REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 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 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 Miriam Dorantes 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) VACANT Jerry Joe Benson Lisa Chang AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Becky Bullard Teresa Ferguson Diane Kanawati Christopher Wilson 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. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on August 27, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Discussion regarding the potential to change the commission’s meeting time and dates in 2026. Discussion on the progress of the Public Safety Commission changes to allow for Quality-of-Life Commissions to attend and participate. Discussion regarding the potential to create a Secretary position on the commission. Discussion regarding best practices for agenda finalization meetings. Discussion regarding potential dates for virtual input sessions in October and November. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. 8. 9. Approve the formation of a working group to explore the structure of the Equity Office as an independent office and establishing the Human Rights Division as an independent office. Approve the formation of a working group to provide feedback on the City’s digital access program. Approve the formation of …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE REGULAR/SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MONTH DATE, YEAR The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a REGULAR/SPEICAL CALLED meeting on Wednesday, MOTH, YEAR, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Chair NAME called the Joint Inclusion Meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Amanda Afifi (Chair) Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) Alexandria Anderson Bryce Laake-Stanfield Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Lisa Chang Miriam Dorantes Diana Melendez Alive Navarro Nirali Thakkar PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Marisa Luisa Guiterrez – Language Access Hector Ordaz – Language Access APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on June 25, 2025. Items 1 and 2 were taken up at the same time. The minutes of the June 25, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Laake- Stanfield’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Benson was off the dais. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on July 23, 2025. 2. 1 The minutes of the July 23, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Laake- Stanfield’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Benson was off the dais. 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. The presentation was made 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. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to Council supporting an independent equity office. Discussion was held. No action was taken. Approve the formation of a working group to finalize a recommendation regarding a revamp of Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison. The motion to approve the formation of a working group to finalize a recommendation regarding a revamp of Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison was approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Laake-Stanfield’s second on a 10-0 vote. Working group members: Vice Chair Bondi, Commissioners Benson, Chang, and Laake-Stanfield. Approve the formation of a working group to provide budget recommendations for the City of Austin’s FY2026-27 budget. The motion to approve the formation of a working group to provide budget recommendations for the City of Austin’s FY2026-27 budget was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Chair Afifi called the Joint Inclusion Meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Amanda Afifi (Chair) Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) Alexandria Anderson Bryce Laake-Stanfield Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Lisa Chang Miriam Dorantes Diana Melendez Alive Navarro Nirali Thakkar PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Marisa Luisa Guiterrez – Language Access Hector Ordaz – Language Access APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on June 25, 2025. Items 1 and 2 were taken up at the same time. The minutes of the June 25, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Laake- Stanfield’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Benson was off the dais. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on July 23, 2025. 2. 1 The minutes of the July 23, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Laake- Stanfield’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Benson was off the dais. 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. The presentation was made 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. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to Council supporting an independent equity office. Discussion was held. No action was taken. Approve the formation of a working group to finalize a recommendation regarding a revamp of Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison. The motion to approve the formation of a working group to finalize a recommendation regarding a revamp of Austin Police Department’s Office of the Community Liaison was approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, Commissioner Laake-Stanfield’s second on a 10-0 vote. Working group members: Vice Chair Bondi, Commissioners Benson, Chang, and Laake-Stanfield. Approve the formation of a working group to provide budget recommendations for the City of Austin’s FY2026-27 budget. The motion to approve the formation of a working group to provide budget recommendations for the City of Austin’s FY2026-27 budget was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on a …
