Regular Called Meeting of the Economic Prosperity Commission Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 6:30pm City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room 1101 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas Some members of the Economic Prosperity Commission may be participating by videoconference. 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, call or email Ryan Sperling, 512- 874-3568, ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Michael Nahas, Chair Rodrigo Cantu Aaron Gonzales Amy Noel Amy Rister Ofelia Zapata Luis Osta Lugo, Vice Chair Laura Dixon Kelsey Hitchingham Christina Ponder Raquel Valdez Sanchez AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each 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 Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on November 20, 2024. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on October 19, 2022 and Special Called Meeting on August 30, 2021. 2. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of proposed reorganization of Boards and Commissions based on Austin City Council Resolution No. 20241212-133. Discussion of the role of the Economic Prosperity Commission’s representative on the Joint Sustainability Committee and potential nominations at the February meeting. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Discussion and possible action on setting deadlines for working group outputs. Update from the Global Business Expansion working group regarding scheduling future working group meetings and its research on potential changes to the City’s Chapter 380 agreements. Update from the Small Business working group regarding scheduling its next working group meeting and opportunities to support the Small Business division with marketing, community engagement, and language accessibility. Update from the Redevelopment working group regarding scheduling its next working group meeting and what it has learned from the Colony Park development project. Update from the Childcare working group regarding scheduling its next working group meeting and what it has learned about hurdles and costs of opening new childcare centers. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications …
Economic Prosperity Commission Special Called Meeting Minutes Monday, August 30, 2021 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a special called meeting on Monday, August 30, 2021 via videoconferencing. Chair Amy Noel called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 5:55pm. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Larry Anazia – District 1 Kirsha Haverlah – District 2 Alexis Taylor – District 3 Will Townsend – District 6 Chair, Amy Noel – District 7 Vice Chair, Nathan Ryan – District 8 Commissioners Absent: Rachel Green – Mayor’s Appointee Ivanna Neri – District 4 Preston Tom – District 5 Vacant – District 9 Kelsey Hitchingham – District 10 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION None present. NEW BUSINESS 3.C. Presentation by Cathy McHorse from United Way for Greater Austin Cathy McHorse of United Way for Greater Austin spoke about the Success by 6 program No additional new business taken up. APPROVAL OF MINUTES No minutes approved. OLD BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT No old business taken up. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm by Commissioner Noel due to loss of quorum. These minutes were approved at the __________ meeting on ________ motion, ________ second on a X-X vote.
Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 20, 2024 ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, November 20, 2024 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd Street, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, in Austin, Texas. Chair Nahas called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:43 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance in Person: Michael Nahas (Chair) Aaron Gonzales Raquel Valdez Sanchez Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kelsey Hitchingham Christina Ponder Amy Rister PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on October 16, 2024. The minutes were approved without objection on Chair Nahas’ motion on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, Noel, Osta Lugo, and Zapata were absent. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Special Called Meeting on July 19, 2023 and Regular Meeting on October 19, 2022. The July 19, 2023 minutes were approved on Commissioner Hitchingham’s motion, Commissioner Valdez Sanchez’ second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, 1. 2. 1 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Noel, Osta Lugo, and Zapata were absent. Approval of the October 19, 2022 minutes was postponed to the next meeting without objection. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action on setting deadlines for working group outputs. Discussion was held. Approve the formation of a working group to investigate childcare costs and regulations in Austin compared to other Texas cities. The motion to form a working group to investigate childcare costs and regulations in Austin compared to other Texas cities was approved without objection on Chair Nahas’ motion on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, Noel, Osta Lugo, and Zapata were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the Global Business Expansion working group regarding scheduling future working group meetings and its research on potential changes to the city’s Chapter 380 agreements. Update provided by Commissioner Rister. Update from the Small Business working group regarding scheduling its next working group meeting and opportunities to support the Small Business division with marketing, community engagement, and language accessibility. Update provided by Commissioner Gonzales. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Nahas adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. without objection. 4. 6. 2
Economic Prosperity Commission REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 6:30 pm The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a REGULAR CALLED meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701. Vice Chair Kirsha Haverlah called the Economic Prosperity Commission meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Vice Chair Kirsha Haverlah, Micahel Nahas Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Preston Tom, Amy Noel, Ryan Kurtz, Shayna Brown Absent: Chair Kelsey Hitchingham, Christiana Ponder, Nathan Ryan, Will Townsend Vacancy: District 3 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Chase Wright speaking from Springdale Park Neighbors APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on September 21, 2022. Minutes from the 9/21/2022 meeting approved on Michael Nahas’s motion, Preston Tom’s second. Vote 6-0 to approve. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2.Staff briefing regarding new commission members. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3.Discussion and possible action for 2023 Meeting Schedule Motion to establish 2023 calendar for third Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm on Michael Nahas’s motion, Ryan Kurtz’s second. Vote 6-0 to approve. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 4.Update from Intercommission working group 5.Update from Joint Sustainability Commission member report 6.Update from Reproductive Health working group Vice Chair Kirsha Haverlah adjourned the Economic Prosperity Commission meeting at 7:50pm. These minutes were approved at the (date) (member)’ s motion, (member) second on a (X-Y) vote.
Regular Called Meeting of the Economic Prosperity Commission Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 6:30pm City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room 1101 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas Some members of the Economic Prosperity Commission may be participating by videoconference. 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, call or email Ryan Sperling, 512- 874-3568, ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Michael Nahas, Chair Rodrigo Cantu Aaron Gonzales Amy Noel Amy Rister Ofelia Zapata Luis Osta Lugo, Vice Chair Laura Dixon Kelsey Hitchingham Christina Ponder Raquel Valdez Sanchez AGENDA ADDENDUM DISCUSSION ITEMS 10. Presentation regarding childcare funds in Travis County and related changes with recent ballot measures. Presentation by Pilar Sanchez, County Executive for Health & Human Services, Travis County.
Travis County Voter Approved Child Care and Out of School Time Fund Overview January 2025 Background On November 5, 2024, Travis County Voters approved a 2.5 cent tax rate increase per $100 valuation that will generate approximately $75 million to increase access to affordable and high-quality child care and afterschool/summer programming and related services for low-income families and develop and administer related workforce and economic development programs. Recognition • Recognize the collective work that has taken place to create a dedicated revenue fund for child care and out of school time programming. This includes all the research, advocacy, and community input gathering by community organizations like Success by 6 Coalition, Andy Roddick Foundation, and the Children’s Funding Project. • Recognize that there is a big need for child care and out of school time services and we want to move quickly to put services in place while also being intentional. • Recognize that this is the first County voter approved child care fund in the state! There are more than 50 voter approved children’s funds in the country. • Recognize that it will take time to build internal County infrastructure, systems, procedures, processes in alignment with County mandates and systems. • Recognize that community input is essential to stewardship and to stabilize and strengthen child care and out of school time systems. Overview of Strategies These four strategies will serve as a baseline for expanding and strengthening child care and afterschool and summer programming in Travis County. Strategy 1: Expand slots for infants/toddlers (ages 0-3) and for afterschool and summer programming (PreK-12th grade) Strategy 2: Expand non-traditional hour care Strategy 3: Build quality and capacity Strategy 4: Build a Business Government Alliance for leveraging business contributions and matching public funds to reduce employee child care costs Transition Plan • Hiring County staff • Online survey • Community Input Sessions- Gather input from stakeholders to inform program design to strengthen our local childcare and out of school time ecosystems and ensure that this fund is reflective and responsive to the needs of our community • Three large listening sessions (March) • Targeted community input sessions stakeholder groups (February-March) • Community Advisory Council – Composed of community members and child care and out of school time stakeholders (application process - late Spring - Summer 2025) • Short term investments - Explore amending existing County contracts to serve more …
