Item 1 - Nov 4 2024 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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COMMISSION ON IMMIMGRANT AFFAIRS MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 4, 2024 COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Chair Ortega called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting to order at 6:41 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Melissa Ortega Adrian De La Rosa Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Vice Chair Miriam Dorantes Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Luis Osta Lugo Victor Martinez Shweta Padmanabha Commissioners Absent: Kevin Countie PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on October 7, 2024. The minutes from the regular meeting of October 7, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Martinez’s motion, Commissioner De La Rosa’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Countie was absent. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding the November 1, 2024, Naturalization Ceremony and November 2, 2024, Citizenship Clinic from Rocio Villalobos, Program Manager, Equity Office. COMMISSION ON IMMIMGRANT AFFAIRS MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 4, 2024 The presentation was made by Rocio Villalobos, Program Manager, Equity Office. Commissioner Joshi requested that staff provide information on the number of volunteers needed at citizenship clinics. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 6. 5. 4. 7. Presentation by Anne Drane, CEO and Co-founder of SAWA SAWA, regarding the work of SAWA SAWA and the organization’s benefits to the community. The presentation was made by Anne Drane, CEO and co-founder of SAWA SAWA. Discussion of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ goals and objectives for the next year as they relate to the Commission’s purpose and duties in City Code. Discussed. Discussion of planning a Commission on Immigrant Affairs retreat for early 2025. Discussed. January 11, 2025, at 10 a.m. was tentatively identified as a meeting date. Discussion of recent and upcoming Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Community Input Sessions. Discussed. Discussion of the scope and membership of the Budget working group. (Current members: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioner Joshi) Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM 8. Approve the creation of a working group to promote recognition of the contributions of immigrants to the economic and cultural vitality of Austin. The motion to approve the creation of a working group to promote recognition of the contributions of immigrants to the economic and cultural vitality of Austin was approved on Commissioner De La Rosa’s motion, Chair Ortega’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Padmanabha was off the dais. Commissioner Countie was absent. Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Kaba, and Joshi were added to the working group without objection. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. Chair Ortega adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m. without objection.