• =CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Called Council Meeting September 08, 1980 3:00 Ρ.Μ. Council Chambers 301 West Second Street • The meeting was called to order with Mayor McClellan presiding. Roll Call: Present: Mayor McClellan, Councilmembers Goodman, Mullen, Snell, Trevino, Himmelblau Absent: Councilmember Cooke Mayor McClellan stated that this is a Special Called Meeting for the purpose of a public hearing on the proposed 1980-81 Operating Budget for the Social Service contracts and the Arts contracts. The Mayor said that the Human Services Review Team (HSRT) had presented funding proposal/recommendations with figures at no increase in funding, 5% increase and 10% increase. The City Manager had recommended a 7.5% increase in funding. (See the three following pages for recommendations) Mr. Buck Apelt, representing HSRT, stated that the Review Team looked at about $1.6 million in requests for City funding, while there would apparently be about $1.2 to $1.35 million to work with. HSRT recommendations fell within that range. Mr. Apelt called attention to one change from the original recommendations involving Development Assistance for Rehabilitation whereby $67,000 in funding was now recommended. MR. SISTO RAMIREZ, representing the Austin Area Human Services Association, suggested that an appropriate response for the Council to make would be to adopt no less than the $1.6 million requested by the agencies for 1981. The Mayor then opened the meeting to presentations from representatives of the agencies requesting City funding. AGENCY CITY CITY CITY GOUNTY COUNTY UNITED WAY UNITED NAY AISD CITY MiSt PROFESTO RECOMMENDED 01 RECOMMENDED SA RECOMMENDED 10% PROPOSED RECOMMENDED PROPOSED RECOMMENDED PROPOSED RECMECL Development Assistance 23,525/ Rehabilitation 67,000 -0- Extend-A-Care 18,900 18,900 -0- 18,900 -0- 29,277 1,269 22.000 16.755 18,900 Indochina Refugee and Resettlement Assistance Consultant, Inc. 69,702 -0- -0- -0- Legal Aid 66,955 -0- -0- 42,112 28,160 15,282 121,0697 ATC-MH/MR 331,512 310,127 331,512 331,512 138,623 12,831 10,704 10,704 10,704 10,704 14,440 14,440 14,440 14,440 Middle Earth 19,058 19,058 19,058 19,058 15,465 14,7627 703 7,841 NR Purent Family Life Center 30,446 -0- -0- -0- People's Community Clinic 40,401 36,572 36,572 36,572 34,640 31,423 Rape Crisis Center 32,846 31,940 31,940 31,940 18,855 17,949 18,768 17,862 Teenage Parent Council 7,978 7,978 Services for the Elderly $7,083 57,683 57,683 57,683 8,672 /8,672* 18,826 NR United Action for the Elderly 48,093 48,093 48,093 48,093 32,550 32,550 19,569 19,569 United Cerebral Palsy 25,366 -0- 20,094 20,094 5,610 /5,610 University Y AILD 25,568 /25,568* Womenspace 5,255 5.255 September 8, 1980 • ATTACHMENT I FINDING PROPOMAL/REΩΝ ΜΕΝDΑΤΙONS FY 1981 CITY CITY CITY COUNTY COUNTY UNITED WAY UNITED NAY AISD CITY AISD PROPOSED RECOMMENDED 01 RECOMMENDED 5% RECOMMENDED 101 PROPOSED RECOMMENDED PROPOSED RECOMMENDED PROPOSED RECOMMENDED AGENCY Austin Community Television 20.893 -0- -0- Austin Area Urban League 31,844 30.960 30,960 -0- 30,960 30,379 20.000 Austin Association for Retarded Citizens 8,068 -C- -0- -0- 9,880 9,880 53,016 50,931 34,927/ 61,127/ Austin Child Quidance 76.327 76.327 76.327 76.327 37,117 6,168* 75,251 10,146 15,000 12,000 Austin Community Nursery 37,500 37,500 37,500 37,500 18,283 /18,283 46,000 46,000 Austin Council on Alcoholis 15,000 -0- -0- 10,248 5,860 -0- 34,668 30,500 Austin Rehabilitation Center 23,000 40,000 40,000 45,000 10,465 NR Austin Tenants' Council 27,001 -0- 24,301 24,301 1,500 Austin Women's Center 1,953 1,860/ 93 6,750 NR Big Brothers/ Big Sisters 38,000 34.234 34,234 34,234 19,268 19,268 61,481 37,191 Bryant House 21,000 /21,000* 10,000 NR Capital Area Rehabili- tation Center 39,230 39,250 39,230 39,250 5,000 /5,000 79,364 79,364 10,000 13,950 Caritas 51,870 51,870 $1,870 $1,870 17,640 17,640 10,000 10,000 11.1827 Center for Battered Women 34,049 34,049 34,049 34,049 30,183 30,183 19,727 8,545 Charity Religion Assoc. 4,516 -0- Child & Family Services 15,312 /15,312 198,105 NR Child Incorporated 259,121 259,121 259,121 259,121 Community Crossroads 17,272 /17.272 Community Bound 22,880 17,880 17,880 17,880 22,880 11,440 9,900 NR September 8, 1980 • CITY CITY CITY AGENCY Vaten House 50,442 16,814 Youth Advocacy 7,000 7,000 16,814 7,000 16,814 7,000 CITY COUNTY COUNTY LUNITED WAY UNITED NAY PELIOSED RECOMMENDED OF RECOMMENDEL 51 RECOMMENDED 10% PROPOSED RECOMMENDED PROPOSED RECOMMENDED AISD PROPOSED RECOAMENDED 10,200 AISD 11,240 11,240 11,800 MR -0- 7,000 7,000 13,187 NR Youth Employment Service 56,542 52,800 52,800 52,800 12,910 9,750 27,100 14,000 $422,981/ $425,185/ TOTALS $1,621,169 $1,234,598 $1,300,378 $1,357,738 $609,467 137,781 3794,901 18,691 45,904 36,657 GRAND TOTAL $3,071,441 REQUESTED KEY: ; figure preceding slash (/) is basic recommendation; figure following is second priority or supplementary. * funding contingent on action by outside funding source. No recommendation September 8, 1980 September 8, 1980 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN COMMUNITY TELEVISION MR. LORENZO PHILLIPS, President, Austin Community Television, reviewed the programming accomplishments of ACTV and then requested for the following areas: 1. Continue taping City Council meetings, but with upgraded equipment. 2. Produce at least 24 public service announcements for Austin Human Services agencies. 3. Produce monthly a one-half hour discussion program with one Human Services agency, to be aired at prime time over the cable channel. AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE No one appeared to speak. AUSTIN ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS MS. DORIS TILMAN, Executive Director, AARC, requested funds for a one-half time coordinator for mentally retarded children in the amount of $8,068. AUSTIN CHILD GUIDANCE MR. TOM CRIPPS, Director, Austin Child Guidance Center, urged the Council to approve the HSRT recommendation for funding in the amount of $76,327. That amount would cover 650 children and 2,100 collaterals. AUSTIN COMMUNITY NURSERY A representative of Austin Community Nursery expressed her appreciation to the Council. AUSTIN COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM JIM HUEY, Executive Director, Austin Council on Alcoholism, stated that the request would keep the Austin net alive, which was a new program of referral sources. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 Councilmember Himmelblau asked if it would be possible to get funding from some of the member organizations. Mr. Huey replied that they had not been together long enough to talk about it, but that it could be brought up. He had not checked into the availability of NIAAA funds, but would do so. Councilmember Himmelblau felt that some grant money should be available through HSA. AUSTIN REHABILITATION CENTER MR. DAVE JONES, Director, Austin Rehabilitation Center, urged the Council to adopt their budget as submitted. He reviewed some accomplishments and felt that the program was saving the City money. AUSTIN TENANTS' COUNCIL JENNIFER BURGESS, Assistant Director, Austin Tenants' Council, stated that a memo had been circulated to the Council with some added requests as far as they related to HSRT recommendations. She hoped that the Council would give the requests serious consideration. BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS No representative appeared to be heard. CAPITAL AREA REHABILITATION CENTER MS. CARMEN TYLER, representing the Center, stated that during the past year they were able to serve with the help of City funds a total of 151 long-term clients and about 3,000 short-term clients. She urged adoption of HSRT recommendations for the Agency. CARITAS A representative from Caritas stated that no increase in funding was being requested this year. CHILD INCORPORATED No representative appeared to be heard. COMMUNITY BOUND A representative from Community Bound stated that he supported the HSRT recommendation for the Agency. • _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR REHABILITATION A representative from DAR stated that he agreed with the recommendations. Councilmember Himmelblau asked why the change was recommended. Mr. Buck Apelt stated that initially there had been a lack of information, but after several meetings with the Director, everything has been worked out. The Agency did not have a contract with the Department of Pardons and Paroles. The County was funding about 80% of the half-way house operations, which was a subsidiary of DAR and amounted to about $25,000. In response to Councilmember Himmelblau's question, Mr. Apelt replied that almost all of criminal justice type of funding had been transferred to the County except DAR and perhaps Youth Advocacy, with a switching between the City and United Way and the County and United Way. It had not been considered at more length due to the amount of City funding that went into DAR. However, it could be done. EXTEND-A-CARE A representative from Extend-A-Care was present to answer questions, but had no specific comments. Indochina Refugee and Resettlement Assistance Consultant, Inc. A representative from IRRAC outlined the services provided by the agency. About 15 to 20 families arrived each week from Indochina, and there were 6,000 to 7,000 refugees in Austin now. He asked for funding to provide adequate services for the refugees. CHILD INCORPORATED A representative from the Agency stated that the Federal day care center regulations had not been determined, so it was not possible to know what those regulations would be locally. The Agency would be serving about the same number of children as last year, but was requesting local funding to serve as a cushion to back up changes in State and Federal regulations as they developed. Funding level would be about the same as before. At this point Councilmember Cooke entered the Council Chamber. September 8, 1980 _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FORMER COUNCILMAN RECOGNIZED Mayor McClellan recognized Mr. Harry Nolen, who served on the Austin City Council in 1928. LEGAL AID No representative appeared to be heard. ATC MH/MR MS. JUDY YUDOF, respresenting MH/MR stated that their funding request amounted to $1.15 per capita, while the six other metropolitan area centers averaged $1.39 per capita, making the request 1.4% below the state average. She felt that the Agency had addressed the questions raised last year by HSRT and that things were getting quieter within the agency. MR. JOHN BRUBAKER, Executive Director of the Agency, stated that this year's budget did the following: 1. Approximately $326,000 cut from last year's budget die to declining federal funds, while providing a 5.1% raise to the staff. 2. Approximately 30 staff members had been laid off and two day treatment centers were merged. $26,231 was needed from the City to fund the Gateway alcohol rehabilitation program. MR. BILL IVORY, Director of Alcohol Programs for the Agency, spoke in favor of the Gateway program and stated that if the program was discontinued, service providers would lose a major alternative in the placement of alcohol abusers. MR. JACK JACKSON, Chairman, Alcohol Advisory Committee, ATC-MH/MR, stated that he had visited Gateway and that the program really worked. CENTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN MS. DEBBIE TUCKER, Director of the Center, referred to their foundation grant individual solicitation package for FY 1981, which was being distributed by Ms. Eve McArthur. Ms. Tucker described the progress of the new center, which was near completion. _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 MS. EVE MCARTHUR, Assistant Director of the Center, referred to an article in the September 5, 1980 Texas Observer, which stated that the Austin Center was considered to be the most advanced of the various operations. AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE A representative from the League stated that they were willing to operate with the recommended level of funding. At that point, Mayor McClellan read the list of agencies which has thus far been covered and opened the floor to discussion from citizens. No one appeared to be heard. MIDDLE EARTH A representative from Middle Earth stated that they concurred with HSRT recommendations. PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC MR. DICK LEVERAGE, a board member of the Clinic, stated that the clinic could serve its clients cheaper than the emergency room at Brackenridge Hospital. The clinic treated 50 to 60 patients on Monday night and turned away about 120 to 150 patients each month. That number would increase if the requested funding was not granted. In response to Councilmember Himmelblau's question, Mr. Leverage said that the family planning grant was cut by 20%. Councilmember Himmelblau felt that the program was very effective. RAPE CRISIS CENTER A representative from the Center stated that they were pleased with the HSRT recommendations. SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY A representative from Services for the Elderly stated that they were pleased with HSRT recommendations and thanked the Council for continued support. • =CITY OF AUSTIN. TEXAS September 8, 1980 UNITED ACTION FOR THE ELDERLY MS. JANE ANMOOD, Director, stated that Meals on Wheels would need all of the recommended HSRT funding because DHR had not slated any additional Title XX funds next year. As of today, there were 194 persons on the Meals on Wheels waiting list. UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY MS. PATTY ANDERSON, Director of the Max Gochman Center for United Cerebral Palsy, asked the Council to support the 5% funding level recommended by HSRT, which amounted to $20,000 and was required to meet a Title XX match. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE MS. JULIE SECORA, Director, stated that they did not necessarily agree with HSRT recommendations, but could live with it. However, they were seeking funds elsewhere. In response to Councilmember Himmelblau's question, Ms. Secora replied that AISD had been approached for funding, but that AISD was stressing educational matters more than employment. Councilmember Himmelblau felt that AISD should do their share once in a while. LEGAL AID MR. JOHN SCANLON, president, board of directors, Legal Aid Society, stated that they were displeased with the HSRT recommendations and were requesting funding for $66,000. MR. JAY HALEY, president, Travis County Bar Association, asked the Council to fund Legal Aid as requested. MS. BEE ANN SMITH stated she had been working with Legal Aid during the last year to organize a supplemental group of volunteer services for the poor which Legal Aid could not serve because of their case overload. Every lawyer in Travis County had been asked to volunteer to represent indigent clients. Over 200 lawyers had volunteered to take from 2 to 6 more cases per year. She asked the Council to fund Legal Aid as requested. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MIGHT September 8, 1980 MR. JIM CANNON, representing MIGHT, stated that they had begun RCIL--Research Center for Independent Living through various grants and were located at 2818 San Gabriel at the Austin Area Retarded Citizens building. MIGHT was requesting help to meet match money requirements for developmental disabilities. YOUTH ADVOCACY A representative from Youth Advocacy stated that a change would be forthcoming insofar as funding, but he preferred to wait until all information was available. SPONSOR COORDINATORS FOR REFUGEES MR. MARK MILLS, Coordinator of Social Services for the Agency, described the program offered and asked for $4,000 in emergency aid from the Council. INFANT-PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM ATC-MHMR MR. ALLAN BREZILLE, 1008 Hermitage Drive, spoke in support of the Infant-Parent Training Program. His son was born with Down's Syndrome and was in the program. He described the program and stated that it was the only full service program in Austin for developmentally delayed infants and their families. The program served 120 infants and their families last year. He asked the Council to provide funds to serve at least 120 infants. MR. DON RETTBERG, 4002 Sidehill Path, spoke in support of the InfantParent Training Program. He described the work being done to create State legislation to fund such programs statewide. Passage of the legislation next spring should mean that the 200 plus handicapped infants in Austin who need developmental service would be served by the program. However, the proposed MHMR budget had funding for only 90 infants. He asked the Council to fund the program at the 120-infant level which would cost the City and County an additional $30,000. In response to Councilmember Himmelblau's question, Mr. Rettberg indicated that there would be approximately 80 infants still on the waiting list. _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 INDOCHINA REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE CONSULTANT, INC. MR. CHARLES WADE spoke in support of the Agency and contended that it was the City's responsibility to help the refugees. PARENT FAMILY LIFE CENTER MS. LINDERMAN appeared before the Council to speak in favor of the Center. She pointed out that services were not restricted to college students. MR. CARTER, Assistant to the President at Huston-Tillotson College, also spoke in support of the Center and asked for any consideration. VAUGHN HOUSE A representative of Vaughn House asked the Council to support the HSRT funding recommendation. Clinic. PEOPLES' CLINIC MR. CARL PRICE, a volunteer at the Clinic, spoke in support of the MR. PETER ZAHENDRA, speaking as a user of the Clinic, spoke in support of the Clinic. COMMUNITY BOUND REV. WILSON WADE, Pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church, spoke in support of Community Bound and asked the Council to consider SPAC recommendations. REFUGEE PROGRAM An unidentified woman spoke in support of the refugee programs and stated that she had given five years of her services free. PARENT FAMILY LIFE CENTER MR. HURLEY D. WILLIAMS spoke in support of the Center at HustonTillotson College and asked the Council for funding. • September 8, 1980 =CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS RAPE CRISIS CENTER MS. JANIE PALESCHIC, a counselor at the Rape Crisis Center and a rape victim herself, stated that counseling the victim was not enough. She spoke in support of the Center's work and the need for public education regarding rape. INDOCHINA REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE CONSULTANT, INC. An unidentified woman, who worked as a secretary for IRRAC, asked for the City's help in handling the refugee problem. The Council recessed at 5:05 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. RECESSED MEETING RESUMED At 7:00 p.m. Mayor McClellan reconvened the Council meeting which was recessed earlier. She first introduced Mr. Alvin Golden who presented the Austin Arts Commission recommendations. funded. Mr. Golden reviewed the process by which the various groups were Following are the recommendations of the Arts Commission for 1980-81 cultural contract funding: General Service 1. Austin Ballet Theatre $5,400 2. Austin Civic Ballet $22,250 3. Austin Symphony Orchestra $49,441 4. Center for Cultural Resources $11,575 5. Laguna Gloria Art Museum $117,000 6. League of United Chicano Artists 7. Paramount Theatre $39,100 8. Women and Their Work $6,457 9. Zachary Scott Theatre - $43,452 Special Service 1. Afro-American Players -$3,665 $17,420 2. American Deaf Dance Company $8,600 3. Austin Choral Union $2,910 4. Austin Civic Chorus $3,360 5. Austin Civic Wind Ensemble $0 6. Austin Contemporary Visual Arts Association $6,950 _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 7. Austin Ethnic History Association 8. $0 Austin Federation of Musicians $9,734 9. Austin Festival of the Arts $0 10. Austin Friends of Traditional Music $0 11. Austin Opportunities - $0 12. Austin Repertory Dancers/Dance Umbrella $1,011 13. Austin Repertory Theatre $4,288 14. Center Stage - $350 15. Con Drama, Inc. $1,375 16. Dance Umbrella $8,900 17. Dancers Contemporary Company $850 18. Deborah Hay and Company - $1,312 19. East Austin Arts Workshop - $0 20. Fifth Ray Bookstore $0 21. Gaslight Foundation $4,430 22. Interart Works $4,566 23. Invisible, Inc. $3,950 24. KFMA $3,600 25. Larson Institute of Historical Instrument Technology $1,748 26. Music Umbrella $9,108 27. Pina Arts $1,268 28. Spectrum - $1,000 29. Texas Circuit/Interart Works $3,730 30. Travis County Historical Commission $0 31. Arts Commission Contingency Fund $1,200 Mayor McClellan then opened the meeting to presentations from representatives of the organizations requesting City funding. CENTER STAGE MR. DICK CHICK, President of Center Stage, urged that the amount of their funding be raised to $3,500 for 10 public service dates. Mr. Golden said that the Arts Commission had opted to recommend more days be funded at Gaslight Theatre because more art groups expressed a preference for that facility. Mr. Chick responded that there had been personnel changes at Center Stage which had cleared up a previous problem. Initially they had requested $5,500, but now asked for $3,500. Mr. Tomas Ybarra of Con Drama spoke in support of Center Stage. At 7:20 p.m. the Council recessed its meeting until 8:00p.m. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 RECESSED MEETING RESUMED At 8:00 p.m., Mayor McClellan called the recessed meeting to order. Prior to hearing from intergovernmental and other agencies, Mayor McClellan recognized an unidentified woman who spoke in support of City funding for the refugee programs. The Mayor then recognized representatives from intergovernmental and other agencies. MEXICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MR. JUAN VASQUEZ, commented on how the City of Austin obtained the International Sister Cities convention for Austin in the summer of 1981, winning out over El Paso and San Antonio. He indicated that there was a possibility of bringing to Austin from Mexico City Raul Velasco's program, "Siempre en Domingo," which was telecast internationally. He referred to several other organizations with which he was working for better international cooperation. As Director, Mr. Vasquez stated that he would be providing the Council with input on all of the things he was trying to do and asked the Council for their comments on those items. AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MR. NEAL SPELCE, representing the Austin Chamber of Commerce, began by saying tomorrow he would be going to Washington, D.C. to present Austin's case for designating Austin as a Port of Entry. Mr. Spelce then made the following proposal to the Council in regard to the contract with the Chamber of Commerce for visitor promotion. (See following pages) Councilmember Mullen felt that the Chamber of Commerce should make it clear to Austin citizens that the Chamber was promoting tourism and not encouraging more people to move to Austin. Mr. Spelce agreed with the suggestion. September 8, 1980 IN ADOPTING A BUDGET THIS YEAR, THE COUNCIL IS TRULY BEING CALLED ON TO DISPLAY THE PATIENCE OF JOB AND THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CERTAINLY CAN OFFER NO SIMPLE SOLUTIONS. BUT AS IN SOLVING MOST PROBLEMS, THERE ARE ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS, AND BUDGETS ARE NO EXCEPTION. WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A PROPOSAL RELATING TO THE SMALL PORTION OF THE BUDGET COVERING THE CONTRACT FOR VISITOR PROMOTION THAT THE CITY HAS WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE PROPOSAL THAT I WILL PRESENT TO YOU WOULD IN NO WAY INCREASE THE TOTAL BUDGET--AND WE ARE WILLING, ON THE BASIS OF LONG-ESTABLISHED TRENDS, TO GUARANTEE AN INCREASE IN INCOME THROUGH TAXES TO THE CITY. AND WE SUBMIT THAT INCREASED INCOME IS AS EFFECTIVE IN BALANCING A BUDGET AS IS REDUCING EXPENDITURES. AS YOU KNOW, FUNDS FOR THIS CONTRACT ARE DERIVED FROM ROOM TAX COLLECTIONS WHICH ARE DEDICATED BY LAW FOR PURPOSES RELATING TO THE VISITOR INDUSTRY. THE CITY COUNCIL'S JOB IS THAT OF ALLOCATING THE FUNDS WITHIN THE AMOUNT COLLECTED. LET ME ESTABLISH THIS FACT: IT HAS BEEN PROVEN NATIONWIDE THAT STATES AND CITIES ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THE VISITOR INDUSTRY IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THEIR INVESTMENT IN VISITOR PROMOTION AND SERVICES. THE STATE OF TEXAS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. TEXAS HAD ACTUALLY BEEN DECLINING IN NUMBER OF VISITORS EACH YEAR UNTIL THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE BY THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS ENABLING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TEXAS TOURIST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. THE TREND WAS September 8, 1980 IMMEDIATELY REVERSED. IN FACT, THE LAST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATUREFACED WITH BUDGET PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE CITY'S CURRENT SITUATION-- ACTUALLY INCREASED TTDA'S APPROPRIATION 86% WHILE HOLDING THE LINE ON MOST OTHER STATE AGENCIES. THE REASON FOR THIS INCREASE WAS TO GENERATE MORE INCOME FOR TEXAS. WE FURTHER BELIEVE THAT IN GRANTING OUR SMALL REQUEST THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR A REDUCTION OF ANY BUDGETED AMOUNT AS SHOWN ON PAGE 28 AUDITORIUM AND COLISEUM FUNDING SUMMARY. AND HERE'S WHY. THE AVERAGE INCREASE PER YEAR SINCE THE START OF THE ROOM TAX IN AUSTIN HAS BEEN 21% PER YEAR. THE TOTAL INCREASE IN TEXAS THIS PAST YEAR WAS 22%. HOWEVER, THE PROJECTED INCREASE IN YOUR PROPOSED 80-81 BUDGET IS ONLY 13.3%--A FIGURE LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL INCREASE IN ANY PREVIOUS YEAR. IF OUR 80-81 INCREASE IN ROOM TAX INCOME IS ONLY AVERAGE (21%)--AND IT HAS BEEN TENDING TO BE GREATER THAN AVERAGE RECENTLY DUE TO INFLATION--BUT IF IT STAYS ONLY AVERAGE, THE INCOME WILL BE $115,000 IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT BUDGETED OR $1,815,000 RATHER THAN $1,700,000. A FURTHER REASON THAT NO EXPENDITURE ITEMS WITHIN THE AUDITORIUM AND COLISEUM FUND WOULD BE AFFECTED IS THAT AN ADDITIONAL UNALLOCATED ENDING BALANCE OF $145,418 IS ANTICIPATED. COMBINING THE INCREASE IN INCOME FROM A REALISTIC ROOM TAX ESTIMATE ($115,000) PLUS THE ANTICIPATED ENDING BALANCE ($145,418), THE AUDITORIUM AND COLISEUM FUND FOR 1980-81 WILL HAVE UNCOMMITTED FUNDS OF $260,418. September 8, 1980 ON THE ATTACHED SHEET WE HAVE OUTLINED EXPANDED NEEDS THAT WILL GIVE AUSTIN A MINIMUM BUDGET TO MEET COMPETITIVE PRESSURES IN THE VISITOR MARKET. AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE 80-81 PROPOSED CONTRACT, IT REQUESTS ONLY AN ADDITIONAL $86,222 OF THE ESTIMATED UNCOMMITTED $260,418. THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE CHAMBER IS REQUESTING IS ALMOST EXACTLY 25% OF THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE COLLECTED. OR 1% OF THE 4% WHICH IS AS YOU KNOW, THE LAW MANDATES THAT 1% BE ALLOCATED BY EACH CITY FOR MARKETING EFFORTS, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCILUPON ADOPTING OUR REQUEST THIS YEAR--TO SET AS A MATTER OF COUNCIL POLICY THAT 1% SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO THE CHAMBER'S MARKETING EFFORTS. (OF COURSE, THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR SUCH AN ACTION SINCE THIS COUNCIL HAS TAKEN SUCH A STEP ON BEHALF OF OUR FINE ARTS COMMUNITY HERE.) THIS 1% POLICY DIRECTION WOULD GIVE GUIDANCE TO THE CITY STAFF ON FUTURE BUDGET PREPARATIONS. WE SUBMIT TO THE COUNCIL THAT DIRECT RETURNS IN TAXES TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL FAR EXCEED THIS SMALL ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. WE URGE THAT THIS SMALL ADJUSTMENT BE MADE--FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BUDGET IN THE FORM OF HIGIIER INCOME AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN IN THE FORM OF ADDED JOB OPPORTUNITIES. RECAP Total 1980-81 Chamber of Commerce Request Currently proposed in 1980-81 Budget Estimated Uncommitted Funds Available Requested Additional Funds BEGINNING BALANCE REVENUES HOTEL/MOTEL TAXES TOTAL REVENUES TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDS September 8, 1980 $426,472 340,250 $260,418 86,222 AUDITORIUM AND COLISEUM FUND SUMMARY ACTUAL 1978-79 ESTIMATED 1979-80 BUDGET 1980-81 $ 445,180 $ 489,562 $ 581,992 $ 454,730 1,222,487 $ 607,300 1,500,000 $ 666,500 1,700,000 $1,677,217 $2,107,300 $2,366,500 $2,122,397 $2,596,862 $2,948,492 OPERATING EXPENSE $ 737,986 $ 788,678 $1,146,552 CONTRACTS AND TRANSFERS Mexican American Chamber of Commerce $ 63,877 $ 68,348 $ 84,750 Austin Chamber of Commerce 257,070 275,065 340,250 Transfer to CIP 234,200 526,000 750,000 Transfer to General Fund (Arts) 339,702 356,779 425,000 Transfer to Worker's Compensation Fund 0 0 1,700 GENERAL WAGE INCREASE 0 0 54,822 TOTAL REQUIREMENTS $1,632,835 $2,014,870 $2,803,074 ENDING BALANCE $ 489,562 $ 581,992 $ 145,418 September 8, 1980 1981 EXPANDED NEEDS FOR CONVENTION AND TOURISM PROMOTION AND SERVICES We believe that we have experienced a twelve percent loss during the current year due to inflationary pressures. order to provide the service in 1981 that we provided in 1980, an overall increase of twelve percent would be needed. $33,007 In Salary and fringe for Convention Coordinator. Convention planning and service is one of the things that makes a community a desirable convention city. Present staff assignments do not permit adequate handling of this function. 13,500 Salary and fringe for Information Specialist. An ever increasing number of inquiries and office visits necessitates expan- sion of this function. The mail should not go unanswered and visitors should receive prompt and courteous service. 11,050 Additional office equipment will be needed to accommodate any new employees. The current budget simply takes care of repair and replacement. 4,000 Postage Increased inquiries and mailings indicate a twenty percent increase is necessary. 1,800 Additional telephone installation for new employees, plus expanded use of the telephone for expeditious handling of sales and service calls, requires addi1,800 tional funds. Travel posters are fast becoming a major means of establishing an image and identity. Our posters are in much greater demand than availability, and we estimate an additional need of 2,500 at approximately $2.50 each. Budget for regular promotional materials is currently not adequate. 9,750 Advertising has always been the scapegoat in budget planning and has been kept to an absolute minimum for a number of years. We feel its impact could be increased manyfold byless than doubling the current budget. Although this wil scarcely make us competitive with other Texas communities, it will enable better coverage than at the present. The increasing use of publicity through contacts that have been established by travel writer visits requires additional pictures and press kits. A new press kit jacket is sorely needed. Graphic displays currently in use for promotional activities need refurbishing or replacement. Current budget permitted only maintenance. 34,500 2,500 7,500 |- September 8, 1980 Additional brochures are badly needed. Although our current selection of brochures is excellent, we do not have enough for broad distribution. In addition, foreign markets, which are becoming increasingly important, demand special attention and distribution. We estimate an additional 200,000 brochures are needed; cost approximately six cents each. No longer is a map an item that visitors can pick up at any service station, realtor's office, etc. Yet it appears that Chambers of Commerce are expected to have these available. We estimate the need for an additional 100,000 sheet maps at five cents each and 10,000 regular maps at twenty-five cents each. Travel has been kept to a minimum due to budgetary restrictions and sorely needs to be expanded. In order to participate in sales conferences and "marketplace" sessions of the National Tour Brokers Association, American Bus Association, DATO, Discover Texas, etc., membership is now required. Austin is blessed with many convention planners/trade association executives who reside in Austin. For years they were relatively neglected in comparison to competing cities who staged dinners, parties, dances, etc., for them. Austin cannot ignore this anymore and must indicate it is interested in their business through an appropriate sales blitz and entertainment feature. Additional funds must be made available to do this. $ 12,000 7,500 3,000 1,500 8,000 September 8, 1980 1979 CONVENTION & TOURISM PROMOTION COMPETING CITIES (APPROXIMATE) Austin San Antonio $ 257,000 2,280,897 Houston 1,482,000 Dallas 1,350,924 El Paso 752,202 Corpus Christi 531,000 McAllen 453,000 Arlington 418,063 South Padre Island 410,000 Fort Worth 361,250 Laredo 340,850 Grapevine 293,793 Beaumont 291,000 Amarillo 233,000 =CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 • • HOTEL-MOTEL ASSOCIATION MS. NANCY REDDEN, President, Hotel-Motel Association in Austin, presented to the Council statistics that indicated a 20% vacancy in rooms existed every night. Over a year's time that amounted to 335,800 empty rooms. With 1,600 more rooms coming into the City, an additional 584,000 rooms would need to be filled annually. After that addition, the Chamber of Commerce would have to come up with 467,200 more rooms filled nightly just to maintain the present occupancy level. She felt that Austin could not afford not to go out and compete for convention business. She also felt that people of Texas had a misconception that Austin was always full, but that it was not true. Councilmember Mullen asked Ms. Redden to put her statement into writing for the Council and she concurred. COMMUNITY EDUCATION MR. LESTER HAYNES, Project Coordinator for the Community Education program, stated that both the AISD and Texas Education Agency had cut their requested amounts for next year. He asked the Council to approve their request of $309,000, with no increase in personnel, which would keep Community Education at approximately the same level as last year. COUNTY HORTICULTURIST A representative from that Agency was not able to be present. HUMANE SOCIETY MR. DOYLE NORDYKE reviewed the last ten months' statistics of the Humane Society and stated that the total cost per animal was $16.85, while the City's share was only $6.18 per animal. City Manager Davidson stated that the City was fortunate to have Mr. Nordyke with the Humane Society. AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MR. BEVERLY SHEFFIELD stated that he would answer any questions about the Foundation. Mayor McClellan expressed her appreciation for the work of the Foundation. • _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS September 8, 1980 AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY ALCOHOL COUNSELING MR. ORTIZ, representing the Agency, appeared before the Council to review the last year's activities. JUDGE STEPHEN W. RUSSELL of the Municipal Court stated that the Court has handled 4,379 complaints for public intoxication in the last year. The contract with Mr. Ortiz' group covered counseling for only 350 people. There also had been 1,242 driving while intoxicated cases. Councilmember Mullen stated that he wanted Texas Municipal League and the City's lobbyist to approach the Texas Legislature about placing a tax on alcohol which would go to cities to help defray the costs of alcohol counseling. ATTEST: ADJOURNMENT The Council adjourned its meeting at 8:50 p.m. APPROVE Mayor Brace Monie City Clerk • _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin will be held on the 9th day of September, 1980, Tuesday, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers at 301 West Second Street, Austin, Texas, for a Public Hearing on the proposed 1980-81 Operating Budget; the proposed water, sewer and sanitation rate structures; and the proposed fee revision recommended for Public Works, Planning, Urban Transportation, Building Inspection, Parks and Recreation, Emergency Medical Services, Library, Electric, Brackenridge Hospital, Finance, Utility Customer Service, Transit fare increases and General Revenue Sharing Funds. ATTEST: Monise City Clerk Padat M Mayor City of Austin, Texas CONSENT TO MEETING We, the undersigned members of the City Council, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice, and consent and agree that said City Council shall meet at the time and the place therein named, and for the purpose therein stated. thy Bitly in Millen Coke ATTEST: Grace Mourve City Clerk