Agenda Item 1: Draft Minutes February 21, 2024 Mtg — original pdf

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1. 3. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 21, 2024 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a REGULAR CALLED meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd Street, Room 1101, Austin, Texas. Chair Kelsey Hitchingham called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.  Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance in Person: Kelsey Hitchingham (10), Michael Nahas (4), Luis Osta Lugo (8), Raquel Valdez Sanchez (3), Benjamin Salazar (2)  Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Christiana Ponder (1), Amy Noel (7)  Absent: Laura Dixon (Mayor), Tina Cannon (9)  Vacancy: District 5, District 6 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on November 15, 2023. The minutes from the meeting of November 15, 2023, were approved on Commissioner Osta Lugo’s motion, Commissioner Salazar’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Dixon and Cannon were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Raul Alvarez regarding the Community Advancement Network and how this organization expands economic opportunities for the Austin area. Raul Alvarez presented an overview of CAN’s frameworks for race equity and upward mobility and other ways CAN expands economic opportunities for the Austin area. Discuss the City of Austin Budget Officer’s FY 2024-2025 budget calendar. The deadline for City Boards and Commissions to submit budget recommendations is March 31, 2024. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Chair Hitchingham reviewed key upcoming dates in the City’s FY 2024-2025 budget approval process. Various reminders for commission members: most recent City email password security update, City Manager’s survey, and having ongoing dialogues with appointing councilmembers about commission priorities. Chair Hitchingham reminded commissioners of various housekeeping items. Presentation by April Geruso, City of Austin Planning Department, about updating the 2012 Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and possibly approve the appointment of an Economic Prosperity Commission representative to support the development and implementation of the Imagine Austin comprehensive engagement process. On behalf of April Geruso, Alyssa Lane from the City of Austin Planning Department presented an overview of updating the Imagine Austin plan through public participation and other strategies by 2026. The motion to approve the appointment of Commissioner Valdez Sanchez as the board’s representative throughout the Imagine Austin comprehensive engagement process was approved on Commissioner Osta Lugo’s motion, Commissioner Salazar’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Dixon and Cannon were absent. Discuss and possibly approve the appointment of a second Economic Prosperity Commission representative on the City of Austin Joint Sustainability Committee. The commission designated Commissioner Amy Noel as its first Sustainability Committee representative in 2023. The motion to approve the appointment of Commissioner Osta Lugo as second board representative on the City’s Joint Sustainability Committee was approved on Commissioner Noel’s motion, Commissioner Nahas’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Dixon and Cannon were absent. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 7. Updates from Jobs, Procurement, and Infrastructure working groups on established focus for each group and initial findings specific to the working group. Considering recent departures and arrivals among board members, Chair Hitchingham prompted the board to re-organize each of the three working groups, which now include the following commissioners: 1. Jobs: Nahas, Salazar 2. Procurement: Hitchingham, Noel, Ponder 3. Infrastructure: Nahas, Cannon, Hitchingham, Osta Lugo Commissioner Valdez Sanchez will commit to a working group in March 2024. Working groups are asked to identify one budget recommendation per group for discussion and possible action at the March 20, 2024, commission meeting. Working groups plan to meet before the March 20, 2024, commission meeting. 4. 6. 8. 2 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  Discuss entrepreneur-in-residence programs at universities and how these programs can foster and retain talent locally. Chair Hitchingham adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. without objection. ********** These minutes were approved at the DATE meeting on BOARD MEMBER’s motion, BOARD MEMBER second on a (vote count) vote. 3