Travis County Commissioners Court

June 26, 2012 - Executive Session Items
Agenda

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>> Number 31 we will take into executive session with if attorney and real mr. Property exceptions and 30, the matter involving circuit of americas and formula one receive briefing and take appropriate action regarding.
That's consultation with attorney and the other travel item we will take into executive session with consultation with attorney, also, and that is number 15 we discussed at length regarding whether to send a couple of Travis County professionals to see preparations for the running of the race in london, england on July 7, 2012.
We will discuss these three items in executive session but return in open court before taking any action.
 

>> We have returned from executive session where we discussed two of the three items we announced.
We did not discuss item number 30, the matter that has been -- we have been carrying from week to week, involving circuit of the americas and formula 1.
We did, however, discuss item 15, regarding sending the fire marshal and a representative from the Travis County sheriff's office to see the preparation for and running of the race in london, england, on July 7, 2012.
Any questions or comments?
I move that we direct staff to answer the questions or try to get answers to the questions that the court articulated today and I guess for that matter, if a court member has questions, can they send those questions to fire marshal and sheriff's office and next Tuesday is -- is it the second or third?

>> The third.

>> And that is the day of departure, right?
That we just ask staff the do appropriate due diligence to get answers to questions that were asked with an i2, taking circuit of americas and coda as appropriate, up on theircs##q) to let these two representatives see the preparation for and formula for the race, that we indicate that we would like to see invoices covering all of the expenses that coda picks up, to submit those to Travis County after the race and we will have this matter on the Commissioner's court agenda to decide what to do with them at that point.

>> Second.

>> Second by Commissioner Gomez.
And the motion is designed to give -- to leave open the option of Travis County picking up these expenses if we think appropriate, and in my own personal view, I will let coda do it but I don't know that it matters one way or another.
It seems to me that more important is give our staff an opportunity to eyeball the event.
That was seconded by Commissioner Gomez.
Discussion on the motion?

>> Judge, I would like to say I really, truly realize the benefits of sending staff to an event like this.
I think it is really important to maximize that opportunity, given the distance and the cost, and I don't believe we only did the back upside -- we only filled up the back side up at lunch today and I don't believe I am comfortable voting for an open ended motion that doesn't have all of the questions answered.
I would like to see if there was another opportunity to look at a little bit further in the future between now and November, but to give us a chance to dot the is and cross the t's, before we took a vote on this because I just don't have enough information at this point, so I can't support this and I am sorry, because I think it is important for staff to be able to take advantage of this.
It is just the time is too short and the herc isn't done.

>> Commissioner Eckhardt.

>> I would like some leeway time to connect to folks comparable in that area, since we don't know who those folks are.
I am not yet convinced in the short time frame, I don't think we can get consent of the -- of the usefulness of the trip from a governmental standpoint, but I do think that there would be a great deal of benefit in going to one of the other -- one of the other races between now and November that are sufficiently comparable where we could make connection with folks where we could learn some stuff that we don't know that we don't know.

>> As a maker of the motion, if there is another race that is more appropriate, I have no problem with considering it.
I mean, I don't know.
If the answer is no, we maybe we are on a short leash, if the answer is yes, we find more time to prepare and cross ts and dot is, so is that a substitute.

>> I don't know what other race is comparable -- I don't know if there is another race that is comparable.

>> I don't, either.

>> I don't know about it, I am sorry.

>> I would like to see the details of who they are going to be with and what the program is.
It is complicated to make those arrangements.
I have seen those kinds of things not for f1 but those kinds of arrangements, you talk with government officials in different countries and trying to get things lined up.
They are busy.
I would like to see what is going to happen.
I don't have enough information at this point.

>> All those in favor.
Show Commissioner and yours truly in favor and against, Commissioner hebrew and Commissioner Eckhardt, the motion died for lack of a second.
Is there another -- on a vote of 2-2.
Is there another motion?
Item 31, receive briefing and take appropriate action regarding lease issues at 700 lavaca with Austin suites.
Is there a motion?
I move that we counter the offer that we receive with an offer to make the improvements, discussed by staff with the owner of Austin suites, which will cost in the neighborhood of -- we were told $73,788 and that instead of four months' free rent, we give two months' free rent and the value of that will be roughly half of $47,000.
Seconded by Commissioner Gomez.
Any discussion on the motion?

>> Substitution?
Is that to be done in the event in to be studied.

>> Best to be moved in one time, rather than staggered as recommended by the owner and the work will be done by Travis County or the Travis County contractor.
Right?
Yes.
Instead of moving in and --

>> Both sections at one time.

>> Right.
Both sections would mean 3 and 2, right, at one time.
We basically do the work on both of them and the time we start running, two months free rent if this counter is -- passes and accepted.
Any more discussion?
Does that answer that?
All those in favor of the motion?
That passes by unanimous vote.
Move adjournment.

>> Second.

>> All those in favor.
That carries unanimously.

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