* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Proclamation – Domestic Violence Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez] [00:00:05] GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN. I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ. TODAY, I'M HONORED TO, TO BE JOINED BY MANY OF OUR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY ADVOCATES TO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. TODAY, WE HONOR SURVIVORS, REMEMBER LOVED ONES, AND RE- RECOMMIT TO OUR SHARED GOAL TO PUTTING AN END TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE NEVER ALONE. THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MY HOUSEHOLD AND IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE MUST CONTINUE RESHAPING THE NARRATIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENDING THE STIGMA AROUND ASKING FOR HELP. ASKING FOR HELP, FIGHTING FOR YOURSELF, AND HEALING IS STRENGTH, NOT WEAKNESS. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING HERE IN AUSTIN. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH APD, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES WITH THE SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THE INVESTMENTS AND TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF APD'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT AND COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL PROJECT, MOVING TO OPEN THE DOORS OF AUSTIN'S FIRST FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAFE, ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND OTHERS DOING THIS DIFFICULT WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. FOR EVERYONE WATCHING THIS, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE, THERE IS HELP. IF YOU'RE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, PLEASE CALL 911. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES OR SOMEONE TO TALK TO, PLEASE VISIT SAFEAUSTIN.ORG OR THEHOTLINE.ORG. THAT'S SAFEAUSTIN.ORG AND THEHOTLINE.ORG. UM, AND NOW I GET TO HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THIS PROCLAMATION. BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A PRIVATE ISSUE, IT IMPACTS, IT, ITS IMPACTS REACHES INTO OUR HOMES, SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, NEIGHBORHOODS, INTERSECTING WITH HOUSING, HEALTH, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WHEREAS ONE IN THREE TEXANS WILL EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME, REMINDING US THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND EVERY COMMUNITY IS IMPACTED. SURVIVORS ARE OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, AND COWORKERS. AND WHEREAS CHILDREN EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN EX- EXPERIENCE EFFECTS AND EXT - THAT EXTEND WELL BEYOND CHILDHOOD, IMPACTING THEIR HEALTH, WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS AS SURVIVORS FACE FINANCIAL ABUSE, DAMAGE CREDIT, DISRUPTED EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER BARRIERS TO FINDING AND MAINTAINING SAFE HOUSING. AND WHEREAS IN THE LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 5,000 SURVIVORS RECEIVED SERVICES FROM SAFE ALLIANCE WHILE, WHILE AUSTIN POLICE, WHILE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VICTIM SERVICES ASSISTED 3,692 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING REFLECTING BOTH THE SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR SERVICES AND THE STRENGTH OF THE, OF AUSTIN'S COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE 2026 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH THEME WITH SURVIVORS ALWAYS CALLS US TO MOVE BEYOND AWARENESS TO ACTION BY LISTENING TO SURVIVORS VALUING, VALUING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORTING THEIR INDIVIDUAL PATHS TO SAFETY AND HEALING. AND WHEREAS BEING WITH SURVIVORS MEANS WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS AGENCIES, SYSTEMS, AND COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND ENSURE SURVIVORS CAN HELP, CAN FIND HELP AND SUPPORT WITHOUT HAVING TO NAVIGATE THOSE SYSTEMS ALONE. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SURVIVORS AND TO A COMMUNITY RESPONSE THAT PROMOTES SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, HEALING, AND HOPE FOR EVERYONE IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. NOW, THEREFORE I, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DIOCES AND THE MAYOR, KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2026 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND WITH THAT, I WILL WELCOME UP APD COMMANDER CHADWAR. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN. MY NAME IS CARRIE SHODWAR [00:05:01] AND I AM A COMMANDER WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE SPECIAL VICTIMS INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION. OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME TO BRING LIGHT TO AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS, OFTEN IN SILENCE. A TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUPPORT SURVIVORS, AND REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE. NEARLY ONE IN TWO WOMEN AND MORE THAN TWO IN FIVE MEN REPORTED EXPERIENCING SEXUAL VIOLENCE, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, AND/OR STALKING BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER DURING THEIR LIFETIME. THAT ISN'T JUST ALARMING, THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS. FORTUNATELY, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A STRONG REPUTATION FOR PRIORITIZING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT, SPECIAL VICTIMS INTERVENTION UNIT, AND OUR VICTIM SERVICES WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO HIGH RISK CASES AND CONNECT SURVIVORS AND RESOURCES WITH SUPPORT. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE REPORT, IN 2025, MORE THAN 73% OF VICTIMS WHO WERE KILLED WERE KILLED BY A FIREARM. IN AUSTIN SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD SIX INTIMATE PARTNER RELATED HOMICIDES, ALL INVOLVED A FIREARM. ONE IS JUST TOO MANY. WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY PARTNERS TO DEVELOP A PROTOCOL THAT HELPS ENSURE EXISTING LAWS AND COURT ORDERS AND ARE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHEN THEIR ABUSER IS LEGALLY PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING FIREARMS. ANOTHER EFFORT WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF IS THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER. FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS ARE PLACES WHERE SURVIVORS CAN ACCESS EVERYTHING THEY NEED UNDER ONE ROOF, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ADVOCATES, PROSECUTORS, COUNSELORS, HOUSING AND SHELTER, AND MORE. NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM SHOULDN'T BE ANOTHER HURDLE. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO FACE AND LIVE THIS, EXCUSE ME. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO FACE ABUSE ALONE. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HELP IS AVAILABLE. YOU SHOULD CALL 911 IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. AND DURING THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, YOU CAN HELP BY LEARNING THE SIGNS OF ABUSE, SUPPORTING OUR SURVIVORS, SHARING RESOURCES, AND HELPING CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE. THANK YOU. IS ANYBODY ELSE SPEAKING? OKAY. YOU WANT TO COME TO THE FRONT AND TAKE THE PHOTO? PLEASE. UM, IF WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM. [Proclamation – Cybersecurity Awareness Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela] GOOD MORNING. UH, I AM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CHITOVELA, AND WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH. UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO, TO BE HERE, UH, WITH Y'ALL. OCTOBER IS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH. IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US HERE IN AUSTIN TO RECOGNIZE JUST HOW MUCH WE DEPEND ON OUR DIGITAL COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. OUR CITY SERVICES, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, AND FAMILIES ALL RELY ON CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY. AND WITH THAT CONNECTIVITY COMES A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT ONE ANOTHER FROM CYBER THREATS THAT CAN DISRUPT SERVICES, COMPROMISE INFORMATION, AND IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR LOCAL, UH, ECONOMY. UH, CYBERSECURITY REALLY IS A, A TEAM EFFORT, UH, FOR ALL OF US. THAT MEANS TAKING SIMPLE STEPS, USING STRONG, UNIQUE PASSWORDS, TURNING ON MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTIFIC - AUTHENTICATION, UH, AND KEEPING OUR SOFTWARE UPDATED AND BEING CAUTIOUS ABOUT UNEXPECTED LINKS OR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION. UH, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF AUSTIN CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS, UH, WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES EVERY DAY TO PROTECT THE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS RELY ON. UH, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A STRONG TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN WHOSE EXPERTISE, INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION, UH, HELP MAKE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY MORE, UH, RESILIENT. UH, AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, THAT COLLABORATION WILL BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. SO THIS OCTOBER, I ENCOURAGE EVERY AUSTINITE TO TAKE ONE STEP TO STRENGTHEN YOUR DIGITAL SECURITY. [00:10:01] UH, SAFER DIGITAL AUSTIN IS A STRONGER AUSTIN AND ALL OF US HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. UH, LET ME INTRODUCE DR. DONALD JOHNSON, THE CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER FOR AUSTIN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. DR. JOHNSON. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PORTEMVELA. UH, ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, SENATE EXTENDED A THANK YOU TO, UH, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH. UH, AT ATS, OUR INFORMATION SECURITY DIVISION, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK, LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY, INTEGRITY AND AVAILABILITY, AVAILABILITY OF CITY SYSTEMS. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO CYBERSECURITY, AT ITS CORE, UH, IT COMES TO STAYING ATTENTIVE AND WORKING TOGETHER AS THIS PROCLAMATION REMINDS US THAT CYBERSECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS RELY ON TECHNOLOGY EVERY DAY. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS VITAL THAT WE SAFEGUARD THE TECHNOLOGY THAT KEEPS OUR CITY RUNNING. EVERY OCTOBER, CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH IS A GLOBAL INITIATIVE, UH, THAT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY AND EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM CYBERSECURITY. THIS YEAR AT AUSTIN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, OUR THEME IS DON'T MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM. IT IS A SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT REMINDER THAT EACH OF US PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN KEEPING OUR DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT SECURE. SMALL ACTIONS LIKE THAT HELP PROTECT NOT ONLY OUR OWN INFORMATION, BUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR COMMUNITY FROM CYBER CRIMES, YOU CAN VISIT STAYSAFEONLINE.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING AUSTIN SAFE AND SECURE. UH, THANK YOU, UH, UH, VERY MUCH. AND, UH, I, I JUST WANNA THANK THE, UH, DIRECTOR. UH, I KNOW THAT WHEN I, FROM WHEN I STARTED ON COUNCIL IN 2022, UH, UNTIL TODAY, UH, I KNOW WE'VE IDENTIFIED CONCERNS, UH, IN, AND WE'VE ADDRESSED THOSE CONCERNS. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN CYBERSECURITY, UH, AND IT'S THANKS TO OUR STAFF, THANKS TO OUR, ALSO OUR... I GOTTA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR CITY AUDITOR, UH, AND, UH, DIRECTOR, DID YOU WANNA SAY ANY, UH, A FEW WORDS OR JUST, UH... NOPE. ALL RIGHT, LYNN, UH, AGAIN, JUST A- APPRECIATE ALL THE, THE HARD WORK. I KNOW, UH, OTHER CITIES HAVE BEEN HIT BY, UH, MAJOR, UH, CYBER SECURITY ATTACKS. UH, WE HAVE BEEN, KNOCK ON WOOD, UH, BOTH LUCKY AND, AND PREPARED, AND WE WANNA STAY PREPARED AND STAY, UH, CAUTIOUS AND, AND BE READY. AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UH, READ THE, UH, PROCLAMATION FOR, UH, CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH. BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THAT IT HAS A VITAL ROLE IN IDENTIFYING, UH, PROTECTING ITS RESIDENTS FROM AND RESPONDING TO CYBER THREATS THAT MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY AND PRIVACY. AND WHEREAS, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS ARE INCREASINGLY RELIANT ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, ENERGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES, HEALTHCARE, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS. AND WHEREAS, MAINTAINING THE SECURITY OF CYBERSPACE IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN WHICH EACH OF US HAS A CRITICAL ROLE TO PLAY, UH, AN AWARENESS OF COMPUTER SECURITY ESSENTIALS WILL IMPROVE THE SECURITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMY. NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHITOVELLA, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2026 AS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. WELL, AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO, TO KEEP US SAFE AND TO KEEP CRITICAL SYSTEMS RUNNING, UH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. CAN I GET ONE PICTURE OF YOU? OF COURSE, LET'S GET IT IN FRONT. . [Proclamation – La Santa Barbacha Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez] I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, AND TODAY I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE A BELOVED AUSTIN FOOD STAPLE AND SMALL BUSINESS, LA SANTA BARBACCA. THEY'RE INCREDIBLE. TACOS, DE BARBACOA, SALSAS AND AWAS FRESCAS EARNED THEM A SPOT ON THE MICHELIN GUIDE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS ONLY PART OF THE REASON THEY HAVE BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THE STORY OF LA SANTA BARBACCA AND THE HERNANDEZ FAMILY IS [00:15:01] ONE TO BE CELEBRATED. THEY MADE AUSTIN THEIR HOME IN 2020, AND NOT LONG AFTER LA SANTA BARBA - BACCHA WAS BORN OUT OF LOVE FOR THEIR FAMILY, THEIR CULTURE, AND THEIR TRADITIONS. THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE WAY THAT THEIR TORTILLAS ARE EACH HAND PRESSED AND MADE TO ORDER HOW THEIR BARBACOA IS A LABOR OF LOVE COOKED WITH INGREDIENTS FROM MEXICO, BUT ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE WAY THEY'VE CREATED A COMMUNITY THAT GOES BEYOND THE FOOD THEY SHARE TOGETHER. I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THEM TODAY AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, AND THEY ARE TRULY PART OF THE AUSTIN STORY. BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS LA SANTA BARBACA, FOUNDED IN 2021 BY THE HERNANDEZ FAMILY, BRINGS THE FLAVORS AND TRADITIONS OF CENTRAL MEXICO TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, SHARING A FAMILY BARBACOA RECIPE PASSED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS IN OUR YOUTH, SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITY ON SUNDAYS AFTER CHURCH, AND WHEREAS SISTERS, ROSA DE LIMA HERNANDEZ LA- LANDAVERDE, LANDAVERDE, AND DANIELA HERNANDEZ BROUGHT THEIR PASSION FOR COOKING, THEIR MEXICAN HERITAGE, AND THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT TO LA SANTA BARBACCA, CREATING A WELCOMING PLACE WHERE FOOD CONNECTS PEOPLE ACROSS CULTURES, AND WHEREAS LA SANTA BARBACCA PRESENTS AND CELEBRATES MEXICAN CULINARY TRADITIONS THROUGH ITS BRAISED BEEF BARBACOA, COLORFUL CORN - CORT - CORN TORTILLAS, AND THOUGHTFUL DISHES, HONORING THE FAMILY RECIPES AND CRAFTSMANSHIP AT THE HEART OF THIS STORY. AND WHEREAS, AS A FAMILY-OWNED LOCAL BUSINESS, LA SANTA BARBACCA CONTRIBUTES TO AUSTIN'S VIBRANT FOOD CULTURE, CREATES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, VALUES OUR... VALUES THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND BRINGS LOCALS AND VISITORS TOGETHER AROUND THE TABLE. AND WHEREAS, THE STORY OF LA SANTA BARBACCA REFLECTS THE PERSEVERANCE, CREATIVITY, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HARD WORK AND FELLOWSHIP OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS AND WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO... WHO HELP SHAPE AUSTIN'S CULTURAL IDENTITY AND VALUES. AND WHEREAS, LA SANTA BARBACCA CONTINUES TO SHARE ITS LOVE FOR FOOD, FAMILY, AND HOSPITALITY WITH THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, DEMONSTRATING HOW A MEXICAN FAMILY'S TRADITION CAN BECOME A MEANINGFUL PART OF THE CITY THEY CALL HOME. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM CHITOVELLA, THE ENTIRE DIAS AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 8TH, 2026 AS LA SANTA BARBACCA DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND NOW WE WILL WELCOME ROSA DE LIMA HERNANDEZ TO SAY A FEW WORDS. . HI, EVERYONE. YEAH? OH, YEAH, GOOD CATCHING YOU. HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ROSA DE LIMA. I'M THE OLDEST SISTER OF MY FAMILY. MY FAMILY'S HERE PRESENT WITH US. UH, WE CAME FROM MEXICO WITH A BIG DREAM, WITH A BIG DREAM, UM, WITH A LOT OF PASSION, WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND WITH A LOT OF LOVE TO CONTINUE WORKING. AND TODAY, WE WANT TO, UM, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, AUSTIN, FOR RECEIVING US AS A FAMILY, AS A HARD WORKER FAMILY, AND TO MAKE THIS CITY AS OUR HOME. UH, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE, SHARING OUR FOOD, OUR PASSION, OUR CULTURE, SHARING ALL THESE MOMENTS WITH YOU GUYS. UH, SINCE DAY ONE, I KNEW THAT MY DAD SAID THAT AUSTIN WILL BE MY HOME, AND IT IS MY HOME. EVERY DAY I COME HERE, ALL YOU WERE BORN HERE, WE ARE SO PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE CREATE TOGETHER. . . OLIVER WAS BORN HERE, SO I'M SO HAPPY THAT HE, THAT HE'S SO PROUD OF ALL OF US. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. YOU WANT TO TAKE A WHILE TAKE A PHOTO? UM, YEAH, CAN I GET EVERYBODY TO STAND UP? [00:20:28] GOOD [Proclamation – Code Compliance Month – To be presented by Council Member Ryan Alter] MORNING. I AM COUNCILMEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR CITY'S CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM. UH, THEY WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE AUSTINITES CAN BE SAFE WHEREVER THEY LIVE, WORK, OR PLAY. YOU KNOW, THE CODE STAFF REALLY DOES ENSURE THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HOMES MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF NEW AND EXISTING ORDINANCES AND COLLABORATE WITH NEIGHBORS AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY DANGEROUS OR UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS AND THEN WORK TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES. THESE CASES ARE OFTEN COMPLEX AND HIGHLY EMOTIONAL FOR THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. I'M SURE MANY STORIES, UH, FROM EVERYBODY HERE, BUT THEY EVEN RISK THEIR OWN SAFETY AND SECURITY DURING THIS WORK. AND SO WE WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THEY DO. I WILL SAY, UH, FROM OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE RELY ON CODE A LOT. Y'ALL DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK, UH, TO HELP KEEP DISTRICT FIVE AND THE CITY, UH, JUST WHERE IT SHOULD BE FROM A CODE COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE. SO WITH THAT, BEFORE WE DO THE FORMAL PROCLAMATION, I WILL INTRODUCE DIRECTOR KEITH MARS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THANK YOU ALL COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. I'M KEITH MARS, THE DIRECTOR HERE AT AUSTIN'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND CAN'T BE MORE PROUD THE TEAM THAT'S, THAT'S AROUND ME AND THOSE THAT CAN'T BE HERE TODAY, UH, FOR THE TIRELESS SERVICE THAT, THAT OUR TEAM PROVIDE OF, OF HELPING TO KEEP AUSTIN AUSTIN. WE HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AND YOU SEE THAT EXPRESSED IN HOW OUR TEAM WORKS DAY IN AND DAY OUT OF NOT JUST, UH, H- HELPING KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY VIBRANT, BUT ALSO THAT PERSONAL TOUCH OF, OF BEING AUSTINITES AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THAT AND, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' ATTENTION TO THIS AND, UH, SO PROUD TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING US TODAY. OF COURSE. WELL, WHO'S GONNA BE THE HOLDER OF THE PROCLAMATION? THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. WELL, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH THE ENFORCEMENT OF CITY CODES AND ORDINANCES, AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM SUPPORTS THAT COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND VISITORS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING, ZONING, HOUSING, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. AND WHEREAS CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM MEMBERS, INCLUDING INSPECTORS, INVESTIGATORS, AND STAFF IN A VARIETY OF SUPPORT ROLES ARE VITAL TO THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATE RESIDENTS, RESOLVE VIOLATIONS, AND UPHOLD STANDARDS TO PROTECT PROPERTIES, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AND WHEREAS OCTOBER IS RECOGNIZED AS CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION FOR THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND THE DEPARTMENT OVERALL AS THEY SUPPORT ALL... OUR QUALITY OF LIFE WITH INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW LOCAL CODES, PARTICIPATE IN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT EVENTS, UH, EFFORTS, AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE A SAFE AND VIBRANT CITY FOR ALL. SO NOW, THEREFORE I, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2026 AS CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND RYAN. WELL, WE CAN STEP UP HERE AND TAKE A QUICK PICTURE. COME ON, EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING, [Proclamation – Rise and Run ATX: Safety in Numbers Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes] EVERYONE. I'M VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN, AND I'M HERE TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE RISE AND RUN ATX. RISE AND RUN WAS FUN - WAS FOUNDED ON A VERY SIMPLE PREMISE. WE ARE STRONGER, SAFER, AND WE HAVE MORE FUN WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER. ALSO, THAT'S EASIER TO WAKE UP AT 5:00 AM RUN WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT WITH FRIENDS, SO THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. [00:25:01] FOR YEARS, RISE AND RUN HAS OFFERED FUN, SAFE RUNNING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR BACKGROUND. IT MIXES FRIENDSHIP WITH OUTDOORS AND IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT DEFINES THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN. AND IN RECOGNITION OF THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP, IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO ADRI PRADO, THE FOUNDER AND COACH OF RISE AND RUN ATX. IF YOU CAN HOLD THIS REAL QUICK, AND I WILL READ IT OUT LOUD. BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS RISE AND RUN SOUTH AUSTIN WAS FOUNDED ON JULY 2018 BY ADRIANA PRADO IN RESPONSE TO THE CONCERNS FOR RUNNER SAFETY AND THE BELIEF THAT RUNNING WITH OTHERS HELPS CREATE A SAFER, MORE SUPPORTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. WHEREAS, FOR EIGHT YEARS, THE RISE AND RUN SOUTH AUSTIN HAS PROVIDED FREE 5:00 AM COMMUNITY RUNS AND ADDITIONAL WEEKLY GROUP RUNS FOR AUSTIN AREA RUNNERS AND WALKERS, MAKING IT POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEDICATION AND GENEROSITY OF VOLUNTEER LEADERS AND COACHES WHO HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME TO FOSTER A SAFE, WELCOMING, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS. AND WHEREAS, RISE AND RUN SOUTH AUSTIN IS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY VALUES THAT REFLECTS TRADITIONS OF HOSPITALITY, FAMILIA, AND LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, EMBRACING THE PRINCIPLE OF SAFETY IN NUMBERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWING UP FOR ONE ANOTHER. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCILMAN VANESSA FUENTES, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 3RD, 2026 AS SAFETY AND NUMBERS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IS ADRI PRADO. SAY A FEW WORDS? OF COURSE. MM-HMM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE A CITY OF AUSTIN PROCLAMATION, UM, DAY, AND IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT THE CITY RECOGNIZED THE WORK THAT RISE AND RUN SOUTH AUSTIN AND RISE AND RUN ATX HAS BEEN DOING WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS OFFERING FREE 5: AM RUNS FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE HERE TO, UM, ENSURE AND TO HELP THAT YOU'RE NOT RUNNING ALONE. WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU, MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO FIND A BODY, UM, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE DAY WHEN YOU'RE TRAINING. YOU CAN JOIN US EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT TRAINING FOR A RACE, YOU CAN JOIN US FOR FREE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN A WAIVER AND, UM, YOU SHOW UP. WE HAVE PLENTY OF RUNS. THIS IS A GREAT TIMING. JUST TODAY, WE STARTED OUR FIRST 5: AM RUN IN NORTH AUSTIN, AND, UH, WE PLAN TO CONTINUE WITH THE HELP OF ALL OF OUR AMBASSADORS, AND I KNOW MANY ARE NOT HERE, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF PEOPLE GIVING THEIR TIME AT 5:00 AM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS RECOGNIZING THIS. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. A GROUP PHOTO RIGHT OVER HERE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.