Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, August 21, 2024 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a REGULAR CALLED meeting on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd Street, Room 1101, Austin, Texas. Chair Michael Nahas called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. • Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance in Person: Amy Rister (6), Raquel Valdez Sanchez (3), Michael Nahas (4), Rodrigo Cantu (5) • Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Christiana Ponder (1), Kelsey Hitchingham (10), Luis Osta Lugo (8), Amy Noel (7) • Absent: Laura Dixon (Mayor), Aaron Gonzales (9) • Vacancy: District 2 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Called Meeting on July 17, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of July 17, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Hitchingham’s motion, Vice Chair Osta Lugo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Laura Dixon (Mayor) and Aaron Gonzales (9) were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, on the City’s August budget process and on the department’s Global Business Expansion, Small Business, Cultural Arts, Music and Entertainment, Workforce and Childcare, and Support Service divisions. Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department, and Anthony Segura, Deputy Director, provided a multifaceted overview of the department and how it leads with equity in its work today. 1. 1 3. Discuss whom commissioners could invite to present on topics related to commission business or working groups at the September 18, 2024 meeting. Discussion was held. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the Global Business Expansion working group regarding the group’s next meeting date, expectations for the group’s September 2024 report, and relevant matters. Update given by Commissioner Rister. Update from the Redevelopment working group regarding the group’s next meeting date, expectations for the group’s September 2024 report, and relevant matters. Update given by Commissioner Osta Lugo. Update from the Small Business working group regarding the group’s next meeting date, expectations for the group’s September 2024 report, and relevant matters. Update given by Commissioner Valdez Sanchez. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Joint Sustainability Committee update from Commissioner Amy Noel, Economic Prosperity Commission representative on the City of Austin Joint Sustainability Committee. Chair Nahas adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m. without objection. ********** These minutes were approved at the September 18, 2024 meeting on Chair Nahas’ motion, Commissioner Rister’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Laura Dixon (Mayor), Kelsey Hitchingham (10), Rodrigo Cantu (5), Luis Osta Lugo (8), and Ofelia Zapata (2) were absent. 5. 6. 2