Item 6 - Draft Internal Annual Review — original pdf

Backup

Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 7/1/2025 ____________________________________ City of Austin Human Rights Commission The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: (A)The Human Rights Commission should be composed of members who as nearly as possible are representative of the several social, economic, religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial groups which comprise the population of the City. (B)The commission shall: (1)advise and consult with the city council on all matters involving racial, religious, or ethnic discrimination, and devise practices to promote equal opportunity; (2)serve in an advisory and consultive capacity to all city departments, advisory boards, and regulatory agencies to assure effective compliance with non-discrimination policies and orders, and recommend to the city manager measures to improve the ability of various departments and agencies to ensure equal protection of any and all persons and groups against discrimination; (3)recommend to the city council legislation to aid in programs designed to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and encourage community support for the legislation; (4)aid in the formulation of local community groups in neighborhoods as needed to carry out specific programs; (5)initiate and facilitate discussions and negotiations between individuals and groups to lessen tensions and improve understanding in the community; (6)institute and conduct educational programs to promote equal treatment, opportunity and understanding, and sponsor meetings, institutes, forums, and courses of instruction to lead to a clearer understanding and solution of human relations problems; (7)assist in training city employees to use methods of dealing with intergroup relations that result in respect for equal rights and equal treatment, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies whose primary jurisdiction is within the City to develop and include human rights courses in the curriculum of police training; (8)conduct research, obtain factual data, and hold public hearings to ascertain the status and treatment of racial, religious, and ethnic groups in the city and the best means of progressively improving human relations; (9)provide services and information to the city manager and heads of all city departments and agencies to achieve the purposes of this chapter; and (10)cooperate with all city, state, county, federal, and other governmental agencies, as well as racial, religious, ethnic, nationality, educational, community, civic, fraternal, benevolent and other groups, associations, societies, and individuals with constructive talents and resources helpful in achieving mutual appreciation of the privileges and the responsibilities of citizenship in a land of freedom enriched by free commerce and full utilization of all human resources from all racial, religious, ethnic, and national groups. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. (Reference all reports, recommendations, letters or resolutions presented to the City Council on mission-specific issues. If some of the elements of the mission statement were not acted on by the board in the past year, the report should explain why no action was taken.) 9.23.2024 - Passed Recommendation Number 20240923-002: Recommendation to protect voting rights in Texas and Travis County: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=437587 11.25.2024 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20241125-004): Recommendation to Ensure Full Compliance with the Austin Police Oversight Act and Prioritize Transparency, Accountability, and Efficiency in the Austin Police Department: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=441715 2.24.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: 20250224-007: Recommendation to Protect Immigrant Communities and Ensure Access to Accurate, Accessible Information and Education in Austin Schools and Prioritize Anti-Discrimination Efforts Related to Immigration Status City Wide: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=449846 3.24.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20250324-004): Budget Proposal for Enhanced Climate Resilience in Austin: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=448096 3.24.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20250324-005): Budget Proposal for Increased Emergency Housing Assistance: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=448097 3.24.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20250324-006): Budget Recommendation Providing Funding for Community Dialogues in the City of Austin: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=448098 3.24.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20250324-007): Budget Recommendation Providing Funding for Printing and Distribution of "Know Your Rights" Red Cards at Austin Public Library Sites: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=448099 3.24.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20250324-008): Budget Proposal for a High School to Technical/Trade School to City Workforce Pipeline Program: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=448095 4.28.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: 20250428-004: Budget Proposal for Supporting Supplies to Enhance Immigrant Student Protections and Rights: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=451917 4.28.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: 20250428-005: Budget Proposal for Improving the Accuracy and Effectiveness of the Austin Point-In-Time (PIT) Count: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=451916 4.28.2025 - Passed Recommendation Number: (20250428-006): Recommendation to Allocate Municipal Funding for Grants that Benefit Inclusive Arts Programs Supporting Autistic and Neurodivergent Communities: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=451915 6.23.2025 - Passed Recommendation 20250623-006: Allocation of Additional Grant Funding for Nonprofit Organizations Addressing Youth Development and Educational Equity: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=455373 6.23.2025 - Passed Recommendation 20250623-007: Recommending Enhancements to the City of Austin's Rapid-Response and Disaster-Preparedness Systems for Unhoused Residents: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=455372 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. The Commission strongly believes that all actions throughout the past year comply with our mission statement and stated goals. 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. (Make sure the goals and objectives fall within the mission statement of the board/commission.) The Human Rights Commission aims to continue to be a powerful voice for equity and inclusion of all marginalized communities all too often left out of the halls of power.