ICRC_Minutes_20210602 — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) June 2, 2021 at 3:00 pm VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING Hoang Le Shaina Kambo Sara Inés Calderón Selina Yee Christina Puentes Whitney Finch Joshua Blank Members Absent Whitney Finch Staff Members Present Matthew Dugan CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Prabhu Kannan Brigham Morris Errol Hardin Eugene Schneider Erin Dempsey Luis Gonzalez Dr. Sterling Lands Members Present Christina Puentes Luis Gonzalez Errol Hardin Prabhu Kannan Brigham Morris Eugene Schneider Dr. Sterling Lands Hoang Le Shaina Kambo Sara Inés Calderón Selina Yee Erin Dempsey MINUTES Meeting goals: Approve job descriptions and where to post, request volunteers for subcommittee roles, follow-up on city updates, confirm with all commissioners the completion of trainings, discuss importance of our commitment to ICRC, and decide on meeting cadence through November 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Puentes called the meeting to order at 3:02pm with 13 members present. Commissioner Finch has resigned from the ICRC. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first three speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Fred Lewis and Peck Young (NAACP Committee on Redistricting) addressed the ICRC. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On Commissioner Land’s motion, Commissioner Gonzalez’s second the May 21, 2021, minutes were approved unanimously. 2. OLD BUSINESS The ICRC may discuss and take action on the following agenda items A. Vote on Chair and Vice Chair On Commissioner Yee’s motion, Commissioner Schneider’s second, the ICRC voted unanimously to elect Interim Chair Puentes and Interim Vice Chair Gonzalez to continue serving in their roles permanently. 3. NEW BUSINESS The ICRC may discuss and take action on the following agenda items: A. Icebreaker: What do you hope returns to “normal” in a post-COVID world? What do you hope does not return to “normal”? Vice Chair Gonzalez lead the icebreaker activity. This item was tabled for a future meeting. B. Presentation on Robert’s Rules of Order: League of Women Voters C. Review staff job descriptions from Hiring Working Group (Legal Counsel, Administrative Manager, Mapping Consultant) Commissioner Kannan made a motion to poll the members regarding meeting in person, and Commissioner Schneider seconded the motion. Following discussion, the commission voted in favor of conducting meetings in person as needed or possible, on a 12-1-0 vote, with Commissioner Dempsey voting nay. Following discussion and suggested edits regarding the job descriptions, Commissioner Lands moved that the ICRC approve the posting language for all three positions, and that the hiring process be initiated and expedited; Commissioner Kannan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. D. Establishing Working Groups On Commissioner Blank’s motion, Commissioner Lands’ second, a Public Hearing Working Group was unanimously approved to include members of the ICRC, and members of the public; all members are to be identified at a future meeting. E. Updates from city: • City emails for commissioners • How to request/increase budget • • How to obtain city credit card • Can the Commission conduct trainings during a proposed retreat? ICRC web domains/social media account access Matthew Dugan gave the updates. On Commissioner Kannan’s motion, Commissioner Hardin’s second, the commission voted unanimously to conduct a poll to identify preferences and schedule upcoming meetings. Following discussion, on Commissioner Hardin’s motion, Commissioner Calderon’s second, the commission voted unanimously to conduct weekly meetings on Wednesday evenings, beginning July 1st. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Appoint a final member of the ICRC • Discuss ICRC’s mission and purpose • Texas Open Meetings Act, Public Information Act, and City Charter No-Contact Period • Records training from the Office of the City Clerk • Roberts Rules of Order training • Presentation from the City Demographer • Retreat plans ADJOURNMENT Chair Puentes adjourned the meeting at 5:08pm without objection. 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 Matt Dugan at the Housing and Planning Department, at 512-974-7665 and matthew.dugan@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, please contact Matt Dugan at 512-974-7665 and matthew.dugan@austintexas.gov or Lisa Rodriguez at 512-974-3119 and lisa.rodriguez@austintexas.gov.