REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, January 10, 2025, 5:30pm Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room #1101 301 West 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities 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 Christi Vitela, 512- 974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. Conor Kelly Jennifer Powell Pete Salazar Kristen Vassallo CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Elisabeth Meyer, Chair Jonathan Franks, Vice Chair Gabriel Arellano Lisa Chang Mickey Fetonte CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA 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 Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular meeting on December 13, 2024. STAFF BRIEFING Staff briefing regarding the City of Austin emergency language access plan from the Communications and Public Information Office and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion on the feasibility of attendance of and accessibility considerations for the Equity Office’s Undoing Institutional Racism Training. Update from Chair Meyer regarding attendance of the CapMetro Community Advisory Committee and CapMetro fare payment system changes. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion of ways the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities can work with and advise the City of Austin Human Resources Department and formation of a Working Group to develop a training on City Code Chapter 5-6. Discussion of the City of Austin Budget process and formation of a Working Group to write budget recommendations. 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 call Christi Vitela at the City Clerk Department at 512-974-2792 or …
Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Friday, December 13, 2024 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Friday, December 13, 2024 The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities convened in a regular called meeting on Friday, December 13, 2024, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St Austin, Texas. Chair Meyer called the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Elisabeth Meyer, Chair Gabriel Arellano Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jonathan Franks, Vice Chair Mickey Fetonte Jennifer Powell Pete Salazar Kristen Vassallo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular meeting on November 8, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on November 8, 2024 were approved on Vice Chair Frank’s motion, Commissioner Vassallo’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Chang and Kelly were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Friday, December 13, 2024 Update from Chair Meyer regarding the recent work of the CapMetro Community Advisory Committee. Chair Meyer provided an update. Discussion on the feasibility of attendance of and accessibility considerations for the Equity Office’s Undoing Institutional Racism Training. The motion to postpone to the next meeting was approved on Commissioner Salazar’s motion, Vice Chair Franks’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Chang and Kelly were absent. 4. Discussion on ways the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities can work with and advise the City of Austin Human Resources Department. The motion to postpone to the next meeting was approved on Commissioner Salazar’s motion, Commissioner Vassallo’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Chang and Kelly were absent. 5. Update on attendance of the Joint Inclusion Committee’s Budget Input Sessions. Commissioner Fetonte provided an update. Discussion on commissioner appointments in 2025, including Joint Inclusion Committee representatives, holdover capacity and quorum for the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Select a Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities member liaison to participate in the interview panel and relay Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities authorized feedback on the interview process for the Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Discussed. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS CapMetro – Redline Trail (Meyer, Vassallo) Budget Discussion and Working Group (Meyer, Vassallo) Update CAC Committee (Meyer) A motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 pm was approved on Vice Chair Frank’s motion Commissioner Salazar’s …
Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies Marion Sanchez - CPIO | Houmma Garba - CPIO David Alcorta - HSEM January 10th, 2025 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Background The City Auditor conducted two audits: one in 2016 and another in 2021, involving language access services provided by the City, which culminated in a special report and staff response. The audits found that the City may not be meeting the needs of all non-English speaking Austinites because written policies did not align with actual practice. Additionally, the Auditor found that the City did not effectively communicate with community members before and during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, especially in language other than English. Because of this, limited English proficiency (LEP) Austinites may not have had the same access to important information and may have been disproportionately impacted. Austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/auditor/audit_reports/language_access_follow_up_may_2023.pdf January 10th, 2025 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Language Access Translation: Definitions The conversion of written communication from one language to another in a written form. An accurate translation is one that conveys the intent and essential meaning of the original text. Interpretation: The oral rendition of a spoken message from one language to another, preserving the intent and meaning of the original message. Threshold Language: The most common spoken languages in Austin other than English. Based on this data, and data on the percentage of people who identify as not speaking English “very well” is how HSEM determined the languages to provide translation and interpretation for. January 10th, 2025 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Limited English Proficiency January 10th, 2025 What does Limited English Proficiency mean? Limited English Proficiency (LEP) A person with limited English proficiency (LEP) cannot speak, read, write or understand the English language at a level that permits him or her to interact effectively with City staff. Individuals who communicate with American Sign Language are covered in this definition, although other Federal laws and regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act apply and should be considered separately. Hello! ¡Hola! 你好！ 안녕하세요! Xin chào! नमस्ते! မဂင်္လာပါ! Collaborative Partners • Communiations and Public Information Office • Homeland Security & Emergency Management In 2022, CPIO, HSEM and a collaboration of the City’s departmental Language Access team members established an Emergency Language Access working group. • Ausitn Energy • Austin Water • Austin Public Health January 10th, 2025 • And review by numerous community organizations. The Working Group planning …
