[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
THANK YOU.UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED, UH, WITH THAT THEN BEING CONFIRMED.
WHO'S NOT SPEAKING TO GO AHEAD AND MUTE THEMSELVES NOW AND WE'LL JUMP RIGHT IN.
THE THIRD I AM THE CHAIR OF THE 3D TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, UH, CALLING THE ORDER, OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING HERE TODAY, UH, DECEMBER THE EIGHTH.
AND WE BEGIN EVERY MEETING, UH, WITH A SYSTEM COMMUNICATION CALL AT THIS POINT, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP, SO, UH, THAT'LL BE BRIEF, UH, AND WITH, PARDON ME, UH, WITH A ROLL CALL, ACTUALLY A CONFIRMING FOR OUR QUORUM PURPOSES.
AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE IT, WE HAVE A TIGHT AGENDA AND I CAN SEE WHO'S ON THE CALL.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND STATE THE NAMES, EVERYONE WHO IS PRESENT.
SO YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.
UH, SO PREVALENT AND CALLED COURSES MYSELF.
ALSO, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER SOPHIE GORROW, UH, COMMISSIONER SUMIT, DASGUPTA COMMISSIONER, DAVE FLOYD COMMISSIONER, AND THE FOUR VICE CHAIR, DAVID ALEXANDER.
AND THAT COMPLETES A QUORUM NOW
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 19, 2020]
TO AGENDA ITEM ONE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING.UH, WE'VE ALL BEEN SENT A COPY OF THOSE MINUTES, UH, TO REVIEW.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO APPROVE THOSE QUICKLY AND I'LL BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE, TO HOLD A VOTE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS MEETING.
COMMISSIONER EATS THEN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES SPOT.
MR. YATES, IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED BY VICE CHAIR, DAVID ALEXANDER.
I WAS THAT THEM WE'LL HOLD THE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED FOR THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
IS THERE ANY ONE STANDING OR RATHER ANYONE DISSENTING ARE SUSTAINING? OKAY.
SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE ONE THAT'S SUSPENSION BY COMMISSIONER FLOYD.
ARE THERE ANY VOTES TO NOT APPROVE THE MINUTES? OKAY.
THEN WITH THAT, THEN WE HAVE AN APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES WITH A VOTE OF FIVE IN FAVOR AND ONE ABSTENTION.
UM, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR, FOR, UH, FOR JESSE.
IF YOU'RE WITH US, WE CAN CONFIRM THAT.
OR IF NOT, THEN WE CAN, UH, TABLE THAT SHORT TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TABLE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND WE'LL RECEIVE THEM THE AGENDA.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE, UH, A COMMENT RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION USES RED AND GREEN, UM, LITTLE SIGNS TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, I APPROVE OR DON'T APPROVE.
IT KIND OF HELPS WITH CODING SOMETIMES RATHER THAN JUST MAKE A SPECIALTY THAT THE VOTES ARE QUITE OFTEN SPLIT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEY'RE NOT AS UNANIMOUS AS WE ARE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
UH, DEVIN TOOK IN CONSIDERATION, UH, BUT WE CAN RECEIVE THE AGENDA SINCE THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN TABLED AT THIS TIME.
[2.a. Good Systems – A UT Grand Challenge (Chris Stewart, Sara Smith, Ted Lehr, and Charles Purma)]
BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM, NUMBER TWO, STAFF AND COMMUNITY BRIEFINGS.AND WE HAVE SEVERAL, SO HAVE SEVERAL
[00:05:01]
GUESTS WAITING PATIENTLY, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND WE APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE.SO OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE TIME, LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUMP INTO THOSE COMMUNITY BRIEFINGS BEGINNING WITH GOOD SYSTEMS, A UT GRAND CHALLENGE BY CHRIS STEWART, SARAH SMITH FED LAYER AND CHARLES FAIRMONT, AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT MAY BE PARTICIPATING.
UH, SO WITH THAT, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS THE BATON OFF TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SHOULD I WAIT FOR THE SLIDES OR JUST START? OH, THERE WE GO.
THANK YOU SO EVENING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, THIS IS NOT CHRIS STEWART.
UM, I'M AN IT MANAGER WITH THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND MY TEAM LEADS THE CITY WIDE OPEN DATA PROGRAM, AS WELL AS FACILITATES A GROWING PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY-WIDE STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS OF WHICH WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT IS OUR FLAGSHIP.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH AI OR TO WORKING WITH UT IN THE FIELD OF AI AND IN PARTICULAR TO DO CIVIC GOOD, AND TO PRACTICE IT IN THE MOST ETHICAL AND EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE WAYS POSSIBLE.
UH, BEFORE I GET INTO THE CONTENT, I WANT TO THANK OUR UT PARTNERS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT TO MANY DIMENSION AT THE CITY OF UT WHO ARE WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE AND PUTTING IN COUNTLESS HOURS ON ALL THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'LL BE SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT TONIGHT.
AND I HOPE THAT THEY ALL KNOW THAT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IS, IS TRULY INSPIRING OTHER CITIES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, SO HOW DID ALL THIS BEGIN? SO AT A SMART CITY CONFERENCE IN 2018, OUR PREVIOUS CIO, THE CITY, UH, PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS GOING ALL IN ON AI.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF APPLAUSE AND SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE.
AND WHEN HE GOT BACK TO THE, UH, THE CHAIR NEXT TO ME, I WHISPERED, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO GO ALL IN ON AI? AND HE SAID, WELL, HE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, BUT DON'T WORRY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES TO FIGURE IT OUT.
SO WITH THAT VISION AND THAT, AND THAT SUPPORT AND DIRECTION, UH, WE GOT DOWN TO REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND UPON OUR, OUR, UH, SWAT ANALYSIS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER CITIES.
WE REALLY CONFIRMED THAT THAT COLLABORATION WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
AND THE KEY TO DOING AI IN THE ONLY WAY THAT WE SHOULD, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLY, ETHICALLY, AND VERY INTENTIONALLY ALIGNED WITH CITY AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND VALUES.
UH, THE CITY IS ACTUALLY VERY WELL POSITIONED IN THIS FIELD.
WE HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE DIRECT CONNECTIONS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA, UH, AND A LOT OF INFORMATION, UH, AND WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF PULL ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.
SO WE SAID, WELL, THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS IN SPADES.
WHAT WOULD A PERFECT PARTNER LOOK LIKE? WE SAID, WELL, SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH OF YET IS, IS REAL DEEP EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL, UH, BACKGROUND IN AI, MACHINE LEARNING, ADVANCED DATA SCIENCE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE, UM, AS, UH, YOU KNOW, A STAFF OF, OF PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF AI.
UH, AND WE'RE NOT ALWAYS POISED TO, TO, TO DO LEADING EDGE RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENT WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS, IT IS SAFE AND DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE.
SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHAT THE PERFECT INGREDIENTS FOR A PERFECT PARTNER, UH, WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THE WORLD'S LEADER AS A FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND OF COURSE THAT IS A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
UH, WE STARTED TALKING WITH THEM AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BRAINSTORMING ON WHAT A RELATIONSHIP WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND, UH, WE REALLY IMMEDIATELY SAW THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO US AND, AND REALLY SAT DOWN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK.
UH, AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT JOURNEY TONIGHT.
AND YOU'LL SEE SOME OUTCOMES ALREADY PROJECTS AND PROCEDURAL ITEMS, UH, THAT REALLY, UM, EXEMPLIFY THIS, THIS BANNER YEAR OF COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND UT, UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO UT, UH, I MUST THANK SARAH SMITH AND TED LAYER WHO YOU'LL HEAR FROM LATER TONIGHT, THEY ARE ON MY TEAM AND IT'S A CLICHE TO SAY, BUT HONESTLY WE WOULD NOT BE HERE FOR THEM WITHOUT EVEN WITHOUT THEIR HARD WORK, THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES.
[00:10:01]
I WANT TO THANK JESSE RODRIGUEZ FOR ALL OF HIS HEALTH, ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND CORDRAY COORDINATING WITH US TONIGHT.UH, I SHOULD ALSO THANK OUR PREVIOUS CIO, STEVEN ELKINS FOR HIS ORIGINAL VISION IN EARLY SUPPORT AND OUR CURRENT INTERIM CIO, CHRIS STEWART FOR REALLY STEPPING IN AND EMBRACING, UH, OUR WORK.
UM, MUCH OF WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT IS A LONG TIME COMING.
AND IT MUST BE MENTIONED THAT THIS WORK AND THESE, THIS PARTNERSHIP REALLY GOT A TURBO BOOST WHEN DEPUTY CITY MANAGER NURIA VANDERMEY RIVERA, UH, CAME TO THE CITY AND SAW THE VAST OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDED HER GUIDANCE AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM HER PREVIOUS, UM, PREVIOUS POSTS.
UM, FINALLY GRATITUDE IS DUE TO MAYOR ADLER FOR HIS INSPIRATION TO RECOGNIZE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS, AS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, AND, AND FOR SLIME AS DID ON HIS STAFF FOR GIVING US THE GUIDANCE AND THE SUPPORT AS WE STRIVE TO BE COLLABORATIVE BY DEFAULT, TO SOLVE THESE, THESE BIG HUMIDITY PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES.
UH, SO AT THAT POINT, I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JENNIFER LYON, GARDNER, WHO IS THE DEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH.
SHE LEADS THE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND BRIDGING BARRIERS TEAMS IN THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND AUSTIN.
AND WE COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED AND THRILLED TO HAVE HER WITH US TONIGHT AND TO BE A PARTNER ON THIS JOURNEY.
THANKS SO MUCH, CHARLES AND I, I REALLY ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS THAT, YOU KNOW, UT LIKE THE CITY, WE DO HAVE MANY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, UM, AROUND RESEARCH AND HAVE ALL OF THOSE, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY THAT WE'VE REALLY GROWN OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, UM, WITH THE HELP OF YOUR TEAM AND ALSO WITH SUPPORT FROM NURIA AND FROM MAYOR ADLER AND CITY COUNCIL MOST RECENTLY IN, UH, APPROVING OUR MASTER LOCAL AGREEMENT, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY GREATLY VALUE IN PRISON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
UM, I THINK THE CITY AND UT AUSTIN ARE BOTH VERY LARGE AND COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, THEY HAVE A LOT OF ASSETS, A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LOT, A BIG BRAIN TRUST AT EACH, BUT IT ALSO CAN MAKE COLLABORATION'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHAT THE RIGHT ENTRY POINT THE POINT IS FOR EITHER ORGANIZATION.
BUT, UM, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE, UM, TED LAYER WHO WORKS WITH CHARLES, UM, COLD CALL MY OFFICE, UH, ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO, ASKING IF THERE WERE ANY RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY, UM, INTERESTED IN WORKING ON SMART CITIES, UM, CAUSE BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING AT AN EXTERNAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AND WE'RE WONDERING IF THE CITY COULD PARTNER, AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THIS NOW AND FLOURISHING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY.
UM, FOR A LONG TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS ONE-ON-ONE PAIRINGS BETWEEN UNIVERSITY FACULTY, RESEARCHERS, AND CITY OF AUSTIN OFFICES, BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN DISJOINTED DIFFICULT TO TRACK.
UM, AND WITH EACH ONE WE'RE KIND OF REINVENTING THE WHEEL IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACTING VEHICLES, THE PROCESSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, UM, WITH THE HELP OF CTM STAFF IS PUT TOGETHER A MUCH MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
AND IT ALLOWS US, YOU KNOW, TO, IT ALLOWS US TO BRING WITH THE UNIVERSITY, HAS TO BEAR TO HELP US CITY SOLVE ITS MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY FORTUNATE COINCIDENCE THAT THE CITY HAS SUCH AN INTEREST IN AI BECAUSE IT JUST, JUST SO HAPPENS THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAD MADE A MAJOR INTERNAL INVESTMENT IN AI AND IN THE ETHICS AROUND AI, BY LAUNCHING THE GOOD SYSTEMS RESEARCH GRAND CHALLENGE.
UM, THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER CLOSE TO 50 FACULTY ACROSS ALMOST ALL COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS ON OUR CAMPUS.
AND THEY HAVE A SHARED GOAL WHICH IS DESIGNING AI TECHNOLOGIES, THAT BENEFIT SOCIETY.
UM, THEY'RE VERY STRONG ALIGNMENTS BETWEEN GOOD SYSTEMS IN BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, I BELIEVE.
UM, AND THAT WE'RE BOTH VERY CONCERNED WITH DATA PRIVACY, WITH FAIRNESS, WITH OTHER ETHICAL ISSUES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES.
SO THIS YEAR, UH, GOOD SYSTEMS IN UT AUSTIN HAVE FUNDED SEVEN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SHOWCASING A FEW OF THOSE FOR YOU HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, THESE PROJECTS HAVE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY TEAMS, WHICH MEANS THAT CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF AND UT RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO SOLVE IMPORTANT PROBLEMS LIKE PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY OR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE RESEARCHERS FROM TEXAS ROBOTICS AND UTS NEW $20 MILLION NSF INSTITUTE FOR FOUNDATIONS AND MACHINE LEARNING, WORKING ON THESE TEAMS. UM, THEY'RE DOING THINGS LIKE EQUIPPING CITY FLEETS WITH COMPUTER VISION AND PERIPHERAL PERCEPTION TO DETECT INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR NEEDS AROUND THE CITY.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER, EITHER WITH THE CITY.
UM, AND THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THESE WORK, OBVIOUSLY AS A RESEARCH INSTITUTION.
A LOT OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE'RE DOING IS CONTRACTUAL IN NATURE, BUT THERE'S EVEN GREATER VALUE
[00:15:01]
IN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY THAT'S NON-TRANSACTIONAL, UM, BEING ABLE TO HAVE MY TEAM WORKING CLOSELY WITH CHARLES AND THE CTM TEAM IS REALLY DRIVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEW SMART CITY TECHNOLOGIES AND ENSURING THAT THOSE TECHNOLOGIES ARE USED IN ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENT WAYS.UM, AND I BELIEVE BY DOING THIS, WE'RE BECOMING NATIONAL LEADERS IN THE SPACE OF CITY UNIVERSITY, SMART CITY COLLABORATIONS.
UM, NOT LONG AFTER WE PUT THESE SEVEN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS IN PLACE, UH, JUST THIS PAST AUGUST, THE CITY AND UT ESTABLISHED TOGETHER A MASTER IN INTER-LOCAL LOCAL AGREEMENT, THAT'S GOING TO ENABLE EVEN MORE COLLABORATIONS, NOT ONLY WITH GOOD SYSTEMS, BUT ALSO WITH RESEARCHERS THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSITY, UM, AND WITH OFFICE AND WITH, AND WITH ALL CITY OFFICES, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT MASTER AGREEMENT FOR ME REALLY MARKED A CULMINATION OF, UM, OUR ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY TOGETHER.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT LEVEL OF THIS GROWING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP AND IT'S TURNED INTO A MODEL THAT OTHER CITIES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE NATION ARE NOW WATCHING, UH, AND APPROACHING US FOR, FOR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK.
I, IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALSO, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE, UH, OUR SHARE OUR PROGRESS WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED OUR PRESENTATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COLLABORATIONS WITH THE CITY.
UM, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO ANDREA CHRISTELLE.
CRYSTAL IS A MEMBER OF MY TEAM AT UT AUSTIN.
SHE'S THE GOOD SYSTEMS AND NETWORK RELATIONSHIP MANAGER.
AND SHE'S THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS JOINT CITY, BOSTON GOOD SYSTEMS SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS.
SO ANDREA, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
I'M ANDREA CHRISTELLE AND I AM THE NETWORK RELATIONSHIP MANAGER FOR GOOD SYSTEMS. AND COULD I ASK THAT WE ADVANCE THE SLIDES PLEASE? AND ONE MORE PLEASE.
SO DESIGNING AI TECHNOLOGIES, THAT BENEFIT SOCIETY IS OUR GRAND CHALLENGE.
AND OUR VISION IS REALLY THAT THE RESEARCHERS THAT UT WILL GENERATE AI ETHICS PROTOCOLS THAT ARE WIDELY ACCEPTED AND CITED AND USED.
AND SO TO ACHIEVE THAT OUR MISSION IS THAT WE WILL CREATE HUMAN MACHINE PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED BY MACHINES OR DISPLACED BY AI, BUT WE'RE REALLY FINDING THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO USE AI TECHNOLOGY IS WITH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A PERSON AND AN AI TECHNOLOGY.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE USED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND VALUES OF SOCIETY.
SO HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS RIGHT NOW? THERE ARE THREE MECHANISMS THAT WE'RE USING AND THE PRIMARY ONE ARE REALLY THE RESEARCH PROJECTS.
WE FUNDED 11 NEW PROJECTS THIS YEAR.
AND AS JENNIFER MENTIONED, SEVEN OF THOSE ARE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, THE SECOND WAY WE DO THIS IS THROUGH THE GOOD SYSTEMS NETWORK.
THE GOOD SYSTEMS NETWORK IS GROUNDED IN RESEARCHERS FROM ALMOST 30 DISCIPLINES AT UT, BUT THEN WE CONNECT THOSE RESEARCHERS, YOU KNOW, WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MEASURE, UM, AND ALSO WITH, UH, PARTNERS IN INDUSTRY AND LOCAL AI FIRMS. AND THEN THE THIRD MECHANISM THAT WE'RE USING ARE OUR RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS.
AND THEY, THESE ARE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE AND AREAS OF EMPHASIS WITHIN AI THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED JUST THIS FALL.
AND IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UM, WE WANT TO SHARE THESE RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS WITH YOU BECAUSE, UM, WE BELIEVE THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH SARAH AND TED AND CHARLES, THAT THESE ARE ALSO REALLY ISSUES AND PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMISSION.
UH, THEY ARE CRITICAL SURVEILLANCE INQUIRY, DISINFORMATION, AND WE KNOW THAT DISINFORMATION IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THREATENS ELECTION SECURITY.
AND WE'VE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE SOME OF THE, UH, OUR, UH, POPULATION, UM, MOST VULNERABLE TO DISINFORMATION, UH, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT AI HAS TO DO WITH, UM, OUR ABILITY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AI.
WE OFTEN GET RESULTS, UM, THAT ARE HIGHLY ACCURATE, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS INTERPRETABLE.
UM, FUTURE OF WORK IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW AND, AND WHERE PEOPLE WORK AND HOW THAT'S CHANGING WITH AI TECHNOLOGY.
UM, PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY IS A REALLY IMPORTANT FOCUS FOR US.
IT'S, UH, BASED GROUNDED IN TYPELINE AND, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TRAINED TO BE PROFICIENT IN AI TECHNOLOGIES, UM, ARE NOT JUST GOING TO WORK FOR FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS, BUT ARE ALSO ENTERING THE PUBLIC SECTOR,
[00:20:01]
MACHINE LEARNING AND ROBOTICS IS, UM, A STRONG EMPHASIS FOR US.AND WE'RE INTERESTED IN DEPLOYING THESE TECHNOLOGIES IN WAYS THAT, UM, WILL SERVE THE CITY.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE REVIEW OUR PROJECTS, UM, RACIAL JUSTICE IS A PRIORITY FOR US, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE MEETING REGULARLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND TED LAYER.
WE'LL SPEAK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION AND SMART CITIES, OF COURSE, UM, IS A VERY IMPORTANT FOCUS FOR US.
AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THIS AREA AT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO WE ARE BRIDGING BARRIERS BETWEEN FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND REAL WORLD PROBLEMS BY CONNECTING THESE DISCIPLINES, TECHNIQUES AND WAYS OF THINKING.
AND, AND WE THINK IT'S A REAL ADVANTAGE TO CONNECT OUR RESEARCHERS WITH CITY STAFF WORKING DIRECTLY ON PROJECTS TOGETHER.
SO WE DO HAVE SEVEN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE ENGAGING 12 CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS AND 13 DEPARTMENTS AND UNITS AT UT.
NOW I'M GOING TO TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH OF THESE PROJECTS, UM, THAT HAVE BOTH CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF AND UT RESEARCHERS.
UM, THE AUSTIN AI HOUSING ANALYSIS ADDRESSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON THAT, UH, RIGHT AFTER THIS, IN THE PROGRAM, INCLUSIVE AND TRUSTWORTHY AI GOVERNANCE DESIGN LOOKS AT HOW MANAGERIAL AND GOVERNANCE DECISIONS CAN BEST COMBINE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS WITH HUMAN CENTERED VALUES.
SO WHEN A HUMAN AND A MACHINE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, WHERE DOES THAT HUMAN REALLY NEED TO STEP IN AND MAKE THE DECISION INSPECTION OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURE VIA PERIPHERAL PERCEPTION, EQUIPS CITY FLEETS THAT ARE PERFORMING REGULAR TASKS, SUCH AS TRASH COLLECTION WITH COMPUTER VISION AND PERIPHERAL PERCEPTION TO PERFORM SECONDARY INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTION TASKS LIKE LOOKING FOR POTHOLES.
SO THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REALLY INCREASE EFFICIENCIES ML FOR GIS DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING COMPUTER VISION METHODS TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO GEOSPATIAL DATA AND LARGE HISTORICAL MAP COLLECTIONS ADDRESSES CHALLENGES INVOLVED WITH A PROCESSING AND ANALYZING OF MAP IMAGES ON THIS SHOULD MAKE THE MAP DATA EASIER TO WORK WITH, AND IT WILL MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO CITY STAFF, AS WELL AS TO CITIZENS OPTIMIZE EMS RESPONSES DURING EXTREME EVENTS IS GOING, UM, TO IMPROVE AMBULANCE ALLOCATION DURING, UM, DISASTER EVENTS.
AND THIS, UH, SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT VIRTUALLY NO COST BECAUSE IT WILL SYNTHESIZE REAL-TIME INFORMATION ON THE HOSPITAL'S CAPACITIES, THEIR CAPABILITIES, UH, CURRENT WAIT TIMES AS WELL AS TRAFFIC TO COORDINATE RESPONSE AMONG AMBULANCES.
SO, YOU KNOW, HURRICANES OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT TO, UM, ALLOCATE THESE RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY IN THIS PROJECT, UM, MAY REALLY IMPROVE IN THOSE AREAS.
CAMERA'S AI AND PUBLIC VALUES AND SMART CITIES, UM, INVESTIGATES COMPARATIVE POLICIES AROUND THE CREATION AND THE USE OF VIDEO DATA IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
AND, UH, PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO ISSUES LIKE DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY.
AND FINALLY SMART CITIES SHOULD BE GOOD CITIES, AI EQUITY AND HOMELESSNESS IS USING DATA AND AI TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UM, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
SO THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE, A SENSE OF THE RANGE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS AND, UM, NEXT IT'S MY PLEASURE TO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON THE AUSTIN AI HOUSING ANALYSIS.
AND FOR THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE GOOD SYSTEMS, EXECUTIVE TEAM, JIM FUNG, ZHAO.
UM, GOOD SYSTEMS IS GOVERNED BY AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF FACULTY AND, UM, REALLY BENEFITS FROM FACULTY LEADERSHIP.
SO JONATHAN ZHAO IS THE CHAIR OF THE GOOD SYSTEMS EXECUTIVE TEAM.
UM, HE'S THE HAMPTON K AND MARGARET FRY, SNELL AND DOW CHAIR AND TRANSPORTATION, AND AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, AS WELL AS THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF UTS URBAN INFORMATION LAB, DR.
SHAH'S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON URBAN INFORMATICS, BIG DATA, SMART CITIES AND SHARED MOBILITY.
SO
UH, I'M THE CHAIR OF ARGO SYSTEM IN GREG TEAM.
ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN INFORMATION LAB.
MY RESEARCH REALLY FOCUSED ON URBAN INFORMATICS, SMART CITY AND SMART TRANSPORTATION.
UH, IT'S MY OWNER TO WORK WITH, UH, UM, CTM TEAM CHAIRS, UH, TED AND SARAH, TO WORK CLOSER WITH CITY TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT AND
[00:25:01]
MANY OTHER MORE PROJECT, I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR SARAH TED AND THE CHARET BECAUSE WHENEVER WE HAVE A QUESTION, THEY ALWAYS ARE THERE, THEY ARE SO HELPFUL AND SO BENEFICIAL FOR THIS COLLABORATION.UM, LET'S DIVE TO THIS, UH, ALL SEEING AI HARDING ANALYSIS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, UH, ALLSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMIC SEGREGATED CITY IN THE U S ALSO WHILE THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE US.
UM, ONE MAJOR PROBLEM IN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE DON'T KNOW IN THE LOSS OF CERTAIN YET HOW THE DIFFERENT, HOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY AFFECTS AFFORDABILITY INSTEAD OF ALLSTON.
SO THAT'S A MAJOR TASK FOR THIS, UH, PROJECT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
WE ASSEMBLE, UH, INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM FROM, UH, ARCHITECTURE, UM, SCHOOL, UM, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, UH, SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THE TEXAS, OTHERWISE THE COMPUTER CENTER.
WE ALSO HAD A VERY CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENT FROM HOUSING TO ENERGY, TO TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO ALMOST, UH, UH, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, IN THE CITY TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
SO, UM, THIS IS JUST AS SOME PI OR THIS PROJECT FROM UT SIDE.
SO HOW DO WE EVALUATE HOW THE AFFORDABILITY PREVIOUSLY, WE JUST EVALUATED BASED ON PRICE OF HARDING, BUT THERE'S TURNOUT.
THAT'S NOT TRUE WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING A DIFFERENT LOCATION, YOU HAVE TO PAY TRANSPORTATION, YOU HAVE TO PAY ENERGY, YOU HAVE TO PAY OTHER COSTS.
SO SIMPLIFY THIS QUESTION, WE, UM, WHAT THEY COULD INTEGRATE AND HOW THEY PRICE AND IT'S SPLIT INTO THREE CATEGORIES.
THE FIRST CATEGORY IS OF COURSE IS HIGHER THAN PRICE.
THE SECOND CATEGORY IS A TRANSPORTATION COST.
WHERE ARE YOUR LEAVE GOING TO DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU? HOW MUCH YOU PAY TO DRIVE OR TO TAKE A, UH, TO GO TO WORK.
THE THIRD LAYER IS ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
UH, WE BASICALLY YOU'RE THIS THREE DIFFERENT DATA STREAM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE HARDWARE AFFORDABILITY CHANGED ACROSS THE TIME IN THE LAST 13 YEARS WITH, UH, CHARLES, UH, TED AND SARAH'S HAVE WE ALREADY, UH, GATHERED THE DATA FROM A METER LEVEL ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL HOUSE.
AND WE ALSO GET THE APPRAISAL, UH, DATA IN THE LAST 30 YEARS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS THE DATA, WHICH IS IN MY FIELD.
UM, AFTER WE COLLECT ALL THIS DATA, WE'RE GOING TO BETSY COULD BUILD MACHINE LEARNING AND AI FRAMEWORK, AI MODELS, TRYING TO EVALUATE PAST HARLAN DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT USES DATA RESULTS TO YOU EVALUATE THE DIFFERENT POLICY AFFECTS OR HOW THE AFFORDABILITY AND USE DATA RESULTS MAKE A PREDICTIONS WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE, UH, THE HOUSE, THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE FIRST MILESTONE IS A DATA REPOSITORY.
WE HAVE, UH, DEVELOPED, WE HAVE COLLECTED ALL THE REQUIRED DATA EXCEPT THE TRANSPORTATION DATA IN THE END THAT WE WILL DELIVER A WEB OF BEST OPEN DATA PORTAL OR PUBLIC TO ACCESS.
SO PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE TRANSPORTATION COST DATA BASED ON THEIR LOCATION.
ALSO PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE HOUSING PRICE DATA AS ON LOCATION OR ANY OF THE DATA BECAUSE THAT'S, UH, UH, RELATED TO PRI UH, RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
WE WERE AGGREGATE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST MILESTONE OR THE SECOND MILESTONE WHERE BEST TO GET TO, UH, UH, WE WILL DEVELOP A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY MODEL USING HISTORICAL DATA.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE DIFFERENT, HOW THE IN POLICY AFFECT AFFORDABILITY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
THE NUMBER OF THREE MILESTONE IS WE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME AI ASSISTANT SCENARIO OR POLICY GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE, UH, HOW THEN DEVELOPMENT AND THE UKRAINE, UH, UNDER, UH, EQUITY EVALUATION FOR CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS IS BASICALLY A PREDICTIVE MODEL.
WE WILL USE A HISTORICAL DATA TO MAKE, UH, UH, FUTURE PREDICTIONS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THE EAST SIDE, KEEP GENTRIFICATION, SHOULD WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT? WHERE'S THE MOST GENTRIFIED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOW FAST THEY GENERALLY FIND AND WHY THEY'RE JANUARY FIVE? HOW CAN WE DO TO PROVIDE A MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? SO THAT WILL BE ALL IN A CATEGORY THREE.
THE LAST PART, WE WERE A HOST DIFFERENT PUBLIC, A WORKSHOP, UH, TO INTRODUCE THIS, A DATA AND A MESSAGE TO THE RESEARCHER AND TO THE POLICY MAKERS.
WE REALLY WANT TO THIS RESEARCH BE USED BY POLICY MAKERS,
[00:30:01]
BY MAYOR, BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, BY MANAGER, BY THE HEAD OF A PARTY AND A PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, ENERGY DEPARTMENT.WE WANT TO PUT IT AS A YOUTH, NOT JUST A PUBLISHED SOME PAPERS.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, INTRODUCE MY, UM, GREAT COLLEAGUE, SARAH SMITH FROM A CTM, THE PROUD MOMENT, SARAH IS A SENIOR ITBC AND THE ANALYST FROM THE CITY, AND THEY, SHE HAD BEEN PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS HAVE OTHER, UH, THIS PROJECT AND FOR THE ECOSYSTEM PROJECT, SARAH ARE TURNING OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH SYMPHONIC, UM, BUILDING OFF THE PROJECT LIST AND DESCRIPTIONS INJURY SHARED EARLIER, UH, HERE'S A MORE DETAILED VIEW OF THE GOOD SYSTEMS PROJECTS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS HOW EACH PROJECT IS ALIGNED TO BOTH UTS RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF BOSTON STRATEGIC DIRECTION, 2023 GOALS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT EVERY PROJECT HAS NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTING DEPARTMENTS FROM BOTH UT AUSTIN AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WHAT'S UNIQUE AND SPECIAL ABOUT THESE COLLABORATIONS IS THAT THEY BRING GROUPS TOGETHER THAT DON'T TYPICALLY WORK TOGETHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND DEPARTMENT OF POPULATION HEALTH AT UT ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO RESEARCH INCLUSIVE AND TRUSTWORTHY AI GOVERNANCE, AND FOR THE INSPECTION OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURE VIA PERIPHERAL PERCEPTION PROJECT.
WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE WORKING TOGETHER WITH UTS ARCHITECTURE AND COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS.
THE DIVERSITY OF EXPERTISE ACROSS THESE TEAMS BRINGS UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULDN'T BE REALIZED.
OTHERWISE, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS THE PREVIOUS LIGHT POINTED OUT, THESE PROJECTS ARE INTENTIONALLY ALIGNED WITH UT AND CITY OF AUSTIN PRIORITIES.
BACK IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, UT AUSTIN AND CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF COLLABORATIVELY DESIGNED A WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE ROOM OR REAL-WORLD CITY CHALLENGES AND HOW AI AND MACHINE LEARNING MIGHT BE APPLIED TO HELP SOLVE THEM.
TURNOUT EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
THE NETWORKING ALONE MADE THE EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS CITY STAFF GOT TO MEET UT RESEARCHERS AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR EXPERTISE AND INTERESTS IN UT.
RESEARCHERS GOT TO MEET CITY STAFF AND DISCOVER WAYS THEIR EXPERTISE COULD BE APPLIED TO REAL WORLD CHALLENGES.
AT THE END OF THE HALF DAY WORKSHOP, INITIAL PROJECT TEAMS WERE FORMED AND AFTER THE WORKSHOP, MANY OF THOSE TEAMS CONTINUED WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP FORMAL PROJECT PROPOSALS.
ON MAY 1ST, SEVEN OF SEVEN CITY OF AUSTIN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WERE SELECTED FOR GOOD SYSTEMS YEAR TWO FUNDING.
THESE SEVEN PROJECT TEAMS HAVE A YEAR LONG JOURNEY TOGETHER AND WELL OVER A MILLION RESIDENTS AND CITY STAFF STAKEHOLDERS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THROUGH THEIR AI RESEARCH, STRONG TEAMING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS AND GOALS OF OUR UT AND CITY OF AUSTIN ORGANIZATIONS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS FOR MOST OF OUR PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS ON BOTH THE UT AND CITY OF AUSTIN SIDE.
THIS TYPE OF NON TRANSACTIONAL COLLABORATION IS A BRAND NEW CONCEPT AND EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF TEAMWORK.
SIMPLE, EVERY PART IS PLANNING, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING FACILITATION AND CO-CREATION SKILLS AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.
OTHER CITIES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE LOOKING TO AUSTIN TO REPLICATE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THAT CHARLES AND JENNIFER MENTIONED EARLIER TO SET THESE TEAMS UP FOR SUCCESS.
OUR CITY OF AUSTIN AND UT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TEAMS. CO-CREATED A SECOND WORKSHOP LAST MONTH TO PROMOTE TEAM BUILDING AND COLLABORATION.
WE HOSTED SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS TO ILLUSTRATE THE ALIGNMENT OF THESE PROJECTS TO AUSTIN SMART CITIES EFFORTS AND SHARED LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST CITY OF AUSTIN AND UT COLLABORATIONS.
WE ALSO FACILITATED A REMOTE SESSION USING ZOOM AND AN ONLINE WHITE BOARDING TOOL CALLED NEURON TO HELP THE TEAMS EXPLORE A SERIES OF TOPICS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY OUTCOMES, STAKEHOLDER NEEDS, COLLABORATION, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES WITH TWO SUCCESSFUL WORKSHOPS UNDER OUR BELT.
NOW IN A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP, WE ARE ALL ALREADY PLANNING OUR NEXT COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP IN FEBRUARY.
THE GOAL OF THIS EVENT IS TO IDENTIFY A NEW ROUND OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS AND TEAMS TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET CYCLE.
SO THAT STAFF HAD TIME TO INCLUDE NEW OR CONTINUED PROJECTS WITH UT AND THEIR DEPARTMENT BUDGETS.
CHARLES WILL SPEAK TO THIS MORE LATER IN OUR PRESENTATION.
HOWEVER, I WILL NOTE HERE THAT WE WILL LIKELY LOOK TO THIS COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUPPORT RELATED TO THIS WORKSHOP IN A RESULTING PROJECTS,
[00:35:01]
UH, WITH THAT, UM, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE TED LAYER.TED IS AN ITEM DATA ARCHITECT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, TED ALTERNATIVE OVER TO YOU.
UM, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
IT SHOULD BE CLEAR BY NOW THAT, UH, UT IS A PARTNER.
IT'S A, IT'S A STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR THE CITY, AND I WOULD ARGUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT UNTIL THIS YEAR, I'M DOING LARGE PROJECTS TOGETHER.
I HAVE BEEN COMPLEX SOMETIMES TAKING MANY MONTHS OFF AND OVER A YEAR TO, TO, UH, DESIGN NEGOTIATE AND FARM AS JENNIFER POINTED OUT, UH, JUST THIS PAST AUGUST, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A FIVE-YEAR SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR, UH, MASTER INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT THAT APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE CITY BETWEEN THE CITY AND UT IT PROLIFERATES PRE NEGOTIATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND REMOVES THE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SLOWDOWNS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAGUING THESE AGREEMENTS OVER THE YEARS ON BOTH SIDES.
IT'S NOT JUST ON THE CITY SIDE, OUT OF THESE FUNDING.
THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN PRE-APPROVED THAT C SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
IT WAS NOT PRE-ALLOCATED DEPARTMENTS STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH THOSE FUNDS.
THEY STILL HAVE TO PUT IT IN THEIR BUDGET.
SO, AS I SAID, THE ILA IS AVAILABLE TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH UT.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AS A COMMISSION IN LEVERAGING IT OR LEARNING MORE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE PROJECTS IN MIND, YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO, UM, FACILITATE BETWEEN THE CITY AND UT OR WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO HEARING, HEARING ABOUT THEM.
THE STORY BEHIND GETTING THIS AS ILA IS INSPIRING AND XL.
WE, WE, AS JENNIFER SAID, WE REACHED OUT TO HER AND HER COLLEAGUES AND WE WERE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THE BOTTLENECKS ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS ON BOTH SIDES OF DESIGN THIS.
AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN, AS IT BEEN ALLUDED TO BY OTHER SPEAKERS, UNIVERSITIES, MIT, AND HARVARD SAY, HOW DID YOU DO THIS? CAN YOU HELP US DO THIS WITH BOSTON, SAN ANTONIO SAID, HOW DID YOU DO THIS? WE DID THIS.
CAN YOU HELP US DO THIS? CREATE A, CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR UNIVERSITY, YOU KNOW, UT SAN ANTONIO, UT AUSTIN, AND THEN COLUMBIA IN NEW YORK CITY SAID, OH, HOW DID YOU DO THIS? AND SO I SAID, WELL, IT TOOK ABOUT TWO YEARS OF GETTING IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
AND THEY SAID IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO GET ANY AGREEMENT WITH NEW YORK CITY.
SO THIS WAS A REALLY A SEMINAL EVENT IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON IT ON FORWARD.
SO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE JOURNEY, SOME OF THE PROJECTS, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, BUT NOW WHERE ARE WE, WHERE ARE WE THINKING? WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S BIG CITY, BIG CITY PLANS.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF SEPARATE THIS UP INTO THREE SECTIONS HERE.
I'M GOING TO KIND OF PAINT THE PICTURE OF THE FUTURE.
UH, ANDREW IS GOING, GONNA KIND OF TALK ABOUT HOW WE GET THERE.
AND THEN TED IS GOING TO USE A POTENTIAL FUTURE PROJECT TO, TO ILLUSTRATE HOW THIS, HOW THIS HAPPENS.
UM, SO WHEN IN SPEAKING WITH, WITH UT AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH AGREES THAT THE VISION FOR AUSTIN NEEDS TO BE SHARED BY EVERYONE.
IT NEEDS TO BE A COMMUNITY WIDE COMPETENCY, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING PEOPLE ALONG, UH, ALONG THE WAY, UH, AND, AND HAVE THIS, UH, KIND OF GENERAL, GENERAL AI LITERACY.
UH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WITHIN THE CITY THAT LOOKS LIKE LEVERAGING AI AND MACHINE LEARNING, WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO, TO, UM, INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND EFFECTIVENESS, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, TO ALLOW DECISION MAKERS, TO MAKE MORE PREDICTIVE AND PROACTIVE, UH, DECISIONS, UM, FOR US TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES, UH, TO CITIZENS IN A MUCH MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, APPROACHABLE AND, UM, UH, DIGITAL WAY, UH, TO HAVE A BETTER COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WITH, WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
UH, AND THEN AT THE CITY, AND THEN AT THE CITIZEN OR THE RESIDENT SIDE, IT LOOKS LIKE MAKING SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHEN AI IS BEING USED.
IT IS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, OR IT'S BEING DONE WITH FOLKS AND NOT TO FOLKS.
UM, AND THAT, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BRINGING WE'RE, WE'RE KEEPING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE, KEEPING TRANSPARENCY, HAVING FEEDBACK LOOPS THE ENTIRE WAY SO THAT WE'RE ENSURING A SAFE AND EQUITABLE OUTCOMES.
UM, SO THAT'S A VERY BIG VISION, UH, PICTURE, UH, FOR THE CITY.
AND SO NOW I'LL TURN IT BACK TO ANDREA TALK ABOUT, WELL, HOW, HOW MIGHT WE, HOW MIGHT WE START TO, TO GET THERE? THANKS, CHARLES.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE IN GOOD SYSTEMS, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED
[00:40:01]
ON CONTINUING THIS PRACTICE OF, UH, SHARING DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE, THE RESEARCH EXPERTISE THAT UT AND THE, ON THE GROUND KNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, THE CITY STAFF HAVE, AND TO CONTINUE THAT ITERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS SHARED AND RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE USED TO IMPLEMENT REAL WORLD PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY TEAMS ALREADY, BUT THAT'S REALLY SOUNDS, YOU KNOW, VERY SIMPLE, BUT IT'S REALLY QUITE COMPLEX BECAUSE OFTEN, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE FACULTY AT UT, BUT THEY OFTEN WORK IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DO THAT, BUT WE HAVE REALLY SUCCEEDED IN GOOD SYSTEMS BY PUTTING A FOCUSED EFFORT ON THAT.
AND THEN IT'S REALLY FURTHER COMPLICATED BY WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY SUCCEEDING WITH ALL OF THESE, UM, TEAMS THAT WE HAVE WITH CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF.
SO AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, SOMETIMES WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING NEW AND WE HOPE CERTAINLY THAT THERE ARE NEW PROJECTS, BUT ALSO WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING WELL.
AND SO FOR US, IT'S REALLY, UM, KEEPING THESE TEAMS TOGETHER IN THE WAY THAT THEY'RE WORKING AND ENABLING MORE TEAMS TO WORK IN THIS WAY.
AND, UM, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN, AN EFFORT THAT'S UNDERWAY NOW THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER CONNECTED TO RACIAL JUSTICE.
UM, AND TED'S GOING TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU, ANDREA, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW THE CITY, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF VENDORS TRYING TO SELL US, UM, ECOLOGY, AI TECHNOLOGY, OR WHAT THEY CALL AI TECHNOLOGY.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ADVANCED DATA ANALYTICS, BUT WE HAVE NO POLICIES OR TOOLS FOR ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF THE AI, ESPECIALLY WHETHER IT CONTAINS UNWANTED BIAS.
UM, MORE PRECISELY, WE ARE NOT SURE HOW TO RECOGNIZE, DEFINE, DETECT, OR MEASURE BIAS BECAUSE OF THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING, WE'RE STARTING OUR PROJECT.
WE'RE HAVING DISCUSSIONS, UH, AS, AS, ALMOST AS WE SPEAK, CERTAINLY NEXT WEEK, WE EXPECT TO HAVE A MEETING THAT WE'RE BRINGING BOTH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THE RACIAL JUSTICE TEAM OF GOOD SYSTEMS. WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND A FEW OTHERS, UM, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF WHAT CAN WE DO, HOW DO, WHAT KIND OF, WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO BE USING AI FOR IN THE NEAR FUTURE? WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO GET, UM, OVER TIME IS A FRAMEWORK AND A SET OF GUIDELINES AND PRINCIPLES FOR SUPPORTING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MITIGATE THE PRESENCE AND EFFECTS OF BIAS IN THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ADOPT.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE TECHNOLOGIES, PERHAPS TOOLS, PERHAPS DATA SETS THAT WE CAN TEST AGAINST, OR FOR ANY TECHNOLOGIES YOU ARE CONSIDERING PURCHASING.
WE'RE HOPING FOR A REPORT THAT MAPS THE CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE AI WITH DATA ANALYTICS AND MACHINE LEARNING, UH, EXPERTISE THAT UT PRESENTS THE LONG-TERM DELIVERABLE.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WORKSHOP, PERHAPS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR CITY AND COMMUNITY FOLKS WOULD BE TO PARTICIPATE IN.
SO WE HAVE A COMMUNITY CITY UNIVERSITY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WANT OUT OF AI, WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT, WHAT WE SHOULD TEST FOR, AND WHICH WE SHOULD DEMAND FROM, UH, THE VENDORS THAT ARE SELLING US THIS TECHNOLOGY.
NOW WE, WE EXPECT TO START RAMPING THIS UP, UM, OR, YOU KNOW, MORE STRONGLY AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AND THEN LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING.
WE WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A REPORT AT SOME TIME AND, UH, NEXT, UH, IN THE SPRING.
SO I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO CHARLES.
AND WE'RE ON THE HOME STRETCH.
UH, WE DIDN'T DO THIS PRETTY QUICKLY HERE JUST AS A, AS A WRAP UP.
SO HOW CAN THIS COMMISSION HELP US? UH, WE, WE PICKED THREE GENERAL AREAS AND THIS IS MORE FOR, YOU KNOW, TO START THIS CONVERSATION, THIS DIALOGUE, AND THIS ONGOING RELATIONSHIP, UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TO GET SOME IDEAS AND START BRAINSTORMING AROUND SOME ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST ONE IS OBVIOUSLY TO, UH, TO KEEP, UH, SUPPORT AND, UH, VISIBILITY, UH, ON THESE GOOD SYSTEMS PROJECTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS CAN, CAN LOSE STEAM OR MOMENTUM, AND THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX, UH, LONG-TERM PROJECTS.
SO THEY NEED THE SUSTAINED, UM, VISIBILITY, THE SUPPORT, AND PERHAPS, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UM, SO, SO FOR THE CURRENT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PLACE, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THEM.
AND THEN AS SARAH MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH, UH, TO DO MORE PROJECT FORMATION IN PRIORITY ALIGNMENT.
UH, SO THERE MIGHT, AGAIN, MIGHT BE, UH, AREAS WHERE YOU CAN HELP US ALIGN PRIORITIES, IDENTIFY, UH, IDENTIFY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND AS WELL AS HELP WITH ANY KIND OF BUDGET, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FOR THOSE
[00:45:01]
PROJECTS AND ANY OTHER AI RELATED TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THEY KIND OF COME ACROSS YOUR, YOUR TABLE, UH, THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD NEED SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE.UM, AND THEN IN THAT LONG-TERM VISION THAT WE JUST WRAPPED UP TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO EVENTUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, START TO BUILD, FIND EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED INTERNALLY AT THE CITY AND BUILD OUT OUR STAFFING AND OUR SUSTAINABILITY MODEL THERE.
SO AS WE START TO IDENTIFY NEW JOBS, SKILLS, ROLES, AND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, I THINK WE WILL LOOK FOR, UH, LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, UM, IN, IN THE, IN THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITY THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUT.
AND THEN I THINK GENERALLY JUST ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN ADVOCACY, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY WIDE APPROACH, UM, WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
COULD THAT BE, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AI ADVISORY COUNCIL OR AN ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS MADE UP OF COMMISSIONERS, UM, CITY LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, UM, UT YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS ON, ON HOW WE REALLY GO ABOUT DOING THIS.
BUT I THINK WE, AGAIN, THIS IS AN IDEA TO START, START US ALL THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT ENTITY OR WHAT THAT ORGANIZATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE, UH, TO, TO GET US TO THAT FUTURE OF A COMMUNITY-WIDE COMPETENCY IN AI.
SO WITH THAT, HOPEFULLY THAT GETS PEOPLE THINKING AND STARTS TO DEVELOP SOME GOOD QUESTIONS, BECAUSE WE ARE FINALLY AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I BELIEVE, UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THE PRESENTERS.
UH, SO WE'LL BE, UH, OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHARLES, UH, AND ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
AND THAT WAS, UH, A GREAT INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION, UH, VERY EXCITING, UH, TO HEAR ABOUT THE COLLABORATION AND ALL THAT IS HAPPENING.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BOUND TO BE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AMONGST THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I HAVE SOME OF MYSELF, BUT THE MAIN ONE, UH, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, I'D LIKE TO FIRST MAKE A STATEMENT, UH, UH, THAT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE OUR SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE THREE, UH, ACTIONABLE WAYS THAT YOU SEE THE COMMISSION, UH, BEING ABLE TO PLAY.
UM, I WISH THAT FLAG WAS STILL UP, BUT IN SPEAKING, IN TERMS OF, AND, UH, AND ALSO ENCOURAGING THE ONGOING EFFORTS, UH, AND, AND SO ON, UH, IN PARTICULAR, THE WORKSHOP TAKING PLACE IN FEBRUARY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF COURSE, TO ASK THAT WE CAN BE INCLUDED IN THAT, UH, PROJECT EXPLORATION AND BUDGET PLANNING, UH, WORKSHOP, UM, IN, IN SOME CAPACITY THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
UH, WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY PEERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, WE MAY HAVE SEVERAL, UH, I WISH I HAD A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO, UM, TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND LET ME KNOW, BUT IF YOU COULD, UH, JUST GO AHEAD AND LET ME KNOW THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, I'LL IDENTIFY YOU.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET THE QUESTION INTO THE RECORD, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN.
SO LET US COMMISSIONER, UH, THE GROUP, UH, YES, PLEASE GO RIGHT AHEAD.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO ALL THE SPEAKERS, THIS WAS A PHENOMENAL PRESENTATION.
SO I COME FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE I ACTUALLY STARTED DABBLING IN AI FROM 1982.
I HAD A TEAM MEMBER THAT I ASSIGNED TO WRITE SIMPLE EXPERT SYSTEMS, TO DEVELOP TOOLS, TO HELP CHIP DESIGNERS AT IBM, UH, REMOVE SOME OF THE MUNDANE TASKS, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THOSE DESIGNERS COOPERATED WITH ME SINCE THEY WERE AFRAID THAT IT WOULD REPLACE THEIR JOBS.
SO THAT'S ONE FEAR THAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER AS YOU GO FORWARD EVEN TODAY.
AND SO I THINK YOU NEED TO GET PREPARED FOR THAT, THE FEAR OF WHAT AI WILL DO TO THEIR LIVES.
SECONDLY, WHAT WILL IT DO TO THE PRIVACY OF INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE ACCUMULATE AND ALSO ADD TO? SO MY SUGGESTION IS, YES, I THINK THIS COMMISSION SHOULD BE A PARTNER IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROJECT GOES FORWARD.
BUT ANOTHER AVENUE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE NEWSLETTERS.
I THINK YOU NEED TO LATCH ONTO THOSE NEWSLETTERS TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
I THINK YOU SHOULD SOME OR OTHER SQUIRREL INTO THAT AGENDA AND MAKE AT LEAST A FIVE TO 10 MINUTE PRESENTATION SO THAT YOU CAN CARRY ALL THE CITIZENS FORWARD.
[00:50:01]
IF EXPERTS DON'T WANT TO PLAY, LIKE, IN MY CASE IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, THE CITIZENS WILL BE SCARED TO DEATH OF PLAYING WITH YOU.DASGUPTA I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT DIRECTLY.
UH, I, I, I WILL SAY THAT IN ALMOST ALL OF OUR, OF OUR MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS, THE TWO THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT, WELL, IT'S PROBABLY THE THREE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT THE MOST IS, IS, IS, IS PRIVACY ISSUES.
UM, THE SECOND ONE IS, IS, IS, IS THE WORKFORCE DISPLACEMENT OR WORKFLOW, UH, YOU KNOW, CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE, BOTH FROM, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, WHAT THAT HAPPENS FOR THEIR JOBS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, AND THEN EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS THE THIRD THING.
SO I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE AT THE TOP OF TH THOSE ARE PARTS OF IT.
ALMOST EVERY DISCUSSION WE HAVE THAT, THOSE THREE, THOSE THREE TOPICS, THERE'S THREE ITEMS. WE HAVEN'T OBVIOUSLY SOLVED IT OR FIXED IT, OR NO, THE, THE SILVER BULLET FOR THOSE THINGS, BUT, UM, ARE ALWAYS TOP OF MIND AND PRIORITIES.
I KNOW FOR, UH, FOR ALL OF THE CONDITIONERS, UM, I'D LIKE TO GIVE ANYONE ELSE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK IF YOU COULD PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF FIRST.
UH TIRPITZ THIS IS MALCOLM YATES.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS HERE.
SO IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE'S VENDORS THAT ARE TRYING TO SELL YOU AI PRODUCTS ALREADY.
SO ARE THERE ANY INDUSTRY STANDARD COMMERCIAL PLATFORMS FOR CREATING
IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SOME LEADING GROUP THAT HAS SOME KIND OF AI, UM, COMMERCIAL PRODUCT? YEAH.
I'LL TAKE THE FIRST STEP AT THIS AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE CAN, CAN JUMP IN.
UM, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE GARTNER HYPE CYCLE WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF VENDORS COMING IN VERY EARLY ON, AND EVERYONE SAYS THEY HAVE AI AND THEY DO AI, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY, WE VERY EXCITED ON BOARD.
AND THEN, THEN YOU KIND OF HAVE THIS, THIS CREST OF, I THINK, YOU KNOW, DISILLUSIONMENT THAT STARTS TO HAPPEN, WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, THIS YOU, WE'RE CALLING THIS AI, THAT TED MENTIONED IT EARLIER.
IT'S REALLY JUST ADVANCED, YOU KNOW, DATA ANALYTICS, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST ADVANCED VISUALIZATION.
UH, AND, AND THEN, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE KIND OF STARTING TO WEED OUT THE, THE, THE FOLKS THAT REALLY AREN'T DOING TRUE AI AND ML.
UH, AND I WOULD SAY WE'RE, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO IDENTIFY THE, KIND OF THE STANDARD BEARS AND LEADERS IN THE FIELD, ALL YOUR BIG NAME, UM, ALL YOUR BIG NAME, IT COMPANIES HAVE SOME SORT OF A AI PLATFORM AND THEY'RE ALL SIMILAR, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL AT LIKE, SO THAT MAKES IT MAKE IT DIFFICULT.
WE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET AHEAD OF THAT, GET AHEAD OF THAT GAME SO THAT WHEN THE VENDORS DO COME TO US, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE EXACTLY WHAT OUR DEMANDS WOULD BE FROM A SECURITY AND PRIVACY STANDPOINT.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND NAME WHICH ONES WE THINK ARE THE TOP OR THE BEST, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T EVEN REALLY REALLY KNOW RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THAT STARTING TO MAKE ITSELF EVIDENT, BUT STILL, STILL KIND OF WORKING THERE, WORKING ON THAT TO CHARLES.
OH, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A COMMISSIONER.
YOU'D SAY I THINK THAT THAT WAS EXCELLENT QUESTION.
AND IT'S ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD.
ECONOMIC FORUM ACTUALLY, UM, PUT TOGETHER A SET OF PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES FOR NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, FOR THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD KEEP IN MIND WHEN THEY'RE PURCHASING AI SERVICES.
AND THE UK GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY ADOPTED THOSE GUIDELINES IN JULY THIS YEAR AND IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, UM, GOOD SYSTEMS AND THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, WE'LL HAVE A WEEK OF PROGRAMMING WHERE THEY'RE TAKING THESE PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES THAT WERE DEVELOPED FOR NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOOK AT HOW THEY MIGHT BE ADOPTED TO STATE LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS.
BUT CERTAINLY IN THE NAME OF OUR PROGRAM IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOVERNMENTS BUY AI? SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
IT'S ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS ON THAT.
AND, UM, WE WILL HAVE PROGRAMMING, UH, AGAIN IN FEBRUARY, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY
[00:55:01]
PASS THAT INFORMATION ALONG TO SARAH AND CHARLES AND TED, AND SHARE THAT WITH YOU AND INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE.AND, AND ONE OF, UM, THE PANELS WILL BE FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE, UM, PEOPLE FROM THE CITY PARTICIPATING ON THAT.
UH, I JUST DON'T WANT TO ADD A INJURY AS POINTS.
SO, UM, AND LET ME GIVE YOU A COOKIE DUMP OUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AI MACHINE LEARNING AND DEEP LEARNING.
JUST IMAGINE THERE THERE'S ONLY, UH, THERE'S UH, THE FIRST LAYER IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT'S MEANS ANY MACHINE CAN MIMIC HUMAN BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S THE FIRST LAYER WITHIN THIS LAYER IS MACHINE LEARNING.
THAT'S BEST A GREAT MACHINE CAN LEARN FROM DATA AND SUPERVISOR LEARNING AND ALL SUPERVISOR LEARNING WITHIN THE MACHINE LEARNING LAYER.
SO BASICALLY IT'S RELATED TO NEURAL NETWORK.
SO THAT'S THE HOTTEST TOPIC OF AI.
WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHAT'S THE AI AND WHAT IS MACHINE LEARNING WITH DEEP LEARNING? SECOND, THERE IS NO GENERAL AI AVAILABLE AS FAR AS FAR AS I KNOW ON THE MARKET.
SO BASICALLY WE HAVE, WE HAVE A TRAFFIC CAMERA, WE HAVE A AI DESIGNED TO DO SPECIFIC ASSIST, BUT IF YOU'RE WANTING TO SAY, CAN WE GET AI TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT? THERE'S NOT SUCH THING THIS, AND THAT'S THE BEST DEGREE.
WE ARE NOT LI LIKE A GOOGLE AND THE BIG COMPANY WORKING ON THAT.
I AGREE, LIKE THE SITUATION, IF WE WANT TO BUY A TRAFFIC CAMERA, THAT'S A TRAFFIC CAMERA CATEGORY.
IF WE WILL BUY A STOCK CERTAIN CATEGORY, WE'VE GOT A CERTAINLY CATEGORY, BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S NO GENERAL PLATFORM AVAILABLE YET.
BUT TED, DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT TED THAT MR. LARRY, UM, I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO ADD.
I'LL JUST SAY THIS HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.
AS A PROBLEM, SITS WITH THE JUNK, THEN LIVE A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE.
WE HAD A AI CHAT BOT BEING SOLD TO US FOR HEALTHCARE PURPOSES IN THE LAST SPRING.
AND WE ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS IT TRAINED ON? AND THE IDEA WAS, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE, UH, HEALTHCARE SUPPORT FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND IT WAS TRAINED ON TECHNICAL IT SUPPORT CALLS.
SO THE DATA'S THAT WAS TECHNICAL, IT SUPPORT CALLS, AND WE WERE PURCHASING IT TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE OR SUPPORT CALLS.
UM, IS THAT A, IS THAT A, IS THAT A GOOD PURCHASE? IS THAT, IS, IS THAT GOING TO CAUSE US SOME CERTAINLY NOT OUTCOME GOALS? I'M NOT SURE EQUITY.
UM, AND THEN YOU, YOU, YOU ASK ABOUT, UM, HOW TO CUSTOMIZE SUCH A THING FOR HEALTHCARE PURPOSES AND THE VENDOR.
CLEARLY DOESN'T AT LEAST AS THEY PRESENT US, CLEARLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO AS WELL.
THEY HAVE SOME CANNED ANSWERS.
SO WHAT, UM, I GUESS THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THERE IS NO STANDARD OUT THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF SALES PITCH TO CHARLES'S POINT.
WE GET A LOT OF FOLKS TELLING US THAT CAN DO THIS OR THAT.
AND WE DON'T HAVE, AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN INDUSTRY STANDARD.
I MEAN, HIGH TRIPLE E'S BEGINNING SOMETHING THAT THERE'S NOT, I'M NOT IN A BUNCH OF STAMPS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THEM.
UH, DID YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED TO ASK? RIGHT.
WELL, RELATED TO THAT FIRST QUESTION WAS, IS I UNDERSTAND, BUT HE MAY WAGE AND I GO, I GOT VERY GENERAL KNOWLEDGE IS THAT IT TAKES ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF DATA AND THEN USES LIKE NEURAL NETWORKS TO DISCERN PATTERNS.
UM, SO IS THAT THE WAY IT'S BEING USED BY THESE VARIOUS PROJECTS FOR THE CITY? OR IS THERE SOME MORE SOPHISTICATED KIND OF ANALYSIS GOING ON? I CAN COMMENT ON THAT AND NOT ALL THE PROJECTS.
NOT ON A PROJECT OR AT LEAST FROM SIDE, I USE A NEURAL NETWORK CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S A, UM, SOME AUTHOR LOTION, MACHINE LEARNING MASTER.
THERE'S A MUCH EASIER TO UNDERSTAND ALSO GENERATE A BETTER RESULT THAN YOU ARE ON ANDROID.
YOU'RE AN ANDROID IS A MORE BLACK BOX.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW SOMETIME WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE PUT ON A, WHY ARE WE GOING TO READ THOUGHTS SO YOU CAN SHOW ME I WAS STILL HERE.
SO I KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALL THERE, UH, PROJECT YOUTH IN YOUR NETWORK IN TERM OF ANALYSIS, MASSIVE.
[01:00:01]
LEVELS OF ANALYSIS METHOD.FIRST LOGICAL READING, AS WE KNOW, HEY, TO BE B2C.
THE SECOND
SO THE LEVEL WE SIT IN, OUR MACHINE LEARNING AND MACHINE LEARNING IS LIKE A LIBRARY.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF, LOT OF MODELS TO MACHINE LEARNING AND NEURAL NANDO.
WE GET A POT OF MACHINE LEARNING, WE CALL DEEPER LEARNING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I HOPE THAT HELPS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION COMMISSIONER.
I WOULD ADD TO IT WITH, UH, WE'RE VERY INTENTIONAL IN, IN SELECTING PROJECTS WHERE WE COULD SEE RESULTS FAIRLY, FAIRLY QUICKLY.
SO WHEN WE, THAT WITH THESE PROJECT TEAMS, WE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO GO DEEP INTO THE NEURAL NETWORK AND FIGURE OUT ALL THE BLACK BOX THINGS.
UH, WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SEE RESULTS AND WE WANT TO SEE OUTCOMES IN SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS.
UM, AND THEN WE KIND OF ITERATE AND GO FROM THERE.
SO, SO, SO THE IDEA WITH THESE, THIS FIRST ROUND OF PROJECTS IS, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S KIND OF INTRODUCTORY, ESPECIALLY FIRST PER CITY STAFF.
AND, AND THEN IT GIVES US AN IDEA OF, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THOSE HOW FAR, HOW FAR WE CAN GET WITH THIS, WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY, UH, WITHOUT GETTING US RAPTOR WRAPPED INTO A PROJECT THAT IS ENDLESS AND, AND BECOMES JUST MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO WE TRIED TO KEEP THE FIRST ONE'S FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY SIMPLE AND, AND SCOPED, UM, SCOPED APPROPRIATELY.
MAY I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? A QUESTION? UH, SURE.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE THAT HASN'T ASKED A QUESTION THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING BURNING AT THEM.
WELL WITH THAT, JUST PLEASE COMMISSION THAT'S STUPID.
UM, MY QUESTION IS RELATED TO WHAT CHARLES JUST SAID.
SO IF YOU ARE A, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE TRYING TO FOCUS DOWN ON VERY RAPID SOLUTIONS.
UH, I, I BELIEVE IN GOING AFTER THE LOW HANGING FRUIT FOR US, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT IN, SO DOING THAT, WE DON'T LIMIT THE QUALITY OF THE RESULTS AND POTENTIAL LONG-TERM APPLICATION, SCALABILITY OF THE SOLUTION.
SO I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT BOTH RIGHT.
SCALABILITY AS WELL AS SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, RIGHT? SAYING THAT WE WANT TO SEE RESULTS AND OUTCOMES IN SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S THE END OF THE PROJECT.
THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE, IF NOT ALL OF THESE ARE ALMOST OPERATING UNDER THE, UNDER THE, THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTS.
SO WE'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE FUND, THAT WORKSHOP THAT'S COMING UP IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH.
THE IDEA IS THAT WE'RE BUILDING UPON THESE PROJECTS.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE, THEY ARE GOING TO NEED MORE MONEY.
THEY ARE GOING TO NEED MORE FUNDING AND ATTENTION AND ATTENTION TO THEM.
SO, SO YES, IT'S TRYING TO TRY AND STRIKE THAT NICE BALANCE THERE.
EXCELLENT POINT, EXCELLENT POINT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMISSIONER THAT'S AND THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT RESPONSE AND ALL THE OTHER INPUTS THERE.
UH, ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS LIKE TO CHIME IN HERE AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANEL BEFORE WE WRAP THIS PART OF THE AGENDA? OKAY.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR JOINING US.
I KNOW THAT I REALLY, UH, DELIGHTED AS I THINK ALL THE OTHERS ARE WITH THE PRESENTATION AND WITH THE BUDDING COLLABORATION WITH UT, UH, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND, UH, FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE PART OF THAT COLLABORATION AS WELL.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE, UH, AND CERTAINLY MIGHT YOU ALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REST OF THE MEETING.
THERE WILL BE A SECTION OF THIS MEETING THAT DOES FOCUS ON AI, UH, WHERE YOUR INPUT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
UH, SO FEEL FREE TO JOIN US TO BE LIKE, BUT EITHER WAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE IN OUR AGENDA, UH, TO
[2.b. Update on Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs (TARA) Solicitations and Contracts (John Speirs, TARA)]
ITEM TWO B, UH, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS.SO FLIRTATIONS AND CONTRACTS, UH, BY PROGRAM MANAGER, UH, JOHN SPHERES.
THANK YOU, CHAIR COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WE HAVE ONE SLIDE, UH, TO SHARE WHILE WE ARE GETTING THE SLIDE UP.
I CAN INTRODUCE THE ITEM, UM, THE CITY'S OFFICE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, UM, AS WELL IS
[01:05:01]
THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, UM, IN WHICH I AM REPRESENTING TONIGHT IS, UM, THE FOCUS OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING YOU AN UPDATE ON, UH, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN FISCAL YEAR 21, THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTRACT PORTFOLIO WILL HAVE SOME CHANGES, ADDITIONS, AND SOME, UM, UH, SOLICITATIONS THAT WILL OCCUR.AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, AN UPDATE TO THE CTC AND TO ALSO INFORM OF WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE, UM, ENGAGING WITH, UH, COMMISSIONERS THROUGH THE DIGITAL INCLUSION WORKING GROUP, AS IT RELATES TO THE, UM, CONTRACT, UH, SOLICITATIONS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, UP FIRST IN THE SUMMARY OF THE CONTRACT PORTFOLIO, IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, UM, PROVIDES OVERSIGHT FOR IS THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ACCESS LAB MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT.
THIS CONTRACT IS THE, UM, CONTRACT THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET PROVIDES DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING TO AUSTIN'S MOST VULNERABLE, UH, DIGITALLY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND PROVIDES FOR A STANDARDIZED DIGITAL LITERACY CURRICULUM THAT IS OPEN SOURCE AND AVAILABLE TO OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CLIENTS.
UM, AND THAT'S CONTRACT AS WELL IS, UH, SERVES FOR TRAIN THE TRAINER PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT OUR LARGER DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, FOR SKILLS, CAPABILITIES, AND GUIDANCE FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING TO THEIR CLIENTS.
THE CURRENT CONTRACT, UH, VENDOR IS AUSTIN FREENET THIS, UM, CONTRACTUAL PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1995.
UM, AND THAT INITIAL TERM OF THIS CURRENT PERIOD OF THE CONTRACT DOES EXPIRE JULY, 1920 21.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE NEXT RENEWAL OPTIONS, UH, WILL COMMENCE THEREAFTER THEN ON JULY 20TH OF 2021, TO SUPPORT THAT STEP IN THE PROCESS, STAFF IS UNDERWAY WITH OUR NORMAL CONTRACT MONITORING, UM, AND REVIEW, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A CONTRACT MONITORING RISK ASSESSMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTRACT IS ACHIEVING THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT PERFORMANCE DELIVERABLES ARE BEING MET AND THAT THE, UH, FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE CONTRACT ADHERES TO THE, UH, STATED BUDGET ALONG WITH THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE CONTRACT TERMS THUS FAR, UM, ALL SIGNS, UH, FOR WHAT I CAN SHARE HERE ARE LOOKING GOOD.
UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, ADMINISTRATIVELY CONDUCT THE DUSK REVIEW, UH, PROCESS FOR, UM, INSIGHTS TO DRIVE ANY, UM, TO I'M SORRY, RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND OR UPDATES TO THE SCOPE OF WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE, UH, EXTENSION OPTION FOR THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY, UM, ACCESS LAB MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT, UH, FOR, UH, ANOTHER, UH, YEAR TERM THAT NEXT CONTRACT IN THE PORTFOLIO WITH, UH, SOME STATUS CHANGES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR IS THE PUBLIC ACCESS FACILITY AND CHANNEL MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
THE CURRENT VENDOR IS THE FILM SOCIETY OF AUSTIN DOING BUSINESS AS AUSTIN PUBLIC.
THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR PUBLIC, UH, BROADCAST OF LOCAL CONTENT GENERATED FROM COMMUNITY MEDIA PRODUCERS AND PROVIDES OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY'S PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION FACILITY IN EAST AUSTIN, AND PROVIDES FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA PRODUCER TRAINING WHERE COMMUNITY MEDIA PRODUCERS, UM, AT ANY LEVEL, UH, NOVICE INTERMEDIATE ADVANCE CAN RECEIVE TRAINING FROM THE CONTRACTOR TO FURTHER THEIR PRODUCTION
[01:10:01]
SKILLS, UH, STUDIO OPERATIONS SKILLS AND CONTENT GENERATION SKILLS ON A MULTITUDE OF PLATFORMS, INCLUDING BROADCAST TELEVISION AND VIRTUAL SERVICES.THIS CONTRACT EXPIRES NINE 30 OF 2021 WITH NO CONTRACT EXTENSIONS REMAINING WHAT'S NEXT IS TO DEVELOP THE SCOPE OF WORK.
AND A GLIMPSE INTO THAT PROCESS IS, UH, FOR THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE A PIVOT WHERE THIS CONTRACT IS FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ABILITY TO GENERATE CERTIFICATED SKILLS FOR THOSE COMMUNITY MEDIA PRODUCERS TO THEN GAIN VALUABLE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THE WORKFORCE.
AND THAT IS AN ABILITY FOR US TO SUSTAIN AND GENERATE THE RESILIENCY OF WHAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT CONTRACT, BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT MEMORIALIZES THE PIVOT NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST AND BEST OUTCOMES POSSIBLE WITH REGARDS TO THE FUNDING DEDICATED TO SUPPORT THE CORE OPERATIONS THERE.
AND THE, THE, THE INTENT WITH THAT, UH, PROCESS WILL ALSO BE TO ENSURE THAT THE CORE CONTENT GENERATION AND THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF, UH, PROGRAMMING HOURS, THE LOCAL ORIGINAL HOURS AS MANDATED BY TEXAS STATE STATUTE FOR ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING ON OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION STATIONS ARE, UH, ABLE TO BE MET AND THAT THE PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION FACILITY CONTINUES TO BE, UM, OPERATED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE, UH, WORKFORCE TRAINING GOAL FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL GOVERNMENT CAPITAL, UH, EQUIPMENT FUNDING CONTRACT.
THE CURRENT VENDOR IS FILM SOCIETY OF AUSTIN.
THE CONTRACT EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2021.
WHAT'S NEXT IS TO ALIGN THE FUTURE WORK, A LIE THAT IS UNDER THE PEG CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUNDING, UH, CONTRACT WITH A CITY-WIDE MASTER AGREEMENT THAT IS IN DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AND COLLABORATE WITH DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE LEAD DEPARTMENT OVER THIS CITY-WIDE MASTER AGREEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE TO LEVERAGE THE BUYING POWER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CITY-WIDE MASTER AGREEMENT FOR THE ABILITY TO PROCURE THE, UM, UH, UM, PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT, EXCUSE ME, ASSOCIATED WITH THE, UM, STATE MANDATED, UH, RESTRICTIONS ON THE, UH, FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH PEG, UM, EQUIPMENT.
AS THE COMMISSIONERS MAY BE AWARE, 1% OF GROSS REVENUES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AUSTIN'S CABLE PROVIDERS IS RESTRICTED TO, UM, PEG CAPITAL EXPENSES ONLY.
AND THAT FUNDING IS THE SOURCE FOR THIS CONTRACT, AND THIS WILL BE A COMPONENT OF A LARGER MASTER AGREEMENT, AND THEY LEVERAGED OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE COORDINATION BUYING POWER, AND THE ABILITY TO, UH, LEVERAGE THAT MASTER AGREEMENT IN SERVICE OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL GOVERNMENT, UH, ACCESS, UH, CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, UH, FOR THAT CONTRACT.
AND FINALLY, THE RESIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY STUDY THIS STUDY IS CONDUCTED ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S ABILITY TO AUTHOR A POLICY DOCUMENT BACK IN 2011, THAT SET FORTH THIS, UH, POLICY FOR THE RESIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED.
ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, THIS STUDY GENERATES THE BENCHMARKS FOR AWARENESS OF AUSTIN'S DIGITAL DIVIDE, DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING NEEDS ACROSS, UH, SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND HELPS ENSURE AWARENESS OF WHERE RESIDENTS GO TO GAIN ACCESS TO INTERNET DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING SKILLS WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE HOME INTERNET ACCESS AND, OR A HOME COMPUTER.
ONE THING, UH, THAT THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL
[01:15:01]
TECHNOLOGY STUDY, UM, IS INTENDED TO DO FOR THIS UPCOMING ITERATION OF THE STUDY IS TRULY EVALUATE THE MONUMENTAL IMPACTS AS IT RELATES TO THE COVID 19 RESPONSE.THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SOCIETAL PIVOTS AND DEPENDENCY ON VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT, VIRTUAL SERVICES, VIRTUAL LEARNING THAT THIS STUDY WILL ASCERTAIN THE NEEDS OF NOT ONLY AUSTIN RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO OF MICRO BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES, A FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN GAIN BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, SKILLS, UM, AND SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS PIVOT IN A RESILIENT MANNER.
THE VENDOR IS TO BE DECIDED THE RFP IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED IN JANUARY TO FEBRUARY, 2021.
AND STAFF IS IN PROCESS WITH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND STAFF HAS CONDUCTED THE FIRST STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WORKING GROUP MEETING AS OF LAST FRIDAY.
AND, UM, JUST A NOTE THAT CHAIR PITTS HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK THUS FAR, UM, IN THAT PROCESS, UH, FOR COMMISSIONING ENGAGEMENT, WITH RELATION TO THE RESIDENTIAL TYPE TECHNOLOGY STUDY FOR F Y 21, WITH THAT, WE WANT TO YIELD THE FLOOR TO THE COMMISSION AND CHAIR PITS FOR ANY QUESTIONS, AS IT RELATES TO THIS BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR CONTRACTS AND SOLICITATIONS FOR FY 21.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, JOHN, UH, THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, FOR THE THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS, UH, AND ALSO FOR COURTS MENTIONING, UH, MY INVOLVEMENT AND THE MEETING ON FRIDAY, UH, MR.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK JOHN ANY QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THESE CONTRACTS AND NEGOTIATIONS AND UPDATES, AND LIKE TO FIRST IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND THEN I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE, AND THEN GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ASK THE QUESTION.
IF THE COMMISSION ABOUT SCOOTER HAS BRINGS HIS HAND AND GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.
OH, JOHN, UH, I'M GOING TO BE CONFUSED.
SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, CAN I, CAN I LOOK AT THE SLIDE ONE MORE TIME? OKAY.
THERE'S FAST ITEM, COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY, ACCESS LAB MANAGEMENT, UM, IN 2019, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, MAKING AVAILABLE, UH, COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT WERE BEING, UH, BEING REPLACED.
AND THOSE WERE SYSTEMS THAT YOU WERE MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
IS THIS THE LAB MANAGEMENT SERVICE THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT? AND IS THAT A CONTINUING SERVICE? ARE WE STILL GIVING COMPUTER SYSTEMS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY COMMISSIONER? DASGUPTA THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND CLARIFICATION OPPORTUNITY THERE.
UM, THE PROGRAM THAT YOU REFERENCED IS THE COMMUNITY PC PROGRAM, UM, AND THERE IS NOW A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SLAB MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT, NO PUN INTENDED, AND THE COMMUNITY PC PROGRAM THERE.
UH, THE CONNECTION EXISTS IN WHICH WE HAVE, UM, DEVELOPED A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE AUSTIN FREE NUT'S ROLE AS THE CONTRACTUAL VENDOR TO, UM, RECEIVE DONATED COMPUTERS FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
NOW THIS HAS BEEN A FLOURISHING OPPORTUNITY AND WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ALSO PILOT A NUMBER OF DONATION DRIVES WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT, AND SUPPORTS OUR CORE POPULATION RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO HOME COMPUTERS.
SO, UH, MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY CAN GAIN BENEFIT FROM ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE RESPONSE TO COVID-19.
SO THERE IS NOW A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS, UM, AND THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS DEVELOPED BACK IN 2017.
[01:20:01]
SINCE THE, UH, COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ACCURATE TIME MANAGEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY NEGOTIATED NEGOTIATED, WE HAVE EVEN SCALED THE PROGRAM FROM THERE AND AUSTIN FREENET NOW SERVICES ARE A GREAT PARTNER TO ACCEPT THOSE DONATIONS AND WORKS WITH CITY STAFF.HAND-IN-HAND HERE AT THE
AND I SHOULD KNOW, JUST AS FAR AS A QUICK, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPUTERS IN
SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE OCTOBER, UM, UH, FIRST OF 2019 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2020, OVER 830 COMPUTERS WERE DONATED EITHER FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS OR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, REFURBISHED AND DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN THROUGH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
SO WE, UM, WE, BY FAR OVERACHIEVED OUR GOALS THAT WE HAD SET FORTH WITH OVER 830 DEVICES IN TOTAL BEING, UM, PUSHED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
SO I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
THE FOLLOW ON QUESTION IS, UH, THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM BY RICH YOU'RE, UH, PUSHING THESE SYSTEMS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, DID I HEAR YOU SAYING THAT YOU HAVE ALSO PARTNERS MEANING, LIKE SAY A DELL OR IBM OR NXP, UM, ARE YOU CONNECTED WITH THESE COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THAT TOO.
UM, SO ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH OTHER, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OR APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS, ET CETERA, IN DOING THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER TO SCOOP THAT, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND, UM, STAFF AND ALONG WITH OUR, UH, CONTRACTUAL PARTNER, AUSTIN FREENET, UM, THROUGH THIS, UH, DONATION, UH, PROGRAM HAVE ENGAGED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO RECEIVE THEIR, UH, ICES THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED FOR THEIR STAFF PURPOSE.
UH, AND THAT IS, UH, CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE ESSENTIALLY, UM, ARE ABLE TO REFURBISH THE DEVICE.
UH, RE-IMAGING IT INSTALL THE MICROSOFT CITIZENS SHIP WITH LEVEL OF, UH, OFFICE AND WINDOWS LICENSES ON THE COMPUTERS AT A VERY LOW COST.
UM, THE, THE AVERAGE COST PER COMPUTER TO THE RECIPIENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS $12 IF THEY GET BOTH LICENSES.
AND THAT IS THE UNIQUE VALUE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING COMMUNITY PC PROGRAM.
I AM, UH, AWARE OF THE, UH, SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMERCIAL SECTOR COMPANIES HERE IN AUSTIN ALSO ADMINISTER THAT ARE, UM, UH, ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY PC PROGRAM.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THE OVERALL WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THERE IS THAT, UH, THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR COMPANIES THAT ALSO HAVE THEIR COMPUTER DONATION PROGRAMS, THOSE DEVICES MAY BE LOADED WITH THE COMPANY'S PARTICULAR SOFTWARE, UM, PACKAGE APPLICATIONS ON THEIR DEVICE PLATFORM.
UM, AND IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR THEM TO GET SOME MARKETING OUT THERE AS WELL.
ALL OF THAT BIRD IS, UH, ORIENTED AROUND, UH, THE ABILITY TO REFURBISH THE DEVICE, WHICH IS A KEY VALUE WITHIN THE SOLID WASTE HIERARCHY.
UM, AND THAT IS A GOAL THAT WE ARE, UH, ACHIEVING AS WELL.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT, UM, PROGRAMS COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE DO KEEP A PULSE ON WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SO THAT WE CAN SCALE OUR PROGRAM.
AND DEFINITELY WHENEVER AN OPPORTUNITY ARISES, WE'RE IN A VIRTUAL CALL TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS A, A LARGE DONATION OPPORTUNITY, OR IF THERE'S A LEAD THAT GAIN ACCESS TO PERIPHERALS, OR IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN REFER A NONPROFIT TO THEM TO RECEIVE THOSE DEVICES DIRECTLY.
SO IT'S A CONSTANT COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER PROGRAMS. THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, UH, COMMISSIONED OFF.
I KNOW THAT ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK IN AND ADD, UH, IS, UH, THE DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, UH, MEETS ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS AND HOSTS A VIDEO CONFERENCE CALL ALLOWING, UH, ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING TO EITHER INQUIRE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES OR TO
[01:25:01]
SHARE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.SO I WOULD INVITE, UH, YOU COMMISSIONED US TO JOIN, UH, ONE OF THOSE CALLS, UH, OR, OR ALL OF THEM, FRANKLY, AND TO GIVE US KIND OF A BRAIN DUMP OF, UH, THE DIFFERENT, UH, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY BE OUT THERE.
UH, SO WE CAN START TO MAKE THE MOST OF THOSE AS WELL.
CAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, THERE'S MORE AND MORE, UH, WE CAN SHARE AMONGST EACH OTHER, UH, WE CAN GET A MULTIPLICATION EFFECT AND TO SHARE MORE RESOURCES WITHIN EACH OTHER.
SO I WOULD WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US FOR THOSE CALLS.
UM, SO THIS IS ABOUT THE PAID CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUNDING IS THE, UH, PUBLIC ACCESS FACILITY, THE ONLY ORGANIZATION THAT SPENDS THESE FUNDS, OR EITHER OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALSO GET SOME OF THESE FUNDS AND THAT 1%, WHAT IS THE TOTAL FIGURE, UM, FOR LAST YEAR, SAY THAT, UH, THE CITY RECEIVED, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER UTES.
UM, LET ME START WITH THE LAST QUESTION FIRST.
UM, IF I RECALL THE NUMBERS CORRECTLY THERE, THE TOTAL REVENUES RECEIVED FOR THE PIG FUNDS WERE $1.7 MILLION.
UM, AND THAT IS THEN, UH, ALLOCATED TO THE RESTRICTED FUND, WHICH IS ABLE TO CARRY A BALANCE YEAR OVER YEAR.
UM, AND THAT IS THE AUSTIN CABLE ACCESS FUND IN THE CITY BUDGET.
UM, THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE PEG CHANNELS.
SO, UH, THOSE ENTITIES WITH A PUBLIC EDUCATION OR GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL INCLUDE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, THE CITY'S POLICY FOR PEG EXPENDITURES AS THE ENTITY, THAT IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE REVENUES IS TO PRIORITIZE CITY OF AUSTIN NEEDS FIRST WITH CHANNEL SIX IN WHICH I BELIEVE WE'RE BROADCASTING ON NOW.
UM, AND THEN THE CITY'S PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION FACILITY WITH OUR CURRENT CONTRACTOR FILM SOCIETY OF AUSTIN.
AND THEN, UH, WITH THE FUNDS THAT REMAIN THERE IS, UH, USUALLY AN ALLOCATION TO THE, UH, OTHER ENTITIES DEPENDENT ON FUNDING AVAILABLE, UH, AND THE, THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THEIR NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
UM, AND THAT IS AN ANNUAL PROCESS THAT, UH, STAFF ENGAGES IN TO EVALUATE THE TOTAL BUDGET AVAILABLE AND WHAT THE EXPENDITURES, UH, WHAT THE EXPENDITURE ALLOCATION, UH, LOOKS LIKE.
SO THAT BRINGS UP ONE MORE QUESTION.
THEN YOU SAID THAT AISD IS ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS POSSIBLY OF THESE FUNDS.
NOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ANNEXED WAY OUT CAST ONE 30 NOW.
SO, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN NOW INCLUDES, UH, QUITE A LOT OF DEL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO IS THERE ANY, UH, PLAN IN THE FUTURE TO INCLUDE THE DEL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SOME OF THIS FUNDING? AND THEN HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT GETTING SOME OF THAT? SURE, THANK YOU FOR THE INQUIRY, UH, COMMISSIONER HEATS.
UM, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IT IS FOR ENTITIES THAT HAVE, UH, A PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION STATION.
UM, AND I, I'M NOT, WELL-INFORMED ENOUGH TO KNOW IF DEL VALLEY ISD, UM, HAS A PIG CHANNEL.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, I, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S REALLY THE, UM, IT'S WITHIN THE REALM OF THE CURRENT ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, UH, FROM THE PIG REVENUES.
UM, AND AGAIN, THAT IS, UM, CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO THE CURRENT POLICY IN WHICH CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT, UH, SUSTAIN ITS OWN OPERATIONS THERE.
AND SO, UM, THE, UH, CHANNEL SIX IS PRIORITY PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION FACILITY.
AND SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF DEL VALLEY ISD HAS A PAID CHANNEL, BUT AGAIN, IT'S WITH ENTITIES THAT HAVE A STATION.
SO THAT'S THE CLARIFICATION THERE BECAUSE THE, THE, THE VALUE IS
[01:30:01]
FOR COMMUNITY INFORMATION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AWARENESS, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, UM, AND THE, UH, THE CURRENT LAWS LIMIT THOSE REVENUES TO JUST THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.UM, AND SO THAT IS, UH, IN WHICH WE, UH, PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT AND, UH, ALLOCATED THOSE FUNDS ACCORDINGLY.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I BELIEVE THEY RUN.
DELLA HAS GOT A CALL IT, WHAT CAN YOU GET UP ON MUTE? UH, COMMISSIONER? YOU CAN, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, DID YOU WANT, UH, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER STATEMENT THERE? I'M NOT SURE IF JOHN, UH, DID YOU WANT JOHN TO RESPOND YOUR LEFT STATEMENT, MR. H YOU'RE MUTED? UH, YEAH.
I, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, RON DELLA IS TRYING TO TALK, BUT NO ONE CAN HEAR HER BECAUSE I BELIEVE HE'S MUTED.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT CALL OUT.
UH, WE'LL CERTAINLY GIVE YOU A CHANCE IF THERE'S SOMEONE TRYING TO SPEAK NOW.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK NOW.
NOPE, WE'RE STILL NOT HEARING HER.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL GIVE HER A CHANCE TO RESPOND.
THERE WAS A LAST STATEMENT THAT YOU HAD THERE, COMMISSIONER YANKS THAT I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND MYSELF.
AND THEN YOU REFERRED TO THE RIDELL BEING UN-MUTED.
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST QUESTION OR STATEMENT? IT WAS PERTAINING TO DELL VALLEY, I BELIEVE.
WELL, I JUST SAID THAT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT RYAN, GO AHEAD.
MY MAIN QUESTION WAS WHETHER DEL VALLEY ISD COULD GET SOME OF THESE PAID WITH FUNDS.
AND SO LIKE THAT GOT ANSWERED.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL JUST GIVE RANDELL A CHANCE TO CHIME IN WHEN SHE'S ABLE, UH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE HERE AS WE WENT UP AND HAVE ANY QUESTIONS HERE FOR, FOR JOHN OR FOR CITY STAFF PERTAINING TO THE CONTRACTS AND THE UPDATE HE JUST SHARED.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO, UH, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL QUESTIONS AND, UH, WE COULD EVEN, UH, HAVE THE ACTUAL CONTRACTS AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION POINT FOR A WORKING GROUP CALL, UH, AS WELL.
UH, WE COULD EVEN SET UP ONE IN PARTICULAR ON THE CONTRACTS.
UH, IF WE'D LIKE, WE JUST HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT, UH, AND, UH, THE NEW BUSINESS SECTION, OR RATHER, UH, IN THE COMMISSION OF THE EXCEPTION FOR THE APPROPRIATE WORKING GROUP.
SO WITH THAT THEN, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JOHN, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE UPDATE ON THE STATIONS AND CONTRACTS AND TO PROCEED IN THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU, CHAIR PITS COMMISSIONER IS, AND STAFF WILL ALSO PROVIDE A DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
SO THE QUESTION THAT, UM, WAS GENERATED FROM COMMISSIONER EATS, BUT FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US ON THE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT'S RELATES TO THIS BRIEFING.
SO MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO AGENDA
[3.a. The long reach of Artificial Intelligence (Commission Discussion and Action)]
ITEM THREE, A THE SUPPORT DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, THE LONG REACH OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UH, THIS IS A DISCUSSION POINT THAT BEGAN IN OUR LAST COMMISSION MEETING, UH, THAT WE, UH, HAD, UH, A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ON TOPICS OF, UH, PRIVACY AND, UH, JOB REPLACEMENT.OTHER THINGS CONCERNS THAT WERE MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE WANTED TO REENGAGE IN THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH, UH, THE PANEL AVAILABLE THAT WE HAD TO US, UH, AND THE GOOD SYSTEMS PRESENTATION EARLIER FROM, UH, YOU SEE, AS WELL AS CITY STAFF, UH, REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
I KNOW THAT THIS BECAME A UNIQUE POINT INTEREST FOR ME PERSONALLY, AS IT RELATES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, UH,
[01:35:01]
AFTER HEARING, UH, TED LAYER PARTICIPATE AND OUR INITIAL WORKSHOP ON THE RESIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY STUDY, IT WAS A COMMENT THAT HE MADE, UH, PERTAINING TO, UH, UNFOLDING TEN-YEAR PLANS AND STRATEGIES FOR CONNECTING, UH, THE EAST OF AUSTIN AND THE WEST, UH, THINGS THAT WERE A PART OF A VISION FOR PROJECT CONNECT, UH, THAT WOULD INCLUDE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OR ROBOTICS THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN UPLIFTING OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND AFFECTED HISTORICALLY, UH, THAT MADE IT VERY INTERSECTIONAL, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO A TOPIC HERE FOR THE COMMISSION, AS WE FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS DIGITAL INCLUSION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SMART CITY TECHNOLOGY.AND, AND, AND SO WITH THAT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP, FRANKLY, TO SOME OF THE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN, UH, IMPASSIONED ON THIS TOPIC, UH, TO FEEL FREE, TO ENGAGE OUR PANEL, UH, AND TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION THAT, THAT YOU'D LIKE ON THE TOP OF NOW, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE TO POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE OTHER THINGS TO GET TO IN OUR AGENDA.
UM, AND IT'S ALREADY ABOUT EIGHT 28, 15, RATHER WITH THAT THOUGH, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COMMISSIONERS FELLOW COMMISSIONS.
SO WHEN, UH, COMMISSIONERS DOWN SCOOP ORIGINALLY WROTE UP THE, THE TOPIC OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, IT WAS MORE FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY AND ITS ABILITY TO GATHER DATA AND HOW IT WOULD AFFECT CITIZENS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT IMPACT WITH THIS BLUE LEAKS DISASTER THAT HAPPENED THIS LAST SUMMER, WHERE, UM, THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF A NUMBER OF AMERICAN CITIES WERE HACKED AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION WAS ESSENTIALLY SIPHONED OUT TO SOMEWHERE.
AND PART OF THAT, UH, ONE OF THE PLACES THAT GOT THE DATA SIPHONED WAS THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.
AND SO THERE'S AN EXAMPLE RIGHT THERE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE DATA IS NOT PROTECTED.
AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD FOCUS ON BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.
AND IT'S, UH, IT'S AN IMPACT THAT IMPACT THE CITIZENS BECAUSE ALL PERSONAL PRIVATE DATA IS NOW THERE OR THE WEB SOMEWHERE.
I THINK THAT IS A, UH, A GOOD POINT OF DEPARTURE.
UH, I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO, UH, DISCUSS IMMEDIATE CONCERNS AND, AND IMPACTS OF AI, UH, WHILE ALSO, UH, THINKING ABOUT FUTURE APPLICATIONS, UM, CONCERNS, UH, BUT OPPORTUNITIES IN PARTICULAR FOR LEVERAGING, UH, THE FOCUS ON, UH, COLLABORATIVE AI DEVELOPMENT, UH, WITH UTI AND, UH, WITH THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE OUR OTHER INTERESTS AS THE COMMISSION, UH, TO UPLIFT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, IN THE CITY AND, UH, OTHER IDEAS, UH, THAT I DIDN'T INVOLVE AGREEMENTS IN END, UH, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, UH, SUCH AS SHARED CONDUIT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, BUT WITH THAT THOUGH, I'D LIKE TO GET PERMISSION TO ASK YOU FOR A CHANCE TO CHIME IN AND, AND, UH, UH, TO, TO WEIGHT YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AS IT RELATES TO PRIVACY AND OTHER IMMEDIATE CONCERNS.
YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, SINCE THAT MEETING THAT WE HAD A MONTH AGO, I HAD DONE SOME MORE THINKING AND TO OTHER ASPECTS OF IT ALSO, AS IT RELATES TO AI, ONE IS A PRETTY, UH, HOW IT IMPACTS EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THE SECOND THING IS THAT AS MORE AND MORE AI TECHNOLOGIES COME IN, HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE MAN MACHINE INTERFACE? YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, WHEN I TALKED TO SOME FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT, UH, STEEPED IN THIS TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS A GENUINE WORRY, HOW WILL IT AFFECT MY LIFE? WHAT DO THEY DO TO ME? WELL, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALEXA DEVICES THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE.
OKAY, THEY'RE LISTENING IN ON US.
THEY'RE COLLECTING DATA, THEY'RE ANALYZING OUR VOICES.
IF I GET UPSET, WHY IS HE GETTING, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE TEAM IN INDIA, THAT'S LISTENING TO ALL OF OUR VOICES, HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT OUR LIVES
[01:40:01]
WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US? SO HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT OUR LIVES FROM A SECURITY POINT OF VIEW? HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT OUR LIVES FROM A, UH, PROACTIVE, UH, TECHNOLOGY THAT'S GOING TO HELP US HOPEFULLY, AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE MAN-MACHINE INTERFACE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOW? YEAH, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL GREAT QUESTIONS.UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE WORKING WITHIN OUR COLLABORATION, UH, FOR GOOD SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT HAVE THOUGHTS ON THIS.
UM, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW ADDRESSED IN THE SLIDE SHOW THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE ROLE OF DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO AI.
UM, AND, UH, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE DELIBERATE, UH, WHEN WE DISCUSS THINGS, UH, ON A FACTUAL BASIS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY BE FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, UM, OR THEY BE ANECDOTAL AND LESS SPECIFIC.
UM, BUT WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF OUR PANELISTS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANT TO POSE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE PANELISTS, UH, THAT PARTICIPATED TODAY.
THIS IS A TED MY RECOMMENDATION FOR ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, MORE SPECIFIC, THE BETTER, THE BETTER, BUT AS YOU SAW FROM THE PRESENTATION, WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT, UM, I RECOMMEND THE COMMISSION POSE ITS QUESTIONS WHEN WE WILL.
UM, WE CAN HAVE, AGAIN, DISCUSSIONS ON THOSE AND MAYBE ITERATE ON WHAT, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED OR HAVE ASKED.
UM, I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO ANSWER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, GIVE MY, MY OPINION ON ANY PARTICULAR PIECE HERE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO POSE YOUR QUESTION WAS MAYBE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, USE THIS RESOURCE.
WE HAVE THIS RELATIONSHIP, WE HAVE TO, UM, START ANSWERING THEM AND ASK THEM.
AND THE VERY NICE THING ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AS YOU SAW, AS IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TRANSDISCIPLINARY, UH, AND IT CROSSES A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, DOMAINS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ASK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES AI CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE LIVE OUR LIVES AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, THE MACHINES THAT WE USE FROM A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ASKING THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS JUST TO A TECHNOLOGIST, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS JUST TO POLICYMAKERS.
UH, YOU WANT TO ASK, ASK THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS TO PEOPLE IN, UM, HEALTHCARE YOU WANT TO ASK, UH, DESIGNERS, YOU WANT TO ASK, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO THINK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT, UM, UH, UH, UH, DATA.
SO, UM, I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT TED SAID, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND THIS, THE SAME THING AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE TYPES OF RESPONSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH UT ARE MUCH BETTER THAN, THAN WE WOULD GET BACK.
IF YOU WERE JUST ASKING, YOU KNOW, CITY STAFF FROM THE IT DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW, WE CAN GET THE, THE, THE RESPONSES FROM, FROM VARIOUS DIFFERENT EX UH, EXPERTISE AND INPUT AND, UH, PERSPECTIVES.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING.
I DIDN'T GET TO ACTUALLY BE A VERY, VERY INTERESTING, UM, EXERCISE.
LET'S PICK LET'S PICK ONE OR TWO OF THOSE QUESTIONS, AND THEN SEE HOW MANY DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, TYPES OF RESPONSES AND PAINS WE GET, AND WE CAN GET BACK FROM OUR PARTNERS AND FROM THE FITTING.
I THINK THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, UH, AND A GOOD PLAN OF ACTION, UH, PARTICULARLY TO MAKE USE OF OUR TIME HERE TONIGHT, AND TO GIVE, UH, THAT EVERYONE FROM GOOD SYSTEMS TEAM IN A THOROUGH OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS FAIRLY, UH, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN, UH, TED ABOUT SPECIFICITY, ADDING REAL VALUE HERE, UH, BECAUSE WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE IS, UM, EITHER THE MINIMIZATION OF CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY, UM, AND EQUITY, UH, AS WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT COURSE OF THE COMMISSION OR THE INFLATION OF CONCERNS OR THE CREATION OF A BOOGEYMAN BY ANY MEANS, UM, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT PEOPLE WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE REAL CONCERNS BASED ON THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES, UM, YOU KNOW, IN RECEIVING, UH, SOME OF THE, THE TYPES OF INTERACTIONS THAT, UH, COMMISSIONED A SCOOP TO REFER TO, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I PERSONALLY, UH, MY MOTHER REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT WANTING TO BUY ME SOME BOOTS.
SO I LOOKED ON A COUPLE OF WEBSITES, AND THEN BEFORE I KNEW IT, I WAS GETTING BARRAGED ON EVERY DEVICE THAT I OWNED, UH, WITH BOOTS.
UH, AND IT, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
[01:45:01]
MADE ME VERY, UH, MINDFUL OF HOW, UH, CREEPY THAT CAN BE FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T APPRECIATE THAT KIND OF VOLUNTEER USE OF THEIR DATA, UH, AND DATA MINING, UH, FOR THAT MATTER.SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND I'D LIKE TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY MORE, UH, OR IF WE MIGHT JUST GO AHEAD AND AGREE THAT AS A CONSENSUS POINT, IT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE FOR US TO COLLECT SOME OF OUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT AI AND CONCERNS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN TO SHARE THEM WITH THE GOOD SYSTEMS TEAM.
DOES THAT SEEM LIKE THE APPROPRIATE PLAN OF ACTION? YES, I AGREE.
COMMISSIONER VICE-CHAIR ALEXANDER.
I STILL GOT YOU ON MUTE THERE.
UH, BUT IF YOU DON'T DISSENT, I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOU, UH, SUPPORT OUR IDEA TO GATHER THESE QUESTIONS AND THEN TO, UH, SHARE THEM WITH, UH, THE GOOD SYSTEMS TEAM LATER.
SO WITH THAT, UH, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND PROCEED IN OUR AGENDA, UM, TO AGENDA ITEM THREE BEAT, UH, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE I'D SAID, DID YOU HAVE A STATEMENT OR QUESTION OKAY.
UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK AGAIN, OUR PANELISTS FOR AROUND AND JOINING US.
I'D LIKE TO, AGAIN, INVITE YOU TO FEEL FREE, TO STAY IN THE REST OF THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE, UH, BUT, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND, AND BEING SO HANDS-ON WITH THIS.
AND AGAIN, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BUDDING COLLABORATION AND BE INCLUDED AT THE COMMISSION LEVEL.
[3.b. Remote participation at commission meetings (Commission Discussion and Action)]
THE ITEM THREE B UH, REMOTE PARTICIPATION AT COMMISSION MEETINGS, UH, THERE WASN'T ITEM INCLUDED IN OUR DOCUMENTATION.UM, I WANT TO FOR FULL DISCLOSURE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, I BELIEVE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ASPIRATION FOR ME TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DRAFTING OF THIS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE INITIATIVE TAKEN BY, UH, CITY STAFF.
UH, WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS COMBINED BASICALLY A FACT LIST OF OUR EXPERIENCE AROUND REMOTE PARTICIPATION AND MADE WHEREAS STATEMENTS TO BEGIN THE FORMATION OF A POTENTIAL, UH, DRAFT RESOLUTION.
UH, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO, I'D LIKE TO WAIT AND READ THAT, UH, FOR THE RECORD AND THEN FOR US TO DISCUSS IT, I NOTICED THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY WOULD, WOULD, WOULD CHANGE.
UH, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT INTO THE RECORD NOW, UH, THAT WE CAN ALL SPEAK TO IT AT LEAST HERE, UH, AS A BODY.
SO IT BEGINS OF COURSE, A COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION NUMBER, WHICH WE OF COURSE POPULATED LATER.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF BOSTON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE IN AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR SYSTEM OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND WHEREAS MANY SEA OF AUSTIN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE VACANT POSITIONS BECAUSE OF PERSISTENT CHALLENGES TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF QUALIFIED MEMBERS.
WHEREAS TELECONFERENCING IS A RECOGNIZED OPTION FOR CITY MEETINGS AND WE'RE AT THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS TELECONFERENCING.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF MEMBERS AT BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEETINGS.
WHEREAS AT THE AUSTIN FINANCE COMMITTEE DIRECTED THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO LEAD A WORKING GROUP TO PILOT MO PARTICIPATION AT COMMISSIONER MEETINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY, INTELLIGENT CATIONS COMMISSION, WHEREAS THE FEE TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOM CASES, COMMISSION, UH, POLITICS, REMOTE PARTICIPATION AT HIS JANUARY MEETING.
UH, WHEREAS THE GOVERNOR ISSUED AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION ON MARCH 13TH, 2020 ON RESPONSE TO COVID-19 THAT SUSPENDED CERTAIN STATE RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WHEREAS CITY COUNCIL WAIVED SECTION TWO, ONE SIX E OF CITY CODE AND DECKER DECLARED AN EMERGENCY ON MARCH 26, 2020, UH, WHICH ENABLES BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS TO OCCUR OCCUR REMOTELY.
WHEREAS ALL BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS THEREAFTER WERE HELD MOSTLY VIA WEB CONFERENCE TO PRESENT.
WHEREAS THE GOVERNOR EMERGENCY
[01:50:01]
DECLARATION COULD EXPIRE OR BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME.WHEREAS AN UNPLANNED TRANSITION AWAY FROM EMERGENCY PRACTICES COULD RESULT IN MANDATORY IN PERSON DOES A PATIENT BY BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
WHEREAS MANY BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE AT HIGH RISK OF COVID-19.
UH, WHEREAS THE DEPLOYMENT TIMELINE OF SUCCESSFUL ED, THE SUCCESSFUL VACCINE IS STILL UNCERTAIN.
WHEREAS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF FULLY REMOTE MEETINGS HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE 3D TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A TIMELINE TO REPORT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF PERMANENT AVAILABILITY OF REMOTE PARTICIPATION OPTIONS FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND URGES THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND LAW DEPARTMENT TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO SUPPORT PERMANENT MODAL, EXCUSE ME, PERMIT MULTIMODAL MODEL, UH, PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THIS INCLUDES FULLY REMOTE FULLY IN PERSON AND A MIX OF IN-PERSON AND REMOTE PARTICIPATION AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
UH, THIS IS DATED DECEMBER 9TH, 2020.
AND, UH, ONCE WE AGREED TO THE LANGUAGE, IF WE DO, UH, THEN, UH, THE VOTE WOULD BE RECORDED AND JESSIE WOULD ATTEST TO THAT AS THE, UH, LIAISON.
NOW HAVING READ IT OUT LOUD, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, JUST JUMPED OUT, UM, THE SMALL LITTLE THINGS PERHAPS, BUT IMPORTANT THINGS TO POINT OUT IF WE CAN BACK UP TO THE MAIN BODY PAGE, PLEASE.
UH, AS YOU CAN ALL TELL, THIS IS A VERY THOROUGH ACCOUNTING OF WHAT WE'VE DONE, UM, AS A BODY AND THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME UPDATES OBVIOUSLY AS THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS EXTENDED AND I'M SURE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE REFLECTED IN THE FINAL, UH, RECOMMENDATION BY THE COMMISSION.
UM, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOCUS, OBVIOUSLY, UH, AND ONE OF THE SETS OF URGENCIES FOR THIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION IS THE RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION.
UH, SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT JUMPS OUT AT ME, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDED ON UNDERLY, WHEREAS STATEMENT, UH, WHEREAS MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEMBERS ARE AT HIGH RISK OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, I REALLY DON'T SEE MUCH NEED FOR, UH, FOR CHANGING THIS TO, UH, ADVANCE OUR OBJECTIVE, UH, THAT WE HAVE WELL-ESTABLISHED CONSENSUS OVER CONSENSUS OVER, UH, TO PROMOTE AN EVALUATION OF OUR CAPABILITIES AS A CITY TO DELIVER, UH, REMOTE MEETINGS FOR, UH, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WELL, TO ADD THEIR FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS, UH, TO THIS AND, AND THIS PROCESS I SEE AT A HAND BEING RAISED BY COMMISSION OFF DUTY.
SORRY TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO RAISE MY HAND.
I WOULD RECOMMEND A SLIGHT REWORDING OF THE LAST, WHEREAS IT SAYS CURRENTLY, WHEREAS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF FULLY REMOTE MEETINGS HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.
I WOULD RATHER REPHRASE IT AS SAYING WE ARE FULLY REMOTE AND MEETINGS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD DUE TO COVID-19 HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL REPEAT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT? I WOULD.
I WOULD LIKE TO TOO, BUT I'D LIKE TO, UH, BEFORE I HAVE YOU DO THAT, I'M AFRAID YOU'RE TOUCHING UPON A TOPIC, WHICH IT STARTS TO OCCUR TO ME.
UM, AND I, I, BY NO MEANS, WANT TO WAYLAY OUR EFFORTS, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UH, AT LEAST BE PREPARED TO DEFEND WHAT WE DEFINE AS SUCCESS.
[01:55:02]
SUCCESSFUL, UM, FOR THE MOST PART AT MAINTAINING A QUORUM.HOWEVER, WE ARE JUST ONE OF MANY COMMISSIONS.
AND SO IT WOULD BE I THINK, A LITTLE UNFAIR OF US TO ASSUME THAT EVERY COMMISSION HAS BEEN EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL AT HOLDING A QUORUM AND IN MAINTAINING, UH, EFFECTIVE MEETINGS.
HOWEVER, I THINK WE NEED TO SOMEHOW REFERENCE THE SUCCESS THAT HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND ENCOURAGE, UH, A FACT-FINDING, UH, AS PART OF THE PROCESS, UH, BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE ASSUMPTIONS, BUT CLEARLY WE CAN BE PROVEN WRONG.
AND, UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT DATA POINT REALLY TO KNOW THAT THIS EFFORT, UH, WILL BE FRUITFUL.
UH, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE LAST WEEK, THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMISSION MAYBE RECONSIDER RATHER THAN SUCCESSFUL, THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE THOUGHTS FROM THE COMMISSION.
UH, IF ANYONE HAS ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW WE COULD ADDRESS BOTH ISSUES, I'M THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONED THAT SCRIPT TO RAISE.
AND THEN ALSO THE ONE THAT I JUST RAISED BECAUSE WE, I THINK WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE, UH, FACTUAL DATA TO, TO DRIVE THESE DECISION-MAKING POINTS AND, AND THE PROCESS.
SO, UM, I PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN ALLOWING A LOT MORE PEOPLE ACCESS TO THE PLANNING COMPANIES FROM MEETINGS, PEOPLE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE GONE DOWN TO CITY HALL.
SO THIS, UH, TO ME, THIS IS A METRIC OF SUCCESS IS THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION HAS ALLOWED A LOT GREATER ACCESS TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, AT LEAST FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THEN THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IT IS THAT THEY'VE MANAGED TO HAVE A CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AND SO I THINK THAT, UH, JUST THOSE TWO EXAMPLES RIGHT THERE, UH, SHOW, UH, UH, A GOOD METRIC FOR SUCCESS.
AND, UH, I HATE TO GET TOO FAR INVOLVED IN ANOTHER STUDY.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE ACTUALLY DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF, UH, TRYING TO, UH, GET SOME BUDGET RESOURCES AND, UH, UH, OTHER, UH, POSSIBLE PERSONNEL RESOURCES TO HELP WITH THIS IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR TARA STAFF OR, UH, CTM STAFF IS IN THE 2021 BUDGET.
IS THERE SOME PROVISIONS FOR SUPPORTING REMOTE MEETINGS? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, I THINK IT'S A SEPARATE QUESTION FROM THE ISSUE WITH STATING, UH, THAT ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH REMOTE DISSIPATION.
UM, I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE WAYLAYING THIS BY ANY MEANS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL IN OUR PHRASING AT LEAST, UH, COMMISSIONER
UH, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY THERE? UH, YES.
SHEPHERDS, SO STILL FREE TO FINISH OFF.
I THINK THAT THE MAIN THING THAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY IS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, AND NOW I'M SEEING MYSELF NOT, I'M NOT SEEING THE ACTUAL, UM, THE RESOLUTION, THE DRAFT RESOLUTION.
CAN WE KEEP THAT UP ON THE SCREEN? WE'RE PULLING IT UP NOW.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY NOT GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN SEMANTICS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO EITHER BE COUNTERED OR, UH,
[02:00:01]
TO DEFEND, UH, OUR, OUR STATEMENT, WHICH IS BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT OF ONLY TWO COMMISSIONS OUT OF THE 50 OR 60 THAT WE HAVE, WHICH CLEARLY IS NOT THE BEST FACT-FINDING, UH, DATA, UH, GATHERING EFFORT.AND AS A TECHNICAL COMMISSION, I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
SO MY, MY SUGGESTION IS THAT, UH, WE EITHER QUALIFY THE STATEMENT BASICALLY, UH, SOMETHING LIKE, WHEREAS THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF FULLY WROTE MEETINGS HAS DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS AS OPPOSED TO PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.
UH, MAYBE IF THE, MAYBE IT IS REALLY A SEMANTICS THING, BUT THE MAIN THING THAT I'M WANTING TO NOT INVITE IS A QUICK CALL OUT THAT SAYS, WELL, NO, ACTUALLY X NUMBER OF COMMISSION, COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS HAVE MET LESS.
AND THEREFORE BASED ON THAT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE DATA TO SUPPORT THAT THIS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE A GOOD THING.
I THINK WE SHOULD STAY FOCUSED ON THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.
THAT BEING THE FACT THAT, UH, WE DO KNOW, UH, AS OUR EARLIEST STATEMENT MAKES THAT WE HAVE A LARGE DEGREE OF PARTICIPANTS IN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE IN HIGH RISK OF COVID 19 TRANSMISSION.
AND THAT WE DO KNOW, UH, MAYBE WE SHOULD ADD SOMETHING THE EFFECT OF, WHEREAS, UH, OUR CITY COMMISSIONER, UH, BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS ARE VOLUNTEERS AND YET STILL DEDICATED, UH, TO HELPING ADMINISTER CITY GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE, AS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF, UH, OF COURSE OUR PAID STAFF, BUT AS WELL AS OUR VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS, MAYBE SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, UH, NOW WITH, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK AND PLEASE COMMISSIONER GUIRO, YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING.
SO I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO HAVE A CHANCE, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, I, I LIKED THE DIRECTION MR. DASGUPTA WAS GOING IN AND THAT, UM, IF HE WAS TAKING A STEP AWAY FROM, UM, THE TERMINOLOGY OF SUCCESS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP, HAVING AN ISSUE WITH CHIP KIDS, UM, I DO LIKE GOING IN NOW IN A DIRECTION WHERE WE'RE NOT PLACING A JUDGMENT ON IT, OTHER THAN WHETHER, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT MORE BINARY.
DID WE MEET OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS OR DID WE NOT? SO PERHAPS HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN MEETING OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
IT'S A MUCH STRAIGHTFORWARD AND MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.
MR.
SO WE ARE NOT PASSING JUDGMENT ON HOW SUCCESSFUL IT'S BEEN, BUT IT HAS ENABLED US TO CONTINUE.
AND YES, SOME OF THEM HAVE HAD STILL HAVE HAD CORN PROBLEMS, BUT WE AS A COMMISSIONER AT BET, I KNOW THE COMMISSION THAT MY WIFE IS IN HAS BEEN MEETING EVERY MONTH.
SO COMMISSIONS HAVE CONTINUED TO MEET SOME HAVE HAD MORE SUCCESS THAN OTHERS, BUT WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR BUSINESS WITHOUT THIS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR NINE MONTHS.
THIS IS ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE.
SO CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE LAST, WHEREAS TO SAY, WHEREAS FULLY REPORT MEETINGS OVER THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF THE COVID CRISIS, HAS IT ALLOWED THESE COMMISSIONS TO CONTINUE TO MEET AND DO BUSINESS? I LIKE THAT, UH, PERSONALLY ALSO LIKE, UH, THE OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE, UH, PART AS A POINT OF INPUT, UH, WE COULD PROBABLY FIND A WAY TO WORDSMITH THAT.
UH, BUT THE POINT I THINK IS CLEAR THAT, UH, WE, WE THERE'S BEEN A SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON, UH, THE CAPABILITY THAT REMOTE PARTICIPATION HAS ENABLED AND BRIGHT, AND THAT CAPABILITY IS ONE THAT WE WANT EXTENDED.
[02:05:01]
HOW DOES EVERYONE FEEL ABOUT THAT? IS THERE A CONSENSUS ABOUT THAT? UM, WE COULD JUST SAY THAT, UH, THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS CONDITION OVER THIS PERIOD OF COPING HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.WELL, I'VE HAD, UH, TROUBLES PERSONALLY THAT I WOULDN'T CALL IT SUCCESS, BUT I AM HERE.
YEAH, NO, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR CANDOR, UH, COMMISSIONER GUIRO, UH, BECAUSE I HAVE TO ADMIT, UM, YOU KNOW, NICK NARROWLY MAKING OUR QUORUM MONTH AFTER MONTH HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN A BIT NERVE WRACKING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STILL BEEN ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S DEFINING IT AS SUCCESS COULD BE TO BE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A REACH I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I HESITATED INITIALLY.
UH, AND WHEN TO CALL THAT OUT.
UM, WELL, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM, UH, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER FLOYD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEIGH ON THIS PLEASE? RIGHT? YEAH, I THOUGHT GOOD FOR DASGUPTA.
IT'S ALLOWED TO SAY BUSINESS, NO VALUE.
UH, WELL, YEAH, I THINK THEN THERE'S CONSENSUS ABOUT THAT.
UM, IF WE COULD, IF WE'RE IN AGREEMENT BASICALLY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS, UM, I DO PERSONALLY FEEL AS THOUGH THERE'S VALUE IN CALLING OUT, UM, THE HEALTH OBJECTIVE, UH, AND, UH, AND CALLING OUT AND, AND, AND THIS RESOLUTION FOR CITY COUNCIL, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST A BRIEF REMINDER OF COURSE, ABOUT OUR, OUR VOLUNTEER SHIP, UH, AND WANTING TO PROTECT CITY STAFF, ESSENTIAL STAFF AND, UH, AND BOARDS MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS ALIKE.
I AGREE WITH YOU, UH, UM, TIRPITZ, LET'S ADD AN EXTRA DOCKER WITH THAT TOO.
THE SECOND AND THIRD IS THEY WANT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I DO HAVE A SEPARATE RANDOS TOO.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME INPUT FROM, UH, VICE CHAIR, ALEXANDER, THAT, ARE YOU STILL WITH US? YES.
UM, OKAY, LET ME, UH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WELL, UM, I LIKE THOSE SUGGESTIONS, I THINK, UM, IT ADDS A BIT OF A SPECIFICITY TO, UM, THE, THE RECOMMENDATION AND I THINK IT REFLECTS, UH, OUR EXPERIENCE AS A COMMISSION.
SO I THINK IT, IT PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE SUPPORT FOR, UM, WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR.
I, I I'M, I, I LIKE THOSE SUGGESTIONS.
WELL WITH THAT, THERE'S, UH, THERE'S CLEAR CONSENSUS FOR, UH, US TO VOTE ON THIS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION WITH SOME VERY BASIC SUBTLE CHANGES, UH, FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, JESSE, DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH US HOLDING A VOTE IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD ABOUT THOSE SUBTLE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE TO THE, THE, THE DRAFT THAT'S BEEN CREATED? THAT IS, UH, I CONCUR WITH THE ABILITY FOR US TO HAVE MOTION RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO NOTE IS THAT IT'S CURRENTLY WORDED AS A COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
UM, IT, THERE'S A QUESTION OF IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEND TO CITY COUNCIL OR NOT, IF IT IS, THEN WE WOULD FILE IT AS A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA REQUEST.
AND THEN THAT WOULD TRIGGER A CITY COUNCIL PUTTING THIS ON THEIR AGENDA AT ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS, THEIR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO PRESENT THIS TO THE COMMITTEE.
[02:10:01]
OTHERWISE, IF WE KEEP THIS AS A RECOMMENDATION, IT ESSENTIALLY STAYS WITHIN THE COMMISSION'S BOUNDS, LIKE A STATEMENT OF, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR PREFERENCE.OKAY, WELL, I CAN, I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THEN, UM, THAT IT WOULD BE THE GOAL TO HAVE THIS ACTUALLY PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL, UH, SO THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT BUDGET.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, BASED ON PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS, UH, THERE'S A TIME SENSITIVITY TO THAT.
UH, SO I WOULD DEFINITELY, UH, SUGGEST THAT WE DO, UH, THE, UH, THE AGENDA SETTING OPTION.
AND THEN OF COURSE I WOULD VOLUNTEER MYSELF TO PARTICIPATE AND, UH, AND, AND HAVING THAT ADDRESSED TO CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SO WITH THAT, THEN IF THERE'S A MOTION FOR US TO VOTE ON THIS AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO PRESENT, UH, BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, UH, THEN WE CAN, I THINK, HOLD A BOAT FOR THAT, UH, TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THIS DRAFT RESOLUTION, UH, WITH THE SUBTLE CHANGES THAT WE'VE ALL AGREED TO ON OUR CALL TODAY, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THIS OR A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA FOR QUEST.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER YATES, UH, TO APPROVE THIS AS A COUNCIL, UH, COMMITTEE AGENDA REQUEST.
THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DASGUPTA, UH, WITH THAT, THEN, UH, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND, AND DO, UH, A VERBAL VOTE, UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THIS, UH, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
AYE, AYE, AYE, COMMISSIONER, UH, UH, VICE CHAIR, ALEXANDER AND, UH, COMMISSIONER FLOYD.
UH, WITH THAT, THEN I'VE GOT A UNANIMOUS VOTE HERE FOR EVERYONE PRESENT, UH, NO EXTENSIONS AND NO DISSENT.
SO WITH THAT, THEN WE HAVE APPROVED, THIS IS AN ITEM, AND WE WERE ADVANCING OUR GOAL, UH, TO HAVE THIS TOPIC ADDRESSED, UH, AND A PLAN, UH, HOPEFULLY OUTLINED FOR US, UH, WITH THE HELP OF THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON, UH, AND IN GOOD TIME, BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, AT LEAST, UH, I, I'VE TRIED TO MAINTAIN A COMMITMENT TO GET US OUT OF HERE BY NINE O'CLOCK, UH, IN OUR FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS.
I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT COMMITMENT HERE ON THE PHONE, UM, OR RATHER REMOTE PARTICIPATION MODEL AS WELL.
[3.c. Commission Special Report on Digital Equity (Commission Discussion and Action)]
ITEM THREE C UH, THE COMMISSION SPECIAL REPORT ON VISIBLE EQUITY.UH, I DID WANT TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON THIS PRIMARILY BECAUSE, UH, THE, UH, REPORT ITSELF, UH, WAS, WAS RAISED, UH, AND OTHER DISCUSSIONS, UH, PERTAINING TO OTHER CONTINUATION OF OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND DIGITAL EQUITY MATTERS HERE AS A COMMISSION, BUT, UH, IN, IN PARTICULAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RESIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY STUDY, UH, AND, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF HAVING STORIES MARSHALED, UH, MORE AND MORE, UH, TO CONVEY THE LIVED EXPERIENCES ON A RESIDENCE.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A DECA MEETING, UH, NEXT WEEK, I BELIEVE, WHICH IS GOING TO INCLUDE, UH, A, UH, A THIRD PARTY VENDOR THAT OFFERS SOME TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE, UH, CITY STAFF A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THAT NOW, UH, BRIEFLY, UH, FOR THIS BODY.
SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AND, AND HOW OUR COMMISSION CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING, UH, COLLECTION AND SHARING OF LIVE EXPERIENCES AND STORIES.
I BELIEVE THEY WERE CALLED SPEAK, UH, SPEAK UP.
UM, SECOND, MY NOTES HERE, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, I'M, I'M, I'M WANTING TO GET IF I COULD, UM, EITHER JOHN OR JESSE TO, TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SPEAK UP.
AMERICA STOOD UP AUSTIN AND THE CROWD SOURCE, UH, RESIDENTIAL ENGAGEMENT,
[02:15:02]
UH, OPPORTUNITY THERE.THANK YOU, CHAIR PETS, UM, FOR THIS ITEM, THE DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT, UT AUSTIN AT IT BI-WEEKLY MEETING, AS YOU INDICATED, UH, THAT WILL BE DECEMBER 16TH, UH, VIA A GOOGLE HANGOUT AT 2:00 PM.
WE'LL HIGHLIGHT I SPEED UP AMERICA'S WORK THAT THAT ORGANIZATION HAS SUPPORTED IN OREGON, OREGON.
THIS, UM, PLATFORM ENABLES A HTTP LOCATION CODE FOR A TEST IN WHICH THAT LOCATION CAN BE, UH, AFFILIATED WITH A CENSUS TRACT.
IN WHICH INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEST TAKERS CURRENT SPEED IS, UM, THEN, UM, MADE AVAILABLE IN THE, UM, MODULE.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THIS SOLUTION IS IT IS A CROWDSOURCE SOLUTION IN WHICH THAT IS A OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AUSTIN RESIDENTS INTO THE EXPERIENCE OF, UM, COMING TOGETHER AND TAKING THESE, UH, INTERNET SPEED TESTS.
THERE IS AN ABILITY WITHIN THE TEST AS WELL FOR RESIDENTS TO INDICATE WHAT WAS THE ADVERTISED SPEED IN WHICH THEY ARE RECEIVING HOME INTERNET SERVICE.
THIS IS A US IGNITE SUPPORTED PROJECT.
AND FOR SOME QUICK BACKGROUND, US IGNITE IS A PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION IN WHICH AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE INITIAL SMART GIGABIT COMMUNITIES FROM A DESIGNATED BY US IGNITE BACK IN 2017 SPEED UP AMERICA.
UM, WE'VE HAD AN INITIAL, UH, INTRODUCTORY CONVERSATION WITH THEIR ORGANIZATION, UM, AND ALL OF THE, UH, BACKEND PROGRAMMING API IS, UM, OPEN SOURCE IN WHICH AUSTIN AS A COMMUNITY WOULD COME TOGETHER AND PICK UP THE, OFF THE SHELF, BACKEND PROGRAMMING, API, AND ENGAGE, AND, UM, UH, ELEVATE OUR COMMUNITY HACKERS, OUR CIVIC HACKERS TO HELP, UH, CREATE A LOCALIZED SOLUTION, WHICH WE CAN THEN MAP THIS TO, TO AUSTIN'S, UM, CURRENT, UH, OVERLAYS AND THE IT'S AN OFF THE SELL SHELF SOLUTION AND SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS, UH, ESSENTIALLY OPEN SOURCE AND IS A, A WAY TO, UM, ADDRESS SOME OF THE, UH, AL SPECIAL REPORTS ON DIGITAL EQUITY.
WHAT THIS PLATFORM WILL DO IS ALSO SUPPORT OUR OVERALL STRATEGY TO FURTHER ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THEIR EXPERIENCE, WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL WITH RELATION TO THE INTERNET SERVICE THAT THEY RECEIVE.
AND IT'S A WAY FOR US TO CREATE A, UH, CONVERSATION STARTER AS WELL FOR A UNIQUE WAY TO HOST VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, UM, AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CONVERSATIONS CAN, CAN START AROUND THE INTERNET SERVICE THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND MICRO-BUSINESS, UH, MICRO-BUSINESSES WORKING OUT OF THEIR HOMES ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALONG WITH THIS PLATFORM.
UH, WE ARE WORKING SO STAFF IS WORKING TO GENERATE A STORYBOARD.
UH, AND JESSIE MENTIONED THAT HERE EARLIER, SPEAK UP AUSTIN FOR THOSE VERY IMPORTANT STORIES TO BE DOCUMENTED.
[02:20:01]
THAT HAVE HAD CHALLENGES WITH INTERNET TO TELL THEIR STORY, AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM BEING CONNECTED FROM THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR CONTRACTED PARTNERS LIKE AUSTIN FREENET THAT ARE NOW ABLE TO FULLY, UM, UH, BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THE IMPORTANT RESOURCES AND INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE.AND THIS IS A PART OF OUR LARGER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY IN RESPONSE TO THESE VERY EARLY CONVERSATIONS, THINGS TO THE COMMISSION THAT HAVE ILLUMINATED WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO HELP GENERATE THIS ADVOCACY, GENERATE THIS AWARENESS AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE, THE NEEDS THAT EXIST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT THOSE SOLUTIONS CAN BE ORGANICALLY CREATED.
UM, AND I SAY THE ALTERNATIVE ORGANICALLY, BUT ALSO THROUGH FORMAL MEANS AS WELL.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT THIS IS A GREAT, UH, THIS, THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE, UM, WHILE THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UNDERWAY.
AND FOR AUSTIN TO HAVE A POINT OF REFERENCE WHEN THESE LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATIONS ARE OCCURRING, LIKELY AROUND INTERNET BROADBAND, INTERNET, UM, AND THE TREMENDOUS PIVOT THAT HAS OCCURRED IN OUR SOCIETY.
SO THIS CREATES A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY TO GIVE EXAMPLES, SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, IMPORTANT ANECDOTE, AND VALUABLE STORIES, UM, THAT CAN HELP ENSURE THAT THE BEST EFFORT IS MADE TO SUPPORT OUR LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY AS WELL.
AND THIS, UM, PARTICULAR SOLUTION THAT YOU STARTED, UH, WITH THE INTRODUCTION FOR CHAIR PITS SPEED UP AMERICA IS ONE SOLUTION.
UH, THAT IS A PART OF A LARGER STRATEGY IN UNDERSTANDING AUSTIN'S CHALLENGES, NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WITH REGARDS TO INTERNET CONNECTIVITY, AS A FOCUS, BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW A CONNECTED COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY MEANS HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, BUT ALSO HAVING ACCESS TO DEVICES, HAVING ACCESS TO DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING.
UM, BUT THIS IS ONE STEP IN THAT, UH, CONTINUED EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
SO SPEED UP AMERICA.COM IS THE WEBSITE OF THIS OPEN SOURCE SOLUTION THAT TIRPITZ REFERENCED.
THIS IS SOMETHING, THIS PARTICULAR SOLUTION AS A PART OF A LARGER STRATEGY.
UM, AND IF ANY COMMISSIONER HAS ANY COPIOUS FREE TIME ON THEIR HANDS, UM, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE BUSY, BUT, UH, THAT DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BE NEXT WEEK AT 2:00 PM.
UH, STAFF HAS THE GOOGLE LINK TO SHARE, UH, FOR Y'ALL, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO PARTICIPATE AND, OR AVAILABLE.
UM, BUT THAT WILL BE THE FIRST STEP IN IMPLEMENTATION OF, UH, THIS, THIS APPROACH.
UM, AND ONE THAT WE FEEL DOES REPRESENT THE, THE PUBLIC GOOD, UH, ORIENT AROUND THIS, UM, THIS STRATEGY AND ONE IN WHICH CREATES SOME UNIQUE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CIVIC HACKERS, OUR RESIDENTS, AND ALL THOSE THAT CAN HAVE A VOICE IN THIS, UM, IN THIS PROCESS AS A FOLLOW-UP FROM THE DIGITAL EQUITY, OR I'M SORRY, FROM THE SPECIAL REPORT ON DIGITAL EQUITY, THANK YOU FOR THAT, JOHN.
UH, AND JUST TO REITERATE, WE DID AGREE AS A BODY, UH, TO, UH, AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT PURSUE, UH, LOGISTICS AND, AND, UH, THE COLLABORATION THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CREATE A DIGITAL, UH, EQUITY SCORECARD, AND, UH, TO HAVE A MAP OF, UH, EQUITABLE BROADBAND.
AND SO THIS OPEN SOURCE PLATFORM HELPS TO ADVANCE THAT GOAL.
AND SO JUST WANTING TO SPEAK TO THAT, TO MAKE SURE THE COMMISSION KNEW THAT WE WERE ADVANCING OUR EFFORTS, UH, AS PART OF THE COLLABORATION TO, UH, MEET, UH, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED HERE, THE COMMUNITY, UH, BUT THE DIGITAL VIBE.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ANOTHER WE'RE WE'RE DEFINITELY PRESSED FOR TIME.
SO IT WAS STAFF GOING TO SEND OUT SOME INFORMATION ON HOW TO LINK TO THAT GOOGLE HANGOUT MEETING, THEN THAT'S FIRST QUESTION.
SECOND QUESTION IS THE FOCUS OF THE SPEED OF AMERICA.
IS IT ON CELL PHONE, BANDWIDTH OR CABLE
[02:25:01]
BANDWIDTH? AND THEN THE THIRD QUESTION IS THE GOAL OR RESULT OF THIS SURVEY, WOULD IT BE LEGISLATIVE OR LEGAL? AND IN OTHER WORDS, I'M TRYING TO GET LEGISLATION FOR MORE EQUITABLE, UH, COVERAGE, OR IS THERE SOME KIND OF, UH, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CARRIERS THAT ARE, UH, ESSENTIALLY SCANNING THE PUBLIC? UH, WELL, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THE LAST PART.UH, I, I KNOW THAT, UM, AS PART OF A CONTINUATION OF OUR EFFORT TO MANAGE NARRATIVE, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LAST MEETING WAS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS JUST TO GET THE FACTS ABOUT, UH, EQUITABLE ACCESS OUT THERE.
UH, I DON'T, BY ANY MEANS, UH, THINK THAT EFFORT IS THIS MEANT TO BE THE FOCAL POINT OF, OF ANY TYPE OF LITIGATION OR, OR LAWSUIT.
UH, BUT I DO KNOW, UH, THAT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO, UM, ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF EQUITY AND EQUITABLE ACCESS, IT STARTS WITH, UH, GETTING A ACCURATE SNAPSHOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THEN FOR, FOR US TO, AS A, AS A BODY, TO THEN CONVEY THOSE STORIES IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON POLICY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK JOHN CAN HOPEFULLY CHIME IN, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT ISN'T DEEP, THE FOCUS, UH, TO HAVE A, UH, PREVAILING IMPACT ON EQUITABLE BROADBAND, UH, THAT MIGHT EVEN IMPACT, UH, HOUSE BILL TWO 84.
UH, BUT JOHN, CAN YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AND THEN SHARE SOME THOUGHTS? THANK YOU, CHAIR PITT FOR THAT, UM, UH, RESPONSE THERE.
AND I CONCUR, UM, THAT OUR APPROACH IS ONE OF A, UM, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH IN WHICH WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE, THE CURRENT PROCESSES AND ENSURE THAT THE, UH, CITY'S RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, AND THOSE THAT USE AND BENEFIT FROM INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, SPECIFICALLY INTERNET ACCESS ARE ABLE TO HAVE A FORUM IN WHICH TO, UM, UH, DOCUMENT THEIR NEEDS, DOCUMENT THEIR DESIRES, UM, AND DOCUMENT THOSE IMPORTANT STORIES.
SO VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT, UM, TIRPITZ, UH, INTRODUCED THERE AS FAR AS AN INITIAL RESPONSE, UM, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER EATS YOUR, YOUR QUESTIONS WERE, UH, REALLY ON THE POSTURE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT, UM, WHAT THIS PARTICULAR SOLUTION WOULD, WOULD WORK TOWARDS.
UM, AND YOU'LL, I'M SORRY, IT'S THE END OF A VERY LONG DAY.
SO YOU'LL HAVE TO REFRESH ME ON THE, YOUR INITIAL QUESTION IF WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT ALREADY.
SO ONE, UH, PLEASE SEND OUT THE LINK BEING, AND THEN THE QUESTION WAS, UH, THE FOCUS, WAS IT ON CELL PHONE, BANDWIDTH OR CABLE, AND THEN, UM, THE THIRD WAS THE RESULT GOING TO BE, UH, LEGAL OR LEGISLATIVE? UH, YOU'VE ANSWERED THE PHONE.
WIRED CONNECTIONS WOULD BE THE GOAL FOR THE STUDY AND, UM, THAT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING TO EVALUATE SOME, UH, NUANCES WITH THE SURVEY TOOL, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, UH, MOBILE DEVICES.
UM, SO THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A, A BASE, UH, WITHIN THE, UM, SPEED OF AMERICA SOLUTION FOR AUSTIN IS HAVING FOLKS RESPOND, UH, TO THE SPEED TEST FROM THEIR MOBILE DEVICE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A UNIQUE APPROACH.
UM, SO REALLY ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AT THIS POINT, WE WILL, UM, ONLY UNTIL WE GET IT IN FRONT OF OUR CIVIC HACKERS, WILL YOU BE AVAILABLE, BE ABLE TO EVALUATE, UM, WHAT WORKS AND WHAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITH THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY KEEPING THE PERSPECTIVE WIDE THAT WE KNOW THAT, UM, A LARGE CONSTITUENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY ACCESSES THE INTERNET VIA WIRELESS DEVICES, UM, WOULD BE A GOAL TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION.
WE WILL, UM, SHARE THE LINK TO THE, UH, DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY, BOSTON BI-WEEKLY CALL WITH THE COMMISSION, UM, FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.
[02:30:01]
WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT? I KNOW THAT, UH, WE'RE GETTING LATE INTO THE EVENING HOUR, BUT IF NOT, I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CLOSE UP THIS AGENDA ITEM C AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED QUICKLY.I THINK, UH, TO COMMISSION UPDATES.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE MOST RECENT, UH, AGENDA ITEM THAT WE COVERED ON THE SPECIAL REPORT COVERED THESE SUBSTANCES, UH, UH, STANTON UPDATES FOR THE DIGITAL INCLUSION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC, UH, TELECOM POLICY WORKING GROUP, AND THEN CONSIDER THAT ITEM ADDRESSED AND THEN PROCEED TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR B UH, WHERE I THINK WE'VE GOT A SIMILAR OPPORTUNITY IN A LOT OF EARLIER PRESENTATIONS, BUT I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO THE CHAIR UH CO-CHAIRS OF THAT WORKING GROUP FOR THAT UPDATE.
SO THAT WOULD BE COMMISSIONERS, UH, COMMISSIONER FLOYD, UH, FOR UPDATES ON OTHER THE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION KNOWN, EXCUSE ME.
[4.b. Knowledge, Information, and Data Stewardship Working Group]
AGENDA ITEM FOUR B NOW, UH, WHICH WILL BE THE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION, DATA STEWARDSHIP WORKING GROUP.UH, AND I WOULD YIELD TO VICE CHAIR ALEXANDER, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE ANY UPDATES, UH, FOR THAT WORKING GROUP AT THIS TIME.
UM, I, I CAN, UM, PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT, UH, SO WE, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE, UM, MAJOR UPDATES AS, AS A WORKING GROUP AT THE MOMENT.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, PROBABLY THE NEXT THING THAT WE'LL WANT TO DO AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER IS TO LOOK AT THE RESIDENTIAL SURVEY IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
I THINK THAT MIGHT, UH, PROVIDE SOME USEFUL DIRECTION FOR US.
SO, UM, I GUESS ANOTHER STEP TWO IS TO, UH, SCHEDULE A WORKING GROUP MEETING, UH, JUST TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP BECAUSE THE, UM, THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS HAVE, UM, VERY CONTENT RICH, WHICH IS, WHICH HAS BEEN AWESOME.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY BEEN, UH, USEFUL.
AND I THINK, UH, AS A WORKING GROUP, IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO, UM, TO, I GUESS, KIND OF COLLECTIVELY DIGEST SOME OF THIS INFORMATION AND THEN, UM, FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN BEST, UM, USE OUR EFFORTS.
I THINK THAT, UH, IF WE CAN MAKE SURE OF COURSE, JESSE, THAT, UM, VICE CHAIR ALEXANDER IS INCLUDED ON ANY OF THE WORKSHOPS PERTAINING TO THE RESIDENTIAL STUDY, UH, AND, UH, TECHNOLOGY STUDY.
AND OF COURSE, THEN WE COULD, UH, ALSO SHARE WITH HIM, UH, THE FOLLOW-UP COMMUNICATION FROM OUR LAST MEETING, UH, THAT WAY HE COULD LEVERAGE THAT IN THE WORKING GROUP SETTING.
UH, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION THERE.
[4.c. Technology, Infrastructure, and Innovation Working Group]
THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND THEN TRANSITION TO AGENDA ITEM, UH, FORESEE, UH, THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION WORKING GROUP.AND I'LL ASK, UH, CO-CHAIRS, UH, PERMISSION TO FLOYD AND COMMISSIONER, UH, DUSTED TO, UH, TO SHARE YOUR UPDATE.
GONNA HAVE TO BE COMMISSIONER DOES GIVE THE, BECAUSE AT THE MEETING ON MONDAY WAS DEALING WITH A PLUMBING ISSUE.
SO I DID NOT MAKE IT OKAY, MR.
LET ME QUICKLY GO THROUGH SOME BULLET ITEMS. I SENT THEM MONDAY NOTES THAT I TOOK TO THE WORKING GROUP MEMBERS.
I SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY FORWARDED IT TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMISSION BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE USEFUL.
UH, SO LET ME QUICKLY GO THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THE LAST BULLET ITEM SAYS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT NEXT STEPS WE SHOULD BE TAKING.
SO THE QUESTION I BROUGHT UP AT THE MEETING THIS
[02:35:01]
LAST MONDAY WAS WITH CROP A AND PROP B, HAVING JUST BEEN APPROVED BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.WHAT, HOW DOES PROP AND PROBABLY AFFECT THE CTC AND HOW CAN THESE PROJECTS BE LEVERAGED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD TO ENSURE DIGITAL EQUITY IN WIRELESS AND BROADBAND SERVICE? SO CHERRY PITS AND I TALKED ABOUT THE, THE LAY OF THE LAND IN EAST AUSTIN IN DISTRICT ONE, TWO AND FOUR, UH, UH, PARTICULARLY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE GAINED THROUGH THE CENSUS WORK THAT I DID PARTICULARLY SPEAKING ABOUT, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND LAMAR AND PARK, WHICH IS DISTRICT FOUR.
AND SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO RATTLE AS MANY CAGES AS POSSIBLE.
AND COINCIDENTALLY, I TALKED TO, UH, A BOARD MEMBER OF AISD WHO WANTS, WHO HAS OVERHEARD THROUGH LIKE, LIKE TERM SOURCE ABOUT MY ANGER AT WHAT I FOUND, AND WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION, OR SO THERE'S SOME FOLLOW ON DISCUSSIONS I WANT TO HAVE WITH HER AND SEE HOW WE AS A COMMISSION COULD WORK WITH THE ISD BOARD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FROM GOING FORWARD.
BUT THAT'S A SORT OF TANGENTIAL JUST FOR HER TO TELL YOU THAT THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD THIS AFTERNOON.
SO, UM, TED LAIR, UH, WHO WAS HERE BEFORE, I'D BEEN, IF HE'S STILL THERE, UH, JOINED US AS WELL AS, UH, UH, RHONDELLA AND JOHN DINE-IN AND JOHN SPEARS AND JESSE RODRIGUEZ.
AND WE ALL HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
AND TODDLER MENTIONED THAT THERE'S A PROJECT BEING DISCUSSED CALLED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AUTONOMY AND ADVANCED SERVICES.
THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED TO ENABLE THE CITY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE WAY COLUMBUS DEVICES ARE OPERATING.
SO THERE'S A MEETING WITH MAYOR ADLER THAT'S UPCOMING, AND THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO IMPLEMENT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMPANIES, COMMERCIAL COMPANIES ARE INTERESTED IN THIS T3.
UH, CITY MANAGEMENT ALSO HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN SUPPORT, AND THEY WANT TO CREATE AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE INTENTIONAL FOR ALL ENTITIES IN THE CITY.
UH, BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY PROJECT CONNECT OFFERS A GRANT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE DIGGING UP A LOT OF STREETS AS THEY PUT IN THESE RAIL LINES.
SO, UH, AND, AND IN THIS PROJECT, BY THE WAY, RON DELLA AND JOHN GUYDON ARE ALSO IN THIS PROJECT WITH DEAD LAYER AND THE INTENTION IS TO GET PRIVATE SECTOR MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL, SHARE CONDUITS.
THERE MAY BE LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED.
SO THAT'S ALL ALL WORK ITEMS FOR THE CITY TO FOLLOW UP ON.
SO THE LAST BULLET I SAID WAS, THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW ON DISCUSSION AT THE CPDC MEETING ON WEDNESDAY ON THIS TOPIC.
AND THIS IS WHEN WE WILL DECIDE ON BUTRIN BYTE TO CARRY ON THIS DISCUSSION IN THE JANUARY, 2021 CALL.
SO LET'S CHAT ALOUD, WHO WE SHOULD INVITE TO CARRY THIS CONVERSATION ON.
AND MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TED WOULD BE ONE OF THEM.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN MY BACK TO THE CHAIR.
THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A FAIR RECAP.
I'D SAY OF, UH, OF OUR MEETING.
UM, I LIKE TO FEEL AS THOUGH A TENT LAYER WOULD BE, UH, A, UH, A GREAT FIT FOR, UH, OUR JANUARY CALL.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE, WE WERE GIVEN A LITTLE PEEK UNDER THE HOOD, SO TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW, PERTAINING TO, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND, UH, REALLY FASCINATING PILOTS THAT, THAT ARE IN PLAY.
UH, BUT ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING THINGS THAT WAS STATED, UM, WAS HOW THERE MAY BE SUPPORT, UH, AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR, UM, UH, FOR, WELL, LET ME MAKE SURE I USE MY WORDS CAREFULLY.
UM, IN FACT, LET ME JUST PUT PAUSE ON THAT STATEMENT ALTOGETHER.
THERE WAS SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON EVALUATING, UH, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
AND, UH, THE, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT IS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ALREADY AS A BODY AND DISCUSSING THOSE AS RELATES TO MUNICIPAL WIFI AND OTHER PRODUCTS WE'VE IMPLEMENTED.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS, UH, A TEAM THAT WE'RE BEING PLUGGED INTO THAT IS INVOLVED AT A HIGH STRATEGY LEVEL OF LEVERAGING, UH, THE, THE, THE BOND MEASURES AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.
[02:40:01]
AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT INTERSECTION OF US, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, A GREAT NEW SEXUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR REST OF THE COMMISSION TO BE INVOLVED AND TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.SO, UM, I FULLY ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, TED RIGHT NOW IS DEFINITELY THE MAIN ONE THAT COMES TO MIND, UH, AS A POINT PERSON FOR THAT JANUARY CALL.
UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD ALSO PERHAPS SERVE US TO HAVE A PRESENTATION AT A FUTURE COMMISSION MEETING APPERTAINING TO, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND, UH, THE STRATEGIES FOR LEVERAGING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, UH, FOR SOME OF OUR SPECIFIC GOALS, UH, SIMILARLY WITH SIERRA CONDUIT.
BUT YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT, UH, GREAT UPDATE AND, AND VERY ON POINT.
UH, WAS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK, UH, PERTAINING TO THAT? MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHO ELSE SHOULD BE INVOLVED, RIGHT.
THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF SHARED CONDUIT CONCEPT IS SO NEW THAT, UH, THERE WAS NO REAL CITY DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD, UH, REALLY WANT TO TAKE THIS ON AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND SO, UM, POSSIBLY, UH, IF WE COULD GET SOME COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THIS, UM, ESPECIALLY LIKE, UH, POSSIBLY TALKING TO THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE OR SOMETHING, SOMEONE LIKE THAT, AND REALLY HAS SOME INFLUENCE IN DOWNTOWN SAYING THIS WOULD BE A, DEFINITELY AN ADVANTAGE FOR DOWNTOWN IF THEY HAD SOME KIND OF, UH, CHAIRED CONDUIT LIKE THIS SMELL, THAT MIGHT BE AN IDEA OF AN AVENUE TO PURSUE.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, YANK STEPPING.
WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER, UM, THE TEAM THAT THIS PRESENTED FROM GOOD SYSTEMS. UM, RIGHT.
I THINK THAT COLLABORATION IS THE TYPE OF COLLABORATION THAT, UH, WOULD MANAGE THIS, THAT COULD HAVE A HEAVY INFLUENCE ON THIS TYPE OF PROJECT.
UM, SO I MEAN, I MIGHT EVEN SUGGEST THAT WE BASICALLY INVITE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WHO'S WHO FROM GOOD SYSTEMS TO JOIN US ON A WORKING GROUP CALL AND, OR, UH, YOU KNOW, A FUTURE ROUND TABLE ON THIS TOPIC.
AND ALSO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE INCLUDE DRUG DELLA AND THIS LOOP HERE FOR JANUARY, WE INVITED LATER, AND RODELA MAYBE EVEN JOHN DIAMOND, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, THE GOOD SYSTEMS FOLKS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN IT TOO.
WELL, I THINK IT'S MAINLY BECAUSE TO THE POINT, UH, COMMISSIONER GATES, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, THERE, THERE MAY NOT BE ONE INDIVIDUAL, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT WE WANT TO MANAGE THIS EPIC, WE WOULD PROBABLY WANT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, A CONGLOMERATE, LIKE GOOD SYSTEMS, WHICH IS FUNDED AND SUPPORTED AT MULTIPLE LEVELS, UH, TO, TO TRY TO STEER HEAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? W WHAT WOULD YOU THINK, RIGHT.
I THINK THAT THE MODEL SUGGESTED BY GOOD SYSTEMS IS, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT THE GOOD SYSTEMS, PEOPLE ARE REALLY SOFTWARE FOLKS.
THEY'RE NOT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE KIND OF PEOPLE.
SO THEY MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, HOLES IN THE GROUND, THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR INTEREST.
AND FAIRNESS AND FAIRNESS, UH, I WOULD HAVE TO CHALLENGE YOU ALL ON THAT BECAUSE WHEN THIS CAME UP AS A POINT OF DISCUSSION, IT WAS IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF TECHNOLOGY STUDY.
AND IT WAS RAISED BY TED LAYER BECAUSE HE STARTED SPEAKING TO A NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD SUPPORT ROBOTICS AND AI.
SO I DISAGREE THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE SOFTWARE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEADING THE EFFORT, THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE THE RIGHT ONES, UH, TO THE JOHN M WITH IN SUPPORT OF OUR, OUR GOALS.
WELL, LET'S DEFINITELY SEE IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED THEN, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT, UH, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF HEAVY HITTERS IN TERMS OF THE ACADEMICS, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO TAKE A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH AT LEAST FOR THE MONTH, FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY MEETING.
IT'S AT LEAST GET STARTED WITH
[02:45:02]
THAT SEEMS REASONABLE TO ME.THAT SEEMS REASONABLE TO ME BEFORE WE START BRINGING IN ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A PROGRAM TO PRESENT TO THEM.
I'D LIKE TO CHIME IN WITH SOME VOICES WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM IN AWHILE, UH, COMMISSIONER GORROW.
DID YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS OR, OR FEEDBACK? YEP.
UH, UH, VICE CHAIR, ALEXANDER.
WELL, THAT'S TRUE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GO OFF MUTE, BUT YOU'RE STILL NEEDED RIGHT NOW AND THEY'LL BE BACK IS FINE, TOO.
WELL, UH, WITH THAT THEN, UH, I THINK THAT, THAT, SORRY.
UH, WELL, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, COLEMAN SAID AT THIS TIME.
UM, I TRY TO START MY CAMERA AGAIN.
JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN AND MAKE SURE, UH, CAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO WRAP UP THE AGENDA ITEM THEN.
UM, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT A PLAN, UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE FROM, UH, THE CO-CHAIRS AND, AND FEEDBACK FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF AGENDA ITEM FOUR C UH, AND THEN THAT BRINGS US TO, UH, WELL,
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
THE AGENDA STAKES, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UH, HOWEVER, UH, OKAY.I ASSUME IT'S WHAT WE TO HANDLE NEXT MONTH.
WELL, UH, I KNOW THAT WE, WE JUST TALKED TO HER TOMORROW.
WE DID JUST TALK ABOUT ONE AND, UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE RESONANCE TECHNOLOGY STUDY AGAIN.
UH, SO THAT WILL BE, THAT'LL BE ON THE AGENDA AS WELL.
UH, HOWEVER, IN THE SPIRIT OF OUR TIME, UH, I'M GOING TO MAKE A CALL FOR ALL COMMISSIONERS TO REACH OUT, UH, TO ME DIRECTLY ABOUT AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE FOR NEXT MONTH.
AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL MANAGE THEM APPROPRIATELY.
UM, TYPICALLY WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST, UH, SOME CONSENSUS OR TO COMMISSIONER SUPPORT, UH, AND AGENDA ITEM ADDITION FROM THE BODY.
UH, BUT IN LIGHT OF, UH, HOW ROBUST OR THIN OUR AGENDA IS, I'M SURE WE'LL FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.
SO IF YOU ALL COULD JUST PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY AT ME AND, OR, UH, JEFFREY ABOUT, UH, AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, DURING OUR JANUARY CALL AND THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF, UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. AND SO THEN WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UH, THAT BRINGS US TO A GERMAN, UH, I'D NEED TO HAVE A MOTION, UH, FOR A GERMAN AND A SECOND IN ORDER FOR US TO THEN VOTE TO ADJOURN EMOTIONALLY, I SECONDED.
WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COMMISSIONER GUIRO AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JACINTA, UH, WITH THAT, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A VERBAL VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE GERMAN.
PLEASE SAY, I AM SHOWING YOU BYE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, SAFE TRAVELS TO ANYONE TRAVELING AND OF COURSE BE SAFE WITH THE, UH, COVID-19 OUT THERE EFFECTING US.
I'LL BE TRAVELING TO THE DINING HALL.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY TAKE CARE.
[02:50:11]
I GOT A HOUSE.