Regular Called Meeting of the Economic Prosperity Commission Wednesday, July 16, 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 Jake Randall 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 June 18, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Discussion regarding how commissioners would like to prioritize future speakers and presentations to the commission. Discussion regarding commissioner engagement with the Economic Opportunity Committee. Follow-up discussion regarding engagement with Council members on commission recommendations and activities. Discussion regarding the use of economic reports to support the commission’s working group recommendations. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Discussion regarding membership and possible dissolution of the Childcare Working Group. Approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review and Report. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 8. 9. 10. Update on from the Small Business Working Group on small business accelerators and conversations with Economic Development Department staff. Update from the Long-Term Economic Planning on research, studies, peer city evaluations, and proposed potential solutions on long-term economic planning as it relates to City of Austin employee retirement benefits, specifically looking at pensions, defined contributions, and other benefit plans. Update from the Workforce Development and Job Creation Working Group regarding its research on policies related to vendor selection, bidding, and approval in the City, and potential speakers at working group meetings. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to …
Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2025 ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 18, 2025 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 301 W. 2nd Street, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, in Austin, Texas. Chair Gonzales called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance in Person: Aaron Gonzales (Chair) Raquel Valdez Sanchez (Vice Chair) Jake Randall Zain Pleuthner Ofelia Zapata Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Shakeel Rashed PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on May 21, 2025. The minutes of the May 21, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Zapata’s motion, Commissioner Pleuthner’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Joshi, Nahas, and Ponder were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion soliciting feedback from commissioners regarding potential future presentations to the Economic Prosperity Commission from staff and external organizations. Discussed. 1 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2025 3. Discussion regarding how and which newsletters, periodicals, and other resources could provide commissioners information to assist in future actions. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 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 to inform policy recommendations the working group may produce. The motion to approve the formation of 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 to inform policy recommendations the working group may produce was approved on Commissioner Pleuthner’s motion, Vice Chair Valdez Sanchez’ second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Joshi, Nahas, and Ponder were absent. Members include Commissioners Randall, Gonzales, and Valdez Sanchez. 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 to inform policy recommendations the working group may produce. The motion 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 to inform policy recommendations the working group may produce was approved on Commissioner Pleuthner’s motion, …
