Jan 13, 2023 Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Special Called Meeting

OKAY, GREAT,

[00:00:01]

SO, UM, LOOKS

[CALL TO ORDER]

CHAIR FRANKS IS HERE.

EMILY SHROCK.

PRESENT.

DIANA AND ZAL.

KATHERINE BROADWATER.

JOEY GIK.

DIANE KERN OSWELL.

WE'LL CIRCLE BACK.

UM, ROBIN ORLOWSKI.

PRESENT.

JENNIFER POWELL PRESENT.

DEBRA TREJO.

UH, HERE.

ALL RIGHT, CIRCLING BACK TO DIANE OSWELL.

COMMISSIONERS, CAN WE PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR CAMERAS ON WHEN WE'RE STATING THAT WE'RE PRESENT? AND DIANE, CAN YOU HEAR US? COMMISSIONER DJOS? PRESENT? COMMISSIONER OSRO? I MAY, YOU MAY HAVE TO LOG OUT AND LOG BACK IN.

PRESENT .

THERE WE GO.

.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SIX COMMISSIONERS.

THIS MEETING HAS MET QUORUM.

IT WILL NOW PROCEED ON THE APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 20, 22 MINUTES.

OR WAS THAT JENNIFER, OR WAS THAT DIANE? JENNIFER.

OH, SORRY.

.

LET'S TRY DIANE AGAIN.

SORRY, I WAS, MY COMPUTER WAS MUTED AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

NO WORRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE CONFIRMATION OF DIANE TURNS.

WHILE THAT MEETS, WE ABLE TO MEET QUORUM SO WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE MEETING.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE CITY STAFF.

WE HAD TO TRANSITION INTO THE MAYOR'S CHAMBERS BECAUSE OF SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES IN THE BOARD'S, COMMISSION'S ROOM.

SO I WANT TO FIRST SHOW THE APPRECIATION TO THE CITY STAFF.

ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE

[1. Approval of the minutes from the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities October 14, 2022, Regular meeting.]

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS, OR IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I MOVED THAT WE APPROVED OCTOBER MINUTES.

HAS THIS COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER KUSTER WHILE I SECOND, UH, COMMISSIONER OR VICE CHAIR SHRIKE? WAS THAT A, A SECOND OR WAS THAT A COMMENT? THAT WAS A SECOND.

OKAY.

SO, HAS BEEN MOVED.

AWESOME.

HAS IT MOVED AND SECONDED.

THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYE.

ALL RIGHT.

MINUTES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.

UM, SO, UM,

[2. Review of current Commission Member term cycles. (OCR)]

SO SOME ARE ENDING PRETTY SOON.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO I HAVE A FEW DETAILS FOR YOU ALL THAT I BELIEVE ALSO WERE SENT OUT VIA EMAIL.

SO, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WANTED US TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TERMS DID NOT EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEY WILL EXPIRE ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

FOR THOSE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERS WHO WERE HERE SINCE 2015, UM, THERE IS A BRIEF HOLDOVER PERIOD FOR 60 DAYS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THE POSITION JUST TO HELP WITH MOVING OVER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN REELECTIONS.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION SINCE 2015, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.

AND IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY APPROACHING YOUR EIGHT YEARS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THE EIGHT YEAR MARK YET, PLEASE JUST BE ON STANDBY.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, REACH OUT, REACH OUT TO THE CITY'S CLERK'S OFFICE.

IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR TERM? ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NONE, WE CAN PROCEED UNLESS THERE'S ANY LAST MINUTE QUESTION ON THE SUBJECT.

ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NONE, WE'LL

[3. Discussion on the services that Danny G. McBeth Recreation Center provides to the Austin community and how they can serve the commission's mission and goals. (Trejo/Franks)]

[00:05:01]

UM, IS, UH, DIRECTOR MCNELEY OR ANYONE HERE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TALK TODAY? THEY ARE NOT.

UM, SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT, UH, SHE WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO PRESENT.

UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED.

WERE THEY, THEY SAY WHY THEY'RE NOT PRESENT OR WERE THEY NOT INVITED OR WHAT HAPPENED? THEY DECLINED BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THE PREVIOUS MEETING, BUT THEY DID WANNA GET ON THE AGENDA FOR DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED DURING THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THEM TO BE ADDED TO THE MEETING.

BUT FOR THIS SPECIFICALLY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THEM.

OKAY.

SO IT, IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE THAT MUCH SENSE TO ME FOR ME TO TALK TO THIS ITEM WITHOUT PARKS DEPARTMENT PRESENT.

SO I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PLA BEYOND AN AGENDA WHERE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT AND PRESENTING.

THAT'S ORDINARILY I KNOW WE HAVEN'T HAD QUORUMS AND HAVEN'T BEEN HAVING ORDINARY MEETINGS, BUT MM-HMM.

, IT'S ORDINARY THAT CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND HAVE TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSS WITH THEM.

UM, AND IT MAKES SENSE SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS PROGRAMMING AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS WHAT THE SITUATION IS, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'LL, I'LL ADVISE THAT.

UH, COMMISSIONER KERNS OAL AND I HAD A MEETING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, AT THE END OF DECEMBER, AND THERE'S SEVERAL ITEMS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND ARE PLANNING TO FOLLOW UP ON, AND THAT WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE SOME OTHER MEETINGS AS WELL.

BUT I, I REALLY THINK, AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY HAD A PRESENTATION AND THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY SENT US SOME MATERIALS THAT THEY HAD INTENDED TO PRESENT TO THE COMMITTEE.

IT, IT REALLY MAKES SENSE TO ME TO TABLE THE ITEM UNTIL NEXT MONTH AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN ATTEND.

OKAY.

IF THERE'S ANY OPPOSITION FROM THE COMMISSION, UM, IF NOT, WE CAN TABLE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION HEARING NOW? WE'LL MOVE, UM, THIS TO THE FEBRUARY MEETING.

I KNOW YOU REALLY WOULDN'T PRESENT THIS PRESENT ON THIS COMMISSION OR HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS COMMISSIONER TRIO.

SO DEFINITELY HOPE THAT WE CAN REACH QUORUM IN FEBRUARY.

THANK YOU.

SO MOVING ON

[4. Discussion and action to vote on the 2023 Commission meeting schedule.]

UM, JACQUELINE ALEXANDER HAS BRIEFED ME THAT WE TENTATIVELY HAVE THE SAME TIME SLOT FOR EACH MONTH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, EXCEPT FOR NOVEMBER.

UH, SINCE THAT IS GENERALLY VETERANS DAY, AROUND THAT TIME WHERE CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE CLOSED.

AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IF WE COULD PROCEED WITH HAVING THE MEETING THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S MUCH FARTHER LATER IN THE YEAR, BUT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A FULL MEETING SLATE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, UH, WE CAN OPEN THIS FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE REGARDING OUR MEETING SCHEDULE.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE, UH, DISTRIBUTED OUR MEETING DATE TIME, UM, TO WATCH, UH, OUR MEETINGS AND, UH, POTENTIALLY CHANGING IT, UH, COULD CONFUSE THEM.

UM, WE ALREADY HAVE A ERRATIC MEETING SCHEDULED WITH NOT MAKING THE MEETINGS.

UM, PEOPLE DEPEND ON US AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP A STABLE MEETING DATE TIME.

OKAY.

THE FLOOR LOP THE RA PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A VOLUNTEER, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT IS QUOTE UNQUOTE A CITY, UM, ENTITY, UH, PEOPLE LOOK TO US TO DO THINGS.

UH, NO, WE'RE NOT GETTING PAID, WE'RE NOT GETTING CITY BENEFITS.

BUT, UH, PEOPLE LOOK TO US AS, UH, ROLE MODELS WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AS A RESOURCE.

AND, UH, FLIPPING AROUND TIME STATES IS GOING TO CONFUSE PEOPLE.

UH, WE NEED DISABILITIES IMPORTANT, UH, SCHEDULING'S IMPORTANT.

UH, SOME DISABILITIES, UH, MAKE SCHEDULING, FIGURING OUT SCHEDULES DIFFICULT.

UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER SHREK.

GO FOR IT.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS NOT AN OPTION TO HAVE OUR MEETING AT OUR TYPICAL TIME BECAUSE OF VETERAN'S DAY.

SO THAT IS NOT

[00:10:01]

SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO CANCEL THE NOVEMBER, 2023 MEETING ENTIRELY OR RESCHEDULE FOR ANOTHER DAY? AM I CORRECT IN THAT UNDERSTANDING? YES.

MY PROPOSAL WAS THE THIRD, UM, FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER, IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

THAT WOULD BE UP TO, UM, JACQUELINE TO RESEARCH IT.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER POWELL.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN DO THE FIRST FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER? THE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE, IT'S THE THIRD TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, JACQUELINE, DO YOU KNOW REGARDING THE FIRST OR THIRD FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, WHETHER THERE'S, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT MEAN DURING THAT TIME, THINGS START TO GET CRAZY WITH THE HOLIDAYS? I WAS JUST THINKING IF WE DID IT EARLIER, WE MIGHT HAVE LESS CONFLICTS WITH EVERYBODY.

I WILL CHECK ON THE AVAILABILITY FOR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION'S ROOM.

GENERALLY FRIDAYS, UH, EVENINGS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON.

BUT FOR NOW, WE CAN VOTE ON THE THIRD AND IF NECESSARY, I GUESS WE CAN CHANGE IT LATER SINCE IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE VOTE TODAY.

YES, I WOULD AGREE.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER OLASKY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MM-HMM.

.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO, TO CIRCLE BACK, WE WILL MEET, UM, THE PROPOSED SCHEDULES TO MEET THE SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT F BETWEEN FIVE 30 AND SEVEN, EXCEPT FOR NOVEMBER, WHICH WE'LL TENTATIVELY PUT ON THE THIRD FRIDAY OF NOVEMBER.

UM, IF THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR A MOTION.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS SCHEDULE.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

OKAY.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY ORLOWSKI, SECONDED BY POWELL.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

HI.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? HEARING KNOWN.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

AYE, .

I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY NEW PHONE, .

NO WORRIES.

I'M ASSUMING THAT WAS FOR, UH, THE VOTE.

YES.

? YES.

.

.

OKAY.

[5. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to require certified ASL interpreters to be dispatched onsite with deaf survivors.]

LEMME JUST DOUBLE CHECK.

UH, FOR ASL INTERPRETERS TO BE DISPATCHED FOR DEAF SURVIVORS, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER LSK, THIS WAS YOUR AGENDA.

TOPIC.

OH, YES.

UM, HELLO? UH, YES.

I BROUGHT, I BROUGHT THIS ITEM UP BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVE, IT WAS STILL A PROBLEM, UM, UH, AT THE, AT AN ACCIDENT, UM, FOR WHERE SEVERAL DEAF PEOPLE WERE, UM, BEING TREATED.

THERE WAS, THERE WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE, UH, THERE WERE INTERPRETERS, BUT THEY WEREN'T, UM, THERE WEREN'T OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED.

AND, UM, PEOPLE, UH, PEOPLE HAD TO WRITE, UM, LET'S SEE, LET ME, LET ME PULL, HOLD ON.

I GOT A STACK OF THE, OH, LEMME ME SEE.

UH, WAIT, YEAH.

OKAY.

HERE'S THE FIRST RESPONDER RECOMMENDATION.

UM, YEAH.

OKAY.

WE'RE THE FIFTH LARGEST POPULATION IN, IN THE UNITED STATES IN AUSTIN.

IN 20% OF THE STATE OF AUSTIN'S ENTIRE DEATH POPULATION RESIDES IN THE AUSTIN, TEXAS AREA.

THE DEFINITION EXPO IN THE PALMER EVENT CENTER WERE INJURED AFTER A VEHICLE CRASHED.

UM, AND WAIT, THIS JUST PULLED UP.

UH, HOLD ON.

UM, OKAY.

UM, DEAF RESIDENTS PAY FOR CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING EMS, FIRE POLICE, WHO ARE DISPATCHED TO A SITE, UM, AFTER 9 1 1 IS CALLED THROUGH VIDEO RELAY SERVICES.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND ESL ARE TWO AND

[00:15:01]

AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAY POSE TRANSLATION PROBLEMS FOR DEAF INDIVIDUALS, WHEREAS THERE HAS BEEN A MISCONCEPTION THAT THE DEAF INDIVIDUAL CAN COMPENSATE FROM BEING DEAF MERELY BY WRITING ON A PIECE OF PAPER, EVEN THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO, WHEREAS A S LEST CONTAIN CRITICAL VARIATIONS, SPECIFICALLY BASED ON FACIAL EXPRESSION, WHICH CAN ACCIDENTALLY BECOME LOSS OR CHANGE THROUGH ALTERNATE METHODS OF COMMUNICATION, SUCH AS TEXTING OR WRITING ON A PIECE OF PAPER.

WHEREAS THE PRESENT PERSIST PRESENT INABILITY OF ATTENDING CITY OF AUSTIN FIRST RESPONDERS TO FULLY AND IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVELY UNDERSTAND ALL PEOPLE IN THE PREFERRED MANNER OF COMMUNICATION CAN CREATE CRITICAL GAPS AND UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING DURING EMERGENCIES.

UM, UM, WHEREAS PROVIDING RELIABLE AND ACCURATE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE PEOPLE THEY INTERACT WITH IS ESSENTIAL.

SO DEAF RESIDENTS ARE FULLY INCLUDED THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS PUBLIC LIFE.

WHEREAS AUSTIN RESIDENTS DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE RELIABLE AND APPROPRIATE FIRST RESPONDER CITY OF AUSTIN SERVICES IN THE LANGUAGE WHICH THEY BEST UNDERSTAND AND ARE THE NATIVE SPEAKERS OF.

WHEREAS EQUITY IS NOT REALIZED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN UNLESS FIRST RESPONDERS CAN FIRST FULLY AND CLEARLY COMMUNICATE WITH DEAF RESIDENTS AT A RESCUE SITE IN THE PREFERRED LANGUAGE.

WHEREAS CLEARLY EXPLAINING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMERGENCY SERVICES THEY ARE RECEIVING IN THE LANGUAGE THEY BEST UNDERSTAND IS THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WORKS FOR ALL.

WE'RE CLEARLY EXPLAINING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMERGENCY SERVICES, THEY'RE RECEIVING A TREATMENT SITE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT.

IT'S ALSO OPEN GOVERNMENT.

NOW, WE DO HAVE A LANGUAGE POLICY CURRENTLY IN THE CITY, BUT, UH, IT'S NOT WORKING WELL.

IF, UH, PEOPLE AT THE, UM, ACCIDENT SITE, WHICH AGAIN, UM, WAS THE APRIL 8TH DEAF NATION EXPO AT THE PALMER EVENTS CENTER, UH, THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL THAT THEY GOT EFFECTIVE, ACCESSIBLE TREATMENT.

UH, THE CITY, THE EXISTING CITY POLICY WASN'T WORKING.

UH, SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION IS SAYING, HEY, UH, WE NEED THE CITY TO GO BACK AND MAKE A NEW POLICY.

YES, THERE IS A EXISTING CITY POLICY, BUT IT WASN'T MEETING THESE PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

UH, THE, UH, A S L UM, THE ASL INTERPRETER DEPARTMENT CHAIR AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FALLON BRE MEISTER WAS ALSO VERY UPSET ABOUT HOW THIS ACT, HOW PEOPLE WERE TREATED AT THIS ACCIDENT.

UH, SHE'S FOURTH GENERATION DEAF.

UH, SHE WASN'T IN THE ACCIDENT, BUT SHE KNEW SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WERE, UM, AND, UH, SHE, SHE SPENT A CLASS THAT I TOOK A, UH, DEAF COMMUNITY, UH, CULTURE CLASS, UH, FOR PART OF MY PARALEGAL CERTIFICATE.

AND SHE SPENT PART OF HER CLA HER CLASS TALKING ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT AND HOW ANGRY SHE WAS ABOUT HOW, HOW THESE PEOPLE WERE TREATED.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER TRIK.

GO AHEAD.

I BELIEVE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, AND AT THAT POINT, OUR REQUEST WAS TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE CITY OR A P D COME AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR CURRENT POLICY WAS.

AND I, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE RECEIVED ANY NEW INFORMATION SINCE THAT REQUEST WAS MADE.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, UM, BUT, UM, THERE IS A POLICY ALREADY IN PLACE, AND SO I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIND OF WHERE THE BREAKDOWN HAPPENED.

THE, THE RECOMMENDATION MIGHT BE A NICE KIND OF GESTURE OF SUPPORT, BUT IN ORDER TO KIND OF HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE, UM, MY THOUGHTS WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD STILL BE HELPFUL TO, TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT POLICY.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER POWELL.

UH, THIS GOOD, IT'S A VITALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING INTERPRETERS COULD VIOLATE ADA SOMEHOW.

UM, I, WE DID HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT IT TAKE LIKE THAT WE HAVE INTERPRETERS, BUT IT TAKES 45 MINUTES FOR, THEY HAVE A 45 MINUTE WINDOW TO REACH THE SITE, UM, AND THAT THEY DO HAVE A S L INTERPRETERS.

BUT, UM, YEAH, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING SOMEBODY COME AND, AND, UH, TELL US ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEIR POLICY IS, AND I WAS WONDERING WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THAT PERSON TO TALK TO US AND HOW DID THAT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS? WHAT DO WE DO TO

[00:20:01]

UM, I DO KNOW THAT, UH, LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET HOW THEY WERE TREATED, UH, AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

UM, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN THE EXISTING POLICY, A POLICY, AND IF A POLICY DOES CURRENTLY EXIST, UM, BUT IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE.

SO THIS IS COMMISSIONER KERNS OSTERWEIL.

TWO QUESTIONS.

GO AHEAD.

I GUESS THE FIRST ONE IS, AND I WAS JUST READING THROUGH THE, THE RESOLUTION.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE ABOUT TIMING.

AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT SURE WHO DRAFTED THIS.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY A, ANOTHER, A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

UM, IF WE, IF 45 MINUTES IS THE POLICY, THEN, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE MEET OR WE GET A PRESENTATION FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR CURRENT POLICY IS, I THINK WE NEED TO INCLUDE THAT IN THIS, UM, RECOMMENDATION THAT THE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME BE REDUCED IF IT'S NOT, IF IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING.

UM, BUT MY THOUGHT IS CAN WE, UM, PUT IT ON THE NEXT MEETING AGENDA TO HAVE JACQUELINE, UM, INVITE SOMEONE FROM CITY OF AUSTIN EMERGENCY SERVICES IF WE CAN GET THEIR CURRENT POLICY IN ADVANCE OF THAT MEETING SO WE CAN ALL BE ARMED WITH OUR QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THEN IT, IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THAT'S THE, THE BEST PATH FORWARD.

I, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THE RECOMMENDATION SUBMITTING THAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET THEM TO OUR MEETING AND, AND, AND DISCUSS THEIR CURRENT POLICY BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

I AGREE WITH DIANE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

SO, UM, JONATHAN, YES.

DO WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO ADD THIS TO THE NEXT AGENDA? DO WE NEED A MOTION? UM, IF THERE'S ANY, THERE'S ANY OPPOSITION TO KEEPING IT ONTO THIS AGENDA VERSUS MOVING INTO THE NEXT AGENDA? I BELIEVE IT'S MORE PROACTIVE FROM MY OWN PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE A MORE COLLABORATIVE, UM, DISCUSSION WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THEIR POLICIES AND HOW WE COULD BETTER IMPLEMENT WHAT IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA AND, UM, SITUATION.

UM, IF THERE ISN'T ANY OPPOSITION, I WILL TABLE THIS TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUT I'LL LET THE FLOOR OPEN IF WE FEEL AS IF WE WANT TO VOTE TONIGHT, I'LL LEAVE THAT OPEN.

AND IT'S COMMISSIONER KERN DOSTER.

WELL, UM, IS JACQUELINE STILL ON? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SHE HAS THAT ACTION ITEM TO IN INVITE SOMEONE FROM, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I AM.

OKAY.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

OKAY.

I'LL GIVE ONE MORE CALL TO KEEP IT ON THIS AGENDA TONIGHT.

IF NOT, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA.

HEARING NONE.

WE'LL MOVE IT TO, UH, FEBRUARY'S AGENDA.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, UM, DISCUSSION AND THE THENCE OF WHAT? VICE POWELL, OSCAR WALLER, AND YOUR WORK COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.

THANK YOU.

ALL

[6. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation on the Downtown Commission's position on the use of scooters in the downtown areas and its impact on people with disabilities.]

NOW MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION ACTION OF ITEM REGARDING OUR PERMISSION.

UH, EXCUSE ME, POSITION ON SCOOTERS.

YOU SAID SCOOTERS IN DOWNTOWN AREAS AND SURROUNDING MR. LASKY.

OH, KIND OF.

UM, LET ME, UH, TRYING TO FIND THE, OH, UH, WELL THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, UH, DOWNTOWN, UH, COMMISSIONER'S, UM, THE DOWNTOWN COURT.

UH, AND, UM, THEY, UH, LET ME SEE.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WERE SENT, UH, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE WE WERE SENT IT.

I DON'T SEE IT, JUAN.

UH,

[00:25:05]

SO LET'S SKIP IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION? UH, NO.

DOES ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER HAVE A COPY? THIS IS COMMISSIONER TRACK.

I DON'T, THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE PACKET FOR, FOR TONIGHT.

YEAH.

I DIDN'T SEE IT EITHER.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S JUST OPPOSITION WE WILL MOVE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL.

I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT.

GO AHEAD.

UM, I WAS ASKED DURING THE PREVIOUS MEETING TO CONFIRM THE POINT OF B THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND THEY HAVE ALSO ADVISED US TO GIVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED, UM, THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED BEFORE WE HAVE THEM CONFIRMED TO COME FOR A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANT ANSWERED, IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO COME UP WITH THOSE.

WHO DO WE SEND THEM TO? WHEN DO WE COME UP WITH QUESTIONS AND HOW DO WE SUBMIT THEM? I THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THEM RIGHT NOW DURING TODAY'S MEETING, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

UM, OR WE CAN ALSO DISCUSS IT DURING THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN HAVE THEM COME IN MARCH, IF THAT'S HELPFUL.

IF IT GIVES YOU ALL ENOUGH TIME TO RUN THROUGH SOME OPTIONS.

UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER KERNS.

COMMISSIONER KERNS OSTER.

WELL, GO AHEAD.

I, I THINK SINCE WE HAVE THE TIME, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DEDICATE FIVE OR 10 MINUTES TO DRAFT A LIST OF QUESTIONS.

UM, SO AT LEAST WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SEND OVER.

I'M FINE.

GO AHEAD.

I WISH WE HAD A COPY OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER POWELL.

I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO FIND THE COMPANIES, IF SCOOTERS ARE LEFT IN THE WALKWAY WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NEED TO ACCESS SIDEWALKS, UH, CROSSWALKS, ET CETERA.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE BANNED.

UM, I MEAN, PEOPLE AREN'T USING THEM, UH, THE WAY THEIR COMP, THEIR OWN COMPANY SAYS, UH, THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, DON'T RIDE ON THE SIDEWALKS.

AND PEOPLE AREN'T RIGHT.

THEY'RE STILL NOT LISTENING.

THEY END UP, THEY, THEY END UP EVERYWHERE AND THEY END UP IN THE LAKE EVEN.

HMM.

.

NO, I AGREE.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

CAN WE ADD THAT, UH, JACQUELINE, ARE YOU TAKING, UH, IT'S COMMISSIONER K'S FOSTER? WELL, ARE YOU TAKING, UH, ARE YOU DOCUMENTING THE QUESTIONS? I WILL, IF NOT, I, I DON'T MIND TYPING AND EMAILING, UM, BOTH WORK JUST TO MAKE SURE WE CATCH EVERYTHING.

DEFINITELY.

OKAY.

SO ROBIN, UM, THAT, UM, IS THERE A WAY FROM, FOR WHAT YOU SAID OF BANNING THEM FROM BEING, OKAY, SO IS THERE A PENALTY OR FINE ASSOCIATED, OR, UM, THAT CAN BE ENFORCED? THEY CAN ENFORCED IN ORDER TO, IN ORDER TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM RIDING SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALKS? DOES THAT SOUND ACCURATE? I THINK THAT'S PERFECT.

SURE.

I MEAN, I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THAT DIANE AND, UM, JACQUELINE ALSO RIDING ON SIDEWALKS IN ADDITION TO MISUSE OF PLACING THE SCOOTERS BACK INTO THE DOCKS.

CAUSE THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THEM JUST LEAVING ON THE SIDEWALK.

AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ANY TYPE OF MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT, THAT'S A DEFINITE, UM, DISRUPTION.

OKAY.

SO CAN, UM, AND, UM, DOCKING SCOOTERS SLASH PARKING AND DESIGNATED SPOTS BE ENFORCED? MAYBE HOW CAN DOCKING, LET'S SEE.

HOW CAN DOCKING AND THEN SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? JONATHAN, UM, SCOOTERS LEFT UN DOCKED PROVIDE A HAZARD TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL MOBIL AND MOBILITY AND IMPAIR AND PHYSICAL AND MO UH, MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.

OKAY.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER SHREK.

GO AHEAD.

AND THERE'S KIND TWO, TWO POINTS AT WHICH THE PROBLEMS OCCUR.

ONE IS THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE HIRED BY THE COMPANIES TO PLACE THE SCOOTERS OUT FOR USE.

AND SO THAT'S A PROBLEM WHEN

[00:30:01]

AND THEN IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM ON THE USER END AS WE JUST IDENTIFIED, OF USERS NOT PUTTING 'EM BACK.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK A VERY BROAD, BROAD QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE CITY DOING TO RESPOND TO, TO BOTH OF THOSE? WHAT, WHAT? PROACTIVE AND THEN ALSO KIND OF REACTIVE APPROACHES AS FAR AS THE, YOU KNOW, ANY FINES OR ANY CONSEQUENCES, UM, THAT THE CITY IS DOING FOR, FOR BOTH THE COMPANIES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THE USERS PROACTIVELY AND REACTIVELY.

MM-HMM.

.

WELL, I MEAN, CAN THE POLICE ROUND THOSE PEOPLE UP? CUZ I MEAN, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T JUST PLACE BEER BOTTLES ALL OVER THE, THE SIDEWALKS.

SO YOU CAN'T, IF THE SCOOTERS, IF IT SAYS, HEY, DON'T PLACE, UH, DON'T RIDE SCOOTERS ALL OVER THE SIDEWALKS, AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY PLACING SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALKS, THE POLICE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ROUND THEM UP TOO.

COMMISSIONER RIKE, I THINK AT THIS POINT WE'RE JUST COMING UP WITH QUESTIONS MM-HMM.

SO THAT WE CAN LEARN MORE THAT, RIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE POSITION, I GUESS MY STATEMENT, MY STATEMENT'S KIND OF A QUESTION, WONDERING HOW TO STOP THAT, BECAUSE, UH, IF, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY DOING, DOING SOMETHING WITH A DEVICE THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO, UH, HOW DO YOU BREAK THAT? OKAY, SO CAN THE POL KIM? UH, OKAY.

SO PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE, HOW DO I SAY THIS? I BASICALLY WANNA SAY PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLATING, UM, THE, THE LAW.

MM-HMM.

, BASICALLY KIM POLICE WRITE TICKETS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE BREAKING THE LAW REGARDING, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T SOMEBODY NEED HELP ME SAY IT.

WELL, THEY'RE, THEY'RE EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY.

RIGHT.

I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME WRITE A SENTENCE THAT SAYS, CAN THE POLICE WRITE TICKETS OR ENFORCE IF THEY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER LAWS WE HAVE, CAN THE POLICE BE INVOLVED IN THIS SO THEY'D HAVE MORE THAN ONE SCOOTER AT A TIME? SO IT'D BE, BE MORE.

OKAY.

JUST NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME WRITE THE SENTENCE.

AND THE POLICE, I WAS ALSO WONDERING IF THE COMPANIES CAN BE FINED, UM, FOR JUST, IF THERE'S ANY WAY THE COMPANIES THAT ONLY SCOOTERS CAN BE PUNISHED THAT, OKAY, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK THAT IN, BUT HOW WILL THE COMPANIES, THIS IS COMMISSIONER SCH SHREK, AND MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO WRITE THESE QUESTIONS VERY BROADLY.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE SAYING, CAN THEY DO THIS, OR CAN THEY DO, DO THAT? AND THEN THEY SAY, JUST SAY, NO, THAT DOESN'T GET US VERY FAR.

VERSUS SAYING WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE MM-HMM.

, WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO ARE VIOLATING ANY OF THESE RULES? SO WE'RE, WE'RE, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE JUST GATHERING INFORMATION.

OKAY.

AND SO, ASKING WHAT IS BEING DONE AS WELL AS WHAT POSSIBILITIES.

I, I THINK THAT WILL GIVE US THE BEST INFORMATION.

AND THEN BASED ON THAT, IF WE WANT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AT A, YOU KNOW, A FUTURE TIME, THEN I THINK WE'RE BETTER POSITIONED TO DO THAT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED.

OKAY.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION FOR HOW TO PHRASE THOSE QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

HERE'S WHAT I WROTE, WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE, UM, TO COMPANIES AND USERS, AND I'LL, I'LL SEND THIS OUT SO WE CAN REFINE IT.

WHO VIOLATE THE RULES? WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES TO EXPAND, ENFORCE, UH, ENFORCEMENT? OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

IS, THIS IS COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI.

I FEEL THAT BECAUSE, UH, THE COMPANIES OWN THE PROPERTY, UH, THEY SHOULD GET THE CARER PENALTY, UM, AND THE PERSON WHO, UH, BUYS THE RIDE OR THE SCOOTER, OKAY, MAYBE, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE, MAYBE THE PERSON WHO BUYS THE RIDE DOESN'T HAVE THE BEST READING SKILLS.

MAYBE THE, UH, MAYBE THE MATERIAL WORE OFF.

UM, BUT YES, THE COMPANY, UM, THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY KNOWS THE RULES.

THEY CREATED THE RULES.

THEY PRINTED UP THE THING SAYING, HEY, DON'T RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK.

THEY OWN THE PROPERTY.

SO, YES, UH, THEY SHOULD GET THE, THEY SHOULD GET A HARSH PENALTY.

THE BURDEN OF THE PENALTY SHOULD BE ON THAT.

THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

COMMISSIONER.

ALAS, I THINK THE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CONVEY IS WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICIES AND THE, THE VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT POLICIES ARE REGARDING MISUSE BY EITHER THE COMPANY OR THE USER.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

MM-HMM.

, I, I, IT'S COMMISSIONER KMZ.

WHILE

[00:35:01]

MM-HMM.

.

OKAY.

DO WE WANT TO REQUEST, I DON'T KNOW WHO THE COMPANIES ARE THE BIG ONES.

LYME, I THINK IS ONE.

DO WE WANT, HA HAVE WE HAD ANY, ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE COMPANIES ATTEND OUR MEETINGS? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

MAINLY IT'S FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND THEY'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THEIR, THE DIFFERENT REPORT WAYS YOU CAN REPORT.

I BELIEVE IT'S CALLING THREE 11 TO HAVE A SCOOTER REMOVED, BUT THAT'S A, A TIME LENGTHY PROCESS OF SOMEONE COMING OUT THAT WAS QUITE A WHILE BACK, .

OKAY.

DO WE NEED MORE SIGNAGE SO PEOPLE KNOW IT? LIKE, SO I, I USED TO BE A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY, ONE OF THE CONSTABLES WRITING TICKETS TO PEOPLE WHO WRITE, WHO PARK ILLEGALLY IN PARKING SPOTS MM-HMM.

.

AND SO YOU SEE UNDERNEATH MANY OF THE SIGNS, IT SAYS UP TO A WHATEVER, 200, $400 FINE.

I THINK THAT IS A GREAT DETERRENT FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IT'S OKAY TO PARK THERE.

DO WE WANT TO REQUEST THAT THERE BE, UM, BETTER COMMUNICATION OR SIGNAGE OR SOMETHING THROUGHOUT THE AREAS WHERE SCOOTERS ARE, MAYBE SCOOTER VIOLATIONS ARE HAPPENING, SO PEOPLE KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T PARK YOUR SCOOTER IN THE RIGHT SPOT, IT'S UP TO A $400 FINE, OR WHATEVER IT IS.

DO WE WANNA ASK FOR THAT? OR SHOULD I JUST ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE, HOW IS, HOW ARE FINES, PENALTIES COMMUNICATED TO USERS? YEAH.

I THINK THAT EVERY USER HAS USES A CREDIT CARD.

THEY'RE ALL TRACEABLE.

SO THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME WAY.

I, I THINK THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE NOW ARE GOOD STARTING POINT.

I MEAN, THE WE HAVE FOLLOW UP.

I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS, ALWAYS THAT OPTION.

OKAY.

I HAVE SIX QUESTIONS.

I'LL, I'LL TIDY THEM UP AND I'LL SEND THEM TO JACQUELINE MM-HMM.

SO SHE CAN SEND THEM OUT TO EVERYONE, AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE.

YEAH.

I, I DEFINITELY AGREE.

UH, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STARTING POINT.

UM, OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE MORE SUCCINCT QUESTIONS THAT ARE MORE SPECIFIC TO PARTICULAR AREAS OF THIS DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK, UH, AN OVERALL BROAD CONVERSATION IS A GOOD STARTING POINT.

AND JUST, UM, IT'S COMMISSIONER KERNS OSTERWEIL AGAIN.

MM-HMM.

.

UH, JUST A SIDE NOTE, UM, DURING THE, UM, THE MAYOR ELECTION, I ACTUALLY TALKED TO MAYOR ELECT KIRK WATSON ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE MM-HMM.

, AND HE SEEMED TO HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS.

UM, SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET HIS SUPPORT IN ENFORCING OR KIND OF MOVING THIS FORWARD.

THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR, UM, BEING PROACTIVE IN THAT DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONER OSWELL, COMMISSIONER OSWELL, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MOVE ON? ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON

[7. Discussion and possible action on appointing an alternative representative to the JIC.]

THIS IS REGARDING, UM, SELECTING AN ALTERNATIVE MEMBER TO THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE, WHICH IS FORMERLY HELD BY JOEY GSK, BUT WE, JUAN NEED A NEW, UM, ALTERNATE.

SO, SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR THAT, THAT TYPE OF ROLE BEFORE ANYONE VOLUNTEER? COMMISSIONER KLOWSKI, DO YOU WANNA JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHEN Y'ALL MEET, HOW OFTEN? UM, KIND OF THE OKAY.

JUST A SHORT VERSION OF, OF VERSION OF WHAT Y'ALL DO.

OKAY.

MM-HMM.

.

OKAY.

WELL, WE MEET MONTHLY, UH, ABOUT LIKE THE, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.

UM, AGAIN, SAME THING LIKE HERE, UH, ONLINE.

UH, WE CAN DO IT ONLINE OR OFFLINE.

AND, UM, WE'LL WORK ON INTERSECTIONALITY.

WE ARE A FULL VOTING MEMBER, UM, AND IT'S THE CITY'S DIVERSITY COMMITTEE'S.

UH, WE MEET WITH THE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SENIOR COMMISSION.

WE ALSO MEET WITH THE, UH, ASIAN AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN L G B T Q, UH, EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL.

UH, OUR, UM,

[00:40:01]

UH, HE'S WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE, UH, EQUITY OFFICE, UH, WHICH WE HELP ADVISE IS, UH, MAKING REALLY BIG STRIDES, UM, IN ADDRESSING ABLEISM AND, UM, AUTISM.

UH, AND THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR US.

UM, AND THEY SHOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, AND, UM, IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A, UH, BACKUP BECAUSE, UH, WELL, I'M GOING TO TERM OUT, UH, SOON.

AND, UM, THE BACKUP IS THE PERSON WHO WOULD ATTEND MEETINGS IF I WERE UNABLE TO ALSO THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BECOME THE DELEGATE AND I LEAVE.

OKAY.

THE FLOOR IS OPEN.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER TRACK, AND I MEAN, IT WOULD NEED TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS CONTINUING THEIR TERM.

RIGHT.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT A LOT OF US WHO ARE PRESENT TONIGHT, I BELIEVE.

SO I PROBABLY IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO ELECT SOMEONE WHO ISN'T HERE.

RIGHT.

HELLO, THIS IS JEREMY GARZA, IT'S LIAISON FOR THE J I C.

UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S CURRENTLY PRESENT WHO IS NOT TERMIN OUT IN FEBRUARY.

IS THAT CORRECT? IS COMMISSIONER POWELL THE ONLY ONE? I BELIEVE I'M, I BELIEVE SO.

2025.

SO I GUESS THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, COMMISSIONER POWELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE UNFOR.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE OBLIGATIONS WITH MY ELDERLY MOTHER AND I, I REALLY CAN'T TAKE ON ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.

UM, ARE WE GETTING OTHER MEMBERS? WAIT, EVERYBODY'S LEAVING, BUT ME.

HMM.

IS IT, THIS IS COMMISSIONER TRIGG.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVIEW THE MEMBERS WHO WILL STILL BE MEMBERS AS OF THE NEXT MEETING, NEXT FEW MONTHS? I THINK EVERYONE'S TERM ENDS IN THE END OF FEBRUARY, SO AS OF MARCH, WHO WILL BE LEFT ON THE COMMITTEE? JACQUELINE, DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION HANDY? OKAY.

IF I'M, IF I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ELIGIBLE, UM, AND I'M NEEDED, I'LL ABSOLUTELY DO IT.

UM, IT THIS, AM I UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY THIS IS A BACKUP FOR, FOR ROBIN? YES.

YES.

AND IF I CAN SAY SOMETHING TOO REAL QUICK TOO, THIS COULD BE A TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT.

UM, THE COMMISSION HAS, UH, IT WITHIN THEIR POWER TO SAY FOR, UH, A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MONTHS, UH, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR TERM LIMITED.

UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANNA REMIND THE COMMISSION TOO, OF THE 60 DAY HOLDOVER, UM, THAT ALL COMMISSIONS HAVE TO CONTINUE SERVING UNTIL SOMEONE IS REAPPOINTED.

THEY HAVE 60 DAYS.

SO REALLY, THE VERY LAST MEETING THAT ANY COMMISSIONER WHO'S TERMING OUT CAN ATTEND WOULD BE THE APRIL, 2023 REGULAR MEETING.

OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO, I'VE HAD A SITUATION WITH MY MOTHER WHERE SHE'S BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL TWICE IN TWO MONTHS, SO I JUST DON'T KNOW.

UM, I'VE JUST BEEN REALLY BUSY WITH THAT, SO, YEAH, I'D BE HAPPY TO.

UM, IS THIS, UH, WHERE I HAVE TO GO TO A PHYSICAL MEETING OR IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE I CAN, UH, DO IT ON ONLINE? OR WHAT IS OH, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE, VIRTUAL BACK AND ONLINE.

OH, I CAN AB I CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.

I'LL, I'LL DO IT.

AND JEREMY'S.

VERY NICE.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL NEED, UM, SOMEONE TO NOMINATE.

COMMISSIONER POWELL.

UM, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER POWELL AS, UH, THE, UH, ALTERNATE FOR THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE.

IS THERE A SECOND? THIS IS COMMISSIONER SCH SHREK.

I WILL SECOND.

OKAY.

HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

DO I SAY AYE? ? YES.

.

AYE.

OPPOSED? AYE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

UH, COMMISSIONER POWELL, APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEERING.

AND ARE, JACQUELINE, DO YOU HAVE THAT TERM ENDING LIST, JUST, JUST SO WE KNOW SINCE THAT WAS ASKED? YES.

SO I HAVE, UM, COMMISSIONER ORLOWSKI AS NO REAPPOINTMENT.

CATHERINE, CATHERINE BROADWATER AS OKAY.

SO THEY WILL REMAIN ON THE COMMISSION IF THEY CHOOSE TO

[00:45:01]

UM, DEBRA TREJO AS NO REAPPOINTMENT.

JONATHAN FRANKS, NO REAPPOINTMENT.

EMILY, IF SHE WERE TO CHOOSE TO STAY, SHE COULD BE REAPPOINTED.

UM, DIANE, KARENS OR OWA? NO REAPPOINTMENT.

JENNIFER POWELL.

OKAY.

TO STAY, IF THEY WERE TO REAPPLY.

DIANA AN Z I'M SORRY.

UNCERTAIN HOW TO SAY YOUR LAST NAME.

UM, OKAY.

TO REAPPLY.

AND JOEY WOULD HAVE TO JUST REACH OUT TO THE CITY'S CLERK'S OFFICE AT THIS TIME.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT WAS PENDING.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, THE NEXT AGENDA

[8. Discussion and possible action on the Quality-of-Life town halls that are being organized by the JIC.]

COMMISSIONER LASKI, WOULD THIS BE YOUR SUBJECT? I BELIEVE THIS IS JEREMY.

OR JEREMY.

IT DIDN DIDN'T SAY WHO WAS SPEAKING, SO I WASN'T SURE.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

UM, SORRY, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET RE HOOKED UP HERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF US CAN SPEAK TO IT.

UH, COMMISSIONER LAST YOU FOR SURE.

UM, BUT I KNOW THAT, UM, UM, I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TELL YOU I'M SURE BECAUSE OF, OF THE STRUGGLES WITH QUORUM THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.

BUT, UH, THE JIC HAS BEEN VERY, VERY HARD AT WORK.

UH, ORGANIZING COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS, WHAT WE'RE CALLING QUALITY OF LIFE TOWN HALLS, YOU MAY HAVE REMEMBERED FROM LAST YEAR.

UM, WE HAD BUDGET TOWN HALLS, QUOTE UNQUOTE BUDGET TOWN HALLS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, ACTUALLY.

UH, THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ORGANIZING THOSE TOWN HALLS ON BEHALF OF ALL 10 COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLES WITH DISABILITIES.

UM, AND I'VE SENT OUT A LOT OF COMMUNICATION VIA EMAIL, UM, REGARDING THESE TOWN HALLS.

UM, WE'VE HAD TWO SO FAR.

THE FIRST ONE WAS ON DECEMBER, UH, 15TH, LINDA, THE DECEMBER 15TH.

AND THE SECOND ONE WAS THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, UM, JANUARY 11TH.

AND OUR THIRD AND FINAL TOWN HALL, UM, IS GOING TO BE THIS UPCOMING SATURDAY, TOMORROW, UH, TOMORROW MORNING ACTUALLY AT 10:30 AM AT THE, THE ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE TOWN HALLS, UM, HAVE BEEN, UM, HYBRID EVENTS, MEANING THAT PEOPLE CAN JOIN ONLINE OR THEY CAN JOIN IN PERSON, WHICHEVER ONE FITS THEM BEST.

UM, FOR THE FOLKS, UM, BOTH ONLINE AND FOR THE FOLKS IN PERSON, WE HAVE HIRED, UM, INTERPRETERS, UH, SOME SPECIFIC FOR ONLINE, SOME SPECIFIC, UM, FOR IN PERSON, BUT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN FOR VIETNAMESE, FOR MANDARIN, FOR SPANISH, AND FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

WE'VE OFFERED IT, UM, SIMULTANEOUS AND INTERPRETATION IN ALL THREE LANGUAGES ONLINE AND IN PERSON.

WE'VE ALSO OFFERED A CATERED FOOD FOR EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDS IN PERSON.

AND WE'VE ALSO OFFERED SUPERVISED CHILDREN ACTIVITIES FOR ANY FAMILIES, FOR ANY SINGLE PARENT, UH, WHO MAY ONLY BE ABLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE THEY, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE YOUTH, UM, OR HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, WE'VE OFFERED ACTIVITIES FOR THEM, UM, SO THEIR PARENTS CAN ATTEND THE TOWN HALL.

UM, SO WE'VE BEEN TAKING A REAL, A REALLY GREAT STRIDES, DONE A LOT OF WORK, UH, TRY TO MAKE THESE AS MOST OF THESE, UH, TOWN HALLS, UM, THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE.

WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THESE PAST TWO TOWN HALLS.

I'VE MADE SOME FEW MISTAKES AND WE'RE GONNA, AND IT'S ALL GONE INTO HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE THESE BETTER AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE TOWN HALLS HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

SO EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM BETTER.

UM, THIS PAST, WE, WE HAD AN AMAZING TURNOUT.

UM, WE HAD ABOUT 33 PEOPLE, UM, WHO JOINED US ONLINE, AND THEN WE HAD ABOUT 48 PEOPLE WHO JOINED US IN PERSON.

THE ROOM WAS JAM PACKED, UM, FOR THE IN-PERSON ATTENDEES, UM, COMMISSION, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT NUMBER TWO, WAS PRESENT FOR, UH, THIS PAST TOWN HALL.

AS WELL AS, UM, THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET OFFICE AT, UH, CARRIE LANG, WHO'S ALSO ABLE TO GIVE A LITTLE INTRODUCTION BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE CALLING THESE QUALITY OF LIFE TOWN HALLS THIS YEAR, UM, THEY'RE STILL RELATED TO THE BUDGET.

UM, WE STOPPED CALLING THEM BUDGET TOWN HALLS BECAUSE THE NAME BUDGET TOWN HALLS DOES NOT SOUND VERY EXCITING AND DOESN'T ELICIT A LOT OF COMMUNITY RESPONSE.

HOWEVER, AT THE HEART OF THESE, UH, TOWN HALLS IS REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING IN EVERY SINGLE DAY, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT INTERSECT WITH CITY GOVERNMENT, CITY SERVICES, AND HOW, UM, THE PUBLIC RESPONSE FROM THESE TOWN HALLS AND THE COMMENTS THAT THEY PROVIDE SHOULD HELP INFORM THE WORK OF ALL 10 COMMISSIONS OF THE J I C AND HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, BE THE CHARGE FOR THE TYPE OF I ISSUES THAT Y'ALL SHOULD BE

[00:50:01]

UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE BIGGEST, UM, UH, ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP WITH TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN BOTH THE PREVIOUS TWO TOWN HALLS HAS BEEN ABOUT HOUSING SPECIFICALLY IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND SPECIFICALLY THAT THE FACT THAT ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, IS ONLY ELIGIBLE TO THOSE WHO EXIST OR LIVE 80% BELOW THE MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME.

UM, WHICH OF COURSE, IS A VERY NEEDY, UM, UH, GROUP OF PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, UM, STATISTICALLY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING, UM, UH, DISPLACED IN AUSTIN, UM, ARE THOSE WHO EXIST BETWEEN 20 AND 60%, UH, BELOW THE MFI LEVEL.

AND THERE IS CURRENTLY NO PROGRAM, NO SERVICES THAT THE CITY OFFERS TO HELP PREVENT THE DISPLACEMENT OF THOSE WHO'VE LIVED BELOW 20 TO, UH, LIKE I SAID, 50% OF BELOW MID, UH, FAMILY INCOME.

UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP.

I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA HEAR MORE ABOUT IT THIS UPCOMING SATURDAY.

AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY AGAIN, TOO, THAT, UM, THE SUCCESS OF THESE TOWN HALLS, WHILE I DO AS BEST I CAN, AS THIS ONE CITY SAT PERSON WHO'S JOINED MY BEST TO ORGANIZE ALL OF THIS, UM, THE SUCCESS REALLY LIES, UM, ON THE SHOULDERS OF COMMISSIONERS, UH, TO, TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC, TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES, THE NETWORKS THAT Y'ALL ARE PART OF ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN PERSON, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ATTEND THESE TOWN HALLS.

UM, WHILE WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AS A CITY IN TERMS OF ADVERTISING AND THE AMERICAN STATESMEN AND THE CHRONICLE, I BOUGHT SEVERAL RADIO ADS, UM, ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, WE'RE POSTING ON THE CITY SOCIAL MEDIA THAT REACH ONLY REALLY ONLY GOES SO FAR.

AND IF IT'S NOT FAR ENOUGH, I WISH IT WAS FARTHER, BUT IT REALLY ISN'T.

AND NOT SOMETHING TOO THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN WITHIN THE JOINT INCLUSION AND COMMITTEE AT LARGE IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE, HOW THEY TRANSLATE INFORMATION AND, AND HOW THAT THE REACH OF THAT ARM ISN'T AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE.

SO, LIKE, UH, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I KNOW THE NEXT TOWN HALL IS LITERALLY TOMORROW MORNING.

IT IS THE LAST ONE, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANYBODY THAT YOU KNOW, UM, WHO MAY BE ABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE FORWARD THEM THE INFORMATION.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR CITY EMAILS.