Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Technology Commission http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday –July 9th, 2025 – 6:30PM Permitting and Development Center– Training Room – Room 1402 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 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, July 9th, 2025, at 6310 Wilhemina Delco Dr, 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 Milena Pribic Benjamin Combee Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Rachel Frock 1 Keith Pena-Villa Suzanne Heritage Brian AM Williams Board Members/Commissioners Not in Attendance: Ibiye Anga Carina Alderete, Vice-Chair Thomas Rice Nicolas Eastwood CALL TO ORDER Chair Apodaca called the Community Technology and Telecommunications Meeting to order at 6:41 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. Michael Moss spoke to the commission on behavioral manipulation produced by video game matchmaking algorithms. Mr. Moss mentioned that video game creator companies design matchmaking algorithms, optimized matchmaking models, that are meant to incorporate data on stress responses, purchases, session length, etc in order to increase player retention and encourage purchases. These design policies remove player expression and consent. Mr. Moss encouraged the commission to investigate how and if these algorithms violate digital ethics policies for vulnerable community members. Mr. Moss suggested creating oversight protocols that audits matchmaking algorithms for behavioral targeting and elevate public awareness on consent and transparency on algorithm design. 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 Combee and seconded by Commissioner Pena-Villa. The minutes were approved on a vote of 6-0-1. Commissioner Willams abstained from the vote. 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) The presentation on Automated License Plate Readers was delivered by Kevin Welch and can be viewed at this link: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/349277 2 3. Presentation on the selected applications for the Grant for Technology Opportunities Mini and Capacity Pathways (Dan Martinez, Business Process Specialist, Economic Development Department) The presentation on the selected GTOPs Mini and Capacity applications was delivered by Dan Martinez and can be viewed at this link: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/345480 DISSCUSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Approval of a Community Listening Sessions planning work group Chair Apodaca began with some background context on this item. The commission has participated on community listening sessions in the past, specifically with bilingual and houseless individuals. Chair Apodaca recommended that this group would host 1-2 sessions a year to receive direct input from the community on their technology concerns. Executive liaison, Ann Eaton, detailed the direction given by the city clerk on how to integrate the community listening session into the standard meeting. The commission must adhere to the policies set by the city clerk if that session has a quorum of commissioners. Or the commission could choose to host these sessions offline with a sub quorum of commissioners. Chair Apodaca opened it up to the commission to gauge interest in participation. Commissioner Heritage volunteered to participate on this working group. She recommended calendaring out this groups milestones and plan the meeting logistics like the topic and location. Chair Apodaca decided to not form a proper working group since only the Chair and Commissioner Heritage are on this team. They will take the discussion offline and come back to the whole commission with further updates. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Public Surveillance working group updates regarding further meetings with surveillance stakeholders Commissioner Pena-Villa gave an update to the commission on his absence as of late. Commissioner Pena-Villa emphasized the importance of this working group’s objective, and mentioned that they have been engaging local stakeholders on the issue. The group recently met with Dr. Berd who shared various examples of public surveillance and gave a list of local municipalities that have implemented initiatives surrounding surveillance. Pena-Villa reiterated a thought by Dr, Berd that any proposed digital initiative should deliver results within a fixed period of time. This group will continue to compile feedback from local stakeholders to finalize their recommendation. 3 6. Artificial Intelligence Working Group updates surrounding development of recommendation post stakeholder engagement Commissioner Williams, who manages this group, was not present to deliver an update on this group’s progress. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Community Listening Session working group approval • Legislative Update on HB 149 • Presentation from the E-Health Alliance ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. 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 before the meeting date. Please contact Dan Martinez at the Community Technology Divison at (512) 974- 3510, for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission, please visit their website at http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc or contact Dan Martinez at dan.martinez@austintexas.gov The Minutes were approved at the August 13th, 2025 Meeting on Commissioner Combee’s motion and Vice Chair Alderete’s second with a final vote of 6-0. 4