REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025, 3:00 PM. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Joint Inclusion Committee 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, contact Ryan Sperling, 512-974- 3568, ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Primary Representative: Alternate Representative: Justin Parsons Alexandria Anderson Nirali J Thakkar Nayer Sikder Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Commission for Women Commission on Aging Diana Melendez Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) Commission on Immigrant Affairs Melissa Ortega Commission on Veterans Affairs Bryce F Laake-Stanfield Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Alice Navarro Amanda Afifi (Chair) Jeffrey Clemmons Jerry Joe Benson Lisa Chang AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Becky Bullard Teresa Ferguson Miriam Dorantes Vacant Andrea McIllwain Daniela Silva Muneeb "Meebs" Aslam Katie Coyne Conor H. Kelly 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. 2. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on June 25, 2025. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on July 23, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Discussion regarding accessibility frameworks, community needs, and usage of the City of Austin digital products. Presentation by Luisa Apolaya Torres, Sr. Service Designer, Communications & Technology Management Department. Discussion regarding the potential to create a secretary or parliamentarian officer role on the commission. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to Council supporting an independent equity office. Approve the formation of a working group to finalize a recommendation regarding a revamp of Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison. Approve the formation of a working group to provide budget recommendations for the City of Austin’s FY2026-27 budget. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 8. Update from the Budget & …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a special called meeting on July 22, 2025, in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall located at 301 W 2ND St. in Austin, Texas. Chair Afifi called the Joint Inclusion Committee meeting to order at 3:11 p.m. Members in Attendance: Chair Afifi, Vice Chair Bondi, and Alternate Member Anderson. Members in Attendance Remotely: Commissioner Benson, Chang, Clemmons, Melendez, Ortega, and Alternate Member Sikder. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee special called meeting on July 11, 2025. A motion to approve the July 11, 2025, minutes was approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Thakkar’s second on a 9-0 vote. A motion to reconsider Item 1 to replace the vote of Commissioner Thakkar with Alternate Member Sikder was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Chang second on a 9-0 vote. The July 11, 2025, minutes were approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Sikder’s second on a 9-0 vote. 2. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on June 25, 2025. A motion to postpone the item until August XX was approved on Vice Chair Bondi’s motion, Commissioner Benson’s second on a 9-0 vote. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding the proposed expansion of the Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison, including feedback and suggestions from Joint Inclusion Committee members. Discussion was held. Approve a recommendation to Council supporting an independent equity office. Item was postponed to August XX on Vice Chair Bondi’s motion, Commissioner Clemmons’ second on a 9-0 vote. JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 8. Approve membership changes to committee working groups. A motion to add the following members to working groups was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Ortega’s second on an 9-0 vote. Future Commission Working Group Members: Chair Bondi, Vice Chair Afifi, Commissioners Clemmons and Laake-Stanfield. Legislative Working Group Members: add Commissions Clemmons and Laake- Stanfield. 9. Approve the committee’s 2024-2025 annual internal review report. Committee members discussed potential goals. No action taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Discussion regarding the possibility of creating an additional officer role, such as secretary, on the committee. Discussion was held. Discussion regarding promotion and virtual sessions of upcoming Know Your Commissions …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) convened a regular meeting on WEDNESDAY, JUNE, 25th, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. CST in the BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 (301 W. Second Street, Austin, Texas 78701) Chair AMANDA AFIFI called the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Commission on Aging: Richard Bondi (Vice-Chair) Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Melissa Ortega Commission on Veterans Affairs: Bryce Laake-Stanfield Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission: Amanda Afifi (Chair) Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: African American Resource Advisory Commission: Alexandria Anderson Asian American Quality of Life Commission: Nirali J Thakkar Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Miriam Dorantes Commission for Women: Diana Melendez Early Childhood Council: Andrea McIllwain Human Rights Commission: Jeffrey Clemmons LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Commission: Jerry Joe Benson Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities: Lisa Chang and Conor H. Kelly PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Jenny E. Achilles, Commissioner from the Community Development Commission. Shares overview and purpose of the Community Development Commission. Monica Guzman, District 4 resident, organizer, and Equity Action Team member. Shares comments around the history of the Equity Division, the Equity Assessment Tool, Undoing Racism Workshops, establishing the Equity Division and Human Rights Division to have direct access to department directors and staff, public process for hiring of an Equity Officer. Alexia LeClerq, Community Powered ATX and PODER. Shares comments around Undoing Racism Workshops, emergency response, and funding for the immigrant affairs quality of life study. Celine Rendon, District 8 resident and Housing Justice Organizer. Shares comments 1 around the Equity Overlay Community Powered ATX presented a year ago. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE’s REGULAR MEETING May 28th, 2025. The minutes for the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE’s MAY 28TH, 2025 MEETING were approved at the JUNE 25TH, 2025 MEETING on COMMISSIONER RICHARD BONDI’s motion, COMMISSIONER JEFFREY CLEMMONS’ second, on an 11-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing to provide an introduction and overview of the Office of Equity and Inclusion by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Enrique Serrano, Civil Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Shafina Khaki, and Enrique Serrano share briefing to provide an introduction and overview at 7 mins and 11 secs of recording through 17 minutes and 45 seconds. Including information on the Office …
Access and Use of City of Austin’s Digital Products Seeking Joint Inclusion Committee’s Perspective on August 27th, 2025 Luisa Apolaya Torres, Sr. Service Designer CTM Digital Strategies & Solutions luisa.apolayatorres@austintexas.gov Digital Strategies & Solutions Team @ CTM Human-centered design Accessibility Virtual Reality AI Governance Forms Consolidation User Testing UX Design Advocating for great digital experiences for all city residents. What are digital products? City of Austin’s Website Service Portals (Austin 311 Online Portal, City of Austin Utilities, City of Austin Job Search, etc) Mobile Apps (CapMetro, Austin 311) Community Outreach Groups (Austin Public Health, SpeakUpAustin.org) What factors can affect access and use? Findability of Information Language Access Digital Literacy Language Literacy Accuracy of Information Familiarity with Resources Ease of Use Trust in the Product What does the use of digital products by the residents of your communities in Austin look like? What products do they access? How do they access? When do they access? What is their relationship with these products? Factors for Access and Use Digital literacy Findability of information English literacy Familiarity with resources provided by the city Trust in the product to find accurate information What can a reimagining of digital products accessible for your communities in Austin look like? What needs are already identified, if any? Are there opportunities to improve a current product? Are there opportunities to create a new digital product?
REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 AT 3:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Joint Inclusion Committee 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, contact the Office of the City Clerk at 512-974-2210, bc@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Primary Representative: Alternate Representative: Justin Parsons Alexandria Anderson Nirali J Thakkar Nayer Sikder Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Commission for Women Commission on Aging Diana Melendez Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) Commission on Immigrant Affairs Melissa Ortega Commission on Veterans Affairs Bryce F Laake-Stanfield Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Alice Navarro Amanda Afifi (Chair) Jeffrey Clemmons Jerry Joe Benson Lisa Chang AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Becky Bullard Teresa Ferguson Miriam Dorantes Vacant Andrea McIllwain Daniela Silva Muneeb "Meebs" Aslam Katie Coyne Conor H. Kelly 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. 2. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee special called meeting on July 11, 2025. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on June 25, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Discussion regarding the possibility of creating an additional officer role, such as secretary, on the committee. Discussion regarding promotion and virtual sessions of upcoming Know Your Commissions events. Discussion regarding how best to share information regarding City Council District Budget Town Halls, as well as feedback on Town Halls that have already occurred. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. 8. 9. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding the proposed expansion of the Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison, including feedback and suggestions from Joint Inclusion Committee members. Approve a recommendation to Council supporting an independent equity office. Approve membership changes …
Expansion and Empowerment of the Community Liaison Office Proposal to Expand and Elevate the Austin Police Department Community Liaison Office Overview: In order to strengthen community policing, build trust with minoritized communities, and ensure that feedback from impacted groups shapes department policy and practice, we propose expanding and elevating the Community Liaison Office within the Austin Police Department (APD). Key Changes Proposed: ● Structural Elevation: Move the Community Liaison Office out of the Public Information Office (PIO) and establish it as an independent division that reports directly to the Chief of Police (or a designated Assistant Chief). ● Role Expansion: Assign both a civilian liaison and a sworn officer liaison for each major minoritized community (such as LGBTQ+, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Women). These teams would work in close partnership, giving community members the choice of engaging with a civilian or a sworn officer depending on the nature of their concern. ● Formalization of Sworn Officer Roles: Formalize the currently unofficial liaison roles many sworn officers already fulfill, making community liaison work an official, recognized part of their job duties and workload. ● Direct Communication Channels: Create dedicated public contact points (e.g., phone hotline numbers and emails) for each liaison team, and ensure they are prominently available on the APD website and communications. ● Training Responsibilities: Liaison officers would assist in training the broader police force on issues specific to their communities, such as: ○ Correct use of pronouns and respectful engagement with transgender residents ○ Cultural sensitivity and best practices for interacting with various minoritized groups ○ Awareness of systemic issues and culturally competent policing ● Commission and JIC Engagement: Require that liaisons regularly engage with their corresponding City of Austin Quality of Life Commissions (e.g., the Asian American QOL Commission, the LGBTQIA+ Commission) and provide updates and receive input. The liaisons should act as bridges between community representation bodies and APD leadership. ● Policy Feedback Role: Empower liaison teams to provide policy recommendations to APD leadership informed by the needs of their respective communities, ensuring direct integration of lived experiences into policing policy. Goals of This Proposal: ● Create more accessible, transparent, and culturally competent channels for communication between APD and minoritized communities. ● Ensure that community voices—especially those represented by the city's various commissions and the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC)—are actively heard and integrated into APD policies and practices. ● Build lasting trust by …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a special called meeting on July 11, 2025, in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall located at 301 W 2ND St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Bondi called the Joint Inclusion Committee meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Vice Chair Bondi Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Chair Afifi, Commissioners Commissioner’s Benson, Chang, Clemmons, Laake-Stanfield, Melendez, Navarro, and Ortega. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL There were no general communication speakers. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Recap and discussion of the presentation made by Austin Public Health (APH) to the Equity Action Team (EAT) meeting on June 25, 2025, on the structure, funding mechanisms, and equity implications of APH. Commissioner Laake-Stanfield provided a review of the presentation made by APH to the EAT meeting. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding protecting and sustaining local public health infrastructure and equity at APH in Austin and discuss public and council engagement strategy. The motion to approve the recommendation to City Council regarding protecting and sustaining local public health infrastructure and equity at APH was approved on Commissioner Ortega’s motion, Commissioner Laake-Stanfield’s second on a 9-0 vote. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Chang requested a future item and presentation from Austin Public Health and Cap Metro to discuss funding for transportation. JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 Vice Chair Bondi adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the DATE meeting on BOARD MEMBER’s motion, BOARD MEMBER second on a – vote
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE (JIC) convened a regular meeting on WEDNESDAY, JUNE, 25th, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. CST in the BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 (301 W. Second Street, Austin, Texas 78701) Chair AMANDA AFIFI called the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Commission on Aging: Richard Bondi (Vice-Chair) Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Melissa Ortega Commission on Veterans Affairs: Bryce Laake-Stanfield Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission: Amanda Afifi (Chair) Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: African American Resource Advisory Commission: Alexandria Anderson Asian American Quality of Life Commission: Nirali J Thakkar Commission on Immigrant Affairs: Miriam Dorantes Commission for Women: Diana Melendez Early Childhood Council: Andrea McIllwain Human Rights Commission: Jeffrey Clemmons LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Commission: Jerry Joe Benson Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities: Lisa Chang and Conor H. Kelly PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Jenny E. Achilles, Commissioner from the Community Development Commission. Shares overview and purpose of the Community Development Commission. Monica Guzman, District 4 resident, organizer, and Equity Action Team member. Shares comments around the history of the Equity Division, the Equity Assessment Tool, Undoing Racism Workshops, establishing the Equity Division and Human Rights Division to have direct access to department directors and staff, public process for hiring of an Equity Officer. Alexia LeClerq, Community Powered ATX and PODER. Shares comments around Undoing Racism Workshops, emergency response, and funding for the immigrant affairs quality of life study. Celine Rendon, District 8 resident and Housing Justice Organizer. Shares comments 1 around the Equity Overlay Community Powered ATX presented a year ago. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE’s REGULAR MEETING May 28th, 2025. The minutes for the JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE’s MAY 28TH, 2025 MEETING were approved at the JUNE 25TH, 2025 MEETING on COMMISSIONER RICHARD BONDI’s motion, COMMISSIONER JEFFREY CLEMMONS’ second, on an 11-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing to provide an introduction and overview of the Office of Equity and Inclusion by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Enrique Serrano, Civil Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Shafina Khaki, and Enrique Serrano share briefing to provide an introduction and overview at 7 mins and 11 secs of recording through 17 minutes and 45 seconds. Including information on the Office …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a special called meeting on July 22, 2025, in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall located at 301 W 2ND St. in Austin, Texas. Chair Afifi called the Joint Inclusion Committee meeting to order at 3:11 p.m. Members in Attendance: Chair Afifi, Vice Chair Bondi, and Alternate Member Anderson. Members in Attendance Remotely: Commissioner Benson, Chang, Clemmons, Melendez, Ortega, and Alternate Member Sikder. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee special called meeting on July 11, 2025. A motion to approve the July 11, 2025, minutes was approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Thakkar’s second on a 9-0 vote. A motion to reconsider Item 1 to replace the vote of Commissioner Thakkar with Alternate Member Sikder was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Chang second on a 9-0 vote. The July 11, 2025, minutes were approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Sikder’s second on a 9-0 vote. 2. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on June 25, 2025. A motion to postpone the item until August XX was approved on Vice Chair Bondi’s motion, Commissioner Benson’s second on a 9-0 vote. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding the proposed expansion of the Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison, including feedback and suggestions from Joint Inclusion Committee members. Discussion was held. Approve a recommendation to Council supporting an independent equity office. Item was postponed to August XX on Vice Chair Bondi’s motion, Commissioner Clemmons’ second on a 9-0 vote. JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025 8. Approve membership changes to committee working groups. A motion to add the following members to working groups was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Ortega’s second on an 9-0 vote. Future Commission Working Group Members: Chair Bondi, Vice Chair Afifi, Commissioners Clemmons and Laake-Stanfield. Legislative Working Group Members: add Commissioners Clemmons and Laake- Stanfield. 9. Approve the committee’s 2024-2025 annual internal review report. Committee members discussed potential goals. No action taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Discussion regarding the possibility of creating an additional officer role, such as secretary, on the committee. Discussion was held. Discussion regarding promotion and virtual sessions of upcoming Know Your Commissions …
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025, 4:00 PM. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Joint Inclusion Committee 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, contact Ryan Sperling, 512-974- 3568, ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Primary Representative: Alternate Representative: Justin Parsons Alexandria Anderson Nirali J Thakkar Nayer Sikder Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Commission for Women Commission on Aging Diana Melendez Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) Commission on Immigrant Affairs Melissa Ortega Commission on Veterans Affairs Bryce F Laake-Stanfield Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Alice Navarro Amanda Afifi (Chair) Jeffrey Clemmons Jerry Joe Benson Lisa Chang AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Becky Bullard Teresa Ferguson Miriam Dorantes Vacant Andrea McIllwain Daniela Silva Muneeb "Meebs" Aslam Katie Coyne Conor H. Kelly 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. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Recap and discussion of the presentation made by Austin Public Health (APH) to the Equity Action Team (EAT) meeting on June 25, 2025 on the structure, funding mechanisms, and equity implications of APH. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding protecting and sustaining local public health infrastructure and equity at APH in Austin and discuss public and council engagement strategy. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 the City Clerk, at 512-974-3568 or contact Ryan Sperling at ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay …
Resolution Proposal: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure and Equity in Austin Submitted to: City of Austin City Council Date: XX-XX-XXXX Submitted by: Joint Inclusion Committee WHEREAS, public health is defined as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts,” and serves as the foundation for community resilience and equitable well-being; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH) provides vital population-level services that protect over 1.35 million residents, including immunization clinics, HIV and STD testing and treatment, refugee health screenings, violence prevention programming, substance misuse support, and neighborhood centers offering basic needs assistance; and WHEREAS, core public health infrastructure funding in the amount of $9,500,000 is currently at risk due to unstable federal funding streams and national-level proposals to reduce or eliminate key public health support; and WHEREAS, the federal political climate—marked by increasing hostility toward racial equity efforts and public health institutions—has created uncertainty for municipalities dependent on federal dollars, putting local public health outcomes in jeopardy; and WHEREAS, local data show clear racial disparities in public health outcomes in Austin, including: • Black and Hispanic children are 5 to 7 times more likely to live in poverty than their White counterparts, increasing vulnerability to chronic illness, food insecurity, and poor educational outcomes; • East Austin residents face significantly higher rates of environmental hazards and urban heat exposure, contributing to cardiovascular and respiratory disease; • Communities of color experience higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma, which are exacerbated by inequities in access to care and healthy environments; and WHEREAS, prevention-focused public health investments yield high returns, with studies showing that for every $1 invested in public health, $14 are saved in downstream health care costs and productivity losses; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s stated values—Equity, Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, and Engagement—demand proactive investment in services that reduce health disparities and strengthen community resilience; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1 The Joint Inclusion Committee strongly recommends the City of Austin fully protect the $9,500,000 currently allocated to Core Public Health Infrastructure. 2 The Committee urges the City to establish a dedicated $6 million public health reserve fund to ensure continuity of essential services in the event of further federal disinvestment or emergency needs. 3 The City should commit to prioritizing funding for public health programs that directly address racial and socioeconomic health disparities, with transparent …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Recommendation Number: 20250711-002: A recommendation to City Council regarding protecting and sustaining local public health infrastructure and equity at APH in Austin. WHEREAS, public health is defined as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts,” and serves as the foundation for community resilience and equitable well-being; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH) provides vital population-level services that protect over 1.35 million residents, including immunization clinics, HIV and STD testing and treatment, refugee health screenings, violence prevention programming, substance misuse support, and neighborhood centers offering basic needs assistance; and WHEREAS, core public health infrastructure funding in the amount of $9,500,000 is currently at risk due to unstable federal funding streams and national-level proposals to reduce or eliminate key public health support; and WHEREAS, the federal political climate—marked by increasing hostility toward racial equity efforts and public health institutions—has created uncertainty for municipalities dependent on federal dollars, putting local public health outcomes in jeopardy; and WHEREAS, local data show clear racial disparities in public health outcomes in Austin, including Black and Hispanic children are 5 to 7 times more likely to live in poverty than their White counterparts, increasing vulnerability to chronic illness, food insecurity, and poor educational outcomes; East Austin residents face significantly higher rates of environmental hazards and urban; communities of color experience higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma, which are exacerbated by inequities in access to care and healthy environments; and WHEREAS, prevention-focused public health investments yield high returns, with studies showing that for every $1 invested in public health, $14 are saved in downstream health care costs and productivity losses; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin’s stated values—Equity, Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, and Engagement— demand proactive investment in services that reduce health disparities and strengthen community resilience; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee strongly recommends the City of Austin fully protect the $9,500,000 currently allocated to Core Public Health Infrastructure. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee urges the City to establish a dedicated $6 million public health reserve fund to ensure continuity of essential services in the event of further federal disinvestment or emergency needs and City should commit to prioritizing funding for public health programs that directly address racial and socioeconomic health disparities, with transparent reporting and equitable community engagement built …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a special called meeting on July 11, 2025, in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall located at 301 W 2ND St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Bondi called the Joint Inclusion Committee meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Vice Chair Bondi Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Chair Afifi, Commissioners Commissioner’s Benson, Chang, Clemmons, Laake-Stanfield, Melendez, Navarro, and Ortega. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL There were no general communication speakers. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Recap and discussion of the presentation made by Austin Public Health (APH) to the Equity Action Team (EAT) meeting on June 25, 2025, on the structure, funding mechanisms, and equity implications of APH. Commissioner Laake-Stanfield provided a review of the presentation made by APH to the EAT meeting. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding protecting and sustaining local public health infrastructure and equity at APH in Austin and discuss public and council engagement strategy. The motion to approve the recommendation to City Council regarding protecting and sustaining local public health infrastructure and equity at APH was approved on Commissioner Ortega’s motion, Commissioner Laake-Stanfield’s second on a 9-0 vote. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Chang requested a future item and presentation from Austin Public Health and Cap Metro to discuss funding for transportation. JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 Vice Chair Bondi adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the July 23, 2025 meeting on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Sikder’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Laake-Stanfield and Navarro were absent.
Regular Meeting of the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. CST Boards and Commission Room #1101, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, TX 78701 and some members may be attending via 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 Alejandra Mireles (Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator, Equity Division) at (512) 974-8045 or alejandra.mireles@austintexas.gov. CURRENT JIC MEMBER COMMISSIONS & REPRESENTATIVES: Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission Primary Representative: Justin Parsons Alternate Representative: Alexandra Anderson Nirali J Thakkar Nayer Sikder Commission for Women Diana Melendez Richard Bondi Melissa Ortega Commission on Aging Commission on Immigrant Affairs Commission on Veterans Affairs Bryce F Laake-Stanfield Early Childhood Council Hispanic/Latino Quality-of-Life Resource Advisory Commission Human Rights Commission LGBTQ+ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Alice Navarro Amanda Afifi (Chair) Jeffrey Clemmons Jerry Joe Benson Lisa Chang Becky Bullard Teresa Ferguson Miriam Dorantes Vacant Andrea McIllwain Daniela Silva Muneeb "Meebs" Aslam Katie Coyne Conor H. Kelly 1 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 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 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE’s REGULAR MEETING May 28th, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing to provide an introduction and overview of the Office of Equity and Inclusion by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Enrique Serrano, Civil Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Discussion on Joint Inclusion Committee meeting norms and commissioner expectations, including a review of conduct guidelines for all commissioners, a review of the standard two-hour meeting duration, and strategies to maintain quorum throughout meetings. Discussion on attendance records for Joint Inclusion Committee commissioners, including a review of past absence rates and consideration of measures to support consistent participation. Discussion on JIC collaborating with other Public Safety Commission, Community Development Commission, Ethics …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Recommendation Number: (20250625-011): Community Investment Budget 2025/2026 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has made community engagement a core pillar of its budget planning process, employing a diverse mix of tools and strategies—including multilingual surveys, public meetings, digital budget simulators, and data transparency initiatives—to ensure residents play a meaningful role in shaping the city's funding priorities; and WHEREAS, for the last several years, 30 to 40 community groups have come together on a yearly basis to create detailed budget recommendations known as the Community Investment Budget, issued by Equity Action; and WHEREAS, the 2025/2026 version of the Community Investment Budget includes closely mirrors Joint Inclusion Committee budget recommendations for funding Undoing Racism training, sustained funding for Family Stabilization Grant, additional funds for climate resilience initiatives and prepared meals; and WHEREAS, the 2025/2026 version of the Community Investment Budget addresses concerns that echo or are similar to Joint Inclusion Committee recommendations on additional funds for: Implementation of climate resilience and disaster preparedness initiatives, Immigrant legal and other support services, • • Numerous recommendations on enhancing childcare services, • • Expansion of programs offered by Office of Equity and Inclusion, • Culturally competent community engagement during emergencies, • Expansion of emergency shelters for inclement weather events, • Expansion of cool corridors, • Know Your Rights clinics, and • Expansion of technical apprenticeships and training. 1 https://www.austintexas.gov/page/city-budget Page 1 of 2 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Committee encourages the Austin City Council to adopt the Community Investment Budget 2025/2026. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: (Unanimous on a 7-0 vote, 4-3 vote with names of those voting no listed) Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign) Page 2 of 2
Expansion and Empowerment of the Community Liaison Office Proposal to Expand and Elevate the Austin Police Department Community Liaison Office Overview: In order to strengthen community policing, build trust with minoritized communities, and ensure that feedback from impacted groups shapes department policy and practice, we propose expanding and elevating the Community Liaison Office within the Austin Police Department (APD). Key Changes Proposed: ● Structural Elevation: Move the Community Liaison Office out of the Public Information Office (PIO) and establish it as an independent division that reports directly to the Chief of Police (or a designated Assistant Chief). ● Role Expansion: Assign both a civilian liaison and a sworn officer liaison for each major minoritized community (such as LGBTQ+, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Women). These teams would work in close partnership, giving community members the choice of engaging with a civilian or a sworn officer depending on the nature of their concern. ● Formalization of Sworn Officer Roles: Formalize the currently unofficial liaison roles many sworn officers already fulfill, making community liaison work an official, recognized part of their job duties and workload. ● Direct Communication Channels: Create dedicated public contact points (e.g., phone hotline numbers and emails) for each liaison team, and ensure they are prominently available on the APD website and communications. ● Training Responsibilities: Liaison officers would assist in training the broader police force on issues specific to their communities, such as: ○ Correct use of pronouns and respectful engagement with transgender residents ○ Cultural sensitivity and best practices for interacting with various minoritized groups ○ Awareness of systemic issues and culturally competent policing ● Commission and JIC Engagement: Require that liaisons regularly engage with their corresponding City of Austin Quality of Life Commissions (e.g., the Asian American QOL Commission, the LGBTQIA+ Commission) and provide updates and receive input. The liaisons should act as bridges between community representation bodies and APD leadership. ● Policy Feedback Role: Empower liaison teams to provide policy recommendations to APD leadership informed by the needs of their respective communities, ensuring direct integration of lived experiences into policing policy. Goals of This Proposal: ● Create more accessible, transparent, and culturally competent channels for communication between APD and minoritized communities. ● Ensure that community voices—especially those represented by the city's various commissions and the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC)—are actively heard and integrated into APD policies and practices. ● Build lasting trust by …
