REGULAR MEETING OF THE EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via 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. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Michelle Rojas, 512-974-3771, Michelle.Rojas@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Angelica Navarro (D-8), Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro (D-10), Member Lynda Quintana (D-6), Member Noemi Castro (D-2), Member Raul “Roy” Reyna (D-1), Member Alexander “Al” Duarte (D-7), Member Selma Sanchez (D-9), Member John Estrada (D-3), Member Vacant (D-4), Member Cynthia “Cy” Herrera (D-5), Member Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz (Mayor), Vice Chair 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 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 (ESB- MACC) regular meeting of May 6, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on May and June programs, marketing and outreach efforts, signature event planning, and staffing updates. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative, Austin Arts Culture, Music and Entertainment & Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager, Austin Arts Culture, Music and Entertainment DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update on MACC Pocket Park Project. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Sue Hagerty, Project Manager, Austin Capital Delivery Services & Kimberly Gilbertson, Project Coordinator, Austin Capital Delivery Services DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. Review current working groups to assess membership status and determine whether to add or eliminate groups. (Sponsors: Herrera, Zamarripa-Saenz) Approve a recommendation in support of six Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Advisory Commission FY 26-27 budget recommendations. (Sponsors: Herrera, Navarro) Create a Latino/a/e Artist Access Program (LAAP) Working Group to collaborate on the redesign of the program, including the review of contracts, policies and procedures; oversight of equipment and inventory; advisement on technical matters; staff training on proper use of equipment; …
ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY 6, 2026 EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) convened in a Regular meeting on May 6, 2026, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. (Some members of the ESB-MACC Advisory Board participated via videoconference.) Chair Navarro called the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Alexander “Al” Duarte, Selma Sanchez. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: John Estrada (left at 6:28 p.m.), Lynda Quintana. Board Members Absent: Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Noemi Castro, Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Raul “Roy” Reyna. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speaker 1: Maria Solis, President of the Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin (TGSA), stated that the MACC had been an important part of her social life prior to its closure for construction and renovation. She expressed appreciation for the MACC’s continued programming at alternative locations throughout the community and shared her anticipation for the grand reopening. Speaker 2: Iván Dávila, Founder of Coalition for Austin’s Arts & Spanish-language Theater (CAAST), requested that the board maintain their original proposal for Latino/a/e Artist Access Program (LAAP) separately from the Hispanic Quality of Life Commission’s FY 26-27 budget recommendation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of April 1, 2026. The minutes from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of April 1, 2026, were approved on Board Member Duarte’s motion. Board Member Amaro seconded. Motion passed on a 6-0 vote. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz and Board Members Castro, Herrera, and Reyna absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on April and May programs, marketing and outreach efforts, signature event planning, and staffing updates. Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative with Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), provided updates on Casa de la Cultura and Youth & Family Education programs. She noted that 1 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY 6, 2026 the Teen Caminos Leadership program graduation ceremony was scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MACC. Ms. Tamzarian also presented information regarding the grand reopening, including the official event title, Juntos de Nuevo: The Grand Opening. She outlined marketing efforts and reported that photography sessions and interviews had …
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Advisory Board Staff Report 6.3.26 Juntos de Nuevo: The Grand Reopening of the ESB MACC Saturday, June 6 | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM 600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701 RSVP & Share: Facebook, Eventbrite Our Grand Reopening is just a few days away! Here are the details of the June 6th event, to plan your participation. We can’t wait to be juntos de nuevo- together again at the MACC! Discover more programming like Summer Camps,Caminos Teen Internships, and Casa de la Cultural Programs that you can join after June 6th. Sign up to Volunteer Help make this event even better! Volunteer on June 5th (setup) or June 6th (multiple shift options). Volunteers will have access to staff break areas and a look behind the scenes! Help us make MACC history! Create a quick givepulse profile to track your volunteer hours! Austintexas.gov/macc/grand- reopening Arrival & Parking Address is 600 River Street, at the intersection of Rainey Street and River Street. There are multiple walk-in entrances, marked with red arrows The ESB MACC parking lot will be closed to the public from Thursday, June 4th to midnight on Saturday, June 6th. There is no public parking on-site for the Grand Reopening on June 6th. Parking is free in the Holly Street neighborhood. Parking is also available at downtown garages including the Austin Convention Center Parking Lot. There will be a free shuttle bus from the Sanchez Elementary and Metz Elementary to the ESB MACC and back from 10:30am-10:00pm. Please look for the "shuttle stop" signs at these locations. You can take the shuttle even if you don’t park in the actual school parking lots. Ridesharing and public transit encouraged. Drop off at the traffic circle. Bicycle parking is available on site. Bring your bike lock! The June 6th Reopening coincides with the reopening of the Waterloo Greenway Confluence. Park once, and attend both events! Workshop Schedule View our new and renovated spaces and cool off inside! Bellow is a list of our activations and event partners. If you want to take a guided tour, meet at the purple MACC tent at 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, or 1:30pm. MACC staff will be giving these tours alongside the architects Miro Rivera. You can also pick up a self- guided tour at the MACC tent put together by Cassie Smith and the MACC Education Department. Dance Studio (1st …
Mexican American Cultural Center Pocket Park Capital Delivery Services | June 3, 2026 MACC Pocket Park 60 Rainey Street Gateway to the Mexican American Cultural Center Approx 7,400 sq ft Approved for AIPP mural 2 MACC Pocket Park • Temporary park improvements installed Spring 2024 with donated benches. • Rotation list selection of Freese & Nichols for Design Services December 2025. • Proposal for services submitted May 06, 2026 was out-sized for the project • COA design with ESD Team lead by Landscape Architect Kimberly Gilbertson • Project focus on landscape and mural. Additional exhibitory components will be addressed at a future phase. 3 Landscape Architecture by ESD • Violet Crown Trail South Whirlpool Patio • Mokan / Bolm Road Trailhead • BOLM / Shady / Airport AIPP Colab • East MLK AIPP Colab 4 Anticipated Timeline MACC Pocket Park Planning: Summer 2026 Consultant selection 2026 Bid/Award: Fall 2027 Advertising, Bidding and Award 2028 2027 Design: Fall 2026 to Summer 2027 Design and Permitting Construction: Fall 2027 to Summer 2028 Construction 5
ESB-MACC Advisory Board Working Groups Name Motion Members Budget Phase 2 Ethnographic Research 64 Rainey Music Hub Programming Grand Opening Motioned to create the Budget (FY26) working group. Lily Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Larry Amaro, Member Roy Reyna, Member Alternate Noemi Castro Angelica Navarro, Chair Lily Zamarripa-Saenz, Member Larry Amaro, Member John Estrada, Member Cy Herrera, Member Alternate Roy Reyna, Member Motioned to create new working group to include the new tasks of seeing project through successful completion up to issuance of certificate of occupancy, include RFQ validation and feedback process, continued community engagement, reprioritizing of Master Plan based on budget, advising on branding, and promoting and supporting the coordination of the grand opening. Motion to reinstate the Ethnographic Working Group to support the work of Cassie Smith’s Ethnographic research. Motioned to create a 64 Rainey Working Group that would follow the progress and development of the pocket park, consult with community members regarding development and progress, and address any task that may arise. Motion to create a working group to explore music hub programming. Goal is to advise MACC staff as needed. Purpose is to provide future funding and include programming to buildout the hub. Motion to create a working group dedicated to support MACC staff in preparation for the grand reopening of phase II. The working group will collaborate directly with MACC staff and be available at any capacity needed. Whether through event logistics, community outreach or general support to ensure a successful and meaningful Angelica Navarro, Chair Larry Amaro, Member Anthony Martinez, Member Cassie Smith (Community Member) Lily Zamarripa-Saenz, Member John Estrada, Member Lily Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Noemi Castro, Member John Estrada, Member Cy Herrera, Member Al Duarte, Member Angelica Navarro, Chair Lily Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Noemi Castro, Member Al Duarte, Member Roy Reyna, Member Maria Solis (Community Member) Hector Ordaz (Community Member) Awards of Excellence (AOE) Strategic Planning and Partnership reopening that reflects the culture and communities’ significance. Including consulting community members as needed and inviting them to meetings for public comment. Motioned to reestablish the Awards of Excellence Working Group to discuss nominations for 2026 awardees, selection committee, assistance with event planning, and details of set up and breakdown to provide support for MACC staff. Motion to create a Strategic Planning and Partnership Working Group to strengthen the long-term sustainability, visibility, and impact of the Cultural Center by guiding strategic direction and cultivating high-value partnerships Core …
Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission FY26-27 Budget Recommendation Titles RECOMMENDATION 1: Latino Arts and Culture Community Navigator Program $125K ● Increase funding and social resources to ensure appropriate language accessibility for AACME Cultural Arts Funding Cycle, specifically in Spanish ● Ensure funding is proportional to representation of community RECOMMENDATION 2: Spanish-language Contracts for City of Austin Cultural Arts Contractors $10K RECOMMENDATION 3: Emergency Funding for Latino Cultural Artists Possible alternate names for the recommendation: Emergency Cultural Arts Grants for Latino Artists $1.5 Million RECOMMENDATION 4: Capital Improvement Funding for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center - Phase 2 $6 Million RECOMMENDATION 5: $1 Million Funding for the Latino Artist Residency Program (LARP) at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Possible alternate names for the recommendation: Latino Artist Residency Program (LARP) at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican AMerican Cultural Center Reestablishing the Latino Artist Residency Program (LARP) at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican AMerican Cultural Center RECOMMENDATION 6: Explore alternative funding resources for Cultural Arts, specifically state legislation that would increase the 15% HOT Tax fund cap for funding programs $50K BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: (20260324-XXX) Latino Arts & Cultural Community Navigator Program WHEREAS, approximately 32% of Austin’s population identifies as Hispanic or Latino 1; and WHEREAS, 31% of Austinites speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish the predominant language spoken in the City 2; and WHEREAS, Austin has a long history of systemic racism and racial inequity that continues today. Throughout history, communities of color have been excluded, marginalized, and discriminated against as a result of City policies and practices. This history was reinforced by segregationist policies throughout the 20th century affecting a range of Austin venues, including schools, public parks, and commercial businesses, among others, and WHEREAS, Spanish-speaking cultural arts organizations and individual artists continue to face inequitable access to Cultural Arts resources and services as a result of systemic and racial inequity, but also due to evolving City policies and the implementation of new procedures that fail to be culturally responsive and do not adequately address language access; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin’s Latino and Spanish-speaking community continues to voice the need for culturally-sensitive assistance, including and not limited to: 1. Application navigation 2. Access to Spanish-language contracts and grant agreements 3. Accurate, culturally competent Spanish translations of …
