1. REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS APRIL 8, 2024 AT 6:30PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR. ROOMS 1401/1402 AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS 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 Gunjen Mittal, 512- 972-6104, gunjen.mittal@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Melissa Ortega, Chair Victor Martinez, Vice Chair Virginia Badillo Jose Caceres Adrian De La Rosa Rennison Lalgee Kevin Countie Aditi Joshi Adnan Suleiman CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 10 speakers signed up 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 Approve the minutes of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING on 2/5/2024. Font Size: 12; Font: Times New Roman; Font Style: Regular 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Program Manager with the Equity Office regarding updates on her work with Austin immigrant communities. DISCUSSION ITEMS Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Presentation from Office of Sustainability by Sergio Torres-Peralta will provide an overview of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan and how to get involved. Discussion on recruiting new members to this Commission to fill remaining seats. DISCUSSION AND ACTION Review and discuss the scope of the Quality-of-Life Study working group and update membership. Current members of QOL Study workgroup are: Commissioners Aditi Joshi, Rennison Lalgee, Melissa Ortega, Victor Martinez and Adrian De La Rosa. Review and discuss the scope of Budget working group and update membership. Current members of the Budget workgroup are: Commissioners Melissa Ortega and Adnan Suleiman. Discussion and approval of recommendation on budget reporting for Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Discussion and approval of recommendation on FY 24-25 Equity Office Funding Recommendation. Discussion and approval of recommendation on FY 24-25 Expansion of Emergency Housing and Rental Assistance Program Funding Recommendation. Discussion and approval of recommendation on FY 24-25 …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408-012) Recommendation on Early Childhood Investments WHEREAS, the immigrant population in Austin constitutes a significant and varied segment of their respective local communities, with many residing in families of mixed legal statuses; WHEREAS, in the City of Austin, they are 164,000 children who have at least one parent who is an immigrant, meaning one in three children in Austin falls into this category; WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of these children with at least one immigrant parent are U.S. citizens, 87% were born in the United States; WHEREAS, in the City of Austin, 31% of children under age 6 live in households with low income; and WHEREAS, 90% of the children in households with low income under age 6 are children of color; and WHEREAS, decades of research prove that disadvantages begin the moment children come into the world because children born into poverty and children of color are disproportionately born early, at low-birth-weight, or with chronic illnesses, and are less likely than their peers to be ready for, or successful at school; and WHEREAS, current City investments in early childhood programs align with the goals and strategies of the Austin/Travis County Success By 6 Strategic Plan – a robust, data-driven community strategic plan designed to coordinate efforts, improve child and family outcomes as well as build more efficient and coordinated systems for equitable access; and WHEREAS, the federal, state, and local economic recovery funds invested in early childhood systems and programs are expiring in 2024, including essential worker wage stipends for the early childhood workforce; and WHEREAS, Childcare Scholarship programs through Workforce Solutions Capital Area are at capacity, enrollment is closed, no new funding is available at this time, and as of March 2024, the estimated amount of time a family applying for a scholarship at that time will likely remain on a waitlist before they could expect to be outreached for enrollment is 24 months; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s recently announced Infrastructure Academy is intended to expand the region’s skilled trade sector and access to childcare is an obstacle for the existing workforce, including the skilled trades; and WHEREAS, the Early Childhood Council has had input from Success By 6, The Children’s Funding Project Workgroup, and GAVA, all calling for significantly increased local government investment in the Childcare sector, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant …
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408‐014) Recommenda(cid:415)on to fund a Quality of Life Study of the immigrant communi(cid:415)es in Aus(cid:415)n Whereas, the Commission on Immigrant Affairs was established through Ordinance No. 20171214-043 to advise the city council on matters of common concern to immigrants, and Whereas, a Quality of Life study of immigrant residents of Austin has never been done, and Whereas, out of the almost 1 million Austin residents, one out of five is foreign born, and Whereas, the Austin metro area has been the fastest growing area in the United States for the past 12 years in a row, and Whereas, the city of Austin is continuously planning on how to address the needs of residents regarding housing affordability, transit and transportation, access to schools and healthcare, and that these plans must consider demographic shifts in Austin, and Whereas, having data on the needs of the immigrant residents of Austin will allow this commission to make better recommendations to Council, and Whereas, this data will allow City of Austin staff to include the 20% of its residents who are foreign born in their comprehensive planning. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs requests that City Council fund a Quality of Life Study for Immigrant Residents of Austin in the amount of $250,000, comparably to other Quality of Life Studies funded in the past few years. Date of Approval: Record of the vote: Attest: ______________________________ Gunjen Mittal, Staff Liaison
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408-009) Equity Office Funding and equity, WHEREAS, the City of Austin is dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity, equality, promotes WHEREAS, by prioritizing initiatives, programs, and services that promote inclusivity, combat discrimination, and address systemic inequities, the city endeavors to create a more just and equitable society for all its residents; principles upholds the of WHEREAS, the latest City of Austin Planning Department show Austin residents are 48% white, 32% Hispanic/Latina/o/x, 8% Asian/Asian American, 7% Black/African American, and 4% Multiracial; and WHEREAS, a recent survey by the City of Austin Office of Police Oversight indicated 22% of respondents identified as part of the LGBTQIA+ community; and WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Austin Community Feedback Survey indicates 76% of respondents identified as heterosexual or straight, with 12% of respondents identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ population including Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit, Non-Binary and Gender Nonconforming; and WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Austin Community Feedback Survey indicates 23% of respondents were living with a disability; and WHEREAS, while not an all-inclusive list, all of the demographics specified above are at risk for discrimination and being targeted, generally the older adults in those populations are the most vulnerable; and WHEREAS, in the last twelve months, the City of Austin has seen an increase in discrimination, targeting and persecution of multiple ethnicities; and WHEREAS, the Equity Office mission is “To provide leadership, guidance, and insight on equity to improve the quality of life for Austinites and achieve the vision of making Austin the most livable city in the nation for ALL;” and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Equity Office is currently operating without a permanently appointed Equity Officer; and WHEREAS, there are initiatives within the City of Austin to consolidate the Equity Office with other group(s). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs encourages the Austin City Council to act to maintain the Equity Office and further, to ensure adequate funding to hire and maintain a Chief Equity Officer, and to designate adequate resources to Austin residents who may be experiencing discrimination, marginalization, hate crimes, and/or persecution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs encourages the Austin City Council to support the Equity Office’s ongoing work to address the needs of Austinites and continue to convey that equity in Austin remains a high priority by …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408-013) Recommendation on LGBTQIA+ Affirming Mental Healthcare WHEREAS, unlike many immigrants, LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees might not receive support from their diasporic or ethnic communities due to prevailing homophobia or transphobia that mirrors the persecutory conditions they faced in their country of origin; WHEREAS, Research suggests that the asylum application process can have detrimental effects on LGBTQIA+ individuals. A recent study highlighted that asylum seekers within this community endure adverse mental and physical health outcomes, alongside economic instability, while navigating a state of uncertainty during the waiting period; WHEREAS, the testimonies of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers interviewed unveiled severe abuses in their countries of origin, including rape, assault, death threats, extortion, and the forced disappearance or murder of romantic partners and friends. These traumatic experiences exacerbate their mental health struggles; WHEREAS, numerous LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers are compelled to spend time in detention centers in both transit and host countries. Research indicates that conditions in these detention centers can be especially challenging for LGBTQIA+ immigrants, as they are frequently placed in jails or jail-like facilities, resulting in negative mental health consequences; WHEREAS, research suggests that LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers may continue to experience negative mental health outcomes given the multiple and compounded traumas they experience in their countries of origin and throughout the asylum and resettlement processes; WHEREAS, diagnoses commonly associated with this "lifetime of cumulative trauma" include depression, PTSD, dissociative disorders, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse; WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study identified that the Austin- Round Rock-Georgetown metropolitan area had the 3rd largest percentage of LGBTQIA+ people in the UnitedStates, with about 5.0% or 90,000 people identifying as LGBTQIA+; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin currently has an estimated 475-person waitlist for LGBTQIA+-focused mental health services; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study found that respondents are at high risk for serious mental health issues, including 42% for depression and 12% for suicidal ideation; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s 2021 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study respondents reported having to put off getting health-related services in the past 12 months because of the cost of dental care (29%), mental health care (21%), medical care (18%), and gender-affirming care (9%) among the top services avoided due to cost; and WHEREAS, the City …
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408-011) Funding for Collective Sex Crimes Response Model Actions WHEREAS, The Commission on Immigrant Affairs was established through Ordinance No. 20171214-043 to advise the city council on matters of common concern to immigrants, WHEREAS, Immigrant survivors of abuse encounter significant obstacles when attempting to escape violence, particularly due to language barriers, social isolation, uncertain immigration status, and limited access to resources, WHEREAS, SAFE provides free and confidential services to all survivors of abuse, regardless of their immigration status, WHEREAS, in September 2019, the City Manager’s Office contracted the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), in conjunction with the Women’s Law Project and the Wellesley Centers for Women, to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the way sexual assaults reported to the Austin Police Department (APD) are investigated and processed; and WHEREAS, sexual assault lawsuits were filed and settlements were approved for Smith et. al. vs City of Austin and Senko et. al. vs City of Austin; and WHEREAS, on November 14, 2022, the final PERF report was released, Austin Police Department (APD) Review, Reported Sexual Assault Comprehensive Evaluation, and included comprehensive findings and over one hundred recommendations; and WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department worked with the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) to address the PERF recommendations and take actions, including revisions to APD policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) was established in early 2023 to coordinate the full response to the PERF report, and includes representatives from APD, SARRT, nonprofit and community organizations, survivors and survivor advocates; and WHEREAS, the Commission for Women and Public Safety Commission formed a joint working group in 2023 to support and track the work of the CSCRM and report progress to their respective commissions; and WHEREAS, the work of the CSCRM is significant in scope, spanning multiple working groups, and has identified serious unmet funding requirements and additional needs for fiscal year 2024- 2025; and WHEREAS, funding has been allocated to support APD comprehensive sexual assault/trauma curriculum development and delivery, additional detective hours on misdemeanor and cold cases, the hiring of a CSCRM project manager, the implementation of a survivor survey and a stipend for volunteer project members, among others; and WHEREAS, law enforcement staffing shortages and hiring challenges are impacting support for survivors of sexual assault, and training and increased financial support and innovative approaches are needed to overcome …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408-008) Budget Reporting WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Boards and Commissions are tasked with making annual budget recommendations to City Council; and WHEREAS, there is currently not a central, easily accessible, publicly available repository for board and commission budget recommendations; and WHEREAS, there is currently not a central, easily accessible, publicly available way to track the status of board and commission recommendations within a fiscal year, or year over year; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Boards and Commissions serve as a liaison between city government and community members, using community guidance to inform council budget recommendations, and council budget decisions to educate community members on council priorities; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s Boards and Commissions experience term limits, transitions in leadership as well as membership, and changing priorities, all of which lead to a loss in institutional knowledge; and WHEREAS, Austin is the state capital, home of the state’s legislature, many of the legislature’s staff, and local as well as state policy advocates; and WHEREAS, it is reasonable that our city has the talent, skills, and resources necessary to develop a board and commission recommendation budget tracker. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission on Immigrant affairs recommends funding and staffing to create a digital, user friendly, publicly available board and commission budget recommendation tracker. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this digital tracker can be as simple as a regularly updated excel spreadsheet on the board and commission’s website, or as robust as the Texas Legislature Online Bill Lookup website dependent on available funding and staff capacity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this digital tracker will be a resource for budget recommendations for each fiscal year, starting with the FY2024 budget cycle. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this digital tracker will provide a brief summary of each recommendation with a link to the full recommendation, status update of where in the budget processes it is (submitted, under review by council, etc.), and a final outcome (accepted, rejected, modified, etc.), including any revised versions of the original recommendation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this digital tracker will be a tool to increase transparency and engagement in the budget process amongst boards and commissions, city council, and the communities across Austin, furthering a shared goal of government that works for all. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Motioned by: Commissioner Seconded By: Commissioner For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER (20240408-010) Expansion of Emergency Housing and Rental Assistance Program WHEREAS, The Commission on Immigrant Affairs was established through Ordinance No. 20171214-043 to advise the city council on matters of common concern to immigrants, WHEREAS, Austin continues to face a housing affordability crisis, particularly the persistent rise in rental prices exacerbates the housing affordability crisis, contributing to housing instability, displacement, and homelessness among vulnerable populations, WHEREAS, city residents who are experiencing unstable housing often cite gentrification as a significant factor contributing to their housing instability and, WHEREAS, displacement often disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including people of color and immigrants, who may have limited resources and face systemic barriers to accessing affordable housing; WHEREAS, The City of Austin has allocated funding for the RENT program, now known as "I Belong in Austin," which has proven successful in providing emergency assistance for rent, moving, and storage/relocation to prevent eviction, displacement, and homelessness; and WHEREAS, The "I Belong in Austin" program has demonstrated its value in providing essential support to vulnerable individuals; WHEREAS, the Austin City Council can expand its reach and impact, ensuring that more residents receive the assistance they urgently need to remain housed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to allocate $15 million to support the "I Belong in Austin" program in the upcoming fiscal year. This allocation is proposed based on a thorough evaluation of the program's effectiveness in mitigating the housing affordability crisis and achieving strategic objectives related to housing stabilization, economic opportunity, and affordability. . Date of Approval: _____________________________ Motioned by: Commissioner Seconded By: Commissioner Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign) For: Against: Abstain: Absent: .
