REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the COMMISSION FOR WOMEN June 5, 2024 AT 12:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 Christi Vitela, 512-974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. Diana Melendez Pam Rattan Katrina Scheihing Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Rebecca Austen Vanessa Bissereth Julie Glasser Angela Harris CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first ten 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on May 1, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Update on the 2024 Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception. Approve the creation of a Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group, define the scope and approve membership. Election of primary and backup representatives to the Joint Inclusion Committee. Approve Recommendation 20240605-005 supporting affordable childcare in the greater Austin area. Discussion on screening the documentary film An Army of Women and approve the creation of a Working Group to plan and put on the screening event. Update from the Working Group on the Quality of Life Study regarding progress on the 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. WORKING GROUP UPDATES Quality of Life Study. 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 Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk Department at 512-974-2792, or email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Commission for Women, please contact Christi Vitela at …
REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the COMMISSION FOR WOMEN June 5, 2024 AT 12:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 Christi Vitela, 512-974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Rebecca Austen Vanessa Bissereth Julie Glasser Angela Harris Diana Melendez Pam Rattan Katrina Scheihing Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas REVISED AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on May 1, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Update on the 2024 Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception. Approve the creation of a Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group, define the scope and approve membership. Election of primary and backup representatives to the Joint Inclusion Committee. Approve Recommendation 20240605-005 supporting affordable childcare in the greater Austin area. Discussion on screening the documentary film An Army of Women and approve the creation of a Working Group to plan and put on the screening event. Update from the Working Group on the Quality of Life Study regarding progress on the 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. WORKING GROUP UPDATES Quality of Life Study. 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 Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk Department at 512-974-2792, or email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Commission for Women, please contact Christi Vitela …
RECOMMENDATION Commission for Women Recommendation Number [_____]: Affordable Child Care 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, for decades, families in Austin and Travis County have struggled to find affordable, quality child care and afterschool and summer programming for children birth to high school graduation (henceforth referred to as “child care”); and WHEREAS, child care is the highest expense for families after housing in Travis County, and one year of child care costs more than one year of tuition at the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, the current waiting list for families with low income who need child care subsidies has more than 4,600 children on it, enrollment is closed, and there is now a 2-year waiting list period; and WHEREAS, child care costs are out of reach for many families in Austin and Travis County. While families cannot afford the current prices, child care tuition rarely covers the true cost of providing a high-quality program. Costs for quality child care programs (including paying staff a living wage) have increased but families cannot afford to pay more; and WHEREAS, the child care and out-of-school time workforce, predominantly women of color, earns less than a living wage resulting in high turnover (over 30% annually) and under-staffed programs serving fewer children and cutting hours. Turnover hurts children and creates stress for families; and WHEREAS, families rely on affordable quality child care to participate in and complete education, training programs, or the workforce; and WHEREAS, child care and out of school time challenges particularly impact individuals and communities of color that have been historically excluded from economic prosperity: • 81% of children under age 6 receiving child care subsidies in Travis County are Black, Hispanic, or non-white/multi-racial • The share of Travis County children under age 6 in working families who have parents working nontraditional hours is 47.1% Black and 42.1% Hispanic • The child care workforce in Texas is overwhelmingly female and 62% are either Black or Hispanic; and WHEREAS, a local investment in affordable quality child care and out of school time programs will result in better outcomes for children, greater workforce participation, family …
Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Commission for Women REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, May 1, 2024 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 1, 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 12:14 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Diana Melendez, Chair Jocelyn Tau, Vice Chair Angela Harris Becky Bullard Julie Glasser Pam Rattan Maria Veloz Salas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on April 3, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on 4/3/2024 were approved on Commissioner Bullard’s motion and seconded by Vice Chair Tau on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Glasser was off the dais. Commissioners Bissereth and Serrata were absent. 1 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 1, 2024 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Presentation on the Office of the Community Liaison by the Austin Police Department. Presentation was given by Karen Hemby, Administrative Specialist, Office of the Community Liaison at the Austin Police Department. 3. Presentation on the resources and needs designated for women by David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer at Austin Public Health. Presentation was given by David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer, Homeless Strategy Office. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. The motion to approve Commissioner Tau as Chair was made by Commissioner Bullard, Commissioner Melendez seconded, approved on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth and Serrata were absent. The motion to approve Commissioner Bullard as Vice Chair was made by Commissioner Tau, Commissioner Melendez seconded, approved on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth and Serrata were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None ADJOURNMENT Chair Melendez adjourned the meeting at 12:45 p.m. without objection. 2
RECOMMENDATION Commission for Women Recommendation Number 20240605-005: Affordable Child Care 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, for decades, families in Austin and Travis County have struggled to find affordable, quality child care and afterschool and summer programming for children birth to high school graduation (henceforth referred to as “child care”); and WHEREAS, child care is the highest expense for families after housing in Travis County, and one year of child care costs more than one year of tuition at the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, the current waiting list for families with low income who need child care subsidies has more than 4,600 children on it, enrollment is closed, and there is now a 2-year waiting list period; and WHEREAS, child care costs are out of reach for many families in Austin and Travis County. While families cannot afford the current prices, child care tuition rarely covers the true cost of providing a high-quality program. Costs for quality child care programs (including paying staff a living wage) have increased but families cannot afford to pay more; and WHEREAS, the child care and out-of-school time workforce, predominantly women of color, earns less than a living wage resulting in high turnover (over 30% annually) and under-staffed programs serving fewer children and cutting hours. Turnover hurts children and creates stress for families; and WHEREAS, families rely on affordable quality child care to participate in and complete education, training programs, or the workforce; and WHEREAS, child care and out of school time challenges particularly impact individuals and communities of color that have been historically excluded from economic prosperity: • 81% of children under age 6 receiving child care subsidies in Travis County are Black, Hispanic, or non-white/multi-racial • The share of Travis County children under age 6 in working families who have parents working nontraditional hours is 47.1% Black and 42.1% Hispanic • The child care workforce in Texas is overwhelmingly female and 62% are either Black or Hispanic; and WHEREAS, a local investment in affordable quality child care and out of school time programs will result in better outcomes for children, greater workforce participation, family …
Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 5, 2024 Commission for Women REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 5, 2024 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commission Room-1101 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas, 78701 Chair Tau called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:37 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Angela Harris Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Rebecca Austen Katrina Scheihing Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on May 1, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on 5/1/2024 were approved on Chair Tau’s motion and seconded by Commissioner Harris on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Melendez and Rattan were absent. 1 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 5, 2024 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on the 2024 Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception. Vice Chair Bullard provided a summary of the ceremony and reception. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the creation of a Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group, define the scope and approve membership. The motion to approve the creation of a Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group was approved on Vice Chair Bullard’s motion, Chair Tau’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Melendez and Rattan were absent. The Recognition Working Group for the 2025 Hall of Fame will establish timeline and goals for 2025 Hall of Fame, including but not limited to: • reviewing and updating nomination process and application • determine marketing plan for nomination process and Hall of Fame event • updating Commissioner review process • determine date for applications/nominations to go live and when they will close. • determine date for 2025 Hall of Fame • continue collaboration with D3 office to prepare for Hall of Fame • expected final result will be 2025 Hall of Fame event. Chair Tau and Vice Chair Bullard volunteered to join the 2025 Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group. 4. Election of primary and backup representatives to the Joint Inclusion Committee. The motion to postpone to the next meeting was approved on Chair Tau’s motion, Commissioner Austen’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Melendez and Rattan were absent. 5. Approve Recommendation 20240605-005 supporting affordable childcare in the greater Austin area. The …
