Item 7- Revised Impact Assessment Framework and Procedural Guidance — original pdf

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City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance Executive Summary This document attempts to establish a clear, shared operating framework for the Austin Economic Prosperity Commission to improve consistency, effectiveness, and accountability in its policy work. The document attempts to define how the Commission measures success, how policy ideas should be developed from concept to Council-ready recommendation, and how potential initiatives are evaluated for impact, feasibility, and readiness. By articulating a North Star Metric and a standardized policy development process, the document is intended to support both new and tenured Commissioners in producing high- quality, actionable recommendations that are well-aligned with City priorities and capable of achieving necessary external buy-in. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 Table of Contents I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. Context & Purpose of Document Scope of Recommendations North Star Metric Definition Impact Assessment Framework Phased Policy Development Workflow Policy Recommendation Template Example Policy Recommendation Communications and Representation Guidelines City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 I. Context & Purpose of Document Situational Context: The Economic Prosperity Commission has benefited from the addition of new Commissioners that bring fresh perspectives and expertise. However, newer Commissioners have at times expressed difficulty orienting to the Commission’s core goals, the metrics that define Commission success, and the practical mechanics of forming an initial idea into a well-formed, Council-ready policy recommendation. Historically, the Commission has been unclear on how policy potential is assessed, how Commission success is measured, and how both internal and external policy alignment are achieved. Document Purpose: The purpose of this document is to provide a shared operating context for Commissioners. The document attempts to establish a clear North Star Metric for defining Commission output and success, and it lays out a standardized process for policy development, including a structured rubric for assessing the potential impact, feasibility, and readiness of policy initiatives. The intent is to improve clarity, consistency, and effectiveness across Commission work, while supporting Commissioners in their efforts to produce high-quality, actionable recommendations for City Council and adhering to Commission bylaws. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 II. Scope of Recommendations The Economic Prosperity Commission may advance recommendations to City Council that include policy changes, program design or modification, and budgetary considerations. Recommendations may address the full breadth of economic mobility, including workforce development, small business support, real estate and development strategies, access to capital, and related systems that shape resident economic outcomes. This scope reflects the Commission’s advisory role in informing Council decision-making across interconnected economic levers. Implementation authority remains with City Council and City departments. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 III. North Star Metric Definition Qualified Policy Proposals: The count of unique policy recommendation memos that have been formally voted on and approved by the Commission for transmission to City Council, and that are within the Commission’s adopted bylaws and scope, supported by rigorous analysis, and sufficiently developed to enable informed Council consideration. - Quality: Qualified Policy Proposals should reflect the Commission’s highest standards. This includes clear adherence to the Commission’s bylaws and authorized scope; disciplined use of data, evidence, and analytical rigor; thoughtful consideration of impact and feasibility; and clear, well-structured writing that enables efficient understanding and decision-making by City Council and staff. - Volume: The North Star Metric is intended to reinforce shared accountability for maintaining a reasonable and effective cadence of policy generation, ensuring that the Commission consistently translates discussion and analysis into actionable recommendations that advance Council priorities. Board Purpose and Duties (per Austin EPC Bylaws): The purpose of the board is to advise the council on matters related to construction and job creation. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 IV. Impact Assessment Framework Impact Pillars Initiatives should align with the following Impact Pillars. 1. Construction: Measures the extent to which an initiative enables or accelerates real estate activity, including new construction, major renovation, added square footage, housing units, and private capital investment. 2. Job Creation: Measures the net creation and retention of jobs attributable to an initiative, including job quality as reflected in wages, accessibility, and alignment with local income benchmarks. Impact Scoring Conventions Initiatives should be assessed along the following spectrum of positive impact. 1. Negligible: No measurable change from baseline conditions. 2. Minor: A small, measurable improvement with limited scale or duration. 3. Moderate: A clear, measurable improvement. 4. High: A large, measurable improvement with durable effects. 5. Transformational: A step‑change improvement that materially alters economic outcomes or long‑term trajectories. Impact Confidence Conventions Impact estimates should be given confidence estimates along the following spectrum. 1. Low: Supported primarily by qualitative input, stakeholder expectations, or early assumptions that require further validation. 2. Medium: Supported by standard economic modeling, comparable program outcomes, or well-established proxies that reasonably estimate expected results. 3. High: Supported by verified administrative data, executed agreements, or other evidence that directly substantiates the expected outcomes. Stakeholder Alignment & External Buy-In Initiatives should obtain external support (e.g., impacted groups, subject matter experts). City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 V. Phased Policy Development Workflow The Commission’s policy pipeline is designed to convert ideas into Council-ready recommendations with disciplined consistency. A phased approach creates: • Efficiency: early discovery and rapid scoping reduce rework and prevent late-stage surprises. • Fairness: a common set of phase outputs makes initiatives comparable and reduces ad hoc evaluation. • Quality: increasing rigor over time ensures analysis, stakeholder input, and feasibility are proportionate to the maturity of the recommendation. Initiatives should progress through the phases below, reflecting increasing levels of rigor, alignment, and Commission buy-in. Phase Ideation Output Guidance Produce a short ideation brief capturing (1) the problem statement, (2) hypothesized mechanism of action, (3) preliminary impact hypothesis and key metrics, (4) feasibility constraints, and (5) stakeholder signals. Exploratory Drafting Finalization Develop a concise concept brief articulating the problem definition, proposed intervention, and an initial assessment of potential impact and constraints. Produce a full draft recommendation, including a completed impact snapshot, clearly defined impact mechanism, budget and resourcing implications, implementation timeline, and key risks. Prepare a Council-ready memo with finalized analysis, clear recommendations, and all supporting materials required for formal Commission consideration and vote. External Buy-In Expectations Conduct structured discovery with relevant City leadership and program staff to ground the concept in City priorities, fiscal context, operational realities, and available data. Where appropriate, validate assumptions with external stakeholders (resident groups, nonprofit partners, Council members, and relevant professionals). Validate the problem framing and surface feasibility considerations through an exploratory discussion with a relevant City official or subject- matter expert. Review the draft recommendation with the identified City official or SME to test assumptions, stress-test feasibility, and gather concrete, actionable feedback. Socialize the near-final recommendation with a broader set of City staff and SMEs to build alignment, address residual concerns, and de-risk the formal approval process. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 VI. Standard Policy Recommendation Template Commission policy recommendations should seek to follow the format below. 1. Executive Summary: Provide a concise statement of the problem, recommended action, and a high-level summary of expected impacts. 2. Impact Snapshot: Summarize the initiatives expected impacts across real estate, employment, and economic development using standardized metrics. Focus Area Construction Job Creation Estimate Metric Impact Score Confidence Level 3. Relevant Context: Provide the policy background, including prior discussions with Commissioners and external stakeholders as well as relevant supporting material. 4. Glossary of Key Terms: Defines technical terms, acronyms, and specialized language used in the memo to ensure clarity and shared understanding. 5. Supporting Detail and Analysis: Presents the underlying analysis supporting the recommendation, including detail on how the proposed policy will address the identified issue, cost-benefit analysis, and key risks and mitigations. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 VII. Example Policy Recommendation Recommendation Establish an “East Austin Creative Incubator” Grant Program. Executive Summary The Commission recommends that Council authorize a 12 to 18-month pilot that subsidizes commercial lease costs for qualifying creative-sector small businesses in East Austin through a partner administrator. The pilot aims to retain local jobs and small businesses in a high-displacement corridor while longer-term affordability tools are developed. Impact Snapshot Focus Area Construction Job Creation Relevant Context Estimate Metric Activates 8K sq. ft. Retains 25-50 jobs Impact Score 2 3 Confidence Level Low Medium • East Austin has experienced rapid commercial rent escalation since 2020, increasing displacement risk for small, locally rooted creative businesses with limited pricing power. • Council direction in recent years has emphasized anti‑displacement and small business retention • strategies in rapidly changing districts. The proposal aligns with adopted priorities related to small business retention, cultural vitality, and equitable economic opportunity. Glossary of Key Terms • AMI (Area Median Income): The median household income for the Austin region used for benchmarking wages and housing affordability. • Creative-Sector Business: A small business operating in arts, design, media, performance, or • related creative industries. Primary Lease: A primary lease held by an operator that subleases space to multiple tenants under standardized terms. Supporting Detail & Analysis • Mechanism of Action: The City funds a competitively selected operator to deliver lease support to • • eligible businesses through either a primary-lease model or time-limited rent stabilization grants. Preliminary Budgetary Impact: Estimated one-time City cost is $500,000–$900,000 for a 12 to 18- month pilot, with final cost driven by tenant count, subsidy level, and administration. Key Risks & Mitigation: Demand may exceed available support, so eligibility and award caps should be explicit and enforceable; operator capacity is a delivery risk, so selection criteria should require demonstrated property and program management; subsidies may be temporary relief, so the pilot should be paired with longer-horizon affordability tools. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 VIII. Communication and Representation Guidelines Commission communications should be accurate, appropriately scoped, and consistent with the Commission’s bylaws, adopted positions, and public process requirements. Authority and Voice • Commissioners represent themselves unless the Commission has adopted a position by vote and authorized a spokesperson. • Only positions documented in approved minutes, approved transmittals, or an express Commission vote should be characterized as the Commission’s view. Initiative Champions • Each initiative should have an internal Champion (or small group of Champions) designated by the Chair or by working-group agreement. • Champions are the default points of contact for initiative communications, staff coordination, and external stakeholder engagement. • Commissioners who are not designated Champions should not speak on behalf of an initiative externally unless the Commission has formally adopted the initiative and its recommendations by vote. Required Disclosures • When speaking without Commission authorization: “I am speaking in my personal capacity as a Commissioner.” • When an issue remains under development: “The Commission has not yet taken a formal position on this matter.” Abstention/Opposition Clarification • During final votes on policy recommendations, Commissioners who abstain or oppose may submit an optional statement for inclusion in the record to clarify their perspective. No statement is required. Communication Best Practices • Do: o Circulate drafts as drafts and distinguish clearly between analysis, options, and recommendations. o Include the staff liaison or route substantive policy-development communications through them when feasible to support recordkeeping. City of Austin | Economic Prosperity Commission Impact Framework and Procedural Guidance January 21st, 2026 o Keep communications factual, time-bounded, and centered on assumptions, constraints, and implementation realities. • Do Not: o Verbally commit City resources, timelines, or outcomes or imply administrative authority. o Characterize outcomes as decided prior to a formal vote or imply that a vote is predetermined. o Represent informal conversations, individual views, or partial agreement as Commission consensus.