Item 1: January 28, 2026 Draft Minutes — original pdf
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JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, January 28, 2026 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2026 The Joint Inclusion Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1401/1402, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. in Austin, TX. Chair Afifi called the Joint Inclusion Meeting to order at 6:13 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Amanda Afifi (Chair) Richard Bondi (Vice Chair) Bryce Laake-Stanfield Craig McNary Justin Parsons Tannya Oliva-Martínez Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jerry Joe Benson Lisa Chang Diane Kanawati Diana Melendez PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Dr. Aaron Alarcon – Cuts to Social Services Hector Ordaz – Budget, Arts/Culture APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Inclusion Committee regular meeting on December 3. 2025. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Laake-Stanfield’s motion, Commissioner Parsons’ second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner McNary was off the dais. Commissioners Thakkar and Sikder were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, January 28, 2026 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. The presentation was made by Rebecca Lightsey, Co-Executive Director, American Gateways Discussion regarding feedback on the January 21st Budget Town Hall. Discussed. Discussion regarding the timeline of the City’s budget process and impacts to commission recommendations. Discussed. Discussion regarding the changes in the structure of Austin Equity & Inclusion over the last year. Discussed. Discussion regarding Austin Police Department and protest response. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. 8. Approve changes to working group membership. Without objection, Craig McNary was added to the APD Office of the Community Liaison Working Group and Emergency Preparedness Working Group. Approve amendments to the JIC 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule. Discussion was held. No action was taken. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 9. 10. Report from the Budget Follow-up Working Group regarding City response and implementation of commission recommendations. Withdrawn without objection. Update from the FY2026-27 Budget Working Group regarding collaboration on home commission budget recommendation drafts and topics. Withdrawn without objection. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Final report from Texas Legislative Session Working Group – Afifi Formation of a new Texas Legislative Session Working Group - Oliva-Martínez Discussion regarding questions to ask APD – Laake-Stanfield ADJOURNMENT Chair Afifi adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. without objection. 2