- CITY OF AUSTIN、TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special: Called Meeting September 16, 1977 1:00 Ρ.Μ. Council Chambers 301 West Second Street The meeting was called to order with Mayor McClellan ppesiding. Roll Cal1: Present: Mayor McClellan, Councilmembers Cooke, Goodman, Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau, Councilmembers Mullen, Snell, Trevino Absent: Nonent Mayor McClellan stated that this was a Special Called Meeting for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on Community Education and Grant Agencies funding requests for 1977-1978. Assistant City Manager Joe Liro reported on negotiations with the Austin Independent School District regarding Community Education. AISD was requesting $177,000 for 1977-78, which was about $13,000 more than last year. The increased request would be for expansion of service levels. The present contract contained the following items which had been troublesome for the City and AISD: 1. Funds were used to underwrite both administration and program related expenses. 2. Provision that there be a joint development and review of programs at administrative level. The Community Education Consortium, a citizens group, had recommended that only one jurisdiction be assigned jurisdiction for program management and administration. In concept, the City and AISD had agreed on that point. In lieu of a contract, the City was recommending that an intergovernmental agreement be drawn up which defined responsibilities. AISD had agreed in concepp, but budgetary limits and a timing factor prevented AISD from participating at this time along those lines. 9 _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 16, 1977 The Council then had 3 options: 1. Fund at the requested amount of $177,000. 2. Fund at present level of $163,000. 3. Select another funding level. He urged that the recommendations made earlier be the focal point of the City's future participation in Community Education. Mayor McClellan stated that Community Education would be an appropriate topic for discussion at the upcoming joint meeting between the Council and the AISD School Board in October. Bob Tinstman, representing the Executive Committee of the Community Consortium, stated that the group represented 16 agencies appointed by the City and AISD, plus representatives from 7 neighborhoods. He indicated that the School District has just recently allocated $238,000 out of their budget for Community Education. Mr. Tinstman submitted a funding request to the Council for $177,181 which he indicated is about half of the operating cost needed for the Community Education Program. He indicated that the increased funding cost was needed to put some presently part-time employees on to full time. Mr. Willie Walls gave the Council a breakdown of where the funding was scheduled to go: 1. $131,000 for Personnel 2. $ 1,132 for F.I.C.A. 3. $ 7,350 for Purchases and Contract Services. 4. $ 83,357 for Utilities and Building Operations. 5 $ 3,425 for Supplies. 6. $ 750 for Contingency 7. $ 6619 for Capital Outlay Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau stated that she was disturbed by the lack of City involvement in the Community Schools. Mr. Tinstman stated that they would welcome involvement from the City and suggested the institution of a joint management committee. Mayor McClellan did not agree and felt that it made sense for the A.I.S.D. to be administratively in charge of the Community Schools. People's Free Clinic, Inc. MS. SUSAN RILEY, Director of the People's Free Clinic, Inc., told the Council that without the Free Clinic, the City would end up paying more for health expenses of persons who would be forced to go to Brackenridge Hospital for treatment. She stated that 70% of persons interviewed indicated that they would have left their health problems unchecked if it were not for the Free Clinic. Ms. Riley pointed out that the agency was able to keep check on _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 16, 1977 infectious diseases that could seriously impact the City. She stated that they were requesting an increase in funding to meet the rising cost of health care. Ms. Riley indicated that the agency had received the majority of its funding for other programs from the Federal government. Councilmember Mullen asked if there were any duplications of services as provided by Caritas. Ms. Riley stated that they occasionally referred cases to Caritas but that Caritas usually dealt with persons in a completely different income range. Councilmember Snell asked if the clinic received very much reimbursement from insurance agencies. Ms. Riley stated that most of the persons coming into the clinic usually did not have the right kind of insurance to cover such health care. Councilmember Mullen asked if the agency was receiving any financial help from the March of Dimes for the Pre-Natal Program. Ms. Riley stated that she had talked to the March of Dimes about a year and a half ago about aid for the program but was told that March of Dimes does not fund direct services. MS. TONI CABRERA, Director for Services for the Elderly, Inc., spoke before the Council. She stated that each month the organization served an average of 170 individuals with homemaker services and 250 individuals with supportive social services. The budget request was $59,844. CDC had recommended $52,000. She requested that the Council grant at least $55,000, which was the basic budget. Ms. Cabrera then introduced members of the Board of Directors who were present. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau's question, Ms. Cabrera stated that no fees were charged, that all of the people being served were welfare recipients. Travis County Legal Aid and Defender Society JOE WEAVER, Director of the Society, stated that the $39,603 request would be for four paralegals. The paralegals screened about 6,500 people last year, and about 65% of those people were eligible for aid. About 733 substantive cases would be handled by the paralegals during the year. As part of the $39,603, Mr. Weaver requested that $1,500 be carried over from last year's funding. May or Pro Tem Himmelblau asked what the Title VI CETA program do for the Society's overall program. Mr. Weaver stated that it enabled the Society to maintain services. Travis County REACT Team 3022, Inc. STUART DELUCA, President of the organization, reviewed the statistics for July on calls monitored by Travis County REACT. Budget requests were as follows: 1. $ 4,951 - Rent on Office Space for a central base station. 2. $ 6,480- Salary for full-time office clerk. 3. $11,100 Needed to buy small van and equiptit with walkie-talkies, power generator and minimal EMS equipment for use as a mobile base station. Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau stated that she was a little perturbed that someone other than the City's EMS people would respond with a mobile unit to an emergency. Mr. DeLuca said that REACT did not respond by going to an emergency, but by reporting it to the proper authorities. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau's question, Mr. DeLuca stated that the central base station was a crucial need. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS United Action for the Elderly, Inc. September 16, 1977 PEGGY NALLEY, Program Director, appeared on behalf of the Meals on Wheels program. Initially, the budget called for serving 6 meals a week to 155 people in the City and 50 in the County. During the program year, the City increased to 205 and County to 55 people. Ms. Nalley presented the following budget information: Total amount needed to maintain Meals on Wheels Service for 1977-78 at current level $234,068 Needed from the City of Austin for this level of service 36,201 Total amount needed to complete Meals on Wheels proposed service expansion for 1977-78 278,357 Requested from the City of Austin 43,051 In response to Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau's question, Ms. Nalley stated that the food handlers paid the cost of their certificates and that no money was budgeted for that cost. In response to Councilmember Mullen's question, Ms. Nalley said that PARD's dietitian could not assume any additional responsibilities at this point. FATHER JOE ZNOTAS stated that his church had participated in the program from the start and that the program was needed in the community. United Cerebral Palsy of Texas, Inc. ELAINE ROBERTS, Program Director for the organization, stated that their original funding request was for $66,835, with the City's portion being $56,154. Since that time State Title XX funds had been approved, and the amount requested from the City had been reduced to $30,570, with a total budget of $86,547.50. RANDY KIESCHNICK, Treasurer of the organization, stated that the Center would operate without Title XX funds for the rest of 1977. He requested that the City would allow the Center to draw the first 3 months funds of the City's grant without requiring that the funds be used to match Title XX funds. The remaining 9 months of City funds would be used for the Title XX match. To receive Title XX funds, the Center would need the City's assurance that support would be given for at least 3 months into the next fiscal year. Presently, the Center serves 20 clients a day. Under the proposed program, the Center would serve 34 clients daily, which would require moving to another location. The present facility did not meet minimum day care requirements under Title XX. The Center had a van for transporting clients, but it would hold only 5 to 8 people, depending upon how many wheel chairs were in it. Another source of transportatgonlwenid, be needed if more people were added to the program. All clients were from the City, primarily from the east and south side. STAN PINTO, whose son had cerebral palsy, spoke in favor of the Center and its value to both client and parent. He then addressed several questions to Melinda, who had cerebral palsy. -CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS University Y September 16, 1977 CHRIS CUNNINGHAM, Director, described the Community Gardens program, a joint project of the University Y, the City of Austin and Travis County. $15,416 was requested to continue the program, part of which would go for a coordinator for the 2 sites under cultivation. There was general discussion among the Council and Ms. Cunningham regarding the project and the extent to which the City should participate. Councilmembers generally felt that the project should be self-supporting. FAYE FAYE ROSMARIN, representing Austin Womenspace, described the activities of the organization. Youth Employment Service JULIE SYKORA, Director of the organization, reviewed its history. A budget of $38,279 had been requested, but the Community Development Commission and the Human Resources Department had recommended $16,800. Father Joe Znotas, Chairperson, Board of Directors of the organization, reviewed his church's participation in the program. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau's question, Ms. Sykora said that the requested increase in funding from the City represented about a 10% salary increase for her employees. There had been no increases for 2 years. Councilmember Mullen suggested that Ms. Sykora contact Mr. Lawrence Miller, who was present in the audience, regarding some jobs for youth. Whole Community, Inc. JIM HIGHTOWER, a provate citizen, spoke in support of the organization. BARBARA CILLEY described some of the activities of the organization. She said that since there was a tremendous demand for the service, it was desirable to double the number of clients from 5 to 10 people. KAY OVERTON, who ran the half-way house for retarded males, spoke before the Council to request funds for her operation. Ms. Cilley stated that the Austin Association for Retarded Citizens endorsed the proposal. CULTURAL AND ARTS REQUESTS ALVIN GOLDEN, Chairman, Austin Arts Commission, presented the following summary of grant requests. Hotsun Academy of Arts No funding recommended. Zachary Scott Theatre Request is essentially the same as last year, with a 6.7% increase to cover additional operating costs. -CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 16, 1977 Paramount Theatre Recommended 20 days of community use of the Theatre at $750 per night. $500 of the $750 would go to the Theatre. The remaining $250 would go to the group using the Theatre to use as needed. Laguna Gloria Art Museum The Arts Commission recommended a substantial increase but less than half of the request. Also recommended that a great deal of new programming not be done, but that the old programming level be continued with an increase in funding to cover increased costs. Two new programs, Art in the Park and 2 downtown murals, were recommended for funding. League of United Chicano Artists (Lucha) The Arts Commission recommended that the group incorporate and seek non-profit status. The Internal Revenue Service had informed the group that their non-profit status letter would be forthcoming next week. Recommended that the staff be funded through CETA and that the Arts Commission fund materials of $500 per mural for 7 murals. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - Black Heritage Committee This group was initially funded as a Bicentennial project with one-year funding only. The group was funded again last year, but was requested to seek additional sources of funding. This year's funding request was nearly double the previous year, and no additional sources of funding kad been sought. The Commission recommended $3,000 funding to help in touring the exhibit, but recommended no funding for a curator or for rent at Huston-Tillotson College. Parks and Recreation Department would work closely with the group to seek sources of additional funding. Ballet Folklorico Atzlan de Tejas Commission recommended $2,000 for costumes and the group would give 20 performances in the City at sites to be determined in cooperation with PARD. Austin Symphony Orchestra Society This year's contract is basically the same as last year except for a wage increase based on negotiations with the union. Austin Symphony Choral Union The Choral Union was a new group which worked with the Symphony, but was not part of it. The group requested $6,000 but the Commission recommended $5,000. Austin Guitar Society The Society, in association with Allied Arts of New York, requested and the Commission recommended $4,321 to bring Robert Guthrie, wanlingernationally known classical guitarist to Austin for 56 days during 1977-78. Mr. Guthrie would give two performances a day in workshop sessions. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 16, 1977 Austin Friends of Traditional Music The Commission recommended that the group be paid $50 each for 10 performances at recreation centers and $690 for a sound man. Creek Theatre The group had requested $15,000 funding, but the Commission felt that amount was ambitious for the first year. After consulting with PARD, a total of $4,100 was recommended, with the City furnishing $2,000 to tour 2 plays in Spanish, written by Chicano and Mexican playwrights. Afro-American Players $12,789 had been requested by the Players. PARD had felt that the programs suggested by the Players were not what they were best suited for and where the real need was. The staff recommended that $3,000 becappropriated to do a touring show. After further consultation with PARD and the Players, the Committee recommended that $8,590 be given to the Players. The Arts Commission recommended that the following organizations be funded through the budget: Afro-American Players Austin Symphony Orchestra Society Laguna Gloria Art Museum Paramount Theatre Zachary Scott Theatre Center The Commission recommended that other groups coming to them be funded by setting aside 1/2 of 1% of the Bed Tax. Any balance left in that fund could be used during the year to underwrite new projects in the arts. Funding requests brought to the Commission totalled $299,039. The Commission recommended that $174,000 be granted, including the groups to be funded out of the Bed Tax. There was discussion between Countilmember Snell and Mr. Golden regarding the absence of Black representation during Arts Commission hearings on budget requests. Mr. Golden said that Mr. Nat Williams, the Black representative, had automatically terminated his position on the Commission by having 3 consecutive absences from Commission meetings. The Commission had requested that the Black vacancy be filled. Mayor Pro Tem Himmelblau thanked the Arts Commission and stated that she thought that they had done a tremendous job. Councilmember Snell and Mr. Golden discussed the funding levels for Delta Sigma Theta and the Afro-American Players. Councilmember Snell felt that their funding levels were out of proportion relative to the other groups being funded. Mr. Golden did not agree and cited funding cuts made to several other organizations. Several Councilmembers then discussed briefly the matter of Black representation on the Arts Commission. - CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 16, 1977 GLODINE GARDNER, Artistic Director for the Afro-American Players, reviewed the negotiations between the Players and the Arts Commission and felt that there was a rapport between the two groups, but there had been a communications problem in the beginning. In response to Councilmember Snell's question, Ms. Gardner said that the group could not give 10 performances for $8,000. MRS. NANCY WOOD, a member of the Board of Directors for the Afro-American Players, spoke in support of the Players and their work in the community. In response to Mayor McClellan's question, Ms.GGardner said that she did not know how much Federal money the Players would be getting. Mayor McClellan asked for additional information on Zachary Scott Theatre's Project Interact. ANN DU BOSE from the Theatre said that actors were working with the Community Schools, Extend-A-Care and PTA's with about 1,000 contact hours. They were unable to fill all requests. The project was spread out over the City. Mayor McClellan asked how groups would be notified that the Paramount Theatre was available for use. MR. JOHN BERNARDONI said that this year PARD and the Paramount probably would send out a joint communication to all groups known to be interested in using the Theatre. He would also be publicizing it through other means. In response to Councilmember Goodman's questions, Mr. Bernardoni said that only one day was not used last year and that several requests came in for use after the alloted number of days had been booked. Mayor McClellan asked what the scholarships available through Laguna Gloria Art Museum for the disadvantaged covered. LAWRENCE MILLER, Director of the Museum, said that two kinds were available. One was to the School of Art at the site and recipients were determined by application and financial need or on request to people such as ex-convicts. The other way scholarships were awarded was through the art after-school programs. Scholarships were awarded to and decided by art after-school staffs and the Community School staff at the particular school, Scholarships usually covered cost of supplies and instruction. Mayor McClellan asked if any master classes would be given by Mr. Guthrie through the Austin Guitar Society. She was told that nothing had been decided, but that the Society would like to get one for guitar aficionados. RAUL VALDEZ, representing the League of United Chicano Artists, stated that the Arts Commission had suggested that his group contact CETA regarding the funding for a staff. A call to CETA was made, and they were told that money might not be available. Mayor McClellan asked Assistant City Manager Miller to check into the matter and report back. Texas Agricultural Extension Service Jack Robinson, Parks and Recreation Department Director, spoke in behalf of the Extension Service. He first expressed his staff's appreciation to Mr. Alvin Golden and the Arts Commission for their work in handling grant requests. He then briefly reviewed the work of the Extension Service and stated that PARD recommended that the $4400 request be granted. ATTEST: CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 16, 1977 ADJOURNMENT The Council adjourned at 5:30p.m. Mo City Clerk APPROVED C Mayor