Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

EMMA S. BARRIENROS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Austin Energy Headquarters – Mueller Assembly Room 1111A located at 4815 Mueller Blvd in Austin, Texas 78723. (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 6:06pm. Board Members in Attendance: Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Angelica Navarro, Chair Noemi Castro, Member Lily Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member (Arrived at 6:12pm) Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member Anthony Martinez, Member John Estrada, Member Eduardo “Eddie” Rodriguez, Member Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member (Arrived at 6:13pm/Left at 7:32pm) Board Members Absent: Gerardo Gandy, Member 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: Bertha Rendon Delgado, citizen and activist voiced her concern regarding the MACC’s mission statement. She stated she felt the MACC was not fulfilling their mission, commenting that there was a lack of arts and cultural advocating for the Latinx community in their programming and events by not providing musical experiences and cultural activities. She believed with the new budget, the board would have an opportunity to make sure they were implementing a way to bring back Chicano, Mexican American, and Tejano music when planning future events. She commented that they should start by creating working groups that would allow the community to be involved in sharing their ideas to provide transparency and inclusiveness and felt it was important not to make decisions based on statistics and surveys only. She also let the board know they were doing a great job and she supported them but felt there was a gap that needed to be fixed. Speaker 2: Anna Maciel, former ESB-MACC Advisory Board Member signed up to speak on agenda item 3, “Presentation by Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Project Manager and Miro Rivera Architects in collaboration with Tatiana Bilbao Studios on Phase 2 Construction Project Updates” and item 5, “Update on Awards of Excellence Working Group”. Chair Navarro commented that Maciel would be called to speak on the item during each discussion. 1  APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the Regular meeting of April 3, 2024, were approved on Vice Chair Zamarripa- Saenz’s motion. Member Reyna seconded the motion. Unanimous vote (9.0). Motion passed. Member Gandy absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff Report by Marie Ortiz, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Supervisor and Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager on staffing updates for April, May, and June programs, marketing and outreach efforts, and updates on signature event planning. Marie Ortiz, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Supervisor gave a report on the Holistic Wellness programs, Education, Caminos Teen Leadership, and Academia Cuauhtli programming, sharing highlights for the month of April and May along with upcoming programs & events for the month of June. She also provided an update of current and upcoming marketing and outreach events and reminded the board to save the date for the 2024 Awards of Excellence Ceremony that would take place Saturday, June 29th beginning at 3pm at the Long Center. Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager informed the board that the MACC had hired a new full-time event coordinator to work directly on production. Rojas opened the floor for their new team member to introduce himself. Carlos Meda, ESB-MACC Event Coordinator thanked Michelle for the opportunity, stating that he was eager and excited to be a part of the team. He shared his background letting the board know he was from South Austin, served in the Marine Corps, performed in the army band where he gained his experience in production and had many years of experience coordinating cultural events around Mariachi and Tejano music. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation by Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Project Manager and Miro Rivera Architects in collaboration with Tatiana Bilbao Studios on Phase 2 Construction project updates. Public Communication General Speaker: Anna Maciel shared her concerns regarding the expansion. She commented that it was important the alleyway be vacated and asked the board to invite Ricardo Soliz, Park Planning/Acquisition Division Manager to provide an update on the status of the alley vacation. She also asked for the status on the Music Hub and commented that it was important to invite Council Member Zo Qadri to see where he stood on how to build the expansion for Phase III. Heidi Tse introduced the Miro Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Studios team announcing they would be providing updates on the current design under construction. • Bud Frank, Project Manager for the MACC Phase 2 Joint Venture (JV) project shared the site plan showing the new community healing garden, a fenced in playground area, revised zocalo, and shade structure. He also shared images of the current construction and reported on project milestones. • Mariana Martins, architect of Tatiana Bilbao Estudio provided details on the floor plans for existing spaces that were currently being renovated as well as new work and classroom spaces. • Chair Navarro asked if there were any construction success stories the board may not be aware of, if there were any anticipated delays foreseen, and if things were on target with budget projections. Tse stated they were on target with the schedule, currently did not expect any delays, and one of their important milestones would be when they have their steel topping. She explained that it was a ritual where the construction team and all those who had a part in the 2 project sign the steel that goes on top of the building and gets covered up but is a momentous occasion and would like to invite the board to come out to the MACC during that time, notating it would be expected to take place in October. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) 4. Discussion on existing working groups and potential future working groups needed. Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture & Arts Education Manager clarified the agenda item was added in case there were potential changes that needed to be made to the existing working groups. She stated if the board was interested in taking action, they would need to add the item on the July agenda and include the specific action that would be taken. • No further discussion was addressed on the item. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update on Awards of Excellence Working Group Public Communication General Speaker: Anna Maciel stated it was important to remember why they do what they do for the MACC and commented that Former Senator Gonzalo Barrientos was a strong foundation of the facility and its community and should always be invited and included to speak at events such as the Awards of Excellence. Member Reyna reported on the progress for the Awards of Excellence announcing that Yvonne Nava, KVUE Daybreak Anchor would be emceeing the event and was currently working with the staff on the script and logistics. In addition, Member Reyna provided an update on the number of submissions, names of award presenters, and confirmed volunteer assignments. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion and review of the drafted Advisory Board Annual Internal Review Report. (Sponsors: Zamarripa-Saenz, Estrada) Update on 64 Rainey alley vacation (Sponsors: Navarro, Herrera) ADJOURNMENT Member Amaro motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:52pm. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz seconded. Unanimous vote (8.0). Motion passed. Member Gandy and Rodriguez were absent. The minutes were approved at the July 10, 2024, Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center meeting on Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz’s motion, Member Reyna seconded on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Estrada, Martinez, and Rodriguez were absent. 3