JOINT INCLUSSION COMMITTEE (JIC) RECOMMENDATION 20230726-002 CITY EMPLOYEE “WORK-FROM-HOME”/TELEWORK POLICY Date: July 26, 2023 City of Austin Employee “Work-From-Home” Telework Policy Subject: Motioned by: Commissioner Hanna Huang Seconded By: Commissioner Richard Bondi JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20230726-002 JOINTLY ENDORSED RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, the ability to telework has the largest impact on women, childcare givers, and those with childcare needs; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has the highest childcare costs in the State of Texas, with impacts felt across the city and telework provides flexibility and helps alleviate pressure on the affordability crisis facing families and childcare givers in Austin; and WHEREAS, telework has direct impacts in opening access to people with disabilities to the City workforce and is crucial to retaining those employees in a healthy and accommodating work environment; and WHEREAS, it is a more inclusive policy to have telework for BIPOC staff and people of color who overwhelmingly report better work productivity and overall health with a flexible telework policy; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin's vision for net zero emissions by 2040 prioritizes greenhouse gas emission reduction and calls for 50% of trips to be made by using public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, or avoided altogether by working from home and providing a robust telework policy; and WHEREAS, the Climate Equity Plan states that climate impacts are not felt equally across all communities and that the City of Austin's Interim City Manager's recent orders to revoke work- from-home and severely limit teleworking options will disproportionately impact employees who may not be able to afford transportation costs, child care, and other expenses related to commuting while inflation and affordability issues continue to be of concern when recruiting and retaining city staff; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is struggling to fill many positions and allowing employees to work remotely is a benefit that costs the city nothing and removing this benefit will likely make recruitment and retention of employees even more challenging, and vacancies result in unfulfilled goals and reduced services, which is not in the community’s interest; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan aims to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases by encouraging telework and work-from-home initiatives; and WHEREAS, driving contributes to the creation of ground-level ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant that causes and contributes to asthma and other respiratory illnesses; and WHEREAS, driving creates a large amount of plastic pollution …
JOINT INCLUSSION COMMITTEE (JIC) RECOMMENDATION 20230726-006 2024 CITY OF AUSTIN GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM for CULTURAL CENTERS in the PARD MUSEUMS & CULTURAL PROGRAMS DIVISION Date: July 26, 2023 Subject: 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond Program for Cultural Centers in the PARD Museums & Cultural Programs Division Motioned by: Commissioner Leonor Vargas Seconded By: Commissioner Amanda Afifi JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20230726-006 JOINTLY ENDORSED RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION: The Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) recommends that City Council direct the Interim City Manager to proceed with completing the directive given in Resolution 20221208-068, namely to include funding needed to complete construction and fulfillment of master plans for the Asian American Resource Center, Doughtery Arts Center, Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, and the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in the 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond election. RATIONALE: The Joint Inclusion Committee recommends that rather than pausing all General Obligation Bonds in 2024, it is essential our City’s cultural centers are prioritized for a bond package to enable them to continue to move forward in the next steps of their master plans. Each facility was developed to serve diverse and underrepresented arts and cultural communities within Austin and have undergone extensive public input and engagement throughout the last 10 years. Doing so would prevent delay of further funding for their next phases, which is particularly needed to ensure safe facilities for cultural programs, meet the increased demand and use by the public, reduce rising costs of construction related to inflation, and continue to serve the City’s growing diverse populations. DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL: WHEREAS, the City of Austin has the highest childcare costs in the State of Texas, with impacts felt across the city and telework provides flexibility and helps alleviate pressure on the affordability crisis facing families and childcare givers in Austin; and WHEREAS, it is the value of the City of Austin to be an inclusive city for all of its citizens including those of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and national origin backgrounds; and WHEREAS, according to section 2-1-204 of the City Code, the Joint Inclusion Committee is charged with advising the Council on issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion, and is representative body, consisting of the following ten commission members: African American Resource Advisory Commission, Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission, Commission for Women, Commission on Immigrant Affairs, …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING AGENDA JUNE 28th, 2023 REGULAR MEETING of the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28th, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. CST AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W. 2ND STREET, AUSTIN, TX 78701 MEETING AGENDA This meeting is being held in a hybrid format, and some members of the Commission may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or via telephone. Remote speakers must register in advance (June 27th by 12pm-Noon CST). All public comments will occur at the beginning of the meeting and public speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. To speak or attend remotely, residents must contact the Equity Office’s Community Services Program Coordinator, Jeremy Garza, no later than 12pm-noon (CST) on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023. Please telephone call at (512) 978-1797 and/or email jeremy.garza@austintexas.gov. The information required is the speaker’s name, the item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address, and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT JIC MEMBER COMMISSIONS & REPRESENTATIVES: Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Primary Representative: Alternate Representative: Serita Fontanesi Antonio Ross Hanna Huang Nayer Sikder Juliana Gonzalez Richard Bondi Commission for Women Commission on Aging Commission on Immigrant Affairs Miriam Dorantes Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission Leonor Vargas Amanda Afifi Rebecca Austen Teresa Ferguson Melissa Ortega Eliza Gordon Ivana Neri LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Kimberly Brienzi (Vice-Chair of JIC) VACANT Morgan Davis VACANT Jennifer Powell Elizabeth Meyer JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING AGENDA JUNE 28th, 2023 MEETING AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Approve the minutes of the COMMITTEE’s REGULAR MEETING on April 26th, 2023. Whitney Holt, Austin Public Health Social Services Funding Specialist – on the equity impacts of the city’s repeal of telework. Budget Office staff briefing on changes to the budget process this year. 3. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion on the FY23-24 Financial Forecast and Equity Action’s Community Investment Budget a with possible action …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING MINUTES JUNE 28th, 2023 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28th, 2023 The JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE convened in a REGULAR meeting on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28th, 2023, at AUSTIN CITY HALL - BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM, 301 W. 2ND STREET in AUSTIN, TEXAS. Chair AMANDA AFIFI called the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING to order at 3:05pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Hispanic/Latino Quality-of Life-Resource Advisory Commission: Amanda Afifi (Chair) Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: African American Resource Advisory Commission: Serita Fontanesi Asian American Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: Hanna Huang Commission for Women: Rebecca Austen Commission on Aging: Richard Bondi Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Miriam Dorantes & Melissa Ortega Human Rights Commission: Kimberly Brienzi & Morgan Davis Commissioners Absent: Early Childhood Council: Leonor Vargas & Eliza Gordon LGBTQ+ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: VACANT Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities: Jennifer Powell & Elizabeth Meyer Staff in Attendance: Jeremy Garza, Business Process Consultant – Equity Office JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING MINUTES MEETING MINUTES JUNE 28th, 2023 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Whitney Holt: City of Austin APH employe speaking independently as community member on the equity impacts of the city’s repeal of telework. Ben Suddaby: Presendet of AFSCME LOCAL 1624 and Travis County employee on how withdrawing the telework policy would negatively impacts the communites represented by the commission members of the Joint Inclusion Committee. Jose Perez: City of Austin worker speaking indepdenty as a life-long Austinite with 14 years tenure working in th City on the personal effects of removing telework and the business benefits of maintaining telework employee benefits. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the COMMITTEE’s REGULAR MEETING on April 26th, 2023. The minutes from the meeting of APRIL 26th, 2023, were approved on COMMISSIONER REBECCA AUSTEN’s motion, COMMISSIONER HANNA HUANG’s second on a 6 – 0 vote. (Off the Dais: LGBTQ Quality-of-Life Resource Advisory Commission. Absent: Early Childhood Council, Leonor Vargas/Eliza Gordan AND the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, Jennifer Powell & Elizabeth Meyer. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Whitney Holt, Austin Public Health Social Services Funding Specialist – on the equity impacts of the city’s repeal of telework. The motion to indefinitely table agenda item #2 because it was incorrectly placed on …
JOINT INCLUSSION COMMITTEE (JIC) RECOMMENDATION 20230628-007 STATEMENT OF TRANSGENDER RIGHTS Date: June 28, 2023 Subject: Joint Endorsement of the Human Rights Commission’s Recommendation 20230424-07: Statement of Transgender Rights Motioned by: Commissioner Rebecca Austen Seconded By: Commissioner Richard Bondi HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20230424-07 JOINTLY ENDORSED RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and WHEREAS, decisions regarding the healthcare of children should be made by the parents, in consult with their children and their doctors, and WHEREAS, in the 88th session of the Texas Legislature, legislation is currently being considered that, should it become law, would deny the right of parents and their children to seek gender- affirming healthcare of any kind, and WHEREAS, denial of gender-affirming healthcare is hateful and harmful, and can cause extreme emotional and physical distress for transgender children and their families, and WHEREAS; the Texas Legislature is also considering a constitutional amendment that would assert and guarantee Parental Rights; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Joint Inclusion Committee of the City of Austin urges the Mayor and the City Council to condemn this attempt to interfere with the rights of parents to make decisions with and on behalf of their children regarding their physical and mental health, and that we stand united in our support of transgender children and adults, as well as with all LGTBQIA+ communities everywhere. ROLL CALL VOTE: 5 – 1 – 0 For: African American Resource Advisory Commission: Serita Fontanesi Commission for Women: Rebecca Austen Asian American Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: Hanna Huang Commission on Aging: Richard Bondi Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Miriam Dorantes Hispanic/Latino Quality-of Life-Resource Advisory Commission: Amanda Afifi Against: None. Abstain: Human Rights Commission: Kimberly Brienzi & Morgan Davis Absent: Early Childhood Council: Leonor Vargas & Eliza Gordon Attest: Jeremy Garza, Staff Liaison, Equity Office: LGBTQ+ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: VACANT at time of vote. Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities: Jennifer Powell & Elizabeth Meyer x_______________________________
City of Austin’s Te le work Equity Impact Joint Inclusion Committee June 28, 20 23 Whitne y Holt Pushing for a return to office rather than expanding telework demonstrates leadership that is out of touch with the needs of taxpayers and the workforce. Repealing telework is an effective pay cut that will have disproportionately negative impact across race and gender. Telework facilitates a more diverse and inclusive workplace. A fully maximized telework policy is the only option that both saves taxpayers money and brings the City of Austin closer to our Climate Equity goals. Even when commutes are reduced in frequency, the function and existence of office buildings being utilized even just one day a week by each worker negatively impacts the environment and diverts land resources from projects that better meet community needs.
Welcome to the Community Investment Budget Information Session! Hosted by Equity Action AT X Introductions Who is Equity Action? ● Equity Action is a P olitical Action Committee (P AC) focused on centering equity and justice in Austin’s political system. W hat is the Community Investment Budget? ● In collaboration with dozens of community organizations, Equity Action has been facilitating a 2024 Community Investment Budget that will ask Austin City Council to commit to invest directly to community needs, such as: increased wages for P arent Support Specialists, emergency rental assistance and tenant support services, social services for those experiencing homelessness, increased funding for park support, and much more. History of CIB and other Community-Led Budget Initiatives Austin has a long history of community-based budgeting. ● Over many years Communities of Color United presented their P eople’s Budget. T hey started something amazing, where people discuss and decide priorities for local spending. ● T hen in 2021, the Austin P olice Association and Save Austin Now put a measure on the ballot that would have required Austin to spend all the available new money coming in on police, regardless of other needs. Austin said No W ay! ● Out of that big coalition to protect the budget came the first Community Investment Budget for F Y22-23. W e pressed the city to think about public safety in a new way -- well maintained parks, shelter, youth activities, EMS’s staffing, an independent forensic lab. ● T his year we’re back, because housing stability, workforce development, child development, and increasing wages for City Employees and EMS should be of utmost priority in the upcoming budget cycle. Who are the organizations involved? ACLU of Texas Alliance for Safety and Justice Austin Area Urban League Austin Community Law Center Austin Environmental Democrats Austin Justice Coalition Austin Mutual Aid Austin Urban Technology Movement Avow Blackland CDC Black Lives Veggies The Nonprofit Black Mamas ATX Community Resilience Trust Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice District 5 for Black Lives East Austin Conservancy Education Austin Equity Action Fruitful Commons Fund Texas Choice Go Austin/ Vamos Austin Ground Game Texas Hungry Hill Foundation Just Liberty Lilith Fund MISMA (Mujeres Inspiradas en Sueños, Metas y Acciones) Planning Our Communities Pro Choice with Heart Public Citizen Save Our Springs Alliance Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group Statewide Leadership Council Sunrise Movement Austin Survive2Thrive Foundation Sustainable Food Center Texas Center for Justice …
Table of Contents General Fund ................................................................................. 3 Enterprise Departments Typical Ratepayer Impact ..................................................... 9 Austin Code ........................................................................... 10 Austin Convention Center .................................................... 12 Austin Energy ........................................................................ 14 Austin Resource Recovery ................................................... 19 Austin Water ......................................................................... 23 Aviation .................................................................................. 27 Development Services ......................................................... 29 Transportation and Public Works ...................................... 31 Watershed Protection ......................................................... 35 Capital Improvement Program ................................................ 39 Unfunded Items from Council ................................................... 41 Appendix: 2023 Economic & Sales Tax Forecast ................ 45 General Fund Forecast Expenditures The General Fund is the general operating fund for the City of Austin. It includes ten departments that provide programs, activities, and services directly to the citizens of Austin, as well as to surrounding communities. Total FY 2024 base expenditures for the General Fund are projected at $1.33 billion, which is $50.0 million, or 3.9%, higher than the FY 2023 Approved Budget. The largest portion of the General Fund budget, approximately 64.4%, is allocated to the four existing public safety departments: Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Forensic Science. The community service departments, namely Parks and Recreation, Austin Public Health, Library, Animal Services, Municipal Court and the Housing and Planning Department collectively comprise 29.7% of the General Fund budget. Transfers & Other represent the remaining 5.9% of General Fund resources. Uses of Funds ‐ General Fund ($1,327.4 million) Parks and Recreation 9.2% Housing and Planning 1.5% Municipal Court 2.9% Libraries 5.1% Austin Public Health 9.6% Forensic Science 1.1% For the FY 2024 Forecast, General Fund expenditures are projecting to increase by $50.0 million over the FY 2023 Amended Budget. Major cost drivers and year-over-year adjustments include: Sworn public safety personnel costs in the amount of $38.4 million, including for pay enhancements approved in 2023, increased health insurance and pension contribution costs, and the projected impact of prospective new meet-and-confer agreements; o EMS, Fire, and Police labor negotiations are on-going and this forecast includes placeholder values—projected based on market factors and historical trends—for the ultimate cost of these contracts; $14.3 million for personnel and benefit cost drivers for our civilian workforce related to wages, market-driven salary adjustments, health insurance, and pension contribution increases; Police 36.3% Transfers & Other 5.9% Animal Services 1.4% Emergency Medical Services 9.1% Fire 17.9% FY 2024-2028 FINANCIAL FORECAST REPORT3 I Page $10.0 million to return to a cash-funding model for Police vehicle replacements and associated wireless equipment expenses, as the frequency and regularity of their replacement make …
Joint Inclusion Commi(cid:425)ee FY23‐24/FY24‐25 Budget Process Please save these dates! Budget Workshop: This is a special workshop, jointly organized by the Budget Office & Equity Office, that invites all budget workgroups from all ten commissions to a(cid:425)end and meet face to face with the department leadership and their staff from the City Departments whom y’all have submi(cid:425)ed budget recommenda(cid:415)ons to. This event offers commissioners an opportunity to strengthen rela(cid:415)onships with department leadership, and ques(cid:415)on priori(cid:415)es and ques(cid:415)on if, where, and how your budget recommenda(cid:415)ons have been approved and incorporated or rejected. City Departments normally in a(cid:425)endance include: Aus(cid:415)n Public Health, Parks & Recrea(cid:415)on Department, Aus(cid:415)n Transporta(cid:415)on Department, Aus(cid:415)n Housing & Planning Department, Communica(cid:415)ons & Public Informa(cid:415)on Office, Economic Development Department, Aus(cid:415)n Public Library, and more! Saturday, September 16th, 2023 from 11am to 1pm Budget Town Halls: Last year, we could these “Quality‐of‐Life Town Halls.” These events are the only formal community outreach that commissions organize every year. These town halls invite members of the public to come and share the most important issues impac(cid:415)ng their lives, which will help shape budget recommenda(cid:415)ons for FY24‐25 which are due at the end of March 2024. These events also provide an opportunity to let members of the public influence the advocacy priori(cid:415)es for all commissions. These town halls are only successful if commissioners help organize, spread the word, and help get people to a(cid:425)end. Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 ‐ Budget Town Hall #1 for the public (Evening/Night‐ time Dinner Event, 6:30pm ‐ 8:00pm) HOSTED IN PERSON Thursday, October 26th, 2023 ‐ Budget Town Hall #2 for the public (Day‐time/Lunch Saturday, November 4th, 2023 ‐ Budget Town Hall #3 for the public (Weekend/Saturday Event, 12:00 pm ‐ 1:30 pm) HOSTED VIRTUALY ONLY Event, 11:00 am ‐ 12:30 pm) HOSTED IN PERSON Pending approval from the Budget Office on a 4th Town Hall hosted VIRTUALY ONLY
Joint Inclusion Committee Telework Report (1) Pushing for a return to office rather than expanding telework demonstrates leadership that is out of touch with the needs of taxpayers and the workforce. Travis County recently won national recognition for their telework policy. Among the many benefits cited by Commissioner Shea, includes the $1.3 million saved in utilities costs for 2020-2021 for the 50% of their workforce (~2500) that is eligible for complete or mostly remote work. Outside consultants estimated that Travis County could reduce its administrative space by as much as 83%, or more than 1 million square feet. About 40% of the county's real estate is made up of administrative space. Even though the percentages wouldn’t be exact based on the difference between City and County services, roughly speaking if these were reflected of City resources, we could expect: ● 8000 workers working completely or mostly remote. The City stated that 5,817 workers currently telework; however, this seems low and it was unclear how the numbers account for workers who have been required to conduct all or part of their week in office despite lack of business need to do so. This means 8000 fewer cars on the road, and a reduction in the traffic, environmental, and safety concerns related to these commutes. ● Well over one billion dollars in cost savings in just a few years due to the $48,126,000 spent annually on building leases alone (pg. 71 of document, pg 98 of PDF), and $541,000 on land. This cost does not include the multi millions spent on utilities, maintenance, landscaping, security, insurance, and other administrative building related costs. Embracing a maximized telework policy allows for better utilization of real estate and taxpayer dollars, which is outlined in more detail on page 10. In addition to the cost savings cited by Travis County, Commissioner Shea outlines the positive impact that telework has had on their recruitment and retention: “The remote work policy has been a boon for recruitment, according to Zephyr Stone, the county’s talent planning and engagement manager. Compared to fewer than 23,000 applications in 2019, the county received more than 30,000 in 2020, before settling down to just below 30,000 in the past two years.” This stands in stark contrast to the City’s vacancy rate being up 60% from where it was in 2019. Part of the coordinated Citywide campaign to reduce vacancy rates included the benefit …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING AGENDA APRIL 26th, 2023 REGULAR MEETING of the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26th, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. CST AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W. 2ND STREET, AUSTIN, TX 78701 MEETING AGENDA This meeting is being held in a hybrid format, and some members of the Commission may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or via telephone. Remote speakers must register in advance (April 25th by 12pm-Noon CST). All public comments will occur at the beginning of the meeting and public speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. To speak or attend remotely, residents must contact the Equity Office’s Community Services Program Coordinator, Jeremy Garza, no later than 12pm-noon (CST) on Tuesday, April 25th, 2023. Please telephone call at (512) 978-1797 and/or email jeremy.garza@austintexas.gov. The information required is the speaker’s name, the item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address, and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT JIC MEMBER COMMISSIONS & REPRESENTATIVES: Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Primary Representative: Alternate Representative: Gregory Smith Serita Fontanesi Vincent Cobalis Hanna Huang Rebecca Austen Amy Temperley Commission for Women Commission on Aging Commission on Immigrant Affairs VACANT Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission Leonor Vargas Amanda Afifi LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Idonna Griffith (Vice-Chair of JIC) Charles Curry (Chair of JIC) Jennifer Powell Diana Melendez Richard Bondi VACANT Eliza Gordon Sharon Vigil Kimberly Brienzi Ryn Gonzales VACANT JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING AGENDA APRIL 26th, 2023 MEETING AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the COMMITTEE’s SPECIAL CALLED MEETING on the BUDGET on March 29th, 2023. STAFF BRIEFING 2. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Staff Presentation: Project Connect & the Austin Transportation Partnership (ATP) – Nan Dowling 3. 4. 5. 6. Discussion and possible action to approve the FY23-24 Budget Recommendation on Hungry Hill Homeless, submitted by the African American Resource Advisory Commission Discussion and possible action to …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING MINTUES APRIL 26th, 2023 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26th, 2023 The JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE convened in a REGULAR meeting on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26th, 2023, at AUSTIN CITY HALL - BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM, 301 W. 2ND STREET in AUSTIN, TEXAS. Chair CHARLES CURRY called the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING to order at 3:05 pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: LGBTQ+ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: Charles Curry (Chair) Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: African American Resource Advisory Commission: Serita Fontanesi Asian American Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission: Vincent Cobalis Commission for Women: Rebecca Austen Commission on Aging: Amy Temperley Early Childhood Council: Leonor Vargas Hispanic/Latino Quality-of Life-Resource Advisory Commission: Amanda Afifi Human Rights Commission: Kimberly Brienzi Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities: Jennifer Powell Commissioners Absent: Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Juan Vences-Benitez & Krystal Gomez PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. NONE. APRIL 26th, 2023 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING MINTUES APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the COMMITTEE’s SPECIAL CALLED MEETING on the BUDGET on March 29th, 2023. The minutes from the meeting of MARCH 29th, 2023, were approved on COMMISSIONER AMY TEMPERLEY’s motion, COMMISSIONER KIMBERLY BRIENZI’s second on a 8 – 0 vote. (Off the Dais: African American Resource Advisory Commission. Absent: Commission on Immigrant Affairs) STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff Presentation: Project Connect & the Austin Transportation Partnership (ATP) – Nan Dowling The presentation was made by: Yannis Banks, Larsen Andres & Alvin Lingingstone Soliciting commissioner and community feedback at input@atptx.org DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action to approve the FY23-25 Budget Recommendation on Hungry Hill Homeless, submitted by the African American Resource Advisory Commission The motion to approve the FY23-24 Budget Recommendations (under the JIC’s Affordability Priority) on Hungry Hill Homeless was approved on COMMISSIONER SERITA FONTANESI’s motion, COMMISSIONER AMANDA AFIFI’s second on a 6 – 2 – 0 vote. (Abstained: Mayor’s Committee for People w/ Disabilities, Jennifer Powell & Early Childhood Council, Leonor Vargas. Off the Dais: Human Rights Commission, Kimberly Brienzi. Absent: Commission on Immigrant Affairs) JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) MEETING MINTUES APRIL 26th, 2023 4. Discussion and possible action to approve the FY23-24 Budget Recommendation on Black Literature Investment, submitted by the African American Resource Advisory …
JOINT INCLUSSION COMMITTEE (JIC) FY23-2024 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION 20230426-003 AFFORDABILITY PRIORITY – HUNGRY HILL HOMELESS Date: April 26, 2023 Subject: Joint Endorsement of the African American Resource Advisory Commission’s FY23-24 Budget Recommendation 20230321-006: Hungry Hill Homeless (JIC Affordability Priority) Motioned by: Commissioner Serita Fontanesi Seconded By: Commissioner Amanda Afifi AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20230321-006 JOINTLY ENDORSED RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON FY23-2024 BUDGET WHEREAS, Austin the most livable city in the nation for all while building and sustaining a culture of equity across the city; and WHEREAS, the Austin Black population is only 7%; and WHEREAS, African Americans make up a plurality, 36% – the largest proportion – of those who are experiencing homelessness in Austin; and WHEREAS, those figures serve as a reality check that cannot be explained without looking squarely at the root causes that for too long have kept African Americans at the bottom of the pile of people in Austin; and WHEREAS; racism unfairly disadvantages specific individuals and communities, while unfairly giving advantages to other individuals and communities, and diminishes the the strength of the who society through the waste of Human Resources; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s collective prosperity depends upon the equitable access to opportunity for every resident regardless of the color of their skin; and WHEREAS, the 1928 Master Plan separated Austinites with race as a sole factor, acting as a legalized form of segregation, created a “negro district”, and resulted in the intentional and negatively disproportional restriction of resources for Black community- the residential effects of which are still experienced today; and WHEREAS, Hungry Hill Foundation is breaking the cycle of unsheltered Black people and providing an opportunity for them to defeat homelessness and reclaim their dignity; and WHEREAS, Hungry Hill Foundation is a nonprofit that helps the East Austin homeless community; and WHEREAS, Hungry Hill Foundation offers programs to the homeless community to teach them about workforce development and have opportunities to move into transitional housing; and WHEREAS, Hungry Hill Foundation relies heavily on the individual donations to provide life success changes for its participants; and WHEREAS, Hungry Hill Foundation supports East Austin residents on their re-entry journey from unhoused to self-sufficient citizens through a holistic multi-tiered work/apprenticeship program; and WHEREAS, Hungry Hill Foundation seeks to expand and establish a new and more effective model for addressing long-term homelessness that can be replicated within our city, our state, and eventually …
JOINT INCLUSSION COMMITTEE (JIC) FY23-2024 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION 20230426-004 AFFORDABILITY PRIORITY – BLACK LITERATURE INVESTMENT AT APL Date: April 26, 2023 Subject: Joint Endorsement of the African American Resource Advisory Commission’s FY23-24 Budget Recommendation 20230321-007: Black Literature Investment for the Austin Public Library Motioned by: Commissioner Amy Temperley Seconded By: Commissioner Serita Fontanesi AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20230321-007 JOINTLY ENDORSED RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ON FY23-2024 BUDGET WHEREAS, Austin the most livable city in the nation for all while building and sustaining a culture of equity across the city; and WHEREAS, this requires tackling tough issues such as institutional racism and implicit bias; WHEREAS, Austin values inclusiveness and embraces diversity; and WHEREAS, African-Americans comprise 7% of Austin’s population due increased gentrification and lack of resources; and WHEREAS, the city of Austin recognizes the structural and historical and a need for alleviation of these wrongs by critically transforming its institutions and creating a culture of equity; and WHEREAS, African Americans and its residents are an intricate community that holds deep relevance to Austin’s history and continued diversity; and WHEREAS; African Americans in Austin want to stay and plan their lives where they want to grow and have good experiences, where their children can have a good education, good jobs, arts and music they are attracted to; and WHEREAS, Austin Public schools and Public Libraries are ingrained in our communities and nurture the minds of future generations; and WHEREAS, there are current efforts to ban books of cultural value and significance that reflect African American history and cultural heritage from our public schools; and WHEREAS, an erasure of African-American literature in Austin Public schools would constitute another inequitable action that would not serve in best interest of the small percentage of African-Americans who reside within Austin city limits; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Libraries and Austin Public Schools work hand in hand to educate and inspire ALL through the joy of reading; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Libraries are a vital asset to African American communities for summer reading programs and access to cultural specific literature and media; and WHEREAS, African American literature should be given particular attention in Austin Public Libraries by increasing its catalog selection; and WHEREAS, All Austinites will benefit from the increased availability of “banned” and increased African Literature in Austin Public Libraries; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Libraries serve as an extension of Austin Public Schools for African- American youth; …
AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL UPDATE Joint Inclusion Committee April 26, 2023 WHAT IS LIGHT RAIL ARTIST REPRESENTATIONS • Light rail is an electric train system used in metropolitan areas • Light rail is part of the overall transit network, connecting people to key destinations where they live, work and play to improve: o Mobility o Connectivity o Affordability o Sustainability 1 Light Rail Vehicle Light Rail Vehicle Interior Guadalupe Street at UT Austin Multi-ModalConnectivity Station Viewat Pleasant Valley PRECEDENTS Paris, France Portland, Oregon Sydney, Australia Seattle, Washington Ontario, Canada AUSTIN'S PATH TO LIGHT RAIL 2016 2019 2020 2021-2023 JUNE 2023 • ASMP approved • Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) • Project Connect visioning kickoff • Austin votes to invest in Project Connect • Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) formed • Light Rail Implementation Plan development and preliminary engineering • Advance Austin’s light rail program • ATP Board, CapMetro Board, and City Council approve updated Light Rail Implementation Plan Community Dialogue Light Rail Implementation Plan Update 2 MEASURES AND VALUES Financial Viability Technical Feasibility Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Criteria for Federal Funding Planning Data Community Values Connects with Austin’s Current and Future Transit System 3 MEASURES AND VALUES Multimodal Connectivity Accessibility / Universal Design COMMUNITY VALUES Healthcare Facilities Education Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Environmental Benefits / Impacts Mobility and Customer Experience Access to Opportunities Environmental Benefits Land Use and Housing 4 Affordable Housing POPULATION DENSITY Census 2020 BIPOC SHARE OF POPULATION Black, Indigenous, & People of Color Census 2020 CURRENT EMPLOYMENT DENSITY Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) 2019 AFFORDABLE HOUSING City of Austin Comprehensive Affordable Housing Directory TRANSIT CONNECTIONS CapMetro TRAILS AND BIKE PATHS City of Austin Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) LIGHT RAIL CORE SYSTEM OPTIONS S 1st St. Crossing Option S 1st St. Crossing Option Trinity St. Crossing Option Trinity St. Crossing Option ON-STREET: NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER TO PLEASANT VALLEY ON-STREET: 38TH TO OLTORF TO YELLOW JACKET PARTIAL UNDERGROUND: UT TO YELLOW JACKET ON-STREET: 29TH TO THE AIRPORT PARTIAL ELEVATED: 29TH TO OLTORF TO YELLOW JACKET 11 ON-STREET: N. LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER TO PLEASANT VALLEY • On-street from North Lamar Transit Center to Pleasant Valley Rd. on E. Riverside Dr. • Lady Bird Lake crossing options at Guadalupe/S. 1st St. OR Trinity St. AVG. NUMBER OF DAILY RIDERS SERVED 38,600 - 39,300 MILES OF NEW LIGHT RAIL 9.6 - 9.8 Guadalupe/ S. 1st St. Crossing Option Trinity St. Crossing Option ON-STREET: …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) REGULAR MEETING AGENDA December 7th, 2022 REGULAR MEETING of the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7th, 2022 at 3:00 P.M. CST AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701 MEETING AGENDA This meeting is being held in a hybrid format, and some members of the Commission may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or via telephone. Remote speakers must register in advance (December 6th by 12pm-Noon CST). All public comments will occur at the beginning of the meeting and public speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. To speak or attend remotely, residents must contact the Equity Office’s Commission/Neighborhood Liaison, Jeremy Garza, no later than 12pm- noon (CST) on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022. Please telephone call at (512) 978-1797 and/or email jeremy.garza@austintexas.gov. The information required is the speaker’s name, the item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address, and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT JIC MEMBER COMMISSIONS & REPRESENTATIVES: Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Commission for Women Commission on Immigrant Affairs Commission on Seniors/Commission on Aging Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities JIC Representative: Alternative: Gregory Smith Serita Fontanesi Vincent Cobalis Hanna Huang Rebecca Austen Juan Vences-Benitez Amy Temperley Diana Melendez Krystal Gomez Richard Bondi Raul Alvarez Amanda Afifi Johanna Hosking Pulido Sharon Vigil Idonna Griffith Charles Curry (Chair of JIC) Robin Orlowski Kimberly Brienzi Ryn Gonzales Vacant December 7th, 2022 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) REGULAR MEETING AGENDA MEETING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER The meeting is called to order by Chair Charles Curry at: ROLL CALL: ABSENT: PRESENT: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the COMMISSIONS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING on October 26th, 2022. STAFF PRESENTATION 2. Austin Public Health (APH) - Michelle Friedman, Akeshia Johnson-Smothers, and Roshanda Hodges: Presentation and request for feedback on the Basic Needs Issue Area Solicitation. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20221207-011: Leadership Appointments December 7, 2022 Date: Subject: Leadership Appointments Recommendation to Council WHEREAS, the Joint Inclusion Committee (“Committee”) of the City of Austin (“City”) advises City Council (“Council”) on issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion; and WHEREAS, the City’s Equity Office and Office of Police Oversight have leadership vacancies, which are in the in the early stages of being filled; and WHEREAS, these leadership positions oversee city departments responsible for building public trust and addressing issues related to quality of life, racial equity, human rights, police misconduct, community engagement, transparency, and accountability; and WHEREAS, the Committee views a rigorous community engagement effort, particularly with communities which are historically underrepresented, as essential to the hiring process for these leadership positions; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to incorporate the following considerations in the hiring process for the Equity Office and Office of Police Oversight leadership positions: • That community engagement be a priority in the hiring of candidates, • That community engagement occur early and throughout the hiring process rather than solely with the candidate finalists, • That the community engagement effort includes gathering input from underrepresented communities, and, • That the candidates pool be representative of the communities served by these Offices, • That candidates be assessed and selected based on their experience, track record, and performance related to issues surrounding gender and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. 1 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS 20221207-011: ON LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS • Hanna Huang – Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission • Rebecca Austen – Commission for Women • Juan Vences-Benitez – Commission on Immigrant Affairs • Amy Temperley – Commission on Aging • Raul Alvarez – Early Childhood Council • Amanda Afifi – Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission • Idonna Griffith – Human Rights Commission • Charles Curry – LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission • Robin Orlowski – Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities • Gregory Smith/Serita Fontanesi – African American Resource Advisory Commission Attest: Jeremy Garza, Staff Liaison, Equity Office: X_____________________________12/07/2022 VOTE For: Against: None. Abstain: None. Absent: 2
