Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021 6:30 PM Meeting Minutes Board Members in Attendance: Krystal Gomez, Chair Nicole Merritt, Vice-Chair Karen Crawford Board Members not in Attendance: Sara Becker Adrian De La Rosa Rennison Lalgee Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Joseph Ramirez-Hernandez Glenn Rosales Juan Vences-Benitez Staff in Attendance: Sinying Chan, Staff Liaison & Health Equity Unit Program Coordinator/Austin Public Health CALL TO ORDER 1. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 4, 2021  Postponed to next month 2. NEW BUSINESS: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS: A. Lieutenants Christine Chomout, Craig Smith, Kenneth Murphy, and Lawrence Davis, Austin Police Department (APD), to discuss: (1) U-Visa policy updates/report, (2) APD’s collaboration with ICE report, (3) changes to call routing and non-emergency response services (9-1-1/3-1-1), and (4) any new reports/Chief’s message B. Vote on annual schedule  Due to difficulty to change the traditional annual schedule, it’ll remain on the first C. Formation of working groups relating to the report on immigrant incorporation in Monday of each month at 6:30 pm  Nicole moved; Karen seconded; all in favor Austin, Texas  Office of Immigrant Affairs   i. Krystal, Nicole, and Karen will join  Naturalization and civic involvement i. Kate, Adrian, and Karen will join  Workforce development and entrepreneur resources i. Nicole and Rennison will join  Affordable housing and neighborhood preservation i. Joseph and Krystal will join  Access resources and community hubs i. Kate will join 3. OLD BUSINESS A. Budget updates  Not clear if budget recommendations from the Commission of Immigrant Affairs are approved; Karen has followed up and waiting for the budget report  Equity Office did not get more funding for the mini grants or expansion for immigrant affairs’ office; will look into current budget and staffing to focus on those two items B. Report back from ISNA and the RST quarterly consultations Juan is not present to provide any updates   RST quarterly meeting focused on the situation of the Afghan community C. Joint Inclusion Committee meeting update – Karen  Overarching concern list identified by the Joint Inclusion Committee is available; discussed the concerns and priorities Commission of Immigrant Affairs would like to advocate for  LGBTQIA+ quality of life study is released and delivered to council  Committee for People with Disabilities’ quality of life study is ongoing  Discussed about how to have quality of life studies done more frequently, different ways of conducting the studies, and the mechanism to follow up on suggestions D. Update of Texas Legislative session – Krystal  No immigration-related items FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  Quality of Life exploration  Updates from Reimagining Safety Task Force ANNOUNCEMENT  APD now has a wage theft division in the prosecutors’ office ADJOURNMENT  Kate moved to adjourn; Nicole seconded; all in favor    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 before the meeting date. Please contact Stephanie Hayden at the Austin Public Health at (512) 972-5017 or email: stephanie.hayden@austintexas.gov, for additional information. TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.