REGULAR MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026, 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Economic Prosperity Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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, contact Chelsea Pfeifer at chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2498. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Appointment Nicole Tomaszewski Ofelia Zapata District 1 District 2 Raquel Valdez Sanchez (Vice Chair) District 3 Michael Nahas Kevin Roberts Shakeel Rashed CALL TO ORDER District 4 District 5 District 6 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Commissioner Zain Pleuthner VACANT Appointment District 7 District 8 Aaron Gonzales (Chair) District 9 Aditi Joshi Jake Randall District 10 Mayor The first ten 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 July 15, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding Economic Development Department updates on programs and initiatives. Presented by Mac Cummins, Director, Austin Economic Development and Ann Eaton, Assistant Director, Austin Economic Development. Staff briefing regarding Levers of Economic Mobility. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Senior, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding language education programs access in workforce development. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding strengthening responsiveness to AI Labor Impacts in Austin. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Chelsea Pfeifer at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2498 or chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the …
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2026 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room #1101, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX. Vice Chair Randall called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:36 P.M. Commissioners in Attendance: Jacob Randall, Vice Chair Aditi Joshi Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aaron Gonzales, Chair Raquel Valdez Sanchez Ofelia Zapata Shakeel Rashed Zain Pleuthner Michael Nahas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Maria Campos- Mainspring School Brendan Wells- Mainspring School APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on July 15 , 2026. The minutes from the Economic Prosperity Commission regular meeting on July 15, 2026 were approved on Chair Gonzales’ motion, Commissioner Zapata’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Rashed abstained. Commissioners Tomaszewski and Roberts were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion of Language Access in the workplace. Elizabeth Mack, Founder and CEO, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2026 Freestyle Languages. The presentation was made by Elizabeth Mack, Founder and CEO, Freestyle Languages. 3. Discussion regarding Austin Parks and Recreation programs and infrastructure needs. Presented by Liana Kallivoka, PhD, PE, Assistant Director, Austin Parks and Recreation and Alyssa Tharrett, RA, NCARB, Architectural Development Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation. The presentation was made by Liana Kallivoka, PhD, PE, Assistant Director, Austin Parks and Recreation and Alyssa Tharrett, RA, NCARB, Architectural Development Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding support for Austin Parks and Recreation programs and infrastructure as it relates to job creation. The following amendment was made by Chair Gonzales and seconded by Vice Chair Randall. The amendment was to replace the “Austin Parks and Recreation Board” in the fourth WHEREAS and again after NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED with “Economic Prosperity Commission”. The amendment was approved on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Rashed and Nahas were off the dais. Commissioners Tomaszewski and Roberts were absent. A motion to approve the recommendation to Council regarding support for Austin Parks and Recreation program and infrastructure as it relates to job creation as amended was made by Chair Gonzales, seconded by Commissioner Zapata, and approved on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Rashed and Nahas were off the dais. Commissioners Tomaszewski and Roberts were absent. 5. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding the impact …
Economic Mobility Austin Equity & Inclusion August 2026 Agenda • Economic Mobility Context • Introduction to the Levers of Economic Mobility Index (LEMI) • LEMI in Action: Live Demo 2 What Drives Economic Mobility Economic mobility is shaped by our systems, policies, and investments — not just individual effort. Mobility includes building wealth and long-term stability for future generations. Education, health, housing, childcare, and strong social conditions enable families to thrive. In Austin, persistent disparities limit opportunities, but a person’s future shouldn’t be determined by their neighborhood or systemic barriers. Beyond Wages Quality of Life We Shape Systems 3 Definition Economic mobility addresses systems to improve unfair conditions that influence whether individuals, families, and communities can prosper over time and across generations. It means access to opportunities and resources needed for basic needs, financial security, and a dignified, high quality of life — regardless of race, place, gender, or ability. 4 Levers of Economic Mobility Index (LEMI) Health & Wellbeing Livelihood & Work Access & Belonging Health Access & Resources Wellbeing & Activity Income & Employment Housing & Cost Burdens Education, Language, & Digital Access Environment & Neighborhood • Uninsured rate • Enrollment in early education • Life expectancy • Disability rate • Seniors with ambulatory disability • Median household income • Underemployment rate • Low physical activity • Poverty rate • Eviction filing rate • Household support risk score • Energy burden • Limited English- speaking households • Households without internet • Less than high school education • Institutional group quarters • Persistent poverty flag • Heat disparity 5 Partners and the Economic Mobility Framework Match Services to Need Targeted Outreach Prioritize Investments Strengthen Pathways Measure Impact Support Shared Messaging 6 LEMI Walkthrough Learn More • Economic Mobility Website: • www.austintexas.gov/equity-inclusion/economic-mobility • Austin Equity & Inclusion Newsletter Sign up: • https://www.austintexas.gov/equity-inclusion LEMI Report Index & Story Map Economic Mobility At-a-Glance 8
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Economic Prosperity Commission Recommendation Number: [YYYYMMDD-XXX]: Preparing Austin's Workforce for Artificial Intelligence WHEREAS, the Austin metropolitan area entered 2026 with ~1.41M nonfarm jobs and 3.4% unemployment, and its occupational mix pairs the region's largest group, office and administrative support at 12.4% of employment, with a computer and mathematical workforce at nearly twice the national concentration; and WHEREAS, published exposure research and 2025-26 payroll evidence show AI changing tasks and hiring first in clerical, customer support, business and financial, and early-career technical occupations, including a ~20% national employment decline for software developers aged 22 to 25 since late 2022, while broad job loss is not visible in top-line labor data; and WHEREAS, office and administrative support workers combine the region's highest AI exposure with the lowest measured adaptive capacity, and median rent absorbs ~41% of that group's annual mean wage, so even moderate reductions in hours or hiring pose economic-security risk to lower- buffer households; and WHEREAS, data center and electrical infrastructure buildout is generating demand for electricians, mechanical and cooling, controls, and network trades, the construction supersector grew 5.0% over the year to April 2026, and these trades offer durable non-degree pathways with annual mean wages of $55.6K to $59.4K; and WHEREAS, evaluated workforce programs in other U.S. jurisdictions, including randomized evidence from San Antonio and New York, indicate that transitions succeed when training is tied to verified employer demand, participants are supported through to completion, results are measured by wage replacement rather than placement counts, and reporting requirements are set at the outset; and WHEREAS, the City Council's resolution of April 24, 2025 (agenda item 55) directed attention to AI oversight, workforce considerations, and digital equity, and the Commission's analytical report, Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Austin Residents (July 2026), attached as backup, provides the supporting baseline, assessment, and recommendations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Economic Prosperity Commission recommends that the Austin City Council direct the City Manager to: 1. Publish a quarterly Austin AI labor market dashboard that includes an early-career module tracking hiring and unemployment claims for workers under 30 in the most exposed occupations; . 2. Establish a transition pathway for administrative and customer support workers with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Austin Community College, public libraries, and major employers, reported on wage replacement rather than placement counts; 3. Expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship capacity in the trades tied to data …
