REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE HISPANIC LATINO QUALITY OF LIFE RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026, 6:00 PM CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission 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 remotely, contact Christi Vitela at christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2792. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Afifi, Chair Dulce Castañeda Andrea Flores Johanna Moya Fábregas Lyssette Galvan AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Yesenia Ramos, Vice Chair Brian Peña Jesús Perales Elizabeth Morales Melissa Ruiz 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 Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission regular meeting on January 27, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Communities in Schools of Central Texas regarding an economic mobility study and the impact of the organization on area students’ quality of life. Presentation by Sharon Vigil, CEO, Communities in Schools of Central Texas. 3. Presentation by Mama Sana Vibrant Woman regarding FY 2026-2027 budget recommendations. Presentation by Cherelle VanBrakle, Co-Executive Director of Development, Mama Sana Vibrant Woman. 4. Presentation by the Coalition for Austin’s Arts and Spanish-Language Theatre (CAAST) (LAAP) and FY 2026-2027 budget the Latino Artist Access Program regarding recommendations. Presentation by Iván Dávila, CAAST. 5. Conduct a public input session to collect feedback on the Commission’s Fiscal Year Budget Recommendations. 6. Discussion on community input and feedback for Commission’s Fiscal Year Budget Recommendations. 7. Discussion of Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget recommendations. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Approve updates to the membership of the Immigrant Working Group. 9. Approve updates to the membership of the Arts and Culture Working Group. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 10. Update on the work of the Immigrant Working Group since August 2025. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications …
Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission January 27, 2026 HISPANIC/LATINO QUALITY OF LIFE RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 27, 2026 The Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St in Austin, Texas. Chair Afifi called the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Amanda Afifi, Chair Yesenia Ramos, Vice Chair Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Dulce Castañeda Andrea Flores Lyssette Galvan Elizabeth Morales Jesús Perales Melissa Ruiz PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Hector Ordaz – ACME/Spanish Language APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission regular meeting on December 16, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on December 16, 2025 were approved as amended below on Commissioner Galvan’s motion, Commissioner Morales’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Peña and Moya Fábregas were absent. The amendment was to show Commissioner Castañeda as present remotely. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by American Gateways regarding successes with the City of Austin and a request for the prioritization of immigration funding in the FY 26-27 budget. 1 Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission January 27, 2026 The presentation was made by Rebecca Lightsey, Co-Executive Director, American Gateways. 3. Conduct a public input session to collect feedback on the Commission’s Fiscal Year Budget Recommendations. Withdrawn. 4. Discussion on community input and feedback for Commission’s Fiscal Year Budget. Withdrawn. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the formation of a Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Working Group. The motion to approve the formation of a Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Working Group was approved on Commissioner Morales’ motion, Vice Chair Ramos’ second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Peña and Moya Fábregas were absent. Chair Afifi, Vice Chair Ramos, Commissioners Galvan and Morales, and Hector Ordaz, community member, were added to the working group without objection. 6. Approve an update to the membership of an Arts and Culture Working Group. The motion to approve adding Hector Ordaz and Raquel Rivera, community members, to the Arts and Culture Working Group was approved on Commissioner Castañeda’s motion, Commissioner Perales’ second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Peña and Moya Fábregas were absent. 7. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding Austin Police cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The motion to approve the recommendation was …
