20250304-004: AARAC FY2025-26 Budget Recommendations — original pdf

Recommendation

African American Resource Advisory COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20250304-004 Seconded By: Commissioner Linder Date: March 4, 2025 Subject: Austin Public Library Black Literature Expansion Motioned By: Commissioner Smith Recommendation $1.5M Description of Recommendation to Council It is essential for the City of Austin to increase the budget of the Austin Public Library beyond the zero- based budget by $1.5M to support a meaningful investment in African American literature within the library's collection. This investment would not only benefit the African American community but also underscore Austin's dedication to embracing diversity and promoting equitable access to valuable literary resources. African American Literature would recommend including but not limited to playwrights, books on tape and digital, hardcopy, movies. including documentaries, and hosting black authors, playwriters and poets to come speak at the APL. Rationale: The current political climate is having a detrimental impact on youth and young adults who seek to connect with and learn from their cultural heritage through literature. This issue is particularly evident in the realm of African American authors and their works, which shed light on the struggles and experiences of African American communities. Public libraries are an integral part of our society, nurturing the minds of future generations. As Public Schools continue to reclaim their library autonomy it is vital Austin Public libraries expand their catalog to educate and inspire all individuals through the power of cultural reading. Public libraries serve as a vital resource for African American communities, offering summer reading programs and access to culturally specific literature and media. Therefore, the insufficient amount of African American literature in Austin Public Libraries would be a disservice to African Americans residing within the city limits and to all who have the curiosity to embrace diversity and learn from their stories. Investing in culturally significant African American literature would be a positive step for the Austin Public Library system, reinforcing Austin's commitment to inclusivity and diversity by addressing challenging topics such as institutional racism and implicit bias. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommendation $200,000 Description of Recommendation to Council $120K Bowling Center Bowling equipment at Millennium is more than 50 years old having been received from Bergstrom AFB. (Unique opportunity because of the closure of Highland Lanes) It needs major 1 of 3 upgrades and repair to compete with market competitors. Total renovation cost is $400K. A contribution of $120K would allow the Millennium to complete Phase I, adding lane lighting and bumpers to each of the 16 lanes. Due to inflation and projected increase in lumber and steel the AARAC would like to increase the $120,000 ask to $150,000. In addition, we request $50K Partnership Grants. The Millennium is continually approached by community individuals and organizations to support health, educational, and cultural programs. Lack of financial resources often hinders the development of these initiatives. We request $50K to be dedicated to a partnership grant to support requests of this type (including space hire, catering, AV) Rationale: The Millennium was constructed in 1999 to provide a safe space for recreational and cultural activities for youth and families of the East Austin community. While the original use of the Millennium remains consistent, the facility will seek to expand its programming and resource base to further serve the needs of an ever- growing community. Our vision moving forward is based on a stronger integration of economic initiatives, including corporate partnerships, fundraising, and creative resource development will be the key to long term sustainability ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommendation $ 150,000 Description of Recommendation to Council Torch Literary Arts works to combat these disheartening statistics and make a meaningful impact in the lives of Black women by encouraging and amplifying their work as writers and industry leaders. Black women writers live and create at the intersection of race, gender, and class. Representation and visibility remain scant across the literary landscape. Creating and supporting spaces for the advancement of Black women writers is vital to ensure our voices are heard and our stories are available for all readers. Rationale: Austin has experienced a steady decline in the African American population while the city continues to grow. Studies have attributed this to "a lack of sense of belonging" among other factors. Torch aims to build a community where Black women writers in Central Texas know they belong. A community that welcomes emerging writers and provides them with the resources to cultivate their writing and pursue a literary career. Providing our programs locally at no or low cost makes the dream of living a writer's life a reality for those who cannot afford the increasing expenses of traditional education and writing programs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommendation $10,000,000 Description of Recommendation to Council The Carver is a safe space for all that is free and open to the public. It pushes to preserve, exhibit, display, and support Black history, culture, and art every day. The dream for the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center is to ensure that space continues serving as the heart of Austin’s 2 of 3 Black creative community and beyond. Through the growth and meaningful impact of the expansion plan: The Carver can continue to be a cultural pillar in east Austin and the Black Cultural District. Rationale: The Carver's funding in comparison with the other cultural centers and a measure of equity in staffing, size and construction updates is disproportionate to other City of Austin cultural heritage facilities. Recent actions by the Parks Department widened the inequities. The additional funding has been mitigated in their budget, and in the wake of the announcement that the Carver will be moving into the new Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Department, the Parks Department has started to move positions out of the Carver 's roster and into other PARD units. This will diminish Carver’s ability to provide marketing, programming and other services in the short term and long term, while continuing to work with a stagnant budget . In the long term, it may make it more difficult for the Carver to achieve funding equity. Vote: 9-0 For: Chair Horton, Vice Chair Eugene, Commissioners Davis, Fowler, Harden, Hayes, Linder, Rudd, Smith Against: None Abstain: None Absent: None Attest: (African American Resource Advisory Commission Staff Liaison) 3 of 3