Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

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 9-0 vote. Commissioner Melendez was off the dais. Working group members: Chair Afifi; Vice Chair Bondi, Commissioners Benson, Chang, and Laake-Stanfield; and community member Hector Ordaz. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 8. Update from the Budget & Policy Priorities Working Group regarding the City’s approved FY2025-26 budget and follow-up on JIC recommendations. Update by Chair Bondi FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion regarding changing meeting dates and times – Commissioner Chang 2 Formation of a Working Group to suggest bylaw amendments – Commissioner Chang Formation of a Digital Access Working Group – Vice Chair Bondi Update regarding Public Safety Commission bylaw amendments – Vice Chair Bondi Briefing by the Homeless Strategy Office regarding the FY2025-26 Budget Discussion regarding cultural funding – Vice Chair Bondi ADJOURNMENT Chair Afifi adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the September 24, 2025 meeting on Commissioner McIllwain’s motion, Commissioner Benson’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Thakkar, Melendez, Dorantes, Laake-Stanfield, Navarro, Afifi, and Chang were absent. 3