20200422-2B part 2: Budget Request on Funding of Immigrant Affairs Office — original pdf

Recommendation

JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20200422-02B Subject: Support of Commission on Immigrant Affairs Budget Request on Funding of Immigrant Affairs Office Motioned By: Crawford Seconded By: Orlowski Date: April 22, 2020 Recommendation The Joint Inclusion Committee supports the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Budget Request on Funding of Immigrant Affairs Office Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Inclusion Committee strengthens connections between City boards and commissions concerned with quality of life in Austin and advises the City Council on issues pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This resolution furthers equity, diversity and inclusion. For: Briesemeister, Austen, Solis, Crawford, Stanton, Curry, Orlowski See attached. Rationale: Vote Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Weigel, Jones Attest: Janee Briesemeister, Chair 1 of 2 Immigrant Affairs Office passed by Commission on Immigrant Affairs on 4/22/20 1) What did you hear from the community? Appreciation that the Immigrant Affairs position was created, and recognition that one person cannot handle all of the work that will be required 2) What problem are they addressing? Whether the needs of the immigrant community in Austin are met 3) How does the problem show up? Who is most impacted? We have a large and diverse immigrant community, with varying needs and varying degrees of involvement in city government. Those most impacted are largely unseen, whether because of language barriers, cultural concerns, or concerns related to immigration status. This office will be able to reach out to the community so that their voices can be heard. 4) Is there funding dedicated to address this problem? There is funding for one staff person 5) which department administers it? Equity 6) How much funding? $100,000 7) Which organization is funded? How long have they been funded? n/a this is a city staff position 8) How is success measured? This is a new position so how success will be measured is to be determined 9) what are the impacts? Who is served? Outcomes? Where are the gaps? Are there demographics? There is a large, diverse immigrant community in Austin. Our hope is that the immigrant affairs office can go out into the community to learn their concerns, see where there are gaps in services, and assess the City’s ability to address their concerns 10) How do we solve for the problem? We are including this request so that our commission’s concerns about this can be recorded. The immigrant affairs coordinator just started in her position and will need time to begin her assessment of community needs as well as availability of private funding for adding additional staff and resources. However, it is important to note our concerns that one person cannot take on everything that will be required of this office, and the Commission on Immigrant Affairs would like this to be developed into a full office. 2 of 2