REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025, 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1401/1402 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. 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: Member Commission: African American Resource Advisory Commission Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Commission for Women Commission on Aging Commission on Immigrant Affairs Commission on Veterans Affairs 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 Primary Representative: Justin Parsons Alternate Representative: Alexandria Anderson Nirali J Thakkar Nayer Sikder Diana Melendez Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) VACANT Bryce F Laake-Stanfield Craig McNary Amanda Afifi (Chair) Becky Bullard Teresa Ferguson Diane Kanawati Christopher Wilson Andrea McIllwain Dulce Castaneda Tannya Oliva-Martínez Jerry Joe Benson VACANT KC Coyne Lisa Chang Conor H. Kelly AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 December 3. 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Presentation providing an update on American Gateways’ successes and requesting prioritization of immigration funds in next year’s budget. Presentation by Rebecca Lightsey, Co-Executive Director, American Gateways. Discussion regarding feedback on the January 21st Budget Town Hall. Discussion regarding the timeline of the City’s budget process and impacts to commission recommendations. Discussion regarding the changes in the structure of Austin Equity & Inclusion over the last year. Discussion regarding Austin Police Department and protest response. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. 8. Approve changes to working group membership. Approve amendments to the JIC 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 9. 10. Report from the Budget Follow-up Working Group regarding City response and implementation of commission recommendations. Update from the FY2026-27 Budget Working Group regarding collaboration on home commission …
JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2025 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, December 3, 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) Justin Parsons Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Lisa Chang Bryce Laake-Stanfield Diana Melendez Nirali Thakkar PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on October 22, 2025. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Thakkar’s motion, Commissioner Chang’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Melendez was off the dais. Commissioners Dorantes, Kanawati, Navarro, McIllwain, Benson, and Coyne were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Briefing regarding the development of a report to understand and address disparities in community conditions across neighborhoods. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., Austin Equity and Inclusion 1 The presentation was made by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity & Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update on the results of Get to Know Your Commissioners events. Update by Chair Afifi. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Approve bylaw amendments to add a Secretary officer role. The motion to approve a bylaw amendment to add a Secretary officer role was approved on Commissioner Laake-Stanfield’s motion, Commissioner Parsons’ second on a 6-1 vote. Commissioner Chang voted nay. Commissioners Dorantes, Kanawati, Navarro, McIllwain, Benson, and Coyne were absent. Approve changes to working group membership. Without objection, Chair Bondi stepped off the Digital Access Working Group, Future Commission Working Group, and Texas Legislative Working Group; Commissioner Chang joined the Digital Access Working Group and Independent Equity Office and Human Rights Office Working Group; Commissioner Parsons joined the Future Commission Working Group; and Commissioner Laake-Stanfield joined the Emergency Preparedness Working Group. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the FY2026-27 Budget Recommendations Working Group regarding its most recent working group meeting and progress on the working group goals. Update by Vice Chair Bondi. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Create working group to encourage collaboration between recommendations between home commissions. –Vice Chair Bondi Create new working group for collaboration between mayor’s committee, commission on aging, and commission on veterans’ affairs. –Commissioner Laake Stanfield. Discussion on the changes of the structure of the Equity Office over the last year. –Commissioner Chang. ADJOURNMENT Chair Afifi adjourned …
