REGULAR MEETING of the EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 6:00 PM City Hall – Boards and Commissions Room 301 W. Second St. Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Advisory Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. To speak in person, registration is required at least 10 min prior to the start of the meeting. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register call or email the board liaison at 512-974-3771 or michelle.rojas@austintexas.gov BOARD MEMBERS Angelica Navarro, Chair (D-8) Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair (Mayor) Anthony Martinez, Member (D-4) Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member (D-10) Noemi Castro, Member (D-2) Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member (D-1) Alexander Duarte, Member (D-7) Selma Sanchez, Member (D-6) John Estrada, Member (D-3) Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member (D-5) Vacant, Member (D-9) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a (3) three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Regular Meeting of March 5, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on staffing updates, March and April programs, marketing and outreach efforts, and updates on signature event planning. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative and Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update on the ESB-MACC Phase 2 Construction Project. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager 4. Discussion on the MACC’s operational budget and finances. (Sponsors: Zamarripa-Saenz, Castro) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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. …
EMMA S. BARRIENROS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at City Hall – Board and Commissions Room located at 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas 78701. (Some members of the ESB-MACC Advisory Board participated via videoconference.) Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz called the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Meeting to order at 6:10pm. Board Members in Attendance: Board Members Absent: Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Angelica Navarro, Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member Noemi Castro, Member John Estrada, Member Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member (Arrived at 6:13pm) Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Gerardo Gandy, Member (Left at 7:23pm) Anthony Martinez, Member Mónica Siañez, Member (Left at 9:28pm) Staff in Attendance: Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager Marie Ortiz, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Supervisor Tina Davila, ESB-MACC Administrative Specialist PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speaker 1, Item 5: Martha Cotera, Academia Cuauhtli Co-founder thanked the board for their consideration and support on the budget that would be submitted to request additional funding for the operation of Academia Cuauhtli. She also recommended that the MACC incorporate more history and informative symposiums into the MACC’s programming to continue to get public intellectuals engaged. Speaker 2, Item 5: Emilio Zamora, Professor of History at the University of Texas was in attendance to support the budget request for Academia Cuauhtli. He mentioned Academia Cuauhtli was working with Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager on a memorandum of understanding to solidify their relationship with the MACC. He also expressed his appreciation for allowing Cuauhtli the opportunity to extend what they had to offer the community, which was education and cultural services. 1 Speaker 3, Item 5: Jessica Silva shared that her family had been part of Academia Cuauhtli’s Saturday and Summer programs since 2022. She expressed her support for the program as she was a parent of two students. She stated Academia Cuauhtli played a vital role in enriching the community and encouraging the personal growth of their children by offering opportunities to connect with multiple generations at once. Commenting that the kids find joy in connecting with their peers, college student mentors, and other adults who care about their education and well-being. Speaker 4, Item 5: Janay Silva-Soto let the board know that she was a …
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Phase 2 Improvements Project Update April 2, 2025 Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Project Manager PROJECT TIMELINE: ESB MACC Groundbreaking for Phase 2 Improvements / Move-Out Began– 12/10/22. • • Parking Lot Closure – 3/10/23. • Contractor Mobilization/Pre-construction Inspections – Began 3/11/23. • Permitting (Site) – Approved on 7/25/23. • Bidding & Negotiation (GMP1/Site) – Executed contract on 8/28/23. • Construction (Site) – Underway since 8/28/23. • Permitting (Building) – Approved on 3/4/24. • Bidding & Negotiation (GMP2/Building) – Executed contract on 3/7/24. • Construction (Site + Building) – Currently underway. • AIPP ESB-MACC Phase 2 – Artist(s) selection approval by Austin City Council on 8/29/24 • • Building dry-in – Process of ensuring the building envelope is weather sealed is expected April. Topping Out – Topmost structural beam was lifted into place on 9/11/24. CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS: • • South retaining concrete wall at future food truck area poured. Zocalo paver mock-up completed for review. • Retaining wall with cantilevered edge at Zocalo is in progress. • Brick installation is ongoing. • Window and waterproofing mock-up completed for reviewed and approved. • Auditorium telescopic seating installed. • Teaching Kitchen exhaust hood installed. • Curved reception area framed. • Framing and insulated boards installed for a stucco ceiling. ANNOUNCEMENTS: • New furniture purchases are underway and expected to be completed by April. • City Council approved artists, Katherine Telley and Ruben Esquivel, to design and fabricate artwork for the ESB MACC Phase 2, Art in Public Places (AIPP) project. The artists are working on the conceptual design during the first quarter of the year. Please visit AIPP website for more announcements regarding the planned community • Concrete pours and large deliveries will continue. Work hours will adhere to the City’s noise ordinance. engagement for this project. Ordinance information can be found here. • The Confluence, a separate public/private partnership project has increased activities at the ESB MACC. The parking lot is the construction access point for the east side of the creek delta. There are trail detours because of the trail enhancements. Additional information can be found here. • The MACC round-about and driveways continue to experience elevated traffic and congestion due to the volume of work in the area by other developers. Please exercise caution in this district. • Drone video illustrating ESB MACC site work can be found here. SCHEDULED MILESTONES: • Construction …
