CoIA Meeting Minutes 03032025 — original pdf

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(COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (3, MARCH, 2025) COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 3, MARCH, 2025 The COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR meeting on 3, MARCH, 2025, at AUSTIN CITY HALL, W. 3rd ST, ROOM 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair MELISSA ORTEGA called the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS Meeting to order at 6:44p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Miriam Dorantes, Adrian De La Rosa, Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely:, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo, Aditi Joshi DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on January 6, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of (1/6/2025) were approved on ADITI JOSHI’S motion, MIRIAM DORANTES’S second on a (7-0) vote. (KEVIN COUNTIE AND SHWETA PADMANABHA abstaining, off the dais or absent) STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding general updates on policies pertaining to the Immigrant Community. The presentation was made by Lieutenant Davis Christopher, Austin Police Department. 3. Staff briefing regarding the new citywide language access plan. The presentation was made by Houmma Garba, Language Access and Community Engagement Consultant from the Corporate Communications & Public Information Office. 4. Staff briefing regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. The presentation was made by Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Program Manager at the Office of Equity and Inclusion. 5. Staff briefing regarding timeline and steps for Quality of Life Study. The presentation was made by by Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator from (Equity Division) Office of Equity and Inclusion 1 (COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (3, MARCH, 2025) PRESENTATION 6. Presentation was regarding an update on their work, to highlight the effective use of the City's support as the recipient of a City of Austin grant to provide vital legal immigration services to low-income residents and advocate for continued funding for immigration legal services in next year's City budget. Presentation was made by Rebecca Lightsey, Co-Executive Director of American Gateways. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. Discussion of welcoming new commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Chair Ortega welcomed new Commissioner Edwin to the Commission. Commissioner Edwin introduced himself and his work in the community. 8. Discussion of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Draft Budget Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The Chair discussed the March 31st deadline for budget recommendations. Asked for other Commissioners to join drafting budget recommendations for FY25-26. 9. Discussion on updates on JIC recommendations. The Chair discussed the March 31st deadline for budget recommendations. Asked for other Commissioners to join drafting budget recommendations for FY25-26. 10. Discussion on proposed dates for a Special Called meeting regarding FY26 budget recommendations. The Chair would like to call a Special Called meeting prior to March 31st deadline for the budget recommendations. They proposed the morning of March 15th to meet. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 11. Discussion and action on approving updates to the membership of FY2026 Budget Working Group. The motion to approve ADITI JOSHI to join the membership of FY2026 Budget Working Group on MELISSA ORTEGA’S motion, YOHANA SAUCEDO’S second on a (7-0) vote. (KEVIN COUNTIE AND SHWETA PADMANABHA abstaining, off the dais or absent) 12. Discussion and action on approving updates to the membership of Quality of Life Working Group. The motion to approve AZEEM EDWIN to join the membership of Quality of Life Working Group on ADITI JOSHI’S motion, YOHANA SAUCEDO’S second on a (7-0) vote. (KEVIN COUNTIE AND SHWETA PADMANABHA abstaining, off the dais or absent) 2 (COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (3, MARCH, 2025) 13. Discussion and action on amending the bylaws to add three Commission approved community stakeholders, increasing membership to 15 Commissioners, and changing required number to meet quorum as 8. The motion to approve amending the bylaws to add three Commission approved community stakeholders, increasing membership to 15 members, and changing required number to meet quorum as 8 on YOHANA SAUCEDO’S motion, ADITI JOSHI’S second on a (7-0) vote. (KEVIN COUNTIE AND SHWETA PADMANABHA abstaining, off the dais or absent) 14. Approve a recommendation for translation and interpretation services for boards and commissioners. The motion to approve the recommendation for translation and interpretation services for boards and commissioners on YOHANA SAUCEDO’S motion, ADITI JOSHI’S second on a (7-0) vote. (KEVIN COUNTIE AND SHWETA PADMANABHA abstaining, off the dais or absent) WORKING GROUP UPDATES 15. Update from the Budget Working group on the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) recommendations. Update was given by Chair Ortega from Budget Working group. She discussed that more members need to join to help with the tasks of this group. 16. Update from the Quality of Life Working group on the next steps for a Quality of Life Study. No update. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADRIAN DE LA ROSA suggests a working group regarding U-Visa and T-Visa in collaboration with Austin Police Department. Chair ORTEGA adjourned the meeting at 9:31 p.m. without objection. 3