REGULAR MEETING OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025, AT 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR. AUSTIN, TEXAS 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, contact Nekaybaw Watson, 512-974-2562, nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Seonhye “Sonny” Sin, Chair Sarah Chen Zachary Dolling Hanna Huang Ahmed Moledina Sabrina Sha Nayer Sikder Kuo Yang CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Padmini Jambulapati, Vice-Chair Sarah Xiyi Chen Hailey Easley Hugh Li Pierre Nguyễn Alpha Shrestha Nirali Thakkar 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 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on October 21, 2025. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 2. Update from the City Manager’s Office Meeting Working Group regarding meeting recaps of the annual meetings and discussion on if this working group should continue. 3. 4. Update from the Asian American Resource Center Working Group regarding Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment culture community centers community engagement, staff changes, and programing. Update from the Joint Inclusion Committee Working Group regarding the recent Get to Know Your Commissioners events. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. 6. Discussion to establish Budget Priorities for the Budget Working Group. Discussion on what to prioritize with the creation of the Community Engagement Working Group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. 8. 9. Approve the creation of a Community Engagement Working Group that focuses on engaging the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with the City, public safety, education, and city resource connections. Approve the dissolution of the Budget Engagement Working Group. Approve the creation and membership of a Budget Recommendation Working Group that writes budget recommendations to Council for FY26-27. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided …
Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Minutes October 21, 2025 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 21, 2025 The Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the City of Austin, Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Jambulapati called the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Seonhye “Sonny” Sin, Chair Padmini Jambulapati, Vice Chair Pierre Nguyễn COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY: Sarah Xiyi Chen Hanna Huang Hugh Li Ahmed Moledina 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 September 16, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of September 16, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Nguyễn’s motion, Commissioner Thakkar’s second on a 9-0 vote. Chair Sin was off the dais. Commissioners Chen, Dolling, Easley, Sha and Shrestha were absent. 1 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Minutes October 21, 2025 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding hate crime response from the Hate Crime Review Committee. Presentation by Lieutenant David Hruzek, Hate Crimes Review Committee, Austin Police. Presentation provided by Lieutenant David Hruzek, Hate Crimes Review Committee, Austin Police. Staff briefing regarding the victim support process including victim response and cultural competency training procedures for Victim Services. Presentation by Jeannie Tomanetz, Victim Services Lead Counselor, Austin Police. Presentation provided by Jeannie Tomanetz, Victim Services Lead Counselor, Austin Police. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the City Manager’s Office Meeting Working Group regarding finalizing meeting dates with the City Manager’s Office. Update was given by Vice Chair Jambulapati and Commissioner Huang. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Discussion regarding the multiculturism and human relations training of the Hate Crimes Division of Austin Police. Discussion postponed with no objection. Discussion exploring how commissioners can receive better and more expansive training. Discussion was held. Update from the JIC representatives regarding the internal JIC changes, upcoming get to know your commissioner meetings, restoration of an independent equity office, feedback on the city’s digital access, and update on the community liaison officer revamp. Update was provided by Commissioner Thakkar. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. 9. Approve a list of questions to ask Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence regarding the process in which …
Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commisison Nov. 18, 2025 6pm Thriving Wellness Virtual Room AAQOL WORKGROUP UPDATES Agenda Items 2-6 Prepared by Commissioners Hanna Huang & Nirali Thakkar 2. CITY MANAGER & AAPI LEADERS MTGS Arts Leaders Community Leaders Direct Services Leaders Rec for future Challenges/Strengths Oct. 16, 2024 @ ArtUsCo, ~16 attended, 3 commissioners, mod: HH Jun. 26, 2025 @ Virtual (rescheduled from earlier), 13 attended, 2 commissioners mod: PJ Nov. 7, 2025 @ City Hall, 13 attended, 4 commissioners, mod: HH Maintain topical meetings in Community Engagement workgroup & invite City Executives and/or City Manager Meet directly 1-2x a year with City Manager about priority recommendations Challenges - Scheduling, Commissioner & Community avail for weekday daytime meetings, workgroup engagement for planning, ownership of followup engagement w/ AAPI leaders & groups City Manager open to direct mtgs w/ AAQoL commisisoners, provides connection & learning opportunities between AAQoL and AAPI leaders and communities 2 3. AARC WORKGROUP UPDATES AACME related updates Creative Reset II - World Cafes & Online Survey, Marion Sanchez assisting Reorg taking time to iron out some details including maintenance Temp reorg - Tony Vo acting Division Mgr over Cultural Center, Marjorie Flanagan over DAC & smaller museums, Leila Grace Pandy acting Mgr over AARC Capital Improvement Projects Pavilion - finalizing construction contract w/ Flintco for a Q1 start Watershed - out to bid in Dec, projected mid/late Q1 start NAAO Donor Wall - awaiting approval after submission late Oct. 3 3. AARC WORKGROUP UPDATES CONT. Challenges Reorg during a budget deficit Current hiring freeze 2 of 3 commissioners also have significant other workgroup or JIC roles Opportunities AARC recognition & attendance is high, starting to hit its stride in AAPI-forward programs Friends of AARC group to be hosted as a program of AAAFF Growing workgroup to include committee members or leaders from the new Friends groups Would have ability to fundraise for CIP or program enhancement through AAAFF 4 4. JOINT INCLUSION COMMISSION UPDATES Get to know your Commissioners event Hosted by Office of Equity and Inclusion Traditionally hosted in tandem with budget input sessions, but Due to TRE, this process was paused for the year. 4 events (3 in person, 1 virtual) held at different rec centers or libraries in the CIty. AAQOL JIC rep attended most recent event on 11/12, where 4 commissioners and 4 community members were present. Overall theme from discussion …
