HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Special Called Meeting Monday, April 11, 2022 6:00 p.m. – Adjournment Permitting and Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco room 1203 Austin, TX 78723 Some members of the Human Rights Commission may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may speak up to three minutes on an item only once either in-person or remotely. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register call or email the board liaison at 512-974-3250 or andrea.jordan@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sareta Davis, Chair Isabel Casas, Vice Chair Malenie Areche Jared Breckenridge Kimberly Brienzi Garry Brown Jamarr Brown Kristian Caballero Idona Griffith Maram Museitif Alicia Weigel CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA Members of the public signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed three minutes to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s February 28, 2022, Regular Meeting and the March 28, 2022, Regular Meeting. Hear, discuss, consider, and take possible action on complaints about the work environment in the City of Austin’s Office of Civil Rights (Chair Davis/Museitif/G. Brown) ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Andrea Jordan, Office of Civil Rights, at (512) 974-3250 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Human Rights Commission, please contact Andrea Jordan at (512) 974-3250 or visit http://www.austintexas.gov/hrc.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number 20220411-002a: Work Environment in the Office of Civil Rights WHEREAS, there are allegations of a hostile work environment inside the Office of Civil Rights, and; WHEREAS, the current director of the Office of Civil Rights is still running the office, and; WHEREAS, the allegations are directed at the director and an outside law firm is investigating the allegations, and; WHEREAS, the Austin Human Rights Commission received notice on Monday, April 11, 2022, that all agendas will be reviewed by the Civil Rights Officer and Legal prior to approval. This new mandate has timing that coincided with a meeting that included an agenda item to discuss the current investigation into the Civil Rights Officer. WHEREAS, in December 2021, the City Council removed the Commission’s authority to conduct hearings that review findings of cause or no cause by the Civil Rights Office, and; WHEREAS, NAACP President Nelson Linder communicated that the current situation in the Office of Civil Rights is a disparate impact caused to those reporting claims to the Office of Civil Rights, and; THEREFORE, be it resolved, that: The Austin Human Rights Commission asks the City Council to request that the city manager place the Civil Rights Officer on administrative paid leave until the conclusion of the investigation. The Austin Human Rights Commission requests that commission meeting agendas be reviewed by the Clerk’s Office and Legal that complies with all policies, procedures, and laws until the conclusion of the investigation. The Austin Human Rights Commission requests the City Council restore the Chapter 21 commission language that provided authority to conduct hearings that review findings of cause or no cause. (See exhibit A – attached) Date of Approval: April 11, 2022 Record of the vote: 6 in favor -1 abstension; Commissioner Garry Brown motion, Chair Davis second. Voting in favor were Commissioner Griffith, Vice Chair Casas, Commissioner Brienzi, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Museitif and Commissioner Griffith. Commissioner Caballero abstained. Commissioner Breckenridge, and Commissioner Weigel were absent. Attest: Andrea Jordan Andrea Jordan Staff Liaison
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2022 The Human Rights Commission convened a special called meeting on Monday, April 11, 2022, at the City of Austin Permitting & Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Room 1203, Austin TX 78752. Chair Sareta Davis called the Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commission members present: Chair Davis, Vice Chair Casas, Commissioner Brienzi, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Griffith, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Maram Museitif and Commissioner Caballero. Staff present: Andrea Jordan – liaison CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s February 28, 2022, Regular Meeting and the March 28, 2022, Regular Meeting. This agenda item will be covered in the April 25, 2022, meeting. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Hear and discuss employee complaints. (Chair S. Davis/M. Museitif/G. Brown). Commissioner Garry Brown moved to adopt a recommendation; Chair Davis seconded. The recommendation was adopted by a majority vote of Commissioners present. Voting in favor were Vice Chair Casas, Commissioner Brienzi, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Griffith, Commissioner Museitif and Commissioner Jamarr Brown. Commissioner Caballero abstained. Commissioners Breckenridge and Commissioner Weigel were absent. 3. ADJOURNMENT Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m. on unanimous consent. 1
