REGULAR MEETING OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2026, 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W. 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Human Rights Commission may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Ryan Sperling at ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov or 512-974-3568 CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Kolby Duhon, Chair (He/They) Muneeb “Meebs” Aslam (He/Him) Jeffrey Clemmons George Jambor Harriet Kirsh-Pozen CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Morgan Davis, Vice Chair (He/Him) Mindy Morgan Avitia Lila Igram Mariana Krueger (She/Her) Tannya Oliva Martínez AGENDA The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on August 24, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the Creative Reset Phase II: Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums. Briefing by Candice Cooper, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, ACME. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation regarding the programming and mission of Keep Austin Schools Independent (KAS). Presentation by Lily McClure and Sharyn Vane, Co-Founders, KASI. 4. Update on recent JIC discussions and actions relevant to the Human Rights Commission. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a recommendation supporting multi-year City of Austin funding for SAFE Alliance and encouraging coordinated advocacy by the city’s intergovernmental relations team for increased state funding to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and related services. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. 7. Update from the Human Rights Resource Guide Working Group on the progress of the human rights resource guide. Update from the Anti Hate Working Group on their progress on the anti-hate framework. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email …
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026 The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 301 W. 2nd St., Boards & Commissions Room, in Austin, Texas. Chair Duhon called the Human Rights Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kolby Duhon (Chair) Morgan Davis (Vice Chair) Tannya Oliva-Martínez Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Meebs Aslam Mindy Morgan Avitia Lila Igram George Jambor Mariana Krueger PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on July 22, 2026. The minutes of the July 22, 2026 meeting were approved on Vice Chair Davis’ motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Clemmons, Kirsh- Pozen, and Khawar were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by the SAFE Alliance regarding their closing and at-risk programs. Presentation by Dr. Pierre Berastain, CEO, SAFE Austin. Presentation by Dr. Pierre Berstain, CEO, SAFE Austin. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1 3. Discussion of the killing of Anthoneil Williams II, and possible action to approve a recommendation acknowledging the shooting and encouraging further action. There was a motion by Chair Duhon, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to make the below amendment. The motion was approved on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Jambor was off the dais. Commissioners Clemmons, Kirsh-Pozen, and Khawar were absent. • Strike “past and present” from the first BE IT RESOLVED There was a motion by Commissioner Aslam, seconded by Chair Duhon, to make the below amendment. The motion was approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Clemmons, Kirsh-Pozen, and Khawar were absent. • In the second “WHEREAS”, strike “carrying only a water bottle” and insert “the object in his waistband was a water bottle at the time”. There was a motion by Commissioner Aslam, seconded by Commissioner Krueger, to make the below amendment. The motion was approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Clemmons, Kirsh-Pozen, and Khawar were absent. • Insert: “WHEREAS, the National Police Accountability Project (NPAP), a national organization dedicated to police accountability and civil rights, specifically criticized APD's rapid characterization of Anthoneil Williams II's death as “suicide by cop,” raising concerns that assigning such a label before a meaningful investigation shifts attention away from questions of de-escalation, use of force, and governmental accountability; and WHEREAS, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a national organization of police executives and law-enforcement professionals, recognizes that encounters involving individuals …
The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment July 2026 Why Now? Austin Has Changed. Our Cultural System Must Change With It. ▪ Austin's population continues to grow and diversify. ▪ Community expectations have shifted from simply preserving facilities to actively programming and activating them. ▪ Residents expect welcoming, accessible, vibrant public spaces that are open, responsive, and community-centered. ▪ The Creative Reset presented an opportunity to rethink how our facilities operate, not just maintain the status quo. Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center 2 Our Community Spaces Cultural Centers and Entertainment Complex Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex African American Cultural & Heritage Facility + Dedrick Hamilton House Asian American Resource Center Connelly-Yerwood “Pink” House Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural + Genealogy Center Museums and Art Center Montopolis Negro School Zilker Hillside Theater Dougherty Arts Center Elisabet Ney Museum UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum Susanna Dickinson Museum O. Henry Museum Old Bakery & Emporium 23rd Street Renaissance Artist Market 3 Our Approach The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums Beverly Sheffield Hillside Theater Our Approach We designed this process around listening. Community Engagement Internal Assessment Staff Visioning Site Identity Exercise Operational Review Recommendations Implementation Plan Evaluation 5 Nearly a year of engagement ensured that our recommendations reflect both community priorities and operational realities. Elisabeth Ney Museum 6 Community: What We Heard The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums ACME Creative Reset Engagement Community: What We Heard Activate our facilities More activity, more energy, more opportunities. Expand partnerships Collaborate with artists, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. Improve customer experience Create welcoming, consistent, easy-to-access spaces. Reduce barriers Simplify processes and increase accessibility. Celebrate each site's unique identity Honor history while creating new opportunities. Brush Square Pun-Off Event 8 Staff: What We Learned The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums Dougherty Arts Center Staff: What We Learned ▪ Staff are passionate and deeply committed to serving the community. ▪ Operational processes vary significantly across facilities. ▪ Administrative responsibilities often limit time available for programming and community engagement. ▪ Greater collaboration, shared services, and consistent expectations can improve efficiency while preserving each site's unique identity. ▪ Our facilities are aging. Staff Engagement Event 10 Our New Operating Model The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities …
