[00:00:04]
[Distinguished Service Award – Lucas Massie – To be presented by City Manager T.C. Broadnax]
EVERYONE.WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO MR. LUCAS MASSEY.
LUCAS BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS A PROGRAM SPECIALIST AT DITTMER RECREATION CENTER.
OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, HE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO POSITIONS WITHIN PROVIDING HIM MORE AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY, LUCAS HAS WORKED WITH COUNTLESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
HIS EXPERIENCE HAS GIVEN HIM A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE PARKS AND RECREATION PLAYS IN STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES, SUPPORTING FAMILIES, AND PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE.
LUCAS HAS DEDICATED NEARLY 25 YEARS TO PUBLIC SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUILDING A CAREER CENTERED ON RECREATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
MOST RECENTLY, HE SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHERE HE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT FOR A DIVERSE RANGE OF OPERATIONS, INCLUDING AQUATICS, FACILITIES, GOLF, OPERATIONS, SPECIAL EVENTS, CEMETERY OPERATIONS, NATURAL RESOURCES, MUSEUMS, AND CULTURAL CENTERS AND RECREATION CENTERS.
LUCAS IS A CERTIFIED PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONAL THROUGH THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION, NRPA, AND IS A GRADUATE OF NPAS DIRECTOR SCHOOL PROGRAM.
WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR LUCAS'S MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND WISH HIM AND HIS FAMILY ALL THE BEST IN HIS NEXT AND EXCITING CHAPTER.
AND SO I WILL NOW PROVIDE AND READ, UH, THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, UH, THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO LUCAS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HIS 25 YEAR TENURE.
AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, LUCAS MASSEY IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS C CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR 2026.
ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND THE COLLECTIVE STAFF YOU SEE HERE, AS WELL AS THOSE OUT IN THE FIELD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CAREER AND DEDICATION AND WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
THANK THE ACTUAL AWARD, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LUCAS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
WELL, I'M NOT ONE FOR, FOR LONG SPEECHES.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, UH, TO MY COWORKERS, TO CITY LEADERSHIP FOR ALLOWING ME TO, TO FUNCTION IN THIS POSITION FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.
UH, I HOPE I WAS ABLE TO DELIVER ON EVERYTHING I PROMISED AND, AND, UM, I, I'M SURE THE CITY, UH, AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE ON FINE WITHOUT ME, AND I'LL, I'LL MISS IT GREATLY, THOUGH.
ALRIGHT, WE GO AND TAKE PICTURES.
[National Retirement Security Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela]
MORNING.I AM MAYOR PRO TEM CHITO VELA HERE TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL RETIREMENT, UH, SECURITY MONTH.
UH, OCTOBER IS NATIONAL RETIREMENT
[00:05:01]
SECURITY MONTH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE CITY EMPLOYEES TO PLAN AND SAVE FOR RETIREMENT.UH, OF COURSE, THE CITY HAS, UH, A PENSION, UH, BUT IT ALSO HAS ADDITIONAL, UH, SAVINGS PLANS AND, UH, UH, IRA TYPE FUNDS.
I THINK THE 4 0 1 A, I BELIEVE IS THE, THE PLAN.
UH, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S GREAT TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR, UH, PENSION AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SAVING ENOUGH MONEY FOR, UH, A GOOD, UH, HAPPY, UH, RETIREMENT.
UH, LET'S, LET'S ALL PLAN TO LIVE A LONG, LONG TIME
THE CITY DOES OFFER THE RETIREMENT SA SAVINGS PLANS TO HELP EMPLOYEES BUILD FINANCIAL SECURITY, UH, FOR, UM, THE FUTURE.
UH, AND, UH, PARTICIPATION HAS GROWN.
UH, AVERAGE ACCOUNT BALANCES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE GROWN, BUT THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE EMPLOYEES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BENEFITS, UH, WHICH CAN REALLY, UH, HELP IN, IN LATER YEARS.
THE PLANS OFFER LOW FEES AND ACCESS TO RETIREMENT COUNSELORS, FINANCIAL PLANNING, INVESTMENT GUIDANCE, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
UH, YOU DON'T NEED INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THESE ARE PLANS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON TO HELP YOU MAKE, UH, SAFE AND, AND SECURE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL SLOWLY GROW, UH, OVER TIME.
UH, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT SMALL, CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTIONS ADD UP OVER TIME AND CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN RETIREMENT.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT.
I KNOW IT'S, UH, HARD A LOT OF TIMES FOR FOLKS IN THEIR TWENTIES, UH, TO THINK ABOUT, UH, RETIREMENT.
UH, AND OFTENTIMES PEOPLE DON'T START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT AT A YOUNG AGE.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WHATSOEVER WITH, UH, UH, STARTING LATE AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE CONSISTENTLY PUTTING AWAY A LITTLE MONEY AND MAKING SURE TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT.
UM, EMPLOYEES CAN ENROLL AT ANY TIME.
UH, CONNECT WITH THE RETIREMENT CLOUDS, CONNECT WITH THE RETIREMENT COUNSELOR, OR VISIT DC AUSTIN.COM.
UH, TO LEARN MORE, THE KEY IS TO START SAVING NOW.
AND LET ME INTRODUCE NATHAN BLAKE, THE COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION, UH, COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TE VELA AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH.
UM, I'M JOINED HERE BY SOME OF OUR COMMITTED COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE MAX SCHWARTZ, WE HAVE DEBBIE FLEMING, GAIL RAY, NICOLE WARREN, AND OUR LOVELY PLAN COORDINATOR, MARCUS JEV.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASIZE THAT OCTOBER IS RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH, UM, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO THE CITY DOES OFFER A 4 0 1 A PLAN, BUT WE MAINLY OFFER THE 4 57 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPLEMENT OUR PENSION ACCOUNTS TO LIVE A FINANCIALLY SECURE RETIREMENT.
UH, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, SIR, UM, WHETHER YOU'RE JUST STARTING YOUR CAREER OR GETTING CLOSE TO RETIREMENT, SIGNING UP FOR A DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNT WILL HELP YOU LIVE A GOOD FINANCIAL RETIREMENT.
JUST LIKE YOU SAID, SIR, UM, EVERY SMALL STEP CAN MAKE A VERY BIG CHANGE IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
UM, OUR COMMITTEE REMAINS STEADFAST IN SUPPORTING RETIREMENT SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES AND HELPING EMPLOYEES PREPARE FOR A FINANCIALLY SECURE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, AND THANKS ESPECIALLY TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE SUPPORT AND, AND THE GUIDANCE.
UH, THERE'S, UM, REALLY JUST READY OFF THE SHELF SOLUTIONS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE READY TO START SUPPLEMENTING THEIR PENSION AND, AND SAVING, UH, FOR RETIREMENT, MAKING SURE TO GET EXTRA MONEY, UH, INTO RETIREMENT.
AND, AND I, AGAIN, I KNOW IT CAN SEEM DAUNTING, UH, WHEN YOU START SAVING, BUT, UH, UH, THERE'S, UH, THE WONDERS OF COMPOUND INTEREST.
UH, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU SAVE A LITTLE BIT, UH, AND YOU JUST LEAVE IT ALONE, UH, AND DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, JUST LET IT RUN, UH, YEARS LATER, OFTENTIMES, YOU HAVE MORE THAN, UH, THAN YOU REALIZE, UH, AND, AND YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UH, IN, UH, IN FUTURE YEARS.
LEMME GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION THEN, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS HAS DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2026 AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH, RECOGNIZING THAT SAVING FOR RETIREMENT IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH AND SECURITY, WHEREAS A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES NEED TO CONSIDER MULTIPLE SOURCES OF RETIREMENT INCOME, AND THAT MANY OF THESE, INCLUDING
[00:10:01]
EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS, REQUIRE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND ADEQUATE PLANNING.WHEREAS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR A FINANCIALLY SECURE FUTURE, ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS, AND PROMOTES WISE MANAGEMENT OF RETIREMENT RESOURCES FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.
WHEREAS SAVINGS FOR RETIREMENT IS CRUCIAL TO OVERALL FINANCIAL WELLBEING AND SECURITY IN LATER LIFE.
AND PROMOTING FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR RETIREMENT PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL.
AND WHEREAS CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AND RETIREMENT PLANNING RESOURCES THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S 4 57 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2026 AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR GUIDANCE OF, UH, AND, AND OVERSIGHT OF, UH, OF, OF THESE PLANS.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES TO, UH, UH, SAVE AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, SOCIAL SECURITY IS GREAT.
UH, A, UH, UH, A SAVINGS PLAN OUTSIDE OF THOSE IS, UH, JUST THE, THE, THE PERFECT COMBINATION.
[Distinguished Service Award – Officer Frank Creasey – To be presented by Council Member Krista Laine]
EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR, TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN FOR JOINING US AND OFFICER CREASEY AND, AND ALL OF THIS CROWD OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY RECOGNIZE WHAT HE HAS GIVEN TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO HAS TOUCHED MANY LIVES IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND ALL OVER THIS CITY, OFFICER FRANK CREASEY BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1990.
HE SERVED FOR 36 YEARS, FIVE MONTHS AND 27 DAYS, NOT THAT HE WAS COUNTING
HE SERVED AS A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR ADAM SECTOR, WHERE MANY OF US MET HIM AS HE VISITED COUNTLESS NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS FROM NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TO COMMUNITY FORUMS AND PTA MEETINGS.
AS OFFICER CREASEY GOT TO KNOW US AND OUR CONCERNS, HE BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON CRIME PREVENTION, ASSISTING WITH RECURRENT ISSUES, AND CONNECTING US WITH RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND THE AUSTIN CRIME FREE MULTI-HOUSING PROGRAM.
SPEAKING AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR OFFICE IN DISTRICT SIX IS ALREADY MISSING OFFICER REY VERY MUCH.
HE WAS ALWAYS RESPONSIVE TO OUR QUESTIONS AND WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO ASSIST LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WHO NEEDED HELP.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT SIX THAT OFFICER CREE IS KIND AND COLLABORATIVE, CARES ABOUT PEOPLE, AND WORKS TOWARD POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
HOWEVER, THE TRUE TEST OF A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE IS BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS OVER TIME, BECOMING A FACE OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TRUST AND TURN TO FOR HELP.
HERE TO SHARE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES FROM ANDERSON MILL, ONE OF THE LARGER NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
PART OF AUSTIN IS MONIQUE WATFORD, TREASURER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INTERIM DISTRICT MANAGER, AND LONGTIME RESIDENT OF ANDERSON MILL LIMITED DISTRICT.
TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE AN OFFICER WHO TRULY EMBODIES WHAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT.
WHAT SETS OFFICER GREASY APART IS NOT ONLY HIS DEDICATION, BUT HIS GENUINE WILLINGNESS TO HELP AT ALL TIMES.
HE'S CONSISTENTLY BRINGING FORWARD NEW IDEAS AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HE SERVES.
HIS LEADERSHIP IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH ACTION.
HE SHOWS UP ALL THE TIME WHEN HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO SHOW UP, HE SHOWS UP THAT MATTERS TO THE COMMUNITY.
OFFICER CCY BECAME A WELCOMING AND FAMILIAR FACE AT ALL KINDS OF EVENTS IN ANDERSON MILL LIMITED DISTRICT, AS COUNCILWOMAN POINTED OUT.
SO, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS, OUR TOWN HALLS THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS OUR ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY EVENT, WHICH I MUST SAY HE ALWAYS BROUGHT THE SHOW, BROUGHT THE PARTY THE MAIN ATTRACTION, AND MADE SURE A PD PARTNERED WITH OUR COMMUNITY ON THAT.
WE ALREADY MISS HIM
HE'S HELPED STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A PD AND OUR COMMUNITY IN ANDERSON MILL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, THE INITIATIVE THAT YOU'VE SHOWN, ALWAYS SHOWING
[00:15:01]
UP IN YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.YOU TRULY ARE A DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO WITNESS THIS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
I JUST HOLD IT AND THEN I'LL READ IT.
FOR HIS UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HIS 36 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, FRANK CREE IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION FOR HIS LOYAL SERVICE.
AND FOR AS MANY YEARS AS THE ADAM SECTOR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, WHERE HE BUILT LASTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH AUSTIN.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR 2026.
AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU'D LIKE.
I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND COUNCIL MEMBER DIN, UM, FOR THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD AND, AND THE APPRECIATION OF THIS AWARD.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, CAME IN AND WORKED EVERY DAY FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT I SERVED, AND I'M GLAD I MADE THE LASTING IMPRESSION ON THAT.
THIS STEP OF REPORT, SOME FLAGS FOR PICTURES.
[NBMBAA 20th Anniversary – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
MY NAME IS MARK UCHIN, AND I'M THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COUNCIL MEMBER.AND TODAY WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF A VERY IMPORTANT GROUP, THE NATIONAL BLACK NBA ASSOCIATION.
I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED HERE BY A NUMBER OF MEMBERS, INCLUDING CHAPTER PRESIDENT ZANIA ISRAEL, AND JANELLE GARY.
IT'S VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION.
I'VE ALSO EARNED AN MBA, AND I'VE SEEN HOW FAR THE KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING FROM THE EDUCATION CAN TAKE US ALL FROM SERVING IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EVEN SERVING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE NATIONAL BLACK MBA ASSOCIATION AND ITS LOCAL CHAPTER CHAMPION, THE IDEA OF MERIT.
THAT RECOGNITION IN THE WORKPLACE AND BROADER COMMUNITY SHOULD BE BASED ON ONE SKILL, PERFORMANCE AND PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS.
FOR 55 YEARS, THE GROUP HAS HELPED NURTURE THOSE SKILLS AND PROVIDE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS OF BLACK PROFESSIONALS.
MR. ISRAEL WORKS IN TECHNOLOGY AND AS A FACE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY LEADER.
AND THE N-B-M-A-A IS ONE OF MANY CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS HE'S INVOLVED IN.
HE'S ALSO WORKED WITH THE BLACK LEADERS COLLECTIVE, THE BLACK MEN'S HEALTH CLINIC AND OTHER GROUPS, AND HE HAPPENS TO BE A BESTSELLING AUTHOR ON TOP OF THAT ALL.
AND THOUGH SHE WAS BORN IN TEXAS, MS. GARY SERVED AS THE MAYOR OF ALBANY, CALIFORNIA BEFORE MOVING BACK TO HER HOME STATE.
SHE'S A BACKGROUND IN HUMAN RESOURCES, WAS A CANDIDATE FOR US HOUSE DISTRICT 37.
SO THESE AREN'T JUST LEADERS, THEY'RE THE GROUP THEY'RE HERE TO REPRESENT, ARE WORKING TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.
ALSO, EXAMPLES OF HOW HIGHER EDUCATION PREPARES AND EQUIPS ALL OF US FOR ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE'RE A NORMALCY HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL WHEN I SAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 20 YEARS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION'S WORK HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO INVITE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK EITHER JANELLE OR ZANIA OR OTHERWISE, I'M HAPPY TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PROCLAMATION.
SO YOU ALL TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER THINGS THAT MY DAD YOU'D LIKE TO, YOU'D LIKE TO GO? YES, SIR.
GOOD MORNING TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE, THE MAYOR MARK UCHIN, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AND EVERYONE GATHERED HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS ANI ISRAEL, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT AND THE CEO OF THE NATIONAL BLACK NBA ASSOCIATION AUSTIN CHAPTER.
I WANNA BEGIN THANKING DISTRICT ONE OFFICE, ESPECIALLY MR. BRANTLEY, MS. MOHI, FOR MAKING THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE.
20 YEARS AGO, A SMALL GROUP OF BLACK BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS CAME TOGETHER HERE IN AUSTIN WITH A SIMPLE BELIEF THAT LEADERSHIP CAN BE DEVELOPED AND
[00:20:01]
THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER WHEN WE INVEST IN IT.OUR FOUNDING PRESIDENT, BELINDA MAT AND OUR FOUNDING MEMBERS LAID THE FOUNDATION, AND EVERY LEADER SINCE HAS CARRIED THAT WORK FORWARD.
SO I'M HONORED TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE WHO BUILT THIS CHAPTER WITH US TODAY.
SOME OF 'EM ARE PAST PRESIDENTS, OUR BOARD ADVISORS, AND OUR CURRENT, CURRENT AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME OVER THESE 20 YEARS.
AND WITH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HERE, I WOULD LOVE TO RECOGNIZE YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
AND TODAY, THAT VISION HAS GROWN INTO A CHAPTER OF MORE THAN 800 MEMBERS ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE WORK IN FIVE AREAS, INCLUDING CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION POLICY, WEALTH BUILDING, AND WELLNESS.
AND THROUGHOUT OUR TIME, WE HAVE DEVELOPED LEADERS OF TOMORROW PROGRAM THAT HAS BUILT YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO BE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY ARE TODAY.
AND WE HAVE AWARDED NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS THAT ARE BECOMING YOUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.
SO I WANT TO THANK MY VICE PRESIDENT, JANELLE GARY, AND OUR BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS FOR CARRYING THIS WORK.
AND THIS PROCLAMATION NOT ONLY HONORS THE PAST, BUT IT ALSO HONORS THE FUTURE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE YET TO COME.
SO WITH THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WE CALL FOR MORE COLLABORATION, MORE MENTORSHIP, MORE INVESTMENT IN THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CHAPTER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND I WANT TO INVITE YOU AS A CITY TO STAND WITH US IN OUR 20TH YEAR AS WE GO, 20 FOR 20, WHERE WE HONOR THE NEXT SET OF SCHOLARSHIP MEMBERS IN OUR CAMPAIGN YEAR, STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST TO PROPEL THE NEXT LEADERS FORWARD.
I'M ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL BLACK NBA AUSTIN CHAPTER.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED BACK IN 2006, I, I HAD COME BACK FROM THE NATIONAL BLACK NBA CONFERENCE.
I WAS HYPED, HAD A LOT OF ENERGY, AND I SAID, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S SUCH A VIBRANT CITY, WE NEED THIS KIND OF ENERGY AMONG THE BLACK BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, I, UH, PUT OUT AN EMAIL AND SAID, UH, TO EVERYBODY I KNEW WHO HAD AN MBA WHO WORKED IN BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THEY SHOWED UP.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE, UH, DEAN OF, UH, OF, UH, THE BUSINESS SCHOOL AT HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY, DR.
AND HE SAID, I WANT YOU TO COME OVER TO CAMPUS AND START IT RIGHT HERE.
SO WE FIRST MET ON THE CAMPUS OF HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY, AND DR.
STEVEN EDMOND, AS I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, HE GAVE US A PLACE TO MEET AND FOOD TO EAT
AND WE STARTED FROM THERE AND OUR FOUNDING MEMBERS, UH, SEVEN OF US DECIDED TO BREAK OFF AND ACTUALLY TRIED TO START A CHAPTER THAT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL INTENT.
I JUST WANTED TO GET A GATHERING OF BLACK PROFESSIONALS TO MATCH THE CITY'S ENERGY.
BUT WE DECIDED, HEY, AS LONG AS WE'RE MEETING TOGETHER, LET'S START A CHAPTER.
AND I BELIEVE THOSE MEMBERS WERE BELINDA KO, UH, UH, HENRY YOUNG, BRIAN MARSHALL, MELINDA MURPHY.
IT WAS, UH, OH, GETTING OLD RONALD REED
AND, UH, CRYSTAL AND I WERE CRYSTAL JOHNSON.
BRIAN AND I WERE JUST, AND CRYSTAL AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE STAYING UP TO ONE, TWO IN THE MORNING, UH, GETTING THINGS STARTED.
AND THAT'S THE MENTALITY WE HAD.
IT WAS A STARTUP AND JUST, JUST THE AMOUNT OF TALENT THAT WAS IN THAT ROOM, AND WE GOT TO WORK WITH AND GET THIS CHAPTER STARTED.
AND I'M SO PROUD TO SEE, UH, WAS COME OUT OF THAT THE, UH, LEADERS OF TOMORROW PROGRAM.
WELL, BECAUSE OF, UH, THAT PROGRAM.
SO MANY OF OUR, OUR KIDS WENT TO COLLEGE.
UH, THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT I RECEIVED AND THAT SO MANY OTHERS RECEIVED AND JUST, AND JUST THE NETWORK IN GENERAL AND JUST THE, UH, CONNECTION WITH THE AWESOME COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CHAPTER.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE THE DAY WHERE IT WAS 20 YEARS OF CHAPTER EXISTENCE.
SO I THANK OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP FOR, FOR CARRYING IT ON AND DOING THEIR THING.
ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION.
DOES ANYBODY VOLUNTEER TO HOLD A PROCLAMATION? WE'VE GOT A FANCY PHYSICAL PROCLAMATION.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE AUSTIN CHAPTER WAS FOUNDED IN 2006 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF FOUNDING PRESIDENT, BELINDA MATTO AND A DEDICATED GROUP OF BLACK PROFESSIONALS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE LEADERS IN STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL BLACK MBA ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN CHAPTER WAS ESTABLISHED TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE LEADERS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS FOR 20 YEARS, THE AUSTIN CHAPTER HAS SERVED AS A CATALYST FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT, EDUCATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, NETWORKING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
[00:25:01]
AND WHEREAS GENERATIONS OF MEMBERS, BOARD LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME, TALENTS, RESOURCES, AND EXPERTISE TO STRENGTHEN THE CHAPTER AND EXPAND ITS IMPACT.AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN CHAPTER RECOGNIZES THAT ITS GREATEST STRENGTH COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO SHOW UP, SERVE, LEAD, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS.
AND WHEREAS THE CHAPTER REMAINS COMMITTED TO PREPARING PROFESSIONALS TO NAVIGATE CHANGING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS, PURSUE MEANINGFUL CAREERS, BUILD BUSINESSES, SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND LEAD WITH EXCELLENCE AND PURPOSE.
AND WHEREAS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE CHAPTER'S HISTORY WHILE EMBRACING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD AN EVEN STRONGER FUTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS.
THE AUSTIN CHAPTER RECOGNIZES THAT THE WORK OF LEADERSHIP DOES NOT END WITH CELEBRATING PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT REQUIRES CONTINUED COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, VOLUNTEERISM, MENTORSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND INVESTMENT IN PROFESSIONAL TALENT.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THE NATIONAL BLACK MBA ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN CHAPTER PROUDLY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
WE'RE STILL GOING THAT THE AUSTIN CHAPTER HONORS THE VISIONARIES PAST PRESIDENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS, SPONSORS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS WHOSE CONTR, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HELP BUILD THE FOUNDATIONS UPON WHICH THE CHAPTER STANDS TODAY, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE AUSTIN CHAPTER RECOMMITS TO DEVELOPING LEADERS, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES, STRENGTHENING PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND CREATING PATHWAYS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS.
BE IT FOR THE RESULT THAT THE AUSTIN CHAPTER CALLS UPON ITS MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EMBRACE THE NEXT 20 YEARS WITH PURPOSE, COURAGE, COLLABORATION, AND ACTION.
BE IT FINELY RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL BLACK MBA ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN CHAPTER, ENTERS ITS NEXT CHAPTER WITH THE RENEWED COMMITMENT TO LEAD, SERVE, CONNECT, AND TRANSFORM THE NARRATIVE OF BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN BUSINESS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I'M MARK UCHIN AUSTIN, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT 10 ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT OCTOBER 22ND, 2026 IS NATIONAL BLACK MBA ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN CHAPTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND SO NOW I'M GONNA INVITE YOU ALL, WE'VE GOT, UH, THE FLAGS BACK THERE, AND IF WE CAN JUST SHUFFLE ABOUT 10 FEET THAT WAY.
[Arbor Day + Monarch Appreciation – To be presented by Council Member Mike Siegel]
TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR A DUAL CELEBRATION OF ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY.AND, UH, I THINK THESE ARE CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE REALLY IN FIT WITH THE KIND OF ETHOS AND VALUES OF OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
UM, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING AUSTIN AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CALLED THE BERLIN URBAN NATURE PACT, WHICH IS ABOUT ADVANCING BIODIVERSITY.
AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF LEARNING FROM A LOT OF THE FOLKS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH AUSTIN DOES FOR OUR TREES, FOR OUR BUTTERFLIES, FOR BIODIVERSITY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR WATERSHED DEPARTMENT, OUR OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE, WHETHER IT'S PARKS PROGRAMS, IT'S REALLY WOVEN THROUGHOUT OUR, OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR DEPARTMENTS OF PROGRAMS, HOW MUCH WE CARE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, HOW MUCH WE CARE FOR, UM, OUR WATERSHED, UH, ALL OF THE SURROUNDING AREA, UM, THAT'S NOT JUST WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT IN THE REGION.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH SOME BRIEF REMARKS FROM OUR MONTE LUPER, UH, FROM WHICH DEPARTMENT? UM, AUSTIN CLIMATE ACTION.
MY NAME IS AMANI LUPER, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SIEGEL.
UM, I REPRESENT THE AUSTIN CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCY, UH, RESILIENCE OFFICE IN THE URBAN FORESTRY TEAM.
AND I AM, I HAVE THE ABSOLUTE PLEASURE, UH, AND THE PRIVILEGE OF COORDINATING THE NINTH
[00:30:01]
ANNUAL ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL.AUSTIN'S BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD UNFOLDING ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
THE CELEBRATION IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
UH, WHAT BEGAN ON, UH, OCTOBER 17TH STILL HAS 50 INCREDIBLE EVENTS HAPPENING ALL THE WAY UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, UH, WITH HANDS-ON COMMUNITY CENTER ACT CENTERED ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES.
SO WHETHER YOU ARE, UM, LOOKING TO LEARN ABOUT NATIVE TREES OR SUPPORT OUR VITAL POLLINATORS, UM, OR JUST CONNECT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
UH, YOU CAN FIND LOCAL EVENTS, UH, NEAR YOU RIGHT NOW AT ROOTS AND WINGS FEST.COM.
SO MUCH GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, HELPING US CHAMPION, UH, A A MORE GR A GREENER AND, UM, JUST A BEAUTIFUL RESILIENT AUSTIN.
WELL, THANKS SO MUCH MS. LUPER.
AND, UH, I THINK AUSTIN'S REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE AN OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION RESILIENCE.
I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS TO OUR VALUES AS A COMMUNITY.
UH, MS. LUPER, MS. ALMER, ANYONE WANT TO HOLD THE, IT'S, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF WORDS, SO THE TEXT IS PRETTY SMALL, BUT, UM, UH, SHOW IT FOR THEM, PLEASE.
UM, SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WE'RE, AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS VIBRANT URBAN FOREST, EXTENSIVE PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS, AND REMARKABLE DIVERSITY OF PLANTS AND WILDLIFE, ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHARACTER, BEAUTY, HEALTH, AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS TREES IN THE BROADER URBAN FOREST ECOSYSTEM PROVIDE ESSENTIAL BENEFITS TO AUSTIN RESIDENTS, INCLUDING SHADE AND COOLING, CLEANER AIR AND WATER, CARBON STORAGE, WILDLIFE HABITATS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND GREATER RESILIENCE TO THE IMPACTS OF A CHANGING CLIMATE.
AND WHEREAS OUR URBAN FOREST IS MORE THAN TREES ALONE, ENCOMPASSING THE INTERCONNECTED WEB OF POLLINATORS, BIRDS, BATS, INSECTS, FUNGI, PLANTS, SOIL, WATER, AND OTHER LIVING ORGANISMS WHOSE RELATIONSHIPS SUSTAIN HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND ENRICH THE PLACES WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
AND WHEREAS MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER POLLINATORS PLAY VITAL ROLES IN HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND FOOD SYSTEMS, WHILE AUSTIN'S LOCATION ALONG THE MONARCH MIGRATION ROUTE GIVES OUR COMMUNITY A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT AND RESTORE HABITAT FOR THESE REMARKABLE TRAVELERS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE AND ENSURING THAT ALL AUSTINITES, REGARDLESS OF NEIGHBORHOOD AGE, ABILITY, OR BACKGROUND CAN EXPERIENCE THE MANY BENEFITS OF TREES, WILDLIFE, AND HEALTHY NATURAL SPACES.
AND WHEREAS THE ROOTS AND WINGS FESTIVAL BRINGS OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THESE CONNECTIONS AND RECOGNIZE THAT A HEALTHY URBAN FOREST IS A LIVING COMMUNITY IN WHICH PEOPLE, TREES, WILDLIFE, AND THE MANY ORGANISMS THAT SUSTAIN OUR ECO ECOSYSTEMS ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROUDLY CONTINUES ITS TRADITION AS A TREE CITY USA COMMUNITY, AND ENCOURAGES ALL AUSTINITES TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPRECIATION DAY BY LEARNING ABOUT PROTECTING, PLANTING, AND NURTURING THE NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A HEALTHIER AND MORE RESILIENT PLACE TO LIVE.
THEREFORE, I, MIKE SIEGEL AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 22ND, 2026 AS ARBOR DAY AND MONARCH APPIAN APPRECIATION DAY IN AUSTIN.
AND I GUESS THE CUSTOM AREA FLAG PHOTO.