SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, March 28, 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 Pete Salazar Elizabeth Slade 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 March 7, 2025. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 2. 3. 4. Recommendations from recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. the Budget Working Group regarding budget DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve a Budget Recommendation to Council regarding Micromobility Devices Impeding Public Walkways. Approve a Budget Recommendation to Council regarding Recognizing and Celebrating People with Disabilities. 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 email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov for additional information. TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, please contact Christi Vitela at the City Clerk Department at 512-974-2792 or email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Friday, March 7, 2025 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Friday, March 7, 2025 The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities convened in a regular called meeting on Friday, March 7, 2025, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St Austin, Texas. Chair Meyer called the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Elisabeth Meyer, Chair Gabriel Arellano Conor Kelly Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jonathan Franks, Vice Chair Lisa Chang Mickey Fetonte Jennifer Powell 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 February 7, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on February 7, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Kelly’s motion, Commissioner Powell’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Chair Meyer abstained. Commissioner Vassallo was off the dais. Commissioner Salazar was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Friday, March 7, 2025 2. 3. 4. 6. Presentation and discussion of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Presentation by James May, Officer Housing & Community Development, Rocio Pena-Martinez, Grants Program Manager, Housing Department and Julie Smith, Engagement Specialist, Housing Department. The presentation was made by James May, Officer Housing & Community Development, Rocio Pena-Martinez, Grants Program Manager, Housing Department and Julie Smith, Engagement Specialist, Housing Department. Discussion of micromobility and obstruction of sidewalks. The presentation was made by Michael Kimbro, Program Manager III, Austin Transportation and Public Works, and Joseph Al-Hajeri, Parking Enterprise Manager, Austin Transportation and Public Works. Discussion of upcoming changes to the fare system at CapMetro. Discussed. 5. Discussion of bringing awareness to 2025 disability events in the Austin area. Discussed. Discussion of the City of Austin budget process, Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget recommendations and of proposed budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Formation of a Working Group to research and write Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget recommendations. The motion to form a Working Group to research and write Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget recommendations was approved on Chair Meyer’s motion, Commissioner Kelly’s second and approved on a 7-0 vote. Vice Chair Franks was off the dais. Commissioner Salazar was absent. Chair Meyer and Commissioners Chang, Kelly, and Powell were added to the working group without objection. 8. Discussion of ways the …
BOARD AND COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Recommendation Number: (20250328-XXX): Micromobility Devices Impeding Public Walkways WHEREAS, micromobility devices blocking public walkways, such as electric scooters, pose a hazard and limit individuals with mobility and vision impairments from effectively utilizing walkways; and WHEREAS, the Committee for People with Disabilities has considered this issue by soliciting feedback from community members, micromobility providers, the Department of Transportation and Public Works; and WHEREAS, the Committee for People with Disabilities has determined that in addition to current efforts by the City of Austin and micromobility providers, more must be done to make walkways safe and passable for all members of the community, including individuals with disabilities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities encourages the Austin City Council to allocate funds (1) to develop signage encouraging proper parking to be posted in areas where micromobility use is high, and (2) towards enforcement of section Chapter 12-2-15 of the Code of Ordinances requiring micromobility devices to be parked appropriately. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: X-X For: Against: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________ [NAME]
BOARD AND COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Recommendation Number: (20250328-XXX): Recognizing and Celebrating People with Disabilities WHEREAS, Austin has vibrant and robust communities of individuals with disabilities that make up a significant portion of Austin’s population; and WHEREAS, individuals with disabilities and their communities are often under resourced and more is needed to bring awareness to their issues; and WHEREAS, to bring awareness to and celebrate the Austin community of people with disabilities, the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities encourages the City to sponsor, attend, and/or recognize community events celebrating important yearly milestones for communities made up of people with disabilities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities encourages the Austin City Council to allocate funds for the Committee to sponsor, attend, or recognize community events or celebrations for the following yearly milestones for communities of people with disabilities: ● 15 May - Global Accessibility Awareness Day ● 26 July - Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Anniversary ● October - National Disability Employment Awareness Month ● 3 December - International Day of Persons with Disabilities Date of Approval: March 28, 2025 Record of the vote: X-X For: Against: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________ [NAME]
