REGULAR MEETING OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION August 19, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. City of Austin, Permitting & Development Center, Room 1406 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission 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, call or email Ryan Sperling at (512) 974-3568 or ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Seonhye “Sonny” Sin, Chair Sarah Chen Zachary Dolling Hanna Huang Ahmed Moledina Sabrina Sha Nayer Sikder Kuo Yang Padmini Jambulapati, Vice Chair Sarah Xiyi Chen Hailey Easley Hugh Li Pierre Nguyễn Alpha Shrestha Nirali Thakkar AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on July 15, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing from Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion and Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion regarding the current priorities of the Office of Equity and Inclusion as they relate to Asian Americans in Austin. 3. Staff briefing from Rick Ramirez, Deputy Officer, Intergovernmental Relations Office regarding newly signed laws from the 89th Texas Legislative session that impact Asian American Austinites. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Discussion about Austin Police Department’s crimes against Asian Austinites data. 5. Discussion regarding a potential Recommendation to Council to revamp the Community Liaison Office. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve the dissolution of the Asian American Resource Center Working Group 7. Approve the creation of an Asian American Resource Center Working Group focused on providing input and recommendations on the programming and projects at the Asian American Resource Center. 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 …
Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Minutes July 15, 2025 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 15, 2025 The Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the City of Austin, Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Sin called the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Seonhye “Sonny” Sin, Chair Zachary Dolling Hanna Huang Ahmed Moledina COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY: Padmini Jambulapati, Vice Chair Sarah Chen Alpha Shrestha Nayer Sikder Nirali Thakkar Kuo Yang PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on June 17, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of June 17, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Huang’s motion, Commissioner Thakkar’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Shrestha and Yang were off the dais. Commissioners Xiyi Chen, Easley, Li, Nguyễn, and Sha were absent. 1 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Minutes July 15, 2025 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Austin Police Department’s vision for the Asian American community in Austin with a data report about instances of hate crimes for Asian American community members. Briefing by Lisa Davis, Chief of Police, Austin Police Department. Briefing provided by Lisa Davis, Chief of Police, Austin Police Department. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 3. Updates from the Budget Community Engagement Working Group regarding the invite template of the upcoming Budget and Boba event. Update provided by Vice Chair Jambulapati. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review Report The motion to approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review Report with amendments to strike 2023 and insert 2024, and strike Alpha Shrestha as primary Joint Inclusion Committee Representative and insert Nirali Thakkar as primary Joint Inclusion Committee Representative was approved on Commissioner Huang’s motion, Commissioner Dolling’s second on an 10-0 vote. Commissioners Xiyi Chen, Easley, Li, Nguyễn, and Sha were absent. Approve updates to the membership of current Working Groups including the AARC Working Group, Certifications and Awards Working Group, Food Security Working Group, City Manager’s Office Meeting Working Group, Budget Engagement Working Group, GraduAsian Graduation Event Working Group, and the Public Health and Safety Working Group. The motion to approve updates to the memberships of the AARC, City Manager’s Office …
Introduction & Overview: Austin Equity and Inclusion Asian American Quality of Life Commission Briefing Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 6:00 PM Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer Agenda Introductions • Who We Are Office Overview • Vision & Mission • Current Structure • Core Services Current Projects Connecting with Our Office 8/15/2025 2 OUR VISION Austin Equity and Inclusion helps shape a community and city government where every individual feels welcomed and has the resources and services they need to thrive. We’re dedicated to transforming systems to increase access, remove barriers to opportunity, address discrimination, and foster a community where all identities are respected. 8/15/2025 3 Austin Equity and Inclusion (AEI) AEI Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director Civil Rights Division Equity Division Human Rights Division Enrique Serrano, Civil Rights Officer Vacant, Equity Officer Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer 8/15/2025 4 Introductions Shafina Khaki Human Rights Officer Dr. Lindsey Wilson Director Enrique Serrano Civil Rights Officer 5 CORE SERVICES Promote Human Rights: Provide advocacy and direct services that help residents access benefits, understand their rights, and connect to resources that uphold safety, dignity, and well-being. Carry Out the City’s Strategic Goals: Increase access, remove barriers to opportunities, and create inclusive spaces where all identities feel respected, seen, and valued. Provide Anti-Discrimination Protections: Investigate discrimination complaints related to Housing, Employment, Public Accommodations, and Fair Chance Hiring. City Ordinance Enforcement: Uphold the CROWN Act, Tenant’s Rights to Organize and other Key City Ordinances. Equity: Work to reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities by collaborating with all City departments to help identify and remove barriers in services. Community Engagement and Outreach: Build collaborative community relationships to advance Equity and improve the quality of life for Austinites. 8/15/2025 The items listed above represent key examples, though the list is not exhaustive. 6 Current Projects EQUITY CIVIL RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS • Quality of Life Studies • Mini-Grants • Equity Action Team & Equity Network Meetings • Normalize, Organize and Operationalize... 8/15/20 25 • Enforcing Civil Rights Laws Across • Know Your Rights/Benefits Multiple Sectors, leveraging technology to advance rights. • Collaborates with Community Members, Businesses, and Stakeholders: • Partnering with other agencies to promote civil rights initiatives (Immigrants, Veterans, ADA) • Advances the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Austinites • Anti-Hate/We All Belong • Community Meetings/Foster Belonging The items listed above represent key examples, though the list is not …
City of Austin 89th State Legislature: Post-Session Briefing Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Government Relations Office Agenda 01 Introduction 02 Special Session 03 89th Regular Session: Tech Bills 04 89th Regular Session: Other City Bills 1 89th Special Sessions: Basics • 89th First-Called Special Session Began July 21, 2025 • 89th Second-Called Special Session Began Aug 15, 2025 • Special Sessions cannot last more than 30 days. They can adjourn early. • Only topics within the Governor’s call may be considered. • However: • Governor can add additional items to the call at any time. • Legislators can still file any bill – it does not have to be on the call to be filed. • Governor can call for additional special sessions. 2 89th Second Special Session: Items on Call Camp Safety Flood Warning Systems Flood Emergency Communications Relief Funding for Hill Country Floods Natural Disaster Preparation & Recovery Eliminate STAAR Test Cut Property Taxes & Expenditure Caps Protect Children From THC Regulate Hemp- Derived Products Protect Unborn Children Ban Taxpayer- Funded Lobbying Protect Human Trafficking Victims Police Personnel Records Protect Women’s Spaces Attorney General Election Powers Redistricting Title Theft & Deed Fraud Water Project Incentives State Judicial Department 3 89th Regular Session Overview 4 89th Regular Session: Overarching Issues • Many recurring issues: pre-emption on elections, guns, historical markers and inclusion programming • Land use and Housing • Efforts to reduce city funding and limit use of debt • Firefighters pension and collective bargaining • Water future • Homelessness Successfully stopping or amending negative legislation is just as – if not more – impactful to the City as passing positive legislation. 5 89th Session: By the Numbers Stat Bills and Joint Resolutions Filed 9,014 (88th Session: 8,345) Bills & Joint Resolutions Sent to Governor 1,231 (88th Session: 1,259) Tracked by IGRO / Assigned to Departments 1,499 (88th Session: 978) % of Bills Sent to Governor Bills Vetoed by the Governor 14% of Filed Bills & JRS Sent to Governor* 26 (88th Session: 76) *Veto Period Ended June 22 6 89th Regular Session Key Legislation of Interest to AAQoLAC 7 89th Regular Session: Bills of Interest Passed Did Not Pass SB 17 (Kolkhorst / Hefner) Foreign ownership of Texas real property HB 128 (Orr / Kolkhorst) Sister City Agreements HB 41 (Hefner) Ban on Drones from Foreign Adversaries SB 1065 (Hall / Phelan) Guns in public places …
