TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Wednesday – July 9th, 2025 – 6:30PM Permitting and Development Center – Training Room – Room 1401/1402 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, email Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Keith Pena-Villa Suzanne Heritage Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Milena Pribic Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Brian AM Williams Thomas Rice Benjamin Combee Ibiye Anga AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on June 11th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation on how Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) operate and their potential risks as a law enforcement tool (Kevin Welch, Board President, EFF-Austin) 3. Presentation on the selected applications for the Grant for Technology Opportunities- Mini and Capacity Pathways (Dan Martinez, Business Process Specialist, Economic Development Department) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Approval of a Community Listening Sessions planning work group WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further interviews with stakeholders and subsequent action items 6. Artificial Intelligence Working Group updates on new and preexisting artificial intelligence legislation or guidelines and how they will impact the group’s draft recommendation FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If you require Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Dan Martinez at the Community Technology Division in the Economic Development Department, at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Technology Commission, please contact Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov
ALPRs – Automated License Plate Readers MASS SURVEILLANCE MASQUERADING AS PUBLIC SAFETY Privacy Is A Universal Human Right Freedom Of Movement Is A Universal Human Right ALPRs – What’s Behind This Acronym? ALPR stands for Automated License Plate Reader. Police departments use them to scan and look up the criminal status of a particular car’s license plate. Police have always done this manually, ALPRs massively increase the scale of these lookups. Can be fixed or mobile, but in both cases all vehicles in a particular location will be scanned. The scanning is indiscriminate, no warrant or formal accusation of a crime is needed. The quasi-public status of cars is used to subvert the 4th amendment and its expectation of privacy. Location Data Is Big Business ALPR vendors aggressively court police departments. Millions are spent by cities licensing this technology. Major vendors like Flock make dubious claims of the technology’s usefulness. Went as far as to claim 10% of crimes in the US are solved by Flock! A Data Privacy Disaster Waiting To Happen These location datasets are usually controlled by 3rd party vendors, not cities, leading to dubious security and oversight. In 2020, the UK’s entire national ALPR database was leaked onto the dark web. Immense Human Rights Risks Fixed ALPRs can be placed to overpolice poor communities and communities of color, or by HOAs to privatize public streets. Mobile ALPRs can be positioned outside of abortion providers, gender affirming care clinics, or immigration services facilities. The movements of politicians and prominent public figures can be tracked, increasing the possibility of blackmail. ALPRs can be inaccurate 10% of the time, and the databases aren’t kept up to date. Innocent people have been held at gunpoint for supposedly stealing cars that were inaccurately flagged. Possibly nothing reveals more about a person than the pattern of where they go and at what times they go there. The Human Toll Of Mass Surveillance You lose access to your unfiltered thoughts and ideas. You lose the freedom to be embarrassing, inconsistent or experimental without consequence. It erodes intimacy with other people. There is a never-ending performance anxiety. The Technological Panopticon is a Social Tragedy Privacy allows us the ability to flourish as complex, ever- changing beings. Surveillance deprives us of that. Surveillance chills free expression even in the kindest of hands. People modify their behavior when they know they are being watched. Within the …
2025 GTOPS Mini + Capacity Awarded Applications July 7th, 2025 1 GTOPs Pathways 2 GTOPs 2024 Grant ● Total funding for all pathways: $400,000 Award Pathways: $60,000 $25,000 $315,000 3 2 GTOPs Capacity 4 GTOPs Capacity 5 This funding award is an organizational capacity building grant (not direct service). This pathway has no contracting and no insurance requirements. Funds requested must support digital equity. Funding is available to orgs making less than $1,500,000 annually. Two focus areas ● Technology Infrastructure ○ ○ ○ PC’s, laptops, and tablets; Associated peripherals; and network hardware Software supporting program objectives STEM / maker / robotic equipment supporting digital equity programs ● Staff Training and Development ○ Conferences ○ Workshops ○ Classes ○ Professional membership orgs. GTOPs Capacity Received Applications - 19 total Applications in Green are past recipients New Applicants to the Program ● Cine Las Americas ● HC4A ● Walking by Faith Prison Ministry ● The Collective Lift ● Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action ● Art Curatorial Inc. ● Rancho Alegre Radio 6 Returning Applicants ● 212 Catalysts ● SAIVA ● Art Spark Texas ● Changing Expectations ● BRAVE Communities ● Open Austin ● The Museum of Human Achievement ● India Fine Arts ● Texas Folklife Resources ● Latinitas ● Economic Growth Business Incubator ● Austin Free-Net GTOPs Capacity Awarded Applications - 11 total Applications in Green are past recipients Awarded Applications The Museum of Human Achievement - $2,500.00 Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) - $2,500.00 ● ● HC4A - $2,500.00 ● Austin Free Net - $1,149.88 ● ● Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action (DAWA) - $2,500.00 ● Art Spark Texas - $2,500.00 ● ● Cine Las Americas - $2,500.00 ● ● Walking by Faith Prison Ministry - $2,500.00 ● Texas Folklife Resources - $1,451.66 ($2,500 Request) Latinitas - $2,500.00 SAIVA - $2,398.46 7 3 GTOPs Mini 8 GTOPs Mini Overview $60,000 9 GTOPs Mini Goals GTOPs Mini is a client-serving, project oriented, mini-grant that provides a low-barrier-to-entry funding opportunity to small, Austin area non-profits. GTOPs Mini supports programming that: ● Increases access to technology, ● Provides digital/technology training, and/or ● Increases access to the internet GTOPs Mini has minimal contracting, no insurance requirements, and pre-pays half of the award up front. GTOPs Mini Received Applications - 17 applications Applications in Green are past recipients New Applicants to the Program Returning Applicants ● Cine Las Americas ● HC4A ● Walking by …
TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Wednesday – June 11th, 2025 – 6:30PM City Hall – Boards and Commission – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, email Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Keith Pena-Villa Suzanne Heritage Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Milena Pribic Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Brian AM Williams Thomas Rice Benjamin Combee Ibiye Anga AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on May 14th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation on PANO AI, a wildfire tracking system (Christopher Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy) 3. Presentation on the applications received for the Grant for Technology Opportunities- Mini and Capacity Pathways (Dan Martinez, Business Process Specialist, Economic Development Department) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Technology Commission 2026 annual workplan, final revisions and approval 5. Approval of a Community Listening Sessions planning work group WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further interviews with stakeholders and subsequent action items 7. Artificial Intelligence Working Group updates on new and preexisting artificial intelligence legislation or guidelines and how they will impact the group’s draft recommendation FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If you require Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Dan Martinez at the Community Technology Division in the Economic Development Department, at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Technology Commission, please contact Dan Martinez at …
Technology Commission http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday –June 11th, 2025 – 6:30PM Austin City Hall– Boards and Commissions Room – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701 Please go to http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/10_1.htm for backup materials associated with this agenda. All ATXN (City Channel 6) programming is cablecast on Spectrum, Grande Communications, and Google Fiber on their cable channel 6, on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 and webcast online. Over 20 meetings per month, including this commission meeting, are available on demand online, typically within a found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/atxn-video-archive. the cablecast. Schedules and video can be few hours of The Technology Commission convened in a REGULAR meeting on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Current Commission Members Keith Pena-Villa ‐ Mayor Kirk Watson Brian AM Williams ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Carina Alderete ‐ Council Member José Velasquez, District 3 Suzanne Heritage ‐ Council Member José “Chito” Vela, District 4 Thomas Rice‐ Council Member Ryan Alter, District 5 Rachel Frock‐ Council Member Krista Laine, District 6 Benjamin Combee ‐ Council Member Mike Seigel, District 7 Nicholas Eastwood ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Ibiye Anga – Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, District 9 Milena Pribic ‐ Council Member Marc Duchen, District 10 Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance in person: Steven Apodaca, Chair Nicolas Eastwood Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Carina Alderete, Vice-Chair Thomas Rice 1 Rachel Frock Benjamin Combee Board Members/Commissioners Not in Attendance: Ibiye Anga Keith Pena-Villa Milena Pribic Suzanne Heritage CALL TO ORDER Chair Apodaca called the Community Technology and Telecommunications Meeting to order at 6:50 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon on the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. There were no speakers registered to deliver comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission regular meeting on May 14th, 2025. Motion to approve the meeting minutes was made by Commissioner Eastwood and seconded by Commissioner Combee. The minutes were approved on a vote of 6-0. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Presentation on PANO AI, a wildfire tracking system (Christopher Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy) The presentation on PANO AI’s Wildfire Tracking System was delivered by Christpher Vetromile and can be viewed at …
TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Wednesday – May 14th, 2025 – 6:30PM City Hall – Boards and Commission – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, email Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Keith Pena-Villa Suzanne Heritage Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Milena Pribic Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Brian AM Williams Thomas Rice Benjamin Combee Ibiye Anga AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the special called Technology Commission meeting on April 30th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation on PANO AI, a wildfire tracking system (Christopher Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Technology Commission annual work plan for 2026, planning, drafting and approval WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further interviews with stakeholders and subsequent action items 5. Artificial Intelligence Working Group updates on new and preexisting artificial intelligence legislation or guidelines and how they will impact the group’s draft recommendation FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If you require Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Dan Martinez at the Community Technology Division in the Economic Development Department, at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Technology Commission, please contact Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov
Technology Commission http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday –May 14th, 2025 – 6:30PM Austin City Hall– Boards and Commissions Room – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701 Please go to http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/10_1.htm for backup materials associated with this agenda. All ATXN (City Channel 6) programming is cablecast on Spectrum, Grande Communications, and Google Fiber on their cable channel 6, on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 and webcast online. Over 20 meetings per month, including this commission meeting, are available on demand online, typically within a found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/atxn-video-archive. the cablecast. Schedules and video can be few hours of The Technology Commission convened in a REGULAR meeting on Wednesday, May 14th, 2025, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Current Commission Members Keith Pena-Villa ‐ Mayor Kirk Watson Brian AM Williams ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Carina Alderete ‐ Council Member José Velasquez, District 3 Suzanne Heritage ‐ Council Member José “Chito” Vela, District 4 Thomas Rice‐ Council Member Ryan Alter, District 5 Rachel Frock‐ Council Member Krista Laine, District 6 Benjamin Combee ‐ Council Member Mike Seigel, District 7 Nicholas Eastwood ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Ibiye Anga – Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, District 9 Milena Pribic ‐ Council Member Marc Duchen, District 10 Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance in person: Steven Apodaca, Chair Suzzane Heritage Rachel Frock Suzanne Heritage Milena Pribic 1 Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Carina Alderete, Vice-Chair Thomas Rice Brian AM Williams Benjamin Combee Board Members/Commissioners Not in Attendance: Ibiye Anga Keith Pena-Villa CALL TO ORDER Chair Apodaca called the Community Technology and Telecommunications Meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon on the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. There were no speakers registered to deliver comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission special called meeting on April 30th, 2025. Motion to approve the special called meeting minutes was made by Commissioner Heritage and seconded by Vice Chair Alderete. The minutes were approved on a vote of 9-0. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation on PANO AI, a wildfire tracking system (Christopher Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy) The presenter could not attend this session. This presentation …
TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Wednesday – April 30th, 2025 – 6:30PM City Hall – Boards and Commission – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, email Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Keith Pena-Villa Thomas Rice Benjamin Combee Suzanne Heritage Sumit DasGupta Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Brian AM Williams Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Ibiye Anga AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on February 12th, 2025. 2. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on March 5th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation on PANO AI, a wildfire tracking system (Christopher Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy) 4. Presentation on Austin Free Net’s public resource distribution strategy (Jasmin Vargas, Program Coordinator, Austin Free Net) 5. Housing Department update on their annual Action Plan, their application to Housing and Urban Development’s formula grants and the potential impact on local communities (Rocio Peña-Martinez, Grants Program Manager, and Julie Smith, Engagement Specialist, Housing Department) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Review and approval of GTOPs Core 2025 selected recipients 7. Officer elections, discussion and approval of chair position 8. Officer elections, discussion and approval of vice chair position WORKING GROUP UPDATES 9. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further interviews with stakeholders and subsequent action items 10. Artificial Intelligence Working Group updates on next steps on strategic direction and timing of next meeting FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If you require Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Jon Fortune, Deputy City Manager FROM: Carrie Rogers, Intergovernmental Relations Officer DATE: February 25, 2025 SUBJECT: Federal Legislative Update / Potential Reductions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development As a follow up to memorandums issued on January 29, 2025, February 11, 2025, and February 17, 2025, the Intergovernmental Relations Office (IGRO), along with partner departments, continues to review federal administration actions relating to direct and discretionary funding awarded to the City of Austin. On Thursday, February 20, 2025, public reports began circulating of a planned 50% reduction in staff across the entire workforce at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In some HUD divisions, the cuts could be deeper – up to 84% at HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) – according to reports. Such a drastic reduction would likely have a significant impact on efforts across the nation to address homelessness and make housing more affordable. CPD includes many programs critically important to the City of Austin, such as HOME Investments Partnerships Program (HOME), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Continuum of Care (CoC) programming. The City of Austin receives approximately $14 million per year in HUD block grants. An additional $14 million was awarded this January for CoC programs, which primarily support services to address homelessness in Austin through non-profit partners. City of Austin HUD Community Programming Based on the information we have today, and in reviewing the City’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) with the Housing Department, the Homeless Strategy Office and Austin Public Health, staff identified the following areas where drastic reductions to HUD personnel and/or a reduction in funding would impact the City of Austin’s community programming: Page 1 of 3 HOME Program ($3,073,266) • HOME provides Tenant Based Rental Assistance to 65 families/individuals experiencing homelessness. The contract is administered through the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) and coordinated with our Continuum of Care (ECHO). • HOME provides funding for Down Payment Assistance (DPA) for 25 low- to moderate- income homebuyers who are first-time homebuyers. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $7,223,444 • Currently, CDBG funding provides programs or services to more than 14,000 Austinites. • CDBG provides critical mental health services, childcare services, and services to …
TO: Technology Commission M E M O R A N D U M FROM: Dan Martinez, Business Process Specialist, Financial Services Department DATE: April 9, 2025 SUBJECT: 2025 Grant for Technology Opportunities (GTOPs) Awardees The purpose of this memorandum is to request the Commission review and to advise staff on the twelve (12) 2025 GTOPs Core Awards, as scored by the GTOPs Grant Review Committee (the Committee) from April 4, 2025, with specific award amounts set by formula and the process described below. GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE GTOPs provides matching grant funds to Austin organizations that promote resident access to information technology, or that offer literacy programs that create digital opportunities and foster digital inclusion, particularly in underserved segments of our community. The goals of the program are to: ○ Increase use of digital and communications technology devices ○ Increase knowledge and skills of digital and communications technology ○ Increase access to and usage of the Internet AWARDEE SCORING AND SELECTION PROCESS Letters of Interest (LOI) for 2025 GTOPs Core were accepted from November 15, 2024 through January 8, 2025, thirty-four (34) LOIs were received. Grant applications were accepted from January 15, 2025, through February 12, 2025. The Technology Commission appointed a volunteer Grant Review Committee comprised of nine (9) qualified community representatives, three (3) of whom dropped from the panel prior to final scoring. The City received a total of twenty-five (25) applications for GTOPs 2025 Core. Prior to final scoring, the applicants were given the opportunity to respond to questions generated by the Committee. The Committee scored these applications using the GTOPs scoring criteria, including: Impact • Alignment with GTOPs Goals • • Success/feasibility • Budget and fiscal responsibility After the final scores were submitted by the Committee, the scores were ranked ; the top and bottom reviewer scores were then dropped in accordance with the Olympic style scoring system adopted in 2022. The remaining scores were averaged to give the formal score. Bonus points were allocated as programmatically 1 required, giving the final application score. The final application scores were then entered into an algorithm that distributed awards proportional to the scoring of each organization, within program parameters. The parameters considered by the algorithm are: 1) $315,000 in GTOPs funds available. 2) The minimum amount awarded to any organization is 70% of the requested amount. 3) Funds are distributed proportional to differences in scoring. 4) All funds must …
Technology Commission http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday –April 30th, 2025 – 6:30PM Austin City Hall – Boards and Commissions Room – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701 Please go to http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/10_1.htm for backup materials associated with this agenda. All ATXN (City Channel 6) programming is cablecast on Spectrum, Grande Communications, and Google Fiber on their cable channel 6, on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 and webcast online. Over 20 meetings per month, including this commission meeting, are available on demand online, typically within a found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/atxn-video-archive. the cablecast. Schedules and video can be few hours of The Technology Commission convened in a Special Called meeting on Wednesday, March 30th, 2025, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Current Commission Members Vacant ‐ Mayor Kirk Watson Brian AM Williams ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Carina Alderete ‐ Council Member José Velasquez, District 3 Suzanne Heritage ‐ Council Member José “Chito” Vela, District 4 Thomas Rice‐ Council Member Ryan Alter, District 5 Rachel Frock‐ Council Member Krista Laine, District 6 Benjamin Combee ‐ Council Member Mike Seigel, District 7 Nicholas Eastwood ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Ibiye Anga – Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, District 9 Milena Pribic ‐ Council Member Marc Duchen, District 10 Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance in person: Steven Apodaca, Chair Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Ibiye Anga Brian AM Williams 1 Suzanne Heritage Benjamin Combee Board Members/Commissioners Not in Attendance: Thomas Rice Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Milena Pribic CALL TO ORDER Chair Apodaca called the Technology Commission Meeting to order at 6:49 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon on the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. There were no speakers registered to deliver comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on February 12th, 2025. Motion to approve the minutes made by Chair Apodaca and seconded by Vice Chair Alderete. The minutes from (02/12/2025) were approved on a vote of 6-0. 2. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on March 5th, 2025. Motion to approve the minutes made by Chair Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Heritage. The minutes from (03/05/2025) were approved on a …
TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Wednesday – April 9th, 2025 – 6:30PM City Hall – Boards and Commission – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, email Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Keith Pena-Villa Thomas Rice Benjamin Combee Suzanne Heritage Sumit DasGupta AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Brian AM Williams Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Ibiye Anga The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on February 12th, 2025. 2. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on March 5th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation on PANO AI, a wildfire tracking system (Christopher Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy) 4. Presentation on Austin Free Net’s public resource distribution strategy (Adam Hughes, Volunteer Coordinator, Austin Free Net) 5. Housing Department update on their annual Action Plan, their application to Housing and Urban Development’s formula grants and the potential impact on local communities (Rocio Peña-Martinez, Grants Program Manager, and Julie Smith, Engagement Specialist, Housing Department) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Review and approval of GTOPs Core 2025 selected recipients 7. Officer elections, discussion and approval of chair position 8. Officer elections, discussion and approval of vice chair position WORKING GROUP UPDATES 9. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further interviews with stakeholders and subsequent action items 10. Artificial Intelligence Working Group updates on next steps on strategic direction and timing of next meeting FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If you require Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days …
TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Wednesday – March 5th, 2025 – 6:30PM Austin Energy – Mueller Assembly Room – Room 1111a 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, email Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Steven Apodaca, Chair Keith Pena-Villa Thomas Rice Suzanne Heritage Sumit DasGupta AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Brian AM Williams Gabriel Nwajiaku Ibiye Anga The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on February 12th, 2025. 2. Presentation on the Professional Development and EdExchange program (Madeleine Edwards, CEO, Austin Children’s Museum) DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation on the status of the city’s participation and involvement in the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program challenge process (Khotan Harmon, Program Manager, City of Austin Economic Development Department) 4. Presentation regarding Grant received applications (Dan Martinez, Business Process Specialist, City of Austin Community Technology Division) for Technology Opportunities Program 5. Presentation on the City of Austin and Travis County’s collaborative Digital Needs Assessment (Chloe Munn, Reyda Taylor from Travis County and Jesse Rodriguez from City of Austin) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Review and approval of recommendation for maintaining Funding for the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) in the FY26 Budget 7. Review and approval of recommendation for funding an affordable device distribution & repair program in the FY26 Budget FY26 budget in the FY26 Budget 8. Review and approval of recommendation for expanding public internet access in the 9. Review and approval of recommendation for increased funding for Digital Skills training 10. Review and Approval of recommendation for continued funding for AI upskilling for City of Austin employees in the FY26 Budget WORKING GROUP UPDATES 11. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further meetings with surveillance stakeholders 12. Artificial …
Recommendation for Continued Funding for AI Upskilling for City of Austin Employees in the FY26 Budget WHEREAS, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, including government operations, and enhancing efficiencies in data analysis, decision-making, and service delivery; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has already made initial investments in AI training and upskilling programs to ensure that its workforce is equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to leverage AI-based technologies effectively; and WHEREAS, the previous requested budget amendment during FY2025 of $75,000 for AI training, technical assistance, and continuing education has provided City employees with critical skills in data science, design, and AI applications; and WHEREAS, demand for AI-related education and resources continues to grow among City employees, highlighting the need for sustained investment in training programs; and WHEREAS, the expansion of initiatives such as the DIVE (Data Impact Visualization and Exploration) program would further support the City’s commitment to fostering technological innovation and digital proficiency among its workforce; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Technology Commission recommends that the Austin City Council allocate continued funding in the FY26 Budget to sustain and expand AI upskilling initiatives for City of Austin employees, ensuring they remain proficient in emerging technologies that enhance public service delivery.
Recommendation for Maintaining Funding for the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) in the FY26 Budget WHEREAS, digital inclusion remains a critical issue for the residents of Austin, impacting access to essential services, economic opportunities, and educational resources; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has demonstrated its commitment to digital equity through continued investment in initiatives that support underserved communities; and WHEREAS, the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) has a proven track record of funding impactful community programs that provide digital literacy training, access to devices, and broadband connectivity to Austin residents; and WHEREAS, maintaining the GTOPs budget at $400,000 will ensure the program’s continued impact, enabling more organizations to bridge the digital divide and support the City’s strategic goals on digital equity; and WHEREAS, community organizations rely on GTOPs funding to expand digital inclusion programs, ensuring that residents have access to the technology and skills necessary to participate fully in an increasingly digital world; and WHEREAS, continued investment in GTOPs aligns with the City of Austin’s strategic objectives related to digital equity, workforce development, and economic opportunity; and WHEREAS, the GTOPs program offers multiple funding pathways to ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing digital inclusion challenges, including Core Funding, Mini Funding, and Capacity Funding; and WHEREAS, Core Funding supports large-scale initiatives aimed at significantly advancing digital inclusion efforts within the community; and WHEREAS, Mini Funding serves as a vital resource for smaller-scale projects and initiatives seeking to make meaningful contributions to digital inclusion efforts in Austin; and WHEREAS, Capacity Funding provides essential support to grassroots organizations and initiatives, enabling them to build capacity and expand their reach in addressing digital inclusion disparities within underserved communities; and WHEREAS, the demand for digital inclusion funding continues to grow, with community organizations reporting an ongoing need for financial resources to support programs that enhance digital access and literacy; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission recommends that the Austin City Council allocate $400,000 in the FY26 Budget to the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) to further advance digital inclusion efforts citywide.
Recommendation for Funding an Affordable Device Distribution & Repair Program in the FY26 Budget WHEREAS, access to affordable, functioning digital devices is essential for participation in education, employment, healthcare, and government services; and WHEREAS, the Travis County - City of Austin Broadband and Digital Equity Needs Assessment found that lower-income households, older adults, and individuals with disabilities face significant barriers to obtaining and maintaining digital devices; and WHEREAS, planned obsolescence, high repair costs, and lack of affordable device options disproportionately affect underserved communities; and WHEREAS, expanding access to low-cost or refurbished devices and repair services would enable more Austin residents to participate fully in the digital economy; and WHEREAS, creating a dedicated GTOPs Hardware Fund would allow for targeted grants supporting device distribution and repair programs through partnerships with local nonprofits, libraries, and community organizations; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission recommends that the Austin City Council allocate funding in the FY26 Budget to establish a GTOPs Hardware Fund, ensuring that all residents have access to affordable devices and repair services, thereby closing the digital divide in Austin.
