Closed Caption Log, Council Inauguration, 6/25/08

Note: Since these log files are derived from the Closed Captions created during the Channel 6 live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. These Closed Caption logs are not official records of Council Meetings and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official minutes, please contact the City Clerk at 974-2210.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: WELL, WELCOME, EVERYBODY. IT'S ANIMATING EVENING TO BE HERE IN THE -- IT'S AN EXCITING EVENING TO BE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I PLEASE ASK YOU TO JOIN ME BY STANDING AS THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT GUARD PRESENTS THE COLORS.

Mayor Wynn: PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

(music) OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT. WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING. WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BROUGHT STARS, THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT. ORE THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING. AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. (music) OH SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANK HE WILLED BANNER YET WAVE, (music) ORE THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE (music)(music).

Mayor Wynn: FEEL FREE TO APPLAUD. [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: THANK YOU. AMONG OTHER THINGS, MR. BRETT BARNES IS A CITY OF AUSTIN ARTS COMMISSIONER. AT THIS TIME PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE REVEREND JOSEPH PARKER, THE PASTOR OF DAVID'S CHAPEL, TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

LET US BOW. ALL MIGHTY GOD, TODAY WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHOM WE THE PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO LEAD OUR CITY. IT IS NOT EASY FOR THEM TO LEAD SUCH A DIVERSE PEOPLE WHOSE MANY WANTS CANNOT ALL BE SATISFIED. IT IS NOT EASY TO DISCERN WHICH ACTIONS WILL PRODUCE THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER. IT IS NOT EASY TO WITHSTAND THE HUGE PERSONAL TEMPTATIONS THAT COME WITH POWER. IT IS NOT EASY TO BEAR THE EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURES AND THE COMPLEX CONNIVING WORLD OF POLITICS. IT IS NOT EASY TO DO THESE THINGS IN THE MIDST OF A CITY THAT PROMOTES THE NOTION THAT IT WANTS TO BE A GLOBAL CITY, YET WEIRD OR UNIQUE. SO ASSIST OUR ELECTED LEADER, PARTICULARLY OUR MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THE NEW COUNCILMEMBERS, RANDI SHADE AND LAURA MORRISON. BLESS THEM WITH THE STAMINA, THE TOUGHNESS, THE COMPASSION AND THE INTEGRITY TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND HONORABLE IN YOUR SIGHT. GRANT OUR CITY A SUCCESSION OF POLICY MAKER AND EXECUTIVES, ADMINISTRATORS AN MANAGERS WHO HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DO JUSTICE AND MERCY AND WALK HUMBLY BEFORE YOU. PROTECT THEM FROM LOSING THEIR WITS, THEIR NERVES OR THEIR SOULS IN THE HEADY ATMOSPHERE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SO THAT WE THE PEOPLE MAY FLOURISH IN A CITY BLESSED WITH LIBERTY AND PEACE AND JUSTICE. GRANT OUR LEADERS THE WILL AND THE CHARACTER TO PORK FOR THE GOOD OF OUR WHOLE PEOPLE, NOT SIMPLY THE BENEFIT OF THOSE IN A POSITION TO WRANGLE FAVORS AND FORCE CONCESSIONS. LET THERE BE PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION FOR THOUGH WHO MAY BE CALLED OR CONSIDERED THE LEAST OF THESE AMONG US. HELP US AS CITIZENS TO BEAR OUR SHARE OF THE BURDEN OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. MAKE US LOVE PEACE AND FAIR DEALING. MODERATE OUR POLITICAL PASSIONS WITH CALMNESS AND SELF-CONTROL. ALLOW US TO SEE SITUATIONS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OTHERS THAT WE MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE COMMON GOOD AND HEAR THE PRAYERS OF THE PRAYING PEOPLE AMONG US AS THEY CALL ON YOU FOR OUR POLITICAL AND POLICY LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. EQUIP OUR CIVIL SERVANTS WITH SOUND UNDERSTANDING, FAR SIGHTED PLANNING AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY. ENABLE THEM TO RAISE ABOVE PETTY POWER GAINS THAT THROUGH THEIR WISE LEADERSHIP THE WELFARE OF OUR PEOPLE MAY BE ASSURED AND PEACE MAINTAINED AT HOME AND ABROAD. AND IN A PUBLIC SETTING SUCH AS THIS, I AM AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE THOSE THAT DO NOT PRAY OR THERE MAY BE THOSE THAT DO PRAY, BUT IN THE NAME OF ALLAH OR BUDA OR SOME OTHER NAME, BUT I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: THANK YOU, REVEREND PARKER. AND YOU MAY BE SEATED. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE GEORGE ORLINDA NARANJO THAT WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.

IT IS A GREAT HONOR THAT I SWEAR THE NEW COUNCILMEMBERS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THEIR POSITIONS. THE CITIZENS ARE HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THIS AND AGAIN IF EVERYBODY WILL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND YOU WILL REPEAT AFTER ME AND INSERT MY NAME WHERE I INSERT MY NAME AND YOUR OFFICE WHEN I ASK YOU TO DO SO. I... DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF... AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, STATE OF TEXAS, AND I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PROTECT, PRESERVE AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS GREAT STATE SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] CONGRATULATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ].

Mayor Wynn: LET ME BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE JOINED ON THIS DAIS BY -- AGAIN BY COUNCILMEMBER LEFFINGWELL, COUNCILMEMBER SHADE, COUNCILMEMBER MORRISON. [ APPLAUSE ] EARLIER THIS MORNING WE ACTUALLY HAD A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WHEREBY WE DO THE SORT OF STATE MANDATED CANVASSING OF THE ELECTION TO MAKE ALL OF THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OFFICIAL. AND THAT WAS APPROPRIATELY ACCOMPLISHED THIS MORNING, AND SO EVERYBODY IS LEGAL AND JUSTLY ELECTED, I'M PROUD TO SAY. [ LAUGHTER ] AT THIS TIME THERE BEING A QUORUM PRESENT, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 6:12 P.M. WE ARE HERE IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THE CITY HALL BUILDING, 301 WEST SECOND STREET. IT IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2008. OUR ONE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE THEN HEAR FROM THE NEWEST MEMBERS AND COUNCILMEMBER LEFFINGWELL IS OUR ONE POSTED ITEM, WHICH WE DO EACH OF THESE SWEARING IN CEREMONIES, IS TO APPROVE THE ELECTION OF OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AS YOU PROBABLY RECOGNIZE, SERVES NUMEROUS CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS, MOSTLY IN MY ABSENCE. WE TAKE THE ROLE VERY SERIOUSLY. WITH THAT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

Cole: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE COUNCILMEMBER MCCRACKEN AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

Mayor Wynn: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER COLE TO APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER MCCRACKEN AS MAYOR PRO TEM THAT I WOULD SECOND. FURTHER COMMENTS ON OUR NOMINATION OF A MAYOR PRO TEM? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. HEARING.

AYE.

Mayor Wynn: OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES ON A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO. CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR PRO TEM MCCRACKEN.

Mayor Wynn: AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON THE MEMBERS WHO WERE JUST SWORN IN TO MAKE SOME STATEMENTS. WE WILL GO IN THE SEQUENCE OF THEIR PLACES ON THE DAIS. FIRST PLEASE JOIN ME IN BECOME WELCOMING BACK COUNCILMEMBER REELECTED LEE LEFFINGWELL.

Leffingwell: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF, AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY SINGLE OUT MY COUNCIL STAFF BECAUSE THEY NEVER GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE NANCY WILLIAMS, LARRY SCHOOLER, JANET JACKSON, AND KELLY BROCK. CHAP CLAP[ APPLAUSE ] AND I WAS GOING TO SAY WELCOME TO OUR HONORED GUESTS OUT THERE, BUT SINCE WE ALL OWN THE PLACE, MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO SAY. [ LAUGHTER ] THREE YEARS AGO I STOOD IN THIS CHAMBER AND TOOK THE OATH FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN I FELT PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO HAVE WON YOUR TRUST TO REPRESENT YOU, AND I FEEL THE VERY SAME WAY TONIGHT. BUT THIS TIME IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THIS YEAR VOTERS IN EFFECT HELD A REFERENDUM ON MY FIRST TERM. THE VOTERS KNOW THE RECORD. THEY EITHER LIKE IT OR THEY DON'T LIKE IT, AN THEY CAST THEIR VOTES ACCORDINGLY. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN FOR THE CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE PLACED IN ME FOR A SECOND TERM ON THE CITY COUNCIL. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, MARK NATHAN, DAVID BUTTS, SUSAN HARY, ANDY MORMAN AND MARK MORRISON. THEY ARE THE BEST IN AUSTIN AND MAYBE THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR ALL I KNOW. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THANKS TO THE MANY FRIENDS WHO VOLUNTEERED ON MY CAMPAIGN, WORKED ON IT, MADE CONTRIBUTIONS. I'M NOT GOING TO NAME ALL OF YOU BECAUSE BACK INTO CAMPAIGN MODE, CHECK MY WEBSITE, LEFFINGWELL.COM, THEY'RE ALL ON THERE. BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO MY SON FRANK AND MY GRANDSON BLAKE WHO CAME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE FROM ROUND ROCK. THEY BRAVED I-35. [ LAUGHTER ] AND IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO BE A GRANDFATHER FOR JUST A MOMENT, I WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT BLAKE. HE'S NINE YEARS OLD, HE'S READ EVERY HARRY POTTER BOOK, AND HE PASSED HIS TAKS TEST THIS SPRING WITH A GRADE OF 100%. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOU. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]. AND FINALLY, I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY, AND I'M NO EXCEPTION. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN THERE ARE MORE MOOD SWINGS THAN A TEENAGE ROMANCE. [ LAUGHTER ] IT'S BEEN TOUGH, SO A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY WIFE JULIE FOR HER STEADFAST SUPPORT. SHE'S RIGHT HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU KNOW, I'M A NATIVE OF AUSTIN, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE. FOR ONE THING OUR POPULATION HAS DOUBLED THREE TIMES IN MY LIFETIME. FROM A LITTLE UNDER 100,000 TO ABOUT 750,000 PEOPLE TODAY. AND BASED ON OUR PAST HISTORY, WE CAN EXPECT TO DOUBLE AGAIN IN THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS TO ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE. AUSTIN IS KIND OF LIKE THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER YOGI BARRA'S FAVORITE RESTAURANT. HE SAYS NOBODY GOES THERE ANYMORE. IT'S TOO CROWDED. WELL, IT'S CROWDED HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT PEOPLE KEEP COMING JUST LIKE THEY KEEP COMING TO YOGI'S RESTAURANT. SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE THAT KIND OF GROWTH AND STILL PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND OUR ESSENTIAL CHARACTER AS A CITY? ONE MORE YOGI BARRA STORY. HE WAS GIVING DIRECTIONS TO SOMEONE TO GET TO HIS HOUSE AND AS PART OF THOSE DIRECTIONS HE SAYS, NOW, WHEN YOU GET TO THE FORK IN THE ROAD, TAKE IT. [ LAUGHTER ] WELL, AT FIRST -- WHAT HE REALLY MEANT WAS THAT BOTH FORKS WOULD LEAD TO HIS HOUSE, SO IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER T WASN'T ALL IMPORTANT WHICH FORK YOU TOOK. THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO KEEP MOVING AND NOT STOP AT THE FORK IN THE ROAD JUST BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T DECIDE EXACTLY WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE. SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TO SET SOME OF THOSE GOALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND EXECUTE ON THOSE GOALS WILL AFFECT HOW AUSTIN GROWS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS AND LONGER. AND THOSE WHO COME AFTER US WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THOSE DECISIONS GOOD OR BAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SO I WANT TO CLOSE WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE FROM A GREAT TEXAN, A GREAT AMERICAN, LYNDON JOHNSON. HE ONCE SAID "IT'S EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WHAT'S DIFFICULT IS TO KNOW THE RIGHT THING. " I THINK THAT'S VERY PROFOUND. AND I PLEDGE TO YOU TONIGHT THAT I WILL DO MY VERY BEST TO TRY TO KNOW AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. CHAP CLAP[ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: IN PLACE 3, COUNCILMEMBER RANDI SHADE. [ APPLAUSE ]

SHADE: THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK YOU, REVEREND PARKER ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR INVOCATION. THAT WAS WONDERFUL AND IT SUMMED UP A LOT OF WHAT GOING ON IN MY MIND. YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A LOT OF HELP AND A LOT OF ADVICE FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM, AND MANY OF YOU WHO I DON'T KNOW YET, I'M SURE YOU WILL BE OFFERING THAT TO ME AS I GET INTO THIS JOB. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WHICH I'VE DONE COUNTLESS TIMES AS MOST OF US HAVE DONE THROUGH SCHOOL, I JUST ABOUT LOST IT, BROKE INTO TEES JUST BECAUSE WE JUST TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE. I'VE WORKED SO HARD IN THIS COMMUNITY AS A VOLUNTARY. I'VE WORKED FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS BEFORE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE OATH, I TAKE IT REALLY SERIOUSLY, AND I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD HOW EMOTIONALLY THAT WOULD AFFECT ME. AND I JUST -- I THINK IF THERE'S ONE POINT THAT I WOULD WANT TO MAKE TONIGHT, IT WOULD BE JUST THAT, THAT I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, I'M MOTIVATED TO SERVE IT. THIS IS A NEW WAY FOR ME TO STEP UP, AND I AM SURE I WON'T BE PERFECT, BUT I WILL DO THE VERY BEST THAT I CAN TO BE RESPONSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AS WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY STATED IN THE INVOCATION, THIS IS A COMPLEX CITY. WE'RE A GLOBAL CITY. WE'RE WEIRD, WE'RE EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND I CERTAINLY KNEW THAT FROM MY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BEFORE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT THEN WHILE RUN FOG OFFICE I THINK IF THERE WAS A SINGLE POINT THAT REALLY WAS DRIVEN HOME TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE TACKLING ARE EVERY BIT AS DIVERSE AS THIS COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN, AUSTIN. THE DEBATES AND ARGUMENTS AND SOMETIME THE FIGHTS. YOU KNOW, I JUST PLEDGE AGAIN TO YOU TO DO MY VERY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PHILOSOPHY THAT I RAN ON, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS EVERYBODY'S AUSTIN, IS EVIDENT IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO. I TAKE THIS JOB REALLY SERIOUSLY. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL THANK YOU'S. AND AGAIN, MANY OF YOU ARE IN THIS ROOM. I CAN'T LIST EVERYBODY BY NAME, BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARTY BUYER, WHO IS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND SHE WILL BE JOINING THE STAFF SHORTLY. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE WORKING ON PAPERWORK ISSUES NOW. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE ON BOARD VERY QUICKLY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JOE PINELLI, THE CAMPAIGN TREASURER. [ APPLAUSE ] ALTHOUGH JANIS IS NOT HERE, WHEN YOU GET JOE ON BOARD, YOU DO GET JANIS. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW JANIS, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD DEAL. SO I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT I WILL NOT HAVE HAD THE COUNSELOR TO ENTER THIS RACE -- HAD THE COURAGE TO ENTER THIS RACE AND PARTICULARLY CHALLENGE AN INCUMBENT IF IT WEREN'T FOR JOE'S CONFIDENCE. HE DOES EVERYTHING FROM DELIVERING MEDICINE TO HANGING SIGNS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I'M SO INDEBTED AND THANKFUL. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARK NATHAN, WHO WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN MY CAMPAIGN AND IS A DEAR FRIEND. AND SUSAN HARY, WHO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING ON CHANNEL 6 OR OUT HERE, BUT SHE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY HELPFUL. CINDY FRIEDMAN IS BACK THERE WITH MY POT LUCK COLLEGE ROOMMATE AT DOBIE. HERE WE HAVE 25 YEARS LATER AND SHE HELPED -- SHE'S A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, VERY TALENTED AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE BEAUTY OF MY SIGNS THAT I KNOW WERE ALL OVER TOWN. AND RAUL GARZA, ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND FROM COLLEGE, WHO HELPED ALSO WITH ALL OF THE MESSAGING. JIMMY FLANAGAN IS HERE AND HE HELPED WITH OUR WEBSITE. SHARON JUSTICE IS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS WHILE I WAS THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT U.T. AND SHE WAS A TIRELESS VOLUNTEER, MAKING CALLS, HANGING SIGNS. I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY MORE OF YOU HERE, BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE CORE TEAM. IAGO CAN'T SI THANK YOU -- I JUST CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. I WANT TO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN ME, YOU CAN, BUT I'M GOING TO. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THEN I ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY PARTNER, KAYLA. YOU DEFINITELY -- SHE'S VERY GOOD ADVISOR AND HELP AND HAS JUST MADE ALL THIS POSSIBLE. I WILL NOT BE DOING THIS WITHOUT HER. OUR SON ETHAN WHO SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE FAMILY PHOTO ON THE WEBSITE OR HE MADE IT INTO THE STATESMAN. HE'S AT HOME BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORST TIME OF DAY TO BRING A TWO-YEAR-OLD. WE KNEW FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY NOT TO BRING HIM. OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE A BABY GIRL ON THE WAY, AND I WAS GLAD ALSO THAT I FIT INTO THE SUIT BECAUSE I THINK IF WE WAITED A LITTLE LONGER I WOULDN'T HAVE. SO SHE WILL BE JOINING US IN OCTOBER. AGAIN, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLKS WHO ARE STANDING HERE, MY COLLEAGUES. AND TO MARC OTT, THE CITY STAFF THAT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO MEET, ALL OF YOU, BUT THOSE I HAVE SO FAR, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. LAURA AND LEE AND I WERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SO WE WITH KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL. WE'VE SEEN EACH OTHER IN THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SHERYL AND BRUCETER AND WILL AND MIKE HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WELL MAKING THIS TRANSITION AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. JENNIFER OFFERED AS WELL TO DO THAT. AND OF COURSE BETTY, WHO IS RIGHT OVER THERE -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I MEAN, I JUST WISH THAT I HAD HAD THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE DAIS WITH YOU, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE NOT FAR AWAY AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE TAKING YOU UP ON YOUR OFFERS TO CONTINUE TO HELP. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. SHE WAS A VERY BIG HELP AND ENCOURAGER ALONG THE WAY. I HEARD IN THE TRIBUTES MADE TO HER LAST WEEK THIS IDEA OF THE BETTY DUNKERLEY BOOT CAMP, AND I'M SIGNED UP FOR IT ALREADY. [ LAUGHTER ] ANYWAY, I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING THAT I'VE BEEN -- I'VE PLAYED SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND ONE TIME I WAS ASKED WHEN I WAS RUNNING MY BUSINESS WHAT INEXPIRES MY STYLE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AN ODD QUESTION, BUT IT WAS IN A MAGAZINE, SO YOU CAN EXPECT THAT KIND OF QUESTION. AND I ACTUALLY SAID, AUSTIN, TEXAS. YOU KNOW, THAT I'M A LITTLE BIT HOFFBRAU AND A LITTLE BIT FILMINGS. I THINK THAT'S TRUE. AN I THINK THAT I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IT'S INFLUENCED ME, IT'S PUT ITS MARK ON ME AND I FEEL SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE ARE PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME TO ELECT ME TO ALLOW ME THE CHANCE TO HAVE MY MARK ON THIS COMMUNITY AND IN TURN YOUR MARK. THANK YOU. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING. [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: AND FOR PLACE 4, COUNCILMEMBER LAURA MORRISON.

MORRISON:

HELLO, EVERYONE. I COULD NOT BE MORE DELIGHTED THAN TO BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AS A NEW CITY COUNCILMEMBER. THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO IS TO SHAKE OFF THIS BUILT-IN SENSE I HAVE THAT A BUZZER IS GOING TO SOUND IN THREE MINUTE INDICATING THAT MY TIME IS UP. [ LAUGHTER ] THE BUZZER OR NO BUZZER, I WILL TRY TO MAKE THIS SHORT. [ LAUGHTER ]

Mayor Wynn: TWO MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS. [ LAUGHTER ]

MORRISON: YOU MAY KNOW ME, MANY OF YOU KNOW ME FROM MY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL AND SEVERAL OTHER ROLES. I AM DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT PERSPECTIVE TO THE DAIS. YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT ALSO I HAVE WORKED IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, AND SO I'M VERY TUNED IN TO ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS. I'M VERY MINDFUL THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN ORE CHART SHOWS CLEARLY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REPORTS TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. SO I AM HERE TO TELL YOU -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]. SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM HERE READY FOR DUTY, REPORTING TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. BUT BEFORE I GO ON, I WANT TO THANK MY NEW COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR WELCOMING ME. I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING HARD WITH YOU ALL ON OUR SHARED PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BETTY DUNKERLEY FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OVER ALL THOSE YEARS. [ APPLAUSE ] AND ALSO A THANK YOU TO JENNIFER KIM FOR HER WORK AND HER DEVOTION TO THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. [ APPLAUSE ] I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CITY MANAGER MARC OTT AND WISH HIM WELL ALONG WITH HIS EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITY STAFF THAT WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THIS CITY THE BEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO LIVE IN. AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND GETTING TO MEET THE ONES OF YOU THAT I DON'T YET KNOW. SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE THE BUDGET, AND I AM READY TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND DIVE IN FOR THE MAYBE 27 HOURS OF WORK SESSIONS THAT YOU ALREADY HAD. I WAS BUSY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND COULDN'T WATCH. YOU PROBABLE KNOW THERE'S A PROJECTED SHORTFALL, SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE. I CONSIDER THE BUDGET A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S PRIORITIES AND VALUES AND I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND OUR VALUES AND PRIORITIES IS TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I PLAN TO DO AS A COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. BECAUSE I SAID OVER THE MANY MONTHS OF THE CAMPAIGN THAT I RAN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN A CITY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US, BUT WHO DO I MEAN WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE ALL OF US THAT AUSTIN NEEDS TO WORK FOR? IT'S PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU HERE, IT'S PEOPLE LIKE ORA AND JOHNNIE AND LINDA AND TONY FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY WHO DEDICATE HOURS TO PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS A HOME FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, FROM AFFORDABILITY TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, FROM OUR SCHOOLS TO OUR TREE CANOPIES. IT'S PEOPLE LIKE LISA AND MARK WHO RUN SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HAVE FOR YEARS. AND ASAN WHO RUNS A NEW SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS AND ALL THE NEW AUSTINITES WHO HAVE ADDED THEIR TALENT AND GREAT ENERGY TO MAKE THIS CITY A GREAT CITY. IT'S PEOPLE LIKE REBECCA WHO I MET ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, A YOUNG MOTHER WHO HAS COMPLETED A RIGOROUS COURSE IN NURSING, AND HAS PROVIDED A FRESH MODEL OF EDUCATION AND PROSPERITY FOR HER FAMILY. AN AUSTIN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE THAT LIVES AND WORKS HERE TODAY IS A COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HOME, FOR A GOOD JOB AND A SENSE OF SECURITY. IT'S A CITY WITH A SAFETY NET AND THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES AND PARKS NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE. IT'S A CITY THAT RESPECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT AND USES OUR NATURAL RESOURCES WISELY SO WE DON'T COMPROMISE THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. YOU KNOW, I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1981 WITH MY FAMILY, AND THE FIRST WEEK WE LIVED HERE WE WENT SWIMMING IN BARTON SPRINGS, AND I SWAM THERE MANY OTHER TIME. AND THE FIRST DAY AFTER THE ELECTION I WENT SWIMMING IN BARTON SPRINGS, AND IT'S A REALLY FIRM REMINDER THAT -- OF THE PRECIOUS TREASURES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY. I NOW CONSIDER IT PART OF MY JOB BE DESCRIPTION TO GO SWIMMING IN BRINK. I'M PRETTY PSYCHED ABOUT THAT. SO MAKING AUSTIN A CITY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US ALSO MEANS HAVING A GOVERNMENT THAT PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY AND EMBRACES THE PASSION AND THE EXPERTISE THAT'S OFFERED THROUGH PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. AND WE'LL ONLY GET THERE IF WE RESPECT THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT EVERYBODY BRINGS AND WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS CITY. BUT TONIGHT IS NOT ABOUT WORK. THERE'S ENOUGH OF THAT AHEAD, SO I WANT TO DO A FEW THANK YOU'S. FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE FIVE CHALLENGERS THAT WERE IN THE RACE WITH ME. YOU KNOW DEMOCRACY IS A REALLY INCREDIBLE THING, AND I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THEM, AND HAVING SIX PEOPLE IN THE RACE MADE FOR A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT ANYBODY THAT'S WILLING TO RUN A CAMPAIGN IS REALLY DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE. SO I THANK THEM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THEM. I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES BECAUSE THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY OF THEM. MY DEEPEST THANKS TO MY CAMPAIGN STAFF AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE AMAZING NUMBER OF HOURS AND DEDICATION THAT THEY BROUGHT TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. THEY WERE THERE IN THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD, AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF BOTH OF THEM. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE WHO ENCOURAGED ME AND SUPPORTED ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I'M JUST VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP. BUT TOP AMONG THE THANKS AND THE SUPPORT REALLY GOES TO MY FAMILY. I'M SO HAPPY THAT MY SON BENNY COULD BE WITH US TONIGHT FROM PORTLAND. SAY HI, BENNY. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR OTHER SON WILL IS IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE COULDN'T MAKE IT IN TO TOWN. SO HE'S WATCHING IT STREAMING LIVE ON THE INTERNET. HI WILLIE. [ LAUGHTER ] AND ALSO TO MY MOM AND DAD. IT'S NICE TO KNOW I CAN STILL MAKE THEM PROUD. I DO HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT MY MOTHER, WHENEVER I WOULD TALK ABOUT PLANS TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, SHE WOULD ALSO ASK WHY AREN'T YOU RUNNING FOR MAYOR? [ LAUGHTER ]

Mayor Wynn: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. [ LAUGHTER ]

MORRISON: OFFICIAL NOTICE, NO PLANS FOR RUNNING FOR MAYOR. BUT ABOVE ALL MY THANKS GO TO MY HUSBAND PHIL. HE WAS COMPLETELY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ME TAKING THIS ON, ABOUT US TAKING THIS ON IN THE VERY BEGINNING. HE'S MAINTAINED THAT ENTHUSIASM AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND HE CAN TELL YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM, IT'S NOT AN EASY ROLE TO FILL. SO I THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] ANYWAYS, THIS IS A HUMAN CHALLENGE AND I'M REALLY -- THIS IS A HUMAN CHALLENGE. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD AND I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE AUSTIN A CITY THAT WORK FOR ALL OF US. EVEN THOUGH NO BUZZER HAS SOUNDED YET, I'M GOING TO CLOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: IN A MINUTE I'LL FORMALLY ADJOURN THIS MEETING, THERE BEING NO MORE BUSINESS BEFORE THIS SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DOING THAT, WE'RE GOING TO INVITE BRENT BARNES TO COME BACK UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND IF YOU WILL PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING AND WE'LL JOIN BRETT IN SYNCING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. -- IN SYNCING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. WE'LL ALSO HAVE TOM DIVINE ANY OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO GIVE OUR BENDIX. BEFORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BRIEFLY, NOW THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN SWORN IN, I AM NOW SERVING WITH MY SIXTH AND FINAL CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE SERVED WITH THREE CITY MANAGERS. I HAVE SERVED IN REALLY GOOD TIME AND I HAVE SERVE BED IN REALLY BAD TIMES, AND THEN I SERVED IN GOOD TIMES AGAIN. [ LAUGHTER ] AND NOW -- AND NOW WE ARE SERVING, IN MY OPINION, IN SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN TIMES. BUT AT NO TIME IN MY EIGHT YEARS ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DAIS, TRYING MY BEST TO SERVE THE CITY, HAVE I FELT MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY AND WHAT OUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE. IN LARGE PART IT'S BECAUSE OF THE REMARKABLE BREADTH OF TALENT, OF EXPERTISE, OF LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE REPRESENTED WITH ME NOW ON THIS DAIS. AND THE REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE, PASSIONATE AND ENGAGED CITIZENRY THAT WE GET TO SERVE ALONG WITH. AND SO ON BEHALF OF, AGAIN THIS MY SIXTH AND FINAL CITY COUNCIL, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR. AND SO -- [ APPLAUSE ] PART OF THAT, OF COURSE, WAS THE FACT THAT I HAD THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF THESE YEARS, BOTH WHEN SHE WAS ON CITY STAFF AND ALONGSIDE ME ON THE DAIS AS WE WERE COUNCILS IN PLACES 4 AND 5 AND THEN AS SHE BECAME MAYOR PRO TEM DURING MY TERM AS MAYOR, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING OUTGOING MAYOR PRO TEM BETTY DUNKERLEY. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THERE BEING NO MORE BUSINESS BE BEFORE THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN, FORMALLY WE STAND ADJOURNED. PLEASE STANDING WHILE BRETT LEADS US IN AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, TO BE FOLLOWED BY OUR BENEDICTION. (SINGING) [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR REVEREND DIVINEY.

LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER. MIGHTY GOD WE COME TONIGHT, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON THESE NEW LEADERS AND ON THE WHOLE COUNCIL AS THEY BEGIN THIS TIME OF CARRYING OUT AN AMAZINGLY DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX TASK. AS THEY STEP INTO POSITION OF TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND INFLUENCE. WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE THEM IN EACH STEP OF THE WAY, AND WE ASK YOUR BLESSING NOT ONLY ON THEM, BUT THOSE WHO LEAD BEYOND THIS DAIS IN ALL OF THIS CITY. WE ASK YOUR GRACE TO OPEN THEIR EARS THAT THEY MAY HEAR THE VOICES OF ALL US IN THIS COMMUNITY, OF WHATEVER BACKGROUND OR STANDING. AND WE ASK YOU TO GUARD THEM WITH INTEGRITY THAT THEY SIMPLY NOTTRON THE LOUD OR THE POWERFUL OR TO THE WEALTHY OR TO THE VOICES OF THEIR OWN HEARTS AND AMBITIONS, BUT RATHER HELP THEM TO DISCERN IN THE BACK BELL OF -- BABBLE OF VOICES IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE TRUTH THAT YOU SPEAK. HELP THEM TO SET ASIDE WHATEVER AGENDAS MAY DISTRACT THEM THAT THEY MAY DISCERN YOUR VISION FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND GUIDE THEM, WE PRAY, IN WHATEVER TONGUE WE SPEAK, AND IN WHATEVER WAY WE ADDRESS YOU. GUIDE THEM TO MAKE THE DECISIONS TO SPEAK THE WORDS AND TO TAKE THE ACTIONS THAT WILL LEAD THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE FUTURE THAT IS HELD DEAR IN YOUR HEART. WE ASK THAT YOU BRING YOUR FUTURE OF BLESSING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN. AMEN.

Mayor Wynn: THANK YOU, REVEREND. FOLKS, PLEASE JOIN US IN THE LOBBY FOR REFRESHMENTS AND MORE ENTERTAINMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Mayor Wynn: WELL, WELCOME, EVERYBODY. IT'S ANIMATING EVENING TO BE HERE IN THE -- IT'S AN EXCITING EVENING TO BE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I PLEASE ASK YOU TO JOIN ME BY STANDING AS THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT GUARD PRESENTS THE COLORS.

Mayor Wynn: PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

(music) OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT. WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING. WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BROUGHT STARS, THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT. ORE THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING. AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. (music) OH SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANK HE WILLED BANNER YET WAVE, (music) ORE THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE (music)(music).

Mayor Wynn: FEEL FREE TO APPLAUD. [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: THANK YOU. AMONG OTHER THINGS, MR. BRETT BARNES IS A CITY OF AUSTIN ARTS COMMISSIONER. AT THIS TIME PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE REVEREND JOSEPH PARKER, THE PASTOR OF DAVID'S CHAPEL, TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

LET US BOW. ALL MIGHTY GOD, TODAY WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHOM WE THE PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO LEAD OUR CITY. IT IS NOT EASY FOR THEM TO LEAD SUCH A DIVERSE PEOPLE WHOSE MANY WANTS CANNOT ALL BE SATISFIED. IT IS NOT EASY TO DISCERN WHICH ACTIONS WILL PRODUCE THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER. IT IS NOT EASY TO WITHSTAND THE HUGE PERSONAL TEMPTATIONS THAT COME WITH POWER. IT IS NOT EASY TO BEAR THE EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURES AND THE COMPLEX CONNIVING WORLD OF POLITICS. IT IS NOT EASY TO DO THESE THINGS IN THE MIDST OF A CITY THAT PROTES THE NOTION THAT IT WANTS TO BE A GLOBAL CITY, YET WEIRD OR UNIQUE. SO ASSIST OUR ELECTED LEADER, PARTICULARLY OUR MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THE NEW COUNCILMEMBERS, RANDI SHADE AND LAURA MORRISON. BLESS THEM WITH THE STAMINA, THE TOUGHNESS, THE COMPASSION AND THE INTEGRITY TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND HONORABLE IN YOUR SIGHT. GRANT OUR CITY A SUCCESSION OF POLICY MAKER AND EXECUTIVES, ADMINISTRATORS AN MANAGERS WHO HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DO JUSTICE AND MERCY AND WALK HUMBLY BEFORE YOU. PROTECT THEM FROM LOSING THEIR WITS, THEIR NERVES OR THEIR SOULS IN THE HEADY ATMOSPHERE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SO THAT WE THE PEOPLE MAY FLOURISH IN A CITY BLESSED WITH LIBERTY AND PEACE AND JUSTICE. GRANT OUR LEADERS THE WILL AND THE CHARACTER TO PORK FOR THE GOOD OF OUR WHOLE PEOPLE, NOT SIMPLY THE BENEFIT OF THOSE IN A POSITION TO WRANGLE FAVORS AND FORCE CONCESSIONS. LET THERE BE PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION FOR THOUGH WHO MAY BE CALLED OR CONSIDERED THE LEAST OF THESE AMONG US. HELP US AS CITIZENS TO BEAR OUR SHARE OF THE BURN OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. MAKE US LOVE PEACE AND FAIR DEALING. MODERATE OUR POLITICAL PASSIONS WITH CALMNESS AND SELF-CONTROL. ALLOW US TO SEE SITUATIONS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OTHERS THAT WE MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE COMMON GOOD AND HEAR THE PRAYERS OF THE PRAYING PEOPLE AMONG US AS THEY CALL ON YOU FOR OUR POLITICAL AND POLICY LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. EQUIP OUR CIVIL SERVANTS WITH SOUND UNDERSTANDING, FAR SIGHTED PLANNING AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY. ENABLE THEM TO RAISE ABOVE PETTY POWER GAINS THAT THROUGH THEIR WISE LEADERSHIP THE WELFARE OF OUR PEOPLE MAY BE ASSURED AND PEACE MAINTAINED AT HOME AND ABROAD. AND IN A PUBLIC SETTING SUCH AS THIS, I AM AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE THOSE THAT DO NOT PRAY OR THERE MAY BE THOSE THAT DO PRAY, BUT IN THE NAME OF ALLAH OR BUDA OR SOME OTHER NAME, BUT I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: THANK YOU, REVEREND PARKER. AND YOU MAY BE SEATED. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE GEORGE ORLINDA NARANJO THAT WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.

IT IS A GREAT HONOR THAT I SWEAR THE NEW COUNCILMEMBERS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THEIR POSITIONS. THE CITIZENS ARE HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THIS AND AGAIN IF EVERYBODY WILL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND YOU WILL REPEAT AFTER ME AND INSERT MY NAME WHERE I INSERT MY NAME AND YOUR OFFICE WHEN I ASK YOU TO DO SO. I... DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF... AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, STATE OF TEXAS, AND I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PROTECT, PRESERVE AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS GREAT STATE SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] CONGRATULATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ].

Mayor Wynn: LET ME BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE JOINED ON THIS DAIS BY -- AGAIN BY COUNCILMEMBER LEFFINGWELL, COUNCILMEMBER SHADE, COUNCILMEMBER MORRISON. [ APPLAUSE ] EARLIER THIS MORNING WE ACTUALLY HAD A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WHEREBY WE DO THE SORT OF STATE MANDATED CANVASSING OF THE ELECTION TO MAKE ALL OF THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OFFICIAL. AND THAT WAS APPROPRIATELY ACCOMPLISHED THIS MORNING, AND SO EVERYBODY IS LEGAL AND JUSTLY ELECTED, I'M PROUD TO SAY. [ LAUGHTER ] AT THIS TIME THERE BEING A QUORUM PRESENT, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 6:12 P.M. WE ARE HERE IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THE CITY HALL BUILDING, 301 WEST SECOND STREET. IT IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2008. OUR ONE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE THEN HEAR FROM THE NEWEST MEMBERS AND COUNCILMEMBER LEFFINGWELL IS OUR ONE POSTED ITEM, WHICH WE DO EACH OF THESE SWEARING IN CEREMONIES, IS TO APPROVE THE ELECTION OF OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AS YOU PROBABLY RECOGNIZE, SERVES NUMEROUS CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS, MOSTLY IN MY ABSENCE. WE TAKE THE ROLE VERY SERIOUSLY. WITH THAT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

Cole: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE COUNCILMEMBER MCCRACKEN AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

Mayor Wynn: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER COLE TO APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER MCCRACKEN AS MAYOR PRO TEM THAT I WOULD SECOND. FURTHER COMMENTS ON OUR NOMINATION OF A MAYOR PRO TEM? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. HEARING.

AYE.

Mayor Wynn: OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES ON A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO. CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR PRO TEM MCCRACKEN.

Mayor Wynn: AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON THE MEMBERS WHO WERE JUST SWORN IN TO MAKE SOME STATEMENTS. WE WILL GO IN THE SEQUENCE OF THEIR PLACES ON THE DAIS. FIRST PLEASE JOIN ME IN BECOME WELCOMING BACK COUNCILMEMBER REELECTED LEE LEFFINGWELL.

Leffingwell: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF, AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY SINGLE OUT MY COUNCIL STAFF BECAUSE THEY NEVER GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE NANCY WILLIAMS, LARRY SCHOOLER, JANET JACKSON, AND KELLY BROCK. CHAP CLAP[ APPLAUSE ] AND I WAS GOING TO SAY WELCOME TO OUR HONORED GUESTS OUT THERE, BUT SINCE WE ALL OWN THE PLACE, MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO SAY. [ LAUGHTER ] THREE YEARS AGO I STOOD IN THIS CHAMBER AND TOOK THE OATH FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN I FELT PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO HAVE WON YOUR TRUST TO REPRESENT YOU, AND I FEEL THE VERY SAME WAY TONIGHT. BUT THIS TIME IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THIS YEAR VOTERS IN EFFECT HELD A REFERENDUM ON MY FIRST TERM. THE VOTERS KNOW THE RECORD. THEY EITHER LIKE IT OR THEY DON'T LIKE IT, AN THEY CAST THEIR VOTES ACCORDINGLY. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN FOR THE CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE PLACED IN ME FOR A SECOND TERM ON THE CITY COUNCIL. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, MARK NATHAN, DAVID BUTTS, SUSAN HARY, ANDY MORMAN AND MARK MORRISON. THEY ARE THE BEST IN AUSTIN AND MAYBE THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR ALL I KNOW. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THANKS TO THE MANY FRIENDS WHO VOLUNTEERED ON MY CAMPAIGN, WORKED ON IT, MADE CONTRIBUTIONS. I'M NOT GOING TO NAME ALL OF YOU BECAUSE BACK INTO CAMPAIGN MODE, CHECK MY WEBSITE, LEFFINGWELL.COM, THEY'RE ALL ON THERE. BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO MY SON FRANK AND MY GRANDSON BLAKE WHO CAME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE FROM ROUND ROCK. THEY BRAVED I-35. [ LAUGHTER ] AND IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO BE A GRANDFATHER FOR JUST A MOMENT, I WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT BLAKE. HE'S NINE YEARS OLD, HE'S READ EVERY HARRY POTTER BOOK, AND HE PASSED HIS TAKS TEST THIS SPRING WITH A GRADE OF 100%. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOU. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]. AND FINALLY, I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY, AND I'M NO EXCEPTION. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN THERE ARE MORE MOOD SWINGS THAN A TEENAGE ROMANCE. [ LAUGHTER ] IT'S BEEN TOUGH, SO A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY WIFE JULIE FOR HER STEADFAST SUPPORT. SHE'S RIGHT HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU KNOW, I'M A NATIVE OF AUSTIN, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE. FOR ONE THING OUR POPULATION HAS DOUBLED THREE TIMES IN MY LIFETIME. FROM A LITTLE UNDER 100,000 TO ABOUT 750,000 PEOPLE TODAY. AND BASED ON OUR PAST HISTORY, WE CAN EXPECT TO DOUBLE AGAIN IN THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS TO ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE. AUSTIN IS KIND OF LIKE THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER YOGI BARRA'S FAVORITE RESTAURANT. HE SAYS NOBODY GOES THERE ANYMORE. IT'S TOO CROWDED. WELL, IT'S CROWDED HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT PEOPLE KEEP COMING JUST LIKE THEY KEEP COMING TO YOGI'S RESTAURANT. SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE THAT KIND OF GROWTH AND STILL PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND OUR ESSENTIAL CHARACTER AS A CITY? ONE MORE YOGI BARRA STORY. HE WAS GIVING DIRECTIONS TO SOMEONE TO GET TO HIS HOUSE AND AS PART OF THOSE DIRECTIONS HE SAYS, NOW, WHEN YOU GET TO THE FORK IN THE ROAD, TAKE IT. [ LAUGHTER ] WELL, AT FIRST -- WHAT HE REALLY MEANT WAS THAT BOTH FORKS WOULD LEAD TO HIS HOUSE, SO IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER T WASN'T ALL IMPORTANT WHICH FORK YOU TOOK. THE IMPORTANT THING WAS TO KEEP MOVING AND NOT STOP AT THE FORK IN THE ROAD JUST BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T DECIDE EXACTLY WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE. SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TO SET SOME OF THOSE GOALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND EXECUTE ON THOSE GOALS WILL AFFECT HOW AUSTIN GROWS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS AND LONGER. AND THOSE WHO COME AFTER US WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THOSE DECISIONS GOOD OR BAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SO I WANT TO CLOSE WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE FROM A GREAT TEXAN, A GREAT AMERICAN, LYNDON JOHNSON. HE ONCE SAID "IT'S EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WHAT'S DIFFICULT IS TO KNOW THE RIGHT THING. " I THINK THAT'S VERY PROFOUND. AND I PLEDGE TO YOU TONIGHT THAT I WILL DO MY VERY BEST TO TRY TO KNOW AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. CHAP CLAP[ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: IN PLACE 3, COUNCILMEMBER RANDI SHADE. [ APPLAUSE ]

SHADE: THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK YOU, REVEREND PARKER ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR INVOCATION. THAT WAS WONDERFUL AND IT SUMMED UP A LOT OF WHAT GOING ON IN MY MIND. YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A LOT OF HELP AND A LOT OF ADVICE FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM, AND MANY OF YOU WHO I DON'T KNOW YET, I'M SURE YOU WILL BE OFFERING THAT TO ME AS I GET INTO THIS JOB. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WHICH I'VE DONE COUNTLESS TIMES AS MOST OF US HAVE DONE THROUGH SCHOOL, I JUST ABOUT LOST IT, BROKE INTO TEES JUST BECAUSE WE JUST TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE. I'VE WORKED SO HARD IN THIS COMMUNITY AS A VOLUNTARY. I'VE WORKED FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS BEFORE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE OATH, I TAKE IT REALLY SERIOUSLY, AND I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD HOW EMOTIONALLY THAT WOULD AFFECT ME. AND I JUST -- I THINK IF THERE'S ONE POINT THAT I WOULD WANT TO MAKE TONIGHT, IT WOULD BE JUST THAT, THAT I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, I'M MOTIVATED TO SERVE IT. THIS IS A NEW WAY FOR ME TO STEP UP, AND I AM SURE I WON'T BE PERFECT, BUT I WILL DO THE VERY BEST THAT I CAN TO BE RESPONSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AS WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY STATED IN THE INVOCATION, THIS IS A COMPLEX CITY. WE'RE A GLOBAL CITY. WE'RE WEIRD, WE'RE EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND I CERTAINLY KNEW THAT FROM MY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BEFORE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT THEN WHILE RUN FOG OFFICE I THINK IF THERE WAS A SINGLE POINT THAT REALLY WAS DRIVEN HOME TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE TACKLING ARE EVERY BIT AS DIVERSE AS THIS COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN, AUSTIN. THE DEBATES AND ARGUMENTS AND SOMETIME THE FIGHTS. YOU KNOW, I JUST PLEDGE AGAIN TO YOU TO DO MY VERY BEST TO MAKEURE THAT THE PHILOSOPHY THAT I RAN ON, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS EVERYBODY'S AUSTIN, IS EVIDENT IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO. I TAKE THIS JOB REALLY SERIOUSLY. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL THANK YOU'S. AND AGAIN, MANY OF YOU ARE IN THIS ROOM. I CAN'T LIST EVERYBODY BY NAME, BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARTY BUYER, WHO IS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND SHE WILL BE JOINING THE STAFF SHORTLY. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE WORKING ON PAPERWORK ISSUES NOW. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE ON BOARD VERY QUICKLY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JOE PINELLI, THE CAMPAIGN TREASURER. [ APPLAUSE ] ALTHOUGH JANIS IS NOT HERE, WHEN YOU GET JOE ON BOARD, YOU DO GET JANIS. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW JANIS, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD DEAL. SO I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT I WILL NOT HAVE HAD THE COUNSELOR TO ENTER THIS RACE -- HAD THE COURAGE TO ENTER THIS RACE AND PARTICULARLY CHALLENGE AN INCUMBENT IF IT WEREN'T FOR JOE'S CONFIDENCE. HE DOES EVERYTHING FROM DELIVERING MEDICINE TO HANGING SIGNS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I'M SO INDEBTED AND THANKFUL. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARK NATHAN, WHO WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN MY CAMPAIGN AND IS A DEAR FRIEND. AND SUSAN HARY, WHO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING ON CHANNEL 6 OR OUT HERE, BUT SHE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY HELPFUL. CINDY FRIEDMAN IS BACK THERE WITH MY POT LUCK COLLEGE ROOMMATE AT DOBIE. HERE WE HAVE 25 YEARS LATER AND SHE HELPED -- SHE'S A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, VERY TALENTED AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE BEAUTY OF MY SIGNS THAT I KNOW WERE ALL OVER TOWN. AND RAUL GARZA, ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND FROM COLLEGE, WHO HELPED ALSO WITH ALL OF THE MESSAGING. JIMMY FLANAGAN IS HERE AND HE HELPED WITH OUR WEBSITE. SHARON JUSTICE IS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS WHILE I WAS THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT U.T. AND SHE WAS A TIRELESS VOLUNTEER, MAKING CALLS, HANGING SIGNS. I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY MORE OF YOU HERE, BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE CORE TEAM. IAGO CAN'T SI THANK YOU -- I JUST CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. I WANT TO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN ME, YOU CAN, BUT I'M GOING TO. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THEN I ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY PARTNER, KAYLA. YOU DEFINITELY -- SHE'S VERY GOOD ADVISOR AND HELP AND HAS JUST MADE ALL THIS POSSIBLE. I WILL NOT BE DOING THIS WITHOUT HER. OUR SON ETHAN WHO SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE FAMILY PHOTO ON THE WEBSITE OR HE MADE IT INTO THE STATESMAN. HE'S AT HOME BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORST TIME OF DAY TO BRING A TWO-YEAR-OLD. WE KNEW FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY NOT TO BRING HIM. OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE A BABY GIRL ON THE WAY, AND I WAS GLAD ALSO THAT I FIT INTO THE SUIT BECAUSE I THINK IF WE WAITED A LITTLE LONGER I WOULDN'T HAVE. SO SHE WILL BE JOINING US IN OCTOBER. AGAIN, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLKS WHO ARE STANDING HERE, MY COLLEAGUES. AND TO MARC OTT, THE CITY STAFF THAT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO MEET, ALL OF YOU, BUT THOSE I HAVE SO FAR, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. LAURA AND LEE AND I WERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SO WE WITH KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL. WE'VE SEEN EACH OTHER IN THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SHERYL AND BRUCETER AND WILL AND MIKE HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WELL MAKING THIS TRANSITION AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. JENNIFER OFFERED AS WELL TO DO THAT. AND OF COURSE BETTY, WHO IS RIGHT OVER THERE -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I MEAN, I JUST WISH THAT I HAD HAD THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE DAIS WITH YOU, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE NOT FAR AWAY AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE TAKING YOU UP ON YOUR OFFERS TO CONTINUE TO HELP. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. SHE WAS A VERY BIG HELP AND ENCOURAGER ALONG THE WAY. I HEARD IN THE TRIBUTES MADE TO HER LAST WEEK THIS IDEA OF THE BETTY DUNKERLEY BOOT CAMP, AND I'M SIGNED UP FOR IT ALREADY. [ LAUGHTER ] ANYWAY, I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING THAT I'VE BEEN -- I'VE PLAYED SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND ONE TIME I WAS ASKED WHEN I WAS RUNNING MY BUSINESS WHAT INEXPIRES MY STYLE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AN ODD QUESTION, BUT IT WAS IN A MAGAZINE, SO YOU CAN EXPECT THAT KIND OF QUESTION. AND I ACTUALLY SAID, AUSTIN, TEXAS. YOU KNOW, THAT I'M A LITTLE BIT HOFFBRAU AND A LITTLE BIT FILMINGS. I THINK THAT'S TRUE. AN I THINK THAT I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IT'S INFLUENCED ME, IT'S PUT ITS MARK ON ME AND I FEEL SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE ARE PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME TO ELECT ME TO ALLOW ME THE CHANCE TO HAVE MY MARK ON THIS COMMUNITY AND IN TURN YOUR MARK. THANK YOU. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING. [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: AND FOR PLACE 4, COUNCILMEMBER LAURA MORRISON.

MORRISON:

HELLO, EVERYONE. I COULD NOT BE MORE DELIGHTED THAN TO BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AS A NEW CITY COUNCILMEMBER. THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO IS TO SHAKE OFF THIS BUILT-IN SENSE I HAVE THAT A BUZZER IS GOING TO SOUND IN THREE MINUTE INDICATING THAT MY TIME IS UP. [ LAUGHTER ] THE BUZZER OR NO BUZZER, I WILL TRY TO MAKE THIS SHORT. [ LAUGHTER ]

Mayor Wynn: TWO MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS. [ LAUGHTER ]

MORRISON: YOU MAY KNOW ME, MANY OF YOU KNOW ME FROM MY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL AND SEVERAL OTHER ROLES. I AM DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT PERSPECTIVE TO THE DAIS. YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT ALSO I HAVE WORKED IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, AND SO I'M VERY TUNED IN TO ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS. I'M VERY MINDFUL THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN ORE CHART SHOWS CLEARLY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REPORTS TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. SO I AM HERE TO TELL YOU -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]. SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM HERE READY FOR DUTY, REPORTING TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. BUT BEFORE I GO ON, I WANT TO THANK MY NEW COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR WELCOMING ME. I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING HARD WITH YOU ALL ON OUR SHARED PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BETTY DUNKERLEY FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OVER ALL THOSE YEARS. [ APPLAUSE ] AND ALSO A THANK YOU TO JENNIFER KIM FOR HER WORK AND HER DEVOTION TO THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. [ APPLAUSE ] I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CITY MANAGER MARC OTT AND WISH HIM WELL ALONG WITH HIS EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITY STAFF THAT WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THIS CITY THE BEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO LIVE IN. AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND GETTING TO MEETHE ONES OF YOU THAT I DON'T YET KNOW. SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE THE BUDGET, AND I AM READY TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND DIVE IN FOR THE MAYBE 27 HOURS OF WORK SESSIONS THAT YOU ALREADY HAD. I WAS BUSY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND COULDN'T WATCH. YOU PROBABLE KNOW THERE'S A PROJECTED SHORTFALL, SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE. I CONSIDER THE BUDGET A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S PRIORITIES AND VALUES AND I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND OUR VALUES AND PRIORITIES IS TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I PLAN TO DO AS A COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. BECAUSE I SAID OVER THE MANY MONTHS OF THE CAMPAIGN THAT I RAN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE AUSTIN A CITY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US, BUT WHO DO I MEAN WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE ALL OF US THAT AUSTIN NEEDS TO WORK FOR? IT'S PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU HERE, IT'S PEOPLE LIKE ORA AND JOHNNIE AND LINDA AND TONY FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY WHO DEDICATE HOURS TO PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS A HOME FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, FROM AFFORDABILITY TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, FROM OUR SCHOOLS TO OUR TREE CANOPIES. IT'S PEOPLE LIKE LISA AND MARK WHO RUN SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HAVE FOR YEARS. AND ASAN WHO RUNS A NEW SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS AND ALL THE NEW AUSTINITES WHO HAVE ADDED THEIR TALENT AND GREAT ENERGY TO MAKE THIS CITY A GREAT CITY. IT'S PEOPLE LIKE REBECCA WHO I MET ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, A YOUNG MOTHER WHO HAS COMPLETED A RIGOROUS COURSE IN NURSING, AND HAS PROVIDED A FRESH MODEL OF EDUCATION AND PROSPERITY FOR HER FAMILY. AN AUSTIN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE THAT LIVES AND WORKS HERE TODAY IS A COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HOME, FOR A GOOD JOB AND SENSE OF SECURITY. IT'S A CITY WITH A SAFETY NET AND THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO BASIC SERCES AND PARKS NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE. IT'S A CITY THAT RESPECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT AND USES OUR NATURAL RESOURCES WISELY SO WE DON'T COMPROMISE THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. YOU KNOW, I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1981 WITH MY FAMILY, AND THE FIRST WEEK WE LIVED HERE WE WENT SWIMMING IN BARTON SPRINGS, AND I SWAM THERE MANY OTHER TIME. AND THE FIRST DAY AFTER THE ELECTION I WENT SWIMMING IN BARTON SPRINGS, AND IT'S A REALLY FIRM REMINDER THAT -- OF THE PRECIOUS TREASURES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY. I NOW CONSIDER IT PART OF MY JOB BE DESCRIPTION TO GO SWIMMING IN BRINK. I'M PRETTY PSYCHED ABOUT THAT. SO MAKING AUSTIN A CITY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US ALSO MEANS HAVING A GOVERNMENT THAT PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY AND EMBRACES THE PASSION AND THE EXPERTISE THAT'S OFFERED THROUGH PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. AND WE'LL ONLY GET THERE IF WE RESPECT THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT EVERYBODY BRINGS AND WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS CITY. BUT TONIGHT IS NOT ABOUT WORK. THERE'S ENOUGH OF THAT AHEAD, SO I WANT TO DO A FEW THANK YOU'S. FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE FIVE CHALLENGERS THAT WERE IN THE RACE WITH ME. YOU KNOW DEMOCRACY IS A REALLY INCREDIBLE THING, AND I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THEM, AND HAVING SIX PEOPLE IN THE RACE MADE FOR A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT ANYBODY THAT'S WILLING TO RUN A CAMPAIGN IS REALLY DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE. SO I THANK THEM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THEM. I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES BECAUSE THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY OF THEM. MY DEEPEST THANKS TO MY CAMPAIGN STAFF AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE AMAZING NUMBER OF HOURS AND DEDICATION THAT THEY BROUGHT TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. THEY WERE THERE IN THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD, AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF BH OF THEM. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE WHO ENCOURAGED ME AND SUPPORTED ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I'M JUST VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP. BUT TOP AMONG THE THANKS AND THE SUPPORT REALLY GOES TO MY FAMILY. I'M SO HAPPY THAT MY SON BENNY COULD BE WITH US TONIGHT FROM PORTLAND. SAY HI, BENNY. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR OTHER SON WILL IS IN SAN FRANCISCO. HE COULDN'T MAKE IT IN TO TOWN. SO HE'S WATCHING IT STREAMING LIVE ON THE INTERNET. HI WILLIE. [ LAUGHTER ] AND ALSO TO MY MOM AND DAD. IT'S NICE TO KNOW I CAN STILL MAKE THEM PROUD. I DO HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT MY MOTHER, WHENEVER I WOULD TALK ABOUT PLANS TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, SHE WOULD ALSO ASK WHY AREN'T YOU RUNNING FOR MAYOR? [ LAUGHTER ]

Mayor Wynn: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. [ LAUGHTER ]

MORRISON: OFFICIAL NOTICE, NO PLANS FOR RUNNING FOR MAYOR. BUT ABOVE ALL MY THANKS GO TO MY HUSBAND PHIL. HE WAS COMPLETELY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ME TAKING THIS ON, ABOUT US TAKING THIS ON IN THE VERY BEGINNING. HE'S MAINTAINED THAT ENTHUSIASM AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND HE CAN TELL YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM, IT'S NOT AN EASY ROLE TO FILL. SO I THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] ANYWAYS, THIS IS A HUMAN CHALLENGE AND I'M REALLY -- THIS IS A HUMAN CHALLENGE. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD AND I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE AUSTIN A CITY THAT WORK FOR ALL OF US. EVEN THOUGH NO BUZZER HAS SOUNDED YET, I'M GOING TO CLOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: IN A MINUTE I'LL FORMALLY ADJOURN THIS MEETING, THERE BEING NO MORE BUSINESS BEFORE THIS SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DOING THAT, WE'RE GOING TO INVITE BRENT BARNES TO COME BACK UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND IF YOU WILL PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING AND WE'LL JOIN BRETT IN SYNCING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. -- IN SYNCING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. WE'LL ALSO HAVE TOM DIVINE ANY OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO GIVE OUR BENDIX. BEFORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BRIEFLY, NOW THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN SWORN IN, I AM NOW SERVING WITH MY SIXTH AND FINAL CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE SERVED WITH THREE CITY MANAGERS. I HAVE SERVED IN REALLY GOOD TIME AND I HAVE SERVE BED IN REALLY BAD TIMES, AND THEN I SERVED IN GOOD TIMES AGAIN. [ LAUGHTER ] AND NOW -- AND NOW WE ARE SERVING, IN MY OPINION, IN SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN TIMES. BUT AT NO TIME IN MY EIGHT YEARS ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DAIS, TRYING MY BEST TO SERVE THE CITY, HAVE I FELT MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY AND WHAT OUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE. IN LARGE PART IT'S BECAUSE OF THE REMARKABLE BREADTH OF TALENT, OF EXPERTISE, OF LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE REPRESENTED WITH ME NOW ON THIS DAIS. AND THE REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE, PASSIONATE AND ENGAGED CITIZENRY THAT WE GET TO SERVE ALONG WITH. AND SO ON BEHALF OF, AGAIN THIS MY SIXTH AND FINAL CITY COUNCIL, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR. AND SO -- [ APPLAUSE ] PART OF THAT, OF COURSE, WAS THE FACT THAT I HAD THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF THESE YEARS, BOTH WHEN SHE WAS ON CITY STAFF AND ALONGSIDE ME ON THE DAIS AS WE WERE COUNCILS IN PLACES 4 AND 5 AND THEN AS SHE BECAME MAYOR PRO TEM DURING MY TERM AS MAYOR, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING OUTGOING MAYOR PRO TEM BETTY DUNKERLEY. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THERE BEING NO MORE BUSINESS BE BEFORE THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN, FORMALLY WE STAND ADJOURNED. PLEASE STANDING WHILE BRETT LEADS US IN AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, TO BE FOLLOWED BY OUR BENEDICTION. (SINGING) [ APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Wynn: PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR REVEREND DIVINEY.

LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER. MIGHTY GOD WE COME TONIGHT, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON THESE NEW LEADERS AND ON THE WHOLE COUNCIL AS THEY BEGIN THIS TIME OF CARRYING OUT AN AMAZINGLY DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX TASK. AS THEY STEP INTO POSITION OF TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND INFLUENCE. WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE THEM IN EACH STEP OF THE WAY, AND WE ASK YOUR BLESSING NOT ONLY ON THEM, BUT THOSE WHO LEAD BEYOND THIS DAIS IN ALL OF THIS CITY. WE ASK YOUR GRACE TO OPEN THEIR EARS THAT THEY MAY HEAR THE VOICES OF ALL US IN THIS COMMUNITY, OF WHATEVER BACKGROUND OR STANDING. AND WE ASK YOU TO GUARD THEM WITH INTEGRITY THAT THEY SIMPLY NOTTRON THE LOUD OR THE POWERFUL OR TO THE WEALTHY OR TO THE VOICES OF THEIR OWN HEARTS AND AMBITIONS, BUT RATHER HELP THEM TO DISCERN IN THE BACK BELL OF -- BABBLE OF VOICES IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE TRUTH THAT YOU SPEAK. HELP THEM TO SET ASIDE WHATEVER AGENDAS MAY DISTRACT THEM THAT THEY MAY DISCERN YOUR VISION FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND GUIDE THEM, WE PRAY, IN WHATEVER TONGUE WE SPEAK, AND IN WHATEVER WAY WE ADDRESS YOU. GUIDE THEM TO MAKE THE DECISIONS TO SPEAK THE WORDS AND TO TAKE THE ACTIONS THAT WILL LEAD THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE FUTURE THAT IS HELD DEAR IN YOUR HEART. WE ASK THAT YOU BRING YOUR FUTURE OF BLESSING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN. AMEN.

Mayor Wynn: THANK YOU, REVEREND. FOLKS, PLEASE JOIN US IN THE LOBBY FOR REFRESHMENTS AND MORE ENTERTAINMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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