May 5, 2025 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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LGBTQ QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 5, 2025 The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a special called meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:30 P.M. at Austin Energy Headquarters, 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723, Mueller Assembly Room. Commissioners in attendance in person: J. Scott Neal (Chair) Jerry Joe Benson (Vice Chair) Brigitte Bandit KB Brookins Garry Brown Katie Coyne Morgan Davis Mariana Krueger Steven Rivas Taylor Treviño Commissioners in attendance virtually: Alexander Andersen Kitty McLeod Chair Neal called the meeting to order at 6:43 PM. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission's regular meeting on April 21, 2025. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Brown’s motion, Commissioner Coyne’s second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation regarding the June 2026 groundbreaking of Family Eldercare’s LGBTQ housing development. Presentation by Oneka Gaskin, Annie Saldivar, Family Eldercare. The presentation was made by Oneka Gaskin, PSH Program Director; Annie Saldivar, Program Manager; and Charles Curry, Board Member; Family Eldercare. Page 1 of 4 3. Discussion regarding whether the commission should take up LGBTQIA+-specific components of larger societal issues, such as immigration or affordable housing, or rely on other commissions to address those issues. Discussion was held. 4. Discussion regarding the development of a handbook for new commissioners, as well as other ideas on how commissioners can become more engaged in non-leadership roles. Discussion was held. 5. Discussion regarding a potential bylaw amendment to add a Secretary officer role. This item was postponed until the June 16, 2025 meeting on Chair Neal’s motion, Commissioner Coyne’s second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. 6. Discussion regarding the commission’s work over the last year and the strategic direction of the commission, including which issues the commission should focus on in the coming year and whether the commission should have more or less direct engagement with individuals in the community at meetings. Discussion was held. 7. Discussion on how commission meetings are run, including advice for the Chair, Vice Chair, and staff liaison. Discussion was held. 8. Discussion regarding the necessity of working groups and whether the commission has too many. Discussion was held. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 9. Recommendation to the commission from the Task Force Candidate Selection Working Group on suggested candidates to serve on the LGBTQIA+ Cultural Center Task Force as described in Resolution 20240814-022. Recommendation by Vice Chair Benson and Commissioner Coyne. 10. Recommendation to the commission from the Historical Marker Working Group regarding proposed language for a historical marker on 4th St. Recommendation by Commissioner Brown. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 11. Discussion and possible action to approve candidates to recommend to the City to serve on the LGBTQIA+ Cultural Center Task Force as described in Resolution 20240814-022. There was a motion by Chair Neal to recommend to the city that they utilize the candidate list spreadsheet from this meeting as a guide on who they should select for the task force, including Commissioner Coyne as a nonvoting member. Commissioner Krueger seconded. The substitute motion to approve the candidate list spreadsheet to be used as a guide by the working group to submit to the city as the commission’s suggested names for the task force, amended to remove lines 3 and 22, was approved on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Brookins’ second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. 12. Discussion and possible action to approve proposed language for a historical marker on 4th St. The motion was approved as amended on Commissioner Brown’s motion, Commissioner Davis’ second, on an 11-0 vote, with the following amendments. Chair Neal recused. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. The amendments were: Strike all instances of “LGBTQ” and insert “LGBTQIA+” In the first paragraph, strike the hyphen before “denigrated” In the fourth paragraph, strike “community build” and insert “build community” In the fifth paragraph, insert a comma after “2020” In the fifth paragraph, strike the comma before “continue” In the first paragraph, insert “abilities” In the fourth paragraph, insert a comma after “churches” In the fourth paragraph, strike “during” and insert “throughout” In the second paragraph, strike “and being sex or gender variant” In the fourth paragraph, insert “two-spirit” In the fourth paragraph, strike “80s and 90s” and insert “1980s and 1990s” In the first paragraph, strike “spaned” and insert “spanned” 13. Conduct an officer election for Chair. The motion to elect Vice Chair Benson as Chair failed on Chair Neal’s motion, Vice Chair Benson’s second on a 4-8 vote. Those voting aye were: Chair Neal, Vice Chair Benson, Commissioners Brown and Treviño. Those voting nay were: Commissioners Andersen, Bandit, Brookins, Coyne, Davis, Krueger, McLeod, and Rivas. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. The motion to elect Commissioner Coyne as Chair was approved on Commissioner Brookins’ motion, Commissioner Coyne’s second on an 11-1 vote. Vice Chair Benson voted nay. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. The motion to waive the rules and allow the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission to meet after 10 p.m. until 10:10 p.m. was approved on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Brown’s second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. 14. Conduct an officer election for Vice Chair. The motion to elect Commissioner McLeod as Vice Chair was approved on Commissioner Krueger’s motion, Commissioner McLeod’s second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioners Fierro-Pérez and Knutson were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Follow-up on APD items. Discussion and possible action about a working group regarding APD presence at meetings. Page 3 of 4 Chair Neal adjourned the meeting without objection at 10:09 P.M. The minutes were approved at the (DATE) meeting on (MOTION) Page 4 of 4