Versión en español a continuación. Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting March 17, 2021 at 5:30 pm Economic Prosperity Commission to be held March 17, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (March 16, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at Michelle Clemons at 512-974-2713 michelle.clemons@austintexas.gov or Nydia Castillo at 512-974-6452 Nydia.castillo@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Michelle.Clemons@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Economic Prosperity Commission FECHA de la reunion 17 de Marzo La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (16 de Marzo antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en Michelle Clemons at 512-974-2713 michelle.clemons@austintexas.gov or Nydia Castillo at 512-974-6452 Nydia.castillo@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de …
Economic Prosperity Commission Recommendation (20210317-002B) WHEREAS, the Economic Prosperity Commission advises council on matters of construction, job creation, and the prosperity of all Austinites and all of these areas were gravely impacted by and are still recovering from the extreme winter events of February 2021; WHEREAS, extreme weather is becoming more frequent due in part to the negative effects of climate change and these events strain our emergency management services, utility infrastructure, transportation, and communication networks which are under the auspices of the City of Austin; WHEREAS, the lack of effective communication to the public by Austin public utilities and the government instilled a lack confidence in local government during Winter Storm Uri; WHEREAS, the City of Austin is not in a recovery, we are still in a crisis as Austinites are still struggling with water, food, and electricity shortages (and fear of high utility and water bills); WHEREAS, Austin City Council recently appointed the first Resiliency Officer and has proactively prepared for extreme weather events recognizing their potential devastation to the local economy in the response to Climate Resilience Resolution 20190509-019, which specifically called for opportunities for city staff and the community to work together and comprehensively address extreme weather impacts and increase Austin’s climate resilience. However, did not account for, or include evaluation of extreme cold occurrences, such as the events of Winter 2011, and Winter 2021; WHEREAS, extreme winter weather has impacted Austin as recently as January, 2021, 2011 and prior to that in 1989. The data shows that these are not 100 year events. The House Committee on State Affairs issued an Interim Report in December 2012 that specifically addressed cold weather concerns and directly questioned via included memo the ERCOT and Public Utility Board’s decision to raise the system wide megawatt hour cap 180 times its normal rate to $9,000; WHEREAS, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP)—designed to assist in the ongoing economic and public health efforts—was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden. Included in this bill is $195.8 million dollars for the City of Austin, portions of which can be used to make necessary investment in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure; WHEREAS, advanced notice of the polar vortex was given by the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio and knowledge that it would create historic lows and winter storms in early February yet the city was still underprepared for this event; …
Special Called Economic Prosperity Commission March 17, 2021 at 5:30 pm VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING Minutes CALL TO ORDER 1) Call to Order 5:58 pm Introduction of members and staff liaison a) Attendance: Larry Anazia - District 1; Kirsha Haverlah – District 2, Alexis Taylor - District 3, Ivanna Neri- District 4, - Preston Tom- District -5; Amy Noel- District 7;- Nathan Ryan- District 8; Vacant- District 9; Holt Lackey- District 10; b) Absent: Michael Ybarra- District -6, Rachel Green – Mayor’s Appointee c) Staff in Attendance: Michelle Clemons and Nydia Castillo 2) NEW BUSINESS statement. a) Reading and endorsement of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission (1) 1st by Commissioner Nathan Ryan, 2nd by Commissioner Kirsha Haverlah (a) Passed unanimously 6-0. b) No Citizen communication 3) OLD BUSINESS a) Approved minutes from February 2021 meeting with corrections -1st by Commissioner Preston Tom, 2nd by Commissioner Nathan Ryan b) Discussion on agenda item 2a: prior council action regarding COVID-19 City of Austin Relief Programs. c) Discussion on agenda item 2b: Landscape & Concerns Relative to Energy Crisis and work on resolution. -Passed Recommendation 20210317-002b: Recommendation Response to winter storm Uri. 1st by Commissioner Larry Anazia, 2nd by Commissioner Alexis Taylor ADJOURNMENT a) Meeting was adjourned at 9:14 pm 1st by Commissioner Amy Noel, and 2nd by Commissioner Ivanna Neri 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 requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Michelle Clemons at the Economic Development Department, at (512) (974-2713), for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Economic Prosperity Commission, please contact Michelle Clemons at (Michelle.Clemons@austintexas.gov ) or (512-974-2713).
