Recommendation 20230726-006: 2024 Bond Election for Cultural Centers — original pdf

Recommendation

JOINT INCLUSSION COMMITTEE (JIC) RECOMMENDATION 20230726-006 2024 CITY OF AUSTIN GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM for CULTURAL CENTERS in the PARD MUSEUMS & CULTURAL PROGRAMS DIVISION Date: July 26, 2023 Subject: 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond Program for Cultural Centers in the PARD Museums & Cultural Programs Division Motioned by: Commissioner Leonor Vargas Seconded By: Commissioner Amanda Afifi JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20230726-006 JOINTLY ENDORSED RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION: The Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) recommends that City Council direct the Interim City Manager to proceed with completing the directive given in Resolution 20221208-068, namely to include funding needed to complete construction and fulfillment of master plans for the Asian American Resource Center, Doughtery Arts Center, Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, and the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in the 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond election. RATIONALE: The Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that rather than pausing all General Obligation Bonds in 2024, it is essential our City’s cultural centers are prioritized for a bond package to enable them to continue to move forward in the next steps of their master plans. Each facility was developed to serve diverse and underrepresented arts and cultural communities within Austin and have undergone extensive public input and engagement throughout the last 10 years. Doing so would prevent delay of further funding for their next phases, which is particularly needed to ensure safe facilities for cultural programs, meet the increased demand and use by the public, reduce rising costs of construction related to inflation, and continue to serve the City’s growing diverse populations. DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL: WHEREAS, the City of Austin has the highest childcare costs in the State of Texas, with impacts felt across the city and telework provides flexibility and helps alleviate pressure on the affordability crisis facing families and childcare givers in Austin; and WHEREAS, it is the value of the City of Austin to be an inclusive city for all of its citizens including those of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and national origin backgrounds; and WHEREAS, according to section 2-1-204 of the City Code, the Joint Inclusion Committee is charged with advising the Council on issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion, and is representative body, consisting of the following ten commission members: African American Resource Advisory Commission, Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission, Commission for Women, Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Commission on Aging, Early Childhood Council, Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission, Human Rights Commission, LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Commission, and the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities; and WHEREAS, On December 8, 2022, Council approved Resolution No. 20221208-068 directing the City Manager to proceed with the construction of the Dougherty Arts Center (DAC) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) without a reduction in the scope of proposed work, and to develop an estimate of the resulting funding gap for inclusion in the 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond election; and to develop cost estimates for the next phase of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center and the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) as part of the development of the 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond Program; and WHEREAS, design considerations and other rising costs prevent the currently approved plan for the DAC, the MACC, and the AARC from proceeding due to a shortage of funds; and WHEREAS, the last City bond cycle to include funding for cultural facilities was in 2018; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Joint Inclusion Committee strongly recommends for the City Council to direct the Interim City Manager to move forward with developing a General Obligation Bond that is inclusive of the aforementioned Museums & Cultural Programs facilities in 2024 to ensure the full extent of their Master Plans is able to be fulfilled. ROLL CALL VOTE: 9 – 0 For: African American Resource Advisory Commission: Serita Fontanesi Asian American Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: Hanna Huang Commission for Women: Julie Glasser Commission on Aging: Richard Bondi Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Miriam Dorantes & Melissa Ortega Early Childhood Council: Leonor Vargas & Eliza Gordon Hispanic/Latino Quality-of Life-Resource Advisory Commission: Amanda Afifi Human Rights Commission: Morgan Davis Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities: Jennifer Powell  Against: None. Abstain: None. Absent: LGBTQ+ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: VACANT at time of vote. Attest: Jeremy Garza, Staff Liaison, Equity Office: x_______________________________