REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 12:00 PM Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions 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 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 February 5, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update from Commissioner Scheihing regarding attendance of a recent meeting of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Planning Team. 3. Update from the Budget Working Group regarding the research and writing of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Recommendations. 4. Approve Recommendations to Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget. WORKING GROUP UPDATES DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 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, February 5, 2025 COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Wednesday, February 5, 2025 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St, Austin, Texas, Boards and Commissions, Room 1101. Chair Tau called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Rebecca Austen Katrina Scheihing Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Vanessa Bissereth Diana Melendez Fernanda Veloz-Salas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on January 8, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on January 8, 2025, were approved on Chair Tau’s motion, Commissioner Austen’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Harris and Rattan were absent. 1 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 5, 2025 2. Update from the Joint Inclusion representative on the recent work of the Joint Inclusion DISCUSSION ITEMS Committee. Postponed without objection. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion of possible FY26 draft budget recommendations and formation of a Budget Working Group to research and write budget recommendations. The motion to form a FY 26 Budget Working Group to research and write budget recommendations was approved on Chair Tau’s motion, Vice Chair Bullard’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Harris and Rattan were absent. Chair Tau, Vice Chair Bullard, Commissioners Veloz Salas and Melendez were added to the working group without objection. 4. Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Working Group Q4 2024 progress update, including overview of project management dashboard and burndown timelines, project scope changes, challenges, and risks. WORKING GROUP UPDATES Discussed. Item 2 was reconsidered without objection. 2. Update from the Joint Inclusion representative on the recent work of the Joint Inclusion DISCUSSION ITEMS Committee. Discussed. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Imagine Austin – (Scheihing) (Tau, Austen) Update from the Budget Working Group with possible action to approve recommendations Update from the Quality of Life Study Working Group (Tau) 2 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 5, 2025 Update from the Recognition Working Group (Tau) ADJOURNMENT Chair Tau adjourned the meeting at 12:33 p.m. without objection. 3
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN RECOMMENDATION 20250305-004 Seconded By: Commissioner Scheihing 2025-26 Budget Recommendation Date: March 5, 2025 Subject: Motioned By: Chair Tau Recommendation The City of Austin Commission for Women urges City Council to prioritize funding for previously identified unmet needs as well as enhancements that particularly impact women and girls in Austin. Description of Recommendation to Council In particular, the commission recommends funding for: ● The Collective Sex Crimes Response Model - with a focus on ensuring its formal completion and closure and a seamless transition to a future governance body such as the Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) ● Menstrual equity supplies in public libraries ● The Family Stabilization Grant Program ● The Workforce and Childcare Division ● After-school programming geared toward building positive mental health in girls in Title 1 schools Rationale: As support for the unique needs of disadvantaged populations is attacked at the federal level, it is incumbent upon the City of Austin to make every effort to protect the safety and well-being of its disadvantaged residents. Our commission is particularly concerned with Austin’s women and girls, especially those with intersecting marginalized identities. We hope that if pending threats to cut Medicaid and Social Security indeed manifest under the current presidential administration that the City will maintain some flexibility in its budget to address urgent needs that may arise in order to proactively protect our vulnerable populations. Vote: Approved on an 8-0 vote. For: Chair Tau, Vice Chair Bullard, Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Harris, Melendez, Scheihing and Veloz-Salas. Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Commissioners Austen and Rattan Attest: Christi Vitela Commission for Women staff liaison [Staff or board member can sign]
