Governor's Committee representative offers proclamations and support; committee hears Equity Office training update

Melinda Crockham, representing the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities, gave public comment at the May 9 Mayor's Committee meeting, thanked committee leaders for attending an April meeting, and offered proclamations and support for local recognition and outreach.

"I do community outreach, and I just wanted to make a couple comments," Crockham said, offering examples of proclamations tied to Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 15), Older Texans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. She said the governor's committee would be "happy to help in any way that we can" with the disability festival the committee is planning in October.

The committee also discussed the City of Austin Equity Office's "Undoing Institutional Racism" trainings. Committee members said the equity office has paused its regular training series but scheduled one remaining workshop between June 3 and June 5; interested commissioners were directed to sign up by email at the contact provided by staff ([email protected] in the meeting transcript). The committee did not decide city policy or take action on the training itself; the item was presented as an informational update and a chance for commissioners to register.

On routine business, the committee approved the April 11 meeting minutes by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Kristen Visayo moved approval and a second was recorded; the minutes passed unanimously.

Committee members asked staff to invite representatives from CapMetro to a future meeting to discuss a no-tolerance enforcement policy and to request a representative from the Blues on the Green event to discuss accessibility concerns raised during last summer's performances. Commissioners asked that both items be scheduled for the June meeting so the full committee can hear from those external partners.