Regular Called Meeting of the Economic Prosperity Commission Wednesday, June 18, 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- 974-3568, ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Christina Ponder Ofelia Zapata Raquel Valdez Sanchez Michael Nahas Rodrigo Cantu Shakeel Rashed Appointment District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 Commissioner Zain Pleuthner VACANT Aaron Gonzales Aditi Joshi VACANT Appointment District 7 District 8 District 9 District 10 Mayor 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 May 21, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Discussion soliciting feedback from commissioners regarding potential future presentations to the Economic Prosperity Commission from staff and external organizations. Discussion regarding how and which newsletters, periodicals, and other resources could provide commissioners information to assist in future actions. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on small business to research problems; engage with City staff, appointing Councilmembers, and community groups; and identify solutions and comparable case studies. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on long-term economic planning to research problems; engage with City staff, appointing Councilmembers, and community groups; and identify solutions and comparable case studies. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on workforce development to research problems; engage with City staff, appointing Councilmembers, and community groups; and identify solutions and comparable case studies. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on childcare to research problems; engage with City staff, appointing Councilmembers, and community groups; and identify solutions and comparable case studies. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on …
Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, May 21, 2025 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 301 W. 2nd Street, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, in Austin, Texas. Chair Nahas called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance in Person: Michael Nahas (Chair) Aaron Gonzales Zain Pleuthner Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Rodrigo Cantu Aditi Joshi Shakeel Rashed Raquel Valdez Sanchez PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on February 19, 2025. The minutes of the February 19, 2025 meeting were approved without objection on Chair Nahas’ motion on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Ponder and Zapata were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion on the long-term goals and strategic planning of the Economic Prosperity Commission. Discussion was held. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 3. Approve a recommendation to City Council for the FY2025-26 budget to increase funding of language access resources for small businesses. The motion to a recommendation to City Council for the FY2025-26 budget to increase funding of language access resources for small business was approved on Commissioner Valdez Sanchez’ motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Ponder and Zapata were absent. 4. Approve recommendations to City Council regarding the FY2025-26 budget as it relates to the Economic Prosperity Commission. The motion to approve recommendations to City Council regarding the FY2025-26 budget as it relates to the Economic Prosperity Commission was approved with an amendment to strike the recommendation to reduce risk by moving from pensions and post-employment healthcare to defined contribution on Chair Nahas’ motion, Commissioner Pleuthner’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Ponder and Zapata were absent. 5. Conduct officer elections for Chair and Vice Chair. The motion to elect Commissioner Gonzales as Chair of the Economic Prosperity Commission was approved on Commissioner Valdez Sanchez’ motion, Commissioner Pleuthner’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Rashed was off the dais. Commissioners Ponder and Zapata were absent. The motion to elect Commissioner Valdez Sanchez as Vice Chair of the Economic Prosperity Commission was approved on Commissioner Pleuthner’s motion, Commissioner Cantu’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Rashed was off the dais. Commissioners Ponder and Zapata were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update …
