REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 12:00 PM Austin City Hall, Chambers, Room 1001 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 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 December 4, 2024. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding the City of Austin emergency language access plan from the Communications and Public Information Office and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. DISCUSSION ITEM Committee. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Update from the Joint Inclusion representative on the recent work of the Joint Inclusion 4. Approve a primary and secondary representative to the Joint Inclusion Committee. 5. Approve additional members to the CSCRM Working Group. 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 the Office of the City Clerk Department at 512-974-2792, or email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Commission for Women REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, December 4, 2024 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St, Austin, Texas, Boards and Commissions Room. Chair Tau called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:11 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Rebecca Austen Vanessa Bissereth Julie Glasser Angela Harris Katrina Scheihing PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on October 2, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on October 2, 2024, were approved on Chair Tau’s motion and Commissioner Austen’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Vice Chair Bullard and Commissioners Melendez, Rattan, Serrata and Veloz Salas were absent. 1 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 4, 2024 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by the Anti-Defamation League Austin on their work locally to combat hate and antisemitism. The presentation was made by Courtney Toretto, Director of Policy for the Central Division, Anti-Defamation League Austin. 3. Update from the Quality of Life Working Group, the University of Texas research team, and the Equity Office on their work completed to date, timeline, and progress toward the final Commission for Women's Quality of Life Study of Austin's Women and Girls Population. The presentation was made by Jessica Calderón-Mora, DrPh, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin, Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator, Equity Office, and Jaime Fuentes, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Presentation by Cierra Madison, Sunday Sessions ATX, and approval of a Recommendation to Council to waive the ACE permitting fees for Sunday Sessions ATX. The presentation was made by Cierra Madison, Founder, Sunday Sessions ATX. The motion to approve a Recommendation to Council of Support of Sunday Sessions ATX was approved on Commissioner Austen’s motion, Commissioner Scheihing’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Vice Chair Bullard and Commissioners Melendez, Rattan, Serrata and Veloz Salas were absent. 5. Approve a primary and secondary representative for the Joint Inclusion Committee. Discussed. No action taken. Chair Tau indicated the item will be brought back for the next meeting. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 6. Update from the Recognition Working Group on their last meeting and progress toward the 2025 event. Chair Tau provided an update. …
Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies Marion Sanchez - CPIO | Houmma Garba - CPIO David Wiechmann – HSEM December 17th, 2024 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Background The City Auditor conducted two audits: one in 2016 and another in 2021, involving language access services provided by the City, which culminated in a special report and staff response. The audits found that the City may not be meeting the needs of all non-English speaking Austinites because written policies did not align with actual practice. Additionally, the Auditor found that the City did not effectively communicate with community members before and during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, especially in language other than English. Because of this, limited English proficiency (LEP) Austinites may not have had the same access to important information and may have been disproportionately impacted. Austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/auditor/audit_reports/language_access_follow_up_may_2023.pdf December 17th, 2024 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Language Access Translation: Definitions The conversion of written communication from one language to another in a written form. An accurate translation is one that conveys the intent and essential meaning of the original text. Interpretation: The oral rendition of a spoken message from one language to another, preserving the intent and meaning of the original message. Longer bullet points Threshold Language: The most common spoken languages in Austin other than English. Based on this data, and data on the percentage of people who identify as not speaking English “very well” is how HSEM determined the languages to provide translation and interpretation for. December 17th, 2024 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Limited English Proficiency December 17th, 2024 What does Limited English Proficiency mean? Limited English Proficiency (LEP) A person with limited English proficiency (LEP) cannot speak, read, write or understand the English language at a level that permits him or her to interact effectively with City staff. Individuals who communicate with American Sign Language are covered in this definition, although other Federal laws and regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act apply and should be considered separately. Hello! ¡Hola! 你好！ 안녕하세요! Xin chào! नमस्ते! မဂင်္လာပါ! Collaborative Partners • Communiations and Public Information Office • Homeland Security & Emergency Management • Ausitn Energy • Austin Water • Austin Public Health • And review by numerous community organizations. In 2022, CPIO, HSEM and a collaboration of the City’s departmental Language Access team members established an Emergency Language Access working group. December 17th, 2024 The …
