Membership Council – Minutes
Monday, August 18, 2014
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Attendance: Blythe Plunkett(MLF), Mitchell Gibbs(FS), Sharon Lowe(Foundation for the Homeless),
Darilynn Cardona-Beiler(ATCIC); Carlos Rivera(City HHS); Ann Howard (ECHO), Niki Paul; Christy
Moffett (Travis Co), Christine Banks (Community), Mike Manor (Travis County), Irit Umani (Trinity
Center); Charles Walker; Kathy Ridings (Salvation Army); Lisa Garcia(HACA); Susan
McDowell(LifeWorks)
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Carlos Rivera, Chair
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Carlos Rivera, Chair
ECHO UPDATE
Ann Howard
 Membership Council Restructuring
a. Draft Conflict of Interest Policy and Procedure
b. Suggested membership
a. Clarification on Elected Seats 14-18
b. Need to clarify quorum with the structure and included in by-laws
c. Will need more work for pre-meeting prep for any voting
d. Should the Work Group chairs vote-yes
e. Vote: Motion to amend the “Appointed/Non-voting”-Consensus, 1 abstention
i. Kathy Ridings-Motion to accept changes
ii. Susan McDowell-Second motion to accept
f. Vote: Consensus for amended restructure
g. COMMENT:
h. Question: Voting “ECHO” as lead agency-clarification
i. Add-Conflict of Interest form review as part of meeting prep (Review who should
abstain) and involve during recruitment
 CoC Governance Updates
o Bi-Annual Meeting (Fall and Spring)
o Increasing to two meeting per year and update contract
 NAEH Conference Report Back
o Focus on ending veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness
o Resources now posted online
 PSH Evaluation Report and new goal
o ECHO published on behalf of the City of Austin
o See ECHO website www.austinecho.org
o Next Thursday, August 28th Mayor’s Office might present resolution Mayor’s Challenge
to End Veteran Homelessness and new goal of 400 units of Housing First units
 Poverty Simulation, September 20th 12-4pm, Junior League HQ
o Junior League new member class will also be in attendance
o 20-25 Candidates will be attending
o
Recruiting volunteers-contact Niki Paul
COORDINATED ASSESSMENT UPDATE
Kameron Fowler/Ann Howard
 3 new Coordinated Assessment Intake Specialists started today 8/18/14
 Will be working at “front doors”-Caritas, Front Steps and Salvation Army
WORK GROUP UPDATES
Work Group Chairs
 Housing
o Veterans
o Prevention
o Housing Specialists
 Continuum of Care
o Review 2014 Timeline
 Education and Outreach
o Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Feedback
 Currently have several events planned for the week
 Connection with
 Data Work Group
o HMIS Workgroup
o Looking at data elements
OTHER
 State reached out with Travis County and City of Austin to discuss Austin State Hospital (ASH)
campus and looking for alternatives to take over management
 Looking into opportunities for PSH or treatment facility

ADJOURN
Carlos Rivera
Next Meeting: Monday, September 15th, 2014 2:30pm-4pm, Palm Square Building, 100 N. IH35,
Ste, 1003