Item 1: March 23, 2026 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026 The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 301 W. 2nd St., Boards & Commissions Room, in Austin, Texas. Chair Duhon called the Human Rights Commission meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kolby Duhon (Chair) Gabriella Zeidan (Vice Chair) Harriett Kirsh Pozen Mariana Krueger Tannya Oliva Martinez Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Meebs Aslam Morgan Davis Mindy Morgan Avitia PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on February 23, 2026. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Kirsh Pozen’s second on a 6-0 vote. Vice Chair Zeidan and Commissioner Aslam were off the dais. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Levers of Economic Mobility Index. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity & Inclusion. Presentation by Gary and Shivani. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Approve a recommendation for the FY2026-27 Budget for Health Equity and Healthcare Access. Withdrawn without objection. Approve a recommendation on strengthening and formalizing funding, staffing, reporting, and commission engagement for the City’s Anti-Hate infrastructure during the upcoming budget cycle. There was a motion by Commissioner Krueger, seconded by Commissioner Aslam, to amend the recommendation to insert “through resolution number 20101118-059” in the second WHEREAS. The amendment was accepted without objection. There was a motion by Commissioner Krueger, seconded by Commissioner Aslam, to strike “quarterly” and insert “biannual” in the 6th “BE IT RESOLVED”. The amendment was accepted without objection. There was a motion by Commissioner Krueger, seconded by Commissioner Aslam, to insert “prevention and” before “response” in the second “BE IT RESOLVED”. The amendment was accepted without objection. There was a motion by Commissioner Morgan Avitia, seconded by Commissioner Aslam, to strike “merely” and insert “only” in the final “BE IT RESOLVED”. The amendment was accepted without objection. The recommendation on strengthening and formalizing funding, staffing, reporting, and commission engagement for the City’s Anti-Hate infrastructure during the upcoming budget cycle was approved as amended on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Kirsh Pozen’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. Approve a recommendation to support youth transitioning out of foster care through housing stability, targeted services, and legislative advocacy. The recommendation to support youth transitioning out of foster care through housing stability, targeted services, and legislative advocacy was approved on Commissioner Kirsh Pozen’s motion, Commissioner Oliva Martínez’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. Approve a budget recommendation for increased emergency housing assistance. The budget recommendation for increased emergency housing assistance was approved on Vice Chair Zeidan’s motion, Commissioner Morgan Avitia’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. for Approve a budget recommendation Development’s Family Childcare Educator Network Program The below budget recommendation for increased funding for Austin Economic Development’s Family Childcare Educator Network Program was approved on Chair Duhon’s motion, Vice Chair Zeidan’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. for Austin Economic increased funding 2 WHEREAS, Access to affordable, high-quality child care is a foundational economic and social need for Austin families, particularly for low-income households and communities of color; and WHEREAS, Families in Austin choose home-based child care because providers share their culture and speak their home language, offer the most affordable care option, provide care during non-traditional hours including evenings, overnight, and weekends, and are trusted members of the community—making home-based providers an irreplaceable part of the child care landscape for many Austin families; and WHEREAS, the average cost of childcare in Austin is the highest in Texas at $26,000 annually for two children. WHEREAS, 85% of early childhood educators in Texas earn less than a living wage, with a median wage of $12.00 per hour; and WHEREAS, Early childhood educators employed by child care programs that accept subsidies earn less than their counterparts at programs that do not accept subsidies, creating a systemic penalty for providers who serve the City's most economically vulnerable children; and WHEREAS, Hispanic early childhood educators in Texas earn significantly less than White early childhood educators regardless of education, experience, or location, reflecting persistent racial wage inequities within the field; and WHEREAS, 7 in 10 full-time early childhood educators do not receive employer- provided health insurance, and half lack access to paid sick leave, leaving a workforce that cares for the City's youngest residents without basic economic protections; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin, through Austin Economic Development, currently administers a Family Child Care Educator Network (FCCE Network) that supports home-based childcare providers. Which focuses on child care provider well-being, economic sustainability, child care quality, and the well-being of children and families; and WHEREAS, the current operating budget of $150,000, includes $75K in funding from a Home Grown grant which will expire in FY2026-27 and $75,000 in City of Austin match funding which expires at the end of FY2025-2026 and funds critical network activities including a Network Coordinator position, financial relief grants to providers, peer mentorship, professional development, a home-based provider conference, and essential interpretation and translation services; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED The Human Rights Commission recommends that the Austin City Council consider the following actions: 3 ● Increase funding for the Family Child Care Educator Network from $75,000 to its current operating budget of $150,000 through at least fiscal year 2026–2027, extending beyond the expiration of the current City match commitment in September 2026. ● Protect and fund the Network Coordinator position as a core component of the City’s child care infrastructure, recognizing the role as essential to coordinating services, outreach, and provider support for home-based child care providers across Austin. Approve a recommendation regarding a budget proposal for small business support, advancing human rights through economic opportunity. There was a motion by Vice Chair Zeidan to amend the recommendation to strike “5,000” and insert “25,000” in the last paragraph. The amendment was accepted without objection. The recommendation regarding a budget proposal for small business support, advancing human rights through economic opportunity was approved as amended on Vice Chair Zeidan’s motion, Commissioner Aslam’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. Approve a budget recommendation for immigration legal assistance funding. The budget recommendation for immigration legal assistance funding was approved on Vice Chair Zeidan’s motion, Commissioner Kirsh Pozen’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Igram and Khawar were absent. 8. 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion regarding renaming Cesar Chavez Street. ADJOURNMENT Chair Duhon adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m. without objection. 4