Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission - Austin City Hall, Board & Commission Room, Room 1101, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Monday, May 23, 2022 5:30 p.m. – Adjournment Austin City Hall, Board & Commission Room, 1101 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 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 512-974-2544 or sammi.curless@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sareta Davis, Chair Isabel Casas, Vice Chair Malenie Areche Jared Breckenridge Kimberly Brienzi AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Garry Brown Jamarr Brown Kristian Caballero Idona Griffith Alicia Weigel a. Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission special called meeting of March 4, 2022; regular meeting of March 28, 2022; special called meeting of April 11, 2022; and regular meeting of April 25, 2022. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding letter of support recognizing the disparate impact of the potential loss of lgbtqia+ identified business and heritage in the Warehouse District of Austin, Texas. (Davis, G. Brown) b. Discussion and possible action on alternate appointment to the Joint Inclusion c. Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair to the Human Rights Commission. (Davis, Casas) Committee. (Davis, Casas) 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion of Commission goals for 2021-2022 in the following priority areas of concern: Institutional Equity i. ii. Environment & Land Use iii. Health Access & Nutrition iv. Autonomy & Human Rights 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 Sammi Curless at 512-974-2544 or sammi.curless@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Friday, March 4, 2022 MINUTES The Human Rights Commission convened in a special called meeting on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 5:44pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Sareta Davis and Garry Brown. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Malenie Areche, Kimberly Brienzi, Isabel Casas, Kristian Caballero, Idona Griffith, Alicia Weigel. Commissioners Absent: Jared Breckenridge, Jamarr Brown, Maram Museitif. Staff in Attendance: Jonathan Babiak. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL NONE. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Consider approval of the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s February 28, 2022, Regular Meeting. Chair Davis made a motion to approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting of February 28, 2022. Commissioner G. Brown seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 8-0 with Commissioners Breckenridge, J. Brown, Museitif, absent. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation to City Council related to the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget and Strategic Direction 2023: Economic Opportunity and Affordability; Mobility; Safety; Health and Environment; Culture and Lifelong Learning; and Government That Works for All. (Davis/Casas). Commission Weigel departed the meeting at approximately 6:05pm. Chair Davis made a motion to approve Recommendation Number 20220304-002a: LGBTQIA+ Budget. Commissioner Griffith seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1 with Chair Davis, Vice Chair Casas, Commissioners Areche, G. Brown, Caballero, and Griffith voting aye; Commissioner Brienzi voting nay and Commissioners Breckenridge, J. Brown, Museitif, and Weigel absent. Commissioner Areche departed, rejoined, and departed the meeting between the two Recommendation actions due to connection issues. 3. Chair Davis made a motion to approve Recommendation Number 20220304-002a: FY 2022-23 Budget Recommendation; Commissioner G. Brown seconded the motion. The passed on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioners Areche, Breckenridge, J. Brown, Museitif, and Weigel absent. Commissioners will report on and discuss the status of the Commission’s key OLD BUSINESS a. priority areas of concern for 2021-2022, including plans and strategies for meeting those key priority areas of concern: i. ii. iii. iv. Institutional Equity Environment & Land Use Health Access & Nutrition Autonomy & Human Rights Due to time constraints no reports were made. Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 7:59pm with no objections.
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Monday, March 28, 2022 MINUTES The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Sareta Davis. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Isabel Casas, Idona Griffith, Alicia Weigel, Garry Brown, Malenie Areche, Maram Museitif. Commissioners Absent: Jared Breckenridge, Kimberly Brienzi, Jamarr Brown, and Kristian Caballero. Staff in Attendance: Andrea Jordan. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Adam: Speaking on hate crime within the city’s protocols and processes. Sharyn Vane: Speaking on the rise of hate incidents. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Davis made a motion to approve the minutes from the Human Rights Commission regular meeting of February 28, 2022. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0-1 with Commissioners Breckenridge, Brienzi, J. Brown, and Calaballero absent. Commissioner Museitif abstained. The Commission did not take action on the minutes from the Human Rights Commission's March 4, 2022, Special Meeting. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion of briefing on legislation that passed that affects the city – presented by the City’s Intergovernmental Relations Office (IGRO) sponsored by (Davis/Casas) The Commission did not act on the new business. No report/presentations. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Commissioners will report on and discuss the status of the Commission’s key priority areas of concern for 2021-2022, including plans and strategies for meeting those key priority areas of concern: i. Institutional Equity ii. Environment & Land Use iii. Health Access & Nutrition iv. Autonomy & Human Rights Commissioner Weigel to sponsor further discussion and possible action about hate crimes in the City of Austin from public communication. Commissioner Davis co-sponsored. Commissioner Museitif to sponsor an investigation regarding the change and turnover from the Office of Civil Rights. Commissioner G. Brown co-sponsored. Chair Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:33pm; Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0 with Commissioners Breckenridge, Brienzi, and J. Brown, Caballero absent.
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
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Monday, April 25, 2022 MINUTES The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, April 25, 2022, at 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 5:37pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Sareta Davis. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Isabel Casas, Kristian Caballero, Idona Griffith, Maram Museitif and Alicia Weigel. Commissioners Absent: Malenie Areche, Jared Breckenridge, Kimberly Brienzi, Garry Brown, and Jamarr Brown. Staff in Attendance: Sammi Curless and Brie Franco. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL NONE. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Commission did not take action on the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s February 28, 2022, Regular Meeting and the March 28, 2022, Regular Meeting. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. b. c. Discussion and briefing on legislation that passed that affects the city – presented by the City’s Intergovernmental Relations Office (IGRO) sponsored by (Davis/Casas). Brie Franco, Intergovernmental Relations Officer, provided a recap presentation of the 87th legislative session. Vote on Recommendation Number: (20220425-001): Hate Incident Reporting. (Weigel/Davis) Chair Davis made a motion to approve the recommendation; Commissioner Weigel seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioners Areche, Breckenridge, Brienzi, G. Brown, and J. Brown absent. Nominate someone to be on the Joint Inclusion Committee. The Commission needs to select a representative who will be able to attend those meetings on their behalf. Chair Davis motioned that Idona Griffith serve as the primary representative to the Joint Inclusion Committee and to select a new secondary representative at a future meeting without objection. The recommendation passed on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioners Areche, Breckenridge, Brienzi, G. Brown, and J. Brown absent. 3. Commissioners will report on and discuss the status of the Commission’s key OLD BUSINESS a. priority areas of concern for 2021-2022, including plans and strategies for meeting those key priority areas of concern: Institutional Equity Commissioner Weigel mentioned need for Commissioner attendance at meetings. i. ii. iii. iv. Environment & Land Use Health Access & Nutrition No report. No report. No report. Autonomy & Human Rights Chair Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:24pm; Commissioner Museitif seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioners Areche, Breckenridge, Brienzi, G. Brown, and J. Brown absent.
