Dec 11, 2024 Audit and Finance Committee

[00:00:03]

READY FOR

[CALL TO ORDER ]

GREAT.

UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I'M ALLISON AL ALTER AND I'M CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I'M JOINED ON THE DAAS BY VICE CHAIR LESLIE POOLE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES WILL BE JOINING US SHORTLY.

UM, WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE GOING PRETTY QUICKLY THIS MORNING.

WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS AND, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE FOLKS ARE HERE.

UM, I DO JUST IN CASE WANNA ASSUAGE FOLKS THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA BE PROPOSING DISBANDING THE IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OR I, I AM ASSUMING.

AND, UM, SO I JUST KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE SOME FOLKS HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT.

AND SO, UM, IF YOU WANNA BE BRIEFER, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MET AND WHATEVER.

UM, I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S SEVERAL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR THAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK, UM, AND, AND WHATNOT.

BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA ASSU YOU OF THAT 'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND SEVERAL OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THAT, OR AT LEAST THAT'S NOT MY INTENTION.

UM, OKAY.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS. UM, IT IS NOW 9:32 AM ON THE 11TH.

I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

AND, UM, WE

[Public Communication: General ]

CLERK, DO YOU WANNA CALL THOSE? YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH.

AND AGAIN, YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMISSIONS.

THEY ARE GONNA CALL OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS FIRST, PAUL, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA TAKE OUR INMATES.

CRYSTAL GOMEZ, GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE AND PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY.

GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL GOMEZ.

I'M AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND FORMER CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

UM, I SERVED ON THE COMMISSION FROM 2016 UNTIL 2023.

I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT THE DISILLUSION OF THE COMMISSION IS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND NOT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD.

I DID WANNA SPEAK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THE COMMISSION AND TO HAVE IT BE FULLY, UH, APPOINTED SO THAT THEY CAN MEET AND IT'S EASIER TO MEET QUOTA OR QUORUM.

UM, DURING MY TIME ON THE COMMISSION, I SAW O BODY BE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT IMPORTANT PROGRAMS LIKE THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARDS, UH, LEGAL SERVICES, AND THE CREATION OF A PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION IN THE EQUITY OFFICE.

UM, THIS IS WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND A LOT OF FAMILIES IN AUSTIN ARE GOING TO BE EITHER FACING DEPORTATION OR, UM, WORRIED AND, AND PUSHED BACK INTO THE SHADOWS.

AND WE NEED A FUNCTIONING COMMISSION.

AND MORE THAN THAT, WE NEED, UH, TO KIND OF MATCH OUR SISTER CITIES IN PLACES LIKE HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO, WHO HAVE ENTIRE CITY OFFICES DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THEIR CITIES IS, IS GOOD.

UM, AND INSTEAD IN AUSTIN WE HAVE ONE CITY STAFF POSITION AND THEN 12 VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS THAT MEET ONCE A MONTH IF THEY CAN GET QUORUM TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S IF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS.

SO I JUST REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY UP TO DATE ON THOSE APPOINTMENTS IF THE VACANCY COMES UP, GETTING SOMEONE ELSE IN THE PIPELINE TO, SO THAT THE COMMISSION IS ABLE TO MEET ITS QUORUM.

AND I'LL ALSO PUSH FORWARD THE IDEA OF TRYING TO CREATE AN, AN ACTUAL STAFFED OFFICE THAT DEALS WITH THESE ISSUES INSTEAD OF IT ALL LANDING ON THE BACK OF 12 VOLUNTEERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER.

I DO NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC SPEAKER WITH A PHONE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE RECORDED, HOWEVER, IF ANDREA BLACK OR KAREN MUNOZ IS ONLINE RIGHT NOW, PLEASE UNMUTE.

OKAY, WELL, WE'LL COME BACK TO THEM IF THEY, IF THEY LOG IN, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN, THEY MAY HAVE POPPED OFF GIVEN WHAT WE SAID.

IS THAT SOMEONE THERE? I THINK SO.

IS THAT ANDREA BLACK OR KAREN MUNOZ.

OKAY.

KAREN IS HERE.

.

OKAY.

KAREN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, SO SORRY.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S KAREN OZ.

I WORK FOR LATINO JUSTICE, A NONPROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION WITH OFFICES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UM, I DID CALL TO, OR I WAS ORIGINALLY CALLING TO DISCUSS THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO NOT DISSOLVE THE COMMISSION.

I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE COMMISSION WILL NOT BE DISSOLVED AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR THAT

[00:05:01]

UM, I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, MS. GOMEZ, THAT, UM, WE SHOULD INSTEAD THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE STRENGTH AND THAT THE CITY SHOULD DO MORE.

UM, I THINK CREATING A CITY OFFICE, A STAFFED OFFICE, UM, IS A GREAT IDEA.

BUT, UM, I WILL END MY COMMENTS THERE BECAUSE I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE RESOLVED TODAY.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NO MORE REMOTE SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION FOR IN PERSON.

UM, KAREN MITCHIE, APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCE THE LAST NAME HERE AND THEN I'M GONNA CALL, UH, PEGGY MORTON.

YOU'RE NEXT.

SO IF YOU CAN COME ON DOWN SO YOU'RE READY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS KAREN MICKEY.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, I'M KNOWN PROFESSIONALLY AS KAREN CRAWFORD AND I SERVED ON THE COMMISSION FOR CLOSE TO EIGHT YEARS AND WAS ITS CHAIR FROM 2017 TO 2021.

AND THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT IT WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE A DISSOLVED, BUT I DO DO WANT TO REITERATE WHAT CRYSTAL GOMEZ SAID AND ALSO REQUEST THAT YOU SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMISSION AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN I SERVED ON THE COMMISSION, WE HAD ENORMOUS DIFFICULTY FACING QUORUM ISSUES AS WELL.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE COMMISSION AND THEY, AND GET REPLACEMENTS FOR THEM.

I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT I WAS A TRAVIS COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE, UM, FOR THE COMMISSION.

AND KNOWING THAT IT WAS A LONG PROCESS TO FILL THAT POSITION, I ACTUALLY GOT IN TOUCH WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, I THINK A GOOD SIX MONTHS BEFORE MY, MY TERM EXPIRED TO TRY AND GET THE VACANCY FILLED.

I REACHED OUT TO JUDGE BROWN'S OFFICE FOR MONTHS BEFORE MY TERM EXPIRED.

UM, THEY WOULD RESPOND TO MY EMAIL BUT NOT FOLLOW UP.

I REMEMBER AT ONE POINT THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME HOW I COULD RENEW MY TERM, WHICH ISN'T WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO 'CAUSE I WAS TERMING OUT.

UM, I'M SADDENED TO KNOW THE POSITION WAS NEVER FILLED.

IT'S BEEN TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE OF HAVING A COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMISSION BECAUSE MANY OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORK IN ULTIMATE LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT WORKING AND IT'S ACTUALLY AFFECTING THE ABILITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE QUORUM.

SO I WOULD, UM, NOT WANT THAT, THAT POSITION TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN VACANT.

UM, I WON'T GO INTO THE WORK THAT WE DID BECAUSE CRYSTAL MENTIONED IT EARLIER.

I DID WANNA ADD A COUPLE THINGS, WHICH WAS, UH, CREATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COM UH, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY, UM, AND ALSO SEEKING FUNDING FOR NATURALIZATION CLINICS, WHICH IS A VERY POSITIVE, UH, MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S IMPORTANT WORK AND IT HAS TO BE SUPPORTED, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOOMING THREAT COMING UP IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION OF MASS DEPORTATIONS, INCLUDING MIXED STATUS FAMILIES.

PEOPLE ARE SCARED AND THEY'RE CONCERNED AND THEY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THEIR CITY.

UM, AUSTIN NEEDS TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY IN KEEPING THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS, BUT ALSO, UM, REALLY PRIORITIZING PLACING MEMBERS ON IT SO THERE CAN BE CONSISTENT QUORUM.

AND ALSO, UH, PRIORITIZING THE COMMISSION IN FILLING VACANCIES.

AND ALSO I WOULD RECOMMEND ELIMINATING THE TRAVIS COUNTY POSITION SINCE TWO AND A HALF YEARS HAVE GONE BY WITHOUT, UM, THAT POSITION BEING FILLED.

THIS, UH, THE CITY NEEDS THE COMMISSION TO DO HIS WORK.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US HAVE AN IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS OFFICE AS WELL.

IT'S WELL OVERDUE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COMMISSION.

AND AFTER PEGGY MORTON WILL BE ALICIA TORRES.

GOOD MORNING.

AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING IT OFF THE AGENDA, BUT I DEFINITELY FEEL A NEED TO SPEAK.

UH, I'M A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU WANNA JUST SAY YOUR NAME YOURSELF, THAT WOULD GREAT.

OH, I DIDN'T SAY IT.

OH, YES.

HI, I'M PEGGY MORTON AND I'M A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING, WORKING IN SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANTS FOR THE LAST, SINCE I RETIRED 15 YEARS AGO.

MOSTLY I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE AUSTIN SANCTUARY NETWORK WHERE WE WORK TO STOP DEPORTATIONS.

AND, UM, SO I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION ABOUT IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

AND SO I BRING THAT UP JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, KEPT THE WORD OUT IF YOU'RE HAVING A PROBLEM FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.

AND I'M GONNA KIND OF DISAGREE WITH, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, I'M GONNA RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE LAST SPEAKER WHO SAID THAT THEY SHOULD CANCEL.

UH, THE TRAVIS COUNTY POSITION NOW IS A TIME THAT TRAVIS COUNTY NEEDS TO ALSO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE IN, IN ADDITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT CFA, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ONLY OFFERING THREE SHIFTS OF ATTORNEYS OUTTA 21 SHIFTS, SO ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THINGS THEY NEED TO BE MADE MORE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IMMIGRATION.

UM, SO I MEAN, IT'S NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SLEEP THROUGH THE REVOLUTION WHEN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THEM AND UPHOLDS THEIR HUMANITY HAD, I MEAN, Y'ALL GOTTA START WORKING TOGETHER.

I DID

[00:10:01]

WELL, ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS HAVING A PROBLEM, BEING ABLE TO RECOMMEND SOMEONE, PLEASE REACH OUT.

NO ONE'S EVER REACHED OUT TO ME, NOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY LIKE ME THAT CARE AND WANT TO SEE SOMETHING BETTER HAPPEN.

SO I THINK I'LL JUST GO IN AND STOP THERE AND, UH, SAY THAT PLEASE RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DO BECAUSE YOU TOOK IT OFF THE AGENDA, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD OF THIS AND I WAS ALERTED TO IT, AND IT'S SCARY.

SO THESE ARE SCARY TIMES AND OUR IMMIGRANT FRIENDS WHO'VE BUILT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE A LOT OF SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT, UM, BY, I THINK IT'S BY CODE.

THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS TO BRING IT TO AUDIT AND FINANCE.

IF THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ABSENCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT A COMMISSION, IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS COMMISSION HAS MANAGED TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WE HAD THEM ALERT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GOT ENOUGH OF THEIR APPOINTEES IN AND THE COMMISSION MET.

UM, SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA BECAUSE BY CODE IT HAS TO COME TO US FOR US TO THEN SAY WHAT HAPPENS ONCE WE HAVE, UM, A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN QUORUM HASN'T BEEN MET.

UM, NO ONE ON THIS, NO ONE ON THIS COMMITTEE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO DISBAND IT.

IT'S A JUST A PROCESS THAT HAS TO, HAS TO HAPPEN, UM, FOR US TO DISCUSS IT AND FOR US TO BE AWARE AND SO THAT WE CAN, UM, RAISE THE ALARM WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO GET THE POSITIONS FILLED.

UM, THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.

AND AFTER THAT'LL BE BOB LIBEL.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ALYSSA TORRES.

UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND, UM, I'M ALSO HAPPY TO HEAR, UM, THAT, UH, I WAS ALSO UNDER THE WRONG, UM, IMPRESSION, RIGHT? THAT THERE WAS AN INTENT ON PART OF THE CITY, UM, TO DISSOLVE THIS COMMISSION.

AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS, UM, TO THE SITUATION THAT A LOT OF, UM, THE MIGRANTS THEMSELVES AND A LOT OF, UH, MIGRANT, UM, SUPPORTERS, MIGRANT COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS FIND THEMSELVES IN, IN A MOMENT WHERE WE REALLY ARE IN, IN FEAR.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S REALLY GONNA STAND BEHIND US, UM, IN, IN HEARING, RIGHT, THE INTENTION AND THE PROCESS OF WHY THIS, UM, THIS CONVERSATION IS BEING HAD TODAY.

UM, I WANNA ASK MY THAT MAYBE THIS IS AN INVITATION TO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UH, ACTUALLY BE, UH, CONTINUE BEING THE LEADERS, UM, IN CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR, UH, COMMUNITY, FOR MIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A VOICE.

AND, UM, I AM, I, I WOULD SAY, I'LL ADMIT I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESSES, BUT MAYBE I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A MOMENT IN WHICH WE HAVE TO LEAN IN AND, UM, CAST THE, THE NET WIDER AND NOT JUST, UM, INVITE, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVE THE, THE CAPACITY, UM, AND THE RESOURCES, UM, REALLY PRIVILEGED, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN SPACES LIKE THIS IN TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE USUALLY WORKING.

THIS IS A MOMENT WHEN THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE NOT JUST REPRESENTED, BUT ACTUALLY HAVE A VOICE IN, IN OUR OWN, UM, IN OUR OWN FUTURE.

AND SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT A POSITION FOR THE COMMISSION IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE FOR SOMEONE THAT'S DIRECTLY IMPACTED? RIGHT? UM, I'VE BEEN TO SOME MEETINGS.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS INTERPRETATION IF IT'S REQUESTED FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, BUT WHAT IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE? AND THIS IS AN INTIMIDATING PROCESS, AND I SAY THIS AS SOMEONE WHO IS, UM, A MIGRANT THEMSELVES AND WHO HAS, IS STILL INTIMIDATED TO THIS DAY TO, TO ENGAGE IN THIS, IN THIS PROCESSES.

AND SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO PUT THIS OUT IN THE, UH, SPANISH, UM, LANGUAGE MEDIA, UM, IN THE CHURCHES.

THOSE PLACES THAT ARE, ARE FILLED WITH NATURAL LEADERS THAT MIGHT JUST FEEL THIS IS NOT A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN, UM, AT BEST ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

UM, SO I WILL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MIGHT WANT TO LEAN IN, INTO HOW DO WE GET MORE DIRECT REPRESENTATION, UM, HAVING PEOPLE SPEAK FOR US AND IN OUR BEST INTEREST.

UM, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD AND APPRECIATED, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE VOICES THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED TO KNOW THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT WORKS FOR US.

THIS IS WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED AND THIS IS HOW WE MOVE AND SPEAK, NOT JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT MOVE AND SPEAK WITH COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S AN INVITATION INTO, UH, DOING THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE, UM, THE RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A MOMENT WHEN WE NEED, UM, NOT JUST COMMISSIONS, BUT POSSIBLY JUST LIKE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN HAVING THE, THE IMMIGR IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

UM, THANK YOU.

PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHT MEETING FORM TO ALSO BE ME A UH, AN ACTUAL OFFICE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND, UM, AFTER BOB,

[00:15:01]

HEY, Y'ALL.

UH, NICE TO BE HERE.

I'M BOB LEBEL.

UH, I AM A DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENT.

UM, I, SO IT IS ALSO, IT'S HEARTENING TO HEAR THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY GONNA DISSOLVE THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

UM, FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, DOCUMENTING TEXAS'S, UH, BORDER PROGRAM OPERATION LONE STAR, INCLUDING THE, THE BUILDING OF MILITARY BASES AND BORDER COMMUNITIES, THE USE OF TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND MILITARY MEMBERS FIRING, UM, UH, PEPPER BALL, MUNITIONS AND CONSTRUCTING RAZOR WIRE THAT HAS, UH, HARMED CHILDREN, ASYLUM SEEKERS AT THE BORDER, UM, AND THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE AND PROFOUNDLY UNEQUAL CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM FOR MIGRANTS.

UM, AND I SAY ALL THAT BECAUSE, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE STORIES OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS DOCUMENTING HOW THE INCOMING, UH, FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO USE TEXAS'S BORDER POLICIES AS A MODEL FOR INTERNAL ENFORCEMENT, UM, INCLUDING THE USE OF THE MILITARY IN AMERICAN CITIES.

UM, AND, UH, I THINK THAT FOR AT THAT MOMENT, RIGHT, UH, IT SENDS A, A VERY NEGATIVE MESSAGE BOTH FUNCTIONALLY AND SYMBOLICALLY RIGHT, TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE DISSOLUTION OF AN AFFAIR OF A COMMITTEE LIKE THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

SO IT CERTAINLY URGED US TO, AS, UH, PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE SAID TO REINVIGORATE THE COMMITTEE RATHER THAN, THAN, UH, UH, CONSIDERING DISSOLVING IT.

UM, I ALSO HAVE, UH, NOTICED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CURRENT PERSON SERVING IN DISTRICT SEVEN ON THE COMMISSION COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

I KNOW, UH, THIS YOUR LAST FEW WEEKS, UM, , UH, BUT, UH, IF THERE, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE ON, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY TO SERVE IN THAT, UH, UH, ROLE AND CERTAINLY, UM, WORKING WITH WHOEVER YOUR SUCCESSOR IS, UH, IN THAT ROLE AS WELL.

SO, UH, WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE REINVIGORATION OF THE COMMISSION, THE WORK TOWARDS CREATION AND, AND CREATING AN ACTUAL OFFICE HERE AT THE CITY.

UM, UH, YEAH.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

YES.

COUNCIL, JUST A QUICK RESPONSE.

UM, THANKS, BOB.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAVE HAD AN APPOINTEE TO THAT COMMISSION ALL ALONG, BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY COMMISSIONER SAID, UH, THAT SURE, UH, WASN'T ABLE TO CONTINUE ON.

YEAH.

AND BECAUSE MY TIME WAS SHORT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE AND MAYBE SOME OF THE PROCEDURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING HERE TODAY, THIS ITEM IS ON OUR AGENDA BECAUSE OUR RULES TELL US THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MEETING.

THE WHOLE POINT OF THE COMMISSIONS IS FOR THEM TO MEET AND DELIBERATE AND ADVISE US.

AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY COMMISSION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.

MM-HMM .

SO WE'RE NOT SINGLING ANYBODY OUT.

BUT, UM, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONERS WEREN'T ABLE TO BE THERE TO MAKE QUORUM TO MEET.

SO WE ARE RESPONDING TO THAT AS, AS WE NEED TO BY PROCEDURE.

I IMAGINE THAT THE LIGHT THAT'S BEING SHINED IS GOING TO HAVE, UM, THE PROPER, THE PROPER IMPACT.

IN FACT, I'M, I'M PRETTY DARN SURE THAT THIS, THIS COMMISSION WILL GET ITS APPOINTEES AND THEY WILL BE FOLKS WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AND WE DO THEM, UH, VIRTUALLY AS WELL.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT REQUIRING PEOPLE TO COME IN.

GREAT.

I KNOW THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES, SO THANK YOU BOB, ALSO FOR OFFERING TO SERVE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND WE WILL HAVE A NEW, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, UM, PROBABLY SOMETIME SATURDAY, SO WE'LL KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED AT THAT POINT.

AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY TO EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT.

REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

YEAH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS VALENTI PADILLA.

I AM A LEGAL CASEWORKER AT AMERICAN GATEWAYS, AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

IT IS ALSO AN HONOR TO BE REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION THAT I HOLD DEAR TO MY HEART.

FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING LEGAL IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE TO THE LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

TODAY, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HEAR THAT THE IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS COMMISSION WILL NOT BE DISSOLVED, AS I'M SURE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS GLAD TO HEAR.

UH, BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THAT THE COMMISSION HAS NOT BEEN ACTIVE RECENTLY, AND IT HAS HAD SOME VACANCIES, BUT THIS IS NOT THE MOMENT TO BE SHUTTING DOWN A WAY TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

THIS IS NOT THE MOMENT FOR THAT.

AUSTIN, AS I KNOW, IT IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY TO ALL.

AND THIS COMMISSION IS ONE OF THE WAYS IT HAS PROVEN TO BE AMERICAN GATEWAYS IS A PARTNER WITH THE CITY IN SERVING OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE SO VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS COUNCIL, FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP.

WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP THIS IMMIGRANT COMMISSION, AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATIONS.

THANK YOU.

UH, JEREMY GARZA

[00:20:01]

HOWDY, Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS JEREMY GARZA.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THE BIG RELIEF TO MANY FOLKS IN THE OFFICE THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE DISSOLVING THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

BUT I DID JUST WANNA TAKE A, A QUICK MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE CULTURE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN THE CULTURE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

UM, I'VE BEEN TO, UH, MANY EVENTS HERE AT CITY HALL AND MANY OF THE, YEAH, BUDGET TOWN HALLS THAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HOST, UM, UH, DURING BUDGET SEASON.

AND I'VE HEARD SO MANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TELL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, UM, TO GO TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSIONERS, TO SHOW UP AT THOSE MEETINGS, UM, AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS IN WHICH THE MEMBERS OF THE, THE PUBLIC CAN ENGAGE AND BE, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS, UH, IN THE CIVIC PROCESS.

UM, OTHER THAN COMING TO, OF COURSE, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IS KIND OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

UM, YET WHEN I, UH, SEE HOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN KNOW ABOUT COMMISSIONERS, THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, I THINK, AROUND, UH, THE PUBLIC, AROUND HOW WE CAN TEACH THAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION, UM, TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO TO COMMISSIONERS THEMSELVES.

I OFTEN SEE, UM, A ROTATION, OF COURSE, THE SPIRIT OF ROTATION IS VERY STRONG WITH OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, ESPECIALLY AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ROTATE.

UM, BUT OFTEN WHAT I SEE IS A LACK OF, OF A, OF A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY, BOTH FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR COMMISSIONERS TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THE CITY FUNCTIONS ABOUT THE CITY, DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY CLERK DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB, UM, WITH TRAININGS WITH OUR COMMISSIONERS AROUND THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AND, UM, HOW NOT TO BREAK THE LAW IN THOSE REGARDS, BUT IN TERMS OF HOW THEY LEARN HOW TO COMMISSION, HOW THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, THIS ORG CHARGES OF THE CITY, WHAT A COMMISSIONER CAN AND CANNOT DO, HOW TO EVEN WRITE A RECOMMENDATION, UM, UH, TO CITY COUNCIL WHAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO, TO ASK AND RECOMMEND TO Y'ALL, AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK AND RECOMMEND TO Y'ALL.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE, UM, RESOURCES, UM, THAT COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE BOTH TO, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND COMMISSIONERS IN TERMS OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS THAT COULD BE HOSTED AT OUR LIBRARIES OR AT OUR PART REC CENTERS OR AT OUR CULTURAL CENTERS AS A WAY OF CIVIC EDUCATION, BOTH FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSIONERS, SO THAT CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

AND IT, AND THAT BETTER UNDERSTANDING BE MORE, UH, BETTER TO, UM, ADVISE YOU CITY COUNCIL AND THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE, THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY REPRESENT.

SO IF ANYTHING, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO AN URGING TO INCREASE THE RESOURCES AND, AND TRAINING CAPACITIES FOR BOTH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND COMMISSIONERS SO THAT CAN, WE CAN ALL BE BETTER INVOLVED AND KNOW BETTER TOO ABOUT THE INTRICACIES OF OUR CITY, UM, AND OUR GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPEAK.

ARE THERE ANY CHAIR ALTER? UH, ANDREA BLACK IS NOW AVAILABLE TO SPEAK REMOTELY ON THIS TOPIC.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ANDREA, GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE.

HELLO, THIS IS ANDREA BLACK.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, YES, I'M, I GOT ON LATE.

I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ON, BUT I, SO I'M RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO, UH, DISSOLVE THE COMMISSION.

UM, IT IS A CRITICAL COMMISSION IN THE CITY WHERE I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, OVER 14% OF THE POPULATION ARE IMMIGRANTS AND CRITICAL, PARTICULARLY IN THIS YEAR, UM, WHERE THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING A MASS DEPORTATION PROGRAM USING THE TEXAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODEL AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS, UM, IN THE FACE OF ALL THE SPHERE MONGERING.

SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MEET QUORUM.

UM, I REALLY SUPPORT WHAT JEREMY, UH, JEREMY GARZA HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE EDUCATION PIECE SO PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CRITICAL ROLE OF COMMISSIONS.

UM, ALSO AN ISSUE OF RECRUITMENT.

AND I'D BE HAPPY, UH, TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS FOR RECRUITMENT, UM, THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE DIFFERENT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS.

UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN AN AUSTIN RESIDENT FOR 15 YEARS.

UM, YES.

AND FIND THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I WAS VERY DISTURBED TO SEE THAT THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA, AND IT WAS ONLY THROUGH LAST MINUTE NOTICE THAT WE FOUND OUT.

UM, SO, UH, YEAH, REALLY HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE MORE OF A PROACTIVE PROCESS THAT CAN ENGAGE PEOPLE IN A MORE, UM, CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU.

UM, THERE ANY MORE? SORRY, GERALD.

UH, WE'VE HAD TWO LATE SIGNUPS, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM, UH, BOB NICKS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC, AND THEN PAUL S WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM FOUR.

SO I THINK BOB NICKS WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT OVERTIME IS THAT I WOULD PREFER TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX, RIGHT? SO I'M GONNA BRING BOB UP, UM, FOR THE OVERTIME ITEM AND WHAT MR. ROBBINS CAN, WE CAN BRING HIM UP WHEN WE DO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

THAT SOUNDS PERFECT.

I THINK THAT WILL KEEP US, UM, MORE ON TRACK.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING, JUST

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU.

UM, SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS FROM BEING HERE.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS I'M GONNA TAKE UP OUR MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THAT ITEM AND WE'LL SPEAK MORE TO THAT.

UM, I JUST WANNA KEEP US IN ORDER, UM, FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO DO

[1. Approve the minutes of the Audit and Finance Committee meeting of November 12, 2024. ]

THANK YOU.

UM, WE'LL NOW TAKE

[2. Consideration of notice that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs has not met for more than six months, and approval of a recommendation to the City Council on whether to dissolve the commission. ]

IT'S A CONSIDERATION OF NOTICE THAT THE COMMISSION, AN IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS HAS NOT MET FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.

AN APPROVAL OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND WHETHER TO DISSOLVE THE COMMISSION.

UM, MS. HALL WILL, WILL SPEAK TO US ON THAT.

UM, AND I'M SURE SHE WILL REITERATE.

UM, AND AS THE, AS THE, UM, NOTICE SUGGESTS, THIS IS A NOTICE TO US OF THIS HAPPENING.

WE HAVE THE CHOICE OF DISSOLVING, WE HAVE ALSO THE PREROGATIVE TO GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE APPOINTEES AVAILABLE.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE LATTER, IS WHERE WE'RE LEANING, BUT WE DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO, MS. HALL, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR.

UH, GOOD MORNING, STEPHANIE HALL, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, WE ARE HERE IN RESPONSE TO CITY CODE SECTION 2 1 45 B.

THAT DOES REQUIRE US TO SET A NOTICE OF THE ITEM FINANCE COMMITTEE IF A COMMISSION FAILS TO CONVENE FOR SIX MONTHS, WHICH HAS OCCURRED WITH THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW, THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS HAS STRUGGLED TO MAKE QUORUM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AS MANY HAVE POINTED OUT IN BACKUP.

WE DO HAVE A CHART THAT SHOWS WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO MEET AND THE VACANCIES AS WELL.

HOWEVER, RECENTLY THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND NOVEMBER, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, THEY HAD ONLY MET FOUR TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THIS COMMISSION DOES HAVE 12 SEATS, AN ADDITIONAL SEAT THAT HAS BEEN BY TRAVIS COUNTY.

SEVEN MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND TO MAKE QUORUM, AND WE DON'T SEE ONE SPEC, ONE SINGLE REASON THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS, AND WHILE ANY VACANCY CAN CERTAINLY MAKE IT CHALLENGING, MORE CHALLENGING TO MAKE QUORUM, MOST OF THE TIME THERE ACTUALLY WERE ENOUGH SEATS TO MEET QUORUM AND CONVENE THE MEETINGS.

UH, THERE ARE OF COURSE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMISSIONERS, BUT ONE OF THE KIND OF NUANCED CHALLENGES IS IF A MEETING IS CANCELED, THAT ATTENDANCE DOESN'T COUNT TOWARDS THEIR VIOLATION.

UH, THAT CAN MAKE IT CHALLENGING FOR LIAISONS TO TRACK, AND IT KIND OF CAN COMPOUND THE PROBLEM.

HOWEVER, WE DO TRAIN AND ENCOURAGE LIAISONS TO TELL US IF MEMBERS ARE NOT RESPONSIVE OR IF THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY CONTRIBUTING TO A LACK OF QUORUM.

AND WE DO REACH OUT AND COORDINATE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICES DIRECTLY WHEN WE'RE NOTIFIED OF THAT.

BUT IT CAN BE A CHALLENGING PROCESS CONSIDERING THAT.

AND THERE ARE, IN THIS CASE, SEVERAL INSTANCES WHEN WE HAVE SOME INACCURATE ATTENDANCE RECORD.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE THREE CURRENT VACANCIES.

ONE OF 'EM HAS, HAS BEEN MENTIONED IS TRAVIS COUNTY.

TRAVIS COUNTY DID SEND US A NOMINEE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, HOWEVER, THAT, UM, NOMINEE HAS INDICATED ON THEIR APPLICATION THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A REGISTERED LOBBYIST WITH THE CITY, WHICH IS IN VIOLATION TO OUR CODE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT AND COORDINATE BETWEEN LEGAL AND COUNTY.

THERE WAS ALSO JUST A RECENT RESIGNATION.

I DO BELIEVE THAT RESIGNATION WAS, UM, SLIGHTLY OUT OF A BIT OF FRUSTRATION FOR FAILURE TO MEET, WHICH I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, BUT WE ARE GETTING UP TO, UP TO PAR ON FILLING ALL OF THOSE SEATS.

SO THAT'S ALL THAT, YES, GO AHEAD.

WHAT DISTRICT WAS THE RESIGNATION? DISTRICT ONE.

THANK YOU.

AND, UM, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE THIS MORNING AND, UM, JUST REMINDED THEM ABOUT FILLING THAT.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR US TO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION HERE.

UM, WE DON'T, WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION THEY'RE MEETING, UM, AND CONTRIBUTING, UM, MOVING FORWARD.

I WILL, IN RESPONSE TO THE FOLKS WHO CAME SAY, THANK YOU FOR COMING, THANK YOU FOR RAISING, UM, YOUR VOICE.

AND FOR THOSE WHO COULDN'T, COULDN'T BE HERE.

IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR THAT OUR COMMISSIONS ARE MATTERING AND, AND FOR, FOR FOLKS TO HELP, YOU KNOW, UM, REMIND US OF ALL THE THINGS THAT, THE GREAT IDEAS AND, AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THEM.

I WILL POINT OUT THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HAS AN ITEM IN WHICH I'M CO-SPONSORING AND MAYBE OTHERS ARE, UM, HAVING TO DO WITH, UM, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS, UM, THAT IS ON OUR AGENDA TOMORROW.

UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ER HAS AN ITEM, UM, ASKING US TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE, UM, THE COMMISSIONS IN, IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO YOUR FEEDBACK IS VERY TIMELY, AND WE ARE AWARE OF THAT.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO TWO THINGS.

WE ARE GOING

[00:30:01]

UM, BECAUSE, UM, FIVE OF US ARE, OR I GUESS SIX POSITIONS ARE FINISHING THEIR TERM, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OPENINGS.

UM, THREE OF US ARE, UM, LEAVING.

THERE WILL BE ALL NEW APPOINTMENTS.

UM, BUT EVEN FOR FOLKS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHO'S REELECTED, HER COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS ALL HAVE TO BE, UM, REMADE.

SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIME TO GO INTO THE SYSTEM AND APPLY FOR COMMISSIONS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

SECONDLY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO TRAVIS COUNTY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING.

IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL TO HAVE GREAT PEOPLE, UM, WHO WANNA SERVE.

IT DOES HELP THE PROCESS GO FASTER.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE, UM, THROUGH JUDGE BROWN'S OFFICE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

THANK YOU.

I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR MS. HALL.

SO IN, IN LOOKING AT THE CHART AND THINKING FOR PREPARING THE CHART FOR US TO SEE, UM, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES AND WHEN THE MEETINGS WERE ACTUALLY HELD AND WHEN WE HAD CANCELLATIONS, IS IT A, A MATTER OF, DID THE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT, FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN SEVEN APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE COMMISSION.

SO THEREBY A QUORUM COULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THESE LAST FEW YEARS.

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE MEETING DATE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE COMMISSION MEET ON MONDAYS FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH? IS THAT THE ISSUE? THAT IS IT, YOU KNOW, IS IT SCHEDULING, IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO? THAT'S POSS THAT'S NOT BEEN MENTIONED TO ME AT ALL.

I DO BELIEVE THE STAFFING DEPARTMENT IS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THAT.

I, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE MEETING DATE OR IF WE JUST HAD COMMUNICATION ISSUES ABOUT WHEN WE WERE MEETING.

UM, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO DIVERT TO THE STAFFING DEPARTMENT ON THAT.

YEAH, I, I WOULD, I ENCOURAGE STAFF TO LOOK INTO IF IT'S THE NEED FOR US TO GET A DIFFERENT DATE THAT WORKS BETTER WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S SCHEDULE.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY AS WAS HIGHLIGHTED HERE, WE KNOW THAT THESE NEXT FEW YEARS ARE GONNA BE PARTICULARLY TOUGH ON OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, OUR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, OUR IMMIGRANT, UH, EXPERIENCE IN AUSTIN IS AN IMPORTANT ONE.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY IN THESE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMISSION IS ABLE TO MEET AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, UH, AND THAT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING THEM IN FACILITATING A, A MEETING TIME AND DATE THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO THE MAJORITY.

UM, AND THEN ALSO TO EVERYONE THAT TESTIFIED, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS.

UH, YOU KNOW, 15%, AS WAS MENTIONED, OF OUR COMMUNITY OF AUSTINITES ARE IMMIGRANTS.

AND SO I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY OF OUR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS WHO ARE WILLING AND INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING AS A COMMISSIONER.

AND SO I WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT AND PROVIDING THOSE NAMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUES WHO WILL BE JOINING THE DAIS, UM, AND TO THE OFFICES THAT HAVE VACANCIES.

AND CERTAINLY WE WANNA ENSURE THAT WE GET REALLY ROBUST PERSPECTIVES AT THE TABLE.

SO WE APPRECIATE ELSE'S WORK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

UM, I WILL ADD, I THINK THAT, JUST LOOKING AT THE CHART, FOR MOST OF THE TIME THEY ONLY HAD SEVEN PEOPLE.

I, I THINK YOU, ME AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAD PEOPLE ALL YEAR.

UM, EVERY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER HAD AT LEAST A COUPLE MEETINGS WHERE THEIR APPOINTEE HAD A VACANCY AND TRAVIS COUNTY HAD A VACANCY, IF I'M READING THE CHART CORRECTLY.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE A FUNCTION OF THE APPOINTMENTS NOT HAVING, UM, BEEN MADE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

AND, AND I THINK THE, WE MIGHT NEED THE, UM, THE CLERK TO BE PROVIDING YOU HAVE, WE HAVE BEEN DOING MORE OF IT SINCE WE HAD A FEW NOTICES.

UM, BUT REALLY MAKING SURE THAT COUNCIL OFFICES KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE NEW AND HAVE TO REAPPOINT OR WHETHER, UM, THEY ARE, UM, CONTINUING.

I THINK THAT ADDITIONAL NOTICE WOULD BE GREAT.

I HAVE ONE MORE.

GO AHEAD.

AND THEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE, HONESTLY, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO COMING OUT OF THIS CONVERSATION TODAY IS GO ONLINE WITH THE CITY CLERK AND PUT YOUR NAME IN THE HOPPER AND INDICATE THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION.

'CAUSE WE WOULDN'T KNOW UNLESS YOU RAISED YOUR HAND THROUGH AN APPLICATION OR CONTACTED A COUNCIL MEMBER TO SAY THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED.

THAT IS, THAT, THAT'S THE INCOMING INFORMATION THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

SO YOU CAN FILL OUT THE APPLICATION, IT'S PRETTY SHORT, INDICATE WHICH DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY THERE ARE.

THERE ARE A LOT, AND THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.

BUT I WOULD URGE YOU ALL WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOURSELF FOR THIS VOLUNTEER PUBLIC SERVICE.

THAT'S WHERE

[00:35:01]

PLEASE TAKE THE FIRST STEP YOURSELF VOLUNTARILY TO SIGN UP AND PUT IN YOUR APPLICATION SO THAT YOU ARE NOTIFYING FOLKS ON THE DA OF YOUR WILLINGNESS AND INTEREST.

BECAUSE WE, OTHERWISE, THAT'S A REALLY PERFECT WAY FOR US TO KNOW.

WE GO IN THERE, WE SEE WHO HAS APPLIED.

WE DON'T ONLY RELY ON PEOPLE THAT WE ALREADY KNOW, OR NETWORKS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

SOMETIMES WE WANT TO THROW AND NEED TO THROW THE NET OUT FURTHER TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND GET, UH, INPUT FROM MORE RESPONSIVE FOLKS.

YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT.

THANKS, CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

AND, UM, IF YOU ALSO SIMILARLY, YOU KNOW, KNOW PEOPLE WHO, UM, MAY HAVE CHALLENGES NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM, IF YOU CAN INVITE THEM TO BE ENGAGED AND, AND HELP US GET THE WORD OUT INTO SPACES THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT OUT TO RIGHT NOW, THAT IS ALSO HELPFUL.

UM, GREAT.

SO, UM, WE WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY ACTION ON ITEM TWO.

WE HAVE BEEN NOTICED, UM, ITEM

[3. Consideration of notice that the College Student Commission has not met for more than six months, and approval of a recommendation to the City Council on whether to dissolve the commission. ]

THANK YOU CHAIR.

SIMILARLY, WE BRING THIS TO YOU AS A RESULT OF THE REQUIREMENT IN CODE.

UH, THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE.

THEIR CHALLENGE IS A LITTLE BIT, UM, I THINK MORE CLEAR THAT IT'S A, A VACANCY ISSUE.

THE, THEY HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAKE QUORUM AS WELL FOR THE LAST PAST TWO YEARS.

THEY HAVEN'T CONVENED BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND DECEMBER.

ALL OF THIS YEAR THEY HAVE 15 SEATS.

UM, EIGHT OF THOSE SEATS ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE QUORUM FOR THEM.

SO THAT IT IS QUITE A CHALLENGE.

AND THEN I THINK ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE UNIQUENESS HERE IS THAT THERE ARE FIVE AREA EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THOSE NOMINATIONS.

AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE CHALLENGING FOR THOSE INSTITUTIONS, BUT IT'S ALSO, THERE'S A TIMING ISSUE WHEN WE GET THEM.

AND WE DO RELY ON THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO SEND US THE NOMINATIONS BEFORE WE CAN GET THE PROCESS THROUGH.

WE'VE JUST NOTICED JUST KIND OF AS CASUAL OBSERVANCE OF FLUCTUATION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR OF PARTICIPATION.

UM, AND I, I DO THINK THERE'S ALSO BEEN, UH, SOME STAFFING SWITCHES WITH, UH, THE, THE STAFFING OF THE COMMISSION THAT MAY PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES.

I DO KNOW THAT DR.

UH, EUGENE IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE LIAISON FOR THE COMMISSION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC THINGS.

GO AHEAD.

IS THIS, UM, COMMISSION, ONE THING THAT CAME TO LIGHT AT OUR PREVIOUS AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH THE COMMISSION IS THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL REQUIRED TO MEET MONTHLY.

I THINK THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT THEY MEET QUARTERLY, IS THAT RIGHT? THE REQUIREMENT IN CODE IS FOR THEM TO MEET QUARTERLY.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE ADOPTED BYLAWS THAT SAY MONTHLY.

I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON THIS ONE.

I DID NOT CHECK ON THAT BEFORE THE MEETING.

APOLOGIES.

BUT THE CODE SAYS QUARTERLY.

YES.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE CONSIDER WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION.

AND I, I CAN'T REMEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER WHAT YOUR, UM, RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION ON YOUR ITEM.

BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE THIS COMMISSION TO EITHER UPDATE THEIR BYLAWS, REVISIT IT, AND PERHAPS ONLY DO A QUARTERLY MEETING.

JUST KNOWING THE FLUCTUATION AMONG STUDENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AT THESE UNIVERSITIES, UM, WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.

AND THANK YOU.

AND I'D ADD TO THAT EVEN AND SAY, LOOK AT THE, THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR AND, AND DON'T PLAN TO MEET IN THE SUMMER, FOR EXAMPLE MM-HMM .

BUT I, I LEAVE IT TO THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE FOLKS HERE TO END WITH THE COMMISSION TO KIND OF, OF FIGURE THAT OUT.

I, I EXPECT WITH THAT EXTRA SCRUTINY, THEY'LL DO THAT.

SO I WOULD, UM, ASK THAT DR.

EUGENE, UM, AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE TOGETHER, WORK WITH, UM, THE SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE APPOINTED, UM, AND TO FIGURE OUT A CADENCE THAT WORKS WITH THE STUDENTS' SCHEDULES.

AND IF THEY HAVEN'T MET AND SUCCEEDED IN THAT WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, COME BACK AND, AND AT THAT POINT, UM, WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.

UM, DR.

EUGENE DOES THAT WORK? I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR OUR TWO AWESOME CITY MANAGERS THAT ARE GOING ON TO DO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS FOR THE CITY.

BUT DID THIS COMMISSION AS, UM, OUR CLERK HAS SHARED.

WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS AS AN ISSUE.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS STAFFING.

SECONDLY, THIS WAS SET UP TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS TO GET STUDENTS, UM, TO SIGN UP AND THEY MEET WITH THE STUDENTS AND INTERVIEW STUDENTS BEFORE THEY THEN FORWARD THEM ON TO APPLY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

SO

[00:40:01]

SO I LEAN TOWARDS HOW THEY WANNA OPERATE, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY SENIORS THIS YEAR, IT HAS REALLY IMPACTED US.

SO WE ARE LEARNING THESE LESSONS AS WE GO.

AND WE MET THIS PAST FRIDAY, THE DAY THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SELECTED, THEY'D LIKE TO MEET ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

THREE TO FIVE.

YES, .

BUT, UM, WE'RE, WE ARE BACK ON THE MEND AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.