San Antonio Economic Development Committee Meeting - September 24, 2025

The San Antonio Economic Development Committee (EWDC) convened on September 24, 2025, at 2:03 PM to discuss several agenda items including a procurement process review, the creation of a working group focused on economic development and labor ties with Lanzarote, Spain, changes to the Small Business Advisory Committee's composition, and a strategic update on the City's economic development framework. The meeting concluded at 3:28 PM.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting with some corrections.

Discussion Items

Item 2: Procurement Process Review

• Troy Cohen, Chief Financial Officer, presented a proposal to conduct a comprehensive review of the City's procurement process. He noted he has overseen procurement for 14 years and that the division handles approximately 400,000 contracts totaling $4.2 million annually. The review would focus on three areas: vendor outreach, building capacity, and the procurement process itself. A key component is an annual procurement forecast for contracts over $50,000 to be presented to the Audit Committee in November 2025. The committee discussed the need for local purchasing, clear definitions of "local," payment timelines, training for small businesses, and the inclusion of metrics to track outcomes. A motion was made and seconded to continue discussing the focus areas, which passed unanimously.

Item 3: Creation of an Economic Development and Labor Working Group with Lanzarote, Spain

• Brenda Sorensen, Director, presented a request to establish a working group focused on expanding economic and cultural ties with Lanzarote, Spain, including the potential for a direct flight between San Antonio and Spain, leveraging the 2026 World Cup and aiming for a major milestone in 2027. The committee expressed strong support, with members highlighting opportunities in technology, water management, food and wine, sports, and university engagement. A motion to establish the working group passed unanimously. The group will be tasked with exploring flight connectivity and serving as a global hub for the 2026 World Cup. Members are to be designated via a subsequent memorandum.

Item 4: Composition of the Small Business Advisory Committee

• Staff proposed amending the ordinance to reduce the committee membership from 15 to 11 members to ensure a quorum and productive discussions, while maintaining the existing category structure. The current composition has multiple vacancies, limiting functionality. Committee members discussed the importance of maintaining focus on small business issues and suggested including veteran-owned businesses. A motion was made and seconded to recommend an ordinance change to the full City Council to adjust the membership size and composition. The motion passed unanimously.

Item 5: Update on the Economic Development Strategic Framework and Small Business System Evaluation

• Brenda Sorensen provided an update on the strategic framework adopted in 2022, which has four main goals: innovation and industry, real estate, talent and workforce, and capacity and resources. She noted the completion of a 2020 Small Business System Evaluation that led to nearly $30 million in ARPA-funded programs. Staff recommended initiating a new request for proposals (RFP) to update the strategic framework and evaluate current economic conditions, including supply chain gaps, land use competition, and performance metrics. The timeline includes data collection and stakeholder engagement through winter 2025-2026, with a final report and implementation beginning in fall 2026. Committee members expressed concerns about proceeding with an RFP without first reviewing existing program outcomes, the cost of the study, and the need for alignment with other City departments. They requested a more detailed presentation on the scope, goals, and budget for the RFP before moving forward. No formal action was taken on this item as it was a presentation only.

Key Outcomes

• The committee voted unanimously to proceed with a review of procurement process focus areas, with staff directed to incorporate feedback on local purchasing, payment timelines, training, and veteran inclusion.
• The committee voted unanimously to create an Economic Development and Labor Working Group with Lanzarote, Spain, to explore direct flights and global hub opportunities for the 2026 World Cup. Staff will bring a memorandum for member designations and next steps.
• The committee voted unanimously to recommend an ordinance change to the full City Council to reduce the Small Business Advisory Committee from 15 to 11 members and adjust composition requirements.
• Staff will provide a follow-up presentation on the proposed RFP for updating the strategic economic framework, including details on goals, costs, and coordination with other citywide efforts, before any solicitation is issued.