COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number 20220228-002c: Strengthen Office of Police Oversight Whereas, the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) received modifications to increase the powers of the office in 2018; and Whereas, the City of Austin, and by extension the OPO, recently lost an arbitration case to the Austin Police Association and thereby restricting the OPO’s ability to complete its oversight responsibilities of Austin police officers; and Whereas, the current contract between the city and the police union is set to expire this year; Now therefore be it resolved, that the City of Austin Human Rights Commission encourages the Austin City Council and the City Manager to insist that the new contract with the Austin Police Association include provisions strengthening and extending the powers of the Office of Police Oversight to investigate issues arising out of any possible violations by individuals employed by the Austin Police Department. Date of Approval: February 28, 2022 Record of the vote: 6-0; Chair Davis motion, Commissioner Garry Brown second. Voting in favor were Chair Davis, Vice Chair Casas, Commissioner Areche, Commissioner Brienzi, Commissioner Garry Brown, and Commissioner Weigel. Commissioner Breckenridge, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Caballero, Commissioner Griffith, and Commissioner Museitif were absent. Attest: Jonathan Babiak Jonathan Babiak, Staff Liaison
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Monday, January 24, 2022 5:30 p.m. – Adjournment City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Room 1406 Austin TX 78752 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 CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA Citizens 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. a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Human Rights Commission’s November 22, 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2021 Regular Meeting. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Presentation by Edna Yang, Co-Executive Director, American Gateways, followed by discussion and possible action regarding an update on the successes of the American Gateways program serving the low income immigrant community and request for support in making immigration legal services a continued priority in the city’s budget for next year. (Davis/Casas) b. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation to City Council and the City Manager to strengthen policies regarding investigative authority for the City of Austin Office of Police Oversight. (Brown, G./Davis) c. Discussion and possible action regarding commissioner nominations to the Joint Inclusion Committee. (Davis/Casas) 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 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 Jonathan Babiak, Office of Civil Rights, at (512) 974-3203 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Human Rights Commission, please contact Jonathan Babiak at (512) 974-3203 or visit http://www.austintexas.gov/hrc.
