LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION Monday, March 9, 2020 7:00 p.m. City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street Room 1027 (Executive Session Conference Room) Austin, Texas 78701 District Commissioner 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kannou (Kimberly) Curette Sandra Chavez Victor Martinez (Chair) Holly Kirby Ruben Baeza Terrance Hines Deirdre Doughty Saul Gonzalez CALL TO ORDER District 9 10 Mayor At-Large At-Large At-Large At-Large AGENDA Commissioner Nan Dowling Brandon Wollerson Christina Gorczynski Tarik Daniels Charles Curry Kathryn Gonzales (Vice Chair) Melissa Taylor PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – Each speaker will have 3 minutes to speak. 1. MOTION TO SUSPEND ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 10 AND JANUARY 11, 2020 3. REGULAR BUSINESS – The commission may take action or make recommendations on the following topics: a. Presentation by Austin Parks and Recreation Department concerning its FY2020-2021 budget. (Sponsor: Staff; Strategic Outcome: Health & Environment) b. Consideration of budget recommendations for the 2020-2021 fiscal year budget. (Sponsor: Staff; Strategic Outcome: All) c. Update concerning an LGBTQ quality of life study (Sponsor: Taylor; Strategic Outcome: Government That Works for All) d. Review status of previous commission-approved recommendations and determine whether any future actions are required. (Sponsor: Gonzales; Strategic Outcome: Government That Works for All) ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Staff Liaison Neal Falgoust at 512-974-2154 or email neal.falgoust@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission, please contact Neal Falgoust at (512) 974-2154.
Whereas, the City of Austin has recognized in their Strategic Direction the need to inclusively honor and preserve Austin’s unique and diverse history, culture and traditions, and Whereas, the adopted Strategic Direction also calls for a regular inventory and evaluation of cultural programming and facilities to identify gaps and opportunities for impacting equity and equality while implementing standardized process for collecting and analyzing demographic participation, and Whereas, the LGBTQ community has long advocated for the need for facilities and programs dedicated to the unique aspect of our community’s culture similar to those provided to the African-American, Hispanic and Asian-America communities, and Whereas, the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission community forum on the City’s 2020 Budget heard requests for more LGBTQ focused recreation and cultural programming, Now therefore, be it resolved that, the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission recommends to the City Council that city departments develop LGBTQ focused programming using existing available resources and facilities as well as utilizing community organizations for support and volunteers, and that Be it further resolved that the City Council direct the City Manager to report back to Council on a plan for collecting and reporting on the demographic information on the implementation of such LGBTQ focused recreation and cultural programming prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year.
Whereas, the City Council has adopted a plan for focusing resources on the most important priorities known as Austin Strategic Direction 2023, and Whereas, the Strategic Direction recognizes the need for a city government that works effectively and collaboratively for all of us and that is equitable, ethical and innovative, and Whereas, city staff has asked that City Commissions be cognizant of the limitations that recent state legislation places on the City’s financial resources and include in their recommendations opportunities for departments to increase efficiencies, improve effectiveness and attain more equitable service delivery, and Whereas, Austin has a wide variety of community organizations and nonprofits with objectives similar to those in the City’s Strategic Direction, Now therefore be it resolved that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission recommends that the City Council direct staff to explore additional opportunities for utilizing community organizations and nonprofits in achieving the outcomes set forth in the Strategic Direction for the benefit of the community as a whole such as, • • • • • Coordinating with community nonprofits who can expand existing efforts while offsetting costs through donations and volunteers such as the job fairs provided by AustinUp; Utilizing city staff to organize volunteers to provide new or expanded services such as peer mentoring in practical skills suggested by participants at the Commission on Seniors community forum; Working with community organizations to achieve the mental health outcomes identified by participants in the African-American Quality of Life community forum; Working with community organization grant recipients to identify process changes that can maximize resources on service delivery while minimizing overhead as identified by participants in the Asian-American Quality of Life community forum, Assisting community organizations to fill identified gaps in service delivery such as the number of taxpayers who may not be taking advantage of the property tax exemptions authorized by City Council as identified in previous studies such as “Uprooted” and the “Right to Remain” report on the Montopolis Neighborhood, and, Be it further resolved that the outcomes achieved through the efforts of these organizations and volunteers as well as by organizations with whom the City contracts for services to the community be included in reporting on the City’s progress toward reaching our Strategic Direction.
LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, March 9, 2020, at City Hall, 301 W Second Street, Room 1027, in Austin, Texas. Chair Victor Martinez called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Members in Attendance: Martinez, Curry, Curette, Doughty, Dowling, Gonzales, Gonzalez, Gorczynski, Kirby, Taylor, Wollerson Staff in Attendance: Staff Liaison Neal Falgoust PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: Ivanna Neri of the Family Independence Initiative addressed the commission concerning budget recommendations. 1. MOTION TO SUSPEND ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER – The Commission voted 10-0 to suspend Robert’s Rules of Order. The chair conducted the meeting based on consensus. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The meeting minutes of January 11 and February 10 were approved without objection 3. REGULAR BUSINESS a. Vanorda Richardson of the Park and Recreation Department addressed the commission concerning its budget projections for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Services related to assisting individuals experiencing homelessness are driving an increase in PARD’s budget. The department does not currently track spending related to LGBTQ-specific programming. b. Commission members discussed possible recommendations related to the city’s 2020- 2021 fiscal year budget. The commission agreed to call a special meeting on April 6 at 7 p.m. to consider final recommendations. c. Commissioner Taylor provided an update on the LQBTQ quality of life study. The evaluation team is in the process of evaluating the proposals. d. Commissioner Gonzales provided an update on previous commission recommendations. City staff published a memo concerning education efforts related to property tax exemptions. Commissioner Doughty will follow up regarding a recommendation on comprehensive sex education. ADJOURNMENT – Chair Martinez adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. without objection.
