Travis County Commssioners Court
April 29, 2003
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Citizens Communication
Next is citizens communication, and [indiscernible] thought we would never get to this item. Jenny castro. We appreciate your patience, mr. Castro.
>> good morning, judge, and Commissioner, my name is jimmy castro. I知 here to speak in my own behalf of the nor wood neighborhood association in north Austin. This first slide shows I知 here to remind everyone to take the time to vote in the city election and in favor of the Austin community college bond election proposition 1 and 2 on may 3. Early voting from April 16th to the 29th and voters will be using the new voting machine. Community college students want to think they'll have a positive effect on their lives. They want college to be nearby with convenient class schedules and low cost. Taxpayers want to make sure their money is well spent. Proposition 1, this includes increase in the acc maintenance tax rate by additional 4-cents. Proposition 2, this includes the issuance of $99 million of general obligation bonds. For the construction, renovation and equipment of college buildings districtwide. The health sciences building at the east view campus. Construction of the south Austin campus. Expansion of the cypress creek campus. Expand high demand programs and courses. Expand general education courses, english, history, government, and mathematics. Expand the health science programs, expand the high tech programs. Expand a dell basic education programs. Expand manufacturing technology. Expand a veterinary technician program. Many in this community recognize the value acc brings to the region but it's up to the voters to increase the school tax rate. Acc cannot continue to be the resource it has been for years without the means to grow and improve. Finally today, more than 25,000 students attend classes at Austin community college campuses and thousands are turned away each semester for the lack of teachers and classrooms. Thank you, judge, and Commissioners.
>> thank you, mr. Castro. Travis County esd number 4?
>> appreciate your patience also. We didn't know how long those public hearings are.
>> that's quite all right, judge, it's interesting to come down and see county government in action and for our cadets to get to see some of that governmental agency working.
>> [indiscernible] real easy.
>> well, I tell you, we did want to come down. Our class is moving toward graduation tomorrow night out at the heritage center at 7:00. This group, I was speaking to them earlier today, that we have probably the largest group of people coming rsvp to that program that we've had so far. Really nice to see families and members coming out to support these young people as they move forward toward careers in emergency services. I do want to -- I made a copy of this little black and I put it at the dais for you. But last week the Texas fire chief's association recognized the target neighborhood training academy as a program that makes a difference in community and citizens lives where those departments provide services. We were beat out by department for the number one honor in the in bryan college station area for a smoke detector program that we've been doing for the five year, we kind of got a jump on the smoke detector program. This is an innovative program that we're providing an opportunity for young people to move forward in emergency services. We did want you to know that the program was recognized by fire chiefs across the state of Texas. So we accepted this for your department and for you, and again I have to tell you we really appreciate the support that you provide to this program. We think it is invaluable program. We would like to present class number 3 and do that, I would like chief reynolds to...
>> good morning.
>> morning chief.
>> in keeping with the tradition of presenting you with a class picture from each class, had some pictures, although the group looks small it's because there's no instructors in it. The rest of your pictures you'll notice that there's a smaller number. I would like to say thank you for this program and thank you for your support. The program is growing. As chief smith said, we're getting a lot of recognition, and it's mainly due to that support that we get from you. I would like the cadets to stand up and introduce themselves and then we're going to present class pictures to you.
>> this is michael on the end [indiscernible] yeah. Do that. That way the people coming to see them tomorrow night will get a good taste of what they will observe.
>> hello, I知 ka dat bianca mason.
>> cadet paul reynolds.
>> cadet michael moreno.
>> cadet julian alonso.
>> cadet going hernandez.
>> cadet lewis compos.
>> I知 cadet summer Moore.
>> cadet livos.
>> and cadet arivila. [ applause ] [multiple voices]
>> congratulations again.
>> thank you.
>> congratulations to you.
>> I still say this is the best program I have ever voted for. It's really -- I知 very proud of the program and proud of each class and I知 very proud of us for having voted for this program.
>> as are we.
>> this is the third class.
>> third class.
>> okay. [multiple voices]
>> moving right along.
>> yes, sir.
>> I would like everybody to know that I would have voted for this. [laughter].
>> let you know how important I feel about it is that I still keep here on the dais, class number one is always here with me every single Tuesday when I知 down here and class number 2 is up on my desk and I look forward to adding class number 3 in my office as well. You will be displayed in my office.
>> I keep my picture right next to my mother's. [laughter]. [multiple voices]
>> this program is a little bit different because we start requiring the young people going through it to be active with their volunteer fire departments and to be responsive after they get the phase I basic level of training so I would like to kind of ask the question by a show of hands how many cadets have made at least one emergency call?
>> oh, goodness gracious.
>> how many have made at least five emergency calls? Ten emergency calls? Fifteen emergency calls? 20 emergency calls? 25 emergency calls? Over 30 emergency calls? Thank you.
>> very good.
>> you can see this program supports people active in our communities while they're going through training and that is kind of unique to some training programs that don't allow you to get any hands-on training until you've completed the whole program. I was looking the other day at the hours that have been put in, and we're approaching a thousand hours of training time for these classes, and that's -- that's really something to see young people going through. We are having other fire departments outside of the Travis County area actually approaching us asking if they can come speak to our class, asking for a roster of the class, because they have openings and they've heard about the good things that our people go and do at other departments, and so I think this class hopefully like others in the future will have the opportunity to move out, move in departments or in and around our area and find the career in fire service and again we want to thank each of you for making this possible. Thank you.
>> for those that are looking at this today, there may be some person out there viewing this and would like to become a part of this next class that is coming up. How would an individual do that?
>> yesterday we had a young man come into our office from usd number 11, that is the cetco area. They're in the process of restructuring their department. The young man came in, picked up an application, filling in the paperwork, bringing a letter from the chief or their community out there, recommending that it be in the program. These kids, there are some criteria for high school education or ged. There's some physical fitness requirements and it's a good opportunity for them to be able to do that. They can go to their local department, ask questions, because all of those chiefs have heard or know about that program and it has worked, so they can either contact our department or their fire department.
>> okay.
>> very good.
>> keep up the good work.
>> good to see you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you. I've had chief reynolds remind me we have one young man not here today bryan ethridge. He's been hired by hudson bend. He has gone to work out there. We already have one positive hire. We have several of those being looked at right now and I would think probably in the next 6 to 8 weeks we're going to see some of these young people moving right into some paid positions.
>> that's great.
>> so again thank you.
>> good luck to all of you. [multiple voices]
>> see you guys tomorrow night.
>> all right.
>> [inaudible]
>> for sure. Me.
>> congratulations.
>> thanks, y'all. We're proud of you.
>> anybody else for citizens communication whether you signed in or not?
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 6:52 PM