AARAC Special Call 3.19.24 Minutes — original pdf

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African American Resource Advisory Commission SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES March 19, 2024 The African American Resource Advisory Commission convened in a SPECIAL CALLED meeting on March 19, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Chair Fowler called the African American Resource Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 5:50 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Elaina Fowler, Chair (District 10) Cherelle Vanbrakle, Vice Chair (District 4) Daryl Horton, (Appointee) Dewi Smith (District 1) Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Mueni Rudd (District 2) Serita Fontanesi (District 7) Roger Davis (GABC) Dr. Chiquita Eugene (District 5) Greg Smith (ARA Appointee) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Ms, Joseph Bill Wallace Chas Moore Sid Johnson Derrick Smith APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the African American Resource Advisory Commission Special Call Meeting on November 28th, 2023. Approve by Vanbrakle and Dewi Smith 1 2. Approve the minutes of the Committee’s Regular Called Meeting on February 6, 2024. Approve by Dewi Smith and Vanbrakle WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 3. Strategic Planning Work Group – Requested follow-up documentation from consultant. DISCUSSION ITEMS Anne Gatlin Hayes, CTO of Austin Economic Development Corporation, will provide an update on Blocks 16 and 18. Anne Gatlin Hayes spoke about the process on Block 16 and 18 providing information and Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the timeline with everything will be completed. 5. Cara Berton, Equity-Based Preservation Plan draft sharing of the community-based process for the Historic Landmark Commission and the different working groups. The group wanted the commission to provide the history around Austin that the community is not aware of. Chris Duran, Department: Analyst; Julie Smith, Community Engagement Specialist with the Housing Department; and Leslie Boyd, Interim Public Health Manager II with Austin Public Health, will share Federal funding priorities for a five-year strategic plan. Amanda Johnston, Executive Director of Torch Literary Arts, will share information on the organization and the 2024-2025 budget request. Ms. Johnson information to the commission about the number of Black Women Writers in Austin working as a non-profit organization. There are programs Wildfire Reading Series, workshops on professional development. 8. Kim Wright, Manager of Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, provides updates on the complex, including impact and budget needs. Ms. Wright provided information the things they currently needing funding on to bring the MYEC back to the community, for example upgrading the bowling alley and the game arcade. She provided information to commissioners about the theater and how SXSW used theater. 9. Azeem Edwin will share a presentation by American Gateways on the services they provide that improve the quality of life for the immigrant community in Austin. 2 4. 6. 7. Gave an update on additional legal services and the amount the people in the community are help. 10. Sue Spears, Bethany Cemetery Association presentation on needs of the organization/cemetery and 2024-2025 budget requests. 11. Moved to following meeting agenda Chase Wright, Hungry Hill presentation on 2024-2025 budget requests Moved to following meeting agenda WORKING GROUPS/COMMITTEE UPDATES 12. Strategic Planning Workgroup - updates from the last workgroup meeting on the strategic plan related to their assignment (Strategic Planning Workgroup Members: Commissioners Dewi Smith, Serita Fontanesi, Elaina Fowler, and Mueni Rudd). Moved to following meeting agenda 13. Discussion regarding the FY25 Budget. Commissioners were invited to email the Chair to join the FY25 Budget Work Group and submit objectives and priorities. Moved to following meeting agenda Chair Fowler adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. without objection. 3  4