Item 1 - Meeting Minutes from May 13, 2026 — original pdf

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TOURISM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 MINUTES The Tourism Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ed Bailey called the Tourism Commission Meeting to order at 2:35 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: • Ed Bailey, Chair, District 5 • Cristina Masters, Vice Chair, District 10 • Bishop Chappell, District 6 • Francisco “Cisco” Gomez, District 1 • Sophia Gonzalez, District 4 • Stefani Mathis, District 8 • Anna Panossian, Mayoral • Maxwell “Max” Pearce, District 7 • Dani Pruitt, District 3 • Catherine Whited, District 9 Commissioner in Attendance Remotely: • Greg Chanon, District 2 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Tourism Commission Regular Meeting on April 8, 2026. The minutes from the Tourism Commission regular meeting on April 8, 2026 were approved on Commissioner Panossian’s motion, Vice Chair Masters’s second on a 10-0 vote, Commissioner Chanon was off the dais. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the recent commission vacancy that was filled; updates and introductions of new liaison assignments; and an overview of upcoming meetings and key deadlines. 1 The presentation was made by Felicia Burleson, Staff Liaison, Austin Convention Center. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation by Austin Police Department Association (Police Union) on officer perspectives related to downtown public safety, staffing realities, and how frontline conditions impact the visitor experience and special event support. The presentation was made by Michael Bullock, President, Austin Police Department Association. Discussed. Presentation by Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations regarding an overview of the 4. City’s council-approved strategic plan to address homelessness and to understand how this work intersects with Austin’s visitor experience. The presentation was made by Natasha Ponczek, Business Process Consultant, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the creation of a working group. The motion to approve the formation of a Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Grant Programs Working Group to evaluate how grant programs support Austin’s tourism economy and identify ways the Tourism Commission can strengthen program impact through recommendations to Austin City Council. The group will assess long-term outcomes to ensure HOT-funded programs remain effective, equitable, and aligned with Austin’s cultural and tourism priorities was approved at the April 8, 2026, regular meeting of the Tourism Commission on Commissioner Pruitt’s motion, Commissioner Panossian’s second on a 7-0 vote, with Commissioners Chappell, Mathis and Chanon absent. At the May 13, 2026, regular meeting of the Tourism Commission, the make-up of the working group was adjusted to the following: Commissioners named to the working group: o Greg Channon o Sophia Gonzalez o Stefani Mathis o Dani Pruitt o Catherine Whited Commissioners withdrawing their nominations from the working group: o Bishop Chappell o Anna Panossian Chair Bailey adjourned the meeting at 4:39 p.m. without objection. 2