[CALL TO ORDER]
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THIS IS NEHEMIAH PITS, THE THIRD CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
CALLING TO ORDER A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING HERE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A ROLL CALL AND, UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS AGAIN HERE IN THE ROOM, AND THEN I'LL PIVOT TO THE PEOPLE ONLINE FOR CONFIRMATION.
SO I'M GOING TO BEGIN DOWN HERE, SET TO MY FAR LEFT WITH, UH, COUNSEL, EXCUSE ME.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON BEAVERS.
HI, I'M NICOLE THOMPSON AND I AM REPRESENTING DISTRICT NINE.
STEVEN
HE H REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE.
IT'S THE THIRD REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE.
DAVE FLOYD REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT FIVE.
AND THEN ONLINE, UH, COUNCIL, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER ISLAND.
UM, MAXINE ISLAND REPRESENTING DISTRICT SEVEN.
SO IT DOES LOOK THE REPRESENTING DISTRICT 10.
AND WE BEGIN WITH A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND AT THIS TIME, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP, SO WE PROCEED QUICKLY TO OUR MAIN AGENDA ITEM, NEW BUSINESS, THE COMMISSION ANNUAL WORK PLAN.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES –April 13, 2022]
LET'S GO BACK AND DO AN ITEM.NUMBER ONE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 13TH, 2022.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL HOLD THE VOTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES BY VICE CHAIR, APODACA.
I SECOND THAT MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THAT.
THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HOLD THE VOTE.
UNLESS ANYONE OBJECTS ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE, AND SHOW YOUR HAND.
ANYONE OPPOSED? ANYONE ABSTAINING? ABSTAIN.
OKAY, SO THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD REFLECTS WE HAD ONE PERSON WHO'S OPPOSED.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE FIVE WHO ARE IN FAVOR AND TWO ABSTENTIONS, THREE ABSTENTIONS AND FOUR IN FAVOR.
SO WITH THAT, THEN I'M AFRAID WE CAN'T APPROVE THESE MINUTES.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO GIVE YOU GUYS A CHANCE WHO'VE ABSTAINED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THESE LONGER, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE IT UP WITH THE NEXT MEETING.
I WASN'T HERE FOR THAT MEETING.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, LET ME EXPLAIN FOR EVERYONE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF SIX PEOPLE APPROVE EVERY ACTION THAT WE TAKE AS A BODY.
SO WITH THREE ABSTENTIONS, WE CLEARLY HAVE TO HOLD THIS OVER.
SO WHAT IS THE PROCESS? IT'S GOING TO STAY ON THE AGENDA UNTIL NEXT TIME.
SO LIKE I SAID, EVERYONE, JUST PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME.
YOU HAVE A WHOLE MONTH NOW TO REVIEW THESE MINUTES, TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THEM, TO REVIEW THE ONLINE TAPE AND RECORDING.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO TO LEVEL SET BASED OFF OF THE MINUTES AND THEN TO GET COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO APPROVE THE MOTION NEXT TIME, OR TO EXPRESS AN OPINION TO THE ALTERNATIVE, AND THEN WE'LL DEAL WITH IT ALL.
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DOES PUSH US BACK TO A NUMBER[2. NEW BUSINESS]
TWO, A NEW BUSINESS, THE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMISSION ANNUAL WORK PLAN RETREAT PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR OF THE COMMISSION AND THE ACTIVITY, WHICH WILL LEAD TODAY.I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE ACTIVITY, BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A GROUP ACTIVITY FOR OUR COMMISSION.
AS JESSE EXPLAINED IN THE COMMUNICATION TO EVERYONE.
THIS HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN AN IN-PERSON EVENT, TYPICALLY AT A DIFFERENT SITE WHERE WE HAVE WHITE BOARDING, UM, YOU KNOW, AND NO CAMERAS, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE DELIGHTED, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE WORK WE'VE DONE AND PUT INTO HIGH RISK MEETINGS TO ENABLE THAT, WHICH WE HAVE FULLY IN EFFECT FOR THIS MEETING AND FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS TO BE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
UM, AND SO RECOGNIZING THAT PARTICULARLY WITH THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO COME IN FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT IF THEY ARE ABLE TO JUST PAY IT ONLINE, THEY CAN STILL CONTRIBUTE.
I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AND TO DO THAT.
WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE FOOD AND ALL SHARING THAT EXPERIENCE TOGETHER AT EAT.
AND SINCE WE HAD TO DIVIDE BECAUSE OF THE HYBRID MEETING APPROACH, WE AGREED TO ALL PROVIDE FOOD FOR OURSELVES.
SO THOSE WHO ARE AT HOME, YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUR FOOD HERE IN THE MEETING ROOM, WE'D BE EATEN, OR WE HAVE OUR OWN FOOD AS WELL, BUT WE'LL TAKE BREAKS FOR FOOD AS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS, FRANKLY, WHILE WE DELIBERATE INTERNALLY, BEFORE WE CAN DELIBERATE EXTERNALLY.
SO LET ME EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE OF THE HYBRID MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING AND THE MEETING REQUIREMENTS, EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID AS PART OF DELIBERATION BY THE COMMISSION HAS TO BE SEEN AND HEARD.
SO THAT MEANS WHEN WE HAVE A MOMENT OR TWO OR SEVERAL, WHEN WE HAVE A DOCUMENT OR THINGS WE'RE REVIEWING ONLINE, BECAUSE IT'LL TAKE THE PLACE OF THIS MEETING ROOM.
IT MEANS THAT AT THAT MOMENT WE CAN'T ACTUALLY DELIBERATE.
SO WE HAVE TO PAUSE, BASICALLY, LOOK AT THE THINGS AND THEN PRESS PAUSE, AGAIN, SHOW OUR FACES AND THEN REACT TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN.
SO PRETTY SIMPLE PROCESS, BUT, AND CONVENIENT ACTUALLY IN THAT IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE SOME TIME TO EAT AND NOT ACTUALLY SHOW OUR FACES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE EMBARRASSED BY BEING CHEWING ON THE CAMERA.
UH, SO WITH THAT AS THE STAGE OF SET FOR THIS EXERCISE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY, I WANT TO TURN TO THE FIRST DOCUMENT, WHICH IS THE COMMISSION WORKING GROUP MEMBERSHIP DOCUMENT THAT WE ALL HAVE.
UH, NOW IN THE ROOM, WE HAVE PRINTOUTS THOSE ONLINE.
AS JESSE MENTIONED EARLIER, HE EMAILED YOU A COPY.
SO THAT SAME PROCESS CAN UNFOLD FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.
AS LONG AS EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO EVERYTHING THAT WAS SENT, THEN WE WON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO PAUSE.
BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TIME TO EATING, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR US TO DO THAT.
SO FOR THIS FIRST ONE, LET'S JUST DIVE IN AS DESCRIBED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CCTC ANNUAL WORK PLAN, THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RELIES UPON THREE FUNCTIONING WORK GROUPS OF FIVE COMMISSIONERS OR LESS TO MEET MONTHLY AND ADVANCED OUTLINE OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMISSION WITH A STRUCTURED TOPICAL FOCUS USED TO DIVIDE THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
THESE MEETINGS ALLOW FOR COMMISSIONERS TO RECEIVE PRIVATE BRIEFINGS FROM CITY STAFF PARTNERS AND THE LIKE ON IMPORTANT, SENSITIVE MATTERS WHILE LONG FOR DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION ON POSSIBLE ACTIONS, WHICH WOULD ADVANCE COMMISSION OBJECTIVES DURING OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THE CURRENT WORK GROUP MEMBERSHIP AS OF TODAY IS LISTED AS FOLLOWS.
THESE WORKING GROUPS ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER AND THE MEMBERSHIP IS AS WELL BEGINNING WITH THE CHAIR.
[3a. Digital Inclusion, Civic Engagement, and Strategic Technology and Telecom Policy Working Group]
WORKING GROUP COURSES, THE DIGITAL INCLUSION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC POLICY IMPACT WORKING GROUP.UH, THE CURRENT MEMBERS ARE MYSELF AS CHAIR.
VICE-CHAIR STEVEN UP, UH, DACA COMMISSIONER, MAXINE ISLAND, COMMISSIONER, SOPHIE GORROW AND COMMISSIONER NICOLE THOMPSON BEAVERS.
OUR NEXT WORKING GROUP IS THE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION AND DATA STEWARDSHIP WORKING GROUP WITH CURRENT MEMBERS ACTING AS CHAIR, COMMISSIONER DAY, FLOYD MEMBERS, VICE CHAIR, STEVEN APODACA, COMMISSIONER, MAXINE ISLAND, AND MYSELF WITH A VACANCY.
AND THEN THE FINAL WORKING GROUP IS THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION WORKING GROUP, UH, WITH THE CURRENT CO-CHAIRS COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT DASGUPTA AND COMMISSIONER DE FLOYD,
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AS WELL AS MEMBERS, COMMISSIONER, SOPHIE, GARROW, MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER MALCOLM GATES.AT THIS TIME, THERE'S CURRENTLY ONE COMMISSIONER WHO IS UNASSIGNED TO WORK IN GROUP.
UM, DON'T TYPICALLY LIKE TO CALL ATTENTION TO THINGS LIKE THIS AND THE ABSENCE OF PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS OUR WORK PLAN RETREAT.
AND THE ONLY COMMISSIONER WHO IS CURRENTLY AN ASSIGNED TO WORK GROUP IS COMMISSIONER RAMOS.
YOU MAY NOTICE THAT OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS ADJUSTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAD A MEMBER COMMISSIONERS STARSKY WHO RESIGNED FROM HIS COMMISSION IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND SO THERE'S AN OPENING THERE.
UH, AND THERE WAS ALSO A RESIGNATION OF OUR PROCEEDING VICE CHAIR AND, UH, LONG-TERM COMMISSIONER, UH, DAVE ALEXANDER.
SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE SOME OPENINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
UH, WE'RE AN EFFECTIVE BODY, BUT WHAT THIS DOES MEAN IS CLEARLY, UH, THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMISSIONER RAMOS TO JOIN ONE OF THE WORKING GROUPS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE WATCHING NOW COMMISSIONER RAMOS.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU ARE.
UM, AND THAT, THAT ALL IS WELL, UH, FOR YOU.
UM, JUST LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FEEDBACK ON THESE WORKING GROUPS AND HOPEFULLY YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ONE OF THEM GOING FORWARD.
IN THE MEANTIME, THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ALL DISCUSS THE WORKING GROUPS AS MEMBERS, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE CONTENT OF THE WORKING GROUPS AT, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO BE CANDID, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A CHANGE, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MAKING A CHANGE OR IF WE FEEL THERE'S NEED FOR, SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE FLOOR FOR ANY IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK OR THOUGHTS ON THESE WORKING GROUPS AS THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED AND ANY CHANGES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE THINKING OF.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S MUCH FEEDBACK ON THAT.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO THESE WORKING GROUPS, UM, AND THEIR STRUCTURE, BUT I WANT TO REMAIN OPEN TO CONSIDERATION, UH, UH, YES.
UM, YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO, I THINK I'D LIKE TO STAY CO-CHAIR OF THE, UH, TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE CHAIR OF TOO.
SO, UM, IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED, I LIKE THE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION, DATA STORAGE GROUP, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE IS INTERESTED IN BEING CHAIR OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE OKAY WITH ME.
UM, AND, OR LET ME REPHRASE, I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDOR AS I HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION, DATA, SHIP, WORKING SHIFT, WORKING GROUP.
UM, HAVING SAID THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND ENTIRELY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
UH, I GUESS I'D HAVE TO ASK, UH, ANY CHANCE WE CAN GET YOU TO CONSIDER DROPPING THE COACH HERE BEFORE YOU DROP THE CHAIR.
I WOULD DROP THE CO-CHAIR AS WELL.
SO I JUST I'D LIKE TO DO ONE, BUT NOT, AND I'M HAPPY TO KEEP COMING TO THE, UH, TECHNOLOGY GROUP, BUT I MEAN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE IN FROM INNOVATION GROUP, BUT YEAH, I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE IN CHAIR, GO TRIP TO OKAY.
AND THEN THAT, AND THAT'S ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDABLE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT ALSO DOES PUT ADDITIONAL BURDEN, UH, FOR THE OTHER CO-CHAIR, BUT TO BE CANDID, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THESE WORKING GROUPS EVEN HAVE TO HAVE CHAIRS.
UH, IT DOES THEY'LL REALLY HELP THE OPERATIONS OF THEM.
SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO REMAIN, SHARE OF THE KIDS, THE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION, AND DATA STEWARDSHIP WORKING GROUP.
UM, AND ALSO, SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT ACRONYM IS ONE THAT WE ARTFULLY CHOSE, UH, AS OPPOSED TO ALTERNATIVES WITH THE SAME LETTERS.
I THINK, UH, ONE SECOND CAN, SHOULD ASK YOU ABOUT, I THINK JESSE, YOU HAD, UH, WERE YOU JUST CALLING OUT OKAY.
COMMISSIONER, UH DASGUPTA YEAH.
SO, UH, SO, UM, LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT COMMISSIONER FRIED SAID, HE'S GOING TO STAY IN THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION WORKING GROUP, BUT NOT BE CO-CHAIR.
IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? OKAY, UNDERSTOOD.
SO THAT WOULD MEAN THAT A AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, YOU WOULD BE THE SOLE CHAIR OF THAT WORKING GROUP.
IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? UM, YEAH, I SUPPOSE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LONG STANDING TENURE ON
[00:15:01]
THIS COMMISSION AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK.AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN APPRECIATE IF FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU MIGHT WANT TO NOT WORK SO HARD.
YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE THE CHAIR POSITION, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CHANGE IN, BUT I WANT TO REMAIN IN THIS WORKING GROUP.
I LIKE THE, THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED, THE THINGS THAT BE, UH, UH, PUSH FORWARD.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO STAY IN THIS WORKING GROUP, BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE OF CHAIRING IT, I WILL STEP ASIDE GUIDED ON THE CHAIR.
AND CO-CHAIR FOR WHAT ABOUT FOUR YEARS? FIVE YEARS.
HUH? IT'S BEEN SOME TIME NOW, NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT'VE HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO YEAH, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT, LET ME JUST PIVOT FROM THAT THEN TO THE ROOM, A LOT OF THE SCENARIO, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER
I'VE ALREADY HAD A SPELL OF THAT AND, UH, CONSIDERING MY OTHER, UM, CIVIC OBLIGATIONS, I'M NOT SURE THAT I COULD REALLY GIVE JUSTICE TO THE POSITION OF CHAIR RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH I WANT TO DEFINITELY STAY ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK GROUP.
WELL WITH THAT, THEN I HAVE ANOTHER IDEA.
UH, CHRIS ROBERT DACA, YOU
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN BEING THE CHAIR OF THAT? I COULD BE THE CHAIR OF THAT IF IT OKAY.
AND THEN I CALLED THE INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP.
AND THEN I COULD BE CHAIR OF THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE OR CO-CHAIR WITH DUSKIN
I DEFINITELY THOUGHT THAT ONE WAS SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER, BUT I APPRECIATE THE DYNAMICS, YOU KNOW? UH, NO, SERIOUSLY.
UM, AGAIN, YOU'RE HYPER BRIEF.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THAT WORKING GROUP.
I'M HAPPY TO KEEP CONTRIBUTING.
I JUST, I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF I WERE ONLY CHAIR RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST SINCE YOU WERE THE CHAIR OF A WORK GROUP ALREADY WAS THAT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE JUST HAD NO CHAIR FOR THAT WORKING GROUP.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT WE REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE A CHAIR OF A WORKING GROUP AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT CHESS PIECES INVOLVED IN THIS, WHICH WE ALL MANAGED TOGETHER, BUT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR AS CHAIR.
I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT VICE-CHAIR OF A DACA IS THE VICE CHAIR, BUT HE'S WILLING TO TAKE IT ON.
AS LONG AS YOU DON'T LEAVE THE WORKING GROUP COMMISSIONER FLOYD I'LL I'LL STAY AWESOME.
WELL THEN I THINK THAT MATTERS SETTLED WITH THAT.
THEN WE'LL HAVE AT LEAST AT PAR DISCUSSION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMISSIONER DAVE FLOYD AS THE CHAIR OF THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION WORKING GROUP.
AND THEN VICE-CHAIR APODACA WILL BE THE CHAIR OF THE KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION AND DATA STEWARDSHIP WORKING GROUP.
AND, UH, ONE THING BEFORE WE HOLD A VOTE TO MAKE THAT FORMAL, I WANT TO SPEAK TO AS WELL, THE MEETINGS THEMSELVES, WE HOLD OVER TEAMS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT RESOURCE AND USE THAT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT CERTAIN ISSUES AS A PLATFORM IMMEDIATELY, BUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT AS IT COMES AND THE MEETINGS THEMSELVES, THEY DO HAVE TO BE INITIATED BY SOMEONE AT THE CITY, RIGHT? JESSE'S THE ONE WHO SENDS INVITATIONS AND WORE SOMEONE ELSE IN HIS ABSENCE AND THEN SPINDLES MEETINGS UP.
HOWEVER, THE TIMING OF THE MEETINGS IS BASED UPON TYPICALLY A PROPOSED DATE AND TIME AND NEGOTIATED BY THE CHAIR OF THAT WORKING GROUP AND THEN AGREED UPON BY THE MEMBERS.
AND SO IT'S ASSUMED THAT IF THE CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE MEETING THAT THEY PROPOSE AND AGREED TO, THAT THEY WILL OWN THE PROCESS OF RESCHEDULING THAT MEETING, RIGHT.
THEY WON'T JUST INDICATE THE CAN'T BE THERE AND YOU CAN'T LEAVE EVERYONE ELSE TO KIND OF MANAGE WITHOUT THEM.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR THAT
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AS CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUPS, IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESCHEDULE THAT MEETING THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP OUR BUSINESS GOING EFFECTIVELY.UH, I'D LIKE TO GIVE JESSIE A CHANCE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT IMPACT WORKING GROUP DYNAMICS THAT I MIGHT'VE MISSED OR SCHEDULING.
NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY OTHER THINGS THAT I WOULD ADD.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMEBODY, UH, OR HAVING THE CHAIR HANDLE THE SCHEDULING COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR, UM, I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
WELL WITH THAT, I GOT PAMELA ROOM AND ASK YOU TO SPEAK UP, GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.
UM, YOU KNOW, ALTERNATIVELY, IT COULD BE, IF THE CHAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE, HE COULD REQUEST ONE OF THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP TO SORT OF LEAD THE DISCUSSION IN HIS OR HER ABSENCE.
AND THEN IT'S UP TO THE CHAIR AND THE PERSON WHO LEADS IT TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, GET TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ON, ON BOARD.
WOULD THAT MAKE SENSE RATHER THAN HAVING TO RESCHEDULE IT? IT'S ALWAYS SLOWS THINGS UP.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN KEEPING TO A CERTAIN SCHEDULE.
THERE'S THREE IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S CALENDAR FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK THAT MAYBE IT WAS UNSAID BECAUSE IF THE MEETING ITSELF FIRST OFF WE'RE, WE'RE HANDLING IMPORTANT BUSINESS.
SO WITH AN AGENDA SET FOR THAT MEETING, THAT FIRST CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE ABSENCE OF BEING UNAVAILABLE TO BE THERE IS THIS BUSINESS SO IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GO ON WITHOUT ME, IF I'M THE CHAIR OF THAT WORKING GROUP.
AND I WOULD SAY MOST OFTEN THAT'S THE CASE, UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING WHERE ONLY I KNOW ABOUT IT, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT AND EVERYONE ELSE IS WAITING TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
THEN IT MEANS WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT WORKING GROUP CHAIR TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
SO IT ALWAYS DEPENDS ON THE AGENDA.
AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN ON SET EARLIER, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR NOW THAT I AGREE THAT THE WORKING GROUP CHAIR CAN DESIGNATE SOMEONE TO STAND IN THEIR ABSENCE.
AND IN FACT, THE WORKING GROUP CHAIR ALSO HAS TO ARTFULLY DECIDE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO PUSH THE MEETING BASED ON WHO DOESN'T SHOW UP, RIGHT.
IF ONLY THE CHAIR IS AVAILABLE AND THEY SHOW UP, THEY COULD MAYBE HAVE SOME CONVERSATION WITH JESSE ABOUT THE ISSUE.
IT MIGHT MOVE SOME THINGS FORWARD, BUT IT WON'T ALLOW US TO DELIBERATE AS, AS, AS A WORKING GROUP.
SO THAT MEETING TIME WILL NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE RESCHEDULED.
SO IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON THE CHAIR IF THEY CAN'T BE THERE TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE ELSE IS THERE TO HANDLE THE BUSINESS, OR IF, IF THEY CAN AND, OR HAVE TO RESCHEDULE THAT THEY DO.
SO, SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT VICE CHAIR, DACA.
UM, JUST CURIOUS, UH, IF AT A LATER DATE, NOT THAT I HAVE A SUGGESTION, UH, AT THIS POINT, BUT IF AT A LATER DATE WE DETERMINED COLLECTIVELY THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ADJUST OR CREATE ADDITIONAL WORKING GROUPS.
WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE AND IS, IS NOW THE TIME TO DO IT AGAIN? NOT THAT I HAVE A SUGGESTION OR, UM, COULD WE DO IT AT ANY POINT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? WELL, THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE BEST TIME BECAUSE WE'RE SETTING THE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH, ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE BEGINS WITH A CONSENSUS BEING BUILT AROUND IT, AND THEN WITH ENOUGH CONSENSUS AND A BOAT, EVEN INCLUDING AMENDMENTS OF, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL WORK, THE MISSION STATEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, NO, BUT, OR AT LEAST OUR DOCUMENTS WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL UNTIL THEY GOT CERTIFIED.
BUT IN MY UNDERSTANDING, WE COULD ACTUALLY DISCUSS THESE THINGS AND ADOPT THIS KIND OF CHANGES AT ANY POINT.
THE HISTORY OF THAT IS THAT, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD MORE WORKING GROUPS, BUT WE CONDENSE THEM BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN GETTING ENOUGH PEOPLE FOR MEETINGS THAT, UM, NOT DURING THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE, OF THE COMMISSION, BUT, UH, IF THERE'S ENOUGH ENTHUSIASM, I IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
IT WOULD KIND OF SPLIT THE WORKLOAD A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR BRAINSTORMS
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THAT YOU WANTED TO SHARE NOW? NO, NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.UM, FOR ME, JUST FROM THE PAST YEAR OR SO THREE WORKING GROUPS SEEMS, UM, WISE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES GIVEN OUR, UM, THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN TOTAL OF THE COMMISSION.
SO THAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD NUMBER AT THIS POINT.
UM, BUT JUST REFERENCE FOR MYSELF.
THANK YOU FOR, ALSO FOR THAT HISTORICAL POINT OF REFERENCE.
I ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER, BUT YEAH, THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME.
IN FACT, THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE I JOINED, BUT I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THOUGHT HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT AND THEN TO GET DOWN TO THESE EVEN MORE THOUGHT.
WELL WITH THAT THEN, UM, WE HAVE DISCUSS THE CHANGES TO WORK IN GROUP MEMBERSHIP THAT WOULD INCLUDE CHANGE MAKING ASSISTANT, EXCUSE ME, VICE CHAIR, STEVEN APODACA, THE CHAIR OF THE KIDS WORKING GROUP AND MAKING COMMISSIONER FLOYD, THE CHAIR OF THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION WORKING GROUP.
SO WITH THAT, THEN I MOVE THAT.
WE GO AHEAD AND MAKE THOSE CHANGES OFFICIAL TO OUR WORK PLAN.
AND I'LL LOOK FOR A SECOND SO WE CAN HOLD A VOTE.
I HEARD A SECOND FIRST BY COMMISSIONER THOMPSON BEAVERS WITH THAT, THEN WE'LL HOLD A VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CHANGES THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED TO OUR WORK PLAN AND WORKING GROUP MEMBERSHIP.
PLEASE SAY I, AND SHOW YOUR HAND.
I, I, IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED? AND AS THERE'S NO ONE ABSTAINING, I SEE.
SO WE HAVE A VOTE SEVEN TO ZERO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
NOW CONTINUING WITH, UH, THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, LET'S GO AHEAD AND PIVOT TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORK PLAN RETREAT DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND AS YOU'LL NOTICE WHAT THIS IS, IS A UPDATED VERSION OF LAST YEAR'S WORK PLAN WITH SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED THROUGH DISCUSSIONS AND WORK IN GROUPS, THE INCLUSION OF STRATEGIC OUTCOMES.
HOWEVER, THERE'LL BE A NEED FOR AMENDING THIS DOCUMENT IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE AN UPDATED DOCUMENT FROM ONE OF OUR WORKING GROUP CHAIRS THAT WE'LL WANT TO INTEGRATE INTO THIS DOCUMENT.
AND WE'LL OF COURSE WE'LL MAKE OUR CHANGES TODAY.
ONE THING I WANT TO SPEAK TO BEFORE WE DIVE IN FURTHER AS WE, WE CONDUCTED AN EXERCISE EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, WITHIN THE WORKING GROUPS TO ALIGN OUR OBJECTIVES TO DIFFERENT STRATEGIC OUTCOMES.
AND WE SPENT A LITTLE TIME DOING THAT ONE THING THOUGH, THAT BECAME CLEAR, UH, THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS.
AND, AND CERTAINLY NOW REFLECTING ON THE PROCESS IS THAT ALL OF OUR WORKING GROUPS ALIGN TO EVERY STRATEGIC OUTCOME.
IT REALLY IS JUST A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE, UH, DEPENDING UPON WHAT IT IS.
UM, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT THIS COMMISSION, UH, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DO IS ALIGNED TO A STRATEGIC, UH, STRATEGIC OUTCOME THAT MAKES WHAT WE DO THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.
UM, AND IT CAN MAKE IT MAYBE A LITTLE WORRISOME, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, MISSION CREEP AND SCOPE, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.
UH, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A PRETTY TIGHT FOCUS THAT CAN ALLOW US TO BE EFFECTIVE AND GET THINGS DONE AS WE'VE DEMONSTRATED.
BUT I'M SAYING THAT ALL TO SAY THAT WHAT I'M GOING TO EDIT ON THIS PLAN GOING FORWARD IS A GENERAL STATEMENT, UH, BARRING ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK FROM ANYONE ELSE, UH, TO THE CONTRARY, UM, THAT ALIGNS TO WHAT I JUST SAID, UH, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS JUST A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.
UH, WHEN I LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE OBJECTIVE, I COULD FIND A WAY TO ALIGN IT LOGICALLY TO ONE OF THESE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES PERSONALLY.
UH, SO WITH THAT BEING SET UP, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR FEEDBACK ON THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO MAKE UNILATERAL DECISIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN IT'S ONE THAT ELEVATES, I THINK JUSTLY, THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK, THEN I FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT,
[00:30:02]
UH, PARTICULARLY WORK IN SERVICE OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.SO, UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT TO FEEDBACK ON THAT, ABOUT THESE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES AND THEIR ALIGNMENT SO THIS IS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT WORKING GROUPS, OR JUST SPECIFICALLY ONE YOU UNDER TO START OFF WITH, UH, I STARTED WITH THAT AS A TOPIC BECAUSE I THINK IT COVERS THEM ALL.
SO I GUESS THE CHALLENGE, IF THERE THERE'S A CHALLENGE, IT WOULD BE TO FIND A SINGLE OBJECTIVE THAT CAN'T LOGICALLY BE APPLIED TO ONE OF THESE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THE CASE.
I THINK THAT LOGICALLY EVERY ONE OF THEM IN EVERY WORK GROUP APPLIES TO EVERY OUTCOME.
UH, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL COMMISSION GOALS, THEN THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WHEREAS, ALL RIGHT, SO OUR COMMISSION HAS, UH, OUR GOALS MUST ALIGN WITH THE, UH, THE CITY GOALS THEN.
AND SO THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED SOMEWHERE, I THINK.
THAT'S ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE ACTUAL WORK PLAN.
AND IN FACT, UH, OUR FUNNEL, OUR OVERALL COMMISSION GOALS IS WHERE THAT, THAT ALIGNMENT IS SPOKEN TO.
I AGREE THAT AS A COMMISSION, WE HAVE TO ALIGN WITH ALL THE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES, BUT IS IT NECESSARY THAT EVERY WORKING GROUP HAS TO ALIGN TO EVERY SINGLE OUTCOME? OR IS IT IN THE TOTALITY OF THE THREE WORKING GROUPS THAT WE ADDRESS ALL THE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES? NO, IN FACT, I THANK YOU FOR REFRAMING THAT, BECAUSE SOMETHING I SAID EARLIER, IT MIGHT'VE SOUNDED A LITTLE OFF.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE ADDRESS EVERY STRATEGIC OUTCOME WITHIN OUR WORKING GROUPS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THINGS LIKE AND EVEN THEN, RIGHT.
SO EVEN SOMETHING WHICH SEEMS LIKE IT HAS A NARROW LANE, LIKE MOBILITY IS AN OUTCOME AFFECTED BY EVERY WORKING GROUP.
SO TO YOUR POINT, WHAT WE COULD DO PERHAPS FOR BETTER ALIGNMENT AND, AND, AND TO BE FAIR, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE DESIGNATIONS THAT WAS MADE BY THE, UH, TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION WORKING GROUP, I THINK.
I'M STILL WAITING PROBABLY FOR THE INTEGRATION OF, OF YOUR NOTES AS OUR, AS CO-CHAIRS.
AND SO WE'LL NEED TO INTEGRATE THAT, BUT I STILL THINK THIS IS A HELPFUL EXERCISE FOR US TO, TO FI TO FINALIZE, UH, BECAUSE IT'LL MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO INDICATE FOR CITY COUNCIL, HOW OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DIRECTLY ALIGNED TO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT ARE MANAGING THE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
SO MAY I SUGGEST THAT WE FIRST IDENTIFY THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON, AND THEN OUR ITEM, WE GO DOWN THE LIST OF OUTCOMES AND SAY, OKAY, THIS ITEM ALIGNS WITH THIS OUTCOME.
THIS ITEM ALIGNS WITH THIS OUTFIT.
AND THEN WE TAKE THE ENTIRE MASS OF THESE ACTION ITEMS OVER THE ENTIRE SET UP WORKING GROUPS AND SAY, HAVE WE COVERED ALL SIX OUTCOMES? THAT SOUNDS FINE TO ME.
I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT, WE SPENT A LOT OF WORK IN THE WORKING GROUPS DOING SOME OF THAT.
UH, SO PART OF MY, MY GOAL AND REREADING IT WAS WANTING TO SIMPLIFY, BUT IN BRIEFLY COVERING IT AGAIN HERE TODAY, I RECOGNIZE THAT CERTAIN, CERTAIN ONES ARE TRULY OUTSIDE OF THE NORM WITH OTHERS, BUT YET THEY'RE STILL COVERED BY TOPICALLY BY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND EXCUSE ME BY DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES OF OURS.
SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND, AND JUST KEEP THIS IN MIND.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET TO A WORKING GROUP WHERE PERHAPS EITHER WE DON'T HAVE IT NOTED, OR WE NEED TO DO THAT
[00:35:01]
ON THE FLY, WE CAN DO THAT.OTHERWISE WE CAN DO THAT TOWARDS THE END THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, AFTER WE'VE CONFIRMED THE OBJECTIVES.
SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT POINT, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN TO THE FIRST WORKING GROUP? UH, WE CAN LOOK AT THE LIST HERE.
WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE MEMBERSHIP.
AND SO THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE EDITED TO REFLECT OUR NEW CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP, VICE CHAIR.
AND WITH THAT, THEN ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH IS ALSO PRETTY COMMON TO DO IS TO LET THE WORKING GROUP CHAIRS LEAD THE DISCUSSIONS RIGHT WITH THIS FIRST ONE.
AND, UH, THE NEW TRANSITION I'LL HELP, BUT I'D LIKE TO DEFER.
SO TO BEGIN WITH, AS IS LISTED, THESE OBJECTIVES ARE NOT LISTED IN ANY TYPE OF PRIOR ORDER PRIORITIZATION.
ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE SOME COINCIDENCE OF THAT.
SO BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST OBJECTIVE TO HELP THE CITY OF AUSTIN, COMMUNICATE CITY PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, ET CETERA, TO UNDERSERVED AREAS AND COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET TO HELP CITIZENS ENGAGE CITY OF BOSTON USING TECHNOLOGY.
NOW THAT'S AN OBJECTIVE THAT ALIGNS WITH A VARIETY OF SHEET GAL COMES AS IS LISTED THERE.
I'D SAY THOSE ARE PRETTY ON POINT.
I MEAN, YOU MIGHT THROW A CULTURE AND LIFELONG LEARNING IN THERE AS WELL.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS OBJECTIVE AND REALLY FOR EACH OF THESE OBJECTIVES, UH, THE IDEA WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN INITIATIVE AND, OR PROGRAM OR, UH, OR SOMETHING, AN ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE OBJECTIVE.
NOW, IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE AN ENTIRE PROGRAM, BUT G TOPS REALLY DOES KIND OF STAND ON ITS OWN.
AND IT'S CLEAR, FOCUSES DIGITAL INCLUSION WHEN IT COMES TO INFORMATION SHARING.
IT'S NOT A UNIQUE PROGRAM, OBJECTIVE OF G TOPS TO SHARE INFORMATION, RIGHT, DETOX AROUND IMPROVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET RESOURCES, UH, ACCESS TO DEVICES AND ACCESS TO TRAINING AND THE LITERACY FOR SKILLS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO RIGHT NOW, UH, OUR COMMISSION PROVIDES FEEDBACK FOR, UH, I GUESS, AN ONGOING NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT RIGHT NOW.
OUR COMMISSION IS ENGAGED IN HOSTING TOWN HALL, LISTENING SESSIONS, AND SPINNING UP A PROGRAM THERE, WHICH IS ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S OBVIOUSLY DIGITAL INCLUSION, THAT'S ABOUT KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION AND DATA STEWARDSHIP.
UH, THAT'S KIND OF THE HISTORICAL.
AND FOR EACH OF THESE, UM, I ENVISION A HISTORICAL AND KIND OF A NEXT STEP.
UH, SO ONE OF THE NEXT STEPS THAT THAT CAME UP WAS
[00:40:05]
LEVERAGING THE EXISTING AUSTIN FREENET PROGRAM, DIGITAL NAVIGATOR PROGRAM TO ENABLE NOT JUST A HANDS-ON SKILLS TRAINING, BUT ALSO RESELL RESOURCING.UH, THERE WAS AN IDEA THAT ACTUALLY WAS BORN OUT OF OUR TOWN HALL LISTENING SESSION TO ENABLE 2, 1, 1, RIGHT, OR THREE AND OR 3, 1, 1 TO HELP COMMUNICATE CITY PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY, UH, THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING WHICH WE SHOULD LOOK TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT AND OR PROMOTE, UH, SO THAT THOSE COULD BE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS FOR US THERE.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT ONE, ANYONE, BUT HOW WE COULD DO THAT? I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY REACHING OUT TO, UM, THE COORDINATORS OF, OF 3, 1, 1 TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, BUT PRIOR TO DOING THAT, CERTAINLY ENGAGING WITH AUSTIN FREENET, UM, TO SEE IF, IF THEY EVEN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PICK THAT UP.
I'M NOT SURE I WAS IN THAT SPECIFIC CONVERSATION IN THE, UM, THE COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION THAT, THAT YOU WERE IN.
SO, YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MORE FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT IN FACT, THAT AS WELL AS, UH, SUPPORT FROM THE, FROM OUR PARTNER, WITH THE LIBRARY, REALLY TO HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, MAXIMIZE RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION, I KNOW THAT FUNDING THROUGH OUR LIBRARY PARTNERS IS SOMETHING WHICH WE'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO HELP, UH, HAVE ACCESS TO RIGHT.
TO HELP DO THE DISTRIBUTION OF, UM, AND THIS COLLABORATION AROUND THE TOWN HALLS IS SOMEWHAT OF AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WELL, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THROUGH THE COLLABORATION IS TO CONNECT AUSTIN FREENET AND THE LIBRARY.
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO THEN LEVERAGE EXISTING GRANT FUNDS TO AUSTIN FREENET THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO ENABLE THAT RESOURCING.
AND THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD BRIEFLY THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, WITH, UH, EMMY JOHNSON, UH, AND, UH, THAT DID NOT INCLUDE AUSTIN FREENET.
UH, BUT I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT AUSTIN FREE NIGHT IS EAGER FOR THOSE KINDS OF RESOURCES.
WELL, THERE'S NO MORE THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE.
UH, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
I THINK THE NEXT IS A DATA MAPPING AND ANALYSIS, A FEW DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS THERE ON THE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL.
I THINK THAT IT'S TOUGH NOT TO IMAGINE HOW A VARIETY, ESPECIALLY A VARIETY OF DATA MAPPING AND DATA POINTS, UH, THAT WE'VE SEEN CONVEY HISTORICAL DYNAMICS AND CURRENT DYNAMICS BORN OUT OF THE PANDEMIC THAT AFFECT HEALTH OUTCOMES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S TOUGH NOT TO IMAGINE DATA MAPPING AND ANALYSIS AFFECTING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S TOUGH NOT TO IMAGINE DATA MAPPING ANALYSIS, NOT AFFECTING SAFETY.
IT'S TOUGH, NOT THAT CONSIDERING THAT, UH, IT COULD EVEN AFFECT CULTURE AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
SO, SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE, UH, THERE'S UBIQUITY TO IT THAT I SEE.
UM, SO I'M INCLINED TO MAKE THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, AND ALL THE ABOVE, AND THIS IS GOOD BECAUSE THESE ARE AREAS WHERE WE KNOW, UM, THE HELP OF CITY COUNCIL AND RESOURCES,
[00:45:01]
UH, EITHER FROM PARTNERS OR BUDGET FROM CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELPFUL AS WE DELVE INTO THEM BEGINNING WITH EQUITABLE BROADBAND, UH, UH, GEOGRAPHICAL DATA REPORT AND ANALYSIS.THIS IS ONE WHERE WE HAVE AT THE GAME, THE HISTORICAL AND THE NEXT STEP.
SO HISTORICALLY WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, UH, A COORDINATED EFFORT, UH, THAT INCLUDES, UH, SPEED UP AMERICA.
THAT INCLUDES, UH, OUR, OF COURSE OUR, UH, SENIOR CONSULTANT, UH, CATTAN HARMON, UH, IT'S INCLUDED THE TERROR OFFICE, UH, AND PARTNERS.
IN FACT, UH, JESSE, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE, UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN HERE HISTORICALLY, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE SCOPE OF THIS IS LIMITED TO THE ACTIVITY COMING OUT OF, UH, TARA, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH TARA IN TERMS OF DATA AND MAPPING.
UM, WE HAVE, AS CHAIRPERSON MENTIONED RECENTLY RELEASED THE MEASURE, AUSTIN QUALITATIVE REPORT ON THE, UH, DIGITAL DIVIDE IN AUSTIN.
SO THAT, UH, THAT'S A RESEARCH INITIATIVE THAT HAS RECENTLY COME TO A CLOSE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, PUBLISHED INFORMATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN'S OPTIMAL HEALTH RELATING TO THE MAP DIGITAL DIVIDE, UH, BASED ON THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA GOING FORWARD.
OH, AND ONE MORE, WE HAVE G TOPS REFERENCED HERE.
SO WE HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, UH, LBJ SCHOOL TO ANALYZE 20 YEARS OF DETOX DATA IN THERE.
THEY'VE, THEY'RE PROVIDING US WITH A REPORT ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR ANALYSIS WAS, UH, WHICH IS STILL TO BE, UH, FINALIZED, UM, GOING FORWARD.
WE HAVE THIS YEAR, UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY-WIDE OR THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TYPE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH EFFORT.
SO THIS YEAR'S VERSION OF THE RESIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY STUDY, WHICH IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS, UH, PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT WE DO THIS EVERY THREE YEARS.
AND SO THIS YEAR, UH, WOULD BE THE YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
UM, THAT IS THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OCCURRING, UH, ON, ON HOW WE DO THIS THIS YEAR.
UH, TRAVIS COUNTY HAS SIMULTANEOUSLY PASSED SOME FUNDING TO, UH, SUPPORT QUANTITATIVE STUDIES AROUND THE SAME TOPICS AS US.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH THEM, UH, ON THIS INITIATIVE.
UM, WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF NEGOTIATING, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE IT COULD BE A RANDOM SAMPLE OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, OR IT COULD BE A PARTICULAR STUDY OF THE UNDERSERVED AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WERE STILL TRYING TO MAP OUT WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, BUT THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S MOVING FORWARD NOW IT'S GOING TO OCCUR OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, WE'RE ALSO ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN, UM, VISUALIZE, UH, DATA THAT HELPS US TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHERE DO WE NEED TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND SO EFFORTS THAT WE ARE, UH, LOOKING AT FOR THE FUTURE AND HAVE LOOKED AT IN THE PAST, UH, WE HAVE SPEED UP THE SPEED OF AMERICA ITEM LISTED HERE.
THAT WAS AN EFFORT TO SHOW OR TO MAP, UH, BROADBAND SPEEDS, UH, IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
THAT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE WITH SPEED UP AMERICA, UH, AT THIS MOMENT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE THE UNPRECEDENTED AFFORDABLE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ACP PROGRAM, THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM THAT WAS LAUNCHED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THERE'S LOTS OF DATA RELATED TO WHERE THE, UH, THE ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS ARE AND WHAT THE SIGN-UPS AT A REGIONAL LEVEL ARE.
UM, SO SOMETHING THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF DATA AND MAPPING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IS TO SHOW, UH, WHERE ARE PEOPLE SIGNING UP FOR THIS PROGRAM AND WHERE ARE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM? UM, SO ALL OF THOSE ARE OUR DATA AND MAPPING NEEDS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IN TERROR.
AND, UM, WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST, OF COURSE, SUPPORT ALL THOSE EFFORTS, UH, AND, UH, PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FEEDBACK, UH, AND WHERE IT CAN BE HELPFUL, CERTAINLY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND OR ENGAGEMENT,
[00:50:01]
UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE EFFORTS.UM, I KNOW THE ACP DATA MAPPING IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE I'M VERY INTRIGUED TO SEE AN ANALYSIS OF UNSERVED VERSUS UNDERSERVED.
UH, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE'VE GOT OUR SPRAWLING COMMUNITY HERE, THAT INCLUDES SUBURBAN AND RURAL.
SO THERE'S A GOOD TRANSITION THERE THEN TO SOME OTHER ITEMS. UH, NUMBER THREE, I'D SAY IS A, AN ITEM OBJECTIVE, WHICH HAS BEEN MANAGED AND HANDLED, UH, THE MONITORING OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WEB REDESIGN PROJECT.
UH, NUMBER FOUR, THE COUNCIL VOTE DATABASE, UH, KNOW WE WERE ACTUALLY AWAITING ACTION FROM, FROM THE CITY ON THAT, AND WE'LL RESPOND, UH, JESSE JUST MADE MENTION OF THE RESONANCE TECHNOLOGY STUDY THERE AND FOLLOW UP IT'S PENDING.
SO YEAH, I HAD SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE ON THAT ONE FIRST IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CITY GOALS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THIS.
NOW, IS THERE A CITY GOAL ON TRANSPARENCY? IS THAT ONE OF THE, UH, WHICH, WHICH OUT WHICH OBJECTIVE WERE YOU REFERRING TO YOUR GATES? THAT'S JUST IT, UH, IS THERE AN OBJECTIVE CALLED TRANSPARENCY? I SAVED A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL.
SO THAT SHOULD BE WHAT, UM, IS, UH, ATTACHED TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR THEN, AND AS FOR NEXT ACTION, IT SEEMS TO BE THAT, UH, THIS COMMISSION HAS GOT TO MAKE AN INQUIRY TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ABOUT WHEN THIS WILL BE ON THEIR AGENDA, BECAUSE WE HAVE REQUESTED IT TO BE ON AN YET, I'D SAY YOU'RE CORRECT.
UM, I THINK WE DO HAVE THAT, OF COURSE, THAT WE DO ALREADY SEE THE ALIGNMENT THERE WITH GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL.
UM, I WAS STILL KIND OF CURIOUS TO SEE WHERE THINGS STOOD.
UM, I THINK WE'RE AWAITING COMMUNICATION, OR HAVE WE ALREADY ENGAGED IN THAT? I HAVE TO REACH INTO MY MEMORY BANKS.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY HOOPS WITH THIS ONE AND, UH, MY, MY MEMORIES ARE PRETZELED AROUND, UH, WHERE THIS LEFT OFF, BUT IF MEMORY SERVES, UH, THIS WAS, UH, INITIALLY LOST IN THE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AWAITING ASSIGNMENT.
WE, WE BUMPED THIS UP A MONTH OR TWO AGO, UH, UH, WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY HAVE ASSIGNED IT TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AND, AND, UH, THEY, UH, WERE AWAITING THEM TO PLACE IT ON AN AGENDA.
THEY DID NOTE THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY US WHEN THAT WAS DONE AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE FOLLOWUP IS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AS OPPOSED TO ALL THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IT IS WHAT THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE NOW.
AND, UH, THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS ITEM AND THEY'RE ALSO BOMBARDING THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH QUESTIONS.
WELL, UM, WITH THAT, THEN, UH, LET'S SEE THE NEXT ITEM, THE UT CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, COMMISSION AND A LOCAL AGREEMENT.
UH, YES, WE ALREADY HAVE DESIGNATED, WE NEED TO ENGAGE, UH, OUR CHIEF RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES OFFICER ON THERE.
UM, I'LL TAKE THEM ON AS AN ACTION.
AND THEN WITH THE NUMBER SEVEN CITYWIDE TECHNOLOGY, PILOT AUDIT AND ASSESSMENT, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A COMMENT THERE MAYBE BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
[00:55:01]
ABOUT AN ASSESSMENT OF PILOTS, AND I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TECHNOLOGY AUDIT AROUND SOFTWARE TO BE CLEAR BEGINNING WITH SOFTWARE THAT WE AGREE WITH.THE NEXT ACTION SHOULD BE TO FOLLOW UP WITH CHRIS STEWART.
HE MADE CLEAR THAT HE WAS WORKING TOWARDS, UH, AN OPERATING MODEL, UH, WHERE, UH, THE COO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
BUT I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT WITH HIM AND ASK FOR SOME DIRECTION THERE, THE ATLAS ONE APD FOLLOW-UP JUST TO BE CLEAR ON SEVEN A, ARE YOU DOING THAT FOLLOW UP CHAIR PITS? UH, YES.
UH, YES, I HAVE A QUESTION AND I STARTED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SERVE LIKE ROLL BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S MORE QUESTIONING IN PRINCIPLE.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN WEBPAGES, I ASSUME THIS IS THAT REQUEST TO RECORD, UH, UM, COUNCIL DECISIONS ON A SPREADSHEET IS EVERY THIS CORRECT? YEAH.
SO THIS HAS BEEN SITTING ON OUR, ON OUR, ON OUR FRONT BURNER, UH, FOR TWO YEARS, BUT NOT SURE IT'S IN ANYBODY, ELSE'S FUN BURNING.
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS? YOU KNOW, IS THAT NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES BUSINESS AS USUAL, OR IS THERE A WAY BY WHICH WE CAN EXPEDITE SOME OF THESE DECISIONS OR THESE ACTIONS? WELL, I THINK THAT WE'VE DELIBERATING A LITTLE BIT ON HOW WE CAN GO DIRECTLY BACK TO, UH, OUR INITIAL REQUEST AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RE-ENGAGE ABOUT THE REQUEST.
I KNOW THAT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO IS, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THESE DYNAMICS SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION OR IF THEY SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKING GROUP, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR GOALS IN MIND, UH, ALWAYS HAPPY TO, TO AIR THESE MATTERS FOR THE COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY IN MIND AND, AND, AND THE GOAL OF, OF ACHIEVING THE OUTCOME IN MIND, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE DIPLOMATIC AND SENSITIVE.
SO I THINK WE'VE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH COVERED THIS ISSUE.
I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE IT'S, IT, IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME, UH, BUT, OKAY.
SO GOING BACK TO A SEVEN B UH, ATLAS ONE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE APP UP, UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME MOVEMENT ON THAT.
I KNOW, UM, THERE WAS A NEXT ACTION TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT PIO AND ENGAGE WITH THE BODY CAM RESEARCH CONTACTS, UH, BOTH BY JESSE AND MYSELF, UH, THAT OUTREACH HAS BEGUN.
UH, I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, APO CONTACT DESIGNATED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE.
AND I'VE HAD CONFIRMATION THAT ONE OF THE FEW CONTACTS THAT WE TALKED WITH ABOUT POLICE BODY CAM, UH, BODY CAM AND VIDEO PROCESSING FOR IS STILL THERE.
UH, SO I MAY HAVE TO CHECK THE ORG CHART CHART WITH APD, OR JUST WORKED WITH THE PIO, BUT EITHER WAY WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT ADVANCED, UH, THREE S EXCUSE ME, SEVEN C THE COMMUNITY FIRST 3D 3D PRINTING.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 3D PRINTING, UH, SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UH, OUR NEXT ACTION THERE IS TO CHECK STATUS, INVITE THEM TO PRESENT.
UH, I KNOW THAT'S IN PROCESS, UM, AND TO CONNECT WITH, UH, DIANA GRAY, UH, THE NEWLY APPOINTED, UH, HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICER.
WE'RE STILL WAITING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, BUT, UH, WE ASSUME THAT TO BE IN PROGRESS, UH, THEN D THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, DRONES AND SMART CITY TECH.
THE NEXT ACTION WAS FOR, UH, BY MYSELF WITH JASON, JOHN MICHAEL, AND, UH, I'VE ALREADY RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM JASON, JOHN MICHAEL, THAT HE WANTS TO JOIN THE
[01:00:01]
NEXT WORKING GROUP DISCUSSION.SO THAT'LL BE GREAT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS BECAUSE, UM, IT'LL PIVOT INTO THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKING GROUP DISCUSSION ON THE AUTONOMY INSTITUTE.
SO WITH THAT, UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON PAST THESE OBJECTIVES, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS IT'S QUITE A BIT, UH, FOR A WORKING GROUP TO FOCUS ON.
AND SOME AREAS I THINK ARE MORE COMPLEX THAN OTHERS, WHERE WE CAN CLEARLY GET DEEPER.
UM, ONE THING THOUGH, THAT STEMS THAT STANDS OUT, THAT I WANTED TO MENTION AS A POTENTIAL ADDITION, IT DOES CENTER AROUND THINGS LIKE TRANSPARENCY AND PRIVACY.
UM, I SHARED A RESEARCH REPORT, A PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM DR.
SHARON STOVER WITH EVERYONE, UM, THAT EXPLORED THE SUBJECT OF VIDEO AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, UH, TAKING PLACE IN DIFFERENT CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING AUSTIN, AND THEY FINALIZED A MUCH MORE ROBUST REPORT, UH, WHICH WE WANTED TO RECEIVE AND BE ABLE TO DIVE INTO AT THE WORKING LEVEL.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT ON AS AN OBJECTIVE.
UH, IT'S MY SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD ADD TO, UH, OUR OBJECTIVES TO BASICALLY HELPED THE CITY OF AUSTIN REMAIN SENSITIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR PRIVACY AND CONCERNS AROUND PRIVACY AND DATA MANAGEMENT, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, THAT, THAT IS DEFINITELY THE SPIRIT OF THAT RESEARCH.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE WITH THAT.
THAT'S MY ONLY SUGGESTION, UH, THAT IS RESEARCH THAT I KNOW HAS FORTHCOMING RESEARCH THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER ADDING, BUT THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.
I KIND OF, I MEANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU, BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO PASS IT TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIR OF THIS WORKING GROUP TO HAD HIS THOUGHTS AND TO WEIGH IN THERE.
AND THAT SEEMS, UM, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM, PRETTY MANAGEABLE TO ADD TO OUR SLATE OF NUMBER OF A SLATE OF ITEMS. UH, SO JUST SO I'M CLEAR, I THINK THE, UM, THE NEXT STEP ON THAT IS REVIEW OF THE POLICY REPORT WHEN IT IS AUTHORED AND, UM, AS A WORKING GROUP, SEE IF THERE'S POSSIBLE ACTIONS NEEDED.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? OKAY.
[3c. Technology, Infrastructure, and Innovation Working Group]
TO THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION WORKING GROUP, AND WITH THAT, THEN, UH, I'M GOING TO PASS IT OFF TO THE CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP.I'LL JUMP IN AS NEEDED, BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE, UH, COMMISSIONER DASGUPTA, EXCUSE ME.
PARDON ME? UH, NOW THE SOLE CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP, UH, COMMISSIONER FLOYD, UH, TO COLLABORATE.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER DASGUPTA PROVIDED A DOCUMENT, SO I'LL LET YOU GUYS WORK THROUGH THAT.
WELL, COMMISSIONER DUSKY, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY UPFRONT REGARDING YOUR, YOUR PROPOSAL? WELL, I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD WRITTEN DOWN THERE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT WAS SORT OF LIKE MY GAMBIT LAST YEAR.
AND I SAID, OKAY, WHAT IS IT THAT WE SHOULD BE ENHANCING WITH? UH, SO I WENT AHEAD AND MADE THOSE CHANGES AND, UM, AND, UH, I SENT IT OUT TO EVERYBODY IN THE WORKING GROUP.
AND, UM, IF YOU WANT, I CAN GO THROUGH WITH IT, LIKE, UH, FOR INSTANCE, THE ROLLOUT UPGRADES, MY CARRIERS.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, WE SHOULD BE CONNECTING WITH THE CARRIERS AT REGULAR INTERVALS.
I MEAN, THEY SEEM TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE THAT.
SO IN FUTURE, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING MORE OFTEN.
UM, SO IF I GO DOWN THE, THE, UH, DOCUMENT THAT, UH, CHAMPIONS HAS, UH, ON, UH, ON THE SCREEN, SO LET'S GO DOWN THAT AND
[01:05:01]
SEE HOW WE CAN, UH, MODIFY THAT AND THEN MAPPING ALL THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN, UM, PROVIDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR HIGH-TECH COMPANIES MOVING INTO AUSTIN TO ENABLE CITY-WIDE THREE HIVE, WIFI HOTSPOTS, CHARGING STATIONS, PUBLIC DEVICES TO USE, ET CETERA.UH, I THINK IT SHOULD STAY, I, THIS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING MORE I CAN SAY, EXCEPT ONE COMMENT.
WHEN YOU SAY CHARGING STATIONS, SHOULD WE BE TALKING ABOUT CHARGING STATIONS? NOT JUST LIKE TELEKOM, BUT SINCE WE TALK ABOUT COSTING TRANSPORTATION, SHOULD IT BE CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS WELL? I THINK SO.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN EDIT THAT AND SAYING CHARGING STATION IN PARENTHESES FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AS WELL AS ELECTRIC CARS.
DOES EVERYBODY AGREE WITH THAT? THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP.
DO YOU AGREE THAT MIGHT BE THE PURVIEW OF ANOTHER COMMISSION? UM, THAT WOULD, I MEAN, THAT IS, UH, THAT'S DEF DEFINITELY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD, UH, KIND OF IMPACT, UH, AUSTIN ELECTRIC, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT CONNECTION AND, UH, ADD TO THEIR LOAD.
SO THIS IS, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE ALREADY LOOKING THERE, BUT, UH, THIS MIGHT BE A PART OF WHAT WE DO ABOUT REACHING OUT TO OTHER COMMISSIONS AND SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS? SO MAYBE THAT WOULD BE OUR, UH, OUR ACTION ITEM THERE.
WELL, LET ME WAIT ON THAT REAL QUICKLY.
SO I ATTENDED THE INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCE TWO WEEKS AGO, DOWNTOWN, AND, UH, IT WAS CO-SPONSORED BY THE AUTONOMY INSTITUTE.
AND AT THIS EVENT, I SAT IN ON A PRESENTATION BY THE CIO OF PHILADELPHIA, AND HE DESCRIBED A COLLABORATION WITH THEIR PUBLIC ENERGY PARTNER, THEIR PICO, WHERE THEY ENABLED A PEN INSTALLATION OF STREETLIGHTS WITH THE ENERGY PARTNER.
I WANTED HIM, UH, ENGAGED HIM, ASKED HIM IF HE COULD CONNECT US WITH THE FOLKS, UH, THAT GOT IT DONE, AND HE'S ALREADY DONE IT.
AND THEY'VE ALREADY AGREED TO MEET WITH US.
UH, WE'RE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING THAT MEETING, UH, THEY APPARENTLY LEARNED FROM CHICAGO, UH, IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE.
UH, AND, UH, I'VE ALREADY BEEN CONNECTED WITH THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ENERGY AUTHORITY, UH, WHO IS GOING TO BE AT THIS MEETING AS WELL.
SO I BROUGHT THAT UP TO SAY THAT IT'S DEFINITELY INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AND, UH, TO ME, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY ENGAGING IN THE KIND OF WORK TO THE COLLABORATIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, GRANTED, THIS IS A COLLABORATION WITH AN ENERGY COMPANY AND, AND A CITY THAT ENABLED THE SAME TYPE OF WORK TO BE DONE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MODEL WE'RE LOOKING FOR EXAMPLES OF GETTING IT DONE.
UM, I'M NOT MUSTERING ENERGY IN PLACE, SO I CAN'T SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT I JUST AM AWARE THAT THEY DO HAVE A CHARGING STATION PROGRAM.
AUSTIN ENERGY DOES, UM, THAT IS RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
ONE IS A SUBSCRIPTION, A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION, OR YOU CAN PAY BY MINUTES OR THEIR MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION IS $4 AND 17 CENTS PER MONTH FOR UNLIMITED CHARGING AT ANY OF THEIR CHARGING STATIONS.
AND, UH, THEY ALSO HAVE A DIFFERENT, UH, YOU KNOW, A PER MINUTE PROGRAM WHERE IT'S, UH, 21 CENTS PER MINUTE AT ANY OF THEIR CHARGING STATIONS.
SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON TO DEPLOY MORE ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS.
UM, AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY MONETIZING IT.
THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A BRIEFING.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT ONE, WE NEED TO PULL THEM IN TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH, ON THE TOPIC OF INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT.
BUT WE NEED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHERE THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR THIS.
UH, AND IF THEY SEE THIS COLLABORATION FOLDING THAT'S IN THE WORKS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WAITING
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FOR, YOU KNOW, AN MOU TO BE SIGNED.WE KNOW WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF SHOWING FORMAL SUPPORT AS A BODY.
UM, BUT WE KNOW THAT POWER HAS TO BE SENT TO THESE LOCATIONS.
SO IT'S PROVED FOR US TO KNOW HOW AUSTIN ANGIE SITS, I GUESS, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, METERS.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH, UM, UM, ALL OF THIS MONEY THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM WASHINGTON FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
AND I WAS WONDERING, UM, A LOT OF THAT, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING ALLOCATED TO THE MUNICIPALITIES CITIES, STATES COUNTIES.
AND SO I WAS WONDERING, DO WE KNOW IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS CREATED SOME TYPE OF PLAN, UM, TO REQUEST ANY OF THIS FUNDING AND HOW IT WILL BE ALLOCATED AND USED THROUGHOUT THE CITY? BECAUSE I MEAN, THE BILL IS HUGE, BUT THAT THIS IS THE PURPOSE FOR THAT MONEY.
AND, UM, AND, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDS OUT VERY QUICKLY.
UM, UM, WHEN I SAY THEY, I MEAN CONGRESS, AND SO THEY WANT THOSE FUNDS TO CONGRESS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY WANT THOSE FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED AND USED, LIKE WITHIN THE UPCOMING, UM, FYS.
AND SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S SOME TYPE OF PLAN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH OF COURSE SHOULD INCLUDE COLLABORATION ACROSS, UM, ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, INCLUDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PERHAPS, UM, UNIVERSITIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE WANTING WITH THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHO IS SPEARHEADING THAT, AND IF THE CITY HAS REACTED TO THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I'M GOING TO PIVOT AND GIVE A JESSIE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT ONE FOR US.
I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW THE CITY IS COORDINATING, UH, FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS OR APPLICATIONS.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S, UM, SOME WORK HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THERE'S SOME WORK HAPPENING IN THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT I'M NOT INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO I, I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO IT WELL, UH, ONE SECOND, BEFORE YOU RESPOND OR CHIME IN THERE, I WANT TO RESPOND TO WHAT COMMISSIONER THOMPSON SAID.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
AND IN FACT, UM, I AM WANT FOR FEEDBACK ON THIS VERY ISSUE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FEEL AS THOUGH WE SHOULD BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN AS A COMMISSION IS THE CREATION OF THE NEW STRATEGIC, DIGITAL INCLUSION PLAN.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WHICH WE'RE STILL KIND OF ON THE OUTSIDE WAITING TO BE INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN.
AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE DEDICATED RESOURCES WORKING ON THIS.
SO I DEFINITELY AM WANT FOR ANSWERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT BILL THERE'S FUNDS FOR ALL OF THAT BROADBAND AND, AND IT, YOU KNOW, AND TO ME, WHAT I FIND TO BE COMPELLING ABOUT IT IS WHAT THEY CALL
SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY WANT THESE FUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, IN WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO RURAL AREAS, IT'S GOING TO, UM, DISADVANTAGE AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO IT'S UP TO, IT'S UP TO US AS, AS, UM, RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR THE MOST THERE'S FUNDING FOR IT AND THAT BILL IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HATE FOR THE CITY TO SLEEP ON THAT.
YOU AND ME, BOTH YOU AND ME, BOTH, UH, ONE OF THE, I ASSUME ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES YOU REFERRING TO IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT JOBS ACT.
UH, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY USE CASES, UH, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY IF WE WERE TO PURSUE THEM, BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE, UH,