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Agenda — original pdf
REGULAR MEETING of the ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL Monday, July 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM Virtual Meeting Members of the ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL may participate by video conference. Public comment will be allowed remotely via video conference or telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for participation. To register to speak, call or email AIPP Program Manager Jaime Castillo at jaime.castillo@austintexas.gov, (512) 974-7852. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Chair – Kristi-Anne Shaer, Andrew Danziger, Taylor Davis, Bernardo Diaz, Monica Maldonado – Arts Commission Liaison. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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 minutes of the Art in Public Places Panel Special Meeting on June 9, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Discussion of Arts Commission Liaison Report on Action Items from June 23, 2025, Arts Commissions Meeting by Arts Commission Liaison Maldonado Discussion of Resolution No. 20250306-029 Update Discussion of TEMPO 2025 Art Call – The Trail Conservancy Discussion of Concept Design for the Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard./FM 969 Corridor Project (C2) – Stanley Studio Discussion of Austin Convention Center Redevelopment (ACCX) Phase 1 Alternate Artists Update Discussion of Corridor Segment B AIPP Project Update STAFF BRIEFINGS 8. Art in Public Places Staff Briefing on Conservation, Current Projects, and Milestones FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact AIPP Program Manager Jaime Castillo at jaime.castillo@austintexas.gov or (512) 974- 7852 for additional information; TTY users' route through Relay Texas at 711.
Agenda — original pdf
REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS JULY 7, 2025, 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd Street AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely or in person, contact Gunjen Mittal at gunjen.mittal@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-6104. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Melissa Ortega, Chair Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Miriam Dorantes, Vice-Chair Diane Kanawati Adrian De La Rosa Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Azeem Edwin Alondra Johnson Yohana Saucedo Aditi Joshi Meghana Roy AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up 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 Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on June 2, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding updates on the procurement process and budget of the Quality-of-Life Study by Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator and Jeremy Garza, Business Process Consultant – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. 4. Update on the most recent Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting held in June 2025, as it relates to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review Report. 6. Approve updates to the membership of the Quality-of-Life Working Group. (Working Group Members: Chair Melissa Ortega, Commissioners Alondra Johnson, Aditi Joshi, Jeanne C Kaba; Community Stakeholders: Karen Crawford, Krystal Gomez, Oscar Ponce, and Kirk Yoshida). 7. Approve updates to the membership of the Budget Working Group. (Working Group Members: Chair Melissa Ortega, Vice Chair Miriam Dorantes, and Commissioner Alondra Johnson). 8. Approve the amendments to Article 3 section A of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs bylaws regarding membership as proposed by the Audit and Finance Committee. 9. Approve the selection of a representative from the Commission on Immigrant Affairs to speak at the July 21st LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission meeting regarding how the LGBTQ Quality …
Item 1: June 2 Draft Minutes — original pdf
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 2, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Austin City Hall, W 3rd St, Room 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair Ortega called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting to order at 6:44 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Alondra Johnson Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Miriam Dorantes, Vice-Chair Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs regular meeting on May 5, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of May 5, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Joshi’s motion, Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Edwin was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 2. 3. 4. Briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager – Immigrant Affairs, regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. The presentation was made by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager – Immigrant Affairs. Briefing by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion, regarding update on Quality-of-Life study of immigrants, refugees and other foreign-born community members. The presentation was made by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Briefing by Dr. Wilson regarding status update for budget of Commission on Immigrant Affairs Study. Withdrawn. PRESENTATION 5. 6. Presentation by Academia Cuauhtli, a community-based education initiative focused on serving Austin’s immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities through culturally and linguistically sustaining programming regarding brief overview of our work and request support for our FY 2025-2026 budget recommendation. The presentation was made by Angela Venezuela, Emilio Zamora, and Dr. Carmen Unda, founders and educators - Academia Cuauhtli. Presentation by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund regarding license plate readers pilot program. The presentation was made by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. 8. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Withdrawn Discussion regarding the planned sunsetting of the Equity Division’s Undoing Racism trainings for community members, City staff, and Commissioners. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discussion and action on the proposal made by the Audit and Finance Committee regarding the …
Item 10: Community Investment Budget Recommendation — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-010: Community Investment Budget 2025/2026 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has made community engagement a core pillar of its budget planning process, employing a diverse mix of tools and strategies—including multilingual surveys, public meetings, digital budget simulators, and data transparency initiatives—to ensure residents play a meaningful role in shaping the city's funding priorities; and WHEREAS, for the last several years, 30 to 40 community groups have come together on a yearly basis to create detailed budget recommendations known as the Community Investment Budget, issued by Equity Action; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, the 2025/2026 version of the Community Investment Budget addresses concerns that echo or are similar to Joint Inclusion Committee and the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommendations on additional funds for: Immigrant legal and other support services, • • Know Your Rights clinics, • Expansion of programs offered by Office of Equity and Inclusion, • Culturally competent community engagement during emergencies, • Expansion of emergency shelters for inclement weather events, • Expansion of technical apprenticeships and training, • • Numerous recommendations on enhancing childcare services. Implementation of climate resilience and disaster preparedness initiatives, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to instruct the City Manager to work in partnership with the Community Investment Budget feedback process and to incorporate at least 50% of the recommendations, emphasizing that roughly only 11% were reflected in the last year’s budget. 1 https://www.austintexas.gov/page/city-budget Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
Item 11: Establishment of an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Fund — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-011: Establishment of an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Fund WHEREAS, the United States is currently experiencing an aggressive second-term federal enforcement agenda, and the State of Texas is escalating anti-immigrant policies—including local law enforcement cooperation with ICE and bans on sanctuary protections—that have created fear, trauma, and disruption among immigrant, refugee, and foreign-born community members; and WHEREAS, these enforcement actions have led to an alarming increase in family separation, economic disruption, housing instability, and mental health crisis among Austin’s immigrant communities, including children whose caregivers have been detained or deported; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has declared itself a “Freedom City,” prioritizing protections for immigrant residents, advancing racial equity through its Equity Office, and striving to maintain a high quality of life for all residents ; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council and the City Manager have affirmed commitments to equity, inclusivity, and protecting marginalized communities through policies, investments, and Quality of Life research, especially within immigrant and refugee populations; and WHEREAS, the current environment necessitates emergency support mechanisms to address urgent needs—financial, emotional, and mental—resulting from immigration enforcement actions, especially among children and families experiencing ICE raids and caregiver detentions; and WHEREAS, no other entity in Texas is positioned to rapidly deploy funding or mental health services to support these affected community members at scale, making City-led action both necessary and uniquely effective; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. The Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to direct the City Manager to collaborate with relevant departments to establish an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Assistance Fund, with the following features: • Immediate cash grants for families who lose their primary breadwinner due to ICE detention or deportation, to address rent, utilities, food, and other essential expenses; • Mental health counseling and trauma support for children and youth impacted by forced family separation; • Flexible funding pathways (such as a dedicated city-managed grant program or partnership with CBOs) to ensure swift, accessible delivery to impacted community members. 2. The Commission recommends that this fund be structured to: • Be activated within 30 days of Council approval; • Prioritize eligibility for families with children under 18 who have lost a …
Item 12: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-012: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the purpose of “making Austin a place where its high quality of life is available to and accessible for all its citizens” by advocating for educational equity and well-being for Austin Independent School District students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its vision statement expressed as “a future where children live with a thinking heart and the courage to pursue their aspirations within the liberating and sacred learning spaces” by overseeing the administrative operations for multiple year long projects which include: Saturday Esquelita (September-March), Summer STEM School (June-August), La Collaborativa Cuauhtli, Cuauhtli Teacher Curriculum Workshops, and a research team comprised of 11 qualitative and quantitative education scholars; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2024 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies …
Item 13: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure in Austin — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-013: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure in Austin WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH) provides vital population-level services that protect over 1.35 million residents, including immunization clinics, HIV and STD testing and treatment, refugee health screenings, violence prevention programming, substance misuse support, and neighborhood centers offering basic needs assistance; and WHEREAS, core public health infrastructure funding in the amount of $9,500,000 is currently at risk due to unstable federal funding streams and national-level proposals to reduce or eliminate key public health support; and WHEREAS, the federal political climate—marked by increasing hostility toward public health institutions—has created uncertainty for municipalities dependent on federal dollars, putting local public health outcomes in jeopardy; and WHEREAS, investing in public health not only enhances the quality of life for all but can also lead to substantial savings over time; and WHEREAS, In 2016, the Austin City Council, through RESOLUTION NO. 20160128-068, adopted a formal policy to invest in additional funding for health and social services; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin fully protect the $9,500,000 currently allocate to Core Public Health Infrastructure along with a dedicated $6,000,000 public health reserve fund to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of further federal disinvestment or emergency needs; BE IT, FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin prioritize funding for public health programs, advocate at the state and national levels for sustained investment in local public health systems and oppose federal-level efforts that jeopardize public health funding, particularly for historically underserved communities. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
Agenda — original pdf
REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION July 7, 2025 6:30 PM AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 Some members of the Music Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Shelbi Mitchell, 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Scott Strickland – Secretary, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER MUSICAL PERFORMANCE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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 Music Commission meeting on June 2, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Formal endorsements of community programs and events briefing by Shelbi Mitchell, Program Coordinator, Music & Entertainment Division. 3. Live Music Fund collections briefing by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment. 4. FY23 Austin Live Music Fund final reports briefing by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Video licensing of local musicians at the airport following presentation by Louie Carr, Own Path Media and Steve Carlos Kirk, Streak Systems. 6. Presentation on grant opportunities with non-profit organization, Housing Opportunities for Musicians & Entertainers (HOME Austin) by Hanna Cofer, Executive Director, HOME. 7. ACME funding guidelines update by Angela Means, Director and Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (ACME). DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS 8. Approval of recommendation for performance rights organizations and transparency in licensing revenue distribution practices following presentation by Secretary Strickland. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 …
Agenda — original pdf
Agenda
Agenda — original pdf
REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the URBAN RENEWAL BOARD July 7, 2025, INTRODUCTORY GATHERING 5:00 pm, REGULAR MEETING 6:00 pm STREET JONES BUILDING, ROOM 400A 1000 EAST 11TH ST, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78702 Some members of the Urban Renewal Board may be participating by videoconference and a quorum will be present at the location identified above. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Hunter Maples, (512) 974-3120 or hunter.maples@austintexas.gov. The Urban Renewal Board reserves the right to go into closed session to discuss any of the items on this agenda as permitted by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Manuel Escobar, Chair Darrell W, Pierce, Vice Chair Amit Motwani Byron Davis Jacqueline Watson Kobla Tetey Tam Hawkins INTRODUCTORY GATHERING AGENDA Conduct meet and greet with a possible quorum of the Board (No action or official business) CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers who registered to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting, if speaking virtually, or who signed up prior to the meeting being called to order if speaking in person, will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1 of 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2. Approve the minutes of the Urban Renewal Board’s (URB’s) regular-called meeting on April 21, 2025 Approve the minutes of the Urban Renewal Board’s (URB’s) special-called meeting on June 9, 2025 DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion related to updates on future development of Blocks 16 & 18 from Pleasant Hill Collaborative and Rally Austin, including project status and anticipated timeline (Sean Garretson, Pleasant Hill Collaborative; Lex Miller, Rally Austin) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. Discussion and approval of recommendation to City Council regarding the requested Urban Renewal Plan amendment for 1201 E 11th St. Discussion and authorization of Chair Escobar to draft and sign letter of support regarding the credit enhancement requested by Pleasant Hill Collaborative for the future development of Blocks 16 & 18 Discussion and authorization of Chair Escobar to draft and …
20250707-010: Community Investment Budget 2025/2026 — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-010: Community Investment Budget 2025/2026 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has made community engagement a core pillar of its budget planning process, employing a diverse mix of tools and strategies—including multilingual surveys, public meetings, digital budget simulators, and data transparency initiatives—to ensure residents play a meaningful role in shaping the city's funding priorities; and WHEREAS, for the last several years, 30 to 40 community groups have come together on a yearly basis to create detailed budget recommendations known as the Community Investment Budget, issued by Equity Action; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, the 2025/2026 version of the Community Investment Budget addresses concerns that echo or are similar to Joint Inclusion Committee and the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommendations on additional funds for: Immigrant legal and other support services, • • Know Your Rights clinics, • Expansion of programs offered by Office of Equity and Inclusion, • Culturally competent community engagement during emergencies, • Expansion of emergency shelters for inclement weather events, • Expansion of technical apprenticeships and training, • • Numerous recommendations on enhancing childcare services. Implementation of climate resilience and disaster preparedness initiatives, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to instruct the City Manager to work in partnership with the Community Investment Budget feedback process and to incorporate at least 50% of the recommendations, emphasizing that roughly only 11% were reflected in the last year’s budget. 1 https://www.austintexas.gov/page/city-budget Date of Approval: 7/7/2025 Record of the vote: 10-0 Motioned by: Commissioner Johnson Seconded by: Commissioner De La Rosa For: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Edwin, Johnson, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Roy Absent: Commissioner Saucedo Attest: Nekaybaw Watson Nekaybaw Watson
20250707-011: Establishment of an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Fund — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-011: Establishment of an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Fund WHEREAS, the United States is currently experiencing an aggressive second-term federal enforcement agenda, and the State of Texas is escalating anti-immigrant policies—including local law enforcement cooperation with ICE and bans on sanctuary protections—that have created fear, trauma, and disruption among immigrant, refugee, and foreign-born community members; and WHEREAS, these enforcement actions have led to an alarming increase in family separation, economic disruption, housing instability, and mental health crisis among Austin’s immigrant communities, including children whose caregivers have been detained or deported; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has declared itself a “Freedom City,” prioritizing protections for immigrant residents, advancing racial equity through its Equity Office, and striving to maintain a high quality of life for all residents ; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council and the City Manager have affirmed commitments to equity, inclusivity, and protecting marginalized communities through policies, investments, and Quality of Life research, especially within immigrant and refugee populations; and WHEREAS, the current environment necessitates emergency support mechanisms to address urgent needs—financial, emotional, and mental—resulting from immigration enforcement actions, especially among children and families experiencing ICE raids and caregiver detentions; and WHEREAS, no other entity in Texas is positioned to rapidly deploy funding or mental health services to support these affected community members at scale, making City-led action both necessary and uniquely effective; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. The Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to direct the City Manager to collaborate with relevant departments to establish an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Assistance Fund, with the following features: • Immediate cash grants for families who lose their primary breadwinner due to ICE detention or deportation, to address rent, utilities, food, and other essential expenses; • Mental health counseling and trauma support for children and youth impacted by forced family separation; • Flexible funding pathways (such as a dedicated city-managed grant program or partnership with CBOs) to ensure swift, accessible delivery to impacted community members. 2. The Commission recommends that this fund be structured to: • Be activated within 30 days of Council approval; • Prioritize eligibility for families with children under 18 who have lost a …
20250707-012: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-012: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the purpose of “making Austin a place where its high quality of life is available to and accessible for all its citizens” by advocating for educational equity and well-being for Austin Independent School District students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its vision statement expressed as “a future where children live with a thinking heart and the courage to pursue their aspirations within the liberating and sacred learning spaces” by overseeing the administrative operations for multiple year long projects which include: Saturday Esquelita (September-March), Summer STEM School (June-August), La Collaborativa Cuauhtli, Cuauhtli Teacher Curriculum Workshops, and a research team comprised of 11 qualitative and quantitative education scholars; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2024 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies …
20250707-013: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure in Austin — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-013: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure in Austin WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH) provides vital population-level services that protect over 1.35 million residents, including immunization clinics, HIV and STD testing and treatment, refugee health screenings, violence prevention programming, substance misuse support, and neighborhood centers offering basic needs assistance; and WHEREAS, core public health infrastructure funding in the amount of $9,500,000 is currently at risk due to unstable federal funding streams and national-level proposals to reduce or eliminate key public health support; and WHEREAS, the federal political climate—marked by increasing hostility toward public health institutions—has created uncertainty for municipalities dependent on federal dollars, putting local public health outcomes in jeopardy; and WHEREAS, investing in public health not only enhances the quality of life for all but can also lead to substantial savings over time; and WHEREAS, In 2016, the Austin City Council, through RESOLUTION NO. 20160128-068, adopted a formal policy to invest in additional funding for health and social services; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin fully protect the $9,500,000 currently allocate to Core Public Health Infrastructure along with a dedicated $6,000,000 public health reserve fund to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of further federal disinvestment or emergency needs; BE IT, FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin prioritize funding for public health programs, advocate at the state and national levels for sustained investment in local public health systems and oppose federal-level efforts that jeopardize public health funding, particularly for historically underserved communities. Date of Approval: 7/7/2025 Record of the vote: 10-0 Motioned by: Commissioner Johnson Seconded by: Commissioner De La Rosa For: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Edwin, Johnson, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Roy Absent: Commissioner Saucedo Attest: Nekaybaw Watson Nekaybaw Watson
Item 5: Commission on Immigrant Affairs Annual Internal Review — original pdf
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: § 2-1-126 - COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS. (B)The commission shall: (1) advise the city council on issues of common concern to immigrants, particularly in the areas of health and human services, education, and the demographic makeup of the Austin immigrant community; (2) monitor requirements of federal, state, and local immigration, welfare and other laws that affect immigrants, and recommend to the city council actions to maximize the benefits to local immigrants under existing laws and to minimize the adverse impacts to local immigrants under the laws; (3) promote recognition of the contributions of the foreign-born to the economic and cultural vitality of Austin; and (4) promote the availability of, and promote accessibility to, local educational, economic, legal, and social resources for immigrants. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. (Reference all reports, recommendations, letters or resolutions presented to the City Council on mission-specific issues. If some of the elements of the mission statement were not acted on by the board in the past year, the report should explain why no action was taken.) The Commission on Immigrant Affairs (CoIA) submitted its budget recommendations to City Council for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. These recommendations were shared with City Council and relevant staff, in alignment with the commission’s advisory role to promote equitable access to educational, economic, legal, health, human services, and social resources for immigrant communities. Annual Review and Work Plan Year Page # In addition to presenting specific recommendations, the commission also emphasized the importance of reporting by advocating for a more strategic and collaborative approach to the budget recommendation process, in keeping with its advisory responsibility. The commission’s approved budget recommendations were as follows: Recommendation 20240916-006 Subject: Budget Reporting Recommendation 20250303-014: Translation and Interpretation Services for Boards and Commissions Recommendation Number: 20250329-007: Family Stabilization Program as a Mechanism for Promoting Housing Stability Recommendation Number: 20250329-008: Reallocation of Quality-of-Life Study Funds to the FY 2025–2026 Budget Recommendation Number: 20250329-006: Providing Funding for Printing and Distribution of 'Know Your Rights' Red Cards at Austin Public Libraries Recommendation Number: 20250329-005: Providing Resources for Immigrant Students Recommendation Number: 20250329-004: Budget Expand Equity and Inclusion …
Item 3 Supporting Document — original pdf
MUSIC COMMISSION MEETING 7/07/2025 H O T E L O C C U P A N C Y T A X C O L L E C T I O N S L I V E M U S I C F U N D Kim McCarson Program Manager UPDATED 7.02.2025 FY 25 Year-to-Date Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections – Live Music Fund May 2025 w/ Encumbrances $352,635 FY25 Year-to-Date w/ Encumbrances $3,216,539 $17,874 $312,748 $827,586 $19,399 $338,773 $854,923 $12,938 $323,076 $798,287 $5,509 $217,400 $744,461 $4,573 $472,660 $716,095 $36,835 $335,537 $782,771 $19,180 $288,001 $856,608 $5,354 $172,557 $754,925 $352,635 $816,197 $48,397 $316,607 $809,445 $17,407 $159,710 $696,141 FY 23 FY 24 FY 25 October April November May December June January July February August March September
Item 4 Supporting Document — original pdf
FY23 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot - Compliance Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Music Commission Meeting July 7, 2025 FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot • 367 Awardees for “Specific Future Projects” o 41 $5,000 Grant Awards o 326 $10,000 Grant Awards • Grant Agreements executed Oct–Dec 2023 • Agreement extensions provided to ensure 12-month terms and for compliant Awardees needing more time for awarded “Specific Future Projects” FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot Pilot Program Challenges • • Flawed Economic Development Department (EDD) Portal Large number of grant agreements Application / Reporting System • Switching from EDD Portal to Google reporting forms for static reporting templates • Awarding “Specific Future Projects” when music industry activities are fluid and often subject to change • Awardee inexperience with grant processes and expectations • Awardee personal challenges FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot • 4 Awardees forfeited before receiving any funds • 1 Awardee did interim report evidencing the 1st payment but paid back the 2nd payment (40% of award) and did not receive the 3rd payment of (10% of award) • 56 remaining non-compliant Awardees – Still Attempting Communication o 33 submitted an interim report evidencing the 1st payment, but no final report o 23 submitted no interim report ACME Awardee Non-Compliance Steps • STEP 1 - 1st Notice sent via e-mail to Awardee who is at least 15 business days delinquent in submitting report. Awardee has 10 business days to submit report or contact ACME. E-mail sent by ACME Grant Agreement Manager. • STEP 2 - 2nd Notice sent by certified mail to Awardee who is at least 30 business days delinquent or has submitted an incomplete report after the first delinquent notice. Awardee has 5 business days to submit a complete report. Letter signed by ACME Grant Agreement Manager. *Applicant will not be granted program extension request after second notice. • STEP 3 - Termination Notice sent by certified mail to Awardee who has not responded to and/or provided corrections or additional information. Letter signed by ACME Music & Entertainment Division Manager. Copy of Termination Notice sent to ACME Department Director. FY 2024 Austin Live Music Fund • 136 grant awards accepted out of 136 total grant awards (100%) • 135 signed agreements out of 136 total grant agreements (99%) • 134 completed Grant Agreement Orientations out of 136 …
Item 5 Supporting Document — original pdf
Scaling Equity & Innovation in Austin Music A Model for Sustainable Creative Infrastructure Presented to: Austin Music Commission Created by: Louie Carr, Steve Carlos Kirk, Nathalie Phan Presented by: Louie Carr Date: July 7th, 2025 This presentation is a collaborative effort built from lived artist experiences, technical innovation, and forward-thinking policy strategy. Our goal is to help the Commission envision a long- term investment in infrastructure that makes Austin’s music economy more equitable, visible, and sustainable. Opening Vision "Austin doesn’t just have a music scene — it has a music economy. But that economy needs infrastructure. Not just stages, but systems. This is the blueprint." We built a framework that pays artists, showcases local talent, and doesn’t rely on the presence of a physical audience. In a city where affordability and visibility are growing challenges for musicians, this system creates a reliable and equitable pathway for music to remain a core part of Austin’s identity. What We Built (ABIA Recap) JetStream Fest: A collaborative livestream initiative with 23 participating airports across North America — streamed to over 46,000 viewers. Austin’s participation helped center local artists in a national cultural moment. Exterity VDMS System: Over 250 screen endpoints installed throughout ABIA allow seamless digital programming — from gate lounges to baggage claims — all controlled from a single hub. Remote-Controlled Stage: The Asleep at the Wheel performance demonstrated that we can operate a fully professional livestream performance — including lighting, sound, and camera ops — without a single person physically on site. Integrated Signage and Social Streaming: The system isn’t siloed — it connects to social media channels and physical signage across the airport, creating a scalable, multi-platform experience. Impact: ABIA has become one of Austin’s most functional and artist-supportive venues — without being a traditional music venue. It proves that with the right tools, any space can become a cultural amplifier. Artist Voices I love the opportunity to play shows at the airport. Having a regular paying gig, in a space where you meet people from all over the world. Travelers always tell me at my gigs how much their experience has been enhanced from having live music throughout the airport. It makes people happy, it gets them through waiting for their flights. It's a welcoming hello and reminder of time spent here in this vibrant city. A pilot even tipped me at my last gig at the airport...people care …