Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Wednesday, April 6, 2022 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Advisory Board convened via video conferencing. Board Members in Attendance: David Goujon, Chair Gerardo Gandy, Member Ricardo Maga Rojas, Member Tomas Salas, Member Endi Silva, Member Wayne Lopes, Member Board Member Absent: Art Navarro, Vice Chair Staff in Attendance: Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Manager Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Supervisor CALL TO ORDER: Chair Goujon called the Board Meeting to order at 6:12pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Larry Amado gave thanks to the MACC for production of MACCnifico and provided feedback regarding the event, such as lighting. Larry Amado also discussed Phase 2 and permanent stage, sound, and lighting suggestions. He also mentioned that he would like to see the draft of the minutes posted before the meeting. Anna Maciel discussed the need to vacate the alleyway as an important goal before Mayor Adler goes out of office. She asked about the topic being addressed at the next board meeting. She also commended the staff for MACCnifico event. She stated the need to be more active on the Music Hub funding and detailed a meeting and expressed hope that the Board members attend. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (AGENDA ITEM 1) A) March 2, 2022 Member Gandy made a motion to approve the meeting minutes. Member Maga Rojas seconded the motion. Vote passed. (6.0) 2. CHAIR REPORT (AGENDA ITEM 2) A) THE CHAIR WILL BRIEF THE BOARD AND ENCOURAGE BOARD DIALOGUE ON AGENDA ITEMS 1 Chair Goujon congratulated the MACC staff on the MACCnifico event and encouraged dialogue. 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS (AGENDA ITEM 3) A) STAFF REPORT ON ESB-MACC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Supervisor Tamzarian provided an update on the upcoming exhibits and programs for the month of April. Coordinator Jesus Varela provided a summary report on the MACCnifico event held in March. He provided the number of artists and local vendors that participated. He also broke down the amount musicians were paid. He provided a summary of the surveys received and the number of rsvps received. Member Silva inquired about the exact number of walk ins compared to the number of people that rsvpd Varela mentioned that the total number of attendees were collected but not in comparison to those that rsvpd. 4. PRESENTATIONS (AGENDA ITEM 4) A) PRESENTATION BY ANNA BRADLEY, PROJECT MANAGER WITH ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. Bradley introduced herself and the process for Art in Public Places process. She summarized the history of the projects and described the solicitation process for new AIPP projects throughout the City. She informed the board of the dates for the AIPP for the Phase 2 project. Chair Goujon asked about the specific details for the AIPP project for Phase 2. Bradley responded that 2% of the project budget had already been allocated. Member Gandy inquired about the Mexican American cultural corridor that had been designated on 5th Street. He asked about the role that the MACC plays in the cultural corridor and would like to see the connection between the MACC and the cultural corridor be further explored. B) PRESENTATION BY HEIDI TSE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN’S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON PHASE 2 UPDATES Heidi Tse from Public Works outlined the Phase 2 updates. She provided updates to the Community Communications Forum (CCF) and stated that 18 people had been selected and participation was being confirmed. The target start date for the CCF would be May 2022. She also provided an updated project timeline and expected the groundbreaking to take place at the end of 2022. Chair Goujon asked about the results of the surveys being collected. Tse responded that she would collect the data and put it in a report for the next board meeting. Discussion ensued about ways to accelerate the schedule. There was also discussion about the project budget. Chair Goujon also inquired about what point would update drawings would be shared by the board. Tse mentioned that updated drawings would be presented at the end of design development. Discussion ensued about more opportunities for the public to provide input on specific spaces. Member Maga Rojas asked about the community engagement for the AIPP. Anna Bradley explained that May 24 would be the launch of the public art application period. Member Maga Rojas also asked for clarification of the beginning date of design development. Tse clarified that it began on March 25, 2022. Chair Goujon also asked about the coordination with the Waterloo Greenway project. Tse responded that coordination with the Waterloo Greenway project team continues. Maga Rojas asked about the list of the CCF members that was supposed to be provided. Tse mentioned that because not all members had accepted the nomination, she couldn’t share the names at this time. Member Salas asked if 18 was the maximum number of members. Tse mentioned that 18 names were on the list, but ideally 2 only 12 would be selected. Maga Rojas also inquired about the community engagement schedule. Tse mentioned that she is working on the updated Community Engagement Plan and that the CCF would be part of the next update. 5. OLD BUSINESS (AGENDA ITEM 5) A) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PHASE 2 PROJECT Larry Amaro discussed the contingencies that the board had made to support the Phase 2 project at the previous board meeting. He had questions about the budget and the community engagement opportunities. Chair Goujon explained that the engagement was the discussion of the CCF. Anna Maciel discussed the project budget and wanted to see a detailed account of where funding was being allocated. She also mentioned that Parks and Recreation doesn’t make the decision about a potential stage, the community does. She asked for a current detailed budget. Chair Goujon asked Tse where the Phase 2 project budget was at currently and is the budget normally shared with the board. Tse responded that the project was within budget and due to escalation of costs in construction, Parks and Recreation had to find additional funding to supplement the original bond funds. She recounted that it is not customary to share the budget amounts because everything is not finite and the real construction funds have not been allocated. Tse also addressed that there was no permanent stage mentioned in the 2018 plan. She mentioned that an estimate of a stage is being included as an alternate design if funding allows. Maciel rebutted that she recalled the stage discussion in 2018. Chair Goujon looked up the 2018 plan and confirmed what seemed to be drawn in the Zocalo as a temporary stage. Maciel mentioned that she would go back and look at the 2018 plan and also make an open records request to look at the project budget. Chair Goujon asked the board members what type of project budget they were interested in seeing. Member Salas responded that it didn’t make sense to get a copy of the budget at this point and felt it was a waste of time. Member Maga Rojas was interested in seeing where the project budget was as compared to the estimates. Chair Goujon mentioned wanting to see if we are within budget after each phase. Discussion ensued about the allocation of the bond funding and the types of budgets that could possibly be presented to the board. Tse mentioned that for every 6 months the project is delayed it means that the value of the project budget decreases by half a million dollars. Member Maga Rojas asked about the site plan and who the civil engineer was hired on the project. Tse mentioned that MWM was the civil engineering consultant and that there would be a revision to the existing site plan. 6. NEW BUSINESS (AGENDA ITEM 6) A) REPORTS ON ALL WORKING GROUPS 1. ARTS- JOINT CULTURAL COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORT – No update 2. TRANSPORTATION – No Update 3. PHASE 2 PROJECT – No Update 4. BUDGET – No longer in discussion B) BOARD ELECTIONS FOR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR 3 Chair Goujon encouraged the audience to recommend new members to the board since there were only 6 active members. Member Maga Rojas nominated Endi Silva for Chair, Chair Goujon Seconded Silva thanked the board and accepted the nomination. She mentioned feeling very welcomed by the community and was honored to continue to support the MACC. Motion passed (6.0) Member Silva nominated David Goujon for Vice Chair, Member Gandy Seconded Goujon felt fortunate to have Art Navarro as Vice Chair and thanked him for his commitment to the community. Maga Rojas mentioned appreciating the work that Chair Goujon had done. Motion passed (6.0) 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS (AGENDA ITEM 7) Update on the alley way vacation project. (Goujon, Silva) Chair Goujon motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 pm. Member Gandy seconded. Motion passed (6.0) 8. ADJOURNMENT The minutes were approved at the July 7, 2022 meeting on Goujon’s motion, Gandy second on a (6.0) vote. 4