Special Meeting of the Music Commission June 3, 2020, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Music Commission meeting to be held June 3, 2020, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (June 2, by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the MUSIC COMMISSION Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-974-7963, Kimberly.McCarson@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Kimberly.McCarson@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Font Size: 12; Font: Times New Roman; Font Style: Regular MUSIC COMMISSION JUNE 3, 3:00 P.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Chair – Rick Carney, Vice-chair – Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone, Secretary - Anne-Charlotte Patterson, Parliamentarian - Oren Rosenthal, Al Duarte, Gavin Garcia, Doug Leveton, Patrice Pike, Paul Pinon, Graham Reynolds, Stuart Sullivan AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 2. OLD BUSINESS 3. NEW BUSINESS 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of minutes from Special Called Meeting May 6, 2020. a. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Live Music Fund following update from the Live Music Fund Working Group a. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the digital live music portal b. Discussion and Possible Action following by Reenie Collins regarding the impact of Covid-19 on Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and the Music Industry. c. Discussion and Possible Action following presentation by Nakia Reynoso regarding the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund eligibility requirements. d. Discussion and Possible Action following presentation by Rebecca …
Austin Texas Musicians Safe Gig Guideline Recommendations For Musicians and Venues WHEREAS, the health and public safety of Austin musicians, music venue staff, music industry professionals and patrons are crucial to the success of Austin’s economy and the well-being of our community WHEREAS, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Travis County is ongoing, and continuing to grow WHEREAS, on May 22, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the reopening of bars and nightclubs throughout the State of Texas WHEREAS, Austin Texas Musicians has learned from our constituent base of Austin musicians that they are being asked to perform live gigs in music venues once again WHEREAS, no standard agreement on safety guidelines currently exists between Austin musicians and Austin music venues NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: Austin Texas Musicians and HAAM adopt the following recommendations and urges the City Council of Austin, Texas to take action immediately. SAFE GIG GUIDELINES FOR MUSICIANS AND VENUES 1. Are you being paid? 1. Is it a fair deal? 2. Do you have a contract? 2. Is it safe for the band? 1. Is the stage large enough to social distance from each other and a safe distance from the audience? 2. Are stands and surfaces being sanitized? 3. Can you bring your own mic? 4. Is there a staff sound engineer to keep you from having to touch any gear that doesn’t belong to you? 3. Is the venue safe for the staff and fans? 1. Are masks required for entry? 2. Is staff required to wear masks? 3. Is the occupancy limit being enforced? 4. Is social distancing being enforced among fans? 5. Is hand sanitizer readily available for use? Regards, M. Patrick Buchta, Executive Director Austin Texas Musicians pat@austintexasmusicians.org c: 512-771-8863
Dear Austin City Council Members, As a collective group, we want to thank you for the current funding of $1.5mil that has already been approved to help musicians through this unprecedented crisis. Sadly, these funds are not enough to help our city’s music employers, venues, musicians, music workers, and music service providers survive the extended effects of COVID-19. The RISE funding (for individuals) may provide some direct assistance to members of these groups, but the CLEAR and ANCHOR funds were designed to support the local businesses and service providers that are critical bridges to having businesses and jobs for people to come back to once the crisis has passed. Below is our urgent ask for Council. The Austin Music community workers were the first to feel the crushing economic blow of SXSW’s cancellation and will also be the last to see any income as our City opens up. Tours and festivals, the largest employment revenue streams, will not resume until well into 2021 - painting an especially bleak picture economically for music workers, as well as for physical and mental health outcomes, as potential income and employment losses push a year out. Together we are requesting the following city council support: • Maintain the staff recommendation levels for CLEAR funding for local business employers - not only the amount originally recommended by Staff, but also including the proposed $35mil increase to Council on May 28th; and Inclusion of eligibility for music support service nonprofits inside of ANCHOR funding (see below). • • Support for $6mil for Creative Sector Assistance and growth of Austin Musician Disaster Relief Fund ($1.5mil) + Austin creative Space Disaster Relief Fund ($1mil). Critical CLEAR dollars for local businesses are being proposed for repurposing to programs for individuals like RISE. Without CLEAR dollars for monthly rent relief, most employers of musicians and music workers will be out of business permanently. The resulting loss of jobs and income will have a long term, detrimental cascading effect for housing, food and health insecurity for individuals. Similarly, each of our music service provider organizations has experienced reductions in normal nonprofit fundraising streams - without access to disaster relief, we expect many of our organizations to reach funding limits and shutter. Closure or interruption of service to these at-risk recipients will further damage lives and future recovery prospects. In reviewing the language for organizations eligible for ANCHOR funds, the areas health …
AUSTIN CULTURAL TOURISM AND LIVE MUSIC ECONOMY Red River Cultural District Support Recommendation 202006o4-001 WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin plan states that creativity is a cornerstone of Austin's identity and economic prosperity, and arts, culture, and creativity are essential keys to the City's unique and distinctive identity, and further are valued as vital contributors to our community's character, quality of life and economy, and collectively, the Austin music and creative ecosystem generates rich, social, cultural and economic benefits; and WHEREAS, on March 3, 2016, Council approved Resolution 20160303-019, the Music and Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution, which affirmed support for the music and creative ecosystem through short- and long- term goals specific to cultural tourism, revenue development, and venue retention; and WHEREAS, on March 26, 2020, Council approved Resolution 2020326-91, directed the City Manager to “develop programs to support Austinites that have been economically impacted by the public health crisis, including, but not limited to, the small and local businesses, musicians, and workers in the creative, hospitality, service, retail, restaurant, music, child care, construction, and film industries and other associated industries impacted by the COVID- 19 related cancellation of major events, including, but not limited to the 2020 SXSW Festival” ; and WHEREAS, on May 7, 2020, Council approved Resolution 20200507-023, directing the City Manager to develop an initial program directed towards sustaining small and local non-profit organizations and businesses using a portion of federal dollars designated for pandemic-related relief, and partner in the creation of a regional Economic Response Dashboard; and WHEREAS, on May 21, 2020, Council approved Resolution 20200521-095, directing the City Manager to prepare and take appropriate action to ensure the long-term sustainability of Austin's creative culture, including its arts and music industries; and WHEREAS, on May 21, 2020, Council approved Resolution 20200521-096, related to economic recovery and revitalization associated with the live music ecosystem, including in the Red River Cultural District, and authorizing the City Manager to implement feasible strategies; and WHEREAS, the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy and specifically to small businesses such as live music venues, restaurants, and bars may result in permanent closures of iconic venues if support is not provided to these industries; and WHEREAS, the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has eliminated most fundraising opportunities for the local music nonprofits; and WHEREAS, the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has eliminated revenue streams and work opportunities for …
AUSTIN MUSIC COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES The Austin Music Commission convened in a special called meeting on June 3, 2020 via videoconference. June 3, 2020 Board Members in Attendance: Chair – Rick Carney, Parliamentarian – Oren Rosenthal, Secretary - Anne-Charlotte Patterson, Gavin Garcia, Doug Leveton, Patrice Pike, Paul Pinon, Graham Reynolds Staff in Attendance: Kim McCarson, Stephanie Bergara CALL TO ORDER – 3:07pm The Music Commission meeting was held with social distancing modifications due to Coronavirus restrictions. Public comment was allowed on specific item numbers via telephone. The following speakers called in to speak: Julieann Banks spoke in favor of the Music Disaster Relief Fund but against some of the requirements; Patrick Buchta spoke about safe gig guidelines for musicians and venues engaging in live music performances during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of Minutes from Special Called Meeting on May 6, 2020. Commissioner Reynolds motions, Commissioner Leveton seconds, motion carries 8-0. 2. OLD BUSINESS 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Live Music Fund following update from the Live Music Fund Working Group. No action taken. a. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the digital live music portal. No action taken. b. Discussion and Possible Action following by Reenie Collins regarding the impact of Covid-19 on Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and the Music Industry. No action taken. c. Discussion and Possible Action following presentation by Nakia Reynoso regarding the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund eligibility requirements. No action taken. d. Discussion and Possible Action following presentation by Rebecca Reynolds regarding the Creative Space Disaster Relief Program. Commissioner Garcia motions to have special called meeting and staff update on the item and discuss eligibility requirements. Commissioner Reynolds seconds. Motion carries 8-0. e. Discussion and Possible Action following presentation by Cody Cowan regarding deployment of Commercial Loans for Economic Assistance and Recovery (CLEAR) 1 AUSTIN MUSIC COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES June 3, 2020 funds for disaster relief and identification of music non-profits for Austin Nonprofit Civic Health Organizations Relief (ANCHOR) eligibility. No action taken. f. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the City's response to the Covid-19 as it relates to the Music Industry. Commissioners discuss moving item to Future Agenda Items. No action taken. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Commissioner Reynolds motions and Commissioner Garcia seconds Discussion and Possible Action on the Music Disaster Relief Fund eligibility requirements and current state following …
