Special Meeting of the Human Rights Commission Monday, April 27, 2020 Human Rights Commission to be held Monday, April 27, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance Sunday, April 26, 2020 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Monday, April 27, 2020 Human Rights Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-3276 or Jonathan.Babiak@austintexas.gov no later than noon, Sunday, April 26, 2020. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Jonathan.Babiak@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live 1 a E, j HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Monday, April 27, 2020 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sareta Davis, Chair Kristian Caballero, Vice Chair Jared Breckenridge Garry Brown Jamarr Brown Isabel Casas Idona Griffith Maram Museitif Courtney Santana Alicia Weigel Nathan White AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2020 Regular Meeting. 2. OLD BUSINESS a. COMMUNITY FORUM a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s February 24, The commission will conduct a forum on community priorities for the 2020-2021 City of Austin budget. The commission may take action concerning recommendations related to the budget. (Davis/Caballero) i. ii. Evictions in Travis County Financial assistance for families in Travis County 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding new commissioner assignments to the Joint Inclusion Committee (Davis/Caballero) 2 ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number: : Fiscal Year 2021 Budget WHEREAS, the Human Rights Commission of the City of Austin (“Commission”) advocates on behalf of human rights for all people in the City of Austin (“City”); and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Strategic Direction 2023, including the strategic outcomes of Economic Opportunity and Affordability; Mobility; Safety; Health and Environment; Culture and Lifelong Learning; and Government That Works for All; and WHEREAS, the Commission conducted a Budget Engagement Community Forum on February 24, 2020 during the regularly scheduled meeting to receive feedback from the community on budget priorities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Human Rights Commission recommends the City Council to give careful consideration to the following Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Proposal: WHEREAS, Brook with TRAPPNCODE, provided testimony that her organization investigates corporations evading taxes and engaging in housing and employment discrimination in Austin, Texas, and found that 33 families on average per day are subject to illegal evictions; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Human Rights Commission Request the Austin City Council: Audit property owners and review complaints of evictions and; Ensure all procedures and steps in the eviction process were followed and; Red flag and take action against properties and property owners that are violating and evading the regulated eviction process.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number: : Fiscal Year 2021 Budget WHEREAS, the Human Rights Commission of the City of Austin (“Commission”) advocates on behalf of human rights for all people in the City of Austin (“City”); and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Strategic Direction 2023, including the strategic outcomes of Economic Opportunity and Affordability; Mobility; Safety; Health and Environment; Culture and Lifelong Learning; and Government That Works for All; and WHEREAS, the Commission conducted a Budget Engagement Community Forum on February 24, 2020 during the regularly scheduled meeting to receive feedback from the community on budget priorities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Human Rights Commission recommends the City Council to give careful consideration to the following Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Proposal: WHEREAS, Ivanna Neri, Director, Family Independence Initiative, provided testimony that her organization has tracked 380 families in Austin, Texas, and found that families that are provided funds directly with no restrictions on the use of the funds, eventually experience an aggregate 25% raise in their incomes; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Human Rights Commission Request the Austin City Council: Reallocate $1 million dollars from existing social services contracts to direct and unrestricted cash transfers to 500 families struggling with poverty as a way to advance their social and economic mobility.
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, April 27, 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, April 27, 2020 via teleconference in Austin, Texas. Chair Sareta Davis called the Board Meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Davis, Vice Chair Caballero, Commissioner Breckenridge, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Casas, Commissioner Griffith, and Commissioner Museitif. Staff in Attendance: Jonathan Babiak, Human Resources Coordinator, Human Resources Department 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the regular meeting of February 24, 2020 were approved on a vote of 7-0: Commissioner Garry Brown motion, Chair Davis second. Voting in favor were Chair Davis, Vice Chair Caballero, Commissioner Breckenridge, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Griffith, and Commissioner Museitif. Commissioner Casas, Commissioner Santana, Commissioner Weigel, and Commissioner White were absent. 2. OLD BUSINESS a. COMMUNITY FORUM The commission will conduct a forum on community priorities for the 2020-2021 City of Austin budget. The commission may take action concerning recommendations related to the budget. (Davis/Caballero) i. Evictions in Travis County The Commission discussed this item and worked informally to finalize the recommendation. After the draft was finalized, Chair Davis moved for adoption, Commissioner Jamarr Brown second. The Commission adopted the recommendation on a vote of 7-0. Voting in favor were Chair Davis, Vice Chair Caballero, Commissioner Breckenridge, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Griffith, and Commissioner Museitif. Commissioner Casas, Commissioner Santana, Commissioner Weigel, and Commissioner White were absent. ii. Financial assistance for families in Travis County The Commission discussed this item and worked informally to finalize the recommendation. After the draft was finalized, Chair Davis moved for adoption, Commissioner Museitif second. The Commission adopted the recommendation on a 1 vote of 8-0. Voting in favor were Chair Davis, Vice Chair Caballero, Commissioner Breckenridge, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Casas, Commissioner Griffith, and Commissioner Museitif. Commissioner Santana, Commissioner Weigel, and Commissioner White were absent. 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding new commissioner assignments to the Joint Inclusion Committee (Davis/Caballero) Chair Davis moved to send to Mayor and Council the nomination of Commissioner Jamarr Brown to serve on the Joint Inclusion Committee as the primary representative of the Human Rights Commission, Commissioner Breckenridge second. Commissioner Jamarr Brown accepted the nomination. The motion was adopted on a vote of 8-0. Voting in favor were Chair Davis, Vice Chair Caballero, Commissioner Breckenridge, …
