20220404-3b: Austin Music Disaster Relief Funding — original pdf

Recommendation

MUSIC COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20220404-3b Commissioner Mahone Recommendation for Funding Seconded By: Chair Patterson Date: April 4, 2022 Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation The Music Commission recommends that the City of Austin fund the remaining applicants of the Austin Music Disaster Relief Grant. Description of Recommendation to Council The Music Commission recommends that additional disaster relief funds in the amount of $3.3M be made available to fill a shortfall documented by the Economic Development Department in the last round of ARPA funding. Rationale: A tremendous number of ATX working musicians who applied for disaster relief funds were denied due need vastly outstripping demand. Economic Development Department records show this shortfall to be $3.3M. As multiple COVID-19 variants continued to result in cancelled gigs through the early part of this year, our city’s musician have struggled financially since the beginning of the pandemic. The Music Commission recommends that the city help fund this gap through any available source. Vote For: 8 (Chair Patterson, Vice-chair Medicharla, Commissioners Reynolds, Gould, Limon, Mahone, Pike, Strickland) Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 3 (Commissioners Garcia, Rosenthal, and Sullivan) Attest: Kim McCarson 1 of 1