Aug 10, 2020 Tourism Commission Special Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

SO WE CAN GET STARTED, UH, WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 10TH, 2020 MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TOURISM COMMISSION.

UH, I'M GOING TO QUICKLY RUN THROUGH THE ROLE IF YOU CAN JUST HEAR AND, OR RAISE YOUR HAND IN THE, UM, PARTICIPANTS SECTION, UM, UH, ALEXANDER COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER CHAIR, ONE SECOND.

THIS IS JOSEPH AT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

WE NEED ALL SUPPORTING STAFF TO GET OFF OF THE WEBEX LINE AND CALL IN ON THE MICROSOFT TEAMS LINE.

THE LINE IS VERY CROWDED AND IT COULD CAUSE BANDWIDTH ISSUES, WHICH WILL THEN COULD COMPROMISE THIS WHOLE MEETING.

GOT IT.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A FEW MINUTES FOR STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, SIGN OUT AND CALL BACK IN ALL SUPPORTING STAFF THAT ARE NOT PRESENTING.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD BE STAFF WISE WOULD BE YOUR LIAISON.

FELICIA HEDA.

WHAT ABOUT STAFF THAT IS GOING TO BE PRESENTING TODAY? YES, THEY WILL GO AHEAD AND, UM, BE PRESENTING FROM THE TEAM'S LINE AND THEY'LL JUST COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CTM, UH, ASSISTANT OF WHICH SLIDE IT NEEDS TO BE ON.

AND WHEN TO TURN TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UNDERSTOOD AS WE'RE SHARING OUR SMILING FACES.

HI EVERYBODY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

I HOPE YOU'RE ALL WELL AND GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD HUMOR.

OKAY, WE'RE READY TO GO AHEAD AND CALL.

ROLL UP.

ARE WE GOOD? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START CALLING ROLE A DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER.

I DON'T SEE HER IN THE ROOM YET.

UM, DISTRICT TWO, COMMISSIONER FLINT IS NOT HERE.

DISTRICT THREE, COMMISSIONER BAILEY HERE, DISTRICT FOUR COMMISSIONER MCGEEN HERE DISTRICT FIVE COMMISSIONER BUNCH FISHER BUNKER YOU ON THERE.

I SEE, I SEE YOUR ICON.

THERE YOU ARE.

YOU WENT TO, SIR, WE'LL COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER BUDGE, UH, COMMISSIONED DISTRICT SIX TWICE.

YOUR COUNSELOR DISTRICT SEVEN COMMISSIONER READING HERE.

MR. K COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HERE, UH, DISTRICT NINE, COMMISSIONER ROGERS, UH, DISTRICT 10 COMMISSIONER CANADY.

LIKEWISE, SIR.

I SEE YOUR ICON, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE MUTED, BUT YOU WERE THERE.

I SEE YOU.

I ALL UP.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

UH, AND THEN, UM, UH, DISTRICT, UH, THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEE PUTTING 10 MINUTES HERE.

SO ALL TO A MEETING OF THE TOURISM COMMISSIONER, UH, COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER, SIR.

I SEE YOUR ICON THERE.

I JUST WANT TO CHECK IF YOU'RE THERE.

OKAY.

NOT GETTING AUDIO.

HE'S TRYING TO CALL BACK IN COPYING.

LET'S SEE.

THANK YOU.

UM, ALL

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. June 8, 2020]

[00:05:07]

I'LL SECOND, ANY, UH, ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.

ANY ABSTAIN ABSTENTIONS, A LACQUER.

LET THE RECORD BE SHOWN THAT, UH, COMMISSIONERS WHITTINGTON, REEDY RODRIGUEZ, BAILEY MCGEE, AND CANADY ALL MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JUNE.

[2a. Discussion on formation of working groups]

I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER REEDY, YOU WANTED TO REVISIT THE DISCUSSION OF IF YOU COULD WORK IN GROUPS.

SO I'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO YOU, SIR.

UM, WE DISCUSSED CREATING A TPA WORKING GROUP IN FEBRUARY AND AGREED TO ADDRESS IT AT ANOTHER TIME.

SO I WAS JUST CIRCLING BACK TO IT.

I THINK THE MOTIVATION WAS THAT, UH, AT THE TIME WAS THAT WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE URGENT NOW, YOU KNOW, AS WE COME INTO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY SEE MORE PRESSURE ON HOUSING AND PERHAPS AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A CHEAP HIT IN PLACE AND GENERATING REVENUE WHEN TOURISM RETURNS SO THAT WE CAN GENERATE THOSE RESOURCES FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

UM, I'LL CHIME IN A LITTLE BIT, UH, JUST FROM MY CURSORY UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE PROCESS IS WITH THAT.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE FOUNDATION FOR A T PIN IS IN PLACE AND I THINK THAT THE NEXT STEPS IN ORDER FOR IT TO HAPPEN, UM, WOULD BE FOR COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD, TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION AND FOR THEM TO COLLECT THE NECESSARY SIGNATURES FROM THE HOTELS.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IS IN THE PROCESS, UH, AND, AND READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE JEEP AT THIS TIME.

UM, NOW ALL THAT SAID, IT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT TO SAY, UH, THE VALID OF, UH, OF A WORKING GROUP REGARDING IT.

UM, JUST TO SAY THAT IT'S IN MOTION, AS FAR AS I KNOW, UM, THERE IS, THERE IS SOME QUESTION IN MY MIND ON THE RELEVANCE TO THE MISSION OF THIS COMMISSION, UH, THE TPN ITSELF BEING THAT IT'S NOT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, UM, ALTHOUGH IT IS TOURISM RELATED.

SO I WOULD OPEN THAT UP FOR SOME DISCUSSION.

I WOULD JUST OBSERVE THAT OUR, OUR SCOPE IS NOT CONFINED EXCLUSIVELY TO HOTEL TAX VALID POINT.

I GUESS MY, MY, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT IS THAT THIS WOULD BE A PRIVATE CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE, BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE HOTELIERS.

UM, AND ONCE THAT'S IN PLACE AND ALL THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE THERE, THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT FOR OUR PERMISSION TO BE ADVISING ON ONCE IT'S, ONCE IT'S SET UP.

UM, BUT BY ALL MEANS I SUPPORT THE FORMATION.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MCGEE, I SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF A TAPAD WORKING GREAT.

I THINK I CANNOT.

AND, UM, COMMISSIONER MEETING AS THE POINTS THAT THEY HAVE STATED, UM, IT MAY NOT BE PERHAPS WE WILL HAVE A MINIMAL ADVISORY ROLE, BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNLESS WE'RE THERE.

AND I THINK IT'S MORE A CASE OF JUST SORT OF BEING THERE TO ENSURE THAT THINGS TO KEEP MOVING ALONG, UM, PER THE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE.

UM, AND I THINK IT IS RELATED TO TOURISM IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING HOMELESS ON OUR STREETS, UM, AND, UH, AND THE PROMISE OF FUNNELING THAT MONEY, UH, FROM TOURIST DOLLARS, UM, TO HELP THEM I'M IN FAVOR OF A WORKING GROUPS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER AND WELCOME.

I'VE NOTED YOU, UH, ON THE ROLLS HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOUR FACE.

ALRIGHT.

UH, WELL, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, DO WE HAVE A, A MOTION I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

OKAY.

[00:10:11]

YEAH.

ALL IN FAVOR, ANY OPPOSED TO A WORKING GROUP RELATED TO, UM, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHO WOULD BE APPOINTED TO IT APART OR, OR HAVE WE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET? I MEAN, THAT'S THE NEXT, THAT'S THE NEXT STEP? UH, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER MCGEE COMMISSIONERS REALLY, UM, BOTH, BOTH WERE INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED OR ANYBODY ELSE WANTED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT.

UH, PERMISSION RODRIGUEZ RAISED HER HAND, BUT SHE'S NOT SHE'S MUTED AT THIS POINT, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO HAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO GO HOME.

I DON'T WANT TO.

SO WE'VE GOT COMMISSIONERS RODRIGUEZ, REEDY AND MCGEE AS NUMBERS OF THE CHIEF KIT WORKING GROUP, ANY OTHERS, SCOTT, UH, COMMISSIONER JOHN'S LOVE, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD PUSHED THIS, UH, FROM LAST MEETING IN, IN, IN CASE YOU WANTED TO, UM, BE A PART OF THIS WORKING GROUP, BUT I'M GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE RIGHT NOW.

SO, UH, NO PRESSURE, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S STILL WITH US, SO I'LL JUST SAY, UH, COMMISSIONER'S REEDY RODRIGUEZ AND MCGEE ARE, UH, NOW, UH, THE CHIEF HAD WORKING GROUP AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF OTHERS WANT TO, UM, JOIN IN THE FUTURE, AS LONG AS WE DON'T HIT A QUORUM, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT REQUIRES ANY ACTION OTHER THAN JUST SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT, BUT, UM, BUT EVERYONE GENERALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

YES.

NODS OF HEADS DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, KEN, KENDRA, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OH, I CAN HEAR YOU.

COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW I WAS ON THE LINE EARLIER WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TOURISM COMMISSION, BUT FOR SOME REASON THE AUDIO I USED IT.

WELL, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, SIR.

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

JUST IF I, IF I COULD REVISIT THAT TOPIC AND, AND HAVING A COMMISSION IS FINE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SEPARATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT OVERSEES THAT TOURISM COMMISSION, AND THEY TAKE ALL THE VOTES ON HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL SIMPLY APPROVES AN UP OR DOWN BUDGET EACH YEAR.

UM, AND THAT BUDGET IS PURSUANT TO A PETITION.

SO THOSE CATEGORIES FOR THE BUDGET CAN'T CHANGE.

AND THEY'RE BASICALLY ABOUT 45%.

I THINK IT'S 40% MARKETING OR SALES.

WE HAVE THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH WILL TRANSLATE UP TO THAT AMOUNT FOR, UM, HOMELESSNESS AFTER THAT TYPE ACTIVITY THAT'S GENERATED AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

UM, AND THEN THE REMAINED THERE PRIMARILY 5% RESEARCH, 5% ADMINISTRATION AND THE REMAINDER GOING INTO, INTO MARKETING.

AND SO, UM, THE COMMISSION CAN CERTAINLY, UH, GIVE FEEDBACK AS TO WHAT THEY MIGHT SUGGEST OR WHAT THEY MIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK THEY'D LIKE TO GIVE, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT SEPARATE BOARD AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE OWNERSHIP THAT ARE PAYING INTO THAT DISTRICT.

THIS IS THE SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT THEY HAVE TO FIND BENEFIT TO EACH OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, OR THEY HAVEN'T MET THE STATUTORY REQUISITE YET.

SO IT'S, IT'S IT, IT'S NOT A PUBLIC PURPOSE DISTRICT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF JUST GENERAL COMMUNITY CONCERNS OR EVEN HOMELESSNESS.

UM, IF IT'S THE HOMELESSNESS WOULD BE BASICALLY FUNDING BY THE, UH, THE, THE CITY WOULD UNDERTAKE OUT OF CONVENTION CENTER REVENUES THAT ARE ALLOCATED BASED ON BY DOWN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE ALMOST MORE OF A TOPIC WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER STAFF AND LESS WITH THE DISTRICT.

CAUSE WE WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DISTRICT WITH HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT ONCE THE CONVENTION CENTER RECEIVES THAT.

SO, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THAT'LL, YOU KNOW, A CITY STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL DETERMINATION.

AND AGAIN, THAT ASSUMES THAT THE DISTRICT IS FORMED.

IT ASSUMES THAT THE PETITIONS ARE GATHERED

[00:15:01]

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERING THAT DISTRICT ONCE A YEAR, FOR THE MOST PART, WHEN, UM, THEY'RE UP FOR RENEWAL OF THEIR SERVICE PLAN.

AND THAT'S PRETTY, THAT'S A PRETTY BASIC FUNCTION OF, THEY JUST UPDATE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUES AND THE AMOUNT WITHIN EACH CATEGORY BASED ON, UH, PROJECTED EXPENSES AND PROJECTED REVENUES.

THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE CATEGORIES BECAUSE IT'S A PETITION, IT'S LIKE A BOND PROPOSITION ONCE THEY ALLOCATE THAT MONEY, UM, OR THEY GET THE APPROVAL FOR THE PERCENTAGES WITHIN EACH CATEGORY THAT CAN'T CHANGE DURING THE TERM OF THE DISTRICT.

SO THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF DISCRETION OTHER THAN THE EVERYDAY DECISIONS AND THE EVERYDAY DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE BY THAT BOARD, UM, UH, SOLELY HOTELIERS.

AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO ANY FEEDBACK OR FEED OR, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UH, UM, THAT Y'ALL WOULD WANT TO PROVIDE.

BUT, UH, BUT YOUR INTEREST IS MORE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THE FEEDBACK WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE APPROPRIATELY PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER READING.

I APPRECIATE THAT COMMISSIONER JOSLIN.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE GROUP THAT, UH, TOURISM COMMISSION'S JOB IS TO ADVISE CITY COUNCIL ON THESE ISSUES.

SO THAT'S HOW I SEE IT.

JUST, JUST MAKING SURE THAT COUNCIL HEARS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THE T PIT EXPECTATIONS HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE FAIR ENOUGH.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER, UH, DISCUSSION REGARDING TPN AND, UH, THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WORKING GROUP OF EXCLUSION COMMISSION.

HI TO MY MOM THAT I'M STILL I'M.

I ASSUME I, I HAVE BEEN PUT ON THAT COMMITTEE.

UH, YOU HAVE NOW.

OKAY.

UH, IF, IF YOU WANT TO, I, I, THE, THE FLOOR IS OPEN TO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO JOIN UP TO SIX, YOUR NUMBERS AT THIS TIME.

AND I ASSUME THAT ANY RECOMMENDATION THAT TRINITY WITH CUTBACKS THE FULL OR FULL COMMISSION, GENERALLY SPEAKING.

YEAH.

THAT'S THE WAY THAT THE WORKING GROUPS SHOULD OPERATE.

IT WOULD BE TO MEET AND JUST REMINDER THAT WORKING GROUPS CAN ALSO HAVE NON-COMMISSIONED NUMBERS AS, AS A PART OF THE WORKING GROUP, UM, WITH THE LIMIT OF THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS THAT COULD BE ON IT TO FIVE.

SO I HAVE JOSS LOVE RUDY MCGEE AND RODRIGUEZ AS MEMBERS OF THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WORKING GROUP.

AND, UH, THE MOTION WAS A UNANIMOUS BASED ON, UM, THE FEEDBACK.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY NAYS ON THE MOTION OF THE FORMATION.

SO JUST PUTTING, JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE, UM, CALLING IN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I CAPTURED EVERYONE'S VOTE CORRECTLY FOR THE RECORD, UM, JUMPING

[2b. Update on Historic Preservation Fund and Historic Preservation Grants presented by Economic Development Department, Interim Director, Sylnovia Holt Rabb]

SO THAT WILL BE A WELCOME, UM, I'M GOING TO STEP AWAY FOR JUST A SECOND VICE CHAIR.

MCGEE.

DO YOU MIND, UM, HOLDING DOWN THE FORT FOR A QUICK MINUTE, PLEASE? THAT'S FINE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, TOURISM COMMISSION.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.

I'M JOINED BY OUR HISTORIC HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION MANAGER, MELISSA ALVARADO, WHO WILL GO DEEPER INTO THE PRESENTATION TODAY.

SO IF CITY HALL COULDN'T BRING UP OUR POWERPOINT.

OKAY.

IF YOU COULD ADVANCE TO THE SEC.

NO, THAT'S NOT IT.

YES.

SO IF YOU COULD GO TO SLIDE TWO, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

[00:20:01]

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, WE ARE VERY DIVERSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE EMBED THE CREATIVE SECTOR, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION INTO OUR TRADITIONAL BUSINESS MODEL, BECAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE IT AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THERE ARE THREE DIVISIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTED PROGRAMMING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION HERE AT TOURISM MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.

TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO STRICTLY FOCUS ON HERITAGE TOURISM, NEXT SLIDE.

AND WE WILL GO DEEPER.

AND I'M WITH MELISSA ALVARADO, WHO IS THE MANAGER OF THE HERITAGE TOURISM.

BUT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO HER NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, JUST A REMINDER THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE FULL 15% AS OUTLINED BY THE STATE STATUTE TO GO INTO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND.

AND WE USE THOSE FUNDS FOR PROGRAMMATIC EFFORTS WITH THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MELISSA TO GO IN DEPTH AND TO OUR HERITAGE TOURISM, MELISSA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO NO OF, YEAH.

GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSION.

I'M MELISSA ALVARADO, HERITAGE TOURISM MANAGER WITHIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO PROMOTE PRESERVATION THROUGH THE RESTORATION OF HISTORIC SITES.

IT ALSO PROVIDES PLANNING, EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING PROJECTS, UH, FUNDING TIE TO A HISTORIC SITE.

UH, THE TEXAS TAX CODE CHAPTER THREE 51 REQUIRES THE FUNDING TO BE USED TO PROMOTE TOURISM.

AND IT ALSO PROMOTES THE CONVENTION AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES.

IT ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE GRANTS BE AWARDED TO PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR IN AN AREA LIKELY TO BE VISITED BY TOURISTS.

THIS IS A BROAD TIMELINE OF EVENTS OF THE HERITAGE GRANT PROCESS.

THIS YEAR, WE LAUNCHED THE HERITAGE GRANT ON MARCH 2ND OF THIS YEAR.

UM, AND THEN BRIEFLY SUSPENDED THE GRANT APPLICATION.

ONCE THE WORK FROM HOME HOME ORDERS WERE IN PLACE, WE THEN RELAUNCHED THE, UM, GRANT APPLICATION AFTER ESTABLISHING A VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS, A VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN, VIRTUAL INFORMATION OFFER, UM, UM, I'M SORRY, OPEN OFFICE HOURS AND, UM, RELAUNCH THE ENTIRE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM.

UH, ON MAY 2ND, THAT CALL WAS OPEN THROUGH JULY 10.

AND AT THAT TIME WE DID, UM, A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL ONE-ON-ONES.

IN ADDITION TO THE VIRTUAL OFFERINGS THAT WE DID, PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON, UM, UH, THE INFORMATION SESSIONS, THE ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WE ALSO UTILIZE, UH, THE CREATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND TARGETED EMAIL CAMPAIGNS AS WELL.

UM, WE'RE ABLE TO GARNER A LOT OF INFORMATION IN TERMS OF SHARES RESPONSES.

UM, HOW LONG AN INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT RESPOND TO AN EMAIL AND, AND WE'RE ABLE TO TRIGGER ADDITIONAL, UM, ADDITIONAL EMAILS, UM, TO TARGETED GROUPS AND, UH, AND CONTINUE TO GROW THAT DATABASE.

WE ALSO DO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CROSS PROMOTION TOGETHER WITH OUR MUSIC AND CULTURAL ARTS ALLIES THAT HAVE, UM, FOLLOWERS, UM, OF, YOU KNOW, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.

WE DEFINITELY UTILIZE CROSS PROMOTION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND WITH SISTER DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, UM, AND THEN ALSO SHARE OUT TO EXTERNAL ENTITIES AS WELL.

UM, SO CURRENTLY THE HERITAGE GRANT PANEL REVIEWS ARE, ARE UNDERWAY AND, UM, THAT THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE TOURISM AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSIONS ON MONDAY, AUGUST 24TH.

UM, IN ADDITION, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.

AND, UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, THAT REVIEW AND THAT VOTE AT THAT TIME.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WE RECEIVED 24 APPLICATIONS FOR THE HERITAGE GRANT.

THIS INCLUDES CAPITAL MARKETING, EDUCATIONAL AND PLANNING

[00:25:01]

29% OF THE APPLICANTS IDENTIFIED SELF IDENTIFIED AS, UM, AFRICAN LATINO, HISPANIC, ASIAN, OR NATIVE AMERICAN 18 OF THE 24 PROJECTS WERE FROM NONPROFITS AND NINE OF THE 24 WAR FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM, WE CONTINUE TO PLACE A VERY HEAVY EMPHASIS IN THE AREAS OF TOURISM AND PRESERVATION IMPACTS AND OUR OVERALL SCORING CRITERIA.

UH, THE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES UNDERGO AN ANNUAL REVIEW AND WE MAKE ANY NECESSARY REVISIONS.

UM, PRIOR TO THE NEXT APPLICATION LAUNCH, UM, AFTER APPLICATIONS MEET CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY CHAPTER THREE 51 ONLY AT THAT POINT, ARE THEY EVALUATED BY AN EXTERNAL HERITAGE GRANT REVIEW PANEL? THESE EXTERNAL PANELS ARE COMPRISED OF TOURISM AND PRESERVATION PRESERVATION INDUSTRY EXPERTS, UM, WHO PROVIDE ALL OF THE REVIEW ANALYSIS AND SCORING ON EACH OF THE APPLICATIONS.

UM, AGAIN, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED, UH, TO BOTH THE TOURISM AND HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSIONS ON AUGUST 24.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, IN NEXT STEPS, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON IS, UM, TO CONDUCT ENGAGEMENT AND SURVEYS RELATED TO THE, OF ELIGIBLE CRITERIA FOR THEIR PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC INTERIORS.

THIS IS AN AREA THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE HERITAGE GRANT WORKING GROUP IN THEIR SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, UH, UH, THE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM.

UM, AND SO WE WILL BE CONDUCTING THAT ANALYSIS, UM, THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.

UM, IN ADDITION AS AUTHORIZED BY CITY COUNCIL AND FISCAL YEAR 20, WE WILL SOLICIT PROPOSALS FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES FROM EXPERIENCED FIRMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN UPDATE TO THE MASTER WAY FINDING SIGNAGE PROGRAM.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY GEARED TO PROMOTE THE TOURISM AND CONVENTION AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES AND ENCOURAGE TOURISTS AND CONVENTION DELEGATES TO PROMOTE ARTS ENTERTAINMENT AND, UM, HERITAGE TOURISM.

SO WE WILL BE DOING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT AROUND THAT, UM, RELEASE.

UM, LASTLY, THE HERITAGE TOURISM, CULTURE ARTS AND MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISIONS ARE, UM, ENGAGED.

WE'LL ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP THE, THE SHARED STRATEGIES AROUND THE CREATION OF A CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM PLAN.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING MORE DETAIL ON THAT, UM, TO YOU, UM, AS, AS THAT COMES TO FRUITION.

THANK YOU.

SURE.

OF COURSE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU MELISSA, FOR THAT.

AND, UM, CITY HALL, YOU CAN TAKE DOWN OUR POWERPOINT AT THIS TIME.

UM, I WANT TO THANK MELISSA OR HER PRESENTATION, AND ALSO TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT AS MELISSA MENTIONED AT THE END THAT WE ARE WORKING ACROSS DIVISIONS, UH, NOW ALL THE DIVISIONS THAT SUPPORT A HOTEL OCCUPANCY, YOU CAN TAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND TODAY.

IT WASN'T POSTED, UM, ARE NOW UNDER ONE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND OUR GOAL IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, EQUITY STRATEGIES THAT MAXIMIZES THE USE OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX ACROSS TO THE VISION THAT BENEFIT NOT ONLY TOURISTS, TOURISM, BUT, UM, CREATIVES WITHIN AUSTIN.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER BACK TO THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CANNOT.

HE HAS A QUESTION COMMISSIONER.

SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL US WHEN THE NEXT GRANT PERIOD WILL REOPEN FOR THE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM.

SURE.

UM, WE ANTICIPATE RELAUNCHING THE NEXT HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM.

UH, THE FIRST MONDAY OF MARCH.

UM, I DON'T HAVE THAT DATE RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY, UM, UH, RIGHT AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT THE, UM, INTENT IS TO MARKET, UM, THE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM, ALONG WITH THE CULTURAL ART FUNDING THAT WILL COME AVAILABLE.

UM, UH, THE, UH, INTENT IS TO DO IT JOINTLY THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR OUTREACH AND SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR? UH, THIS IS, UH, CHAIR WHITTINGTON.

I'M SORRY IF I MISSED IT.

HOW MUCH OF THE TOTAL BUDGET IS GOING TO THESE GRANTS PROGRAM ITSELF?

[00:30:02]

WELL, OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND THAT IS ALLOCATED TO THE CITY, APPROXIMATELY 15%, UM, GOES TO THE HERITAGE GRANT.

AND THEN, UH, THERE ARE OTHER PORTIONS OF THE FUND THAT GO TO THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS OWNED THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 70%.

UM, AND THEN ANOTHER 15, APPROXIMATELY 15% GOES TO THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF A HISTORIC PROPERTY IN LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET, UM, POSTING THAT WE SHARED, BUT ALSO ON, ON, ON, ON THE BUDGET, UM, ON THE SEEING, UH, CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS YEAR AND THE, TO THE TUNE OF 9.5 MILLION AND CONTRACTUALS AT 3.83.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THOSE, UH, WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS COVER AND WHICH ONE OF THEM IS AND WHERE THE GRANT MONIES LIVE WITHIN THOSE TWO LINE ITEMS? SO NAVEEN, DO YOU WANT TO, OH, AND A WALK THROUGH THAT.

YEAH.

SO UNDER CAPITAL, UNDER THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND FOR CAPITAL, UM, THE 9.3 AS, UM, UH, MELISSA MENTIONED CONSISTS OF PORTIONS OF THE CITY PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS, UM, FUTURE PURCHASES OF, UM, OF A HISTORIC BUILDING.

AND THEN WITHIN THE CONTRACTUALS, YOU WILL SEE A HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT WITHIN THE 3.8.

AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S A PORTION THAT TRANSFERS TO PART AND LIBRARY WHERE THEIR CIP KEEP THEIR FACILITIES, THEIR HISTORIC PRECEDENT, HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

GOT IT.

GOT IT.

UM, AND THEN, UM, AND THE TRANSFERS IN OTHER FUNDS, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY MONEY'S COMING INTO THIS YEAR, CORRECT.

RIGHT.

SO, UH, AS A REMINDER WITH THE ADDITIONAL 2 CENTS THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL THAT COMES INTO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND TRANSFER THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THEN THE CONVENTION CENTER TRANSFERS IT TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, SIMILAR TO LIKE THEY TRANSFER IT TO THE MUSIC, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, ADDITIONAL 2 CENTS 15 CENTS.

YEAH.

ZERO ZERO 3 CENTS PER TAXABLE DOLLAR.

YES.

THANK YOU, KEVIN.

YEAH.

OKAY.

NO, THAT MAKES SENSE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

UM, ALRIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, VICE CHAIR, MCGEE.

HE'S ON MUTE.

YOU'RE MUTED.

MA'AM SORRY.

I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

UM, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, UM, RECENTLY SUBMITTED A RESOLUTION THAT I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO WAS GOING TO TAKE UP AND LOOK AT.

UM, AND THE IDEA WAS POTENTIALLY THE CITY PURCHASING, UM, SOME OF THE LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN THAT DISTRICT TO HELP PRESERVE THEM.

IF THAT, UM, IF THAT WERE TO PROCEED, WOULD THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK WOULD COME UNDER, UM, HISTORIC PRESERVATION? WOULD THAT BE WHERE IT WOULD LAND? AND I ASKED YOU THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE SAYING YOU WERE WORKING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, I'M JUST CURIOUS, UM, IF IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS AS ARTICULATED BY THE CITY, IT COULD COME OUT, BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VOTED, UM, PAST THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

YEAH.

YES.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, A HISTORIC SURVEY HASN'T BEEN CONDUCTED IN THAT AREA.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE, UH, AN ELEMENT THAT WOULD NEED TO OCCUR TO ENSURE THAT THE, UM, HISTORIC, UM, DESIGNATION ASPECT OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS OR OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROCESSES IS INTACT.

YES, THAT'S KEY.

THAT'S THAT ONE? SURE.

I THINK IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY FROM THE VISITOR IMPACT TASK FORCE,

[00:35:03]

WHAT IS THE CITY STANCE ON A REQUIRED DESIGNATION? SO FOR, UH, THE HERITAGE GRANT PROGRAM, WE REQUIRE FOR A SITE TO EITHER BE, UM, DESIGNATED OR APPLY FOR FUNDING TO OBTAIN THEIR DESIGNATION.

SO WE DEFINITELY WILL MAKE THAT INVESTMENT.

UM, IF AN APPLICANT APPLIES FOR, UM, ANY FEES ASSOCIATED WITH OBTAINING A AND THEN WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, UM, AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT ANY WORK THAT IS CONDUCTED ON THE HISTORIC SITE MEETS THE SEARCH OF A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SITE IS INTACT AS THE, AS ANY WORK CONTINUES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, SITES CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED, UH, AS RECIPIENTS OF THE ACQUISITION FUNDING? UH, NO, WE DO NOT, BUT WE WILL BE, UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UM, UH, THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TEAM INTERNALLY WITHIN THE CITY, UM, TO HELP IDENTIFY, UM, A SHORT LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION.

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SHORT LIST WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE? YES.

THANKS.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR A GUESS? NO, JUST A THANK YOU.

YES, I'M MELISSA.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALLS TIME TODAY.

AND, UH, AS ALWAYS YOUR THOROUGHNESS DID Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

SCOTT.

IT THERE.

YEAH.

YEAH, I'M HERE, BUT EVERY TIME I CALL IN, THEY, UH, SOMEHOW IT GOES, IT GOES ONTO MUTE WHERE Y'ALL CAN HEAR ME WHEN I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT STAFF ON MUTE THE COMMISSION MEMBERS SHARE THING, THAT'S YOUR NUMBER FOUR, SEVEN, FOUR.

WE'LL MAKE SURE TO KEEP THAT.

WE'LL TRY TO KEEP THAT.

UNMATED GO AHEAD YOUR QUESTION, SIR.

I, YEAH.

IS THERE A SURPLUS MONEY RIGHT NOW IN THAT FUND THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT AND THAT'S STILL HOW MUCH YES.

AS OF IT'S AN ESTIMATED ROUTE, ESTIMATED TO HAVE AN ENDING BALANCE OF ABOUT 7 MILLION AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND AS FAR AS APPLICATION FOR FUNDS, WHAT IS THE, ARE THERE PENDING APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN GRANTED A MAN EPISODE TO WHAT TOTAL? YEAH.

SO AS MELISSA MENTIONED, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS, AND SO WE'VE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 24 APPLICATIONS AND SO THEY'RE BEING REVIEWED.

AND ONCE THOSE THAT MEET AND ARE APPROVED, THEY WILL BE, UM, GO TO COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.

OKAY.

BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THOSE APPLICATIONS TOTAL IN TERMS OF AMOUNT OF MONEY REQUESTS, 2.6 MILLION, TWO POINT.

SO THEN YOU STILL HAVE ANOTHER FOUR OR 5 MILLION THAT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE APPLICATION FOR? NO, UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THAT ALSO WITHIN THAT LINE OR OTHER CONTRACTUAL ITEMS THAT WE HAVE FOR NEXT YEAR.

OKAY.

SO HOW MUCH IS NOT ASKED OR COMMITTED? OKAY.

UM, RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ENDING BALANCE OF ABOUT 7 MILLION.

AGAIN, WE COULD GET INTO THE APPLICATIONS AND SOME, THEY MAY NOT RECEIVE FULL FUNDING DEPENDING ON THE APPLICATIONS.

IS THAT CORRECT, MELISSA? YES, THAT'S ACTUALLY, UM, THE GUIDANCE THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR PEER REVIEW PANELS, UM, IS THAT APPLICANTS COULD POTENTIALLY RECEIVE PARTIAL FUNDING DEPENDING ON HOW STRONG OF AN APPLICATION THEY HAVE.

UM, AND EACH OF THE INFORMATION SESSIONS THAT I CONDUCTED, I INFORMED APPLICANT'S THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, BASED ON HOW MUCH WOULD ACTUALLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH HOT PROJECT PROPOSALS COULD BE, UH, UM, AWARDED, UH, USING A PHASED APPROACH.

SO I HAVE EACH APPLICANT CREATE A PRESERVATION PRIORITY LIST IN TERMS OF THE ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET FUNDING.

AND SO THEY HELP

[00:40:01]

BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS, UH, BASICALLY NOT COMMITTED OR BEING ASKED FOR, AND IT REMAINS IN RESERVE OR SURPLUS, RIGHT.

AND AGAIN, THAT WILL BE THE AMOUNT THAT'S COMMITTED TO A CAPITAL OR AN ACQUISITION.

AND THAT AMOUNT IS THE PERCENT OF 15% IS SET ASIDE FOR COUNCIL TO DETERMINE.

SO YES, IT'S A SUBSET OF THAT, BUT ENDING BALANCE.

SO IS THAT $7 MILLION THAT'S SET ASIDE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS? YES.

IT COULD BE AGAIN, ALL SUBJECT AS YOU KNOW, TO COUNCIL'S APPROVAL SO THEY CAN ALWAYS COME IN AND MAKE AN AMENDMENT, BUT, YES.

ALL RIGHT.

AND ARE THERE ANY HOTELIERS, ARE THERE ANY HOTELIERS, UM, WHO ARE IN ANY OF YOUR PEER REVIEW OR, OR, OR COMMITTEES THAT LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURES OF THESE ITEMS AND, AND HOW, UH, THEY IMPACT TOURISM AND HOTEL ACTIVITY? UH, YES.

YES.

IT'S A, IT'S A NICE MIXTURE OF TOURISM AND PRESERVATION, UM, PROFESSIONALS, UH, THAT WE ASKED TO SERVE ON OUR REVIEW PANELS.

OKAY.

COULD YOU GET ME A LIST OF THE, THE FULL COMMITTEE AND THE HOTELIERS THAT ARE ON IT? SURE.

YEAH.

WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

OKAY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S ALL MY, OH, HI.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THAT LIST COULD BE PROVIDED TO THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.

IS THAT OKAY? YEAH, THAT'S WE WOULDN'T DO THAT.

WE WOULDN'T JUST GIVE IT TO ONES IT'S LIKE WITH CITY COUNCIL WITH DISTRIBUTE TO THE ENTIRE, THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR GUESTS? WELL, THANKS.

Y'ALL VERY MUCH, UH, BEFORE WE JUMP TO ITEM TWO, SEE THE UPDATE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.

YOU HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, I BELIEVE MR. KEITH ZIMMERMAN HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

MR. ZIMMERMAN, ARE YOU THERE? GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS CITY HALL.

I DID NOT HAVE MR. ZIMMERMAN CALL IN TODAY.

OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE, UM, CHECKING TO SEE IF HE WAS, UH, AVAILABLE OR WANTED TO, UH, BRIEF THE COMMISSION.

SO, UM, WITH

[2c. Update on Convention Center Expansion presented by Austin Convention Center Department, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Katy Zamesnik]

NICK KATIE.

HELLO.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, SO I KNOW I SEND MY PRESENTATION IN LATE CITY HALL WHERE WE, THIS IS CITY HALL.

UM, CAN YOU, CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE, UM, HE'S GOING TO SHARE THIS SCREEN AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS YOURS.

OKAY.

NOPE.

NONE OF THOSE ARE, UM, I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN IF THAT'S EASIER, IF THAT MAKES IT, IF THAT WORKS.

YES, THAT WILL WORK FINE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

GIVE US JUST A SECOND.

HE'S GOT TO GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO SHARE.

OKAY.

SO NOW IT SHOULD WORK.

OKAY.

OKAY.

SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE POWERPOINT NOW.

OKAY.

YES.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS KATIE'S MESNICK.

I AM THE ACTING CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

UM, I'M ATTEMPTING TO FILL CARLA'S VERY TALL SHOES.

UM, SO AS REQUESTED, I AM HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE SHORT AND SWEET AS WE ARE STILL IN OUR DUE DILIGENCE PHASE.

AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE A TON OF INFORMATION TO SHARE YET.

SO JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, THIS SLIDE SHOWS WHERE WE ARE WITH CURRENT RENTABLE SPACE WITHIN THE CONVENTION CENTER.

UM, AND THEN THE SPACE RECOMMENDATION FOR AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER TO MEET OUR CURRENT AND

[00:45:01]

UH, THIS IS BASED OFF THE NUMEROUS STUDIES DONE SINCE THE LONG RANGE MASTER PLAN ADOPTED ON 2014.

AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT A LITTLE BIT, UH, THIS TIMELINE HERE SHOWS THE EXPANSION PROGRESS UP UNTIL NOVEMBER, 2019.

WHEN THE AUSTIN VOTERS DECLINED TO PASS A PROPOSITION B I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS SLIDE AS I'M SURE ALL OF YOU ARE VERY AWARE OF ALL OF THE ACTIONS TAKEN SINCE 2014 ON EXPANSION.

UM, BUT I DO FIND IT'S KIND OF A HANDY REMINDER JUST TO HAVE, UH, TO LOOK BACK AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE STARTED AND WHERE, WHERE WE ARE NOW.

SO SINCE THE ELECTION, WE HAVE ENGAGED CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AND HBS CONVENTION SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES CONSULTING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE MASTER PLAN AND AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY OF EXPANSION.

THESE REPORTS ARE IN FINAL REVIEW AND THEY'LL BE RELEASED TO CITY COUNCIL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UM, AND SO OBVIOUSLY AS WITH EVERYONE ELSE, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS KIT OUR CONVENTION AT TRAVEL INDUSTRY HARD.

UH, WE DO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE IMPACT TO OUR OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION.

UH, BUT AT THIS POINT, BELIEVE THAT EXPANSION IS ABLE TO PROCEED AS PLAN, UH, WITH SOME POTENTIAL MINOR IMPACTS TO THE TIMELINE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? SO WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CLEAR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IN RESOLUTION 20 1905 TWO THREE DASH ZERO TWO NINE, AN ORDINANCE 20 1908 OH EIGHT DASH ONE FOUR EIGHT.

UH, THAT REAFFIRMS COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO EVALUATE A WESTERN EXPANSION IN LINE WITH UT STUDY SCENARIO FIVE.

WE'RE TARGETING LATER THIS YEAR TO BE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR NEXT STEPS AND THE EXPANSION PROCESS.

AND CERTAINLY AS WE FIRM UP DATES AND HAVE MORE INFORMATION, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, AND I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK BEFORE YOU AS WELL.

UM, AND I CAN ENSURE THAT YOU GUYS WILL GET A COPY OF THE MASTER PLAN AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY UPDATES AS WELL.

AND SO WITH THAT, I CAN TAKE QUESTIONS.

I'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO QUESTIONS.

UM, LET'S SEE, KATIE, WE'RE STILL SEEING YOUR SCREEN.

WE CAN JUMP OUT OF THERE SO THAT WE CAN, UH, SO I CAN SEE EVERYONE'S FACES IN CASE ANYONE WANTS TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

CAUSE I CAN'T SEE YOU ALL RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT SURE HOW TO YEAH.

THE WEBEX IS NOW GONE.

ANY QUESTIONS, JUST GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN.

UM, SO EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN WE, I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EITHER EARLY THIS YEAR OR THE END OF YEAR WHEN WE SAW THE TIME OF NEXT STEPS, THERE WERE ONE OF THE SCENARIOS THAT WAS DISCUSSED WAS THE IMPACT ON, UH, WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE REAL ESTATE IN THE SURROUNDING REGIONS AROUND THE CENTER.

CURRENTLY IN THAT, UM, THERE WAS SOME DISPLACEMENT OR SOME ACQUISITIONS, I GUESS, TAKING PLACE.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF, IF THERE'S BEEN ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR ANY REPORTS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER SINCE THE, IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, IS ANYTHING OF ANY SHIFTS, ANYTHING THAT NOTICEABLE THAT WILL IMPACT POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY THE BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS? CAUSE I THINK THAT LAND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST KEY FACTORS AFFECTING IT WAS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CONTINGENT CONTIGUOUS LAND TO THE CENTER.

SO, UM, YES, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN KIND OF LOOKING AT SOME OTHER OPTIONS AROUND THAT, JUST KNOWING AND SEEING KIND OF WHAT REAL ESTATE HAS DONE, UM, IN, IN THAT AREA AS WELL.

SO, UH, I'M NOT HERE TO TOTALLY SPEAK TO IT, BUT I CAN, I CAN GET YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION AROUND.

SO IN SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'VE, UM, THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING, I JUST WANT TO, WOULD WANT TO TALK TO OUR REAL ESTATE FOLKS.

WHO'VE BEEN THE ONES HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH, I GUESS, I GUESS I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR VALIDATION THAT ONE OF THE REASONS, THE TIMELINE DOESN'T HIT TOTAL PAUSE IS THE WAY OTHER THINGS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED IN THE CITY.

AGAIN, ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES IS THAT I HEAR SCENARIOS ABOUT PEOPLE JUMPING ON REAL ESTATE WHILE PRICES ARE FALLING IN WHETHER OR NOT THAT ACTUALLY CREATES SOME DISTURBANCE TO FLOW FORWARD.

IF THERE BECOMES A RUN WITH CERTAIN CAPITAL ACCESSIBLE PEOPLE TO GOBBLE UP LAND WELL WHERE THIS DOWN PERIOD.

SO, SO YEAH, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS THE REAL ESTATE, UM, LANDSCAPE IS NOT EFFECTING OUR TIMELINE FOR EXPANSION RIGHT NOW.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR GUESTS, CHRIS YOU'RE READING NOW.

HI, UM, HAS ANY INDUSTRY REPORT BEEN PUBLISHED OR STUDIES BEEN PUBLISHED ABOUT WHEN THE CONVENTION MARKET MIGHT RETURN TO PRE COVID CONDITIONS? YEAH, SO BOTH SEABURY HOTELS AND STR SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH HAVE DONE SOME PUBLICATIONS, WHICH I CAN GET YOU SOME INFORMATION ON, ON BOTH OF THOSE.

AND SO WE, WHAT WE'VE PUT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND KIND OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IS,

[00:50:01]

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AROUND 2024 TO 2025 TO BE BACK TO PRE COVID LEVELS, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER MCGEE? UM, JUST A TECHNICAL QUESTION REALLY FOR ALL PRESENTERS.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE MEET IN PERSON, WE USUALLY HAVE A PAPER COPY OF, UM, THE PRESENTATIONS.

AND I'M WONDERING IF, UM, CITI IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD US ELECTRONIC COPIES OF THE PRESENTATIONS WE'VE SEEN TODAY.

I CAN CERTAINLY, I CAN CERTAINLY GET MINE TO FELICIA TO SEND OUT.

THANK YOU MENTIONED REGGIE.

YES.

I HAVE EVERYTHING ON OUR WEBSITE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TODAY.

SO EVERYTHING YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE NOW AND SEE ALL THE DOCUMENTS SHARED TODAY.

THANK YOU, FELICIA.

I DON'T KNOW IF SCOTT DAWSON HAS ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK WE COULD ASK HIM, MAYBE MAKE A PAUSE TO SEE, BECAUSE I'M ON THE LINE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GLAD TO TAKE ANY, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE OF ME.

ALRIGHT, BUT THAT SAID, UM, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR KATIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S TRIAL BY FIRE RIGHT NOW.

UH,

[3. NEW BUSINESS a. Visit Austin Marketing Plan and Budget, presented by Visit Austin, President & CEO, Tom Noonan]

SO ON TO ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE VISIT AUSTIN MARKETING PLAN AND BUDGET, UH, PRESENTED BY VISIT AUSTIN PRESIDENT AND CEO, MICHELLE, TOM NOONAN.

THERE YOU GO VISIT AUSTIN PLACE COMMISSIONERS, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR US TODAY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BREAK THIS DOWN INTO TWO PRESENTATIONS.

NUMBER ONE, UH, TIFFANY KURT DO OUR, OUR MARKETING PLAN IS SOME OF OUR UPDATE YOU ON SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES, AND THEN I WILL FOLLOW UP THE, YOUR PRESENTATION.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO TIFFANY.

UH, AND IF YOU COULD PUT UP THAT PRESENTATION YOU HAD EARLIER, UH, UH, I'M DOING THE PRESENTATION THAT TIFFANY WILL WALK US THROUGH THAT, BUT I'M HERE FOR THE QUESTIONS AS WELL.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I WAS HAVING SOME SOUND ISSUES EARLIER.

CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? OKAY.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT MARKETING PLAN AND PRESENTATION TO BE PULLED UP AT CITY HALL, THAT WAS IN A PDF FORMAT.

UM, NOT THAT ONE, IT WAS PROVIDED OVER A LINK.

UM, THIS IS CITY HALL, TWO ITEMS THAT WERE DROPPED INTO THE FILE FOR US TO USE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR SCREEN.

YEAH, LET ME, UM, LET ME GET THAT.

HOLD UP PERMISSION TO SHARE HE IS WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW.

MA'AM YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE NOW.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

CAN EVERYONE SEE THIS? OKAY.

UM, I AM, I'M GOING TO SHARE TODAY OUR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2021 MARKETING PLAN THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE CENTER AND DOES NOT SINGLE DIRECTORS.

THIS DOCUMENT WAS RELEASED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR SUBMISSION CITY COUNCIL BY JUNE 15TH FOR OUR CONTRACT.

SO THE INFORMATION THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU IS CURRENT THROUGH THAT

[00:55:01]

UM, AND OUR PRINT ALWAYS STARTS WITH A LETTER FROM A MESSAGE SUMMER CEO AND PRESIDENT, AND THEN THIS YEAR'S PLAN, TOM REALLY TRIES TO SET UP THE BACK THEN AND GOING INTO OUR IN 19 AND 20, WE ARE REALLY ON TRACK AND FORWARDS FOR ANOTHER STRONG PERFORMANCE FOR THE MARKET.

UM, MID MARCH, OBVIOUSLY COVID-19 STARTING TO HIT FOR US LOCALLY AND WE HAD TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SHIFT AND PAUSE OUR ACTIVITIES AND REALLY REIMAGINE HOW WE STRUCTURED THIS YEAR'S MARKETING PLAN.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHARE WITH ME, IMAGINE PLAN THAT'S BASED ON A REBASE APPROACH.

OUR PLAN ALSO GOES THROUGH UPFRONT OUR MISSION AND BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES, DEPARTMENTS, ALL OF THIS I'M GOING TO FLY THROUGH REALLY QUICKLY, CAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER, BUT THIS WILL ALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FULL COMMISSION FOR YOUR OWN MOVIE.

WE WANT TO START WITH OUR, UM, TOWARDS SOME INDUSTRY OR PAST, AND WE STARTED WITH A GLOBAL AND NATIONAL GOAL.

AND SO AS WE MONITOR TRAVEL INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND TRENDS, WE SPENT THE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 IS EXPECTED TO HIT POINT IN MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH HAS CATASTROPHIC IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYMENT SECTOR.

IN HOSPITALITY, TRAVEL AND TOURISM.

WE EXPECTED TO SEE ABOUT A $519 BILLION LOSS IN DIRECT TRAVEL SENDING WITH DOMESTIC TRAVEL, NEARLY BABY DRIVER.

UM, ONE OF THE MEASURES THAT WE ALWAYS PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IS SHAVAR SENTIMENT.

UM, AND SO THIS CHART ON THE TOP LEFT, YOU COULD THINK HEADER AND SENT FOR TRAVEL DECLINE.

THIS IS SHOWING ME PERCENTAGE OF HOW WAS YOU HAD SHIPS BOOKS, BUT MADE PLANS TO CANCEL THEM.

SO AT THE TIME THAT THIS WERE PULLED, THAT HAD DECLINED, YOU'RE STARTING TO LOVE LA AND WE'RE SEEING SIMILAR NUMBERS ON THAT MEASURE.

NOW, AFTER TAKING A MORE GLOBAL WORLD, THEY WANTED TO DRILL DOWN AND LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THE LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS HERE IN AUSTIN.

UM, SO AS MENTIONED TOM'S LETTER, WE BEGAN KIND OF SEEING 20 POINTS FOR THE, AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.

WE WERE PACING AT ABOUT 110% OF REVIVAL AND ABOUT 115% OF UNIQUE GOAL JUST BEGAN TO DIP NO SURPRISE.

AND MID-MARCH FOLLOWED BY CANCELLATIONS OF GROUPS THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO MEET IN AUSTIN AND ITS WINGS ONE NIGHT.

SO JUST TO BREAK THIS DOWN, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE ON THE TOP, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THE IMPACT OF CANCELLATIONS FOR GROUPS THAT WILL WHAT'S BY VISIT AUSTIN.

DOESN'T INCLUDE GROUPS AT THE HOTELS BOOKED IN HOUSE.

IT ALSO EXCLUDES THE IMPACT OF SOUND, WHICH IS NOTED SEPARATELY.

SO THAT'S ABOUT ME IS IMPACTED AS AWESOME BOOKINGS.

THE GREEN BELOW IS THE INDUSTRY HAD BEEN BROKEN OUT SEPARATELY AS IMPACT OF SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.

WOW, ARE THERE, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE IMPACT, UM, OR REALLY THE OUTCOME OF, EXCUSE ME, FOR 2021, OUR INDUSTRY EXPERTS EXPECT THAT THE RETURN OF TRAVEL WILL BE LED BY DRIVE MARKET AND USE YOUR TRIPS.