Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 8, 2026 EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2026 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) convened in a Regular meeting on July 8, 2026, at 600 River 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 6:12 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Hilario “Larry” Amaro, John Estrada, Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Lynda Quintana, Raul “Roy” Reyna, Selma Sanchez. Board Members Absent: Noemi Castro, Alexander “Al” Duarte. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speaker 1: Barbara Mojica shared her opinion on the MACC’s grand reopening. She described the MACC as a place where artists, families, and community members gather to share stories and celebrate the rich diversity of Austin’s Mexican American and Latinx communities. She remarked that the center not only preserves culture but also fosters its continued growth and evolution. Ms. Mojica encouraged the City to continue prioritizing equitable access by ensuring the facility remains welcoming and accessible to community members and local arts organizations. She concluded by thanking staff for bringing live theater back to the center and for its ongoing commitment to providing cultural programming and events. Speaker 2: Valerie Guillén, family member of the late U.S. Army Soldier Vanessa Guillén, requested to be placed on the August meeting agenda to discuss renaming a room within the MACC in her honor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of June 3, 2026. The minutes from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of June 3, 2026, were approved on Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz’s motion. Board Member Herrera seconded. Motion passed on an 8-0 vote. Board Members Castro and Duarte absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on June and July programs, marketing and outreach efforts, signature event planning, and staffing updates. Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Marketing & Outreach Representative with Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), provided an update on the Grand 1 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 8, 2026 Reopening, reporting that the event welcomed approximately 3,000 attendees. She highlighted the MACC’s outreach efforts, including guided tours, and shared updates on programming for Casa de la Cultura, Youth and Family Education, the Camino Teen Leadership Program, community collaborations, and exhibits. Tamzarian also announced the newest full-time team members, Ulises Garcia-Vela and Isabella Hernandez, and shared information about their backgrounds and professional experiences. In closing, she provided information on the upcoming ACME grant awards, noting that 35 grants would be awarded. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Financial Report for the ESB-MACC by Acting Division Manager Michelle Rojas. Michelle Rojas presented an overview of the ESB-MACC’s Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget, which totaled approximately $2.76 million, and reported that expenditures remained within projected targets through the third quarter. The presentation included a review of major categories, including personnel, contractual services, and commodities, with staff explaining that increased summer costs were associated with expanded operations, staffing, and programming. The City’s budget development timeline was discussed, including upcoming Council work sessions, public hearings, and community engagement opportunities. Board Members were encouraged to participate in the process, and resources available through the City's Budget Excellence webpage and Public Budget Portal were shared. Rojas also reviewed long-range financial projections, which indicated a balanced FY27 budget and a potential FY28 deficit. Future budget comparisons may be impacted by the transition of facility operational costs to Austin Facilities Management (AFM). Board Members discussed the importance of developing actionable recommendations and assessing the impact of previous budget recommendations. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) Discussion on Annual Internal Review Report. Chair Navarro informed the Board that she and Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz were working on the Annual Internal Review Report and shared that a draft would be completed and presented to the Board for their review and input. Boad Members were invited to provide feedback and suggest any additional information or topics for consideration. Rojas recommended incorporating recommendations from the Board’s working groups into the report. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the Strategic Planning Working Group. Board Member Herrera reported that the Strategic Planning Working Group established regular virtual meetings to discuss progress, accomplishments, and ongoing work. Board Member Estrada commented on the community’s interest in having participants in the process and the potential consideration for establishing a vetting process. He felt there should be background and character review considerations, while acknowledging 2 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 8, 2026 the limitations of the Board’s ability to conduct investigations or make determinations regarding individual community members. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Presentation from Austin Public Transportation on ESB-MACC Parking Lot and Public Metered Parking Fees. (Sponsors: Estrada, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presentation on the Process for Renaming City of Austin Facility Spaces. (Sponsors: Amaro, Navarro) ADJOURNMENT Chair Navarro adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the September 2, 2026, meeting on Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz’s motion, Member Quintana seconded on a 7-0 vote. Chair Navarro and Board Members Castro and Duarte absent. 3