1. 2. REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL FEBRUARY 14, 2024, 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council 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 Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Cathy McHorse, Chair Alice Navarro Corie Cormie Choquette Hamilton Maggie Jaime Casie Schennum Leonor Vargas John Green-Otero, Vice Chair Brianna Menard Eliza Gordon Tom Hedrick Cynthia McCollum Ellana Selig AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register 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 Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on January 10, 2024 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation from April Geruso, Planning Department, about updating the 2012 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, and possible action to appoint a representative to support the development and implementation of the Imagine Austin comprehensive engagement process Discussion and possible action to change the meeting date for the ECC regular meeting in April Discussion about the budget recommendation process and possible action to establish the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Workgroup DISCUSSION ITEMS Updates from related groups (as needed), including Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Child Care Regulation, Child Inc, E3 Alliance, Success By 6 Coalition, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Travis County, and other groups in attendance Update from Brooke Freeland, United Way for Greater Austin, about the 2024 Best Place for Working Parents initiative Presentation and discussion regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Consolidated Plan Community Needs Assessment Presenters: • Chris Duran, Housing Department Senior Research Analyst • Julie Smith, Housing Department Community Engagement Specialist • Jamey May, Housing Department Housing & Community Development Officer • Helen Howell, Austin Public Health Social Services Funding Specialist Senior Updates from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) ECC representative, Leonor Vargas, regarding the discussion …
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Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Community Update City of Austin Boards & Commissions Meeting Winter 2024 What is Imagine Austin & why does it ma(cid:425)er? • Imagine Austin (IA) is the City’s comprehensive plan, a guide for long‐term growth, development, and land use decisions • A comprehensive plan is required by City Charter Article X containing: • Initially adopted in 2012, IA is a 30‐year plan, • 231 Actions & 289 Policies • 8 Priority Programs ‐ Overseeing implementation • 1 Growth Concept Map • 1 Community Vision • It seeks to make Austin a city of “Complete Communities”* * Areas that provide amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all residents’ material, social, and economic needs. Imagine Austin Update – Timeline 4 Q 3 2 ‘ 1 Q 4 2 ‘ 2 Q 4 2 ‘ 3 Q 4 2 ‘ 4 Q 4 2 ‘ 1 Q 5 2 ‘ 2 Q 5 2 ‘ 3 Q 5 2 ‘ 4 Q 5 2 ‘ 6 2 ‘ 7 2 ‘ 8 2 ‘ Project Kickstart SEP ‐ MAR Data evaluation; City staff pre-engagement; Framework development; Contracting Engagement JUN ‐ OCT Plan Update Draft Data ongoing; Active dev. with public input Budgeting / IA integration NOV ‐ MAY Ongoing coordination Implementation Priority Program Implementation Enhancements Today Key highlights of IA update pre‐planning efforts to date • Refinement of plan update goals & strategies (ongoing) • City collaboration (ongoing) with: • Sustainability & Resilience; and Equity • City Departments • Department Leadership • Priority Programs & Champions • Budget Office • CPIO • Equity‐driven Public Participation Planning (draft complete: March/April) Reasons, Goals, Strategies for an update to Imagine Austin: Our Equity Vision The Planning Department acknowledges the history of planning in Austin, and how past planning, including the City’s 1928 Comprehensive Plan and redlining in the 1930s produced continued struggle with displacement and gentrification, and growing disparities across all quality of life outcomes, still felt today. Additionally, the Planning Department acknowledges neighborhood planning, still in place today, covers only a fraction of the city, and even as of 2016 lacked representative decision‐making and transparency. Further, those plans were found to be inconsistent with the citywide vision. In sum, some plans in place today have created planning‐related outcomes both inconsistent with citywide goals, and planning activities with barriers to representative decision‐making. Planning understands this opportunity to learn lessons from the past …
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Discussion on community needs and spending priorities for the FY 24-29 Consolidated Plan for federal grants. Agenda Where Does Our Funding Come From? Planning and Reporting for Federal Funding How We Make Decisions Fair Housing What We've Heard From the Community Programs and Activities Overview Group and Community Input How do we fund our programs? HUD Annual Entitlement Grants Housing Trust Fund Approved City Bonds City Operating Budget Project Connect Anti-Displacement Funds CARES Act The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates entitlement funding to municipalities and state governments. The City of Austin applies for what in recent years has been approximately $14 million in annual grant entitlements across four grants for affordable housing, community development, economic development, and public services. Each year, we plan and evaluate the programs funded by the HUD grants. 4 Planning and Reporting for Federal Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 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 6 Consolidated Plan Funding Sources Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Goal: Provide decent housing and a suitable living environment; expand economic opportunities for low-income people Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Goal: Benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families by providing supportive services and housing Consolidated Plan (5-Year) HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Goal: create affordable housing for low- income households Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Goal: Assist people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness 7 How are funding decisions made? We are here Community Participation: Community Needs Assessment Available Use of Funding Sources Consolidated Plan Housing Needs & Market Analysis Other Planning Efforts Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 8 Fair Housing Issues, Experiences • 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) • Potential upcoming "Equity Plan" related to fair housing • Seeking input and surveying on fair housing issues, experiences (details on future slide) 9 What we’ve heard from the Community I need immediate help I need a more accessible process Feedback themes I want the opportunity to build wealth and long-term stability I need help maintaining stability I need immediate help Housing Needs Finding housing Rental Assistance Mortgage assistance Emergency …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2024 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at City Hall, Board & Commission Room #1101, 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas. Chair McHorse called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair McHorse, Vice Chair Green-Otero, and Members Cormie, Hamilton, Hedrick, Menard, and Navarro Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Members McCollum, Gordon, Jaime, Schennum, Selig, and Vargas Staff in Attendance: Caitlin Oliver, Cindy Gamez, and Rachel Farley PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register 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. Michelle Mejia, representing the ATX Early Childhood Grassroots Coalition, provided a list of budget recommendations to support parents, families, and child care providers, specifically nontraditional care and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care. Loretta Johnson, a child care home provider in 78744 provided comments requested funding in the city budget to support home-based child care providers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on January 10, 2024 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2024 The minutes from the meeting on 1/10/2024 were approved on Member Navarro’s motion and Vice Chair Green-Otero’s second, on an 11-0 vote. There was one abstention from Member Hedrick. Member Gordon was not present at time of the vote. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation from April Geruso, Planning Department, about updating the 2012 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, and possible action to appoint a representative to support the development and implementation of the Imagine Austin comprehensive engagement process April Geruso, Planning Department Division Manager, presented an overview of the community update process for the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. Currently, the department is in the pre-planning process. Imagine Austin is the City’s comprehensive plan dictated by the city charter. The plan is a 30-year vision for land use, growth, and other opportunities. The plan seeks to make Austin a city of “Complete Communities,” defined as “areas that provide amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all residents’ material, social, and economic needs.” The Planning Department is working with other City departments on their equity-driven public participation plan for the update process. The department …
