SOF City Council Ron Mullen Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Roger Duncan Sally Shipman Mark E. Spaeth Charles E. Urdy Jorge Carrasco City Manager Elden Aldridge City Clerk FOUNDED 1839 Austin City Council MINUTES For September 14, 1982 - 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Council Chambers, 307 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: Mayor McClellan called to order the Special Meeting of the Council scheduled for 9:00 A.M. to consider Cultural Contract Funding. She noted the absence of Councilmembers Goodman and Urdy, Mr. Paul Leche, Director of the Art's Commission recommended an amount of $696,000.00. An unidentified woman, representing the Austin Circle of Theaters, asked the Council for $2,680.00 for a ten production season. An unidentified woman, representing the Captiol City Playhouse, appealed for $3,909.00 for eight paid leads, costumes, and numerous sets, Judy Dillon, artistic director for the Phoenix Dance Theater, asked for approval of $1,000.00. This will include four performances at public sites around Austin. : Mayor Pro Tem Trevino reminded the Council that they were $400,000.00 short of the request being made by the Human Service Agency. Paul Leche suggested funding of an opera. Given that there is no opera in Austin, it would be very valuable. Councilmember Deuser asked if we were identifying additional funds, how would the commission prioritize? Paul Leche responded by saying that folks want more money and that he hears both ends all of the time. Mayor McClellan asked Mr. Leche if he would still stay with his same recommendations. 1. : Council Memo 2 September 14, 1982 Mr. Leche said he would stay with his same recommendations. He also stated that he wouldn't have any authority to differ from that other than his own personal opinion. Councilmember Deuser estimated that there would be approximately $676,000.00 available from the bed tax. He also said that he thought that Leche's Commission was doing a super job and that was the way that the entire Council felt. Mayor McClellan also commented that Leche apparently re-thought at one point his recommendation because they changed before they got to the Council. She said that the Council adheres very closely to the recommendation of the Art's Commission and that the Council wanted to hear from all parties involved. Mr. Leche assured her that everybody was at least notified twice by letter. and at every announced meeting that they are encouraged to come and speak. Councilmember Duncan asked what if Council underestimated the amount of money that comes in and what would happen to the extra funding? Paul Leche said that any overestimate/underestimate during the year will roll over to the following fiscal year. We'll come back to Council with recommendations for special projects or whatever we think fit at that time. This fiscal year, we learned of the underestimate from the previous year and that's where the money from the Zilker Hillside Project came from. Councilmember Mullen wanted to know if a balance of some kind was kept or was every penny spent that was projected. Leche stated that it was all recommended. Councilmember Mullen suggested to have excess money set up in a trust fund for the years that Council overestimates the amount of money. Leche said there were legal problems with it. Gustavo Garcia appeared to speak on behalf of the Mexican/American Chamber of Commerce. Dela Garcia spoke on how the Image Organization views the chamber. Andy Ramirez, who worked very closely with the budget committee, stated some of the justifications of the Mexican/American Chamber of Commerce. He went on to speak of Mexican/American involvement in different associations and in city government. Gustavo Garcia said that the Mexican/American Chamber of Commerce was requesting $200,000.00 from the City. Frances Childers congratulated the Mexican/American Chamber of Commerce and the Austin Chamber of Commerce for having performed such wonderful service to our beautiful city. She also spoke of our "sister cities" program. T Council Memo 3 September 14, 1982 : : Gus Garcia stated that there were about 7,000 members in the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce. Mayor McClellan recessed the meeting until 1:00 P.M. Mayor McClellan said that no action would be taken today, Carlos Herrera, Director of the Human Services Department, said that the Human Services Review Team had been reviewing 45 social services agencies request for funding from the City, County, and the United Way. Herrera also added that in fiscal year '82-'83, the request to the city totaled $2,470,232.00. Mayor Pro Tem Trevino reminded the Council that they were still short $455,550.00. Sandra Myer addressed the Council and told specifics on how the Human Services Review Team made their recommendations. Susan Berliner, President of the Austin Area Human Services Association, said that due to cut backs in federal funding, she would need $700,000.00. Patty Duval, president for the Association for Retarded Citizens, said she needed $19,676,00. Don Zapone, Executive Director of Austin Child Guidance and Evaluation Center, wanted the City to match the County's $42,923,00, Rebina Jackson, of the Austin Urban League, requested $37,267.00 for the operation of its direct jobs placement project. Susan Berliner, Executive Director of the Austin Community Nursery, was satisfied with NSRT's 5% increase in City funding. Terry Gillis, Executive Director of Austin Families, Inc., asked Council to approve his $17,500.00 request. The majority of this request was to pay his staff. Judy Bryan, Executive Director of Austin Family House, asked for $22,056.00. She said she needed this amount to meet budget due to severe federal cutbacks. Marge Beaman, with Austin Junior Women's Federation, wanted to received $13,134.00 in City funding to help cover costs in placing braile signs in public buildings. Lee Saunders, representing Austin Resource Center for Independent Living, asked for $21,593.00. ARCII provides services to disabled person and their families. Sylvia Calloway, Director of the Rape Crisis Center requested $42,498.00 to cover increased costs. David Jones, Director of Austin Rehabilitation Center, was satisfied with HSRT's thorough and comprehensive review. Council Memo 4 September 14, 1982 Jenny Ballard, of the Austin Tennants Council, requested $38,621,00 from Council. Cheryl Tansen, with the Austin Women's Center, appealed to Council for $21,700.00. AWC is for individuals who have been out of the labor force for a large number of years and have had some community resources from the past to fall on, but those have disappeared. John Marshall, Executive Board Member of the Greater Austin Council on Alcoholism wanted $17,551.00 for the Council on Alcoholism. Sammy Joseph, Officer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Austin asked Council for $50,000.00 an increase of $4,900.00 over last year. Cal Segenthall, Treasurer of the Captiol Area Food Bank, requested $23,297,00 to help pay staff salaries. Dara Grey, Coordinator of the Food Bank also added that there were over 53 agencies that are now being served by the Austin Area Food Bank. Bill Bednar, President of the Capitol Area Rehabilitation Center, requested $64,000.00. The center provides a wide range of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and educational services primarily to profoundly handicapped youngsters. Ellen Fisher, Executive Director of the Center for Battered Women was satisfied with HSRT's recommendations and had no comments. Bob Bowman, Assistant Director of Child and Family Services, requested that Council approved HSRT's recommendation. Child and Family Services offers a six month program for men who are violent with their families. James Strickland, Executive Director of Child Incorporated, also requested that Council approved HSRT's recommendations. They also run the Headstart Program. Mary Alice Bowman, Director of Community Bound, wasn't clear as to the amount of money that she was requesting. Rios Valdez, of the Community Education Consortium, is requesting a budget match of $429,037.00. Cesar Ramirez, President of Development Assistance for Rehabilitation, had no problems with HSRT's recommendation and asked Council for approval. Rose Landcaster, Executive Director of Extendicare, wants Council to approve her request, up $3,000.00 from last year. A gentleman, representing Legal Aid, came before Council and requested $163,000.00 so that two of the lawyers may stay on. He stated that they would be handling over 400 cases in 1983. Norman Kiki, representing the Max Scotchman and Cerebral Palsy of Texas, asked Council to approve their full request of $28,000.00. i Council Memo 5 September 14, 1982 A lady, who identified herself only as the Executive Director of Middle Earth, was satisfied with HSRT's recommendation and hoped that Council would consider their support. Albert Durse, Jr., Director of Narcotic Life Guard, Inc., requested that the City and the County split the $60,171.00 amount requested. Jill Lundquist, representing Open Door, did not specify how much funding she needed for her program. How ever she said that her program deal with intergrating handicapped and ino-handicapped children. Barbara Hale, Director of Peoples Clinic, did not ask for an increase over last year's funding. But she did stress that federal support had been severely cut back. An unidentified woman, representing Planned Parenthood, requested that Council approve their $20,000.00 request. This was primarily due to an increase in birth control pills. Toni Carrerra, Director of Services for the Elderly, was satisfied with HSRT's recommendation. Father John Corsmyer, President of the South Austin Neighborhood Council, was not specific in the amount requested, An unidentified woman, representing Sponsor Coordinator for Refugees, asked Council to approve her request for $62,108.00. Sally Watkins, Board Member of Teenage Parent Council, asked Council for $4,700.00. This is the only agency focusing on dealing with teenage pregnancy and teenage parenting. John Brubaker, of Austin Travis County MHMR, is requesting the City to approve his request of $538,849,00. This is primarily to help fund the diagnostic unit. Jane Mood, Executive Director of United Actions for the Elderly, is requesting the Council to approve her request of $59,223.00. This agency primarily helps chronically frail homebound elderly and needs the money to help fund its Meals on Wheels program. Maryann Edwards, Executive Director of University YWCA, requesed that Council approve $4,691,00. Tricia Smith, representing Community Gardens Program, requested that $23,741 be approved. An unidentified gentleman, representing Varnhouse Incorporated, requested the City of Austin approved ved his request of of $50,000,00. Varnhouse, Inc., deals with deaf multi-handicapped persons. David Perez, Director of Victory Outreach, is requesting $14,000.00 to help pay for a new location. Council Memo 6 September 14, 1982 τ Karen McClendon, Board Chair of the Volunteer Center, is asking for $16,500.00. Volunteer Center is a clearing house that refers volunteers in the community to the agencies that most need them, Jesse Flores, Director of the Youth Advocacy Program, was satisfied with HSRT's recommendations, Don Lang, Director of Youth Employment Services, agrees with the recommendations made by the Humas Service Resources Team. Mayor McClellan recesses the meeting and then unrecesses the meeting and decides to start. This is the General Revenue Sharing. Dick Stanford, in care of the Travis County Approaial District and as the Executive Director of the Workers Assistance Program of Texas. Stanford wants formal adoption of a policy by the governing board of an employee assistance, which recognizes alcoholism as a disease that provides insurance coverage for treatment. Also other personal problems such as alcohol abuse, drug abuse, maritial, legal, and financial problems, Mayor McClellan recessed the meeting until 5:00 when slated for the General Revenue Sharing Hearing. Peter Fears said the General Revenue Sharing money is going to non-personnel items in the Medical Assistance Program. He continued to say the the money would still be available for the Medical Assistance Program, But the difference is that the money would be spread throughout the General Fund, and then all of those employees would have the benefit of the protection. In other words the General Revenue Sharing money would be treated like sales tax, just like the ad valorem tax, just like the gross receipts tax, and it would be put into the General Jund, but there would not be a specified use for that. City Manager Meiszer said he didn't think there is one single thing that could be gained by what Mr. Fears described. What he is saying is that you cannot be trusted to guarantee the protection of the Constitution and the civil rights of our employees. Councilmember Duncan added that he is opposed to putting General Revenue Sharing fund and designating to personnel, because he didn't want our operating budget to start depending on General Revenue Sharing funds.