Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 25, 2026 EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2026 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) convened in a Special Called meeting on March 25, 2026, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive 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 6:03 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Hilario “Larry” Amaro (arrived at 6:27 p.m.), Noemi Castro, John Estrada, Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Raul “Roy” Reyna, Selma Sanchez (arrived at 7:18 p.m.). Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Lynda Quintana (left at 8:56 p.m.). Board Members Absent: Alexander “Al” Duarte. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speaker 1: Anna Maciel, community activist, addressed the board regarding the following items: • Grant Awards: Requested demographic data on City of Austin grant recipients, including the percentage of Hispanic awardees. • Pan Am Hillside Event: Inquired whether the MACC would host the traditional event upon reopening. Emphasized its importance and requested timely notification if the event would not be held to allow coordination with other organizations. • Part-Time Staffing: Requested information on the status and duration of part-time positions at the MACC. Expressed concern regarding extended part-time employment and requested board consideration of the issue as a future agenda item. Speaker 2: Valeria Guillen, family member of the late Vanessa Guillen, shared with the board that Vanessa was a U.S. Army soldier who brought national attention to issues of sexual harassment. She proposed that the MACC consider dedicating an art room or garden space in Vanessa’s honor. Ms. Guillen explained that the initiative would serve as a place of healing for the community, while also raising awareness and promoting safety, emotional support, and creative expression. She further outlined her vision for the space in the art room, and that the garden serve as a site for an annual memorial in her remembrance. Speaker 3 & 4: Hector Ordaz Gutiérrez and Raquel Rivera donated their three minutes to Speaker 5, allowing him nine minutes to share a comprehensive update on cultural funding. Speaker 5: Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez, Artistic Director of Proyecto Teatro provided an overview of the Latino community’s experience in Austin. Particularly in relationship with cultural funding. He shared recent updates from the Arts Commission and Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission meetings, highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges and shared a package of six budget recommendations that were approved by the commissions mentioned. 1 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 25, 2026 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of February 4, 2026. The minutes from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of February 4, 2026, were approved on Board Member Castro’s motion. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz seconded. Motion passed on an 8-0 vote. Board Members Duarte and Sanchez absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on the Teen Camino’s programs Breaking Barriers event and The Big We event hosted by the Asian American Resource Center in collaboration with A3 Art Alliance Austin. Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative with Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), reminded the board that the Teen Camino’s Leadership program would be hosting their annual Breaking Barriers event, March 28th beginning at 10 a.m., located at the Millenium Youth Entertainment Complex. She also informed the board of the Asian American Resource Center’s collaboration with A3 Art Alliance Austin, “The Big We” event taking place Friday, March 27th from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 28th from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager with Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), announced that the MACC was scheduled to reopen Saturday, June 6, 2026. She shared that staff were currently working out the details for the grand reopening event and noted Waterloo Greenway would be opening its Confluence Project on the same day. As a result, efforts are underway to coordinate with them closely and deliver a range of activations in and around the MACC area. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation and recommendation to support Academia Cuahtli’s FY 2026–2027 budget recommendation of $130,000 and the creation of a full-time Program Director position. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz motioned to add Academia Cuahtli’s $130,000 request to the 2027 budget recommendation. Board Member Quintana seconded on a 7-1 vote. Board Member Castro voted against. Board Members Duarte and Sanchez absent. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) Approve a recommendation and letter to City Council on FY27 budget. Public Communication: Hector Ordaz Gutiérrez and Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez provided public comment and submitted supporting documentation related to the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commissions FY26-27 budget recommendations. The recommendations were as follows: Recommendation 1: Allocate $125,000 for the Latino Arts and Culture Community Navigator Program. Recommendation 2: Allocate $10,000 for Spanish-language contracts for City of Austin Cultural Arts contractors. Recommendation 3: 2 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 25, 2026 Allocate $1.5 million for emergency funding to support Latino cultural artists. Recommendation 4: Allocate $6 million for Capital Improvement Funding for ESB-MACC Phase II. Recommendation 5: Allocate $1 million to support the Latino Artist Residency Program (LARP) at the ESB- MACC. Recommendation 6: Allocate $50,000 to explore alternative funding sources for Cultural Arts, specifically state legislation that would increase the 15% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) fund cap for funding. Board Member Herrera motioned to incorporate the six recommendations presented by Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez into the FY27 budget recommendation letter to City Council. Board Member Reyna seconded on a 5-4 vote. Motion failed. Those voting aye were Board Members Amaro, Herrera, Quintana, Reyna and Sanchez. Those voting nay were Chair Navarro, Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz, Board Members Castro and Estrada. Board Member Duarte absent. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz motioned to submit a letter of recommendation to City Council for the FY27 budget as presented by Board Member Herrera with the addition of the stage and priorities list. Board Member Herrera seconded. Motion passed on a 9-0 vote. Board Member Duarte absent. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) Approve a request for a $515,000 increase to the FY2027 Latino/a/e Artist Access Program (LAAP) budget to support dedicated technical and marketing staff capacity; fund essential lighting and sound infrastructure upgrades; and expand cohort size and capacity-building support. Board Member Castro motioned to table. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz seconded. Motion passed on a 7-2 vote. Board Member Duarte absent. Create a 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; and collaboration on room and space buildouts, as well as support continuity, institutional knowledge, and ongoing communication Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz motioned to table until the April 1st meeting. Board Member Herrera seconded on an 8-0 vote. Board Member Reyna off the dais. Board Member Duarte absent. 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. Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz motioned to table until the April 1st meeting. Board Member Castro seconded on an 9-0 vote. Board Member Duarte absent. 5. 6. 7. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 8. Update from the Grand Re-opening Working Group regarding planning and logistics for the 3 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 25, 2026 Reopening. Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), let the board know that the MACC could use assistance identifying an emcee, performance recommendations, volunteers, and vendors. Board Member Reyna stated that he would reach out to potential emcees and report back to the Board with options. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Update from the Grand Re-opening Working Group (Sponsors: Reyna, Castro) Creation of LAAP Working Group (Sponsors: Herrera, Reyna) Creation of Strategic Planning and Partnership Working Group (Sponsors: Herrera, Castro) Updates on Awards of Excellence Ceremony (Sponsors: Estrada, Reyna) ADJOURNMENT Chair Navarro adjourned the meeting at 9:17 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the April 1, 2026, meeting on Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz’s motion, Board Member Herrera seconded on an 8-0 vote. Board Members Quintana and Sanchez absent. 4