Item #7 Draft Annual Internal Review — original pdf

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Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: § 2-1-146 - HISPANIC/LATINO QUALITY OF LIFE RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION. This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025. Annual Internal Review D R A F T (B) The commission shall advise the City Council on issues relating to the quality of life for the City's Hispanic/Latino community and shall recommend programs and policies designed to alleviate any inequities that may confront Hispanics and Latinos in social, economic, and vocational pursuits including education, youth services, housing and community development, cultural arts, economic development, health, civic engagement, and transportation. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. (A) The Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission should have a balanced membership reflecting in-depth knowledge of the challenges and concerns of the Hispanic/Latino community. The City Council should appoint persons who are representative of or sensitive to the needs of the Hispanic/Latino community in the City of Austin. The Commission received staff and community briefings and provided feedback to various departments on issues. This year included the following presentations: ● Demographic data briefing from the City of Austin Demographer Office presented by Lila Valencia, City Demographer. ● Austin/Travis County Food Plan briefing from the Office of Sustainability presented by Amanda Rohlich, Business Process Consultant Sr., Food Policy Advisor. ● Affordable Child Care in the greater Austin area presented by Cathy McHorse, Early Childhood Consultant. Unda. ● Equity Based Preservation Plan briefing from the Planning Department presented by Cara Bertron, Program Manager II, Planning. ● Anti-Defamation League Austin on their work locally in combatting antisemitism, hate and extremism presented by Courtney Toretto, Director of Policy for the Central Division. ● Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educators Network briefing from Austin Public Health presented by Caitlin Oliver, Early Childhood Program Coordinator. ● Small Business Division briefing from the Economic Development Department presented by Dannny Brewer, Program Manager. ● Drive a Senior ATX presented by Jill Skinner, Executive Director. ● Immigrant Affairs briefing from the Equity and Inclusion Office presented by Rocío Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs manager and DACA Liaison Officer. ● American Gateways regarding their work in the Austin community providing legal services to the low income and immigrant communities presented by Rebecca Lightsey, Co-Executive Director. ● Community Investment Budget Coalition on their priorities for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 presented by Kathy Mitchell. ● Austin Police Department on the undocumented immigrant policy presented by Stephanie Gonzales, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, Fausto Rodriguez, Executive Lieutenant, and Sadot Azzua, Public Information Specialist Senior. ● Academia Cuauhtli regarding the need for funding presented by Dr. María Del Carmen D R A F T Commissioners Afifi, Silva, Galvan, and Perales participated in the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Quality of Life Town Hall sessions. With the support of the Equity Office, the JIC conducted one virtual and two in person town halls sessions. Commissioners received input from community members regarding funding needs for the 2025-26 Budget. These Quality of Life town hall sessions included invited representatives from the ten commissions that make up the JIC. Commissioners attended all three budget town halls. Commissioners provided feedback regarding the evolving budget process. This process also allowed for us to contribute to joint recommendations made by the JIC. In March 2025, the Commission made the following FY2026 budget recommendations, related to the issue areas in the H/LQoL Initiative: ● Recommendation 20250325-004: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget regarding Family Stabilization Program as a Mechanism for Promoting Housing Stability and Immigrant Legal Services. The motion to approve the recommendation was approved on Commissioner Perales motion and seconded by Commissioner Peña. An amendment was made by Vice Chair Silva and seconded by Commissioner Perales. The amendment was approved on a 7-0 vote. Chair Neri abstained. Commissioners Castañeda and Jackson were absent. Members of the Commission provided representation in regular meetings regarding the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC). Commissioner Amanda Afifi participated in the regularly scheduled JIC meetings. Commissioner Daniela Silva is the JIC alternate. 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. The actions of the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission comply with its mission statement. 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. Commission; community; 5. Closely collaborate with City staff regarding recommendations and concerns in the 1. Ensure recommendations and decisions have equitable outcomes for all members of the Hispanic/Latino community; 2. Co-create more equitable policies, developed alongside fellow Quality of Life Commissions and the Joint Inclusion Committee; 3. Ensure community members have various opportunities to provide direct input to the Commission regarding budget needs, as well as host a budget centered meeting after submitting recommendations to inform the community of finalized recommendations and next steps in the process; 4. Expand awareness of Quality of Life Commission to inform the community about the D R A F T 6. Commit to promote language and digital access (visual and auditory; multiple languages; easily understandable reading comprehension level); 7. Obtain funding for a new Quality of Life Study, and coordinate with appropriate stakeholders to develop a continuing process to update information on a more frequent basis; 8. Identify a goal(s) for each working group and implement a plan to address the goal(s); and 9. Continue to collaborate with agencies, non-profits, service providers, the City of Austin, the faith community and others to eliminate the disparities and increase the number of preventive measures in the Hispanic/Latino community.