March 17, 2025 Draft Minutes — original pdf

Backup

LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, March 17, 2025 The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a special called meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, Texas, 78752, Room #1401/1402. Commissioners in attendance in person: J. Scott Neal (Chair) Katie Coyne Morgan Davis Rocío Fierro-Pérez Mariana Krueger Kitty McLeod Commissioners in attendance remotely: Alexander Andersen Brigitte Bandit Garry Brown Taylor Treviño Chair Neal called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission's regular meeting on March 3rd, 2025. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 2. Recommendations from the Budget Working Group on budget recommendations for the City of Austin 25-26 Fiscal Year. Recommendations provided by Commissioner Brown. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion regarding the survey status and results from the March 3rd LGBTQ Cultural Center Town Page 1 of 4 Hall. Discussion was held. 4. Discussion regarding potential future recommendations on the scope of the LGBTQ Cultural Center project based on related discussion at the March 3rd LGBTQ Cultural Center Town Hall. Discussion was held. 5. Discussion on the Commission requesting Austin Police Department presence at commission meetings. Discussion was held. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a recommendation for the City of Austin 2025-26 Fiscal Year on funding for a grant program for local nonprofits that focus on temporary shelters and crisis care for the transgender community in Austin. The recommendation was amended to strike “LGBTQ+ non-profits which are primarily focused on providing temporary housing and crisis care to the local trans population.” and insert “organizations historically serving LGBTQIA+ individuals who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused, with priority to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals.” and “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission recommends to the Austin City Council: Any existing or new FY2026 funding for affordable housing programs at the City prioritizes deeply affordable housing, below 30% MFI, with a focus on ensuring LGBTQIA+ community members are aware of these types of housing resources.” The motion to amend was approved on Chair Neal’s motion, Commissioner Coyne’s second on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. The recommendation was approved as amended on Chair Neal’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. 7. Approve a recommendation for the City of Austin 2025-26 Fiscal Year on funding for a LGBTQIA+ Cultural Center project. The recommendation was amended to strike “the Austin City Council allocate $50,000 as seed money to support the ongoing efforts to build an LGBTQ cultural and community center. This funding will assist in covering the costs of consultants, informants, project planners, and other expenses related to the planning and development efforts of the Task Force and Community Center” and insert “any FY 2025 funding for the LGBTQIA+ Cultural Center feasibility study ($180,000) remaining at the end of FY2025 be rolled over to the FY2026 Budget” and “NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that the Austin City Council allocate an additional $50,000 as funding to continue community engagement efforts around the LGBTQIA+ Cultural Center and begin updates to the LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study.” on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. The recommendation was approved as amended on Commissioner Brown’s motion, Commissioner Davis’ second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Page 2 of 4 Wollerson were absent. 8. Approve a recommendation for the City of Austin 2025-26 Fiscal Year on funding for Austin Public Health focused on LGBTQIA+ healthcare issues. The recommendation was approved on Commissioner Brown’s motion, Commissioner Fierro- Pérez’ second on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. 9. Approve a recommendation for the City of Austin 2025-26 Fiscal Year on funding for Austin Public Health focused on LGBTQ+ healthcare issues. The recommendation was amended to insert “with priority given to business owners with intersectional LGBTQIA+ experiences, especially BIPOC owners.” After “no-interest loans” in the last paragraph on Commissioner McLeod’s motion, Chair Neal’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. The recommendation was amended to remove “grant” anywhere it is written and insert “zero interest loans” in its place on Commissioner Fierro-Pérez’ motion, Chair Neal’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. The recommendation was approved as amended on Commissioner Fierro-Pérez’ motion, Chair Neal’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. 10. Approve a recommendation for the City of Austin 2025-26 Fiscal Year on funding for LGBTQ+ Cultural Arts. The recommendation was amended to insert “with priority given to highlighting intersectional LGBTQIA+ experiences, especially BIPOC art & culture” in the last paragraph on Commissioner McLeod’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. The recommendation was approved as amended on Commissioner Fierro-Pérez’ motion, Commissioner McLeod’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Vice Chair Benson and Commissioners Brookins and Wollerson were absent. 11. Approve recommendations provided by the Budget Working Group on budget recommendations for the City of Austin 2025-26 Fiscal Year Withdrawn without objection. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 12. Update from the Task Force Candidate Recommendation Working Group regarding its progress on identifying qualified candidates to recommend to the City to serve on the task force as described in Resolution 20240814-022. Withdrawn without objection. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Presentation from Lesbian and Gay Police Officers’ Association. Motion by Commissioner Coyne, Second by Commissioner Andersen. Page 3 of 4 Discussion of the current allocation of funds for FY 2024 for the LGBTQ Cultural Center Feasibility Study. Motion by Commissioner McLeod, second by Commissioner Coyne. Present a set of training materials for future commissioners. Motion by Commissioner Krueger, second by Commissioner Coyne. ADJOURNMENT Chair Neal adjourned the meeting without objection at 9:23 PM. The minutes were approved at the (DATE) meeting on (MOTION) Page 4 of 4