[00:00:01]
I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.UM, JUST HAVE SOME, I COULDN'T FIND A CALL A NUMBER, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
[Call to Order]
UM, THIS IS CHAIR FRANKS.I'M CALLING TO SWEDISH THE ORDER ON MY CALL FOR CORUM.
GREAT ROBIN OR YEAH, DANNY DEBRA.
IF I MISS ANYONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
DO YOU HAVE QUORUM? I WILL JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK AGENDA ITEMS. UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UM, WE COULD NOT GET PRESENTATIONS FOR ITEMS THREE E THREE F ON THE AGENDA.
SO I'M GOING TO TABLE THOSE TO OUR NEXT MEETING, IF POSSIBLE.
AND DAVID AND I HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN, UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, IF THERE'S ANY, WITHOUT ANY, UM, I'M MOVING BRIEF FROM THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICE TO THE FIRST PRESENTER BECAUSE SHE HAS ANOTHER, UM, TIME OBLIGATION IS LET'S THERE'S ANY OBJECTION? NO OBJECTION.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Consider approval of the minutes from the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities July 10, 2020 Meeting.]
ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE NOTED? ALL RIGHT.
I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[3A. Presentation and Discussion: Brie L. Franco, Intergovernmental Relations Officer; City of Austin’s State legislative agenda]
GO AHEAD AND MOVE, BRITTANY, IF YOU WERE HERE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.THIS IS BRIEF BRONCO AND OUR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR MOVING ME TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY, GUYS, A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE PREDICTING FOR THE UPCOMING STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I KNOW IT DOESN'T START TILL JANUARY, BUT WE DO START OUR PREPARATIONS.
UM, BILL WILL START IN NOVEMBER, UM, THAT EARLY.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT FAR AWAY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW, UH, THE COVID PROCEDURE WILL BE.
THEY ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TEMPERATURE CHECKS, UM, AND WHETHER THEY'RE REQUIRED MATH, THEY STILL HAVEN'T HELD ANY HEARINGS.
UM, SINCE COVID HAS TAKEN OVER THE STATE.
SO THAT'S STILL AN UNKNOWN, BUT WE'RE STILL PREPARING AS IF IT'S ANY OTHER SESSION.
IF I COULD ASK IT TO GO TO SLIDE TWO, UM, THIS SLIDE, WHAT IT SHOWS IS A TENURE, UM, OVERVIEW OF THE NUMBER OF BILLS FILED EACH SESSION AND THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT AFFECT CITIES.
AND I ASK PEOPLE USUALLY TO LOOK AT THE TOP LINE, WHICH IS 1999, AND TOTAL BILLS INTRODUCED WITH ABOUT 5,800 TOTAL BILLS PASSED ABOUT 1600.
UM, USUALLY ONLY ABOUT 20% OF ALL BILLS, HALF EXPRESSION.
WE SAY THAT IT'S ALWAYS HARDER TO PASS THE BILL THAN IT IS TO KILL A BILL.
THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE PROCESS.
UM, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CITY RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED IN 1999 WAS ABOUT 1200.
AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CITY BILLS PASSED WAS ABOUT 130.
IT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER, BUT 10 YEARS LATER ON THOSE NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED, UH, IN 2019 INSTEAD OF 5,800 BILLS, THERE WERE 7,300 BILLS FILED TOTAL BILLS.
INSTEAD OF 1600 BILLS PASSED, THERE WERE 1400 BILLS PASSED AND INSTEAD OF 1200 CITY RELATED BILLS, THERE WERE 23 HUNDREDS PRETTY RELATED BILLS AND INCREASE OF ABOUT 1100.
AND THEN THE NUMBER OF CITY RELATED BILLS THAT PASSED ALSO INCREASED THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT TO 338 BILLS.
UM, SO BETWEEN THOSE 10 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN 182% INCREASE IN CITY RELATED BILLS
[00:05:01]
THAT WERE PASSED.I CAN TELL YOU MOST OF THOSE BILLS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO CITY.
UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER MANY BILLS THAT HAVE LEFT SESSION THAT WE HAVE.
SO, UM, MOVING ON VERY QUICKLY, MY OFFICE DOES REVIEW ALL THOSE BILLS, DETERMINE WHICH ONES, UH, WILL AFFECT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THERE IS, UH, LIKE I SAID, SESSION WILL START IN JANUARY.
UM, SESSION WILL START IN JANUARY.
THEY GET TO FILE BILLS UP UNTIL MARCH 8TH.
IN FACT, THE MAJORITY OF THE BILLS FILED ARE FILED IN THE LAST 10 BUSINESS DAYS OF SESSION.
SO LAST SESSION IN THE LAST 10 BUSINESS DAYS OF FILING, THEY DROPPED ABOUT 4,000 BILLS ON US.
UM, AND SO THAT'S AN INSANE AMOUNT OF BILLS THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW WHILE WE'RE HAVING HEARINGS WHILE WE'RE PREPARING WITNESS TESTIMONY.
UM, LOOKING AHEAD, NEXT SLIDE.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TALK OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WILL NOT CHANGE.
AND THE TOP TWO THINGS THAT WILL NOT CHANGE AS ONE, GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.
SO HE REMAINS THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AND HE HAS TAKEN A VERY ANTISEMITIC TONE.
UM, AND HE'S ON BEEN ON RECORD ABOUT THIS.
AND THIS SLIDE HAS A QUOTE FROM HIM SAYING THAT HE PREFERS AN ACROSS THE BOARD STATE PREEMPT AND LOCAL REGULATION.
UM, GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS ONLY CALLED ONE SPECIAL SESSION SO FAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD HURRICANE HARVEY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN SANTA FE, OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON.
UM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS PANDEMIC, HE HAS NOT CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION AND THE ONE TINY BID 10 ITEMS ON THAT CALL WERE RELATED TO CITIES.
THAT NEXT SIDE, PLEASE IT'S LIKE FIVE.
THE SECOND THING THAT WON'T CHANGE IN OUR STATE ELECTIONS IS THAT DAN PATRICK WILL STILL BE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
AND IN THIS QUOTE, HE TALKS ABOUT HOW, SINCE CITIES ARE CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS, THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE HIGH, HIGH TAXES.
THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE CRIME AND TO HIM, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE COUNTRY.
UM, HE'S BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THIS AS WELL, AND GOES ON FOX NEWS REGULARLY.
SO MOVING ON TO THE NEXT BUY, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT WILL CHANGE IS WE WILL HAVE A NEW SPEAKER.
UM, THAT'S BECAUSE THE CURRENT SPEAKER SPEAKER, DON DENNIS BONNIN, WHO WAS ALSO VERY ANTISEMITIC, HE GOT IN TROUBLE RIGHT OUT OF THE BAT AND BE IN A ROOM BY BEING RECORDED BY A POLITICAL ACTION GROUP CALLED EMPOWER TEXAS.
AND THEY RECORDED HIM WITHOUT HIM KNOWING, AND HE HAD SOME CHOICE WORDS ABOUT CITIES, OFFICIALS AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.
AND, AND THE QUOTE ON HERE IS BASICALLY HE SAID THAT THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH DUMB AFTERS AND I'M QUOTING HIM SO PARDON MY FRENCH.
BUT HE CALLED MAYORS AND COUNTY JUDGES, DAMASCUS WERE VISITING WITH HIM ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE AFFECTING CITIES AND COUNTY.
I MEAN, THE TONE HAS GOTTEN SO HOSTILE THAT THEY ARE LITERALLY HOSTILE TO MAYORS AND COUNTIES COMING TO ACCOUNTING IS COMING TO VISIT THEM AND TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
UM, SO MOVING FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE SEVEN, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WILL STILL BE THE TONE THAT INFLUENCES NEXT SESSION.
WE WILL HAVE ELECTION RESULTS.
UM, THEY WILL PRO YOU'LL PRIMARILY SEE THAT CHANGE SEATS IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER THE DEMOCRATS WILL GAIN ENOUGH HOUSE MEMBER, GAIN ENOUGH FEE TO TAKE OVER THE HOUSE.
NONETHELESS, WE'LL HAVE A NEW SPEAKER, WHETHER THAT'S A NEW REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OR A NEW DEMOCRAT SPEAKER, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE THE CENSUS NUMBERS WILL NOT BE HERE IN TIME TO HANDLE REDISTRICTING DURING THAT SESSION.
UM, SO BASICALLY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS EVEN ALREADY SAID, HE'S TOLD HIS STAFF NOT TO PLAN VACATIONS UNTIL AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH OF NEXT YEAR.
UM, THEY WILL HAVE TO FIX SCHOOL FINANCE AND THAT'S LARGELY BECAUSE THE PLAN THEY PUT INTO PLACE, THEY ALREADY KNEW COMING INTO THE NEXT SESSION WAS GOING TO BE UNDERFUNDED.
AND THEN WHAT THE HIT ON THE CONNIE FROM CORONAVIRUS THAT JUST MAKES THAT ISSUE 10 TIMES WORSE.
IF THE REST OF THE BUDGET THEY'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS WITH THE REVENUE SHORTFALLS THEY HAVE.
SO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, AND HOW MANY MORE CUTS THAT SYSTEM CAN TAKE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT THEY ALWAYS MANAGE TO FIND A WAY.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT WILL BE, UM, BASICALLY THE SETTING, THE TONE FOR NEXT SESSION.
[00:10:01]
THE START OF, WHEN I PRESENT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO THE COUNCIL, PUT TOGETHER WHAT I CALL THE PYRAMID OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE'S ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE THAT AFFECT THE CITY.AND SO FAR ON THIS PYRAMID, WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE SAME THINGS WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
AND SOME THINGS WE'RE NOT SURPRISED BY, RIGHT? SO SUPER PREEMPTION KEEPS COMING UP IN A BILL EACH SESSION WHERE BASICALLY THAT BILL SAYS THAT UNLESS IT'S SPECIFICALLY WRITTEN IN LAW, A CITY CANNOT LEGISLATE IN THAT AREA.
UM, THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTS A LOT MORE THINGS.
AND PEOPLE KNOW SOME COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE DAYCARE, REGULATION BY CITIES, OR EVEN SOME OF THE FOOD REGULATION WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT RESTAURANTS ARE, UM, NOT HAVING FOOD OUTBREAKS THAT CAUSE ILLNESSES TO PEOPLE.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL SUPER PREEMPTION.
WE HAVE HEARD THERE'S BEEN PUSHED BACK BY THE WORK THAT, THAT HE MARES AND, AND COUNTY JUDGES HAVE DONE ON COVID AND THE ORDERS THEY PUT IN PLACE.
AND SO THERE'LL DEFINITELY BE LEGISLATION FILED THAT WILL TRY TO PREEMPT THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS OF CITY, OF MAYORS AND COUNTY JUDGES TO ENACT ORDERS IN THE HEALTH ARENA.
WE STILL ANTICIPATE HAVING, UM, BY SILVER, WHAT WE CALL EMPLOYEES RIGHTS AND BENEFITS, AND THAT'S RELATED TO THE CITY'S ORDINANCES ON PAGE SIX, PLEASE.
UM, ALSO OUR NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, SOME OF YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT WAS A BIG FIGHT TWO SESSIONS AGO.
IN FACT, THAT ALSO WAS IN THE SPECIAL SESSION OVER THE BATHROOM BILL.
UM, AND SO WITH THIS SUPREME COURT RULING, I'M SURE WE'LL SEE MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO GET AROUND THAT RULING, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT RULING I'M REFERRING TO IS THE ONE THAT SAID THAT EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAWS EXTENDED TO THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS IT ALREADY DID.
AND YOU HAVE AUSTIN'S ORDINANCE.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE, UH, ATTACK THEM ON NARACOORTE TO ZONE, UM, THAT IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO SHORT TERM RENTAL, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH HOW WE, WE REGULATE WATER QUALITY AND OUR EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.
UM, SINCE THEY PASSED THE ANNEXATION REFORM FROM TWO SESSIONS AGO, THAT NOW REQUIRES THE PROPERTY OWNER BEING ANNEXED TO HAVE TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AND A VOTE.
THE QUESTION IS, WELL, WHY DO YOU NEED REGULATION IN THE EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AT ALL? AND THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THERE ARE ISSUES THAT, THAT CROSS BOUNDARIES, YOU KNOW, MANMADE BOUNDARIES, THE NATURAL ISSUES RELATED TO WATER AND WATERSHED QUALITY HAVE THEIR OWN BOUNDARIES THAT DON'T ALIGN WITH OUR CITY BOUNDARIES AND COUNTY BOUNDARIES THAT WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY FOR OUR AUSTIN WATER CUSTOMERS.
UM, SPEAKING OF AUSTIN WATER, UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROBABLY SEE A TAX ON THE FACT THAT THE CITY OWNS A WATER, UM, A WATER UTILITY ALONG WITH OUR AUSTIN ENERGY ELECTRIC UTILITY.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S THE, WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE REVENUE CAP PART TWO.
UM, LAST SESSION, THEY PASSED A BILL THAT SAID CITIES CAN NO LONGER GO UP TO 8%, UH, WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS.
UM, SOME SMALLER CITIES, ACTUALLY THE CITY OF AUSTIN THIS YEAR IS ONLY WENT UP TO 3.5 FOR THE CITY AND THEN HAS ADDED AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THAT WILL GO TO THE VOTERS ON, UM, THE PROJECT CONNECT PARTNERSHIP WITH CAP METRO.
UM, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS SO ALREADY AT THE CAPITOL ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THEY'LL TRY TO HIRE HANDS ON THAT.
UM, THE ISSUE I, I DO STILL WANT TO RAISE YOUR RADAR.
THE LAST ONE ON THIS SLIDE IS WHAT'S CALLED NO CITY LOBBYING AND, AND, UM, I DO HAVE A LOBBY TEAM FOR BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL THAT I RETAIN IN ORDER TO MANAGE THIS AGENDA.
UM, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO MY JOB WITHOUT IT, THE, THE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE TO SPEAK TO SIMULTANEOUSLY AND TRY TO HELP GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND OUR ISSUES BETTER.
IT JUST CANNOT WORK WITHOUT A LOBBY TEAM.
UM, IT IS ABOUT MEETING EXTRA FEET ON THE GROUND TO POUND THE PAVEMENT AND WHO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE MEMBERS.
THE LOBBY TEAM, UM, IS APPROVED BY AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT IS PUT UP FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON, UM, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT TAX PAYERS PAY FOR IT, BUT IT'S TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS' INTEREST IN THESE ISSUES.
UM, AND, AND OFTEN AGAIN, VERY WELL FINANCED CORPORATE ISH, UH, INTERESTS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO THERE WAS A BILL LAST SESSION THAT SAID WE COULD NO LONGER HAVE CITY LOBBYISTS.
AND THAT IN ADDITION, WE COULDN'T EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE UNLESS
[00:15:01]
WE WERE ASKED BY THEM TO DO SO.AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THAT LANGUAGE SAID, YOU CAN ONLY TALK TO US IF A MEMBER HAS REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM YOU OR THE COMMITTEE HAS REQUESTED YOU TO SPEAK UP, INVITED YOU TO SPEAK UP THE COMMITTEE.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, RIGHT NOW, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND ALSO ENGAGE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SIGN UP, TO SPEAK AT COMMITTEES ON VARIOUS ISSUES LIKE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR DOES.
AND THIS BILL WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED THAT ANYMORE.
UM, SO NOT ONLY WOULD IT SAY WE COULDN'T HIRE LOBBYISTS, BUT IT LIMITED HOW WE COULD COMMUNICATE AND INTERACT AND ENGAGE WITH THOSE MEMBERS.
UM, AND IT, THAT BUILDS OUT ALL THE WAY TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.
IT PASSED THE SENATE, UH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DAN PATRICK SAYS, HE'LL BRING IT BACK.
UH, THE GOVERNOR'S ON RECORD SUPPORTING IT.
IT WENT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT WENT DOWN AND WAS VOTED DOWN IN THE HOUSE FLOOR.
AND GOING BACK TO THAT INCIDENT WITH SPEAKER BON IN WHAT HE WAS DOING AND THAT TAPE CONVERSATION AS HE WANTED THAT EMPOWERED TEXAS GROUP TO GO AFTER THOSE REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED AGAINST THAT BILL, HE NAMED 10 OF THEM.
THERE WERE ACTUALLY MORE, BUT FOR SOME REASON, HE SINGLED OUT THESE 10 MEMBERS AND HE WANTED THEM TO GO AFTER THEM.
SO HE COULD GET THAT BILL THROUGH NEXT TIME.
SO THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE OPERATING IN RIGHT NOW.
I WILL BE, UH, I AM WORKING ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.
WE, WE DEVELOPED THE AGENDA WITH THE RESOLUTIONS, PASSED BY COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENTS REVIEW THE LANGUAGE, UM, WE'RE SEEKING YOUR INPUT AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO COORDINATE WITH OUR DELEGATION.
THE AGENDA LANGUAGE IS VERY BROAD.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SAY NEXT BY.
AND I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO SLIDE 10.
AND ON SLIDE 10, IT HAS A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES THAT THEY AGENDA COVERS, WHICH INCLUDES ANIMAL SERVICES, HOMELESSNESS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, TRANSPORTATION, AVIATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
WE DO HAVE A SECTION ON ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THE CITY AFFECTS YOUR LIFE PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT SECTOR DOES.
IT HAS LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT GIVE THE BROAD AUTHORITY TO, UM, DEFEND THE ORDINANCES WE HAVE IN PLACE DEFEND THE POLICIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO TRY TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND THE TAXPAYERS OF AUSTIN.
AND THEN WE HAVE MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT WE'VE INCLUDED HERE THAT RELATE TO THIS COMMITTEE SPECIFICALLY.
SO SUPPORTING LEGISLATION AND FUNDING THAT INCREASES THE ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC FACILITIES AND TRANSIT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, PROTECTING OFTEN CIVIL RIGHTS ORDINANCES, UM, TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T TARNISH AUSTIN STATUS AS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR ALL SUPPORTING LEGISLATION AND FUNDING THAT ALIGNS EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO TRANSIT AND SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT PROMOTES EQUITY FOR RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING PAY EQUITY, EDUCATION, EQUITY, HOUSING, EQUITY, AND HEALTH EQUITY.
UM, I'M ON MY, I'M ON MY LAST SLIDE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS A HEADS UP.
UM, I, I DEFINITELY SEEK YOUR INPUT ON THE AGENDA ON THE LAST SLIDE.
THERE'S A LINK TO WHERE THE CURRENT AGENDA IS THAT YOU CAN USE AS A GUIDE.
I WILL PRESENT THE AGENDA COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.
THE AGENDA, UM, CAN BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME THOUGH, EVEN THOUGH THE COUNCIL WILL ADOPT THE AGENDA, THEN THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ADDING TO THE AGENDA.
IT'S THE LIVING AND BREATHING DOCUMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.
SO IF YOU ALL DON'T HAVE TIME TO PRES PRESENT A RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL BEFORE SEPTEMBER 17TH, IT CAN BE DONE AFTER.
UM, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE WORK TOGETHER ON THE LANGUAGE AND THAT RESOLUTION.
UM, AND THEN YOU ALSO CAN IN DUE COURSE INDIVIDUALLY, SPEAK TO YOUR OWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN PRESENT A RESOLUTION THAT ENCOMPASSES YOUR IDEA.
UH, WE WILL ALSO, MY OFFICE WILL WORK TO KEEP YOU UPDATED THROUGHOUT SESSION.
WE DID THIS LAST SESSION, IT'S THROUGH EMAILS.
UM, HOWEVER, WE CAN MAKE THAT MERCE FESTIVAL, PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW WE CAN BEST DO THAT.
UM, AND THEN ALSO I MIGHT COME TO YOU SOON TO ASKING FOR A RESOLUTION FROM YOU ALL SUPPORTING THE AGENDA AND SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF A LOBBY TEAM TO THAT THE CITY'S AGENDA, THE CITY, UM, TO SPEAK
[00:20:01]
FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, OF WHAT THAT YOU GUYS DID HAVE MADE THESE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE THESE DECISIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE LEGISLATURE MAY PREEMPT US, BUT IT'S NOT BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED AND FOR OURSELVES OUR OWN SELF DETERMINATION.UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS, UM, ON THE LAST SLIDE, SLIDE 14.
I'M THE OWNER, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO LOOKING AT THE AGENDA? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
WHAT LOOKING AT AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'M GOING TO SAY THREE, I'LL GIVE YOU THREE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS, LOOKING AT THE AGENDA AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UM, I AM CONSIDERING BRINGING FORWARD, ASKING YOU ALL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT I COULD DRAFT.
UM, AND THEN YOU GUYS OF COURSE CAN HAVE YOUR INPUT ON AND SUPPORTING THE AGENDA AND THE AGENDA, THE OBJECTIVES OF THE AGENDA, SHE THROUGH THE LOBBY TEAM, AND THEN THREE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT YOU ALL HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, UH, WHAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FOR THIS SESSION AND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING AND SEEING AS THESE UPDATES COME OUT.
AND AS I CONTINUE TO UPDATE, UH, COUNSEL AND YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.
OH, AND ALSO, LET ME SAY A FOURTH.
IF YOU DO SEE AN ISSUE DURING SESSION, THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFY ON IF THEY DO HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND IT CAN BE DONE IN A SAFE WAY TO ALSO REACH OUT TO ME TO COORDINATE THAT EFFORT, RIGHT.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER GET TODAY.
SO I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A TON OF COMMITTEES THAT ARE, THAT HAVE ALREADY PUT FORWARD REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ON INTERIM CHARGES.
AND I THINK THAT THESE ARE REPLACING THE, UH, THE INTERIM COMMITTEE HEARINGS, UH, IS THIS SORT OF THE, THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY, UH, IN THE INTERIM TO SUBMIT ANY KIND OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ON, ON ANY OF THESE, THESE CHARGES? CAUSE A LOT OF THEM DO RELATE TO, I MEAN, THEY'RE THE STATE, BUT THEY'RE A BUNCH OF AGENCIES AND THEY'RE RELEVANT TO, TO AUSTIN AND TO CITIES.
SO THANKS FOR RAISING THAT POINT.
UM, YOU ARE CORRECT THE, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HOLDING, HEARING WHAT THE HOUSE DID.
SO THE SENATE HASN'T DONE THIS, BUT THE HOUSE, UH, SET UP A SYSTEM TO DO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION WHERE THEY'RE NOW ASKING EVERYONE TO JUST SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON THEIR CHARGES.
AND WE HAVE STARTED THAT OF, UM, DRAFTING THAT TESTIMONY AND OFFERING IT.
SO FOR INSTANCE, OUR FIRST DEADLINE IS TODAY THAT'S LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE.
AND THAT GOES TO THE ISSUE OF ABOUT REGULATING IN THE ETJ.
SO WE'RE SUBMITTING COMMENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, THE ABILITY TO REGULATE, TO MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT FOR, THERE ARE MANY COMMITTEES THAT HAVE ISSUES RELATED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE'VE, WE'VE SENT THOSE UP TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO HELP START THAT, THAT COMMENT PROCESS.
BUT IF YOU ALSO HAVE THOUGHTS OR IDEAS ON THAT, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME, UM, TO SPEAK TO THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
UM, WE'RE LIMITED ON WHAT, HOW MUCH TESTIMONY WE CAN PROVIDE, BUT IF YOU KNOW, IT VARIES BY COMMITTEE AND IT IS, IT'S ALL WORKABLE TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT AND WE'LL SHARE, WE'LL SHARE THOSE COMMENTS AS ONCE THEY'RE FINAL LINE GIRL, OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ONE FINAL QUESTION, HEARING NONE.
[00:25:01]
YOU INCLUDING OUR COMMISSION FOR THIS, AND YOU LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU MORE.ALL RIGHT, MOVING DOWN THE AGENDA.
WE'LL MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT LOCAL PANDEMIC RELIEF EFFORTS SUPPORT INCLUDE AND AFFIRM THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES COMMISSIONER.
UM, THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOVSKY.
UH, WE, UM, HAVE BEEN, WE HAD BEEN CONCERNED THAT, UH, THE, UH, LOCAL GET THE EFFORT, UH, DID NOT INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
I DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS CHALLENGES, UM, FACE SPECIFICALLY BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, IF YOU NOTICE THE COVERAGE ON THE NEWS, UM, IT, UM, IT MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE SPECIFICALLY VULNERABLE TO COVID 19.
UM, THE NEWS COVERAGE DOES INCLUDE, UH, THAT SEVERAL OF THE TESTING SITES I, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY INITIALLY SAYS YOU HAVE TO DRIVE UP.
I, AND OF COURSE, UM, NOT EVERYBODY IS CAPABLE OF DRIVING.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS RESOLUTION WAS DRAFTED.
UM, I BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION IS ATTACK WAS SENT OUT.
UM, THERE WAS AN ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYBODY HAD THE PHYSICAL, UH, MENTAL CAPACITY TO DRIVE TO A TESTING SITE.
I, UM, AND THAT'S REALLY, THAT WAS, THEY DID IT, IT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY, HEY, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DON'T GET TESTED.
UH, BUT THAT WAS, IT WAS KIND OF THE ASSUMPTION.
UM, THE, UH, THE IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE IN ASSISTED LIVING IN NURSING HOMES, UH, CAUSE THEY'RE BUNCHED TOGETHER AGAIN.
UM, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SPACE OUT, BUT WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU'RE IN A FACILITY WHERE YOU CAN'T, UM, YOU CAN'T SPACE OUT, THERE'S A HIGH DEATH RATE IN THOSE FACILITIES AND THIS IS COMMISSIONER SHRIVER.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE FINISHED AND THAT'S, THAT'S, IT'S TARGETING PEOPLE.
UH, THE PANDEMIC HAS TARGETED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WE WANT THE CITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, TO RECOGNIZE THE WAY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE TARGETED BY THIS PANDEMIC, UM, TO CONCEDE THIS, UH, CAUSE REALLY IT HASN'T, IT HASN'T DONE THIS.
I WOULDN'T SAY TARGETED, I WOULD SAY PEOPLE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE MESSAGE TYPICALLY TARGETING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT, UH, COMMISSIONER SCHROCK YOU DID BEFORE.
SO I WAS JUST SAYING, UM, THE REVISIONS THAT I MADE WERE BASED ON THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, UM, AND UH, I THINK CLARIFIED AND BROUGHT IN.
SO THE FIRST ONE, UM, WAS ABOUT AFFIRMING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, AND SO I KIND OF ADDED, UH, THE OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN ACCESS.
UM, AND SO, UM, IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO READ OVER THE RESOLUTION, KIND OF PROVIDING SOME EXAMPLES AND THEN, UM, KIND OF WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS ENCOURAGING THE CITY THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY MEASURES, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO BEING COMMUNICATED, THAT THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN EXEMPTION ACCESS SO THAT THOSE MESSAGES, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SHOULD BE PAIRED TOGETHER SO THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT BEING PUT AT FURTHER RISK BECAUSE OF CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO ACCESS BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY RESTRICTIONS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE TOO.
CAUSE, UM, I'M FINDING OUT THAT
[00:30:01]
SOME STORES ARE BLOCKING OFF DOORS CLOSEST TO DISABILITY PARKING.UM, THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, OUR HOME OFFICE TOLD US TO BLOCK OFF THE DOOR, UH, CLOSEST TO DISABILITY PARKING, UH, WHICH IS VERY INTERESTING.
UM, SINCE THE CDC, UH, WEBSITE DOES NOT LIST THAT AS A MEASURE TO COMBAT COVID-19.
UM, AND I'M HOPING THAT I I'M HOPING THAT THIS MEASURE IS GOING TO SUPERSEDE.
I SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE CDC SAYS.
UM, THAT SAYS WALKING OFF A DOOR, CAUSE WALKING OFF A DOOR IS OKAY.
UH, YOU STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ADA.
YOU STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW.
YOU STILL HAVE TO FOLLOW FEDERAL POLICIES.
YOU DON'T GET TO JUST MAKE UP STUFF ABOUT, WELL, IF I WALK OFF THIS ONE DOOR, THE AIR IS JUST GOING TO LISTEN.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF STORES? YOU HAVE SEEN THIS WITH, OH, THE RANDALL'S NEAR MY APARTMENT.
UM, THEY BLOCKED OFF THE THEY'VE WALKED OFF THE DOOR, NEAR THE, UH, DISABILITY PARKING.
THEY SAID THAT THE, UH, THEIR HOME OFFICE TOLD THEM TO DO THAT.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALISTIC.
UH, CAUSE AGAIN, I CHECKED WITH THE, WITH THE CDC, THESE WEBSITE AND IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT, YES, IF YOU BLOCK OFF A DOOR, THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT COVID-19.
UH, THE AIR IS NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO THE BLOCKED OFF DOOR.
IT'S STILL GOING TO CIRCULATE.
UH, AND THE ADA IS STILL IN STILL FULLY AND THEY, THE ADA FULLY EXISTS.
SO I MEAN THE CITY SITTING NEEDS TO OPEN.
A CITY NEEDS TO GO AROUND AND OPEN UP DOORS FOR ALL THE, ALL THE PLACES DOING THIS, UH, AND MAKE THE STORES DO THAT.
I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH YOUR SENTIMENT THAT THIS IS AN ACCESS BARRIER, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.
I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, ROBIN AND EMILY, THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR ANY DISCUSSION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION? I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO, OKAY.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I'M THE COMMISSIONER TO COMPARE WITH THE PUSHER ALASKA FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DURING THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR AWARENESS OF THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING IT.
[3B. Presentation and Discussion: Candice Cooper, Public Information and Marketing Manager, Human Resources Department (HRD); Update on City of Austin, Quality of Life Study for People with Disabilities]
MOVING DOWN TO THE NEXT ITEM OF THE AGENDA.CANDACE COOPER FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE STUDY.
HI AND GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FRANCS.
UH, THIS IS CANDACE COOPER HERE.
UH, HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, THE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED, UH, SOMETIME IN MAY, APRIL OR MAY.
UM, OF COURSE WE BEGAN WORKING ON THIS INITIATIVE IN MARCH WITH THE WORKING GROUP AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, SINCE THEN THE SOLICITATION, THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS INCLUDED IN A FULL SOLICITATION PACKET.
THAT PACKET WAS PUBLISHED OFFICIALLY ON JUNE 1ST AND THE INITIAL CLOSE DATE FOR THE SOLICITATION TO THE PUBLIC WAS JUNE 25TH.
HOWEVER, WE DID EXPAND THE SOLICITATION AND IT OFFICIALLY CLOSED ON JULY 9TH
[00:35:02]
AT 2:00 PM.WE RE THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED TWO OFFERS FOR THE SOLICITATION.
BOTH OFFERS WERE COMPLIANT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN GUIDELINES AND BOTH WERE EVALUATED.
THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR, UM, HAS BEEN, UH, SELECTED AND WE ARE WAITING THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THERE IS A TO THIS PROJECT IS ALLOTTED FOR $200,000.
AND SO DUE TO THAT AMOUNT, WE WILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE, UM, VENDOR TO APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
AND IT IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 15TH.
AND SO THAT PRETTY MUCH COMPLETES MY UPDATE FOR WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROJECT.
AND, UM, MOVING FORWARD AFTER OCTOBER 15TH PENDING, UM, OF COURSE THIS IS IF THE VENDOR IS SELECTED, THEN AT THAT TIME, THE VENDOR WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND, UM, CAN BEGIN WORKING NOT ONLY WITH THIS COMMISSION, BUT ALSO WITH THE COMMUNITY TO BEGIN THE PROJECT.
AND SO WE CAN GO AHEAD BACK, ACTUALLY COMPLETES MY UPDATE AND I WILL, OH, SORRY, GO AHEAD.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND FORTUNATELY THE PANDEMIC PUT IT ON A LITTLE BIT OF A HOLE, BUT WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS.
WE DO HAVE TIME FOR ANY QUESTIONS, IF ANY COMMISSIONER HAS ANY QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD, MS. COOPER, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO AROUND THE 15TH BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR IT, FOR THIS STUDY? YOU KNOW, AT THIS TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN JUST, I CAN PROVIDE THE PROCESS AS FAR AS ANY SUPPORT FOR IT.
I MEAN, I, I'M PRETTY SURE THIS COMMISSION COULD CERTAINLY, UH, BE PREPARED AND ESPECIALLY LED ANY OF THE, UM, ANY, ANY, ANY ONES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU GUYS FEEL IS IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION WHO WILL OF COURSE KNOW THAT IT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE OCTOBER 15TH DATE TO GO BEFORE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU TO FOLLOW UP BEFORE, UH, JUST ONE SECOND, SINCE YOUR LAST WEEK, UH, WOULD YOU, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO REACH OUT TO OUR OWN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO KEEP THEM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO THEM? ABSOLUTELY.
I WAS CERTAINLY EVEN ENCOURAGED THAT.
LAWSKY OH, I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MS. COOPER ON HER HARD WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
[3C. Presentation and Discussion: Joshua Robinson, Quality of Life Commission Liaison, City of Austin Equity Office; What is the Equity Office and why is the MCPD a full voting member on the Joint Inclusion Committee]
UH, ALRIGHT.TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS EQUITY OFFICE AND WHY IS THE PEOPLE PART OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE? JOSHUA WHERE'S YOURS? MY FRIENDS.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES, SIR.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
MY NAME IS JOSHUA ROBINSON, QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION LIAISON WITH EQUITY OFFICE AND THE EMPHASIS OF MY JOB IS TO SUPPORT THE QUALITY OF LIFE'S MISSIONS, WHICH IS, UM, THIS COMMISSION FALLS UNDER.
SO I'LL JUST BE REALLY QUICK TODAY.
UM, I'M GOING TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE EQUITY OFFICE, OUR FUNCTIONS, AND THEN THE PURPOSE OF, UM, THE JIC, THE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION BEING A PART OF DJI C.
SO, UM, THE EQUITY OFFICE WAS STARTED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
UM, WE WERE BIRTHED OUT OF A COMMUNITY.
UM, IT WAS A PUSH FROM COMMUNITY TO HAVE A DIVERSITY OFFICE, BUT ALSO TO HAVE AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT TOOL.
SO IT WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, DAHLIA GARZA.
AND SO BASICALLY THEY JOINED THE, UH, EQUITY ASSESSMENTS WHO WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE DIVERSITY OFFICE AND THEN CREATED AN EQUITY OFFICE.
[00:40:01]
OFFICERS, BRIAN OAKS, AND HE WAS HIRED IN OCTOBER OF 2016.SO THIS OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR WILL BE HIS FOURTH YEAR, WHICH WILL ALSO BE THE FOURTH YEAR.
THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS BEEN AROUND.
SO OUR PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP GUIDANCE AND EXPERTISE ON EQUITY ISSUES AND HELP THE CITY RUN MORE EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE HERE TO LIVE, WORK IN PLAY WITHIN OUR OFFICE.
WE LEAD WITH RACE BECAUSE RACE IS A DETERMINING FACTOR OF INDIVIDUAL'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WE KNOW BASED UPON DATA THAT BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN POVERTY IN COMPARISON TO WHITE CHILDREN, BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN ARE PAID CONSIDERABLY LESS IN COMPARISON TO WHITE WOMEN, AS WE'VE SEEN WHAT COVID-19 BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET COVID-19 AND DIE FROM IT.
AND IN RELATION TO THIS, AND THEN IN RELATIONS TO THIS COMMISSION, UH, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES ARE, HAVE WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN COMPARISON TO WHITE FOLKS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND THE END UP IN DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WE, SO WE LOOK AT RACE BECAUSE RACE IS A DETERMINING FACTOR IS A BEST DETERMINING FACTOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND ALSO, WE ALSO LOOK AT INTERSECTIONALITY WITHIN THAT TEAM.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I MENTIONED THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY HAVE HEALTH OUTCOMES THAN WHITE FOLKS IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, THAT'S A PART OF THAT INTERSECTIONALITY PIECE THAT I WAS JUST REFERRING TO.
SO WITHIN THE FUNCTIONS OF THE EQUITY OFFICE, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY, OF COURSE, WE ALSO WORK WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH OUR EQUITY ASSESSMENTS AND WHETHER OUR EQUITY ASSESSMENT TOOL, WE'RE LOOKING AT THEIR PERSONNEL, THEIR BUDGET, THEIR INITIATIVES, AND SEEING HOW ARE THEY INTEGRATING EQUITY IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
AND THIS IS FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT, NO MATTER IF IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT, OR IF IT'S OUR CPU ALSO KNOWN AS OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT EQUITY CAN BE SEEN IN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN EMPLOYEES WHO DO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
SO WE HAVE A AMANDA HOSTELS, WHO'S OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, BRANDON CROWS WHO'S DOES OUR MORE BUY IT IN HOUSE WORK, KELLY COLEMAN, WHO DOES A LOT OF, UM, UH, FACILITATING FUNCTIONS FOR OUR OFFICE.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE MARYANN WHO DOES OUR ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, WHICH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SHE ALSO DOES OUTREACH FOR THE OFFICE.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE BRIAN OAKES WHO IS OUR, UM, OUR FEARLESS LEADER IN THIS WORK.
SO THE REASON WHY THIS, UH, COMMITTEE IS A PART OF GIC, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR A, A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS TO HAVE, UH, TO, TO DO WORK AROUND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE CITY.
I THINK THAT WAS THE IMPETUS OF THE REASON WHY THE GIC COMMITTEE WAS FORMED.
SO NOT ONLY IS THIS COMMITTEE ON THAT COMMISSION, UM, BUT ALSO IT'S THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMISSION.
IT'S BENDING LATINO, ASIAN AMERICAN, LGBT, UH, COMMISSION FOR WOMEN.
I THINK I'M MISSING ONE AND THEN COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING INCLUSIVE AND GETTING A DIVERSE OF PERSPECTIVES.
AND I THINK ALSO, UM, BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE ISSUES AND THE HEALTH DISPARITIES WITHIN THE, UM, DISABILITY COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF JUST A, A, A IN A NUTSHELL OF WHAT THE EQUITY OFFICE DOES.
AND, UM, THE REASON WHY THIS, THIS COMMITTEE IS ON THE JIC COMMITTEE.
AND THEN LET ME ADD IN ONE MORE THING THAT EXCLUSIVELY, WHAT MY POSITION, AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MY PURPOSE IS TO WORK WITH ALL OF THESE COMMISSIONS AND HELP THEM TO STRATEGIZE AND MOBILIZE AND WORK THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE CITY.
AND THERE COULD BE RED TAPE ON TOP OF WORKING FOR THE CITY.
I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE KNOWN THAT AS COMMISSIONERS, SO THAT'S KINDA MY JOB.
AND SO I'M HERE TO ASSIST YOU ALL AND, UH, ANYTHING THAT, UH, YOU NEED, YOU NEED TO WORK ON AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, INCLUDING THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER.
UH, WELL, THIS IS COMMISSIONER GETS, UH, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? SURE.
[00:45:01]
YOU.THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO US ABOUT THAT.
I, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
UM, ONE THING THAT I, UH, WAS WONDERING AND WOULD BE HOPEFUL FOR WOULD BE, UH, QUESTIONS ON THE EQUITY TOOL THAT, AND TELL ME IF THIS IS THERE ALREADY, BUT QUESTIONS THAT ASK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR IMPACTS ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ARE THERE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE EQUITY TOOL ALREADY? I WOULDN'T EVEN ASK YOU BRANDON, CAUSE I DON'T WANT AN ACCURATE RESPONSE BRANDON EQUITY ASSESSMENT TOOL, BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS AFTER THIS MEETING FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND ACTUALLY SEND, SEND THE EQUITY ASSESSMENTS.
SO YOU IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT, SO I'LL SEND THAT TO YOU.
SO YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT AND I'LL ASK BRANDON, OKAY, THANK YOU.
WELL, THIS IS COMMISSIONER GETS LIKE JUST ONE MORE, ONE MORE LITTLE THING ABOUT THAT IS DO YOU THINK THAT IT WOULD BE LIKE THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY ISSUE WITH ADDING IF IT'S NOT THERE WITH ADDING A, YOU KNOW, A QUESTION OR TWO OR THREE ABOUT, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE RELEVANT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EQUITY, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENTS, YOU KNOW, UM, I GUESS WE JUST CALLED THEM THE PARENTS DON'T WE, UM, THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL.
UH, I WOULD THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WANT TO GET MORE OF A, A FULL PICTURE OF HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATED, UM, WOULD THAT BE LIKE A PROBLEM OR IF IT'S NOT THERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT.
I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING A PROBLEM.
I THINK WE CAN KIND OF, UM, HOW I SEE IT, AND THIS IS JUST ME SPEAKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS LIKE INTERSECTIONALITY PIECE, RIGHT.
THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE LEAD WITH RACE.
WE ALSO, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT KNOW, IS THIS A SPACE WHERE FOLKS OF COLOR WHO HAVE A DISABILITY, YOU KNOW, FEEL COMFORTABLE, RIGHT? CAUSE THEN YOU COULD EVEN GO DEEPER INTO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE I HAVE PRIVILEGED BECAUSE I'M ABLE BODY.
I LIKE, SO I DON'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM.
I THINK THAT IS JUST A PART OF THE INTERSECTIONALITY WORK THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO.
UM, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I AM BLACK AND I, AND I FACED OPPRESSION, I HAVE PRIVILEGE BECAUSE I'M ABLE BODY, UM, UM, FIST GENDER.
AND SO, UH, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I CAN FOLLOW BACK UP WITH YOU ON THAT AND I CAN SHOOT YOU AN EMAIL
UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT DISABILITY CAUSE EVEN WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, THERE IS A, UH, THERE ARE LEVELS OF PRIVILEGE.
UH, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES ARE COMMONLY REPRESENTED BECAUSE THEY'RE VISIBLE.
UM, INVISIBLE DISABILITIES ARE PRESUMED, UH, THEY'RE INVISIBLE DISABILITIES ARE LESS PRIVILEGED.
UH, PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES AMONG THE INVISIBLE DISABILITIES ARE THE LEAST PRIVILEGED.
THEY'RE MADE FUN OF, UM, COMMONLY.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE EQUITY OFFICE TAKE UP DISABILITIES AS SOMETHING TO BE CONSIDERED, UM, IMPORTANT TO WORK ON THE EQUITY OFFICE NEEDS TO TAKE DISABILITY SERIOUSLY AS AN ISSUE, UM, AS A FORM OF OPPRESSION TO WORK ON.
UM, IT CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST WORK ON ONE ISSUE.
IT HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT OFTEN HAS A VERY LARGE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT, ROBIN.
UM, I'M IN TOTAL SOLIDARITY WITH YOU.
UM, AS I CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK, THAT'S ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M SPEAKING FROM A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE AS SOMEONE WHO WAS ABLE BODY AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A VISIBLE DISABILITY, ET CETERA.
AND SO YOU DEFINITELY ARE CORRECT.
UM, I HAVE NOTICED THAT, AND I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU ALL.
[00:50:01]
THAT DEPENDING ON THE, UH, GRADATION OF, UH, LIKE DD SPECTRUM OF PERSON'S DISABILITY, THEY ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY BASED UPON THAT.AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ADDRESS IN OUR SOCIETY.
AND SO, UM, AND I THINK IT DOES TIE BACK INTO EQUITY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WHEN WE PUT RACE ON, ON RACE, ON TOP OF THAT, IT JUST CONTINUES TO EXACERBATE THE DISPARITIES.
SO I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THAT COMMENT, ROBIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
I AM A, I'M A NEWCOMER, UM, TO THE, UH, COMMISSION.
SO BEAR WITH ME, UH, JUST A MOMENT.
UM, BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY DATA WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE INTERSECT BETWEEN RACE AND DISABILITY, GENDER AND DISABILITY, HAVE YOU ALL COLLECTED ANY DATA? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YES.
SO WE, SO WITHIN OUR OFFICE WE LEAVE WITH TWO THINGS AND THEN WE DO THIS WORK IT'S HISTORY IN BETA, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE TWO PIECES BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THAT CANNOT BE DISPUTED.
UH, WHEN I SAY HISTORY, I MEAN LIKE SEGREGATION, STRUCTURAL RACISM, REDLINING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND THEN ALSO WE, WE ALSO HAVE DATA TO BE ABLE TO BACK UP WHAT WE HAVE.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE DO HAVE DATA AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AS WELL.
I'D LOVE TO, UM, I'VE, I'D LOVE TO LOOK AT THAT, UM, AND SEE SOME OF THAT DATA, BUT I THINK THAT'S, UM, YOU'RE RIGHT ON TARGET.
AND WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION.
I MENTIONED, I MEANT TO SAY WELCOME TO THE NEW COMMISSIONER BEFORE I STARTED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE MUTED, BUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU'RE NOT BEING HEARD.
WERE YOU SICK IN THE FLOOR A LITTLE BIT AGO? NO.
I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ONCE AGAIN, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE ITEMS. UM, I HAVE, YOU ALL HAVE REQUESTED AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH DAVID TO HAVE HIM SEND THOSE OUT.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.
UH, APOLOGIZE IF I BUTCHER YOUR LAST NAME,
[3D. Presentation and Discussion: Celine Rendon, Community Engagement specialist, Office of Sustainability; the City of Austin Community Climate Plan Revision]
UH, UH, FROM THE AUTHORS SUSTAINABILITY TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN.UM, SO I, UH, SO MY NAME'S ZACH BALMER, I'M THE CLIMATE FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND, UH, SALINE IS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS ON OUR TEAM.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR ALMOST A YEAR ON, UH, THE REVISION TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN.
AND SO WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THAT PROCESS, NEARING FINAL OF THIS PLAN, UH, THAT GOES ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND AND PRESENTING TO, UM, RELEVANT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UM, ON THE TOPIC AND ON THE PLAN AND SORT OF, UM, SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN AND, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR INPUT.
AND THEN, UM, AND SOME BOARDS OF COMMISSIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THE PLAN, UM, IN THE COMING MONTHS.
SO, UM, SO TODAY THE PRESENTATION IS JUST A SORT OF SUMMARY OF OUR PROCESS AND SUMMARY OF WHAT'S IN THE PLAN, UM, THE, THE FULL, UH, THE FULL LIKE PUBLIC PUBLIC, UM, COMMENT PERIOD AND LIKE
[00:55:01]
FULL REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENT.UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE PUBLISH IT, UH, FOR REVIEW AND YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S ALL THE SORT OF INTRODUCED THIS.
UM, I CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN, BUT I HAVE THE SAME SLIDE DECK.
SO I THINK IF I JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE, THEN WE CAN SORT OF STAY TOGETHER AND WE WILL, WE REALIZE THAT, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE A TON OF TIME, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO COVER THIS QUICKLY.
SO ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE SIDE THAT SAYS THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
UM, SO LIKE I SAID, UM, I THINK I'VE ALREADY COVERED THIS TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
NEXT SLIDE SAYS 2015 COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN.
SO THIS, UM, THIS, THIS PLAN IS, UM, THE CITY'S SORT OF FULL EFFORT TO ADDRESS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ORIGINAL CLIMATE ACTION BY THE CITY WAS, UH, DIRECTED BY CITY COUNCIL BACK IN 2007.
UM, IN 2014, A CITY COUNCIL DIRECTING STAFF TO CREATE THE FIRST COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN AND SET THE GOAL OF ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2015 FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
BACK IN 2014, 15, WE CREATED 15, WE CREATED THIS FIRST VERSION OF THIS PLAN.
SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, UM, MANY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND SUPPORT, BE, UH, SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY ON REDUCING EMISSIONS, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS, TRANSPORTATION, AND LAND USE MATERIALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND THEN INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES.
AND THE REAL FOCUS HERE, UM, WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY USES FOSSIL FUELS AND HOW WE GET OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS, UM, TO USE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND NON FOSSIL FUEL SOURCES, UM, TO MAKE, TO MAKE THE CITY WORK WORK AS WE KNOW IT.
SO, UH, WHEN THIS PLAN WAS ADOPTED, THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID IN FIVE YEARS, YOU SHOULD UPDATE IT.
SO, UH, STARTING LAST SUMMER AND LAST FALL, WE STARTED THE PROCESS TO, TO DO A FULL REVISION OF THIS PLAN.
SO NEXT SLIDE, HOW WAS THIS PLAN CREATED? UM, SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST, ALMOST YEAR, WE'VE WORKED WITH OVER 140 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, AND THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE LIKE COMMITTED TO, UM, BE ON ADVISORY GROUPS AND THE STEERING COMMITTEE, AND ESSENTIALLY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY STAFF, UM, MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR TWO HOURS TO LIKE REALLY CRAFT THE DETAILED AND SPECIFICS OF WHAT IS OUR PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE GOING TO BE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ALSO HELD EQUITY TRAININGS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW EQUITY HAS BEEN, UH, A VOCAL POINT OF THIS PLANNING EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS.
WE, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE JUST HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF, UM, MEETING FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND CITY STAFF TO, TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER, TO CREATE THIS PLAN.
UM, AND YOU SEE AMBASSADORS ON HERE.
A COUPLE OF TIMES, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT TO CELINE.
CELINE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM HERE IN A MINUTE, NEXT SIDE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SO IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT, UM, TO CREATE THIS, THIS SORT OF FULL EFFORT AND GUIDE THIS, YOU KNOW, ENTIRE PLAN SORT OF CREATION PROCESS, UH, WE WORKED WITH THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A, UM, A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, PASSIONATE ABOUT AUSTIN AND PASSIONATE ABOUT EQUITY ISSUES AND HOW THOSE ISSUES ALL FIT TOGETHER.
SO THIS GROUP HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN SORT OF MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND KIND OF LIKE DRIVEN US, UM, TO FRAME THE PLAN WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PLAN, WHAT ARE THE BIG PICTURE GOALS? UM, AND IT'S REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S BEEN ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A REAL COMMUNITY DRIVEN GROUP LIKE THIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ENDED UP WITH PROPOSALS THAT REALLY REFLECTED WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED.
DO YOU REMEMBER INTO EQUITY? WE JUMPED INTO THIS PLANNING EFFORT, UM, YOU KNOW, KEEP IN MIND, THIS WAS LAST YEAR.
SO THIS IS PRE PLANNING, PRE PRE PANDEMIC, UM, IN PRE SORT OF EMERGENCE OF SUCH SUPPORT FOR, UM, BLACK LIVES MATTER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DRIVEN BY OUR COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION THAT OVERSEES IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE WORK, AND THE CITY IS CALLED THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
THEY REALLY DROVE US TO, UM, ANSWER COLLABORATION WITH JOSHUA AND THE BRIAN NOTES FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE.
THEY REALLY DROVE US TO THINK HARD ABOUT HOW RACIAL EQUITY INTERSECTED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND, UH, THINK ABOUT THE ROOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS GOING TO REALLY TAKE
[01:00:01]
FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.AND, AND THE MORE WE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE HAD, UM, FACILITATED WORKSHOP WITH ALL OF OUR PLANNED PARTICIPANTS ON THIS TOPIC, AND REALLY WHAT WE CAME TO IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION AND, AND ELIMINATE, UM, YOU KNOW, EXPLOITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE WE'RE ALSO GOING TO STRIVE TO ELIMINATE DISPARITIES, THAT CAN BE PREDICTED BY RACE AS JOSHUA JUST TALKED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO THOSE THINGS WITHOUT FOCUSING ON BOTH.
AND SO THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PLAN, WE HAVE BEEN OVERLAYING EQUITY ISSUES WITH CLIMATE ISSUES AND FINDING THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.
SO THROUGH THE THINGS WE ZEROED IN ON THESE FIVE VALUES IN THE MIDDLE, AND SO THESE VALUES ARE WHAT WE CREATED DURING A WORKSHOP FOR ALL PLAN PARTICIPANTS.
AND THEN WE ENDED UP CREATING AN EQUITY TOOL THAT WE USE TO SCREEN AND SORT OF LIKE GUIDE THE CREATION OF THE APPOINTMENT.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS REALLY THAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW NOW THAT IF WE'RE NOT PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING EQUITY, WE ARE PERPETUATING INJUSTICE BECAUSE BUSINESS AS USUAL IS AN INJUSTICE UNFAIR SYSTEM.
SO, UM, THIS PLANET WE'RE REALLY DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO TRY TO, UM, ADDRESS BOTH ISSUES.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CHANGING THE EARTH'S CLIMATE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO MUCH INTO THIS, BUT GLOBAL EMISSIONS ARE NOT GOING DOWN.
UM, THE CLIMATE HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO CHANGE.
UM, THE WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE BEING AFFECTED FIRST AND MOST LIKELY CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND SO IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CITY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, UM, TO ADDRESS US.
NEXT SLIDE IS NET ZERO BY 2050.
SO THIS IS A, I'M NOT GOING TO GO MUCH INTO THE TECHNICALITIES OF THIS, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE USE FOSSIL FUELS AND OUR COMMUNITY IS PRIMARILY IN TRANSPORTATION FOR GETTING PEOPLE AROUND AND ENERGY AND BUILDINGS, SO ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS.
SO, UM, EMISSIONS HAVE SLIGHTLY BEEN COMING DOWN OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO ORDER FOR US TO GET TO THE CURRENT COUNCIL ADOPTED TARGET, WHICH IS ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050, OR TO MOVE TO A NEW TARGET THAT OUR STEERING COMMITTEE AS PUSHING US TO STRIVE FOR NET ZERO BY 2040, WE NEED TO TAKE DRAMATIC ACTION ACROSS ALL SECTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO RE TO REDUCE EMISSIONS TO ZERO.
SO NEXT SLIDE, A PLAN AMONG PLANS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AN ISSUE AS BIG AS CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THEN, UM, PUT EQUITY FRONT AND CENTER IN THAT, UM, IN ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE, WE SORT OF REALLY COME TO COME TO IDENTIFY THAT, LIKE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER CITY PLANNING EFFORTS IN A LOT OF CITY, OTHER ACTION THAT TOUCH ON THIS ISSUE.
SO OFTEN ENERGY'S PLANS, CAP METRO'S PLANS, TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AWESOME WATERS PLANS, OFFICER RESOURCE RECOVERY, LIKE ALL, THERE ARE THINGS THAT MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING THAT ADDRESS, UM, SIMILAR TOPICS TO THIS.
SO WHAT WE FOCUSED ON THIS TIME AROUND IN THIS PLAN, WHAT SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS, TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRIFICATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND LAND USE, WHICH IS MOVING PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS, NATURAL SYSTEMS, AND CONSUMPTION, UM, AND CONSUMPTION OF GOODS, GOODS, AND FOOD.
SO THE IDEA THAT THERE IS THAT WE CREATE UNIQUE GOALS AND STRATEGIES THAT DON'T OVERLAP WITH OTHER CITY PLANS AND WILL REALLY HELP US MOVE FORWARD, UM, ON EQUITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS UNTIL WE DO ANOTHER REVISION.
CELINE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY PROCESS FOR ADVISORY GROUPS.
I'VE BEEN A COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2019.
THIS IS THE ETHICS PROCESS OUTLINED HER.
THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT'S OUTLINED FOR THE ADVISORY GROUP.
UM, WE HAD A CLIMATE EQUITY WORKSHOP THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE CLIMATE PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN.
AND THAT WAS FACILITATED BY DR.
TANYA WARD, WHO IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND THAT REALLY, UM, RELEVANT TO THE MAJOR THEMES AND VALUES WE SAW EARLIER IS WHAT LED TO OUR VISIONING EXERCISE AND, UM, GOING DEEP INTO THE HISTORY OF RACIAL PLANNING AND AUSTIN THAT HAS LEGACIES OF MAJOR, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, ALL ADVISORY GROUPS LOOKED AT, UM, DATA AS WELL, PART OF THE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT OUR GOALS AND STRATEGIES INCLUDE A CLIMATE EQUITY COMPONENT.
UM, AND YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHERE I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE EQUITY TOOL THAT WAS DEVELOPED.
UM, THE EQUITY TOOL IS DEVELOPED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN OUR STEERING COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE THESE SEVENTEENS OUTLINED HERE, AND BASICALLY THE EQUITY TOOL, UM, IS A SET OF QUESTIONS UNDER EACH THEME.
UM, AND IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES,
[01:05:01]
UM, ADDRESS BARRIERS OR IMPACTS IF IT HAS A HARM OR, UM, A BENEFIT OR NEUTRAL, AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THE STRATEGY BETTER TO BE MORE EQUITABLE.AND SO THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT VALUES TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE EVALUATING EQUITY.
AND YEAH, IT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR US JUST TO REIMAGINE THE WAY WE DO CITY PLANNING PROCESSES AND WHAT OTHER, UM, INTERSECTION OTHER INTERSECTIONS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, UM, TO APPLY TO OUR WORK, THE NEXT LINE, WHICH I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
THIS IS A NEW MODEL OF ENGAGEMENT, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN, WHERE WE COMPENSATED AT 12 INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS COMMUNITY CLIMATE AMBASSADORS.
AND THEY WERE, UM, COMPENSATED TO FACILITATE THEIR OWN CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO A LOT OF THEM FOCUS ON DIFFERENT ISSUES.
UM, SOME FOLKS FOCUS ON LANGUAGE, ACCESS, OTHER PEOPLE FOCUS ON LOW INCOME ACCESS TO LIKE DIFFERENT GOODS AND SERVICES, UM, MOBILITY ISSUES, UM, CULTURAL, UH, PRESERVATION.
AND SO WE LEARNED A LOT FROM OUR COMMUNITY CLIMATE AMBASSADORS.
UM, WE ARE PLANNING A WEBINAR AT THE END OF THIS MONTH OR EARLY SEPTEMBER.
UM, I'LL HAVE A DATE SET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PANEL DEDICATED TO SHOWCASE THE AMBASSADORS AND THEIR WORK AND TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THEM AND WHAT WORK THEY'RE DOING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND ZACH IS GOING TO GO INTO THE DRAFT GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE CLIMATE PLAN JUST REAL QUICKLY, ONCE THAT WEBINAR'S AVAILABLE.
DO YOU MIND SHARING THAT WITH THE COMMISSION IN CASE ANY OF US WONDER WHY PARTICIPATE IN WASHINGTON? THE WEBINAR? YEAH.
UH, SO NOW I'M ON THE SIDE, THAT SUMMARY, UM, SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE FULL DETAIL OF IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN IS REALLY LONG AND DETAILED.
UM, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO HIT ON IS JUST KIND OF THE HIGH POINT.
SO, UM, WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE ARE 18 NEW SUB GOALS, AND THESE ARE THE GOALS OF WITHIN EACH 20 SECTORS, WHAT NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY 2030 TO KEEP US ON TRACK.
UM, AND THEN 75 DIFFERENT STRATEGIES, WHICH ARE THE SHORT TERM SORT OF LIKE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT FEW SLIDES TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES, EQUITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY JUST LIKE JUMP OUT AT YOU.
UM, BUT IT IS INCLUDED IN MUCH OF THE DETAILED LANGUAGE WITHIN THE STRATEGIES AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR GUIDANCE ON IMPLEMENTATION.
SO, UH, THE WAY IT'S REALLY CENTERED IS PRIORITIZING CENTERS AND TARGETING COMMUNICATIONS TOWARDS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UM, SPECIFIC FOCUS ON ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, UM, BECAUSE IT BECAME REALLY CLEAR THAT THAT'S JUST SUCH AN ESSENTIAL ISSUE FOR THE CITY TO ADDRESS.
AND IT REALLY DOES HAVE LIKE REAL CLIMATE IMPACTS, UM, FOCUSED ON ADDRESS, TRANSITION TRAINING JOBS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, UM, FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AS, AS WE TRANSITIONED FROM THIS COLD, DIRTY ECONOMY TO A NEW ECONOMY, UM, PRIORITIZING HEALTH BENEFITS FOR THE EASTERN CRESCENT AND THEN SENATOR CENTERING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN ONGOING LEARNING AND STUDIES, BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS AREAS WHERE MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SORT OF BREATHE THROUGH THESE FINAL SLIDES HERE.
UM, SO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS IS THE FIRST, UH, NEW SECTION ON THE PLAN.
AND THE MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS HERE ARE AIMING FOR NET ZERO CARBON BUILDINGS THAT ARE HEALTHIER AND HAVE LOWER OPERATING COSTS, UM, FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM REFRIGERANT LEAKAGE, ELLEN'S PRETTY TECHNICAL, BUT, UM, THE CHEMICALS TO MAKE AIR CONDITIONING RUN AND MAKE COOLING SYSTEMS RUN, UM, THAT ARE BAD FOR THE OZONE LAYER ALSO, UH, CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE, UM, THINKING ABOUT EMBODIED CARBON FOOTPRINT AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, AND AGAIN, IT'S PRETTY TECHNICAL, BUT, UM, REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT STEEL AND CONCRETE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BUILDING MATERIALS.
AND THE LAST ONE IS ABOUT WATER DEMAND.
THERE ARE, THAT'S NOT ONE IS STILL KIND OF IN DEVELOPMENT, BUT FOCUSING ON REDUCING WATER DEMAND IN OUR COMMUNITY, EQUITABLY TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE IS THE NEXT SECTION.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE SECTION WHERE WE, UM, DID THE MOST WORK AND HAD THE MOST THINKING, UM, RELATED TO ISSUES WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, THE FIRST TWO GOALS ARE RELATED TO LAND DEVELOPMENT AND AROUND TRYING TO DESIGN AND BUILD THE CITY IN A WAY THAT IS AFFORDABLE, UM, IS CONNECTED, IS, UM, CENTERED ON GROWTH CENTERS AND CORRIDORS AND, UM, IT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST TWO GOALS THERE
[01:10:01]
ARE ON SUPPORTING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND PEOPLE POWERED TRANSPORTATION IN WAYS THAT REALLY HELP US GET TO LIKE THOSE SYSTEMS BEING WORKABLE AND USABLE AND SAFE AND HIGHLY USE, UM, HAVE HIGH USE PERCENTAGES WITH THEM, UM, AND REALLY MAKE THEM LIKE TIMELY AND LIKE JUST BETTER USE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.SO GETTING UP TO 5% OF PEOPLE ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, GETTING UP TO 4% OF PEOPLE ABLE TO WALK AND BIKE IS DRAMATICALLY HIGHER THAN CURRENTLY WHAT IT IS NOW, WHICH IS WHY THE WALTERS, UM, THE NEXT SECTION IS TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION IN THIS SECTION, OR ESSENTIALLY THERE'S THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WHILE WE ARE REALLY STRIVING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF CARS, UM, AND MAKE PEOPLE NOT HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TO OWN A CAR, UM, ELECTRIC VEHICLES SORT OF LIKE ARE THE FUTURE FOR ZERO CARBON TRANSPORTATION.
AND IF YOU HAVE RENEWABLE ENERGY, UM, PUSHING AROUND ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ELECTRIFYING THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, HAVING CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESSIBLE, AND THEN REALLY BUILDING THIS OUT IN A REGIONAL MANNER.
SO, UM, IT CAN SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO HAVE LONG COMMUTES AND THE LONGER YOUR COMMUTE YOU HAVE IN A, YOU KNOW, A GAS POWERED VEHICLE, JUST GAS BILLS AND ALL THAT AIR POLLUTION JUST GOES UP AND UP AND UP.
UH, NEXT SECTION IS FOOD AND PRODUCT CONSUMPTION HERE.
THE FOCUS IS NOT NECESSARILY AN END OF LIFE ON, ON, YOU KNOW, ON END OF LIFE OF MATERIALS ON COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING AND TRASH.
UM, IT'S MORE ABOUT THINKING UPSTREAM AND WHEN WE MAKE PURCHASES TRYING TO PURCHASE THINGS THAT ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO FOCUSING ON FOOD INSECURITY, PRO CLIMATE PROHEALTH FOOD, WHICH IS BETTER FOR THE BODY AND BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, UH, REDUCING FOOD WASTE, UH, REDUCING THE IMPACT FROM INSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING, WHICH IS, UM, HAVING A MASSIVE UPSTREAM IMPACT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, THINKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL DISPOSAL RATES AND HOW CAN ALL OF US BE THROWING LESS THINGS AWAY AND DOING MORE FIXING OF THINGS AND MORE REUSING OF THINGS.
UH, AND THEN THE LAST CATEGORY IS NATURAL SYSTEMS. THIS IS A BRAND NEW SECTION FOR THEM.
UH, THIS TYPE OF CLIMATE PLAN WHERE IT'S FOCUSED ON THE CARBON THAT IS SEQUESTERED SEQUESTERED IN THE TREES, THE PLANTS, THE LANDSCAPE, UM, ALL OF THAT OUT THERE, AND THEN TRYING TO ENHANCE THE EARTH'S NATURAL ABILITY TO PULL CARBON OUT OF THE AIR.
SO THE FOCUS IS HERE ON CARBON POOLS ON NATURAL LANDS, UH, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE TREE, TREE CANOPY, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, CITY ON LENS.
SO CITY PARKS, UM, PUBLIC SPACES, UM, TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE CARBON BENEFIT THERE.
SO, UH, THE SCHEDULE FOR THIS WHOLE PLANNING EFFORT IS THAT, UM, WE ARE PRESENTING TO OVER 24TH AND COMMISSIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS MONTH FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
UM, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THIS FULL DOCUMENT WILL START, UH, NEXT WEEK.
AND, UH, WE WILL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND, UH, UM, THE VERSION OF THOSE DOCUMENTS THROUGH THE COMMISSION LAYERS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS HAVE ALL HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
UM, AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER THERE'LL BE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SURVEY THAT GETS, UM, COMMUNITY INPUT AND THEN WE'LL BE MAKING FINAL REVISIONS AND THEN GOING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION BY THE END OF OCTOBER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR, OUR SCHEDULE AND THE NEXT STEPS.
AND YEAH, THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN LET US KNOW NOW, OR YOU CAN FOLLOW UP AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO FORWARD ANY FUTURE MATERIALS, UM, ONTO, ONTO THIS GROUP.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING TO US.
WE APPRECIATE YOU INCLUDING OUR COMMISSION ON YOUR LONG, LONG LIST OF COMMISSIONERS TO TALK WITH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU.
AND I'LL BE IN TOUCH FURTHER IMPORTANT DATES AND OTHER EVENTS THAT WE'LL HAVE GOING ON.
[4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:]
ALL RIGHT.MOVING ON TO THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. THE FLOOR IS UP FOR THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO DISCUSS SINCE IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
UM, HAVING A PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I'VE SEEN SOME OTHER MAYOR'S COMMITTEES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT, UH, ELSEWHERE THAT HAVE DONE THIS.
AND SO I THINK IT, IT'S DEFINITELY, ESPECIALLY NOW, UH, VERY WORTHWHILE TO PURSUE.
[01:15:01]
ANY, UM, BLOCKS TO DOING THIS, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DISCUSS THAT AND, AND TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME WAY TO HAVE A PRESENCE ONLINE.SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT ON THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE AGENDA ITEM NEXT AGENDA.
I STILL THINK WE HAVE THE HATE CRIMES WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, AUSTIN HATE CRIMES PRESENTATION.
AM I CORRECT? YES, LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT AGENDA POSSIBLE.
JUST TO MAKE SURE DAVID, THAT I DID NOT SEE THAT THE AGENDA WAS A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT, UH, JAWS, SO I DIDN'T HAVE EASY ACCESS TO GETTING TO IT.
SO DID YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR THIS MONTH? NO, SIR.
OH, I'M DOING, OH, I DID ATTEND A, UM, EVENT, UH, FROM, WITH, UH, AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE.
UH, IT WAS A POLICE, UM, POLICING FORUM.
UM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON, UM, SENDING A COUPLE OF, WE NEED TO, UH, THEIR EVENTS.
IT'S THE, THE OFFICE OF POLICE MONITOR.
HOW OFTEN ARE THEY HOLDING MEETINGS? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, IT WAS THE EMAIL I SENT DAVID.
UM, I GUESS I WOULD GO TO THE NEXT MEETING.
AND THEN IN THE INTERIM, IF MAYBE IF YOU COULD FIND MAYBE A SCHEDULE OR JUST KIND OF SOMETHING WE CAN HAVE.
I THINK THAT, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO MEET ONLINE.
UM, CAUSE THE VIRUS ISN'T DEFEATED YET, CORRECT? YEAH.
ANYBODY ELSE FOR FUTURE KINDS OF ITEMS? THE OTHER ITEM FROM E THAT WAS POSTPONED TO NEXT TIME? IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.
AND DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S A WAY TO MAYBE ASK THEM AHEAD OF TIME IF THEY COULD PROVIDE THEIR PRESENTATIONS TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS A LITTLE IN ADVANCE, YOU COULD REACH OUT TO THEM? YEAH, I'LL TRY AND TELL THEM TO GET IT TO US A LITTLE QUICK OR I, I SEND IT OUT THE DAY.
I GET IT, BUT OFTEN IT'S THE DAY BEFORE, OR EVEN SOMETIMES, WELL, USUALLY THE DAY BEFORE, BUT I'LL TRY AND GET THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
ANYBODY ELSE? UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOVSKY AGAIN.
UM, I WAS AT THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSIONS, UH, REGIONAL VR MEETING.
UM, THIS MORNING THEY ARE TRYING TO, UH, CONSIDER DOING DISTANCE MEETINGS THIS MORNING.
UM, THE REALIZING THAT, UH, NOT EVERYBODY CAN TRAVEL TO AUSTIN FOR, UH, RE REHABILITATION, UM, MEETINGS.
UH, THEY, UH, WANT TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE OPEN, MORE INCLUSIVE, UH, AND THERE'S, UH, THERE'S A REALIZATION THAT, HEY, NOW PEOPLE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY FOR DISTANCE MEETINGS, EITHER GOING TO SEE
[01:20:01]
IF THEY CAN DO THAT.UH, IF THE LEGISLATURE WILL LET THEM DO THAT.
UM, CAUSE THEY FOUND OUT THAT WHEN THEY HAD REGIONAL MEETINGS ONLINE, WHICH WASN'T THE ORIGINAL INTENT, BUT THEY HADN'T DO THAT A LOT MORE PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND NOT JUST FROM THE BIG, UH, URBAN CENTERS.
UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.
THEY MIGHT DO THAT JUST TO GET A LOT MORE OUTREACH OR MORE PATIENTS.
I WAS WATCHING THAT AS WELL, COMMISSIONER OLANSKY AND I THINK, I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
AND THIS WOULD BE UP TO, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR AND DAVID TO, UH, ADVISE ON WHETHER THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE IS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR EVEN AS WELL.
THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN SUBMIT ANY SORT OF COMMENT TO THIS, UH, REHABILITATION COMMISSION OF TEXAS.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A, A VERY, UH, IT ISN'T A QUESTION OF THE LEGISLATURE THOUGH.
UM, THEY, THEY RAISED, THEY RAISED VARIOUS THINGS, BUT APPARENTLY WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE THEIR MEETINGS IN SEPARATE LITTLE GROUPS AND THEN THEY COME TOGETHER AND THEY PRESENT ON WHAT THEY HAVE DISCUSSED.
BUT THE ONLY THING THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING HAVING THERE WAS A MOTION TO CONSIDER HAVING I BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC WAS PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, POST PANDEMIC WOULD GO BACK TO OPERATING IN SECRECY AS I SEE IT.
UM, AND SO I, I THINK IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE, UH, IF WE CAN, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF WE, IF WE CAN OR IF WE SHOULD JUST SUBMIT COMMENTS AS INDIVIDUALS, UM, TO, TO ENCOURAGE THEM, TO CONSIDER HAVING THESE, THESE COMMITTEES CONTINUE TO MEET VIRTUALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC.
AND THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT ROBIN.
WELL, I CAN'T COMMENT ON INDIVIDUAL PACES.
THEY CAN COMMENT ON, UM, THEY CAN COMMENT ON OVERALL PROCEDURES.
I MEANT IF WE WERE TO COMMENT AS INDIVIDUALS LIKE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL JOEY GETS A, NOT AS THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN AUSTIN.
HI, THIS IS THE AB TICKETS CITY HALL.
JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO WRAP IT UP BECAUSE WE HAVE A MEETING AT THREE.
UM, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME WE COULD, UM, FOR FURTHER DISCUSS THIS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
IF YOU CAN, AS YOU GET SICK, MISS YOUR LAST GAVE YOU FEEL THIS IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE AS AN AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE HAVING OUR NEXT MEETING.
WE COULD PUT THAT ON OUR AGENDA.
AND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND TO DAVID AND HE'LL CIRCULATE IT WITH ME.
UM, SINCE WE ARE KIND OF RUNNING LATE ON TIME, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND? I JUST MOVED AND SECONDED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MY HANDS WERE HIT, BUT BRANDON