February 19, 2025 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 19, 2025 ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 19, 2025 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 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 6:31 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance in Person: Michael Nahas (Chair) Amy Rister Raquel Valdez-Sanchez Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aaron Gonzales Kelsey Hitchingham Amy Noel Ofelia Zapata PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Called Meeting on October 19, 2022. The minutes were approved with an amendment to remove “Chair” from before “Kelsey” and insert “Chair” before “Nathan Ryan” on Chair Nahas’ motion, Commissioner Hitchingham’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Zapata was off the dais. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, and Ponder were absent. Item 1 was taken up after Item 2 without objection. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission regular meeting on January 29, 2025. 1 1. 2. Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 19, 2025 The minutes were approved without objection on Chair Nahas’ motion on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Zapata was off the dais. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, and Ponder were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion on the long-term goals and strategic planning of the Economic Prosperity Commission. Discussion was held. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Conduct an emergency election for a Vice Chair of the Economic Prosperity Commission. Commissioner Rister was nominated for the role of Vice Chair by Chair Nahas, second by Commissioner Zapata. Commissioner Rister was elected as Vice Chair on Chair Nahas’ motion, Commissioner Zapata’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, and Ponder were absent. Item 4 was taken up after Item 5 without objection. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation regarding Chapter 380 programs. The below recommendation was approved on Chair Nahas’ motion, Commissioner Rister’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, and Ponder were absent. WHERE AS: Austin City Council recently approved changes to the Chapter 380 Program under Ordinance No. 20240926-013. WHERE AS: The revised Chapter 380 program guidelines indicate that specific goals for program and project metrics will be defined during the rule promulgation and development phase within the first year of implementation. Effectively, pausing the program for one year. WHERE AS: Publishing a temporary scoring matrix would allow applications to be processed in 2025 and ensure that economic development efforts are not stalled during this transition period. WHERE AS: The new program guidelines emphasize the importance of addressing market conditions and supporting “high-impact” projects, stating that unique and market- competitive projects may be considered on a case-by-case basis. WHERE AS: The City of Austin and Travis County have developed a comprehensive Food Plan, designed to address long-term infrastructure needs. The need to urgently address food and nutrition resources is apparent. WHERE AS: The Del Valle has been identified as low-income, low-access area (formerly identified as a “food desert”) by the USDA. This region has long faced challenges related to food accessibility, which directly impacts economic opportunity and community well-being. 3. 4. 5. 2 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 19, 2025 WHERE AS: By aligning economic incentives with meaningful community benefits, the City can leverage the Chapter 380 Program to drive equitable economic development while addressing critical public health needs. Addressing food access in Del Valle is a strategic use case for economic development incentives. WHERE AS: Leveraging lessons learned from recent public-private partnerships, we will seek to have community input from the populations most impacted from the outset and at every stage of the process. While bearing in mind the need to move at the greatest speed possible to meet community need. We recommend: * that the City publish a temporary scoring matrix for Chapter 380 Programs. * that the City develop of an incentive program that directly supports businesses and initiatives that enhance access to healthy food options in Del Valle. Discussion and possible action on dissolving the Redevelopment Working Group The Redevelopment Working Group was dissolved on Chair Nahas’ motion, Commissioner Valdez Sanchez’ second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Zapata was off the dais. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, and Ponder were absent. Item 6 was taken up after Item 2 without objection. Nominate commissioners to serve as the Economic Prosperity Commission’s primary and alternate representatives to the Joint Sustainability Committee. Commissioner Gonzales was nominated as the Economic Prosperity Commission’s primary representative on the Joint Sustainability Committee and Commissioner Rister was nominated as the alternate representative, starting in March, on Commissioner Rister’s motion, Commissioner Gonzales’ second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Zapata was off the dais. Commissioners Cantu, Dixon, and Ponder were absent. Update from the GBE Working Group regarding a potential recommendation about Chapter 380 programs. Update provided by Commissioner Rister. Item 8 was taken up after Item 10 without objection. Update from the Small Business Working Group regarding scheduling its next working group meeting, discussion of its product and delivery date, and discussions on attempt to reach out to the Economic Development Department for expertise. Update provided by Commissioner Valdez Sanchez. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. 7. 8. 9. 3 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 19, 2025 10. Item 9 was taken up after Item 7 without objection. Update from the Childcare Working Group regarding scheduling its next working group meeting, discussion of its product, and delivery date. Update provided by Chair Nahas. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Nahas adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. without objection. 4