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[CALL TO ORDER]
THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12TH.UH, WE WILL START WITH ROLL CALL.
CAN EVERYONE PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERAS? THANKS, CHAIR KELLY HERE.
DID YOU RECEIVE, DID YOU HEAR, DID YOU RECEIVE MY EMAIL? THAT THE AGENDA? YES, I RECEIVED THE EMAIL.
UM, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER MURPHY.
AND COMMISSIONER VASSALLO HERE.
I'M HAVING A LITTLE CAMERA TROUBLE, BUT I'LL GET ON SOON.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular meeting on November 14, 2025.]
OF BUSINESS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGULAR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2025.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HANDS OR SAY AYE.
SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION ITEMS. UH, NUMBER I AGENDA.
[2. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Senior Business Process Consultant, Austin Equity and Inclusion regarding Mapping Opportunity and identifying disparities across different Austin communities.]
PRESENTATION BY GARY AARON, SENIOR BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT AUSTIN EQUITY INCLUSION REGARDING MAPPING OPPORTUNITY AND IDENTIFYING DISPARITIES ACROSS DIFFERENT AUSTIN COMMUNITIES.MY NAME IS GARY ERIN, I'M A BUSINESS PROCESS CONSULTANT SENIOR WITH AUSTIN EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
I AM SHIVANI DAAR, A BUSINESS PROCESS SPECIALIST WITH AUSTIN EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR, AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION FOR GIVING US TIME TO PRESENT.
WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS AND HAVE YOU ALL ASSIST IN SHAPING A CURRENT UNDERTAKING IN OUR OFFICE TO CREATE A PLACE-BASED DATA INFORMED TOOL THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE CITY OF AUSTIN BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN COMMUNITY CONDITIONS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS.
BEFORE WE GET INTO DETAIL, WE'D LIKE TO GROUND THIS WORK WITH INFORMATION THAT I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF, LIKE HOW 12% OF AUSTINITES ARE LIVING IN POVERTY AND OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
IF WE TAKE THAT STATISTIC AND SLICE IT BY RACE LANGUAGE OR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, WE SEE DISPARITIES IN HOW THAT NUMBER IS COMPRISED.
THEREFORE, IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO BECOME THE MOST LIVABLE CITY FOR ALL AUSTINITES AND FOR ALL IDENTITIES, WE ARE CREATING THIS TOOL TO ADDRESS GAPS LIKE THESE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
THE FRAMING FOR OUR TOOL IS THAT OF A MOBILITY INDEX.
WHILE A MOBILITY INDEX OF THIS TYPE MAY BE NEW TO AUSTIN, THEY ARE COMMON IN PRACTICE FOR CITIES IN EVALUATING AREAS OF GREATEST NEED AND TRACKING IMPACT FROM ADJUSTMENTS IN PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION.
TO ENSURE A SOUND METHODOLOGY AND CLEAR PUBLIC DATA INSIGHTS, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE VENDOR BY THE NAME EVERY TEXAN, A DATA AND POLICY RESEARCH DATA AND POLICY RESEARCH CENTER WITH COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
PLAINLY STATED, THE MOBILITY INDEX WILL BE A MAP SUPPORTED BY A REPORT AND PRACTICAL WRITING THAT WILL GUIDE SERVICE DELIVERY AND DECISION MAKING TRACK IMPACT WITH CLEAR MEASURES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE PLAN TO STRUCTURE THIS TOOL USING THEMES THAT REFLECT CORE DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNITY LIFE, ORGANIZE CONDITIONS INTO ACTIONABLE CATEGORIES, AND IDENTIFY SHARED NEEDS AND TRACK PROGRESS.
THESE THEMES ARE COMPRISED OF INDICATORS THAT ARE MEASURABLE, PEOPLE-FOCUSED.
DATA POINTS FOCUS AROUND RELEVANCE, RELIABILITY, AND THE CITY'S
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ABILITY TO ACT.THESE INDICATORS WILL ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO OPERATIONALIZE DECISION MAKING IN A MEASURABLE AND A WITH INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
EXAMPLES OF THESE INDICATORS INCLUDE MEDIAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME, ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE, AND LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
THE BACKING FOR THIS APPROACH DERIVES FROM INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT AND ALIGNMENT WITH CONCRETE INITIATIVES AND TOOLS SUCH AS THE QUALITY OF LIFE STUDIES IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
THESE ARE OUR CURRENT PRELIMINARY INDICATORS, MEANING THAT THESE ARE WHAT OUR OFFICE AND VENDOR HAVE IDENTIFIED TO CAPTURE THE SET QUALITY OF LIFE INSIGHTS, STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS WITH DEPARTMENT PRIORITIES, AND SHOW MINIMAL OVERLAP AMONG THEMSELVES AS THEY'RE PRELIMINARY, THEY'RE ALSO SUBJECT TO CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HEAR IN OUR ENGAGEMENTS.
AT THE END OF OUR ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, WE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 18 INDICATORS FOR EQUAL DISTRIBUTION AND EQUAL WEIGHTING IN THE FINAL PRODUCT.
OUR INTENT AND END GOAL CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN TWO POINTS.
FIRST, THAT THESE INDICATORS WILL SHOW IMPACT THAT CAN BE FELT AND VETTED BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS IT CONCERNS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANDED ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
AND SECOND, THAT THE MAP AND REPORT WILL BE USED AS A CROSSWALK OF SORTS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS THEMSELVES AND BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXECUTE ON PRIORITIES USING SHARED SUSTAINABLE LANGUAGE AND DATA.
BASICALLY, THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY WOULD BE ALIGNED IN ADDRESSING GAPS FOR COMMUNITIES OF GREATEST NEEDS.
WITH THAT STATED, IT WAS OUR INTENTION TO HEAR FROM YOU, KNOWING THAT YOU ALL HAVE A PULSE ON YOUR COMMUNITY'S CONDITIONS, BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU THESE THREE QUESTIONS.
FIRST, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES OR OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY TODAY? SECOND, IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE KEY DRIVERS OF SUCCESS OR OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY? AND THIRD, WHAT CHANGES WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON MOBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY? SORRY, ARE YOU GONNA, ARE YOU GONNA STOP THERE AND SEE WAIT FOR INPUT? YES.
DOES ANYONE HAVE, LIKE, ANYONE LIKE TO CHIME IN FOR ONE OF THE QUESTIONS? YES.
ARE WE SUPPOSED TO THOSE QUESTIONS NOW OR WHEN DO WE ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS? UM, IF WE'RE OKAY WITH QUESTIONS AS WELL AS THE ANSWERS TO THESE THREE QUESTIONS, SAY IT AGAIN.
WE WELCOME THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE AS WELL AS THE ANSWERS TO THESE THREE QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY GIVE YOU A COUPLE ANSWERS TODAY, BUT IT MIGHT BE BEST IF WE, IF YOU MAYBE LIKE SEND THE GROUP AN EMAIL THROUGH NKV OM, WE CAN KIND OF TAKE IT BACK AND THEN PROVIDE LATER INPUT, UM, JUST IN CASE SOME PEOPLE NEED SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.
AND WE'RE ALSO MISSING A COUPLE COMMISSIONERS TODAY.
DOES ANYONE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO BRAINSTORM ANY ANSWERS RIGHT NOW? AND SO WHEN YOU SAY MOBILITY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC OR SOCIOECONOMIC MOBILITY OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE ACTUAL PHYSICAL MOBILITY? I THINK, I THINK THE FORMER RIGHT? WELL, THE, THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, DEFINES IT AS FINANCIAL STABILITY, BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT ECONOMIC MOBILITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT JOBS.
IT IS ALSO ABOUT EXPANDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT CAN SAVE YOU MONEY AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES.
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC IDEA IN MIND HOW THE TOOL IS GONNA BE USED TO DELIVER THESE KINDS OF SERVICES? SO THE, THE END PRODUCT WOULD BE A MAP AND A REPORT.
SO THE RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE MAP TO SEE CONDITIONS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UNDERSTAND AND CAN HOLD CITY ACCOUNTABLE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND WOULD EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR PRIORITIES THAT MATTER MOST TO THEM.
AND I SAW ON THERE THAT YOU DO HAVE ONE OF YOUR DATA POINTS IS, UH, INDIVIDUALS
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WITH DISABILITIES.WHAT IS THE DATA SET THAT YOU'RE GONNA USE TO IDENTIFY WHO HAS A DISABILITY? SO OUR TOOL POOLS FROM PUBLIC DATA SOURCES SUCH AS CENSUS AND A CS, WE ARE NOT COLLECTING ANY PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL DATA.
WE ARE NOT ASKING RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE ANY NEW INFORMATION SO THAT THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITIES.
AND DOES THE, DOES THE DATA THAT YOU'RE USING DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISABILITIES OR IS IT JUST WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IDENTIFIES AS HAVING ANY KIND OF DISABILITY? FROM OUR CURRENT INDICATORS, WE DO HAVE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND PERSON WHO ARE 65 PLUS WITH AN AMBULATORY DIS DISABILITY.
BUT AS OUR ENGAGEMENTS GO ON, WE WOULD INCORPORATE OTHER DATA AS WELL.
UM, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN IN TERMS OF THE, THE, UM, DATA SET AND THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES YOU'RE USING? SO OUR TOOL WOULD PULL FROM PUBLIC DATA SOURCES CENSUS AND THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY.
SO THERE IS NO PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL DATA THAT WE ARE COLLECTING FOR NOW AS PART OF OUR INDICATORS.
WE DO HAVE, UM, WHICH ARE THE METRICS THAT WE HAD ON THE SCREEN BEFORE WE HAD PERSONS WITH DISABILITY AND PERSONS WHO ARE 65 PLUS WITH AN EMULATOR DISABILITY.
SO IT WOULD BE ANYTHING DEFINED AS A DISABILITY.
YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY? WE ARE OPEN TO FEEDBACK, UM, AS IF NOW THESE ARE THE TWO THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.
WELL, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT PEOPLE WITH, UH, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TYPE OF STUDY, UM, IN TERMS OF DRIVERS OF SUCCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'LL JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I MEAN, I THINK AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED, I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IS GONNA BE ACCESSIBILITY OF CITY SERVICES FOR PEOPLES, WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN GENERAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, IDENTIFYING WHICH CITY SERVICES, UM, RELATE TO ANY SPECIFIC AREAS, UM, AND THEN FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO BEST MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE TO THE, THE POPULATIONS THERE.
I JUST DON'T, SOMETIMES THAT IS A HARDER INDICATOR TO IDENTIFY.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT'S PROBABLY YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET A DATA SET THAT BREAKS DOWN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISABILITIES INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS HAVE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBILITY COMES IN A VARIETY.
OBVIOUSLY AS YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBILITY COMES IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FORMS AND, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT GONNA NEED THE SAME TYPE OF RIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, NOT BE FACING THE SAME ISSUES AS SOMEBODY WITH LIKE A, A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER ANO, IF I MAY.
COMMISSIONERS, UM, FOR THE, UH, REMAINING QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS TOOL THAT WE'RE PRESENTING AN INITIATIVE IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE THE END ALL BE ALL TOOL.
IT IS TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH EXISTING INITIATIVES AND TOOLS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET, UM, THE BROADEST SCOPE OF COMMUNITIES OF GREATEST NEED, UM, IN OUR OFFICE.
WE'RE ALSO CURRENTLY STANDING UP THE CITY'S A DA TRANSITION PLAN.
WE'RE UPDATING IT AND JUST HIRED AT A DA TRANSITION COORDINATOR AND OUR CURRENT LUBRICANT VENDORS TO EXPLORE THAT WORK.
AND THAT IS WHERE WE MOST LIKELY WILL BREAK DOWN THOSE COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH THEIR DIFFERENTIATING DISABILITIES.
AND WHAT, UH, WHAT SUPPORT DOES THE VENDOR PROVIDE? WHAT, HOW ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH, WITH THE VENDOR JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY? THEY ARE OUR DATA SCIENCE SUPPORT.
SO EVERY TEXAN IS A DATA POLICY AND RESEARCH CENTER.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE DATA AGGREGATION, UH, THINGS LIKE THE, WHAT'S CALLED A PRINCIPLE COMPONENT ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT OVERLAP IN ANY OF THE INDICATORS, MEANING THAT, UH, ALL THE INDICATORS ARE CONTRIBUTING EFFECTIVELY TO WHAT WE SHOW TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ALONG FROM WHENEVER WE'RE SHOWING A CHANGE IN, UH, STATUS OR OUTCOMES FROM CERTAIN PROJECTS OR PROGRAMMING.
AND JUST AS AN IDEA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT IDENTIF USING OTHER, UM, MAYBE MORE INFORMAL DATA SETS, LIKE TALKING TO SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD, UM,
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PROVIDE SOME SORT OF INSIGHT INTO HOW YOU COULD MAP THIS OUT.JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO IDENTIFY AS HAVING A DISABILITY IN SOMETHING FORMAL LIKE THE CENSUS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I IDEALLY THERE COULD BE OTHER WAYS TO, UM, FIND IT, FIND THAT DATA TOO.
DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR PRESENTERS? PRESENTERS, AND THANK YOU.
WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THE QUESTIONS AWAY.
WHAT IS THIS FOR AGAIN? WHAT IS THIS FOR AGAIN? THIS IS FOR THE MAPPING OPPORTUNITY TOOL THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS CURRENTLY.
AND WE WILL DEFINITELY THINK ABOUT THIS AND, AND FORWARD YOU SOME OF THE OUR, OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ONCE WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DIGEST THEM.
SOUNDS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT TOOL.
AND I WAS JUST, THIS IS, UM, ELIZABETH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THEY WOULD, UM, IF THEY'LL BE COMING BACK TO PRESENT TO US, LIKE WHEN THE TOOL HAS BEEN FINALIZED OR AFTER THEIR RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE SO WE CAN KIND OF GET PROGRESS ON IT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER, UM, OUR TIMELINE LOOKS AROUND THE END OF MARCH IN WHICH WE WOULD HAVE A MORE COMPLETE OR SOLID PRODUCT TO, UH, ROLL OUT AND, UM, DO SORT OF LIKE THIS OTHER ROUND OF ENGAGEMENT AROUND ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE TOOL IS SHOWING FOR COMMUNITIES.
SO I SUPPOSE WE CAN LOOK TOWARDS THE, UH, COMMISSION MEETING THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN FEBRUARY, THEN, IF NOT, UH, MARCH IF IT'S EARLIER THAN THE, UH, DEADLINE.
YEAH, THAT WOULD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL COME BACK AND KIND OF GIVE US A, JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON YOUR PROGRESS.
YOU CAN ALWAYS DO IT VIRTUALLY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK WE'D ALL BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE THAT.
[3. Discussion regarding event mobility accessibility for Texas Tribune Festival and Trail of Lights.]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE, DISCUSSION REGARDED, UH, EVENT MOBILITY ACCESSIBILITY FOR TEXAS TRIBUNE FESTIVAL AND TRAIL LIGHTS.I BELIEVE THIS WAS COMMISSIONER DIAZ'S ITEM.
IT WAS, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE THOUGH.
WERE YOU, DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH THAT, THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU WERE, YOU HAD BEEN TALKING TO AT THE TEXAS TRIBUNE FESTIVAL? NO, I'M SORRY.
IT TOTALLY SLIPPED MY MIND, BUT I MEAN, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ANYTHING URGENT BECAUSE I MEAN, THE TRAIL OF LIFE IS ALREADY HAPPENING, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THERE, THERE COULD BE ANY CHANGE THERE.
AND THEN THE TEXAS TRIBUNE FEST WOULDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL NEXT YEAR ANYWAYS.
SO DO YOU WANT TO, BUT, BUT I'LL MAKE A NOTE OF IT.
IF YOU CAN, IF YOU WANNA LET US KNOW ONCE YOU'VE TALKED TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE THE BRAINSTORMING SESSION THEN IF YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE A BETTER TIME RATHER THAN TODAY, OR WE COULD DO IT TODAY IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO TALK TO THEM.
OH, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST IN GENERAL, JUST TO REITERATE THAT, THAT'S DEFINITELY A GOAL OF MINE ON THE COMMISSION.
AND REALLY THE, ON REALLY ONE OF THE ONLY REASONS WHY I'M ON THE COMMISSION IS TO HELP MAKE ACCE MAKE, UH, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS MORE ACCESSIBLE.
UM, BUT YEAH, IT'S, IT'S JUST A LITTLE TAXING, YOU KNOW? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO ARE, ARE YOU STILL PLANNING TO TALK TO THAT, THAT THE FESTIVAL PLANNER? SURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE AN UPDATE LIKE NEXT MONTH OR THEN NEXT MONTH AFTER, BUT I CAN TRY MY BEST.
I THINK, YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME SINCE THIS FESTIVAL SEASON IS KIND OF COMING TO AN END HERE AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS BEFORE IT REALLY STARTS BACK UP MAYBE, NO, I GUESS NOT REALLY SIX MONTHS, BUT YEAH, DEFINITELY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH SOUTH BY EITHER.
THAT'S, I MEAN, IT'S COMING RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, SO.
WELL JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU, UH, WHENEVER YOU WANNA RESET THAT AS AN ITEM AND WE CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M SORRY, IT JUST TOTALLY SLIPPED MY MIND THAT I WAS GONNA REACH OUT.
[4. Discussion regarding the identification of legislative agenda priorities to share with Austin Government Relations as they prepare for the next Texas and federal congressional sessions.]
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, DISCUSSION REGARDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PRIORITIES TO SHARE WITH THE AUSTIN GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE NEXT TEXAS AND FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL SESSIONS.SO, UM, THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM REACHED OUT TO US AND SAID THEY'RE WORKING ON IDENTIFYING
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PRIORITIES FOR THE, UM, I BELIEVE THE 2027 SESSIONS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND, AND CONGRESS.AND THEY WANTED TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PRIORITY ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO THEM TO POTENTIALLY PRESENT TO CITY COUNCIL AND THEN WORK ON ADVOCATING FOR IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THOSE TODAY, BUT, UM, I'M GOING TO SET AN AGENDA ITEM FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND IF YOU COULD THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATIVE ITEMS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THIS CITY TO ADVOCATE FOR AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
IF WE HAVE SOMETHING TO PRESENT THEM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REAL HELPFUL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY OWE IT TO THE, THE COMMUNITY TO BE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
SO JUST, UH, COME, COME WITH YOUR IDEAS TO NEXT TIME AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT THEN.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME AGAIN WHAT THE, WHAT THE AIM OF THE PRESENTATION THAT WE DID HER WAS THE PRESENTATION.
THE PRESENTATION WAS FROM THE, UH, FROM THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICE REGARDING YEAH.
THE MAPPING TOOL THAT THEY WERE GONNA USE TO, OKAY.
AND THEN, UM, WE WILL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, APPROVE
[5. Approve the addition of new members to the AWEbility Festival Working Group.]
THE ADDITION OF NEW MEMBERS, THE ABILITY FESTIVAL, WORKING GROUP.UH, I BELIEVE THIS IS COMMISSIONER ANOS.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THREE NEW MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR COMMITTEE.
ONE MOMENT WHILE I GET THE LAST NAME CENTENO.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE A DA AND COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MEMBERS AND, UH, EVENT OPERATIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT SPECIALIST.
SO THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN DOING THESE KIND OF ACTIVITIES.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM BE PART OF IT.
AND THE SECOND PERSON IS AMANDA TUIT AND SHE'S THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF ACCESS VINE PLUS SHE IS THE PRESIDENT AND ON THE BOARD OF THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF FOUNDATION.
AND THE LAST ONE IS SCOTT KELLER AND HE'S THE FOUNDER OF THE DEAF ADVOCACY OF AMERICA OR DEATH ADVOCATES OF AMERICA.
SO I THINK ALL THREE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WERE GREAT MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP FOR THE ALL ABILITY FEST AND WORKING GROUP.
AND SO THAT'S MY MOTION TO APPROVE THE THREE OF THEM.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE OF ADDING THESE, UH, INDIVIDUALS TO THE WORKING GROUP.
UH, RAISE YOUR HAND TO SAY AYE.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO, THAT'S THE END OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE HAVE, UM, PRETTY SHORT AGENDA TODAY, BUT WE'LL MOVE ON TO FUTURE AGENDA
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
ITEMS. DOES ANYONE HAVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR OUR MEETING IN JANUARY? COMMISSIONER CHANG? YES.UM, SO I, UH, IN THE JOINT COMMISSION, UM, SORRY, UH, SORRY.
THE JOINT, UM, MY MIND IS NOT, BEAR WITH ME.
UM, JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE, I'M SO SORRY.
UH, WE DISCUSSED, UH, EXISTING WORKING GROUPS RIGHT NOW AND THERE IS A, UM, AN, UH, COMMITTEE ON THE AGING AND MAYOR'S COMMITTEE, UH, BUDGET, UM, WORKING GROUP, UH, THAT ONLY HAS TWO MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALLOWED TO HAVE UP TO FIVE AND, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET IN JANUARY.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE ON, UH, THIS COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN, UH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND THEN I CAN PROPOSE THAT ADDITION, UM, TO THAT, UM, TO THAT, UH, WORKING GROUP.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A, UM, UH, A DISCUSSION ON, UH, OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST AND JUST DO A COMPARISON OF IF IT MADE IT ONTO PAST BUDGETS AND, UM, KIND OF AS A WAY TO OPEN UP DISCUSSION FOR FUTURE, UM, OUR FUTURE BUDGET.
IF THAT IS A MOTION, I WILL SECOND IT.
UM, AND I KNOW WE STILL HAVE TO MEET THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP STILL HAS TO MEET, SO
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MAYBE WE WILL PLAN TO APPROVE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS IN FEBRUARY, IF THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO EVERYONE.AND WE'LL SET THIS PRELIMINARY BUDGET, UM, ITEM FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
THAT WAS, UH, I WAS, I WAS GONNA ADD ONE OF THE BUDGET ITEMS TOO, SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
OH, AND JUST TO, UM, LET EVERYONE KNOW, THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE HAS CHANGED ITS TIME.
UM, IT'S STILL MEETING ON THE FOURTH WEDNESDAY, BUT IT'S NO LONGER MEETING AT THREE O'CLOCK.
UH, IT WILL NOW BE, UM, MEETING AT SIX O'CLOCK.
UM, SO, UM, YES, I, I THINK I, UM, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND IN THE FUTURE, UM, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER KELLY, YOU'RE THE ALTERNATE, SO YEAH, JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW.
YEAH, THAT'LL MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME TO GET THERE TOO.
I'LL JOIN, UM, I'LL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO JOIN THAT, THAT WORKING GROUP TOO.
I KNOW THAT, UM, THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, THEY JUST SAID THAT OUR COMMISSION, ONLY ONE PERSON'S ALLOWED TO VOTE, BUT YEAH, I'M, YEAH.
UM, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? UH, AND YOU KNOW, JUST REMEMBER THAT IF YOU HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU THINK OF BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT MEETING, YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL AVA AND WE CAN SET IT UP TO GET IT APPROVED IN ON THE AGENDA, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DISCUSS IT HERE.
ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS FOR THIS EVENING.
SO ON THAT NOTE, WE WILL, I WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR SAY AYE.