1 5 CITY OF AU 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 + Nicholas M. Meiszer City Manager Elden Aldridge Acting City Clerk FOUNDED 1839 Austin City Council MINUTES For SEPTEMBER 13, 1983 - SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - 1:00 Ρ.Μ. PUBLIC HEARING ON CULTURAL AND SOCIAL AGENCY CONTRACTS Council Chambers, 301 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: Mayor Mullen called to order the Special Called Meeting of the Council for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on cultural and social agency contracts. He noted the absence of Councilmember Urdy. Councilmember Rose entered the Council Chamber later in the meeting. Paul Leche, chairman, Arts Commission, reported to Council that requests for funding from the cultural agencies are higher this year and less money is expected. The request is for $800,000 more next year than they are getting in the current fiscal year. "Of course, " Mr. Leche said, "there are going to be some expectations that were not met. The Commission and PARD staff has been sending signals to organizations during the year about professionalism and performing downtown and minority audiences and paying the artists some real money, etc. Unfortunately, for PARD staff and the Commission, everybody took our advice and they took it this year. Laguna Gloria is moving downtown, Ballet Austin is going from an amateur to a professional company, the Choral Union turned itself around 180 degrees, and this all happened in the year when there was the least extra funds available." Mr. Leche pointed out that their procedure this year was different. "Our recommendations encompass about 3500 individual arts events. Instead of the Commission breaking down into 2 sub-committees, we had three this year........ We put together an advisory panel of experts. It worked out very well for dance. The third thing we did different this year is that in the middle of the year we did not deal with administration and long range plans during the funding cycle. That is not the time to resolve the issues. We had public hearings and after that adopted new criteria and new ways of doing things. This laid the groundwork for the long range arts plan.... This year it was harder than ever before. There were a lot of new Commission members who had to be socialized into the process. Staff was over burdened and we had more applications than any other time." Mayor Mullen then went through the list of organizations and asked their representatives if they agree with the recommended funding. Following is a list of organizations who expressed agreement and amounts: C Council Memo 2 9/13/83 Austin Symphony Orchestra, $66,653; Ballet Austin, $43,275; Laguna Gloria Art Museum, $170,532; Paramount Theatre, $56,000; Zachary Scott Theatre Center, $44,172; Austin Ballet Theatre, $22,059; League of United Chicano Artists, $36,963; Sharir Dance Company, $8,000; Women and their Work, $28,325; Liaison Services $4,900; Austin Contemporary Visual Arts Association, $12,384; Black Arts Alliance, $18,364; Dance Umbrella, $15,974; Music Umbrella, $10,140; Texas Circuit, $11,888; Special Services, $23,167; Austin Circle of Theatres/Sponsored Projects, $10,170; Park Concerts, $1,300; ACVAA/Sponsored Projects, $8,379; Austin Ethnic History Association, $1,151; Austin Austin Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, $1,200; Ballet East, $5,086; Black Arts Alliance/Sponsored Projects, $1,500; Dance Umbrella/Sponsored/Space Needs, $5,798; Dance Umbrella/Sponsored Projects, $6,170; Deborah Hay Dance Company, $11,350; Genesius Players and Black Arts Alliance, $4,600; Invisible, Inc., $3,000; KMFA-FM, $1,500; Live Oak Productions, $6,502; Music Umbrella/Sponsored Projects, $8,490; The Open Theatre, $1,605; People's History in Texas, $1,000; Phoenix Dance Theatre, $1,500; Texas Circuit/Sponsored Projects, $1,000; Zachary Scott and Community Production Groups, $15,529. Linda Preble, representing Austin Civic Chorus, said there is no funding for their spring concert. She said they emphasize quality in their performance and have strong audience support and requested Council to reconsider giving $3,500 more to include a spring concert. Austin Choral Union President Ray Hall told Council they are pleased with their funding. Jerry Storm, representing Austin Federation of Musicians, said it is a disaster for them to be cut back to $12,706 when they were funded $20,873 last year. He said they feel the proposal is an insult. Paul Leche said the Austin Federal Musicians give a gift to the City when they provide free concerts. He said the sub-committee recommended that neighborhood concerts be funded, but not the Town Lake concerts. Their reasoning is that the musicians perform in clubs around Austin and are seen there, there has been violence at the concerts which is not the fault of the musicians, and other groups turned around on a dime and survived without City funding. Mr. Leche said there is always money that lapses and is turned back to the City. This year the Commission has recommended that any lapsed money will go to the Music Umbrellas Songwriter's Fest and the free concerts. Mr. Leche said there is an excellent chance that they will be funded. Randy McCall, secretary, Austin Federation of Musicians, said they feel insulted about the program cut because musicians need support. He said $10,000 more is needed to get back to last year's level of funding. Mr. Meiszer, City Manager, told Council that it is not the intention to cut out free concerts because of funding of City concerts which is anticipated. Leonard Davila, professional musician, said he does not make any money in Austin, and asked for the continued support of free concerts. As an employer, he said he loses money at the concerts. Ernie Gammage said the concerts are a great civic event. Council Memo 3 9/13/83 Mayor Mullen asked about reported violence. Mr. Ehrler, Director of Parks and Recreation Department, told him there has been one fatal stabbing at a concert. and many complaints concerning the conduct of people at the concerts. Police officers are in attendance at the concerts. Discussion ensued. Mayor Mullen thought it might be a good idea for the City to purchase a fence and have the concerts free for Austin residents, but require admission from out of town residents. Mayor Mullen was told it would cost about $12,000 to purchase a fence. Councilmember Shipman said she favors buying the fence and renting it out for other events. : Michel Georsio, Capital City Playhouse, said he feels they are being underfunded. Paul Leche spoke about the Admistrative Aide A which is assigned to the Arts Commission. He spoke in favor of raising her salary to $19,904. She is needed, Mr. Leche said, to keep up with the contracts. Councilmember Duncan asked if any other board or commission has staff members. Mr. Meiszer said no, and he feels such a thing is totally inappropriate. He said he does not deny the need for such a person, but that should be taken care of through the Parks Department. Mayor Mullen commented to the speakers and representatives of arts and social agencies that Austin needs a convention center and if the people in the arts will support it, there will be more bed tax money for their programs. Recess and Meeting Resumed Council recessed its meeting at 1:40 pm, and resumed its recessed meeting at 3:20 p.m. David Lord, Austin Chamber of Commerce, told Council they have a new marketing plan to promote Austin and request $758,063. He said a bed tax of marketing plan $104,500,000.00 is expected. Lionel Aguierre, Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, thanked Council for their support in the past. He said their total budget request for the coming fiscal year is $275,000.00, which is an increase of $100,000 over the past year. Capitol City Chamber of Commerce was represented by Mildred Sneed, vice president. She said their purpose is to promote the Black business community and need $200,000.00 in order to operate. Mayor Mullen announced Council would discuss the requests for funding from social agencies. He went through the list of organizations and asked their representatives if they agree with the funding. Those who did not agree said they would speak speak at the hearing. Following is a list of organizations who expressed agreement and amounts: Council Memo 4 9/13/83 Austin Area Urban League, $38,501; Austin Child Guidance & Evaluation Center, $103,792; Austin Rehabilitation Center, $75,000; Capital Area Rehabilitation Center, $70,300; Caritas, $69,030; Child, Inc., $302,000; Child and Family Service, $40,538; Extend-a-Care, $25,300; People's Community Clinic, $78,672; Teenage Parent Council, $6,369; United Action for the Elderly, $70,500; Vaughn House, $73,873; Mayor Pro Tem Trevino pointed out that supplemental requests can be taken care of if the City Manager can find the extra money. Mayor Mullen agreed and the City Manager was instructed to find the money to cover supplemental requests made in the amount of $50,000.00 for various organizations. Carlos Herrera, Director of Human Services, reported to Council that the basic requests are 5% above last years funding. The supplemental amounts are important but not essential. i Rick Gerber, president, Austin Area Human Services Association, thanked Council for their support. Janice Gar, executive director, Association for Retarded Children, said they would like funding for parent-community education program to promote a better understanding of mental retardation and request $5,000 for this. A man who did not identify himself asked for a supplemental amount of $5,000 for Austin Child Guidance, Susan Ballard, representing Austin Community Nursery, asked for the $3,783 supplemental funding in addition to $47,484 recommended. A mother of a child in the Nursery also spoke and expressed satisfaction with her child's care. Austin Families executive director, Terry Gillis, spoke in favor of the voucher program. Judy Brown, Austin Family House, said their financing cut will cost them one clinical half time person. ARCIL, represented by Bob Simpson, said they are pleased with the funding. However, they have just found out they are responsible for Social Security payments in the amount of $3,000.00 for the ARCIL staff. Ginny Baudin, Austin Tenant's Council, asked for $53,000 in the revised proposal she sent to members of the Council, She said they will serve 25,000 more people this year. Beatrice Fincher, MHMR, said they are satisfied with the recommendation but want to ask about one point. John Brubacker, also with MHMR, said they serve over 7,200 disabled people and need to have flexibility in moving funds in the programs they provide. Mayor Pro Tem Trevino said this should be looked at. Mr. Meiszer said it would be done. Meg Wilson, Austin Women's Center, thanked Council for funding. Council Memo 5 9/13/83 Sammy Joseph, Big Brother/Big Sister, thanked Council for funding. Dara Gray, executive director, Capital Area Food Bank, thanked Council for their support and asked for an additional $1,432. Emily Adams, CEDEN, said they serve low income families who have children with mental delay. They would like an additional $19,000 to pay the salaries of two valuable staff persons. Cyndy Perkins, Center for Battered Women, asked for an additional $1,550.00 to enable them to give a 10% raise to two staff members. She said they also want to implement a men's counseling program and will need $23,000.00 for that either this year or next year. years. Anadel Castro, DAR, said they have been funded at the same level for 10 Nancy Townsend, representing Greater Council on Alcoholism, said they have no problem with the funding. service. Regina Rogoff, Legal Aid, would like more money provided for civil legal Larry Waterhouse of Middle Earth, thanked the Council for their support. Steve McKee, representing New Moon Wilderness, said their request is for help with tough kids who are counseled in a nature setting. Jill Gronquist, Open Door, asked for the supplemental funding requested. Sharon Ersh, Planned Parenthood, said they have speeded up their process of seeing people and they can use the extra money requested. South Austin NYC was represented by Bill Paar who said it is crucial that they receive the recommended amount but that they would also appreciate any more that can be granted. University Y was represented by several people involved in community gardens. Their request is for $19,669 for staff. Aileen Garcia, Women in Space, said their program is for alcohol prevention for women and are disappointed no money is recommended for them. director. : i A representative of the Volunteer Center said they need money to pay a Jesse Flores, representing Youth Advocacy, thanked Council for money recommended. Wanda Brown, Youth Employment System said they are satisfied. United Cerebral Palsy representative, Norman Kieke, said they would appreciate just a little more money. Their goal is for independence of those afflicted. A Council Memo 6 9/13/83 Daphne Henry, Gents Club, asked for more money for their program which serves 140 children in a youth program for personal richness and development. Parents Anonymous of Austin was not on the list for funding, but Daryl Jones said they are trying to expand their services to all parts of the City and have never had City funding. Faith Starnes, executive director of Parents Anonymous, asked Council for a total of $28,000.00. Mayor Pro Tem Trevino requested she submit their budget to City staff for review. ADJOURNMENT Council adjourned its meeting at 5:35 p.m.