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SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:56 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
Hello Colleagues,

After yesterday's work session, and hearing general support for exploring the City's role in addressing the economic fallout of the cancellation of SXSW on the Austin community, I am working on a resolution for the March 26th meeting.

I know that several community and grassroots responses have already started to triage the situation. My intent is to start working through the larger institutional and sustainable role the City needs to play in addressing the varied concerns and efforts that are happening. This includes pulling together the needs of small and local businesses, and service, music, film and others who are impacted by this unfortunate situation.

Council Members Ellis, Harper-Madison, Casar and the Mayor have agreed to co-sponsor the item as we work to address this important issue. I hope other offices will express their thoughts on the message board so we can incorporate that into the work AND the community engagement that has already begun.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:14 pm
by Ann Kitchen
Jimmy

Thank you for bringing and I look forward to using this Message Board to share everyone's ideas with you for the resolution. Please share the resolution when you have it ready. I expect that I will want to be included as a co-sponsor

All of our staff are doing incredible work to address this situation, as is the Mayor. The Council can support them with a resolution that articulates steps we can take to help address the impacts on the community of COVID19. I know that city staff may be working with the community on these and other supports. I think it is important for the Council to step in and contribute in our role of considering policy and budget matters.

I suggest inclusion of the following (as well as other ideas):

1). The City Manager shall bring options to the City Council for providing economic assistance to local small businesses impacted by the closures required by COVID19. Those options shall include Identifying funding for Council consideration that can be dedicated and/or repurposed to loan or grant funds for local restaurants and other small businesses impacted.

2). The City Manager shall bring options to the City Council for providing assistance to personal care assistants, caregivers, and nonprofits and/or small businesses that provide these services for elderly individuals and persons with disabilities to include:
- helping nonprofits by using city avenues and/or resources for bulk purchasing of PPEs
- providing assistance with sick leave, so that personal care assistants can afford to stay home when they are ill
- other assistance that may be needed so that the people who depend on these services for daily living needs are safe

Again - thanks to our staff and all who are stepping up to help our community with this challenge.

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:26 am
by Jimmy Flannigan
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 101401.pdf

Here is the updated draft for the resolution. Thanks to my co-sponsors CMs Harper-Madison, Casar, Ellis, and the Mayor for your input, as well as the staff from the Economic Development Department. And thanks to CM Kitchen for joining in the conversation on the message board.

We also sent the original draft to many community groups for input, including:
Austin Hotel & Lodging Association
Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Austin Venue Alliance
Austin Young Chamber
Austin Texas Musicians
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce
Red River Cultural District
SXSW
Texas Restaurant Association

If there is additional feedback, please post in this thread so that we can get to a final "consent" version before the council meeting next week!

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:13 am
by Ann Kitchen
Thank you CM Flannigan

I will also share with our nonprofits and Commission members who support our seniors, and will get back to you with feedback by tomorrow

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:17 am
by Jimmy Flannigan
Colleagues... look for a new item on the addendum with modified posting language as follows:

----------------------------
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to develop programs and consider options to support the small and local businesses and workers impacted by the cancellation of SXSW and additional subsequent measures taken to address COVID-19.
----------------------------

Hopefully we can get final input from everyone over the weekend for the final draft posted early next week!

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:43 am
by Ann Kitchen
Thank you CM Flannigan.

I think the broader posting language allows the Council to address workers and businesses impacted by restaurant closures and other issues related to COVID-19 response.

Thank you for including the subject areas I suggested in the last Be It Resolved. I would like to keep some of the specificity I suggested and am proposing changing the language of the last Be It Resolved to read as follows: I kept the first part the same, added detail to the first bullet, and added a third bullet

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The City Council directs the City Manager to leverage all public and private options available at the local, state, and federal level to help address the larger economic issues of COVID-19 related impacts and closures including but not limited to:

- Options that can provide assistance (including financial) and supplies (including safety and medical) to persons and organizations, including personal care assistants, who provide services to elderly individuals and persons with disabilities. Include exploring options to help nonprofits by using city avenues and/or resources for bulk purchasing of PPEs; to provide assistance with sick leave; and to provide other assistance so that people who depend on these services for daily living needs are safe.

- Providing economic aid for Austinites who do not receive sufficient support or are excluded by federal legislation related to the pandemic

- Identifying funding that can be dedicated and/or repurposed to loan or grant funds for local restaurants and other small businesses impacted by closures

Thank you for making these changes. I have also reached out to the Senior Commission and will let you know if they suggest any additional language.

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:07 am
by Alison Alter
CM Flannigan,

I appreciate the broader posting language and hope to share some additional options for consideration soon.

Regards,
Alison Alter

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:29 am
by Kathie Tovo
CM Flannigan:
Thank you for the resolution on this critical topic. CM Kitchen, thank you for your additions. I would like to propose the following amendments to encompass the request from Success by 6.

I haven't figured out how to call these out with a color/italics/etc as I'm working hastily to get these to you prior to posting, but please note that I broke paragraph 2 into two parts and added one paragraph, creating 6 paragraphs. Using that numbering for reference, I have added language to paragraphs 2,3, and 6 inserted a new paragraph 4. If I figure out how to signal these better with italics or underlines, I will repost.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The City Council directs the City Manager to leverage all public and private options available at the local, state, and federal level to help address the larger economic issues of COVID-19 related impacts and closures including but not limited to:

- Options that can provide assistance (including financial) and supplies (including safety and medical) to persons and organizations, including personal care assistants and childcare workers, who provide services to elderly individuals, children, and persons with disabilities.

-Include exploring options to help nonprofits by using city avenues and/or resources for bulk purchasing of PPEs and essential hygiene and health supplies required for child care centers; to provide assistance with sick leave; and to provide other assistance so that people who depend on these services for daily living needs are safe.

- Providing economic aid for Austinites who do not receive sufficient support or are excluded by federal legislation related to the pandemic

-Providing childcare subsidies for income-eligible essential workers in the private sector

- Identifying funding that can be dedicated and/or repurposed to loan or grant funds for local restaurants and other small businesses, such as child care centers and family homes, impacted by closures

I have a few other amendments to suggest that will be supported by the broader language, so thanks for that change.

My best to all of you,
Kathie Tovo

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:36 am
by Delia Garza
CM Tovo,

Thanks for adding these. I just posted under a new topic (COVID19 Response) about the Success by 6 requests. I was worried some of us were duplicating efforts. I hope we can find a way to be most efficient during this time. I look forward to the discussion next week.

Delia

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:04 pm
by Alison Alter
I would propose the following amendments:

In the 3rd Be It Resolved section after the HOT bullets, ask the City Manager to consider:

* Repurposing HOT funds in the convention center reserve funds to support the hospitality sector and its workers, seeking as necessary state exemptions to allow such an application of HOT funds in this critical time

* Consider delaying or suspending payments on our 380 commitments

I also was thinking about the childcare elements and will review what is posted and respond as needed.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:27 pm
by Alison Alter
I appreciate all the collaboration and great ideas from my colleagues. I have two more additions.

The lack of supply of PPE and the shifting environment that has created financial uncertainty is affecting medical practices, especially smaller ones. I would like to include an item that addresses this and propose the following in the last Be It Further Resolved…

*Options that can provide assistance (including financial) and supplies (including PPE) to medical organizations (including smaller practices) who provide medical services.

As we work thru the childcare elements I would like us to consider adding something that expands the set of workers eligible for childcare support in ways that were adopted in Minnesota and Vermont (https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/business ... /index.htm)

Potential language might go in the last Be It Resolved

*Expanding the set of “emergency” workers eligible for childcare support beyond essential city employees to cover a wider set of critical workers, including but not limited to medical providers and their support staff, grocery workers, non-city utility workers, and childcare facility workers.

CM Flannigan, do you have a sense of how we should proceed with incorporating ideas into the next version so it can move forward on consent?

-Alison Alter

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:42 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
Glad to see everyone joining in!

We will be posting the item on the addendum today (for the updated posting language) using the draft I submitted here yesterday. We'll then submit an updated draft here on the msg board early next week with all of your incorporated suggestions for feedback.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:51 pm
by Alison Alter
Two more amendments to share....

Our choices moving forward should seek to leverage information in the community on needs and solutions. The following two amendments to the last Be It Further Resolved are meant to begin to speak to that issue.

*Exploring using 311 to gather real time needs assessments and solution generation from the community.

* Leveraging the survey capacity of the social service sector and community organizations and any survey results they can share to inform choices as appropriate.

Thanks,
Alison Alter

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:51 am
by Ann Kitchen
Thanks to everyone for joining in.

Thanks CM Flannigan for incorporating ideas. When you post again - would it work to post a word version, and then we could redline any changes? Whatever you think works and will indicate in an easier way for you any proposed changes.

I would also suggest considering separating out the populations so that it is easier to see specific recommendations and for clarity. So perhaps consider a section that applies to all (small businesses, restaurants, child care, personal care workers etc) and then perhaps a listing of specific suggestions for certain groups. Just a thought but might help be sure to capture the specific suggestions we all are receiving.

I will have additional thoughts for you on Monday related to our elderly population and personal care assistants

Thanks so much to everyone for participating. And thank you CM Flannigan for moving us forward on this important effort

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2020 11:34 am
by Lauren Hartnett
On behalf of CM Harper-Madison:

I applaud CM Flannigan for his leadership on the original IFC and all contributors to its evolution as it has changed substantially. As a co-sponsor, I am comfortable with the trajectory the document and direction are taking. I agree with the sentiment expressed by MPT Garza’s statement: “CM Kitchen mentioned in the thread about our next meeting the need for a briefing on our COVID19 response. I agree we need this briefing. At that briefing I think it’s also important to talk about the most efficient way to address the many requests for assistance we are each getting. I don’t think several different emergency IFCs about different requests is the most efficient way to quickly address many of these needs.”

Like all of you and your staff, the D1 team has been in daily telephone meetings with everyone from our Public Health representatives, the CMO’s office, ACM offices, staff, colleagues, constituents representing many sectors including first responders, medical professionals, the service and entertainment industry, educators, community activists and advocates, and more. I appreciate that many of you have already acknowledged that some of the direction being proposed is already occurring now and will continue to evolve as we approach the meeting on 3/26 and beyond.

I appreciate the ability to get information and address needs and answer questions in real-time and have expressed concerns about multiple simultaneous efforts. In my opinion, this duplication of effort and time limits our ability to be nimble, efficient, and to respond in a timely manner. I also have concerns about duplicative efforts accessing similar and limited financial resources. To that end, it is my hope that the CMO has the discretion to consider this when executing our direction and that we keep the office abreast of efforts in the community they may not be aware of.

Some populations of folks that have emerged as especially difficult to provide accurate and helpful information and assistance are in very rural parts of Austin and surrounding areas, and include those with limited digital access, our visually impaired community, and people who are not functionally literate. I hope to discuss efforts to address these areas during the upcoming briefing. Additionally, I look forward to discussing what systems are currently assisting or can in the future assist families with personal hygiene items including but not limited to diapers, menstrual products, and products for incontinence.

Kind regards,
Natasha

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:10 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
Thanks again to everyone who has joined in to bring this resolution on consent this week. The updated version incorporating feedback is posted with the meeting addendum at: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/docum ... ?id=337801

This version also includes changes suggested by law, including further updated posting language. There is one final change I think may be valuable, although we didn't have time to get it fleshed out before posting.

In the first Be It Resolved, staff added the following language:

---
To the extent needed to effectuate the goals and priorities below, the Resolutions previously passed by the City Council for the programs described below, are hereby waived or suspended in order to authorize the City Manager to move forward with any of the programs and solutions listed below.
---

While I think this is a good addition by staff to allow work to move faster, I think it might be prudent to include a line requiring council action to affirm, review, or consent to such actions within a defined timeframe. My office will work with law to craft language to that effect and post to the message as soon as we can.

If there are any further corrections or changes, please post to the message board as soon as possible so we can post a final version quickly!

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 2:05 pm
by Kathie Tovo
Thank you all for your thoughtful work on this urgent issue. In addition to the stakeholders engaged by Council Members Flannigan and Kitchen, I thought it to be prudent to solicit feedback from organizations that represent workers that are directly or indirectly connected to SXSW, as well as Austin's local economy more generally.

My office has consulted with several impacted labor unions and organizations, such as UNITE HERE Local 23, LiUNA! Laborers Local No. 1095, Central South Carpenters Regional Council, and Workers Defense Project. Some organizations are still refining their feedback, but, thus far, the feedback revolves around a desire that a response from the City be rooted in equity and that any type of subsidy or relief effort is focused first and foremost on supporting working families and their most immediate needs so they are able to meet their basic needs throughout this crisis.

We've also been in touch with United Way, as well, and they suggest other edits in addition to the ones I previously posted. Please see my suggestions below. The message board will not allow me to include font changes so I am *starring* the changes.

Thank you all -

EDIT #1: 2-1-1

Using Existing Data and Collecting New Data to Drive Decision-Making
· Exploring using 311 *and 2-1-1* to gather real-time needs assessments and solution generation from the community;

EDIT #2 – INDUSTRIES

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The City Council directs the City Manager to develop programs to support Austinites that have been economically impacted by the public health crisis, including, but not limited to, the small and local businesses, musicians, and workers in the creative, hospitality, service, retail, restaurant, music, *childcare, construction,* and film industries and other associated industries impacted by the COVID-19 related cancellation of major events, including, but not limited to the 2020 SXSW Festival.

EDIT #3 – UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

- Providing economic aid for Austinites who do not receive sufficient support or are excluded by federal legislation related to the pandemic, *including the undocumented workforce.*

EDIT #4 – CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

Expanding the set of “emergency” workers eligible for childcare support beyond essential city employees to cover a wider set of critical workers, including but not limited to medical providers and their support staff, grocery workers, non-city utility workers, *construction workers,* and childcare facility workers.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 4:14 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
Thanks CM Tovo! We had spoken with some labor folks, as have some of the co-sponsors... exciting that we are all building consensus as a team on this!

Your amendments 1, 2, and 4 look great. On amendment 3, while I support the direction, I don't think it's necessary to start detailing different groups that don't have access to federal programs... I'd prefer to keep it broader lest we leave folks out.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 4:18 pm
by Ann Kitchen
CM Flannigan

Thank you for putting all these suggestions together. I have now heard back from advocates in the senior community and have a clause to add that clarifies needs for elderly and persons with disabilities.

These are in the last Be It Resolved

AMENDMENT 1). Take references to personal care assistants out of the first bullet and keep that bullet just relating to childcare workers and centers

AMENDMENT 2). Add a new bullet that is specific to elderly and those with disabilities:
**Exploring options to the City Council for providing assistance to all organization, personal care assistants, caregivers, and nonprofits and/or small businesses that provide these services for older adults and persons with disabilities to include:
• helping nonprofits by using city avenues and/or resources for bulk purchasing of PPEs
• identify and support efforts to combat food insecurity
• provide transportation resources to those who need medical assistance
• provide resources for virtual social participation to reduce isolation and loneliness
• provide assistance with sick leave, so that personal care assistants can afford to stay home when they are ill
• other assistance that may be needed so that the people who depend on these services for daily living needs are safe**

Thank you! These are all the changes that I have.

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 6:22 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
Thanks CM Kitchen! All of these are good ideas and we will incorporate them into the final draft.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 1:27 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 132239.pdf

Here is the final version being posted for Item 91. Thank you to my colleagues and the many community groups and advocates who contributed their feedback to this effort. This resolution represents one big step forward for addressing this unprecedented crisis, but it is by no means the last. I look forward to the adoption of this item on consent tomorrow.

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 1:58 pm
by Ashley Richardson (D9)
On behalf of Council Member Tovo:

Council Member Flannigan,

Thank you for your response. I understand your desire to not call out specific workforce populations in the clause, however, I feel that it is of great importance to specifically look at resources for our undocumented workforce as it is a vulnerable workforce that is largely excluded from state-level and national-level conversations surrounding economic relief.

Unlike other workforce populations, this is a workforce that is continuously barred from accessing other state / federal resources, such as certain CDBG-funded housing assistance programs, and I feel these compounded barriers create a situation that warrants this community’s elevation within the resolution.

I feel my amendment is currently crafted in such a way that will not result in the exclusion of other workforce populations, however, to address your concern I put forth the following:

Providing economic aid for Austinites who do not receive sufficient support or are excluded by federal legislation related to the pandemic, *including, but not limited to, the undocumented workforce.*

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

All the best,

Kathie

Re: SXSW Resilience Plan

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:45 pm
by Ann Kitchen
Hi All

My thought is that it would be important to call out the undocumented workforce, for the reasons that CM Tovo suggested.

I think to address the concerns that CM Flannigan raised, the "including, but not limited to," would work - allowing us to mention this vulnerable population specifically while making it clear we intend to address all populations in need.

"Providing economic aid for Austinites who do not receive sufficient support or are excluded by federal legislation related to the pandemic, *including, but not limited to, the undocumented workforce.*"

Thanks for everyone's interest and discussion.

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5