Travis County Commissioners Court
November 16, 2004
Item 3
3 is consider and take appropriate action on wellness fair, 20-k run and
5-k run at Travis County exposition center on December 5th, 2004.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners. We're here to ask
the court to approve three motions -- actually two motions. We're having a
5-k walk-run event at the ex spoke center on December 5th. We've been contacted
by zavala elementary school who has a race team, a walking team, I sawed say,
of children, and they would like to participate in the event, but they aren't
able to pay the fee. So we're asking the court if we can sponsor them and
pay their fees. To participate.
>> and when you say "we," you mean who?
>> the Travis County wellness committee through their budget.
Through the wellness budget.
>> this would be in the budget from the corporation?
>> yes.
>> so the money ultimately goes to whom?
>> it would ultimately go to brown santa.
>> how many requests do you get -- if you do this?
>> well, this is the opl one we've received. -- only one
we've received. And we're making this recommendation because the school has
a walking club in existence. They are not putting one together, it's been
in existence and they do actively support that group, the school does.
>> [inaudible].
>> why wouldn't we -- why wouldn't the corporation contribute
$1,000 to brown santa and just let the kids participate free? The effect is
the same.
>> the effect is we would need about $100 -- we're looking
at $100 to sponsor the children. [multiple voices]
>> we would certainly consider the thousand.
>> I mean we control registration, right?
>> yes.
>> this is -- just let the kids run free and if we want to
contribute $1,000 to brown santa. Do it. There was some talk of an ear mark
earlier. We're just [indiscernible] contingent upon certain things happening,
if we want to go ahead and do it, we do it.
>> yes.
>> and is the goal to get brown santa another $1,000?
>> it should be, yes.
>> it's $100, judge, not $1,000. I’m sorry.
>> it says thousand on here.
>> that item was pulled though.
>> oh, okay.
>> the sponsorship would be $100.
>> so in the memo the third point in the memo is not before
us today.
>> well, I understood that it had been pulled.
>> my recommendation was it has not been earmarked, but at
the time when we knew exactly what we needed, we would come to court and ask
ask for it and I felt confident we would be supported. This seems to be consistent
with why the money was appropriated by the outstanding board of the corporation,
and so -- as far as my thinking, seems we were making it unduly complicated
by going through a lot of steps that were unnecessary.
>> we can do that and come back to court.
>> $100 -- I mean why don't we just let the zavala elementary
school walking team walk free.
>> right.
>> that's fine.
>> and at some point you will come back and ask us to make
a contribution from the corporation to brown santa.
>> okay.
>> and then you will know exactly what amount you need and
we will know too.
>> okay.
>> my guess is that we would probably just support it anyway.
And that's in my joe geiselman let's keep it simple [inaudible].
>> that makes sense to me.
>> that makes a lot more sense.
>> but I agree that if the elementary school kids would like
to participate, we'll do all we can to assist that. And if our people are
there taking money at the table, we will wave them through or have their names
as pre-registered and walk them.
>> judge, I mean I think it's a great idea to encourage the
young folks to get out there and do that. I mean I guess what you eventually
might see is there are -- there is a number that you are expecting to participate
in this walk-run program. I mean, you know, given that you've got some low
gist ticks with regards to -- logistics with regards to the event itself,
controlling from traffic to, you know, all the things that you do at a race.
I can see where this could catch on. And if you can come out and participate
in a legitimate race-walk, run-walk event, at some point in time, I mean you
could have a lot of elementary schools that encourage their faculty and their
students to get out. So I mean I don't see any problem with it at this stage,
but at some point in time when it costs us to put on a race with x amount
of people versus hopefully you have 13,000 school children wanting to participate
in a program because it's free, especially if, you know, sponsors or people
start giving things, you know, for participating because a lot of times t-shirts
and all of the things that you get for participating, you know, we just need
to be aware that that eventually could -- we could be opening the flood gates.
But at this stage, I mean heck, I would love to encourage it. That's what
we're all trying to do with wellness anyway and it certainly needs to start
with the young people.
>> we're hoping this does catch on, not only with young people
in the community but with county employees and their friends and families
also. These particular kids from zavala elementary school are ones that probably
will be served by brown santa. And it's a very low-income school and the mission
of brown santa is to provide toys and food for underprivileged children and
their families in Travis County. So -- but we're hoping that it does catch
on.
>> now, we're also urging county employees to participate.
That's number 2. And what about the employees who have children below a certain
age?
>> there's a kids k that will be offered along with the assist
for kids under the age of, I think, 12. Every kid that participates will get
a t-shirt and a medal when they complete the race.
>> do they get to participate free?
>> no. It's a $10 registration form -- I mean fee or the
donation of a new toy worth $10 to brown santa.
>> the point here is that it is a fundraiser for brown santa.
If everyone gets to race for free, we are getting participation and that's
good, but we're not really serving the purpose of trying to rev up brown santa.
>> so is our primary goal wellness or raising money for brown
santa?
>> it's both. It's both, judge.
>> our primary goal. Number 1 of the two or three I can think
of, which one is it?
>> I would say that under the sponsorship for the wellness
committee, it's to raise funds or gifts for brown santa.
>> who came down on 20-k? That's a pretty aggressive -- that's
a pretty aggressive distance. When you talk about half a mayor ro thopb almost
--
>> 12-point something miles. The 20-k is the decker challenge
and we're partnering with them. The Austin riders club decker challenge, we're
partnering with them to put on this event. We're counting on them for their
expertise which they've given us a lot of free guidance in doing this. So
that's the 20-k part of this. It will be at 8:00. The 5-k starts at 8:15.
So we're sharing all the costs and resources to do this.
>> you don't see a lot of 20-ks. 10-ks and 5-ks. Which is
effectively about what a 20-k is.
>> I think this is their 12th.
>> 12th or 13th year. It's part of the distance challenge.
>> what action do you need today?
>> we would like approval for the zavala school children
and also to encourage employees and their families to participate in the 5-k
and the 1-k event for their children and we'll come back to court when we
have a firm figure for a contribution to brown santa.
>> move approval.
>> second.
>> that's 1 and 2 in your memo.
>> kpwre yes. More discussion? Are you asking the court to
ask the corporation? The money is in the wellness committee's budget.
>> yes, sir.
>> so $100 will be transferred through the brown santa project
as a result of this motion.
>> yes.
>> okay. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
>> thank you all. See you soon on number 3. That says a little
about trying to be helpful to Travis County employee's children who should
be encouraged to exercise also. And my wonder is if in fact we approve number
3, which is $1,000, why can't we get some children covered by it. And I can
wait on the answer until --
>> we'll give that answer to you. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 3:09 PM