REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION FOR WOMEN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6th, 2024, AT 12:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, ROOM 1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS, 78701 Some members of the Commission for Women 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 Tabitha Taylor, (512) 972-5023, Tabitha.Taylor@austintexas.gov . CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Diana Melendez, Chair Rebecca Austen Vanessa Bissereth Becky Bullard Julie Glasser Angela Harris Pam Rattan Maria Veloz Salas Katrina Scheihing Josephine Serrata Jocelyn Tau AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior 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 DISCUSSION 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting February 7th, 2024. 2. Presentation: Accessibility and Affordable Childcare, Catherine Mchorse, Early Childhood Council, City of Austin DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Plan 4. Review and approve Collective Sex Crime Response Model (CSCRM) FY2025 Budget Recommendations WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 5. Updates from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) regarding upcoming collaborative 6. Update from Working Group on Recognition of Equity for Women and Girls regarding opportunities within the community. recognition plan candidate selection process. 7. Update from Working Group on Quality-of-Life Study regarding the progression of the Quality Life Study 8. Update from Working Group on FY2025 Budget regarding funding allocations. 9. Update from Working Group on Joint Collective Sex Crime Response Model (CSCRM) Project regarding current financial allocations and project needs. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 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 (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Tabitha Taylor at the Office of Civil Rights, at (512) 972-5023 or Tabitha. Taylor @austintexas.gov , for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas …
RECOMMENDATION Commission for Women Recommendation Number [_____]: Fiscal Year 2024-25 Funding for Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Actions WHEREAS, the Commission for Women (“Commission”) of the City of Austin (“City”) serves as an advisory body that advocates for and inspires the City Council (“Council”) and City Manager to prioritize women’s quality of life, so that Austin becomes the most equitable city in the nation for women and girls; and 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, 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 these shortfalls; and WHEREAS, the SAFE forensic nursing program is critically short-staffed due to underfunding and low salaries, not all sexual assault victims are able to have evidence collected and preserved and receive the medical help they need, and in 2023, …
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN RECOMMENDATION Commission for Women Recommendation Number 20240306-004: Fiscal Year 2024-25 Funding for Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Actions WHEREAS, the Commission for Women (“Commission”) of the City of Austin (“City”) serves as an advisory body that advocates for and inspires the City Council (“Council”) and City Manager to prioritize women’s quality of life, so that Austin becomes the most equitable city in the nation for women and girls; and 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 these shortfalls; and WHEREAS, the SAFE Alliance forensic nursing program is …
Commission for Women REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 6th, 2024 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commission Room-1101 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas, 78701 Chair Melendez called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:08 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Board Members/Commissioners Absent: Diana Melendez, Chair Katrina Scheihing Rebecca Austen Jocelyn Tau, Vice Chair Angela Harris Julie Glasser Vanessa Bissereth Becky Bullard Pam Rattan Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas Staff in Attendance: Tabitha Taylor, Office of Civil Rights Christi Vitela , City Clerk’s Office 1 Alejandra Mireles, City of Austin, Equity Office PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Public Communication was shared for agenda Item 4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on February 7th, 2024. The minutes from the meeting were approved at the March 6th meeting on Commissioner Scheihing’s motion and seconded by Commission Austen (6-0) vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Bullard, Rattan, Salas and Serrata, were absent from the meeting. DISCUSSION 2. Presentation: Accessibility and Affordable Childcare, Catherine Mchorse, Early Childhood Council, City of Austin DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Plan A vote was held to approve Women Hall of Fame Recognition Finalist, the motion was led by Commissioner Scheihing and Seconded by Commissioner Harris (6-0). Commissioners Bullard, Bissereth, Rattan, Salas and Serrata were absent from the meeting. 4. Review and approve Collective Sex Crime Response Model (CSCRM) FY2025 Budget Recommendations A vote was held to approve the Collective Sex Crime Model FY2025 Budget Recommendation, the motion was led by Commissioner Austen and seconded by Commissioner Scheihing 6-0). Commissioners Bullard, Bissereth, Rattan, Salas and Serrata were absent from the meeting. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 5. Updates from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) regarding upcoming collaborative 6. Update from Working Group on Recognition of Equity for Women and Girls regarding 7. Update from Working Group on Quality-of-Life Study regarding the progression of the Quality opportunities within the community Discussion was held. recognition plan candidate selection process. Discussion was held. Life Study Discussion was held. 2 8. Update from Working Group on FY2025 Budget regarding funding allocations. Discussion was held. 9. Update from Working Group on Joint Collective Sex Crime Response Model (CSCRM) Project regarding current financial allocations and project needs. Discussion was held. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Chair Melendez …
