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WE GET THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ON THE STATE HOUSE.
[Austin Updates to COVID-19: City Reopening Plans Update]
GOOD MORNING.I'M MELISSA ARMSTRONG AND I WILL BE THE MODERATOR FOR THIS MORNING'S NEWS CONFERENCE.
FIRST CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CRONK WILL SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE HE IS FOLLOWED BY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER NURIA RIVERA, VANDER MYED, KIMBERLY MCNEALY, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ROOSEVELT WEEKS, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, DON BLAND, CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER FOR THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND DANIEL WORD, INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE CODE DEPARTMENT.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK THE QUESTIONS OF OUR SPEAKERS.
NOW I WILL PASS THINGS OFF TO CITY MANAGER CRUNK.
AS I KNOW SINCE MID-MARCH THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE SURE ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES DID NOT SKIP A BEAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND I WANT TO START BY THANKING THEM FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE SERVICE.
WHILE WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST AND MODIFY A CERTAIN CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE OUR STAFF AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ON PLANS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE STATE REOPENS THE CITY IS EVALUATING HOW TO REINTEGRATE EMPLOYEES BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.
TODAY I'VE ASKED OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, NURIA RIVERA VANDER MIND TO SHARE HOW WE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHING THIS EFFORT SAFELY IN REGARDS TO CITY SERVICES.
I KNOW IT'S SUMMER IN AUSTIN AND PEOPLE WANT TO GO OUT AND ENJOY BARTON SPRINGS AND EVERYTHING BREAK THROUGH THE CITY HAS TO OFFER AND A FEW DEPARTMENTS WILL RESUME CERTAIN SERVICES WITH MODIFIED OPERATIONS STARTING NEXT WEEK EVEN AS THE CITY SERVICES RESUME, I AM ASKING ALL AUSTINITES TO HELP PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES AND EACH OTHER IN PARTICULAR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, GROCERY STORE EMPLOYEES, DELIVERY DRIVERS.
PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO STAY SAFE WHILE YOU WORK.
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND GOOD HYGIENE AND WEAR A FACE COVERING.
AUSTIN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HELP KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE AND HEALTHY.
AND WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT OVER TO NARIA.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND ECHO YOUR WORDS, UH, TO CONTINUE BEING SAFE UNDER CURRENT STATE HOME WORK ORDERS, THE CITY DEPARTMENT STAFF CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SO PROUD OF HOW OUR STAFF HAS REALLY CONTINUED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE SO WELL.
BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THE STATE BEGINS TO REOPEN AND WE HAVE BEGUN TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A REINTEGRATION PLAN INTO THE CITY.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THE CITY'S HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITIES AND OUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT REINTEGRATION HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AND GUIDE A PLAN FOR ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, WE WILL BEGIN, UM, COMMUNICATING THAT AND REINTEGRATING EMPLOYEES AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
AND THAT WILL BEGIN AS EARLY AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS HERE AS EARLY AS JUNE.
FIRST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE IS ALWAYS IN OUR MINDS.
AND SO WE WILL BE EVALUATING OUR PLANS EVERY 28 DAYS WITH THE DATA AND THE WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND THE ADVICE AND CONSULTATION OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
SO AS JUST AS WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT IF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES TELL US THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE OR SHIFT OR ADJUST OUR PLANS PRIOR TO THAT 28 DAYS, WE WILL CERTAINLY BE TAKING THAT ADVICE AND ADJUSTING ACCORDINGLY.
SO AS OUR COMMUNITY TRANSITIONS INTO THIS NEW NORMAL THAT WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN USED TO, WE'RE CAREFULLY PLANNING THAT SAFE RETURN.
WE'RE REMAINING VIGILANT AND FLEXIBLE.
WE'RE ALLOWING ON ENCOURAGING OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO STAY AT WORK AND TELEWORK TO DO SO AND CONTINUING TO BRING ON SERVICES, SUPPORT THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE SERVE.
AND WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT ON TO KIMBERLY WHO CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT PARKS IS DOING AND THEIR REINTEGRATION PLANS.
I CHAMELEON, I SERVE AS YOUR APPROXIMATE, IT'S KIMBERLY MCNEALY AND I SERVE AS YOUR PARKS.
UH, I'M AWARE VERY MUCH SO OF HOW VALUABLE THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HOW IT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AND IN SPIRITUAL HEALTH.
AND SO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT CERTAIN AMENITIES
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REMAINS AVAILABLE WITHOUT PROBING 19.AND WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION TO MAKE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT IN VERY SMALL INCREMENTAL STEPS.
WE'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE ARE MONITORING THE LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS COVERT VIRUS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING HOW, UM, OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING IS WORKING, HOW OUR MODIFIED OPERATIONS ARE HELPING TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR PATRONS SAFE WHILE THEY ENGAGE IN THIS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY.
AND WE WELCOME EVERYBODY INTO OUR PARK SYSTEM AND ASK THAT YOU PLEASE.
UM, I ECHO EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY MANAGER AND MY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER HAD SAID.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND DO THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP KEEP YOU SAFE AND HELP KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE, WHICH INCLUDES SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING MASKS WHEN APPROPRIATE.
WASHING YOUR HANDS, HAND SANITIZER, AND BEING COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ENJOY THE PARK SYSTEM.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND MR ROOSEVELT WEEKS', WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
MY NAME IS ROSA PROUD DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO GO TO OUR NEXT PHASE AND HOPEFULLY DOING THE THIRD PHASE AND THAT YOU'VE ENJOYED OUR VIRTUAL CATALOG SERVICES, UH, EBOOKS, UH, PLANNING FOR PROGRAMMING ONLINE.
AND WE WERE JUST SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE POINTED OUT BY GETTING NEW LIBRARY CALLS.
SO RENEWING YOUR LIBRARY PARTS.
NOW WE HEADED TO THE, OUR SECOND PHASE AND THAT IS WAS ON JANUARY THE FIRST, NOT JANUARY, JUNE THE FIRST, WELL, WE WILL START OPENING OUR BUDGET BOOK DROPS AT EVERY ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE OVER 200 OUTRIGHT NOW.
AND WHAT WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO DO IS GO AHEAD AND START BRINGING THOSE BULLETS BACK ON JANUARY, ON JUNE THE FIRST AND AT THAT TIME, SO IS WHERE THEY CAN REMOVE THOSE ITEMS, QUARANTINE THOSE ITEMS FOR 72 HOURS.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, WE'LL GO INTO OUR NEXT PHASE, WHICH IS OUR CURBSIDE SERVICE.
WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE, UM, UH, DON'T READ EBOOKS OR LIKE READ BOOKS.
THEY LIKE TO HAVE THE BOOK IN THEIR HAND TO BUILD UP THE BOOKS.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO OFFER OUR CURBSIDE SERVICES WHERE WE CAN, THOSE ARE PHYSICAL MATERIALS TO OUR CUSTOMER.
AND SO STARTING ON JUNE THE EIGHTH, UH, WHERE WE WILL, WE WILL HAVE OUR CURBSIDE SERVICE AT 10 OF OUR LOCATIONS AND THOSE LOCATIONS WILL BE AT OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY, UH, MANCHESTER WES' SOUTHEAST, OVER WINDSOR PARK, UNIVERSITY HILL, NORTH VILLAGE, SPICEWOOD SPRINGS AND MILLWOOD.
AND AT THAT TIME WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, BY THE INSTRUCTIONS ON OUR, ON OUR WEBSITE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO GO AND PUT THOSE ITEMS ON HOLD, UH, AND HOW YOU CAN GO ABOUT GETTING THOSE MATERIALS, UH, UH, TO YOU.
UH, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS SAFE DURING THIS TIME.
THEY WILL HAVE THEIR PROTECTIVE GEAR ON.
WE ARE ASKING THAT WHEN WE ASSIGN A SERVICE THAT YOU STAY IN YOUR VEHICLES WHILE WE DO THAT AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE ITEMS TO YOU.
BUT ALL OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS, UH, AND FAQ ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEY WILL BE POSTED TODAY, UH, FOR YOUR, UH, FOR YOU TO USE, UH, WITH THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU, UH, IN A MORE EXPANDED WAY IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE'LL BASE ALL OF THIS ON A HEALTH AUTHORITY INFORMATION THEY GIVE US.
SO STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT WE PUT IN, BUT WE HOPE THAT EVEN GEORGIA VIRTUAL SERVICES AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR CURBSIDE SERVICE THAT'S COMING UP ON JUNE THE EIGHTH.
UH, WITH THAT, I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND DON BLEND ANIMAL SERVICES.
I'M DON BLAND, CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES.
I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITIZENS THAT HAVE HELPED US AS WE'VE POSED TO PUBLIC.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE IN INJURED SICK ANIMALS THAT ACTUALLY NEEDED US, UH, TO THE TUNE OF OVER 950.
DURING THAT TIME THOUGH, WE HAVE SENT 763 ANIMALS TO FOSTER THOSE FOSTER FAMILIES.
THOSE CITIZENS HAVE STEPPED UP, HAVE TRULY BEEN AMAZING AND HELPED US.
AND WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS OF THAT 760 ANIMALS IN FOSTER, THEY HAVE ADOPTED OVER 400 OUT OF FOSTER ANIMALS THAT HAVE NOT DONE WELL HERE IN THE SHELTER, HAVE THRIVED IN OUR FOSTER CARE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE OPENED UP OUR CURBSIDE ADOPTIONS AND IT WAS GOING VERY SUCCESSFUL STARTING ON JUNE 1ST, WE WILL OPEN UP A ADOPTIONS HERE AT THE CENTER.
UH, THE GUIDELINES ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
UH, YOU'LL CALL, YOU'LL FILL OUT THE FORM, UH, YOU'LL GET A CALL BACK WITH YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME AND YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOUR TEMPERATURE CHECKED AND WEAR A FACE MASK AND DO SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN YOU COME IN.
WE'LL START WITH TWO ADOPTERS FOR HOUR AND ONLY TWO FAMILY MEMBERS.
UM, SINCE WE'VE TAKEN OVER 950 ANIMALS IN
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OUR INVENTORY HERE AT THE SHELTER HAS STARTED TO GROW AND WE NEED TO HELP SOME OF THESE ANIMALS FIND HOMES.SO WITH THAT, UM, WE HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND SOME HOMES AND GET SOME ANIMALS OUT OF HERE AND DO IT VERY SAFELY CAUSE WE DO WANT TO PROTECT OUR STAFF AND THE PUBLIC.
AND WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. DANIEL WARD.
UM, THE AUSTIN CODE DEPARTMENT'S LOOKING FORWARD TO OPENING MORE OF OUR SERVICES UP TO THE COMMUNITY IN A MANNER THAT KEEPS EVERYONE SAFE.
UM, WHILE WE ARE STILL ESTABLISHING SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AND VISITATION PROCEDURES THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING AT OUR FACILITY, WE STILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE ONLINE SERVICES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
UH, WHILE WE ARE ARE ALL TRANSITIONING TO OPENING OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS STILL YOUR HOME.
WHENEVER POSSIBLE, OUR CASHIER OFFICE WILL OPEN STARTING JUNE 1ST FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
OUR LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OFFICE WILL BE AVAILABLE ONSITE AS WELL.
UH, THIS INCLUDES SERVICES SUCH AS PRIVATE WASTE HAULER LICENSES, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL LICENSES, HOTEL AND MOTEL REGISTRATIONS, A BED AND BREAKFAST, BILLBOARDS, MOBILE HOME PARK REGISTRATION AT BOAT DOCK REGISTRATION.
WE WILL BEGIN UTILIZING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCESSES AGAIN, STARTING IN JULY, CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE A MINIMUM NOTICE OF 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF ANY SCHEDULED HEARING AND WE WILL HAVE STAFF ON SITE TO BE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN IN THE WAITING ROOM DURING THE INTAKE PROCESS AND TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE VOLUME OF CUSTOMERS IN OUR FACILITY.
I, I WAS GONNA JUST SAY A FEW CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS AND REALLY JUST EMPHASIZING MY APPRECIATION ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR HARD WORK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS WE'VE ADJUSTED AND ADAPTED TO THIS PANDEMIC, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OUR COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF THIS MAGNITUDE SPANNING THIS LENGTH OF TIME.
AND AS WE BEGIN TO REOPEN, JUST A REMINDER TO PLEASE BE GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER, PRACTICE GOOD SOCIAL DISTANCING HYGIENE AND REMEMBER TO WEAR A FACE COVERING.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO NARIA FOR SOME CLOSING REMARKS AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU, UH, MANAGER AND I JUST, I ECHO YOUR COMMITMENT TO DO THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY AND I BEEN JOKING AROUND THAT I'VE NOW BEEN IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN UNDER COVIN MORE THAN I HAVE BEEN REGULARLY.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BROUGHT ME TO THE CITY WAS THE FACT THAT WE, THAT AUSTIN HAS SUCH A BRIGHT LATIN COMMUNITY, UH, AND THAT PERSONALLY JUST ATTRACTED ME HERE.
SO IF YOU INDULGE ME FOR A MINUTE, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS, UM, MY COMMUNITY, UH, IN SPANISH IF YOU WOULD FOR JUST A SECOND.
BUT, UM, AND WITH
CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS.
I WILL NOW PASS IT OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER WHO WILL BEGIN THE Q AND A SECTION OF OUR PRESS CONFERENCE.
HERNANDEZ REPRESENTING WHENEVER YOU SEE ON, I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH THE FIRST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE IN SPANISH AND IT WILL GO TO MS LIBERTA.
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THAT, UH, THE QUESTION WAS, UH, REALLY IN TERMS OF, AND I FORGOT IF YOU SAID IT IN ENGLISH FIRST, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEE, UH, EMPLOYEES NOW THAT WE'RE REOPENING, UM, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH EMPLOYEES WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND MAY NOT HAVE, UM, SICK DAYS OR THE ABILITY TO STAY AT HOME.
AND IT HAS THE CITY BEEN CONTEMPLATING, UM, HELPING FOLKS.
AND SO MY, UH, QUICK ANSWER WAS THAT YES, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL AS WE'RE REOPENING, CONSIDERING WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN THIS? AND THE CITY IS LOOKING AT THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH OURSELVES AND WITH OUR COUNCIL ABOUT HOW DO WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
AND SOME OF THAT ASSISTANCE IS DIRECT AND SOME OF THAT ASSISTANCE IS TO BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE AS SO MANY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING ABOUT PROVIDING SICK LEAVE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AND ENSURING THEIR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT AND SEEING HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXHORT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO DO THAT, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY'RE SICK AND NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WORK AND UM, AND BEING SICK.
AND THAT THOSE, UH, EMPLOYEES, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORKING, UM, FOR BUSINESSES THAT WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THIS, UM, PANDEMIC.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KX SAYING, WE'VE SEEN PICTURES, VIDEOS OF PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO PLACES LIKE BARKING SPRINGS.
MEANWHILE, BARTON SPRINGS FALLS CLOSE AND STILL DOESN'T HAVE A DATE TO REOPEN.
DO YOU THINK POOLS BEING CLOSED IS CONTRIBUTING TO SO MANY PEOPLE CRAMMING INTO THE PARKS AND PLACES THAT ARE ACTUALLY OPEN AND WILL THEY HELP WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AS WE REOPENED POOLS? SO THIS IS KIMBERLY MCNEALY, DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND I, I BELIEVE THAT IN OPENING THE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM AND PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH SAFE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT SORTS OF AMENITIES, WILL A SPREAD ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
I WOULD ALSO SAY TO YOU THAT OUR PARTNERS IN THE STATE PARK SYSTEM AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM ARE ALSO BEGINNING TO REOPEN ON PARTS OF THEIR PARK SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFERENT CHOICES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE, WHICH WILL THEN WILL ALLOW ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO SPREAD OUT.
SO BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PLANS ON BEING ABLE TO MAKE AVAILABLE AMENITIES LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD TENNIS COURTS, NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL COURTS, VOLLEYBALL COURTS, AND WE PLAN ON MAKING AVAILABLE IN A VERY MODIFIED OPERATION AT THE ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN.
YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY, ENJOY THAT SPACE.
UM, WE PROVIDED FOR, UH, THE A MEMO AND WE WILL BE WRITING ON OUR WEBSITE AND THE REOPENING OF SWIMMING POOLS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SWIMMING POOLS REQUIRE CERTIFIED LIFEGUARDS.
AND SO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO OPEN UP AN AMENITY, LIKE A SWIMMING POOL.
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IN A, IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS WHERE IT'S HOT, A LOT OF THE SUMMERTIME, THE POOLS ARE CERTAINLY A VERY DESIRABLE AND THEN TO INTEND TO, AND I DO THINK YOU MAKE A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT BY OPENING UP SWIMMING POOLS AND GIVING PEOPLE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS BY WHICH TO POO OFF AND TO BE IN THE WATER, WE'RE NOW PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN MONITOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, WHERE WE CAN CONTROL CAPACITY AND WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE INVITED.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT FOLKS WILL MAKE CHOICES TO GO TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAFE AND COOL OFF AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, MS MCNEELY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS IN REFERENCE TO THE POOLS.
WE KNOW THAT EARLIER IN THE SEASON YOU WERE EXPECTING TO HIRE 750 LIFEGUARDS AND WE SAW THAT RECENTLY THAT IT WAS WAY UNDER THAT NUMBER.
WHAT'S YOUR STATUS ON THE LIFEGUARDS? SO WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 200 LIFEGUARDS THAT ARE READY TO WORK AND THOSE 200
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LIFEGUARDS WILL BE USED TO OPEN UP A NUMBER OF SWIMMING POOLS THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE AUSTIN SYSTEM.WE'VE USED AN EQUITY LENS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS POOLS.
AND WE HAVE A, A MODIFIED TRAINING SCHEDULE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT TO BE ABLE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS, UM, BECOME CERTIFIED SO WE CAN GET SOME MORE LIFEGUARDS ONBOARD.
AND WHEN I SAY MODIFIED, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF ONLINE TRAINING FOR THOSE TYPES OF SKILLS THAT CAN BE, THAT CAN BE READILY, UM, LEARNED ONLINE.
AND THEN WE'RE LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN A SINGLE SPACE.
BUT I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT LIFEGUARDING IS A HANDS ON ACTIVITIES.
SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE VERY MEASURED AND WE'RE VERY CAREFUL IN HOW WE'RE OPERATING OUR LIFEGUARDING CLASSES TO ENSURE EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO SATISFY, TO CERTIFY MORE LIFEGUARDS.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CBS AUSTIN.
HOW DOES THE CITY PLAN ON ENFORCING CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN PUBLIC FACILITIES? IS THAT FOR STAFF TO ENFORCE? IF SO, ARE THEY RECEIVING APPROPRIATE TRAINING? I'LL START OFF WITH US AND THEN MAYBE PASS IT OFF TO OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FOR ANY FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS OR ANSWERS THAT I MAY FORGET.
BUT IN SHORTS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.
AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EMPHASIZING THE EDUCATION AND THE COMMUNICATION ABOUT HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY WILL KEEP OURSELVES SAFE AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT WITHIN EACH CITY FACILITY, WE WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES.
UH, SO EACH FACILITY MANAGER WILL BE MAKING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THOSE WITHIN EACH FACILITY, DEPENDING ON THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.
UH, WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO AN AREA IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.
THE ONLY THING I'D ADD IS AS I THINK, AND YOU'VE MADE THE POINT THAT THAT WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS THAT EVERYBODY COOPERATES, RIGHT? THEN FOCUSING ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THE IMPACT OF NOT COMPLYING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING, WHAT THAT DOES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SEEN REALLY GREAT COMPLIANCE JUST BY OUR EDUCATION AND OUR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ALONE, HOW MUCH THE CITY HAS REALLY KIND OF KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
AND SO WE'LL REALLY SORT OF CALL ON BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO KEEP OUR NUMBERS LOW AND PROTECT AUSTIN AS BEST WE CAN.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ONTO CAVE USE QUESTION.
CAN CITY EMPLOYEES CONTINUE WORKING FROM HOME IF THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE RETURNING TO THE WORKPLACE? SO I'LL, I'LL TAKE THAT ONE, SPENCER, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, BUT SO I'LL SAY THAT THE QUESTION HAS COME UP AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT A MANY OF OUR STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY EAGER AND HAVE BEEN WORKING FROM HOME AND CONTINUE TO BE EAGER TO WORK.
SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THIS PRIDE AND SENSE OF PUBLIC SERVICE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE CONTINUED TO SHOW.
WE HAVE HAD SOME EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE FELT CONCERNS ABOUT THE WORKPLACE.
SOME OF THEM HAVE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED FAMILIES AT HOME AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDIRECT THEM AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO STAY AT HOME WHERE POSSIBLE.
SO WE ARE BEING REALLY SENSITIVE TO THOSE NEEDS.
WE ARE TAKING MANY PRECAUTIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO REINTEGRATE INTO THE WORKPLACE.
DO, UM, PROVIDE BARRIERS TO MAKE SURE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING TO PROVIDE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER TELEWORK OPTIONS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE BEEN REALLY TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EMBRACED TELEWORK.
UH, WE HAVE OVER 6,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY TELEWORKING RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
PRODUCTIVITY HAS BEEN UP, SO I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, WORK WITH EMPLOYEES THAT FEEL ANY CONCERNS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO THE AMERICAN STATESMAN'S QUESTION NOW.
HOW MUCH OF A STRAIN IS THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER UNDER HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE THERE THE NEED TO BE ADOPTED? AND WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF THE CENTER? IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF FOOD SUPPLIES? HAS COVEN 19 AFFECTED LIFE REALLY RELEASED RATES? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
UM, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE ANIMALS IN THAT HAVE BEEN SICK AND INJURED AND THIS MORNING OUR INVENTORY WAS 550 774 OF THOSE WERE AT THE SHELTER AND 371 OF THOSE WERE IN FOSTER CARE.
UH, WE HAVE GROWN OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS.
UH, OUR INVENTORY NUMBERS WERE AT THE SHELTER WAS DOWN TO ABOUT 60, ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO.
SO MORE AND MORE AS THE WORLD STARTS TO OPEN BACK UP, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FINDING STICK INJURED OR
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ANIMALS THAT NEED OUR SERVICES.AND SO OUR INVENTORY HAS GROWN SO THAT WE DO NEED FOLKS TO STEP UP AND CONTINUE TO FOSTER FOR US, UH, AND FOSTER UNTIL THOSE ANIMALS GET ADOPTED.
THAT THAT'S THE BEST IDEAL SITUATION.
UH, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS HERE ON SITE.
AND SO OUR FOOD SOURCES, UH, EVERYTHING IS, HAS BEEN WORKING LIKE CLOCKWORK.
OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD AT SOCIAL DISTANCING.
WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT ARE TELEWORKING IN THE NON-ANIMAL CARE AREAS, AND, UH, WE CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ANIMALS AND DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE ONES THAT ARE HERE.
THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF EXTRA ATTENTION, BUT AS WE, AS WE START TO GROW OUR NUMBERS, WE DO NEED TO START FINDING A WAY TO EXIT THOSE.
OUR LIVE EXIT RATES HAVE MAINTAINED OVER 90% WHILE WE'VE BEEN CLOSED.
MOVING ON TO THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, HOW DOES THE CITY ANTICIPATE MOVING FORWARD WITH ALLOWING EVENTS? UM, NOT ACL, NOT AT THAT SCALE, AND PARKS, LIBRARIES, THEATERS, AND OTHER PLACES.
I CAN, I CAN START AND THEN CERTAINLY PASS IT OFF TO OUR PARKS AND LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE REALLY GONNA LEAN ON OUR GREAT EXPERTS AT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOR GUIDANCE AS WE'VE BEEN GUIDING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN, UH, INCLUDING HAVING LARGER GATHERINGS, UH, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THOSE, UH, GUIDANCE AND MEASURES THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, SO THERE IS NO PLANS TO HAVE THOSE LARGE GATHERINGS.
UH, WE'RE STILL AT A LEVEL THREE, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND SO WE WILL SLOWLY EASE INTO THIS NEW REALITY AND PROVIDE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY, ONE WEEK AT A TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO MEASURE OUR PROGRESS ON THIS, UH, PANDEMIC.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ROOSEVELT OR MAYBE KIMBERLY TO START AND THEN TO ROOSEVELT.
SO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN EVENTS CENTER OR EVENTS COLLABORATIVE.
WE ALSO WORK WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE ALL ANALYZING BEST PRACTICES, RESEARCHING, UH, DIFFERENT IDEAS AS TO HOW TO SAFELY INTEGRATE EVENTS BACK INTO THE PARK SYSTEM AND FRANKLY, BACK INTO THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND SO WE AS THIS, AS THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID, WE ARE REALLY IN THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES OF RESEARCHING AND ANALYZING DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO DECIDE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF EVENTS OR THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO ATTEND AN EVENT, THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY CAN HAVE COMPETENCE IN AND IT'S DONE AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
SO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL NOT BE COMING OUT IN FRONT OF ANYTHING THAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES NOT, NOT PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON.
SO WE'RE STILL WAITING, WE'RE STILL RESEARCHING AND WE'RE STILL ANALYZING.
YOU SAID YOU HAVE TELEWORKING RIGHT NOW AND YOU PROVIDE IT PROJECTION OF HOW MUCH THAT NUMBER WILL GROW.
UM, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT IT WILL GROW AS WE ARE PLANNING TO BRING EMPLOYEES BACK INTO THE WORKPLACE, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS THAT WE HAVE, UM, LEARNED THAT MANY OF THEM POLICE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING FROM HOME.
AND SO WHAT I ANTICIPATE IS THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE A GROWTH OF THOSE REQUESTING AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW COVEN HAS IMPACTED CITY OPERATIONS.
AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STAGE OF HOW WE OPERATE AS GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE.
I WILL SAY THAT I ANTICIPATE HAVING MORE PEOPLE TELEWORKING AND I'M REALLY ENJOYING THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK FROM HOME IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO WE ARE NOT JUST LOOKING AT REINTEGRATION NOW AND ADJUSTING OUR POLICIES FOR THE IMMEDIATE, UM, RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.
BUT DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN THINKING LONGTERM.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO ALLOW FOR MORE TELEWORKING IN THE FUTURE? UH, IT HAS BEEN A REVELATION, I THINK TO ALL OF US IN THE CITY, UH, HOW MUCH PEOPLE HAVE EMBRACED AND HOW PRODUCTIVITY HAS REALLY INCREASED AS PEOPLE HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN THIS NEW NORMAL OF WORKING FROM HOME.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WHY ARE THE SPLASH PADS SO CLOSE SINCE THEY DON'T NEED A LIFEGUARD? ALSO, I CERTIFICATION ADULT AND YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES ARE ALLOWED TO START PRACTICING THIS SUNDAY, BUT MANY PEOPLE ON CITY SPORTS FIELD WOULD THE CITY ALLOW THESE ORGANIZATIONS
[00:30:01]
TO PLAY? THAT QUESTION IS FROM KX AND, OKAY.SO FIRST SPLASH PADS ARE PART OF A GROUP OF AMENITIES THAT THE GOVERNOR JUST RECENTLY AS PART OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, JUST RECENTLY PROVIDED SOME GUIDANCE.
SO SPLASH PADS ARE IN THE SAME REALM AS PLAYGROUNDS AND THE SAME REALM AS WATER WATER PARKS.
AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY TOUCH RATES AT A SPLASH PAD.
SO THIS, THE DECISION ABOUT SPLASH PADS IS NOT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF LIFEGUARDS.
THE DECISION ABOUT SPLASH PADS IS REALLY ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND CAN WE ENSURE AND LITTLE WHEN LITTLE ONES ARE PLAYING THERE OR WHEN CHILDREN ARE PLAYING THERE.
AND WE KEEP THAT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO WE'VE DECIDED THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO OPEN PLAYGROUNDS.
WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO OPEN SPLASH PADS, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO ANALYZE THE DATA AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS BASED UPON WHAT OUR LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE TELLING US.
WITH REGARDS TO THE, UM, YOUTH SPORTS, UH, THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE YOU SAW THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES AND HE GAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OUTDOOR SPORTS.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING ANY ENTITY THAT IS GOING TO BE HOSTING A YOUTH SPORT PRACTICES OR YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES OR OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH THE GUIDELINES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FOR USES OF EQUIPMENT AND CLEANING EQUIPMENT AND SANITATION AND WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT AND WITH OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE SAFEST ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE.
BEING OUTDOORS ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING TO REALLY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN COMPLY WITH WHERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SPREAD OUT AND BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SO BE AN APPROPRIATE SOCIAL DISTANCE FROM ONE ANOTHER.
SO WE'LL JUST KEEP MONITORING THAT SITUATION AND AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, IF WE SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE NEGATIVE AND WE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WITH THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS PULL BACK AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES.
WHEN IT COMES TO CITY FACILITIES LIKE POOLS AND LIBRARIES, IS THERE A RETURN TO CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING LIKE SWIM LESSONS OR STORY TIME SINCE THEY ARE A DEARTH OF OPTIONS OF FOR AUSTIN CHILDREN THIS SUMMER? HOW DOES THE CITY APPROACH CHILDREN AND ATTENDED BY ADULTS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, ROOSEVELT WEEKS WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, WE TAKE THE HEALTH OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR VERY SERIOUSLY HOW WE CAN REINTEGRATE OUR STORYTIMES INTO OUR PHYSICAL SPACE.
WE'RE RELYING HEAVILY UPON OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO TELL US HOW THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
AND SO WE HOPE THAT, UM, THAT, UH, DURING THE SUMMER THAT YOU CAN GET, ENJOY OUR VIRTUAL AUTHORITY TIME THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.
UH, BUT WE'RE STILL A WAYS OFF FROM PROVIDING, UH, IN HOUSE OUR STORY TIME FOR OUR, UH, FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
THIS IS OUR LAST QUESTION AND IT'S FROM THE AMERICAN STATES.
WELL, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY FOR MASS PORN AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH CRIMINAL OR CIVIL PENALTIES TO CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE SUCH POLICIES INSIDE THEIR BUILDINGS LIKE LIBRARIES OR OFFICES AS PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN.
I'M GOING TO LET OUR CODE DEPARTMENT HANDLE THAT.
BUT AGAIN, WE REALLY ARE EMPHASIZING, UH, THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER.
WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES THAT THE CDC AND OUR HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE RECOMMENDING THE GOVERNOR IS RECOMMENDING.
AND SO, UH, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS WEARING A FACE FACIAL COVERINGS.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? UM, MR. WARD, UH, JUST WANT TO REITERATE, UH, YOUR STATEMENT THAT OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS AND THE CAPACITY WE'RE CAPABLE, CAPABLE OF DOING.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENSURING EVERYONE'S SAFETY, BOTH CITY EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS UTILIZING THOSE SERVICES.
UH, SO WE WOULD STILL HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU AS TO FACE FACIAL COVERINGS, UM, UTILIZE ONLINE SERVICES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
UM, AND BUT WE'LL, YOU KNOW, EACH FACILITY MANAGER WILL HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE, UM, WITH IT WHILE STILL ENSURING THERE'S PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR EVERYBODY AT THAT FACILITY.
I'LL JUST SAY A FEW CLOSING REMARKS AND REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOR BEING MEASURED AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.
THIS IS VERY THOUGHTFUL AND MEASURED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING ONE STEP AT A TIME.
[00:35:01]
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM EACH OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC AREAS, UH, NOTHING IS DRAMATICALLY SHIFTING OVERNIGHT.THIS WILL BE A REALLY THOUGHTFUL, PHASED IN APPROACH TO HOW WE REINTEGRATE OUR CITY SERVICES.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE DO WANT TO START TO ENGAGE IN DIFFERENT WAYS WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN THE MOST SAFE AND, AND MEASURED WAY SO IT CAN ALL KEEP OUR, OUR, EACH OTHER HEALTHY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.
IF NOT, I WILL CLOSE IT FOR TODAY.
THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.