Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION October 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 The ARTS COMMISSION convened in a REGULAR meeting on 20, October 2025 at Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Commissioner Houston called the ARTS COMMISSION Meeting to order at 6:05p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Gina Houston, Acia Gray, Celina Zisman, Sharron B Anderson Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Muna Hussaini, Heidi Schmalbach Board Members Absent: Felipe Garza, Faiza Kracheni, Nagavalli Medicharla CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Gina Houston - Chair, Acia Gray - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Heidi Schmalbach, Muna Hussaini, Celina Zisman, Faiza Kracheni, Sharron B Anderson, Nagavalli Medicharla MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. Maria Luisa from Casa Costura spoke on their frustrations with Spanish language support. The translations and assistance were improved from before, but they were frustrated that their contract was not offered in Spanish. They have reached out to TALA to get assistance in translating the contract but haven’t heard back. They are uncomfortable signing a document they don’t understand. 2. Hector Ordaz from Proyecto Teatro spoke on their frustrations with the revised AACME guidelines and the lack of serving underrepresented communities. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on September 22, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of September 22, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Zisman’s motion, Commissioner Grey’s second on an 6-0 vote with Commisisoner Anderson abstaining and Commissioners Maldonado, Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. A motion to move item 12 to after Item 2 was approved on Commissioner Zisman’s motion, Commissioner Schmalbach’s second on a 7-0 with Commissioners Maldonado, Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation on Rally Austin’s Proposal for the 2026 City of Austin Bond Election by David A. Colligan, Chief Operating Officer, Rally Austin. The presentation was given by David A. Colligan, Chief Operating Officer, Rally Austin. and Theresa Alvarez, Chief Executive Officer, Rally Austin. 3. Presentation on Art for All by Raasin McIntosh, Founder & CEO, and Mike Kim, COO of Raasin in the Sun. The presentation was given by Raasin McIntosh, Founder & CEO, and Mike Kim, COO of Raasin in the Sun. 4. Discussion on Commissioner Keys’ concerns coming from artists and arts advocates and discuss some quicker payment processes The presentation was given by Commissioner Keys 5. Discussion on Commissioner Keys’ request/need for a City public and public/private space utilization report to access the current state, use, and costs of some public and public- private multiuse, creative, and recreational facilities/spaces. The presentation was given by Commissioner Keys STAFF BRIEFINGS 6. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. An update was given by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor 7. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. An update was given by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor 8. Staff briefing regarding an update on the AACME Funding Programs Application Cycle by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. An update was given by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. 9. Staff briefing regarding an update on Art in Public Places by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. An update was given by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. Sunset the Community Feedback on most recent release of the Cultural Funding Programs Working Group Motion to sunset the Cultural Funding Programs Working Group Schmalbach and Maldonado second 8-0 with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. 11. Establish a Working Group to review/update Arts Commission Bylaws The motion to establish a Working Group to review/update Arts Commission Bylaws was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Grey’s second on a 8-0 with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. Commissioner Houston, Garza, Keys, Anderson (Chair) were appointed to Arts Commission Bylaws review working group 12. Approve nomination to the Rally Austin Board The presentation was given by Theresa Alvarez, Chief Executive Officer, Rally Austin. The motion to approve Sara Vanderbeek to the Rally Austin Board was approved on Commissioner Zisman’s motion, Commissioner Schmalbach’s second on a 6-2 with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. 13. Approve the recommended two new members to the Art in Public Places Panel The motion to approve Camille Jobe and Lindsey Milikan to the Art in Public Places Panel was approved on Commissioner Gray’s motion, Commissioner Houstons’s second on a 7-0 with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. 14. Approve 2026 Arts Commission Meeting Schedule The motion to approve the 2026 Arts Commission Meeting Schedule was approved on Commissioner Maldonado’s motion, Commissioner Gray’s second on a 7-0 with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Medicharla absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 15. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Schmalbach, and Gray(chair). 16. Update from the Community Feedback on most recent release of the Cultural Funding Programs Working Group with Commissioner’s Schmalbach, Houston, Keys, and Anderson (Chair). FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Presentation on Heritage Preservation Grant ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Houston adjourned the meeting at 8:52 P.M. without objection. The minutes were approved at the November 17, 2025 meeting on a 7-0 vote with Commisisoner Garza, Kracheni abstaining and Commissioners Hussaini, Zisman absent.