Item 1 - Draft Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026 — original pdf

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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 Withdrawn. 4.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 Withdrawn.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 made by Commissioner Morales and seconded by Vice Chair Ramos. The following amendment was made by Commissioner Galvan and seconded by Commissioner Morales. The amendment was to revise item 4 as follows: “4. Patrol vehicles should be equipped with clear and accessible quick reference guides on constitutional rights, legal standards, and qualified immunity to support lawful decision making in the field. Additionally, patrol vehicles should have information about local city supported and nonprofits, including but not limited to immigration legal service providers to provide to community members.” The amendment was also to revise item 5 as follows: “5. The Austin Police Department should end participation in the federal 1033 Program that transfers surplus military equipment to local law enforcement, and if participation continues, the City should ensure full public disclosure of all military-grade equipment and establish clear and enforceable limitations on its use.” 2 Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission January 27, 2026 The amendment was to also add items 6-9 as follows: “6. The Austin Police Department should be prohibited from collecting or sharing immigration-related information unless explicitly required by law. 7. The City of Austin should adopt and clearly communicate policies affirming all residents regardless of immigration status, can seek emergency assistance, report crimes and access city services without fear of immigration enforcement or sharing information with federal immigration authorities, except where explicitly required by law. 8. The City of Austin should require regular public reporting of all communications or coordination between and city departments including APD, and federal law enforcement agencies related to federal immigration enforcement to the extent permitted by law. 9. The Austin Police Department should ensure that victims and witnesses of crimes are not questioned about their immigration status during an incident or investigation.” The amendment was approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Peña and Moya Fábregas were absent. The recommendation was approved as amended on Commissioner Morales’ motion, Vice Chair Ramos’ second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Peña and Moya Fábregas were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 8. Update on the work of the Immigrant Working Group since August 2025. Chair Afifi provided an update. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Budget presentation Budget public input Immigration Working Group update to membership Communities in Schools ADJOURNMENT Chair Afifi adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m. without objection. 3