1. Draft Meeting Minutes 20260617 — original pdf

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ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026 The Economic Prosperity Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at Boards and Commissions, Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Randall called the Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting to order at 6:31 P.M. Commissioners in Attendance: Jacob Randall, Vice Chair Michael Nahas Kevin Roberts Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aaron Gonzales, Chair Raquel Valdez Sanchez Ofelia Zapata Zain Pleuthner Aditi Joshi PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Economic Prosperity Commission Regular Meeting on May 20, 2026. The minutes from the Economic Prosperity Commission regular meeting on May 20, 2026 were approved on Commissioner Valdez Sanchez’s motion and Chair Gonzales’ second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Tomaszewski and Rashed were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a recommendation regarding Communities In Schools funding. The motion to approve a recommendation regarding Communities In Schools funding was made by Chair Gonzales and seconded by Commissioner Zapata. The following amendment was made Vice Chair Randall and seconded by Commissioner Nahas. 1 The amendment was to amend the sentence in the sixth WHEREAS to read: “WHEREAS, organizations such as Communities In Schools of Central Texas and other qualified nonprofit, school-based, and community-based partners CIS of Central Texas consistently achieves proven outcomes, affecting 20,000+ students across 50+ schools in the City of Austin, including a 99% school retention rate and a 99.3% graduation rate among case-managed seniors…” The amendment was approved on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Rashed and Tomaszewski were absent. The following amendment was made Vice Chair Randall and seconded by Commissioner Nahas. The amendment was to strike the eighth WHEREAS, written as: “WHEREAS, without a multi-year funding mechanism, and a potential state takeover of Austin area schools, vital programs such as these may be eliminated entirely.” The amendment was approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Rashed and Tomaszewski were absent. The following amendment was made Vice Chair Randall and seconded by Commissioner Nahas. The amendment was to amend a sentence in the sixth WHEREAS and additionally a sentence in SECTION 2 of the BE IT RESOLVED. The first sentence to read as follows: “WHEREAS, organizations such as Communities In Schools of Central Texas and other qualified nonprofit, school-based, and community-based partners CIS of Central Texas consistently achieves proven outcomes, affecting 20,000+ students across 50+ schools in the City of Austin, including a 99% school retention rate and a 99.3% graduation rate among case-managed seniors, directly supplying the regional economy with a qualified, high-school-educated workforce; and include education support providers such as CIS Austin partners in education such as Breakthrough, CIS, Primetime, parent support specialists. The second sentence, SECTION 2, to read as follows: “SECTION 2. The Commission strongly recommends the continued and expanded investment in qualified school-based and community-based organizations that support student stability, academic persistence, family stabilization, college and career readiness, and youth workforce development including but not limited to Communities In Schools of Central Texas, Breakthrough, Primetime, parent support specialists and other eligible educational support providers.” 2 The amendment was approved on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Rashed and Tomaszewski were absent. The following amendment was made by Commissioner Zapata and seconded by Commissioner Pleuthner. The amendment was to insert the following WHEREAS after the sixth WHEREAS: “WHEREAS, Community in Schools and other qualified nonprofit, school-based, and community-based partners CIS of Central Texas increases attendance of students, adding over 22,000 days compared to their baseline grading period; providing increased state funding valued up to $1.1 million to the Austin Independent School District through increased attendance and retention of students.” The amendment was approved on a 7-0-1 vote. Commissioner Joshi abstained. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council regarding Communities In Schools funding was tabled until the remaining agenda items were considered. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Presentation by Chair Gonzales on recent discussions with the City Manager team regarding the upcoming budget cycle 2026-27. The presentation was made by Chair Gonzales, followed by discussion. Discussion on the preservation of programs and initiatives for budget cycle 2026-27. Withdrawn without objection. Discussion on community groups relevant for prospective Commission focus areas and collaboration opportunities. Withdrawn without objection. Discussion on AI’s potential impact on the Austin labor market, including a possible recommendation. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a recommendation regarding Communities In Schools funding. The item was taken from the table for consideration without objection. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council regarding Communities In Schools funding as amended was approved on Commissioner Zapata’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Rashed and Tomaszewski were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 3 Presentation regarding English-Spanish language education services and its role in supporting the workforce Discussion regarding the upcoming budget cycle and the bond election, as applies to the interests of the Commission Vice Chair Randall adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m. without objection. 4