Apr 08, 2026 Technology Commission

[00:00:06]

EVERYBODY, UH, I'M

[CALL TO ORDER ]

THE TIME IS 6 36.

UH, A QUORUM IS PRESENT.

UH, EXCUSE ME.

ROLL.

OKAY.

YEP.

PERFECT.

WE'LL DO A QUICK ROLL CALL.

WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER COMBY IN, IN THE ROOM.

AYE.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER CUBY REPRESENTING DISTRICT SEVEN.

PERFECT.

CHAIR, ACA.

COMMISSIONER SPEAKING.

ACA REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO PRESENT.

AWESOME.

UH, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONER BROWN WILLIAMS, REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE.

PERFECT.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER HERITAGE? UH, COMMISSIONER HERITAGE REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR.

PERFECT.

AND I AM VICE CHAIR, UH, ALTA REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE.

COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER.

OH, COMMISSIONER RIDGE.

I'M SORRY, DID I SKIP YOU? SORRY.

.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING DISTRICT 10.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

APOLOGIES FOR THAT.

AWESOME.

SO, UM, WE'LL NOW

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

UM, THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED IN EVENTS.

ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? I AMENDMENTS.

DO WE? IT'S UP TO YOU.

OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES, UM, WE'LL, UH, HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.

I MOVE SECOND.

GREAT.

UH, UH, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. SECONDED IT.

YES.

THAT WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CUBY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. THANK YOU BOTH.

GREAT.

TAKE THE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? OH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

A AYE.

.

SORRY, I WAS ON MUTE.

OKAY.

THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS ON MOVING FORWARD ON OUR, OUR AGENDA ITEMS, WE DID HAVE THE PRESENTATION FROM GOOGLE FIBER.

UH, THEY ARE NOT PRESENT CURRENTLY, SO WE WILL, UH, PUSH THAT TO A FUTURE MEETING, UM, DATE.

THE NEXT TOPIC ON

[3. Summary report out on the Digital Inclusion Town Hall listening session hosted on March 7th, 2026 (Chair Apodaca, Commissioner Heritage, City of Austin Technology Commission)]

UM, CHAIR, AKA I'M GONNA TURN THAT OVER TO YOU, UH, TO GIVE US THAT SUMMARY, UH, MAYBE STYLES FOR WHO, UH, EVER SO GRACIOUSLY, UH, DONATED HER TIME, UH, TO BE OUR, UH, FACILITATOR WITH SESSION.

UH, I ACTED AS THE HOST AND, UH, JESSE RODRIGUEZ, UH, WAS, UH, ONE OF THE KEY PRESENTERS, UH, DURING THAT SESSION.

SO HE PRESENTED OUT ADDITIONAL COLLISION LANDSCAPE, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE CITY, UH, AND THE WORK TO, TO BE DONE.

UH, BUT WHAT I DID WANNA DO IS, UH, JUST SHARE WITH, UH, WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HERE, UH, SOME OF THE DETAILED FINDINGS THAT WE HAVE.

ONE, TWO, PAGE THREE.

NOW ALSO SECTION THREE.

UM, I'D BE A PAGE AHEAD OF

[00:05:01]

THERE SHOULD BE SECTION THREE, DETAILED THEMATIC FINDINGS.

THERE WE GO.

UM, SO ALL OF THIS WAS SOURCED FROM THE WHITEBOARD, UH, LARGE POSTED STICKY MATERIALS THAT WERE, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, MIMI SORT OF, UH, HAD THE PARTICIPANTS FACILITATE DURING THAT LISTENING SESSION.

UH, SO WANTED TO CALL OUT RESIDENTS THAT IDENTIFIED, UH, A CONNECTIVITY MAP OF UNDERSERVED AREAS.

YOU SEE SEVERAL ZIP CODES THERE.

7, 8, 7, 4, 4, 2, 4, 2, 3, 5, 1, 5, 3, 5 2, AND OH TWO.

UM, SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR WORK AND THE COMMISSION, JUST ZIP CODES FOR US TO BE AWARE OF, UH, THE NEXT ITEM, THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND JUST RELIABILITY AND DEPENDABILITY DURING EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.

UM, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE SEEN THIS TAKE PLACE DURING THE WINTER STORMS, POWER OUTAGES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

UM, AND THEN ONE OTHER CALL OUT PROVIDER OF MONOPOLIES, UH, GIVEN THAT, UH, GOOGLE FIBER'S NOT, NOT HERE, UH, TODAY, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY FUTURE QUESTION FOR THEM AS WELL AS AT AND T AND SPECTRUM.

UH, BUT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT, ESPECIALLY MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS, NOT HAVING, UH, ANY CHOICES IN THEIR PROVIDERS.

UH, SO CERTAINLY SOMETHING FOR US, UH, AS A COMMISSION TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT AND, UH, EVALUATE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY SOLUTIONS FOR THAT.

MOVING ON TO SUBSECTION TWO, THERE, AFFORDABILITY, UH, TRAP, UH, SORT OF TITLED IN QUITE A VOLUME OF A OVER 200 PER MONTH, DEPENDING ON YOUR SURFACE.

IS THERE A QUESTION? NO, SORRY.

WE WERE JUST, UH, LOSING A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR SIGNAL.

IF YOU COULD REPEAT THAT LAST LINE.

WE, WE, WE LOST THAT.

OH, SURE.

YEAH.

SO, UH, VOLATILITY THERE.

UH, SO, UH, INDIVIDUALS REPORTED PAYING ANYWHERE FROM 28 TO OVER 200 A MONTH.

UH, SO, UH, JUST CONTINUE.

I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR US AS A COMMISSION, THERE'S CONTINUES TO, UH, BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S CONSISTENT PORTABILITY THROUGHOUT THE, THE CITY.

UM, ANOTHER GRIEVANCE FROM, UH, SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THAT THE MADE AND SWITCH TACTICS ON, UH, ONE YEAR OR 18 MONTH PROMOTIONAL RATES, AND THEN THOSE RATES INCREASE.

SO, CERTAINLY, UH, CALLOUTS FOR THOSE ISPS IS THEY CONTINUE TO, TO BRIEF US ON THEIR PROGRAMS MOVING FORWARD, UH, INTO THE NEXT PAGE THERE, THE DIGITAL LITERACY TRUST APPS.

SO, PERFECT SCROLL.

UM, SO A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UH, UH, UH, THOUGHTS HERE AROUND CYBERSECURITY AND DISTRUST.

UH, WE HAD QUITE A NUMBER OF OLDER, UH, INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE IN THE SESSIONS, SO THEY DECIDED CONCERNS AROUND, OR ACTUALLY THEIR EXPERIENCES AROUND TRACKING PHISHING TO CONTINUE TO, TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, THE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

UM, AND THEN, UH, SOME, UH, TRAINING NEEDS, UH, FOLKS DISCUSS, UH, DIFFICULTY IN NAVIGATING, UH, MUNICIPAL REGISTRATION PORTALS, UH, AS WELL AS MANAGING THEIR HEALTH RECORDS.

AND THEN JUST GENERAL, LIKE DENTAL, UH, DIGITAL HYGIENE, UM, ENSURING THAT MALWARE VIRUS REMOVAL.

I, I THINK THIS GOES INTO LIKE, UH, UPSKILLING AND JUST AWARENESS AROUND HOW TO USE THESE TYPES OF DIGITAL DEVICES.

AND THE LAST SECTION HERE, UM, WE DID START GETTING INTO AI, UM, AND THE NEED FOR, FOR GUARDRAIL FROM THE PUBLIC'S, FROM THE PUBLIC'S VIEWPOINT, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF REGULATION, UH, THAT THEY'VE SEEN.

SO, CERTAINLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UH, CONTINUE TO, TO FOCUS IN ON, UH, THAT TOPIC, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO, TO SHOWCASE THE WORK THAT THE CITY IS DOING AROUND SOME OF THE SECURITY, UH, POLICIES IN PLACE.

UM, REALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST ETHICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CON CONCERNS, WATER CONSUMPTION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.

A RECOMMENDATION THAT COMMISSIONER PVI IS, UH, IS WORKING ON, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

SO I THINK THAT SHOULD, UH, THAT SHOULD

[00:10:02]

AND THEN FINALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST CONTINUE TO SAFEGUARD BOTH NORMAL POPULATIONS.

UH, WE HAD A, UH, SOME MEMBERS FROM UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AS WELL AS OLDER INDIVIDUALS.

UH, SO ENSURING THAT THINGS LIKE AI GENERATED SCAMS, DEEP FAKES, UH, OR CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THOSE POPULATIONS ON WHAT'S BECOMING MORE PREVALENT.

UH, FINALLY, UM, I'LL JUST SORT OF, SORT OF WRAP UP HERE ON THE LAST TWO PAGES.

UM, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO TIE OFF AND WANT TO PRESENT THIS TO THE COMMISSION, WANT EVERYONE TO DIGEST IT, AND THEN, UH, EMBED ALL OF THESE ITEMS INTO FUTURE COMMISSION, UH, AGENDA ITEMS. AND THEN, UH, AN APPENDIX ONE THERE.

JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT OUR, OUR THANKS AND OUR APPRECIATION TO THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY RESOURCE PARTNERS THAT PARTNERED WITH US, TABLED, UM, HAD ENGAGEMENT.

UH, I KNOW THAT, THAT MANY OF THEM HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE SOME OF THEIR SERVICES TO THE ATTENDEES.

UH, AND THEN THE ORGANIZATIONS THEMSELVES HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, UH, TO COLLABORATE, UM, WITH EACH OTHER.

UH, SO IT BECAME SOMEWHAT OF A NETWORKING, UH, EVENT AS WELL.

AND THEN, UH, APPENDIX TWO, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THE RAW SESSION OUTPUTS WHERE THOSE, UM, ALL THE, THE THEMATIC FINDINGS THAT I WENT THROUGH EARLIER WERE SOURCED FROM.

UM, WE DID HAVE, UM, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, HERITAGE ATTEND AT LEAST PART OF THE SESSION, SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMISSIONER HERITAGE, YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, DESCRIBE YOUR OBSERVATION AS WELL.

YEAH, I THINK THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME, AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, UH, YEAH, WE, WE HAVE SOME CONNECTIONS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHER, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING PROVIDERS, LIKE FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO FACILITATE, UM, ANY CONVERSATIONS THAT Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE ON THAT FRONT.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

WE'LL, WE'LL REACH OUT, UM, AFTER THE MEETING AND, UH, START THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

OKAY.

[00:15:26]

UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO INVITE SOME NEWER ENTITIES LIKE THRIVE MOBILE THAT DOES, UM, MOBILE PLANS, AND DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, I'M GONNA BUTCHER IT.

UM, MOBILE, I CAN GOOGLE IT AS SOON AS I'M DONE OFF OF THIS.

BUT MOBILE PLANS FOR FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE ON MEDICAID OR MEDICARE ELIGIBLE, UM, HEALTH PLANS.

AND SO THEY ACTUALLY DO THE OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT FOR A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS.

SO THAT MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO'S FILLING THE GAP, WE'VE GOT OUR SERVICE PROVIDER PARTNERS THAT WE'VE INVITED TO PRESENT ON THEIR AFFORDABILITY PLANS.

THERE'S ALSO OTHER PLAYERS THAT ARE STARTING TO GET INTO THIS FOR THEIR OWN INTEREST.

UM, AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER INTERESTING THING TO, TO TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL, JUST TO, AGAIN, DOUBLE CLICK ON THAT AFFORDABILITY PIECE.

HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT BRIDGING THE GAP AND LEARNING, BEG, BORROWING AND STEALING FROM WHO OTHERS? UM, WHAT ARE OTHERS DOING IN THIS SPACE THAT WE MIGHT WANNA THINK ABOUT, UH, EXPLORING HERE IN AUSTIN? YEAH.

THE, UH, IDEA THAT CAME TO MIND, UM, JUST HEARING YOUR REPORT, UH, CHAIR, IS WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES THE CITY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE AFFORDABLE PRICING FOR INTERNET SERVICE.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED A FEW YEARS AGO IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

AND SO I, I CAN UNDERSTAND LOTS OF CONFUSION ABOUT HOW TO BE ABLE TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, MORE AFFORDABLE PLANS.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

UM, LIKE IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON INDIVIDUALS, WE SHOULD INVITE TO A FUTURE COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY.

UH, LET US OFFLINE.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER HERITAGE, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS THAT THRIVE, HAPPY FOR YOU.

YEAH, WE'LL TAKE THAT.

I'LL ADD THAT FOR, I'LL, I'LL SAVE THAT AND BRING IT UP AGAIN WHEN WE HAVE FUTURE AGENDA .

SO, THANKS.

ANY OTHER S THE REPORT BEFORE I TURN TO BACK OVER TO ACTING CHAIR OF THE NOT HEARING ANYTHING? OKAY.

BACK OVER TO YOU.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CHAIR, AKA FOR, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, UPDATE.

UM, AND THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY INCLUDE THAT ON THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, UH, COMMISSIONER HERITAGE, UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS I I SEE THAT I FAILED TO, UH, JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD ARE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.

AND SINCE WE HAVE NO MEMBERS HERE OF THE PUBLIC, WE CAN JUST, UH, PROCEED, UM, AS IS.

SO WE WILL

[4.Report out and Approval of Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) Core 2026 selected recipients]

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DAN, HOW Y'ALL, LEMME JUST GET SITUATED AND GET THE SLIDES UP.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL.

UM, SO AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, WE HAD AN UPDATE AROUND WHICH APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVED, I THINK IN FEBRUARY'S MEETING, IF NOT THE MARCH MEETING.

UM, AND SO WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT'S ALL DONE NOW, WRAPPED IT UP, IT CLOSED AS OF MONDAY, WE GOT ALL THOSE FINAL SCORES IN.

AND, UH, NOW WE'RE A COUPLE DAYS OUT.

WE'VE CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS AND WE'VE COME TO A FINAL DECISION.

UM, THIS IS JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S, UH, SAKE.

ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING AT HOME OR, OR CURIOUS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, UM, GTOP S CORE IS, UH, THE LARGEST DIGITAL INCLUSION GRANT PATHWAY THAT JESSE AND I'S DIVISION MANAGES.

UM, IT IS A $40,000 AWARD THIS YEAR, UH, INCREASE FROM A CAP OR CAP OF 35,000 FROM LAST YEAR.

UM, SO THIS YEAR WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING SOME NEW THINGS, ONLY EIGHT AWARDS, UM, IN, IN THIS ELECTION.

BUT WE, WE COULD HAVE GONE UP TO NINE OR 10 DEPENDING ON THE REQUESTS OF THE AWARDEES, BUT IT TURNED OUT PERFECT.

UM, WE GAVE AWAY ALL, OR WE'RE PLANNING TO, UH, HAVE ALL $320,000, UM, GIVEN TO EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS AT $40,000 EACH.

UM, BUT YEAH, THIS IS A, A GRANT FOCUSING ON CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE GAP WITHIN, UH, AUSTIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, EITHER THROUGH INCREASING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY DEVICES, UM, SO GETTING PEOPLE, LAPTOPS, DEVICES,

[00:20:01]

UM, SO THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS PROGRAM.

I KNOW THE COMMISSIONS HEARD ME TALK AD NAUSEUM ABOUT THIS, BUT, UM, UH, WE ARE AT THE TAIL END OF THE G TOPS CORE CYCLE, AND SO IT'LL BE ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE YOU HEAR ME MENTION IT.

UM, SO YEAH, THIS YEAR'S WINNERS, UH, WE NARROWED IT DOWN AND THEY ARE IN ORDER OF HIGHEST SCORE.

UM, SO, UH, THE REVIEWERS SCORE ON A POINT SYSTEM OF A HUNDRED POINTS.

AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, ONE OF THE AWARDEES UP HERE GOT UP TO 94 POINT 33 POINTS.

UM, OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO BONUS POINTS THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT, UH, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY HERE TODAY.

UM, BUT I'M JUST GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THE AWARDS THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT, HOW MUCH, UH, THEY'RE AWARDED AND WHAT THEIR PROJECTS IS LOOKING LIKE.

SO I'LL JUST BE READING STRAIGHT OFF THE SLIDES.

UM, THIS YEAR WE HAVE AUSTIN SPEECH LABS, WHO IS A RETURN, UH, APPLICANT AND RECIPIENT.

SO THEY HAVE RECEIVED IT IN THE PAST.

UH, THEY REQUESTED THE FULL $40,000 AWARD, AND THEY WERE THE HIGHEST SCORING APPLICATION WE HAD, INCLUDING BONUS POINTS.

UM, AND SO THEIR PROJECT IS DESCRIPTION IS, IS THEY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED DIGITAL NAVIGATORS FOR STROKE SURVIVORS, WHICH TRAIN SPEECH THERAPISTS AS SPECIALIZED DIGITAL NAVIGATORS, INTEGRATING INDIVIDUALIZED TECH SUPPORT AND ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES INTO ONGOING SPEECH AND COGNITIVE THERAPY FOR SPEECH IMPAIRED CLIENTS.

SO, REALLY COOL, YOU KNOW, HELPING OUT A VERY NICHE POPULATION THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS THE ASSISTANCE FOR ADAPTING TO THIS INCREASINGLY DIGITAL WORLD.

UH, NEXT WE GOT ART SPARK, ALSO A PASS RECIPIENT AND PASS AWARDEE, UH, OR PASS APPLICANT PASS AWARDEE, UM, THROUGH, UH, A FEW OF OUR OTHER PIPELINES AS WELL.

UM, THEY HAD A FINAL SCORE OF 90 OUT OF A HUNDRED, UH, AND THEY HAD A REQUEST OF 40,000, AND THEY'RE GETTING THE FULL 40.

UM, AND THEIR PROGRAM IS SPEAKING ADVOCATES.

UH, THE, SO THE SPEAKING ADVOCATES DIGITAL VOICES PROJECT IS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LEARN STORYTELLING AND DIGITAL MEDIA TRAINING.

THROUGH A VIRTUAL PODCAST TRAINING COURSE, PARTICIPANTS BUILD DIGITAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS.

THE PROGRAM CULMINATES IN A PUBLIC SHOWCASE AND PODCAST SERIES AT AMPLIFY PARTICIPANT VOICES.

NEXT UP IS AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS.

UH, THEY SCORED 88 POINT 33, UH, FULL 40,000 REQUESTS AND AWARD, AND THEY ARE ALSO OUR FINAL PASS RECIPIENT PAST APPLICANT.

UM, AND AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS WILL FUND A PAID INDUSTRY ALIGNED PRE APPRENTICESHIPS THAT ALIGN COMMUNITY NEEDS WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, PROVIDING CAREER TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS, HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY, AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS FACING BARRIERS.

UH, SUPER COOL STUFF, REALLY AFFECTING, UH, THE POPULATION THAT NEEDS THIS KIND OF ASSISTANCE.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE AE AUSTIN WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 82, UH, AWARD OF 40,000.

AND THEY ARE A PAST APPLICANT, I BELIEVE, FOR THE CORE PROGRAM, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH CORE.

I THINK OUR OTHER PATHWAYS, THOUGH.

YES.

UM, SO AE AUSTIN WILL HOST CAREER NAVIGATION SERVICES OFFERING ONE-ON-ONE JOB COACHING DIGITAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS WITH DIGITAL LIFT, A MOBILE COMPUTER LAB, AND A DEVICE DISTRIBUTION.

DURING THE GRANT PERIOD, IT WILL COACH 50 CAREGIVERS DISTRIBUTE 162 DEVICES AND DELIVER SIX DIGITAL LITERACY, UH, WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDE 36 HOURS OF MONTHLY LAB ACCESS.

SO THEY'RE REALLY HITTING EVERY AVENUE THAT YOU CAN NEED, IF, IF YOU'RE SOMEBODY LEFT BEHIND THROUGH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

UM, SO YOU'LL LOVE TO SEE IT.

UH, NEXT UP, UM, THESE NEXT FOUR ARE ACTUALLY FIRST TIME APPLICANTS FOR GTOP S CORE AND FIRST TIME RECIPIENTS.

SO THAT'S SUPER COOL.

WE LOVE TO SEE, UM, NEW BLOOD IN OUR PROGRAM.

WE, WE, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THAT, UM, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE KIND OF STILL GRASSROOTS STILL COMING UP, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR THESE FUNDS AND BE AWARDED DEPENDING ON THE STRENGTH OF THEIR PROPOSITION.

UM, SO YEAH, FIRST ONE IS HISPANIC ALLIANCE FOR PERFORMING ARTS WITH THE FINAL SCORE OF 80 POINT 33.

UM, THEY ARE DOING A PROGRAM CALLED TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS, WHICH WILL INTEGRATE PRACTICAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS INTO MUSIC, UH, MUSIC EDUCATION AND MENTORING FOR LOW INCOME AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AUSTIN YOUTH.

UP NEXT IS HINDU CHARITIES FOR AMERICA WITH A TIDE SCORE OF 80 POINT 33.

UM, HC FOUR A'S AI READY DIGITAL CAREER PATHWAY SCALES, A MENTORSHIP DRIVEN PIPELINE FOR ABOUT 250 YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND VETERANS AI ESSENTIALS GATEWAY, GOOGLE CAREER CERTIFICATES, ONE-ON-ONE EXECUTIVE MENTORS AND PAID MICRO INTERNSHIPS SLASH EMPLOYMENT VIA CAREER CIRCLES.

150 PLUS EMPLOYERS.

UM, SO REALLY A GREAT WRAPAROUND SERVICE.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE KIND OF HITTING EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KIND OF FIND THAT EMPLOYMENT, UM, SUPER AWESOME PROGRAM.

AND NEXUS GLOBAL IMPACT INITIATIVE WITH A SCORE JUST SHY OF 80 79 0.67.

UH, THEIR PROGRAM IS YEAP.

SO THE YEAP INITIATIVE EQUIPS 150 REFUGEE YOUTH FACING INTERRUPTED SCHOOLING, LIMITED ENGLISH AND DIGITAL POVERTY WITH PROFESSIONAL LAPTOPS PRELOADED WITH OFFICE 3 6 5 LTE HOTSPOTS, BILINGUAL DIGITAL NAVIGATORS, AND A 14 SESSION DIGITAL LITERACY CURRICULUM WITH VIRTUAL MENTORS.

SO REALLY HELPING PEOPLE THRIVE AND GET OFF THE GROUND.

JUST START A LEVEL DIGITAL EQUITY

[00:25:01]

AND FINALLY, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC, ALSO TIDE SCORE 79.67, UM, UH, FULL AWARD, 40,000.

UH, THEIR TECH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM IS A SIX WEEK HANDS-ON DIGITAL LITERACY COURSE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AUSTIN RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED EDUCATION AND LITERAL TO NO COMPUTER, UH, EXPERIENCE.

AND GRADUATES RECEIVE A LAPTOP AND ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS AT THE HOME, WHICH IS GREAT.

WE LOVE TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, DEVICE DISTRIBUTION BEING A PART OF YOUR SKILLS PIPELINE.

UM, THAT'S ALL OUR PROGRAMS. UM, BUT YEAH, THIS WAS A GREAT CYCLE FOR GTOP S CORE.

JUST WANTED TO HIT A FEW NOTES ON THE HEAD.

UM, WE HAD 33 APPLICATIONS, UH, 28 OF WHICH WERE ACTUALLY MOVED FORWARD TO THE ACTUAL REVIEW PHASE.

AND THEN THOSE 28 WERE EVALUATED, UM, INITIALLY BY A REVIEW PANEL OF EIGHT SELECTED BY Y'ALL.

UM, ONE OF THOSE PANELISTS HAD TO DROP OUT BEFORE WE COULD EVEN GET THE BALL ROLLING.

UM, BUT THEN WE FOUND A SUPPLEMENTARY, UH, PANELIST.

AND THEN AFTER THE FACT, UH, WE HAD ANOTHER TWO PANELISTS FALL OUT BEFORE THE DELIBERATION DEADLINE, OR THE DELIBERATION DAY, WHICH IS WHEN WE GO THROUGH AND WE GET CONSENSUS ON ALL APPLICATIONS FROM THE PANELS OR PANELISTS.

UM, AND THEN FROM THERE, UH, ONE OF THOSE PANELISTS ALSO HAD TO RECUSE HIMSELF ON SOME APPLICATIONS.

UM, BUT YEAH, THAT IS REALLY THE BULK OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

I THINK THIS HAS BROUGHT ONE OF OUR SMOOTHER ONES, UH, DESPITE LIKE A HECTIC, UM, START.

UM, WE HAD TO FOREGO THE LOI PERIOD THIS TIME AROUND.

UM, WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL DETAILS IN THIS MEMO THAT WILL GO OUT, UM, TO THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS WE'LL BE, UH, MADE PUBLIC.

UM, THIS MEMO JUST KIND OF OVERDOSES THIS WHOLE PROCESS, THE FINAL DECISION, UM, AND THEN VERIFIES EVERYTHING WITH A NICE LITTLE SIGNATURE AT THE BOTTOM.

UM, WE JUST NEED TO GET IT APPROVED BY OUR PIO TEAM.

WE WE'RE, UH, WORKING ON THIS.

UM, SO THE FINAL SCORES CAME IN ON TUESDAY, SO WE ONLY HAD LIKE A 24 ISH HOUR WINDOW TO KIND OF WRAP THIS ALL TOGETHER AND MAKE IT PRETTY FOR Y'ALL.

UM, SO THAT MEMO IS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE.

WE JUST GOTTA GET IT APPROVED BY OUR MARKETING AND PIO TEAM.

UM, BUT YEAH, THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR G TOPS CORE.

I WILL HAVE MORE ON GTOP S MINI AND CAPACITY WITHIN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR GTOP SA LITTLE BIT MORE.

UM, BUT YEAH.

UM, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER CUBY FOR SITTING ON THE, UH, GTOP S UH, MINI PANEL, I BELIEVE, OR CAPACITY.

UM, BUT STILL, UM, IF, IF ANYBODY ELSE IS INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT WITH, UH, GTOP S SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU WANNA SERVE ON A PANEL, UM, SERVE AS THE EX OFFICIO CHAIR.

I PROMISE YOU IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

UH, AT THIS YEAR'S, UH, DELIBERATION SESSION, EVERYBODY WALKED OUT SAYING, THAT WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN MY REGULAR WORKDAY.

UM, SO YOU'D LOVE TO SEE IT.

UM, BUT THAT'S ALL I GOT.

I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER, UH, TO THE, UH, COMMISSION IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ACTUALLY, I JUST HAD ONE ACTUAL COMMENT.

UH, I NOTICED SOME OF THE NEW AWARDEES I REMEMBER SEEING LAST YEAR IN THE GTOP S MINI APPLICATION PROCESS.

SO IS THAT A, LOOKS LIKE THAT'S A GOOD GATEWAY TO THE LARGER PROGRAM? ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, I'D SAY SO.

I, I THINK, UH, THAT THAT IS THE PATTERN WE TEND TO SEE, UM, HINDU CHARITIES FOR AMERICA.

WE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT EARLIER TODAY, HOW THEY WENT THROUGH G OS MINI AND NOW THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, REPEAT, UH, APPLICANTS.

AND IT'S FUN TO SEE THEM KIND OF ADVANCE UP UNTIL THE NEXT LEVEL GTOP S CORE HIGHER FUNDING.

UM, AND, AND REALLY THAT'S WHAT GTOP S WAS DESIGNED FOR, I GUESS, THOSE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, UM, TRYING TO FUND LIKE A VERY EITHER SPECIFIC PROJECT OR SOMETHING VERY BROAD WHERE THEY KNOW THE COMMUNITY.

UM, SO YEAH, I, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I, I LOVE TO SEE THAT LEVEL OF ADVANCEMENT FROM, UM, SOME OF OUR PAST APPLICANTS FROM OUR SMALLER PATHWAYS TO THE BIG ONE.

YEAH.

UM, NO QUESTION, BUT JUST A COMMENT AND, UH, APPRECIATION.

THANKS, UH, TO YOU BOTH.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO, TO DO THIS, UM, AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE RESULTS, UM, PANNED OUT FOR THIS.

SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT.

THAT'S AWESOME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DAN? NO, SURE.

RIGHT.

UM, SO AS A PART OF THIS, I FORGOT TO MENTION, UM, THE COMMISSION ACTUALLY, UH, WE, WE REQUEST A VOTE TO APPROVE THESE AWARDEES.

OH, PERFECT.

AS YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR COMMUNITY MM-HMM .

UM, THE SLIDES AREN'T UP, BUT, UM, I'LL JUST REMIND YOU THE NAMES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE AUSTIN SPEECH LABS, UH, ARTS SPARK, TEXAS, I CAN FLIP THROUGH IT.

UH, AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS, AVAN, AUSTIN HISPANIC ALLIANCE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, HINDU CHARITIES FOR AMERICA GLOBAL IMPACT INITIATIVE, AND PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC.

UM, SO YEAH, JUST REQUESTING A VOTE TO APPROVE THESE FOR THE 2026 GTOP CYCLE.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY, UH, CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT, LIKE, UH, FUND ALLOCATION OR, OR HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, UM, YEAH, FEEL FREE TO ASK BEFORE, UH, WE TAKE A VOTE.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

UH, HEY, DAN, UH, COMMISSIONER EASTWOOD, UH, WAS, UH, AS EX ACT AS EX OFFICIO CHAIR DURING THE DELIBERATION, CORRECT? UH, I, I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MIS COORDINATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I SENT NOTICES AND, AND I MEANT TO REMIND HIM IN PERSON AT OUR LAST SESSION, BUT IT

[00:30:01]

UM, IT JUST, YOU KNOW, FELL OFF MY RADAR.

UM, SO HE WASN'T PRESENT AT THE DELIBERATION, BUT HE DID SUPPORT AT THE ORIENTATION AND THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

UM, I THINK WE JUST MISSED HIM FOR THAT ONE, UH, THE EIGHT HOUR SESSION.

UM, BUT THAT, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS AND, AND WE UNDERSTAND.

BUT, UM, YEAH, WE, WE WOULD INVITE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER TO PLEASE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, TO STEP INTO THAT EX OFFICIO CHAIR FOR THE NEXT CYCLE.

I, I PROMISE IT'S REALLY REWARDING.

OKAY.

AND THEN DID HE HELP WITH LIKE, THE RATINGS? AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, ENSURE THAT THERE'S LIKE, SUPPORT, EVEN IF IT WAS INFORMAL, UM, NOT AS MUCH ON, ON THE ACTUAL, UH, RANKINGS.

UM, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE USUALLY, UH, GO TO THE EX OFFICIO CHAIR FOR, UNLESS THERE'S ADJUDICATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, UM, THROUGH THE, UM, UH, WHAT, WHAT'S THE TERM? THE PROTEST PERIOD? YES.

SO IF THERE'S ANY PROTESTS THAT COME IN AFTER WE MAKE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS TOMORROW, USUALLY SEND OUT ALL THE EMAILS TOMORROW ANNOUNCING THE FINAL DECISION, UM, THAT'S WHEN, UH, COMMISSIONER EASTWOOD, WE'D ASK THEM TO STEP IN AND, AND HELP KIND OF, UH, LEAD THE PROCESS AND, AND HELP ADJUDICATE THAT.

UM, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AN IN BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND GTOP STAFF.

OKAY.

THANK, OF COURSE.

OKAY.

WE'LL NOW TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE, UH, AWARDEE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I MOVE, WAIT ALL SECOND.

AWESOME.

AWESOME.

UH, THANK YOU, UM, COMMISSIONER COMY AND COMMISSIONER HERITAGE FOR THAT, FOR THAT MOTION TO APPROVE.

AWESOME.

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ONTO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

OH, SORRY, SORRY.

WE NEED TO VOTE.

APOLOGIES.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR, TO, UH, APPROVE THESE AWARDEE RECOMMENDATIONS.

PLEASE SAY A AYE AYE.

AYE.

A YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

VICE CHAIR, .

NO, THIS ISN'T MY INNATE LANGUAGE.

SO, , UH, THANK YOU.

SO, UH, WE WILL, UM, THESE ARE NOW APPROVED.

[5.Conduct Technology Commission 2026 Officer Elections ]

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON, UM, TO ELECTIONS.

UH, WE'LL NOW PROCEED WITH ELECTIONS, AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH THESE, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR BYLAWS.

AND ROBERT RULE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

UH, I BELIEVE SOME OF JUST WANTED TO, UM, POINT OUT SOME KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER THAT, UH, THESE OFFICER TERMS FOR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ARE TERMS FOR ONE YEAR STARTING MAY 1ST THROUGH APRIL 30TH.

UH, OFFICERS MAY SERVE NO MORE THAN FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

UM, AND, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY READ THROUGH SOME OF THOSE, THOSE, UH, KEY POINTS.

REMEMBER FROM DAN'S EMAIL, UM, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO REELECT CURRENT OFFICERS AND ALL VOTES, ALL VOTES MUST BE PUBLIC.

UM, NO BALLOTS OR ANONYMOUS VOTES ARE ACCEPTED.

SO WITH THAT, WE WILL, UM, WE WILL BEGIN WITH NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF CHAIR.

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR? I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, UM, UH, CHAIR APODACA FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR.

I'LL ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION.

THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR.

DO WE NEED A SECOND FOR THAT? NO, WE DON'T.

NOT, UH, I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T.

OKAY.

YEAH, .

SURE.

ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS, NOMINATIONS FOR THE, UH, POSITION OF CHAIR ARE NOW CLOSED.

CONGRATULATIONS.

UH, CHAIR AB STILL TAKE, OH, SORRY.

I'M, I'M FORGETTING THE VOTE.

UM, LET US ALL TAKE A VOTE, UH, TO APPROVE CHAIR, UH, APODACA FOR THE, THE REELECTION FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

A AYE.

GREAT.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

CHAIR APODACA ON, RESUMING YOUR POSITION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND, UH, YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR TRUST IN ME.

UH, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT, UH, ACTIONS SINCE I BECOME CHAIR.

UH, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE REFLECTED THE .

WE'VE PASSED SO MANY RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TO COUNCIL, AND, UH, YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL LIKE, SORT OF WENT INTO THIS, BUT EITHER DISTRICT SORT OF TRY TO A LITTLE BIT.

SO, UH,

[00:35:02]

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO, UH, TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, YEAH, HOPEFULLY, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING AS CHAIR, AS CHAIR AND COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THANKS EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

STEVEN.

YES.

GREAT.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THANK YOU, CHAIR ACA.

WE WILL NOW, UH, BEGIN WITH NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR.

UM, I WILL NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION.

UM, ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR? I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, COMMISSIONER COMBI FOR THE POSITION I'D ACCEPT THE NOMINATION.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR FROM THE FLOOR? GREAT.

SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS, THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE O UH, OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR ARE NOW CLOSED.

WE'LL NOW TAKE A MOTION TO VOTE ON THIS.

UH, SORRY.

OH, WE JUST NEED TO, SORRY.

WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THIS.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF COMMISSIONER COMBY, UM, FOR VICE CHAIR.

UM, SAY, AYE.

.

AYE.

AYE.

UM, AYE.

GREAT.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER COMBY ON THIS POSITION.

UH, WELL, THANK YOU.

UH, YEAH, I HADN'T COME INTO THIS MEETING EXPECTING FOR THIS ROLE, BUT AFTER TALKING WITH, UH, THE CURRENT VICE CHAIR, I, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING I'M HAPPY TO DO AND SERVE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

EXCELLENT.

I'M, UM, I'M GONNA BE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

AWESOME.

GREAT.

[6. Group updates from the Artificial Intelligence and Public Surveillance working group on their recent meeting with community members and experts on surveillance and the group’s work drafting a recommendation regarding data center development. ]

OH, UH, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS, IF YOU DON'T MIND GIVING US AN UPDATE.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD CONVERSATION PULLING UP THE NOTES.

UH, WE HAD DR.

STROGER FROM UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WHO WAS THERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND SEVERAL THINGS.

UH, ONE WAS THE, UH, I GUESS I'LL SAY WHERE OUR RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS SURROUNDING LICENSE PLATE READERS, UM, FOR THE PUBLIC, AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE LESS FAMILIAR, UH, WE, TOGETHER AS A COMMISSION, PUT TOGETHER A RECOMMENDATION FOR LICENSE PLATE READERS TO GO AWAY IN THE CITY OF WAS.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, ALSO HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAME COMPANY THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO REMOVE.

SO THERE ARE STILL LICENSE PLATE READERS IN SPACES THAT ARE STATE CONTROLLED, BUT WITHIN THE CITY LIMIT.

SO THAT CAUSED US A QUESTION TO FIND, UH, WHERE ARE THE LINES DRAWN BETWEEN WHAT THE CITY CAN DO, WHAT THE STATE CAN DO, AND WHERE THE OVERLAP ARE.

UM, SO WITH THE EXPERTISE OF DR.

STROGER, WE FOUND, UH, THAT WE ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH LEVERAGE AS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE WITH REGARD TO IMPACTING THE REMOVAL OF THOSE CAMERAS, OR EVEN OTHER PLACES WHERE WE MADE CONFLICT WITH THE STATE.

UH, SHE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WITHIN THE STATE HOUSE, AND THEY CONFIRMED THE SUSPICIONS THAT EFFECTIVELY, UH, WE CAN WORK WITH THE STATE.

UH, THE STATE MAY BE AMENABLE TO THAT DEPENDING ON RELATIONSHIP, BUT AUSTIN AND THE STATE TENDS TO HAVE, UH, INTERESTING DYNAMICS THAT MAY MAKE THAT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, ALONE AS A CITY, UH, WE ARE UNABLE TO MAKE THOSE TYPES OF CHANGES ACCORDING TO WHAT, UH, DR.

STROVE HAS DISCUSSED AND DISCOVERED.

UH, THAT'S ONE PIECE OF OUR DISCUSSION THAT KIND OF CLOSES THE BOOK ON WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH REGARD TO, UH, HOW WE CAN MOVE THERE.

BUT SHE DID, UH, LIGHT A CANDLE AT THE END, UH, OF THE TUNNEL WITH REGARD TO, UH, DIR, UH, YES, DIR AT THE STATE IS SAID, THEY ARE OPEN TO CONVERSATION.

THEY'RE OPEN TO ENGAGING WITH US JUST TO KIND OF HEAR CONCERNS AND SEE WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO.

UH, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS THE STATE'S DECISION ON, UH, SPACES THAT THE STATE CONTROLS WITHIN THE CITY.

SO, UH, I WOULD CALL THAT RELATIVELY UNFORTUNATE NEWS.

I THINK AUSTINITE ARE PRETTY RESOUNDING WITH REGARD TO HOW MUCH THEY, THEY DO NOT, UH, WANT THESE TECHNOLOGIES TRACKING THEIR LICENSE PLATES WITHIN CITY.

UH, SO IT, IT TIES OUR HANDS A BIT AND THAT,

[00:40:01]

BUT THE, THE CHANNEL THAT WE CAN TAKE IS JUST ENGAGING WITH THE CITY, ENGAGING WITH, UH, I THINK SHE SPOKE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION, DR.

AND THE AGS OFFICE AS WELL.

SO, LET'S SEE.

THERE WAS THIS PIECE, UH, THERE WAS ALSO A, A CONVERSATION SURROUNDING OUR ABILITY TO, UH, ENGAGE WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONS.

UH, AS WE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT DATA CENTER AND DATA CENTER, UH, USE OF RESOURCES, UH, WE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTIES INTERESTED IN A DATA CENTER CONVERSATION FOR VARIOUS REASONS THAT ARE ALL, UH, INTERCONNECTED.

IN SOME WAYS, THERE'S KIND OF VENN DIAGRAM OVERLAP BETWEEN MULTIPLE COMMISSIONS AROUND DATA CENTERS, BUT WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE WISE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS AT THOSE IN THOSE COMMISSIONS, OR INVITE THEM HERE.

WE INVITE THEM, UH, WE ATTEND THEIRS, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KIND OF HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND SEE WHAT, WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR US.

UH, I'LL BE SETTING A MEETING, UH, WITH THE WORKING GROUP, OR WHAT I PUT DOWN IS TAX DAY, UH, APRIL 15TH.

UH, IN ORDER FOR US TO FURTHER OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL CAN BE HELPFUL TO AUSTINITE, UH, LET'S SEE.

WHAT ELSE DID WE, DID WE DISCUSS? I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M NOT LEAVING ANYTHING OUT.

UH, COMMISSIONER PVI I KNOW HAD A FEW VERY INSIGHTFUL COMMENTS TOO, SO IF I'M LEAVING ANYTHING OUT THAT CONCERNS THOSE COMMENTS, PLEASE JUMP IN.

I CAN, YEAH, I CAN JUMP IN.

JUST ON THE DATA CENTERS PIECE RIGHT NOW, UH, WE MET, UH, REALLY BRIEFLY WITH ALEJANDRA HAMMED, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND SHE'S ACTUALLY WORKING ON A PROJECT FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION AROUND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AI AND TECH.

AND SHE WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY AND DATA CENTERS PIECE.

SO SHE'S BEEN REALLY AWESOME MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN HELPING OUT CREATE, UH, HELPING US CREATE KIND OF BASE RECOMMENDATION AROUND, UM, DATA CENTERS WITHIN AUSTIN SIM CITY LIMITS.

UM, AND LIKE YOU SAID, DR.

SHARON STROBER AND, UM, KEVIN WELCH, THEY WERE ALSO PROVIDING INPUT.

UM, THE RECOMMENDATION WERE MORE FOCUSED ON, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, BUT WE'RE ALSO TOUCHING ON, UH, OUR GENERAL APPROACH TO INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND HOW WE WOULD FRAME COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO, UM, TAKE ALL OF THE AWESOME RESEARCH THAT SHE'S HELPED US WITH AND, UM, CREATE SOMETHING SORT OF PALATABLE THAT, AGAIN, LIKE OTHER COMMISSIONS AND FOLKS CAN CHIME IN ON.

I'D LOVE TO THANK YOU.

OH, SORRY.

OH, I HAVE ONE LAST SMALL COMMENT, AND IT'S ALL YOUR, UM, THERE WAS ONE OTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT JUMPED OUT THAT I FEEL IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MENTION HERE.

UM, IF WE CANNOT, UH, GET RID OF CAMERAS BECAUSE OF JURISDICTION ISSUES AND STATE LEVEL, UH, APPROVAL, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME PATHWAY TO ENGAGE THE DATA THAT COMES FROM THE CAMERAS IN LIMITING THE LIFESPAN OF THAT DATA OR THE USEFULNESS OF DATA THAT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO SOLVING CRIME.

RIGHT? AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE DATA THAT WILL BE COLLECTED WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE TO SOLVING CRIME.

UH, SO WE MAY HAVE A PATHWAY THERE, UM, THAT IS A FUZZY, UH, KIND OF SPACE, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL SPACE IN DIRECTION THAT WE CAN TAKE WITH REGARD TO LIMITING HOW LONG THE DATA LIVES, WHO HAS ACCESS TO IT, WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH IT, ET CETERA, WITHIN THE CITY.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO TAKE UP AS WE CONSIDER WHAT WE CAN DO IN OUR NEXT SET OF MEETINGS.

BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IN THIS COMMISSION ARE AWARE THAT IF WE CAN'T GET THE CAMERAS OUT, UH, WE MAY HAVE SOME INFLUENCE WITH HOW THE DATA IS USED.

EXCELLENT.

UH, COMMISSIONER HERITAGE, I THINK YOU HAD A COMMENT.

YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY I'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE.

UM, I KNOW SCHEDULES HAVEN'T ALWAYS LINED UP.

I HAVE A STANDING MEETING AT THE TIME THAT YOU GUYS DO THE, THE, UM, WORKING GROUP.

BUT ON THE DATA CENTER SIDE, SURPRISE PRIZE, I'M OFFERING ANOTHER PERSON FOR AGENDA FOR FUTURE, UM, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UH, UT HAS, UM, IT'S THE BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC GEOLOGY.

DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT.

YES.

AND THEY HAVE THEIR COMPASS GROUP.

IT'S DR.

NING LYNN.

SHE DOES, UH, WORK AROUND, UM, ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, THINGS FOR BOTH COMMUNITY EDUCATION INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS THAT A LOT OF CITIES ARE BAKING IN WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT RIGHT OF WAY, UH, REQUIREMENTS WITH SOME OF THESE DATA CENTERS THAT ARE WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS.

UM, THINGS, UH, AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING WHERE NEW DEMAND LOAD MIGHT BE FOR SOME OF THESE LARGE LOAD FOLKS, WHETHER IT'S A HYPERSCALER AI TRAINING INFERENCE CENTER.

SO I WOULD JUST KINDA DOUBLE CLICKING ON WHAT WAS SAID ON THE DATA CENTER SIDE.

I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE AND I CAN REACH OUT HERE AGAIN, UM, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE BRING THEM ON AS A FUTURE PRESENTER, IF NOT, UM, TO THE COMMISSION, MAYBE IN THE WORKING GROUP INITIALLY, AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT

[00:45:01]

SO JUST WANTED TO ADD OR DOUBLE CLICK ON THAT THAT WAS SAID EARLIER.

YEAH.

AND I'LL JUST SAY, UM, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

WE WERE TALKING WITH, UM, DR.

SHARON STROBER, AND SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD LIKE UT CONNECTIONS RELATED TO THE GOOD SYSTEMS GROUP AT UT.

SO MAYBE THERE'S ALSO SOME OVERLAP THERE.

UM, IF WE GET TO THE POINT, I'M GUESSING WHERE WE GET THE RECOMMENDATION SORT OF FINALIZED, AND THEN MAYBE BRING, I MEAN, THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S ONGOING AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S POTENTIAL TO CREATE EVEN MORE SPECIALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS.

MM-HMM .

UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA DO BY THE NEXT MEETING.

UM, SO MAYBE WE COULD SPEAK TO HER BEFOREHAND OR SHOW HER A DRAFT OR, UM, IF NOT THAT, THEN WE COULD KIND OF BRING HER IN AFTER AND JUST GET HER THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER AND HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THE OTHER COMMISSION FOLKS.

SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

YEAH.

ARE THE RECOMMEND, JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION, ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON, UM, FOR CITY, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO THINK THROUGH HOW WE WOULD APPROACH, I, I GUESS CLARIFY FOR ME THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AGAIN, RELATED TO THE, IT'S MORE FOR THE CITY YEAH.

FOR LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO THINK THROUGH THEIR APPROACH.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY CAME UP IN THE LAST CALL, IS THAT REALISTICALLY THIS IS A PROBLEM MORE FOR LIKE THE OUTSKIRTS OF AUSTIN, RIGHT? IT WOULDN'T BE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S CREATED WITHIN CITY LIMITS.

SO MAYBE A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD ALSO BE KIND OF THE RIPPLE EFFECT THAT IT MIGHT HAVE ON THESE OTHER PLACES.

UM, SO THAT'S, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S FOR AUSTIN, BUT I, I THINK THERE'S POTENTIAL TO EVEN, I THINK WE WERE TELLING ALEJANDRA STEVEN IN OUR LAST CALL TO L LINK UP WITH LIKE, PFLUGERVILLE VERSION OF US , YOU KNOW, AND SO, YEAH.

AND YEAH.

AND, UH, UH, JUST WANNA CHIME IN ON THAT LAST POINT THAT YOU HIT ON ELENA.

UM, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN IS VERY MUCH SEEN AS A LEADER IN THIS SPACE.

SO EVEN IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT OR LIMITED DIRECT IMPACT, UH, ON OUR, ON OUR MUNICIPALITY, OTHER, UM, MUNICIPALITIES ARE GONNA BE LOOKING TO US TO SEE WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE PASSED TO SEE WHAT, UM, POLICY OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS, UM, HAS OUTLINED, UM, IN SOME CASES USING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AS, AS A BASIS.

SO TO YOUR POINT, UH, COMMISSIONER PVI, LIKE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR AUSTIN, THE, THE IMPACT MIGHT BE LIMITED, BUT IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN IMPACT, UM, ACROSS OTHER, UH, CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND EVEN NATIONS.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, TO, TO BRINGING THE, THE FULL VERSION TO THE COMMISSION NEXT MEETING AND MAYBE JUST PLAYING THE ROLE OF AS A THIRD FUTURE ITEM TO ADD, UH, TO THE AGENDA.

JESSE, I'M KEEPING YOU BUSY, OR DAN, I'M KEEPING YOU BUSY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE FOLKS FROM OUR ENERGY COMMISSION SIDE.

FORGIVE ME IF YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT THIS.

I, SORRY IF I'M REPEATING, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING JUST TO SEE WHERE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO BE RELEVANT FROM AN AUSTIN ENERGY SIDE TO A DEGREE AND FROM A POWER GENERATION PIECE.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY CONVERSATIONS OR THINGS THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO DISCUSS THERE.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING JUST TO HAVE THEM COME AND PRESENT THAT AS WELL, SINCE THIS IS, THERE'S THE ENERGY LAND USE SIDE, THE HOW DO WE BE GOOD NEIGHBOR SIDE, IF WE'RE A DATA CENTER, COMMUNITY BENEFITS SIDE, HOW DO CITIES OR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES THINK ABOUT THIS AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR SIDE, WHAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT I THINK IF OTHER COMMISSIONS ALREADY DISCUSSING THIS, IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO REACH OUT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING DAN OR JESSE YOU GUYS COULD HELP US WITH AND SEE IF THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING CONVERSATIONS.

UH, YEAH, WE CAN REACH OUT TO, UM, WE, WE WILL, WE'LL LIKELY ENGAGE OUR, UM, OUR DI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANN EATON, AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO CONNECT US WITH RES RELEVANT FOLKS OVER AT AE, UH, TO EXPLORE THIS FOR SURE.

GREAT.

ANY OTHER, UH, FINAL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC? AWESOME.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

UM, COMMISSIONER, THAT WAS, THAT WAS GREAT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

WE WILL

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

UH, DAN, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

YEAH, JUST GONNA RUN THROUGH A FEW THINGS THAT ARE CONFIRMED AT THE MOMENT.

UH, SO FIRST GOOGLE FIBER, UH, THEY HAD TO PUSH BACK FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING, UM, SO THEY'LL BE AT THE NEXT ONE.

UM, WE GOT THE WORK PLAN LEAD UP.

SO THE NEXT MEETING IS NOT ACTUALLY,

[00:50:01]

UM, BUT THAT'S KIND OF, THAT, THAT PROCESS HAS CHANGED A BIT, BUT WE STILL KIND OF HAVE IT RESERVED ON THE CALENDAR.

UM, THE WORK PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR IS PART OF THE RETROACTIVE ANNUAL REPORT THOUGH, SO WE ARE IN THE LEAD UP TO THE ANNUAL REPORT.

UM, THAT WILL BE DUE AT THE END OF JUNE THOUGH.

SO, UH, IF YOU GUYS WANNA GET AHEAD AND, AND START ON THE WORK PLAN IN THE FOLLOWING MONTH, I THINK THAT'S BEEN HISTORICALLY THE PROCESS THAT Y'ALL HAVE UNDERTAKEN.

UM, BUT JUST LETTING Y'ALL KNOW THAT THAT MAY APPEAR ON THE AGENDA, UM, UH, UH, FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH, UM, WHICH IS MAY.

UM, JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION ON THAT.

DAN DID REMIND ME AGAIN, THAT WAS THE ONE WHEN WE DID THIS LAST YEAR WHERE KAAN CAME AND FACILITATED FOR US.