Item 1. MACC Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 11-2-22 Draft — original pdf

Backup

EMMA S. BARRIENROS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, November 2, 20222, 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.) Chair Endi Silva called the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Meeting to order at 6:09pm. Board Members in Attendance: Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Larry Amaro, Member (Arrived at 6:12pm) Endi Silva, Chair Angelica Navarro, Member Tomas Salas, Member Litza Gonzales, Member David Goujon, Vice Chair Gerardo Gandy, Member Greg Gonzalez, Member (Arrived at 6:27pm) Board Members Absent: Ricardo Maga Rojas, Member Art Navarro, Member Staff in Attendance: Laura Esparza, PARD Division Manager of Museums and Cultural Programs Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager Tina Davila, ESB-MACC Administrative Specialist PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No Public Communication. However, Chair Silva announced to the Board that there were two new Board Members. She welcomed both Members and asked for them to introduce themselves. Member Navarro introduced herself, stating that she was born and raised in Austin, Texas as an East Austinite and was looking forward to serving on the ESB-MACC Board. Member Amaro introduced himself, letting the Board know he was born and raised in Austin. He grew up in East Austin, attending Brooke and Govalle Elementary, Allan Junior High School, and Johnson High School. He mentioned he has attended many Board meetings, expressing that he is interested in the MACC and all it stands for. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the Regular meeting of October 2, 2022, were approved on Vice Chair Goujon’s motion. Member Gonzales seconded the motion. Vote (6.2). Members Amaro and Navarro abstained. Motion passed. Member Maga Rojas and Art Navarro absent. 1 CHAIR REPORT 2. Chair Silva expressed her respect for MACC staff and acknowledged their dedication to the Día de Los Muertos events happening November 1st, 2nd and 5th.  Chair Silva gave a brief overview of the agenda items, informing the Advisory Board they would be having an engaging discussion on 64 Rainey’s Pocket Park, what they want to do with it, how they can showcase the history, legacy, and importance of the historical value of that very sacred space. She also reported there would be an important discussion to motion on the Phase 2 renovation and expansion project. The discussion would be to go over where they are with Phase 2 for the MACC, what needs to be done as a Board to meet the expectations of all parties who have been involved so that they can meet their goal of making the center a World Class facility. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. Staff Report on ESB-MACC program highlights Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager provided a report on the Día de Los Muertos events, upcoming exhibits and events for the month of October, and shared a report of the October LAAP highlights. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) 4. Staff report on 64 Rainey Street. Laura Esparza, PARD Division Manager of Museums and Cultural Programs provided a report of the community engagement meeting held September 29, 2022.  Esparza informed all Members of the Board that the meeting was led by Chair Silva and Vice Chair Goujon.  She commented the discussion was productive among community members, they were able to visit Rainey Street, participate in a community charette where members were able to sketch and imagine what 64 Rainey might look like once completed.  She believed there was wonderful input and stated it helped with confirming a building program towards an architectural plan for 64 Rainey Street. She also shared that it helped to complete the requirements of the Council Resolution that was passed June 9, 2022.  Esparza notified the Board of the Council Item Update Report (CIUR) response that was due October 1st letting them know it was being reviewed by different levels of City management, currently at the Director of Economic Development Office and will then go to the City Manager’s office.  She announced that PARD approved the request to have a project manager appointed for the project. The project manager assigned would be Rachel Morris, PARD Landscape Architect II. Morris would be responsible for guiding the project once in construction as well as the design process.  Next step, currently awaiting Council’s response of the proposal to vacate the alley adjacent to 64 Rainey Street. Esparza clarified that staff is waiting for a response because it would change the shape of 64 Rainey Street and what the architect would need, such as the exact dimensions of the land they would be designing for. She went on to say that once it is known, they would then choose an architect, notating that may be the architect from the Phase 2 project, or it may be an architect from their rotation list. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and action on re-assignment of members to working groups. Chair Silva provided a brief overview of the importance of the working groups, indicating there intended to be smaller meeting groups that do not make up a quorum where discussions are targeted on specific topics. She stated she would go through the list of groups, its current Members within the group, and 2 asked the Board to let her know if they would like to join a specific group so the list could be reconstructed. 1) Arts – Joint Cultural Committee - Vice Chair Goujon, Members Maga Rojas and Art Navarro - Vice Chair Goujon commented there was currently no need for the Working Group and asked if the Board wanted to remove the group from the list or keep as needed. - Chair Silva agreed to holding off on the Arts – Joint Cultural Committee until the Board sees a need for it but did not believe it needed to be abolished yet. - Members Amaro and Salas requested to be added to the working group. 2) Transportation - Chair Silva and Vice Chair Goujon - Vice Chair Goujon commented there was currently nothing pressing regarding transportation and believed that when an issue arises, they could create a new working group. - Chair Silva stated they would amend the agenda to not include the Transportation Working Group for future meetings. 3) Phase 2 Project – Chair Silva, Vice Chair Goujon, Members Gandy, Salas, and Art Navarro - Vice Chair Goujon asked if there were any Members that would like to join the group and if so, he would be willing to step down to allow another member the opportunity to participate. - Member Gonzales requested to be added to the working group. 4) Ethnographic – Chair Silva, Vice Chair Goujon, and Member Salas - Member Angelica Navarro asked for the Board to elaborate on the purpose of the Ethnographic Working Group. - Chair Silva explained that the group was specifically asked to be formed by resident Cassie Smith who is currently doing research on the MACC and the programs that are provided to the community. She stated Ms. Smith finds the working group valuable and has asked that it be continued. - Vice Chair Goujon stated it allows Ms. Smith direct contact with the Board, primarily she has a place to share updates and have conversations pertaining to the center. He went on to say that she seeks assistance in gathering information that helps to create connections within the community and it helps with better understanding the MACC. In his opinion it is one of the most honest reflections on who the MACC is through her work. He described it as a helpful catalyst for her in her dissertation. - Members Amaro and Angelica Navarro requested to be added to the working group. 6. Presentation on the Palm District plan by Stevie Greathouse, Manager with the Housing and Planning Division. Greathouse provided a brief overview on the planning process, visioning phase, draft plan, who they partnered with, implementation, and next steps.  She informed the Board they would be presenting the plan to the Planning Commission on 11/8/2022 and providing a presentation to City Council for public hearing and adoption consideration on 12/1/2022.  Member Gonzalez asked for Greathouse to explain what Cap and Stitch on I-35 and ETOD meant.  Greathouse clarified Cap and Stitch is a way of putting park space that exist on the overtop of a highway. She gave an example of Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. She also explained that ETOD stood for Equitable Transit-Oriented Development which is a notion of supporting development that supports the transit system while also making sure the development doesn’t displace folks and provides resources and services to Austin’s most vulnerable populations.  Vice Chair Goujon asked how the plan was addressing or recommending the development fees in assistance of supporting some of the cultural amenities within the district. 3  Greathouse stated that Council will be adopting a policy plan and noted there will be recommendations in the plan but the action being taken at the end of the year would not include those amendments. She also mentioned there were no new pots of funding created with the plan. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) 7. Discussion and possible action on City Council request for additional funding for ESB-MACC Phase 2 renovation and expansion project. Vice Chair Goujon shared a resolution that he wrote stating it was based off his parting thoughts after an informal meet and greet with the Phase 2 architects that was held at the ESB-MACC on October 25, 2022.  He went on to say it was the first time anyone outside of the Phase 2 project management team and ESB-MACC staff were able to see the already approved design reductions and during that time further information was shared on the increased limitations imposed on the design due to an inflation and the continued competitive environment of subcontractors. It was also confirmed that the decision to move forward with the proposed design changes was already approved by the Director of PARD without input or comment from the ESB-MACC Advisory Board, Cultural Community Forum, or community members.  Member Salas requested for Vice Chair Goujon to read the part of the resolution where it stated the asks. Vice Chair Goujon read, “THEREFOR, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS FOLLOWS: Additional funds of $5 million be allocated for the Phase 2 project to fulfill the commitment by the City of Austin for the completion of a Phase 2 expansion that is commensurate with a world-class cultural center which is a reflection of the strength and resiliency of Austin’s Mexican American community and as it be an audit be commissioned of the Rainey Street Historical Fund to ensure fees are collected and distributed appropriately.”  Vice Chair Goujon asked Christina Bies, PARD Associate Project Manager to let the Board know if $5 million was enough money to ask for to get the project done. Bies responded, letting them know they were still working on revising the cost estimate but stated to be all inclusive the number came in at $6.2 million.  Vice Chair Goujon entertained a motioned to support the resolution as written with the change from $5 million to $6.2 million. Member Gonzales motioned to submit the resolution to City Council for consideration. Vice Chair Goujon seconded. Unanimous vote. (8.0) Motion passed. Members Maga Rojas and Art Navarro absent. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for Recommendation 20221102-007) WORKING GROUP UPDATES 8. Arts – Joint Cultural Committee liaison report No updates provided. 9. Transportation No updates provided. 10. Phase 2 Project No updates provided. 11. Ethnographic No updates provided. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Working Group Updates (Goujon, Silva) 4 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Goujon motioned to adjourn the November 2, 2022, Advisory Board meeting at 7:57pm. Member Gonzales seconded. Unanimous vote (8.0). Motion passed. Members Maga Rojas and Art Navarro absent.