June 18, 2025 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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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, Commissioner Rashed’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Joshi, Nahas, and Ponder were absent. Members include Commissioners Nahas, Rashed, and Pleuthner. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on workforce development 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 workforce development and job creation 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 Vice Chair Valdez Sanchez’ motion, Commissioner Zapata’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Joshi, Nahas, and Ponder were absent. Members include commissioners Pleuthner, Rashed, Randall, and Zapata. 7. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on childcare to research problems; engage with City staff, appointing Councilmembers, and community groups; 2 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2025 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 childcare 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 Zapata’s motion, Chair Gonzales’ second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Cantu, Joshi, Nahas, and Ponder were absent. 8. Discussion and possible action to form a working group focused on job creation 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. Withdrawn without objection. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion regarding which sources of information the commission would like to actively track and distribute to members. Chair Gonzales adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m. without objection. 3