISIONS FROM THERE, WHETHER IT FITS OR NOT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JUST A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, OUTGOING VICE CHAIR ARNOLD, FOR YOUR, UH, YOUR DEDICATION HERE AND YOUR COMMITMENT HERE ON THE COMMISSION AND KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BE DOING THE GROUNDWORK THAT YOU'VE AL ALWAYS HAVE BEEN DOING, AND, UH, CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNITIES HERE IN AUSTIN AND THOSE THAT SHARE YOUR STORY.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS ON THE RECORD.
OKAY, SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE WILL, LET'S SEE.
UH, I CAN CALL THIS MEETING AS END ADJOURNED AT 8 54.