REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING APRIL 9TH, 2025 AT NOON CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS, 78701 Some members of the 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, call or email Halana Kaleel, 512-972-5019, Halana.Kaleel@austintexas.gov. CURRENT MEMBERS: Richard Bondi, Chair Austin Adams Jacqueline L Angel Suzanne Anderson Teresa Ferguson Judi L Nudelman Jennifer Scott Preston Tyree Henry Van de Putte Asif Zaidi Mariana Gonzalez Martin Kareithi Faith Lane Fred Lugo Gloria Lugo AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. STAFF BRIEFINGS/ANNOUNCEMENTS 2. Approve the minutes of the March 12th, 2025, regular Commission on Aging Meeting. Staff Briefing regarding Age-Friendly Austin including update on the Age Friendly Austin Action Plan. Briefing by: Nicole Howe, Age Friendly Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health. Staff Briefing regarding Centralized Guidance on Communicating with Older Adults. Briefing by: Halana Kaleel, Public Health Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Public Health. 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Presentation regarding the FY25-26 City of Austin Housing Action Plan, Rocio Pena-Martinez, Grants Program Manager, and Julie Smith, Engagement Specialist, Housing Department. Update on the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) initiatives as they relate to the Commission on Aging including JIC Budget Recommendations for the City of Austin FY25-26 Budget. Discussion on tracking of Texas Legislative Items that impact older adults. Update on modifying the Commission on Aging Bylaws. Update on the Older Americans Month Proclamation, tentatively scheduled to go to Council on May 8th. Review of the Commission on Aging current workgroups and their goals and members including: the Domains 1-2 Workgroup, the Domain 3 Workgroup, the Domains 4-6 Workgroup, the Domain 8 Workgroup, the Quality of Life Study Workgroup, the Implicit Bias Workgroup, and the Collaboration with the Mayor’s Committee with Disabilities Workgroup. 10. Update on emergency preparedness efforts by Travis County in Manor, Texas. 11. Discussion regarding a transition of staff liaisons for the Commission on Aging. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 12. Recommendation from the Older Adults Quality of Life (QoL) Study Working Group for the City of Austin to provide additional funding for …
Is this nomination primarily for work performed In a paid/professional role Nominee's Occupation/Affliation Aging Services Council Nominee's Name Alida cautino Nominee's Length of Service in the Aging Community: (Years/Months - Required) 1 In a paid/professional role Community Health Worker Alida Coutino 2 years In a paid/professional role Community Relations/Injury Prevention Austin-Travis County EMS Captain Darren Noak & Clinical Specialist Dan Brown 9 mos In a paid/professional role In a paid/professional role Drive a Senior ATX/Operations Manager Drive a Senior ATX/Operations Manager Charis Fleming 7 years, 10 months Charis Fleming In a paid/professional role Older Individuals who are Blind Services Specialist Irma Pyka 2 years 6 months In a paid/professional role In a paid/professional role Bilingual Digital Literacy Instructor Jasmin Vargas Training and Education Coordinator Jessica Martone 3+ years 5 years In a paid/professional role Senior consultant John Brown 8 How did the nominee go above and beyond for the older adults community? promoting aging education information and helping aging business in the industry She always went above and beyond to find resources for clients, provided caring and empathetic services and communication The Austin-Travis County EMS Community Relations and Injury Prevention Team conducts community outreach and education for the residents of Austin and Travis County. Before the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, the team consisted of four full-time sworn uniformed staff and a program manager. The Team provided CPR and first aid training, senior home safety fall prevention risk assessments, safety presentations, Safe Baby Academy classes, and a robust Child Passenger Safety Program. However, due to the COVID pandemic and ongoing staffing issues, all uniformed personnel from this valuable team were reassigned to Field Operations in 2020. This staffing void continued for four years until June of 2024 when the Department was able to re-establish the section by adding back two full-time positions to the Injury Prevention team. In June of 2024, the Community Relations and Injury Prevention Team sprang back to life as Captain Darren Noak and Clinical Specialist Dan Brown were assigned as the new Sworn team members and joined the Community Relations and Injury Prevention Manager, Lisa Sepulveda. Darren, Dan, and Lisa hit the ground running. Since then, the team has been working very hard to reinstate many, of the previous programs offered during the former “glory days” of the team. One of the programs offered is our Senior Home Safety Assessments. Elderly falls contribute to a significant …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Jon Fortune, Deputy City Manager FROM: Carrie Rogers, Intergovernmental Relations Officer DATE: February 25, 2025 SUBJECT: Federal Legislative Update / Potential Reductions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development As a follow up to memorandums issued on January 29, 2025, February 11, 2025, and February 17, 2025, the Intergovernmental Relations Office (IGRO), along with partner departments, continues to review federal administration actions relating to direct and discretionary funding awarded to the City of Austin. On Thursday, February 20, 2025, public reports began circulating of a planned 50% reduction in staff across the entire workforce at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In some HUD divisions, the cuts could be deeper – up to 84% at HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) – according to reports. Such a drastic reduction would likely have a significant impact on efforts across the nation to address homelessness and make housing more affordable. CPD includes many programs critically important to the City of Austin, such as HOME Investments Partnerships Program (HOME), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Continuum of Care (CoC) programming. The City of Austin receives approximately $14 million per year in HUD block grants. An additional $14 million was awarded this January for CoC programs, which primarily support services to address homelessness in Austin through non-profit partners. City of Austin HUD Community Programming Based on the information we have today, and in reviewing the City’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) with the Housing Department, the Homeless Strategy Office and Austin Public Health, staff identified the following areas where drastic reductions to HUD personnel and/or a reduction in funding would impact the City of Austin’s community programming: Page 1 of 3 HOME Program ($3,073,266) • HOME provides Tenant Based Rental Assistance to 65 families/individuals experiencing homelessness. The contract is administered through the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) and coordinated with our Continuum of Care (ECHO). • HOME provides funding for Down Payment Assistance (DPA) for 25 low- to moderate- income homebuyers who are first-time homebuyers. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $7,223,444 • Currently, CDBG funding provides programs or services to more than 14,000 Austinites. • CDBG provides critical mental health services, childcare services, and services to …
City of Austin Action Plan Community Needs Assessment Discussion on community needs and spending priorities for the FY 25-26 Action Plan for federal grants. Agenda Federal Grants Overview FY23-24 Goals, Outcomes & Impact Community Engagement Background Continuing the dialouge: FY25-26 Priorities The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates entitlement funding to municipalities and state governments. The City of Austin applies for approximately $14 million in annual grant entitlements across four grants for affordable housing, community development, economic development, and public services. These grants are part of a 5-year cycle. Consolidated Plan (5-Year) Allocates federal resources to housing and community development Action Plan (1-Year) Summarizes actions, activities and federal/non- federal resources in the Consolidated Plan Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (1-Year) End-of-year report on progress toward consolidated plan 3 HUD Funding Sources 4 Programs & Activities Overview FY 23-24 5 Goals & Outcomes FY 23-24 6 Who Did We Serve? Fiscal Year 22-23 Snapshot 1,856 # households served FY 23-24 Source: City of Austin FY 23-24 CAPER Who Did We Serve? Fiscal Year 22-23 Snapshot 1,856 # households served FY 23-24 Source: City of Austin FY 23-24 CAPER Who Did We Serve? Fiscal Year 22-23 Snapshot 2024 Median Income for family of 4: $126,000 Source: City of Austin FY 23-24 CAPER How do we fund our programs? HUD Annual Entitlement Grants Housing Trust Fund Approved City Bonds City Operating Budget Project Connect Anti-Displacement Funds 2024 Community Needs Assessment Feedback immediate help stability trust building wealth access 11 2024 Community Needs Assessment Feedback from Boards & Commissions Commission on Aging The commissioners expressed interest in knowing more about the number of seniors being served by all HUD and housing programs and the percentage of funding going toward seniors. Transparency & Accountability What is the total funding for housing programs? What has changed since you came to us last? How are you holding partners accountable? Outreach and Engagement How are you reaching our community? Data and Impact How great is the need? How are you serving our community? Funding Possibilities Programs and projects specific to each community Disappointment and Distrust More questions than input Calls for accountability 2024 Community Needs Assessment Feedback Data and Impact Transparency Outreach to vulnerable communities Progress and Commitments New policy and data team in Housing Department New Housing Hub on Speak Up Austin, with impact of feedback as core component (launching in early …
Commission on Aging Workgroups Working Groups • Working groups are formed to “consider a defined matter or matters and report its recommendation to the board” (see City Code 2-1-42). They are designed for a specific assignment or project and are always temporary. • An action item on an agenda is needed to establish a working group. The “defined matter” or objective of the working group must be clearly outlined during the vote. • A working group is automatically dissolved after it reports its recommendations to the board. (see City Code 2-1-2) • Should additional projects be identified after a working group is dissolved (reports recommendations), a new working group must be formed. • Working groups may only consist of less than a quorum of members but can include nonmembers such as community stakeholders. • There is no staff support provided for a working group. Current Workgroups: Domains 1 & 2: Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Transportation Formed: October 2024 Goal: To advance initiatives outlined in Domains 1 & 2 (Outdoor Spaces and Buildings and Transportation) of the Age Friendly Action Plan for FY24/25 Name Mariana Gonzalez Martin Kareithi Preston Tyree Gloria Lugo Suzanne Anderson Domain 3: Housing Formed: October 2024 Goal: To advance initiatives outlined in Domain 3 (Housing) of the Age Friendly Action Plan for FY24/25. Name Richard Bondi Martin Kareithi Gloria Lugo Domains 4 – 6: Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment Formed: October 2024 Goal: To advance initiatives outlined in Domains 4-6 (Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, and Civic Participation and Employment) of the Age Friendly Action Plan for FY24/25. Name Fred Lugo Richard Bondi Suzanne Anderson Teresa Ferguson Jennifer Scott Page 1 of 3 4/7/2025 Commission on Aging Workgroups Domain 8: Community and Health Services Formed: October 2024 Goal: To advance initiatives outlined in Domain 8 (Community Support and Health Services) of the Age Friendly Action Plan for FY24/25. Name Jacueline Angel Teresa Ferguson Henry Van de Putte Quality of Life Study Workgroup Formed: May 2024 Goal: To monitor and advise on the Commission on Aging Quality of Life Study Name Richard Bondi Jennifer Scott Preston Tyree Henry Van de Putte The Implicit Bias Workgroup Formed: August 2024 Goal: To draft a recommendation on creating an Implicit Bias Day in Austin Name Richard Bondi Jennifer Scott Preston Tyree The Collaboration with Mayor’s Committee with Disabilities Workgroup Formed: August 2024 Goal: To identify …
