Okay, good morning everyone.

The time is now 2.03 p.m.

on September 24th, 2025, and the meeting of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee is now called to order.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Galaban.

Councilmember Spears.

Chair Viegeran.

Here.

Chair, we have quorum.

All right.

The first item on the agenda is approval of the minutes.

Are there any corrections to the minutes?

Can I get a motion and a second to approve the minutes?

Can I get a second?

Second.

We've got a motion and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Motion carries.

Madam Clerk, are there any citizens signed up to speak on the item for public comment?

No, Chair, we have no public comment.

Great.

Okay, so the remaining agenda items, uh, some are for action.

We've got two for action, and I think two for briefing.

So we're gonna start with item number two is a review of the procurement process.

And is there a staff presentation?

Great.

Troy, the floor is all yours.

Thank you, Chair.

And uh good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee.

My name's Troy Elliott.

I'm the chief financial officer.

And today, you know, as the chair mentioned, we'll be talking a little bit about the procurement process and our proposal for conducting a review.

Before moving into the presentation, just to give you a little bit of context.

Um, I've been doing procurement for about 14 years now.

I started on October 1st of 2011, and I remember that day very well because Riverview Building actually caught on fire and burned down.

And um that was my first day on the job as in conducting procurement.

Um why that's important is purchasing and finance used to be two separate departments, and on that day we came together as one department.

Sheryl Scully actually um asked me if I had take over procurement.

I said yes.

I was a little to be honest, I was a little naive about purchasing.

I always thought that purchasing something that's very simple.

You uh you buy something.

Um I don't think that could be further from the truth.

It's highly regulated depending on the type of procurement that you're conducting by state statute.

We also have a rigorous procurement process in place to make sure that it's a fair fair process, and everybody gets uh, I guess a bite at the apple, so to speak, and that we have solid outcomes at the end that we're presenting to you as city council.

We have about a little less than 80 people in the procurement division.

It's led by Anhelicum Mata, our assistant finance director over here.

Jennifer Johnson, Charisma Sparza, Jonathan Miranda, and Laura Sombrano.

And together that team conducts about approximately a little less than 400 procurements a year that are over $50,000.

For FY24 is to the tune of about $2.4 billion in actual awards that we actually made during that year.

So I wanted to provide that that bit of context before we um before we actually move forward with the presentation.

As part of the as part of the um charge by the mayor, um she focused on the procurement review as one of those charges.

Uh she asked that this committee come back in concert with a diverse set of stakeholders from the business community, um, lead a review of the city's procurement processes to ensure that we may consider the full pool of talent available.

The mayor also asked that as this committee, and we'll be making our recommendations today on how to approach this review, but the committee come back to the full city council no later than October 1st with an update on how the proposing to conduct this review.

So, as part of our recommendation, we're look really looking at three categories or three areas of focus for the procurement review.

In total, it kind of breaks it down into I think manageable bytes based on I think you as a committee and you as a council would be interested in.

Those area focus that I propose focus in, and I'll go into more details on the next couple of slides are gonna be supplier engagement, our capacity building of our suppliers, then also the procurement process in general.

And then to sum things up, I'll go through kind of a timeline of how we um as staff are recommending that we actually get to the end of the recommendations.

The first item we talked about was supplier engagement, and supplier engagement really is what it sounds like.

It's our interaction with our current vendors that we have contracts with and relationships with, but also the vendors that we also want to have that future relationship with and potential suppliers on our goods, services, and our contracts.

With supplier engagement, really is a couple of key themes that keeping our suppliers informed of opportunities as they come up.

Timelines and requirements.

As a matter of fact, one of the things you'll see in my timeline is that there's gonna be a high profile forecast that we'll be presenting to council and to the audit committee in November, to the council in December, and it's going to list every procurement over $50,000 that we plan on conducting through the calendar year fiscal year 2020 or through fiscal year 2026.

And that's important to our vendor community because it puts it on the radar screen as far as what contracts we're gonna be offering for in the future.

How do we encourage local and small business outreach events and communication channels?

What I'd like to do, and you'll see this in the timeline is come back to you and really drill down more on each of these categories, what we do specifically, so it kind of gives you more of a sense of what we do in terms of supplier engagement, but also get your feedback on things if there's other things above and beyond that you think that y'all would be interested in in us pursuing or changing.

The next area is capacity building.

You know, and this is how do we assist our current potential suppliers to compete and to deliver on city contracts?

As I mentioned, the procurement process, it's not a simple process, it's very technical, very statutorily driven, and it is not the easiest thing to navigate.

So, how do we assist these vendors in navigating that procurement process?

Sometimes something as simple as hitting a submit button on a screen sounds simple, but without that training and that education, there are many times that vendors call us and say, Why submitted my bid?

Well, did you hit the submit button?

No.

And so that creates challenges through this procurement process.

Training and online resources that are offered, and then eliminating barriers and contracting requirements.

And some of the things I've heard in terms of the vendor community and even from you as council members when we talk about contracting requirements, it's gonna be things such as our insurance requirements on our contracts.

Does that create a barrier for some of our some of our contractors?

Um, talk a little about that bonding assistance, our bonding requirements, limitations on liability, kind of all those terms and conditions in there that we require as a city to protect the city, but at the same time making sure it's not being too onerous.

Then the last area is really kind of all encompassing, it's the actual procurement process in general.

We haven't really, to be honest, we've been making a couple of changes to procurement process.

We haven't really focused on it, because currently, right now we have an integration services agreement out looking for an integrator for our SAP platform, and we're also looking at upgrading our AREBA process or Ariva software, and it will actually replace the current SAFE software that we have.

With that, there will come some of the best practices that are built in from a process standpoint that we plan on adopting.

So we're really kind of hesitant to make some immediate changes to the procurement process because we have the system implementation that's coming, and hope to embed some process changes as we do that.

The other thing I'll mention back in, I think it was June of 2024, we concluded in partnership with the economic development department, a study through with a company called Civic Initiatives.

They actually did an overview of the procurement process at that time, and in 2024, they provided us with a transformation roadmap.

That transformation roadmap basically went out with stakeholders, inquired of stakeholders, you know, what are some of the challenges, what are some of the improvements, what are some of the feedback that you have, and they left us with the transformation roadmap on each of these key categories that we've been kind of chipping away at.

And I'd like to take the opportunity when you see my timeline a couple of minutes, coming back to you, exploring each of these areas in more detail and getting some of your feedback at that time as well.

As far as the timeline, there's a couple things I mentioned that I think that'll be valuable, and I hope it makes sense as I go through this.

But as I mentioned, November of 2025, we'll be coming back to the audit committee, and we will be presenting the FY26 annual procurement forecast.

As I mentioned, that will give the full council, the audit committee, an opportunity to look at those items that are being presented to be awarded or procured during fiscal year 2026.

And we'll be asking a couple things.

One, we'll be kind of going through the type of procurements that we are proposing to use to solicit or to procure services or these goods.

It'll be for everything 50,000 and above.

We'll also be seeking your input as far as what type of path will these procurements take.

When I talk about path, I'm talking about will it be going through the high profile committee?

Will it be going straight to the council agenda?

Will it be going through the city manager delegation?

Will it be going through the airport process?

So we'll be getting that feedback.

And also if there's things included in that list that are a particular interest to the council, then we could take that and bring it back to a full B session or have other presentations as well.

As part of this presentation, I'll also be kind of going over the procurement process at a high level, going through the council's current policies that are in place.

For example, our local preference program or our veterans preference programs.

We'll take that feedback from the audit committee at that point in time.

And then we will actually incorporate that and we'll move forward to a full B session in December with the full council, going through a similar process during that forecast and that process review.

After we kind of set that foundation, like to come back to you in the February time frame and do a very in-depth presentation as far as you know what is procurement, focusing on those categories we talked about about supplier engagement.

The capacity building.

How do we plan on engaging stakeholders?

Um feedback and then come back and have several touch points between that February time frame and July.

And hopefully by the time we get to July, come back with a comprehensive plan as far as where we think that we can actually move the needle on some of our procurement processes based on the feedback that we get from this committee as we move forward.

So in summary, I mean that's a very high level.

The plan would be basically to come through and focus on those key categories as I laid out, and then focus on that timeline.

And then also in addition to that, that would be kind of the presentation or the overarching plan.

I would recommend that we get feedback from you and also propose to the full council.

But also if there are areas based on some of the things that you're aware of that you'd like us as a procurement division or department to actually go back and focus on.

So focus on that feedback on those key areas of the categories, the timeline, and get get some specific areas that y'all may be interested in.

Short presentation chair, but that concludes my presentation.

Thank you, Troy.

This item is for briefing only.

Uh council members will have five minutes the first round and three minutes the second, and I'll just go ahead and begin.

Uh thank you for the presentation and and reminding us of this process.

I think you and I have had a number of conversations of what do we have here local that we can veteran-owned that we can really focus on, and what is just you know, we know everybody's ordering from the the same vendor, you know, overseas, and it's just what we pass through in terms of best value and where can we spend because it's it's local and and I think that is where we kind of see what the local when we talk about local, what do we mean?

Um, and I look forward to hearing from my colleagues because it could be local, but if we all know they're still ordering from overseas and it's just they're just a pass-through here, it's not local.

If we know it's local and that it's produced here, it's built here, that dollars going back here and not not and and they employ a lot of people and they pay them well, and you know, it's community-owned.

I think that that's where we get the difference from in terms of what we're what we're trying to discern as we move forward and as we um we talk about this.

The other thing I think we need to identify is what do we just not have here in San Antonio in terms of providers?

Where are we not?

We don't have that industry, we don't have that um provider here, so we're going to have to go outside of San Antonio and in some cases outside of Texas for that vendor.

Um, and the other thing I'd like to see when you present is if they do get a contract with the city, and there's numerous contracts of when they can expect um payment, because what portion of the delivery does the payment come through for those vendors?

Because it is very different, and sometimes they're like, Well, I have you know, they're like, well, you know, it takes too long for me to get paid, and I'm I'm like, well, that this is how the city works.

You you have to understand it's not it's not going to happen as soon as we get the order.

There's some things we need to see.

So I think we need to explain that as we take it out to the community and let them know what they do.

Um then I think another thing that would be helpful for uh new council members in particular and the committee is that whole um because I sit on audit, I I see this all the time, but that whole this is what high profile, this is the definition of a high profile.

This is the definition of of airport, and these are the restrictions we have there because I know we get a we used to get a lot of questions about why didn't we go local and when it's low bid, it's just it's requirements of the state, and then if we could have that, and then that way, as we have conversations with other council members as committee members, we can let them know this is why we went in this direction because it was uh high profile, high profile, or because it was low bid, or because of the the airport uh requirements, and then um really looking forward to the uh information for the city managers on the uh and I think that's another thing that our new council members are gonna need to be briefed on because we just made those changes to increase the city manager and his committee's ability to um for per procurement.

So I think we need to kind of uh adjust that as we meet um kind of individually and get ideas.

So um thank you for the presentation.

I look forward to hearing from my committee members.

Does anybody want who wants to start?

Rick?

Uh councilman Gavon, sorry.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh thank you, Troy, for the presentation.

While it was short, I still think there's a lot of packed information there and excited to see some things come back around for more detailed conversations around uh the procurement process.

Uh a couple of the questions, and it may be it may go back to those kind of conversations, but I had a couple of questions on well, the first part I know the mayor has a certain charge for this uh for this community to look at.

Um on slide two with the stakeholder uh group.

Is there any uh possibility that we can have the trades uh folks in our community be a part of that, particularly uh our local trades unions?

I know there's a CCR in the past, I think it was this year for trades advisory board to be formed.

I know it hasn't really gone through the process fully yet, but we'd like to see if that could be included within that kind of diverse stakeholder with the business community uh that we have kind of bolt end to the table there for the procurement process.

Yeah, we when we um we do out to the stakeholder community, we try to cast as broad in that as we can, and that can certainly be one of them.

Great, thank you.

Um another point I wanted to add was about uh for the focus areas.

I don't remember which slide that one was on.

Um folks there's review generally.

I would also like to kind of look at data.

I know to the chair's point about local impact that we're making, not only on the providers, suppliers that we have here, but also kind of on um how many bids do we are we putting out there that only come back with one bidder uh versus a whole range?

Um what does that look like for our city?

Um and then where the contracts coming from within our city, what are there certain parts of the city that are just doing the most of the work uh with the city?

Um and what does that impact have on employment?

Where's the money gonna go back to the community?

Who's being hired, who from our city, what part of the community is being hired and employed by uh these contractors overall, just making sure that public dollars are coming back to our community in some way, trying to see if we can track that uh in a more robust manner, either in a public data format or even within just kind of annual reports as well of here's a yearly review where our money went for procurement, how it impacts our communities, I think would be helpful.

And we can certainly look at that as well.

Thank you.

And of course, that can always be workshopped, and so excited for that.

Um last thing, also to the chair's point about deliverables.

I think one end of it deliverables uh for the vendor for sure, but also deliverables for our community.

How is the procurement process impacting delivering on public works projects?

I don't know if that's also within the procurement here or they have their own procurement process actually before I get to my No The Procurement Process is all under the finance department.

So about two years ago, we consolidated all the construction A and E and everything under one umbrella.

Perfect.

Then yeah, I think seeing that too, right?

Where the procurement process impacts some of the liver deliverables for uh our departments, um, what does that look like and what's the time length of time for public projects, whether they are public works or their parks or otherwise.

Um just kind of understanding are you know, are there things in our procurement process that could impact the speed in which we're able to deliver uh public works or public projects, not just public works, but those two, of course, with construction.

Um I think those are all well, let me make sure.

Yeah, I think those are all my major points.

The only thing I was gonna say too is there's some uh general hiring programs that I know uh my team and I were looking at, um, but I can send those offline to kind of talk more about what those could look like if they're if we're doing some work like that so much to do local hiring within our procurement process.

I know we have some policies in place for that already, and so trying to see if we can compare what comparisons you all done in the past too with other cities on the procurement processes.

But I'll leave my comments there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Councilman Spears.

Thank you, Troy, for your presentation.

Um I'm extremely excited to be on this board.

I am thrilled to see how prepared you you appear in and really focusing on how to improve the procurement process.

Um I know it's challenging.

I know there's a lot of statutory requirements and limitations there.

And so I I would like to know what metrics we can gather about who we're serving and where, just as councilman Galvan and Chair Via Gran we're talking about and especially like where the work is coming from in our community, and yes, the the local um buy-in.

Um I'm glad you mentioned the insurance barriers because I hear that a lot, and it's hard for small businesses to to sometimes reach those those um requirements.

And I've heard the same about pay because for a small business, it's you know it can be make it or break it time, but this would be a huge opportunity, but so long as they can get paid timely.

Um I'm interested to see too more of our methods for our outreach and how we can reach more of the businesses, and and like you said, the training on how to walk through that process is gonna be key.

Um because sometimes it gets complicated in our efforts to make it um thorough, it can get complicated.

So I appreciate that focus.

And um I also too want to see our veterans really engaged here.

I think that um that would be something very helpful for our whole community if we can really engage our veterans.

Um you did mention we're we're trying to get a special, what did you call the position that's still open, the specialist or the assistant that's gonna help with the AREBA software?

Oh, there's a there's a um it's a consultant contract, it's an integration agreement.

So we are currently out on the street to actually have a consultant come in to actually help implement and integrate the not only our financial software for S4 Han HANA, but also for procurement with Ariva.

So they'll come in and they'll look at how we transition from our current system to the new system and what processes we build as well.

Okay.

So you're bringing in only one new software to integrate into an existing software, right?

Yeah, currently we have SAP that is our platform, and we have what we call SAPES as a procurement platform.

It's really an upgrade moving to the next version, I guess I'll say of SAP.

And so we'll be doing that over the next two, two and a half years.

Yeah, and I'm sure that will greatly impact our procurement, like how we play that out.

It will, but it's also an opportunity for us to consider any type of process enhancements and also um how we interact with our and engage our suppliers and how they respond to our bids.

Okay, that's good to know.

Um see.

I I do also want to see if we can include some tangible, maybe goal, a goal setting session on what we want to see, like uh Chair Via Gram was mentioning, like the real impact in buying a going local.

Um I don't have a good example, but we do need some sort of tangible benchmarks or or or goals that we need to try to meet within as best we can and in compliance with laws and everything, but um how we can how we can best serve our community and and and try to achieve those actual goals.

One of the things I can do is I can share and we track our local what we our local preference program and what we award under that program, so we can kind of share with you on an annual basis how many awards we make to those contractors that fall under a local preference program, both on our low bid and our professional services contracts.

And maybe then as a as a board we can really address those things, the things that we would like to see too.

So thank you.

I'm excited to see how this um comes out.

Um the civic initiatives.

Can you can you revisit that for me or go into a little bit more detail?

Yeah, we um working with economic development, they um we wanted to focus specifically on procurement and what we could do to actually looking at the small business community, looking at big the other also big business, what barriers or how can we enhance our process?

So we engage them, and they actually went out and they actually met with a variety of stakeholders across the board, both big and small.

And based on that feedback, we have what we refer to, and when we come back to you in February, we can actually go through that civic initiatives report and kind of show you what their I guess their um what their transformation roadmap map looks like based on our maturity model for the procurement and some of the recommendations that they were recommending and how we have um achieved some of those recommendations.

Okay, great, thank you.

All right, thank you.

So um Troy, clarify, y'all want to take this to B session uh next week on October 1st.

No, it wouldn't be a B session.

What um I think the mayor requested is some form of communication back from this committee.

One, I think that this committee has met and has heard staff recommendations, and then summarizing to the full council what the approach is gonna be in the timeline is gonna be to actually conduct the review.

And then summarizing to the full council what the approach is going to be and the timeline is going to be to actually conduct the review.

So I think while this while I said initially it was for briefing only, we can take action, and I would like to with before we make a motion, would like to discuss because I there were some things that I heard that I think when you ask for feedback back on focus area that you can let the mayor know that you know we like the timeline, but these are some of the focus areas we'd like to see.

And uh council colleagues, y'all can um committee members can add on to it because we are in a particular that we cannot talk about EWDC items just two of us at a time.

So it's gonna be a little different here.

But what I'm hearing is method of outreach with a focus on unions and veterans.

If you could uh provide that in your um in in how you're going to do that port of review, and then the barriers or potential barriers, which includes I think insurance and payout timelines, and then um I know you all have metrics on terms of how you want, but I think we've all agreed to uh talk on that.

So um, and legal, you might need to help with how we move the motion uh so one of my council members can make a motion that we have you move forward with um the review with these focus areas.

So is that all they'd have to say?

Just okay.

So do I have a motion to move forward uh with this uh area with the discussed focus areas?

I have a motion.

Do I have a second?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay, get that out, Troy.

Yes, ma'am.

Easily done.

All right, we're on to item three.

Good afternoon.

I'm Brenda Hicks Laurenson, economic development director.

Um Troy said his was brief.

Mine's going to be even shorter.

Um, and so just real quickly, of course, we all know the history of our the Canary Islanders here in San Antonio.

Um, and and a lot of those Canary Islanders were, of course, from Lenzerote.

Uh, we've had so we've had a long history of strong relationships with uh our our friends in Lenz Rote and in recent years.

So while the conversations around a sister city really started in the early 2000s, that activity has really increased the last handful of years.

So you'll see here we highlighted just some recent trade missions, um, both here in San Antonio, and then of course San Antonio is adding over to Lenzerote.

Uh we became official sister city friends or sister city relationship in uh just earlier this year.

So that is a fairly new official relationship, but again, a long history of that activity.

And then um just earlier this month, there was a 20 member 21 member delegation that was here in San Antonio uh for uh celebration of food, wine, tourism, and uh lots of opportunities for future relationships, which really leads to the ad hoc working group.

And so um out of that, what there is significant conversation around a couple of activities, specifically the upcoming uh World Cup and the opportunity for San Antonio to be a base for the Spain team, and then also uh how we can continue to explore and really focus on that direct connectivity between San Antonio and Spain with the expansion of our airport and really again continuing to add additional flights.

So our recommendation is to move forward with that working group specifically focused on those two areas, um, and then really to sunset either when those two items are completed or January 2027.

Initial recommended members would include here.

You'll see the honorary council of Spain here in San Antonio, as well as a representative, of course, from uh Aviation Department, Economic Development, Visit San Antonio, Greater SATX, and then any other mural and EWDC appointees.

Um that concludes the really brief presentation.

Uh happy to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Before we start discussion, can I get a motion to establish the working group?

Uh so moved.

Can I get a second?

Okay.

Chair.

All right, Chair.

If I could, the motion needs to be for a specific purpose, so perhaps we wait until discussion from those purposes.

Okay.

Or do you want to name the purposes that were on the slide?

The purpose is on the slide.

Okay, and that's fine.

Yeah.

Just all right.

Um, so again, uh part, yes.

So again, uh part, yes.

Oh no, well, we're gonna have discussion.

Uh so let's start with discussion.

Um you saw the two purposes.

Uh it's for the Spain group, which I think falls in line with you know, where we're looking in terms of um making making us diversified in our economic, and then also moving forward to making sure when we sign these sister cities that we have an opportunity to a way to get there and kind of make it easier to get to these sister cities.

Um and that would definitely be a flight to possibly Madrid.

So I think this is good conversation for us to have.

It's gonna be one of our first motions of this committee.

So I really look forward to hearing from you all.

Um again, the we we've given, we don't know who's got what time commitments.

So we gave uh representatives from certain departments.

So I'd love to hear your feedback in terms of what you all are thinking in terms of appointees and then how we as um members will kind of again rotate through that working group and make sure we we are touching base with them.

So um I look forward to hearing from y'all.

I'm excited about this.

I think it meets the goals of what we are trying to do in terms of establishing that um that economic opportunity that we have with our our cultural relationships.

So who would like to go first?

Councilwoman Spears.

Thank you, Chair.

Um I'm very excited about this as well.

Uh I think we have a tremendous opportunity.

I I know Steve Chiscano works really hard to represent us very well in the Canary Islands.

So I want to echo that we do need a direct flight.

So maybe we can start planting seeds on that um if they haven't already.

But uh soyond what we've done with the cultural exchange and tourism, are we planning to diversify the opportunities we have in Lanza Rote?

Uh like maybe with technology.

I know they have great water ideas or is there anything, any talk beyond that?

So absolutely, through our sister city arrangement, we have a number of exciting opportunities that we'll continue to explore.

So there's some additional trade missions.

Um we just had an artist exchange, uh so really strong cultural ties and continue to explore that.

Of course, food wine uh is um probably one of the best opportunities in which you see some of that business to business connection already taking place.

Okay.

Um and then our are we are we um I'm wondering how we can include our local small businesses and community groups to help us with shaping these partnerships if we are if we're able to do that to some degree.

Um I'd like to see them included there too.

And let's see.

Do we have any?

I mean, I guess it's so early to be talking about these kinds, some of these things, but I'd like to see some benchmarks again on what we're trying to gain and and our return on investment in the ways that we create these partnerships with Lanzarote and uh.

I guess I'm excited to see those things as we as we start to continue to develop that.

I know it's very early on, so um you were right, it was a short presentation, but it's just made me just start thinking about so many different kinds of things we can go look at out there.

So um I'm very excited to see that.

And then what was your other question you wanted to hear more about?

Like who to be on the committees?

Uh yes, just if if we're okay with this, um the current recommended members included.

Yes, I I think that's a great list.

So okay, great.

And Brenda, can you provide with us uh some of these?

I know we've done this before with other sister cities in terms of where we've kind of set those metrics with return on investment and and provide that to the committee members.

So if there's something that we would like to see focused on here, because maybe there's something district specific that we have that we're like this could impact our district, the working group could start looking at.

Yeah, absolutely.

Glad to provide that.

Okay, great.

Okay, Councilman Galvan.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Brenda, for the presentation.

Uh I want to share the same kind of excitement for uh this work that this working group will be doing.

Uh I feel really confident in the folks uh listed out here.

Um I think it's just the right opportunity, right?

Thinking about even the conversation we had earlier this year about or this month, uh about visit SA and Alba Dome and all the kind of entertainment venues we have here, uh finding ways to diversify our market to folks.

I think soccer is always a good one, especially given our physical location, our cultural heritage.

It just to me makes perfect sense.

So, you know, I I think if and when we get the World Cup here, I'm gonna say when to the if I think they're gonna do a great job to push for it, uh, this group.

Um I think we go to have some folks um, it could be from any one of these, but I think within our appointment, thinking about people who either have expertise in soccer, um, whether it's within the actual uh sports arenas currently, or uh even just folks who are really good uh connected folks to our our city, our perspectives are also really good soccer fans.

Um of course, fans we can always gauge what that looks like.

But I think it's worthwhile, right?

Someone to talk about more about not just the economic impact, but even just the the sports culture that is here, right in our city, with opportunities that are here in our city.

Um and also I think a transportation lens too.

I know I I'm feel confident that folks in Greater STX and the aviation department can talk about some uh transportation pieces, but I think to thinking about uh multimodal transportation would be helpful with this, especially when we talk about creating connections outside of our country, of course, but particularly in places like Europe.

Um I know I always think about uh when Wemby moved over here, um, and of course he was young, so he didn't have a license to begin with, but also on top of that, he was used to France and the kind of multimodal transportation they have over there and transitioning here into our city, making sure that folks are either accustomed to that or that we're making efforts to make sure that they are able to get around with ease, whether they're players or teams overall, um, or folks from the business community over there coming here.

Um, there's two pieces I was gonna say was I think again, when we secure the base home base year, I think it'd be good to find ways to involve our universities and ISDs into this conversation, whether it's through exchange programs or it's through uh mentor opportunities or just ways to connect to the larger global World Cup uh the global uh soccer um franchise to kind of better connect our people there.

Um, give them the opportunity to really engage with the those folks who are maybe here in town for their home base.

Um the teens are here in town.

Let's connect them with our community too.

Um I think this should be front and center with this kind of conversation with the working group.

Last thing I was gonna say, or I was gonna ask, I guess, first.

Um, are there any proposed venues or locations that we're looking at for the home base to be at here in San Antonio?

I'll jump in here, Councilmember.

Yes, it's Toyota Field.

Oh, okay that would be serving in that capacity.

Got it.

I I'm gonna do a soft plug for uh D6 uh place uh soccer central is also available.

Uh, has a great field, but I also understand making sure that they are good in quality for uh the folks that are coming here.

Uh I think it's always good to take a look at what's goes on far west as two.

By the way, that's it.

I'm really excited for this.

Uh grief for all the work y'all are doing already and excited to see this move forward.

Um as proposed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And uh Brenda, I think you got the input from the committee members as we move forward.

So I I we're probably expecting updates via memo because we know this needs to move fast, and then uh if needed, we'll agendize it for the next committee meeting.

But just be prepared for memo updates and possible uh requests for your attendance at maybe a working group meeting as we as we move apart.

So thank thank you, because I know we all have busy schedules.

So we've got a motion.

Uh, I don't think I do I have to make it.

Can we do one more clarification on the motion?

We also need to set the duration of the ad hoc committee.

So I think on the slide it was until that time.

Is that okay?

Yes.

Okay.

So um I I don't know if either of y'all want to try and make the motion, uh, or if y'all just want me to try and restate it.

There's actually okay, okay.

Thank you.

I move to establish an ad hoc working group for the purpose of exploring opportunities for flight connectivity between Spain and San Antonio and the prospect of San Antonio serving as a 2026 world base camp.

The group shall cens January 2027, or upon completion of this charge.

Um I designate Alex Lopez to is it that Alex or Oh that'll that'll be if any of these EWDC members shall serve on the uh we don't we haven't looked at our schedule.

We can do that later.

Uh I designate that you don't have an Any WC member.

We'll serve to lead the group.

Do I have do I can I get a motion for this?

So moved.

A second?

All right, we have a motion and a second, and all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion carries.

All right.

Um thank you.

That's why legal is here to make sure we stay on track.

All right, item item number four is the small business advisory commission composition.

Is there a presentation?

Yes, there is.

Good afternoon, Chair Committee.

Alfred Brewer, Assistant Director for Economic Development.

I'd just like to start off to say our uh small business advisory commission chair and vice chair had planned to attend, but they had something come up and were unfortunately unable to join us today.

Um our small business or advisory commission or SBAC was formed in 2021 to give a voice to the small business community and to our policies and procedures and other efforts through the economic development department in the city of San Antonio.

Um this group has helped us inform uh plans and programs from ARPA to construction to ready to work.

Um they are tasked with through ordinance, making recommendations, engaging the community.

They serve as a major uh outreach tool to the community and small business community.

Um and they continue to um advise staff um on efforts.

Um currently the group that does that is made up of 15 members.

Um that is 11 members appointed by mayor and council, and then there are also four members at large that are apply and are interviewed here at the UWC committee.

Um in an effort to reach a broad representation, the small business um ecosystem.

Um initially we had created categories for each member to fall into.

So the requirements are that the 15 members be made up of two small business committee uh professionals from a trade organization, two from a uh nonprofit uh small business serving provider, uh four small business owners of employees less than 10, four small business owners from with employees 10 to 50, and then uh three small businesses uh representing the city's targeted industries.

Um the current composition is here um on the screen.

Um currently we're in a transition point.

Um all are on hold over at this point, um, except for D8 and D 10 have appointed members.

Um that is uh Sarah Shaquille, current chair and Jim uh Hollerback from uh D10.

Um as you can see, um we have to make this fit to those appointees.

Um this can cause some um limitation to our ability to full have a full uh commission and causes maybe challenges in having the intent of the meetings is to have a discussion, and when we cannot fulfill a full board, we cannot have um productive conversations.

Um our recommendation as EDD staff that supports this commission is to amend um the section of the current ordinance to reduce the number of members from 15 to 11.

Um this would maintain appointments for the mayor and each city council district, um, but it would also it would remove the at-large um appointments.

Um we would also adjust the categories.

We'd like to maintain those categories because that has been effective in um creating enough or broad representation of the ecosystem.

Um however, we would like to just limit keep the limit at least one member of the commission meet uh each of those categories.

Um we are not recommending any change to the mission or purpose of this SBAC.

Um earlier this year, the um SBEC came together and reaffirmed that that uh mission and purpose um was um on track and they would like to continue that.

Um and that uh concludes my uh presentation thank you.

Um can I get a motion to approve staff recommendation?

Motion to approve the second staff recommendation.

Can I get a second?

Okay, and we can begin discussion.

Um no, I uh I sat on EWDC um for four years, and um this this has been problematic in trying to to chair it with the at-large members.

So I think if left to the council, I think we can find the positions to make sure at least one representative sits in each of those categories.

So and I think it it helps us as we go out and we put this out to our community members who who wish to serve.

So um I I look forward to these changes.

I know with 15, then it became more difficult to make quorum if they had vacant positions or if the positions were filled, but people were going back on for back and forth of whether or not they wanted to stay on the commission.

So I I do like the um the council appointing this and leaving the one representative.

So I'm uh thank you for for adjusting and pivoting to this, and I I look forward to getting this uh advisory commission to work.

Thank you.

Uh who's next?

Rick?

I mean Councilman Galand.

I can go.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Um they have too many questions.

Well, thank you for the presentation, regardless.

Even another short presentation.

I appreciate it.

Very timely and quick.

Um one biggest question I had was that uh forgive my ignorance on it, but what is the difference in reviews uh by this committee uh for small business uh policies versus Sabata?

I know Sabeta has a specific ordinance ties to it, but um thank you for the question.

Uh so Sabeta is strictly focused on the Sabata, the small business economic development advocacy program.

Um we do touch upon their supplier engagement strategy, but really focused on those particular efforts, whereas then the small business advisory commission is pretty well everything else got it related to small business.

Do we ever see Sabeta trading into those waters?

Um or is it just we keep the conversation?

I'm sure we keep the conversation focused, but I don't know if that it's everywhere to a point where Sabeda is talking about something and it gets to a point where they have to just stop.

Um we have uh fantastic staff that works with Sabeda and a fantastic Sabeda, the committee uh members who are incredibly passionate about the particular topic.

So uh we're able to to kind of keep that separate amongst the groups themselves.

Got it.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

I was looking, you know, of course, over the presentation and trying to review some of the past work of the SPAC and Sabata, and just was trying to figure out you know, is it worthwhile to just amend this or look at ways to expand the scope of another one?

Um but the folks are focused on that.

Let's keep them focused on that.

That's their their jam.

Uh let's do that.

And so I don't have any other questions on this.

I feel good with it.

Uh thank you so much, Chair.

Committee member, um, what I would share is that um when it comes to the Sabata Committee and the opportunity for them to focus on that policy.

Um, there's also some some technical background that you really have to have, as you heard Troy earlier talking about how complicated procurement can be.

With the Sabata Committee, they really need to understand those procurement technicalities, um, which really does um perhaps limit, but it really helps the committee and those members focus on small business.

It could be anything, it could be construction, it could be you know, permitting, it could be all over that we want and we want to have that different perspective from.

I'd say if there's if there's been a crossover, it probably starts on the small business on the S back on the small business commission that eventually we get down into the details of okay, that's actually a procurement issue.

So Sabata should be looking at it.

So it tends to go more the other way than from Sabata overall.

Thank you.

Councilman Spears.

Um then let's see.

I too had that same question about and community engagement and how we're how we're able to include small businesses in that.

So thank you for that question.

And uh again, I I can I I just I'm a big fan of benchmarks and goal setting and making sure that we meet those measurable goals.

Uh um you're probably gonna hear me say that ad nauseum, but but if we can establish those effectively um and and look at that as a group, that'd be fantastic.

But thank you for the presentation.

No, uh thank you.

And we'll have an opportunity at the end to kind of bring up new business items and we'll talk about the benchmarking and how we can agendize and then talk to legal in terms of where we we do that discussion, whether it's um an executive session or it's here out and and we agendize it and and make it for a briefing here.

So we'll discuss that.

But thank you for that input.

Um we have a motion and second.

All those in favor say aye.

Yes, clarification on the the motion.

So because the commission was created by ordinance, uh, what this item would be would be a recommendation to move an ordinance forward to amend the composition requirements for the commission, not committee, the commission uh for full council consideration.

Okay.

I don't have a script for that one, but uh do you want to make it councilman Gavon?

Take it away.

Give my best shot.

Uh I move to amend the ordinance related to the topic at hand.

To to recommend an ordinance to amend the composition requirements for the convention to the full council for consideration.

Am I able to say so moved based on your conversation?

Absolutely.

So moved.

All right, we've got a motion, second, a second, and this will go to full council for them to decide.

And all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

And motion carries.

All right.

We are on to item number five in this one.

We will be looking for action also, and I'm hoping that legal is gonna have the right term that we need to make the motion for on this one, but we do have a presentation.

Uh Brenda, go ahead and take it away.

This is just a this is the one we is for strictly briefing only.

Okay.

So you're off the hook.

I knew we had a briefing one here somewhere.

Here it is.

Thank you.

This is it.

Um thank you again for the opportunity.

Uh this uh in this presentation, I'm going to just really quickly go over our current economic development strategic framework, a little bit of background on that, as well as kind of the goals that were identified through that, uh, some updates on the other plans associated, specifically our metro priority plan and the small business assessment, as well as then kind of what came out of the 2022 strategic framework.

And then finally, really what we're focusing on then is the 50 the fiscal year 2026 refresh.

Uh so back in late 2021, of course, as we were coming out of COVID, there was a lot of conversation uh around the resilient economy, of course, small businesses were significantly impacted by COVID, uh, and then just really where we needed to to focus our efforts, if you will, from the department to make sure we were also competing with national and global peers.

So we set forward these guiding principles, we issued a solicitation, we had a vendor, lots of stakeholder engagement uh throughout the process, and in October of 2022, City Council accepted this economic development strategic framework.

And here you'll see that we had four primary goals uh regarding innovation and industry, the placemaking and real estate, talent and workforce and capacity and resources.

And then within each of these, there were specific sub-goals.

So, for example, goal one around innovation and industry, had sub-goals around business development, small business and entrepreneurship.

And you'll see the categories here.

So by local, for example, there was a lot of conversation with our small business advisory commission, EWDC, for example, um, as a uh kind of takeaway, if you will, from and subsequent action from the economic development strategic framework.

Um, so a number of these have been touched upon as we've completed our efforts the last couple of years.

And when I say completed, I really feel like I should say that in air quotes, right?

Because completed, it's just an iterative process.

We continue to build upon those successes.

We learn from those that maybe didn't work out so well, um, and then just really continue to refocus our efforts.

So again, here you'll see the more specific details around goal one.

Goal two was around policemaking and real estate.

There was a lot of conversation around this, particularly with the small business advisory commission, for example, as we were looking at the ARPA small business implementation program.

Uh the recently or soon to be completed, actually, facade grants, outdoor spaces, the revitalized essay program that you heard about during the budget process, for example, are all things that really um kind of spun out, if you will, from some of these conversations and recommendations within the strategic framework.

Uh talent and workforce, we are so very fortunate that we have a very, very strong workforce development partner who literally is right next door to me on the 18th floor.

So our teams are constantly collaborating.

Uh so we were really closely with the workforce development department, um, military and veterans' affairs, you'll see here for military personnel to really provide leadership to that, where the economic development department really had focused efforts was on some of the wraparound support and how we could through our tools and resources, for example, support that.

So, for example, in our incentive policies, as you're aware, we have a requirement to support wrap around support either through training, um child care or transportation.

And then, of course, capacity and resources, really doing an assessment on we whether we had the right tools, were we using the tools available to us?

And then, of course, capacity and resources, really doing an assessment on whether we had the right tools, were we using the tools available to us, were we a lot of the conversations around this area were those partnerships, and then even that interdepartmental collaboration was a significant conversation.

So we, for example, for every quarter, we had hosted an economic development collaborative with the other departments on how we could ensure that we were collaborating and making sure we were being very kind of intentional, if you will, in our efforts.

At the same time, the Metro Priority Plan had just kind of before this had been updated in 2022 in partnerships with the Brookings Institute, and that was really focused on you'll see here a handful of what we call our priority metros that for our different relationships and whatnot.

So we didn't want to recreate the wheel as part of the process, but we really wanted to kind of reaffirm, if you will, that metro priority plan.

We're kind of finishing up on some of that doing our assessment.

So we did propose as part of the budget process coming back with a revised proposal that you'll have forthcoming in at a later date for that, for example.

Business retention and growth, we historically had relied on partners, and that was something that was really identified as lacking here in the city of San Antonio in general.

And so that's been a much more robustly focused on emphasis by not just our team now, but our partners, and we were able to enhance our contracts, for example, to really focus on stronger metrics and deliverables associated with BRG.

I do want to highlight because we provide Economic and Workforce Development Committee a semi-annual report on all of our activities, in addition to briefings and other kind of engagements that we might do throughout the year.

But we do specifically on the economic development strategic framework, provide semi-annual updates, and then there's a QR code right there for the our economic development performance measure dashboard.

So earlier, for example, talking through procurement, you were asking about the impact of investments in our local businesses.

We report out our Sebata data.

I just wanted to say Subita data.

But so we report that out on our performance of that program, but we also report out the key deliverables and metrics for all of our programming, as well as then we benchmarked amongst other communities, and so we have a lot of comparison data and how the trends have been have been going, you know, moving, are we moving the needle bottom line?

So a lot of that is included in there.

Um so just wanted to highlight this because I think when we look back and what have we done, there's been a lot of review of existing resources as well as then additions of other programs and so forth.

As I mentioned, we use the strategic framework to develop an annual work plan.

So again, you saw this during the budget process.

So just a reminder that this is the fiscal year 26 priority implementation areas, which is again our work plan.

I want to specifically highlight the again economic development strategic framework refresh.

Here we highlighted the target industry review, that international strategies.

So instead of doing the Metro Priority P or that strategy as a kind of separate opportunity, we're going to include that as part of that larger framework.

And then likewise with the small business ecosystem assessment.

We had issued a solicitation earlier this calendar year for that effort.

As we went through, we had limited responses, and we just decided to actually cancel that solicitation.

It would be more fiscally prudent and just strategically better to incorporate it into this economic development strategic framework refresh.

So we did that, and it is included in that scope of work.

Which speaking of the scope of work, you'll see here some of the key deliverables.

Of course, with any vendor selection, you always want to include your work plan, your timeline, you want the final document.

But I already mentioned that small business ecosystem evaluation, the international strategy strategy, as well as then we want to make sure we're updating our benchmarking and competitive analysis report.

And then we do want to go into a little bit deeper dive on the target industries.

So we did a refresh of the target industry review in 2021, 2022.

And now we want to, I keep calling it level up, if you will, as kind of our internal conversation around it, but really dig a little bit deeper into those and what are some of those additional opportunities.

So for example, a supply chain gap analysis.

So what are those businesses that are missing here in San Antonio or within the region that can help our existing businesses grow?

And then that becomes a really great case, right?

Use case for us to then go out and attract those businesses, or ideally, if it's another local, maybe small firm, we can help them grow.

So what are those opportunities?

And then the site identification study is another area.

We know that with our power and our water, and just really growing really rapidly.

There's a lot of competition for land, if you will, and so just really looking in collaboration with Greater SATX and other partners, what makes sense and where there might be some opportunities.

So a couple things I just wanted to highlight on there.

So we want to test, if you will, what we've already been implementing and doing.

So for example, on all of our small business contracts, rather than just measuring, you know, how many people attend events, we wanted to really focus on those outcomes.

So we have incorporated starting a few years ago, six-month, 18-month, 36-month surveys for all of the recipients, really tracking, you know, increase or in some cases maybe decrease, but those changes in employment, changes in revenue, what what really the impact has been from the program, and perhaps some of the other resources.

So we're just starting to really start to see that data come in this month.

In fact, we have our first 18-month survey that'll be taking place.

But what are some of those other things that we could be looking at that we want to benchmark to other communities, for example, and of course make sure that whatever is recommended, it's actionable.

Nothing uh we want to make sure that when we're doing this, uh, the worst thing that we can do is have something that sits on a shelf.

So that's something we've made sure that the last one was not, and we want to make sure that certainly is not the case as we move forward.

So, really quick timeline.

We are gearing up to issue this solicitation uh very soon, and then what we would be looking at is in spring, really focusing on those those various components that data collection and analysis, significant stakeholder engagement, uh, really again, we'd be working with SPAC, and uh we've also want to look at the other boards and commissions that the city has, coordinate with the other departments just like we did last time, um, as well as all of the other partners across the community for all of that engagement, but then provide those preliminary reports to SPAC and then of course to Economic and Workforce Development Commission committee, excuse me, and then in late spring, come back, you know, do that iterative process, take back any feedback and go through those final reviews so that then in fall of 2027 we can develop that work plan in full implementation.

So that concludes my presentation.

Happy to address any questions.

Thank you, Brenda.

So the solicitation process would be for the programs for a vendor, I'm sorry.

Yes, so we would we would look for a contractor who would be able to provide the consulting services basically that would lead the the various efforts, the stakeholder engagement and so forth.

And we did do that last time as well.

Yeah, I think I I think we're gonna I think we need some more data in terms of the results um about what was successful program-wise and what was not successful before we start the solicitation process.

Um because there are just some things that small business construction support grants, um lift fund just some of the programs that we initiated initiated some of them how do we need them and how do we need them adjusted?

So I think that there's gonna need before we hire a consultant, and I I know that's what we do here, and I know we did that last time, but we're looking at um we're looking at a different economic environment right now, and I'm not I I would I need the price tag of what a solicitation what what this would cost and um how this program would be spent because I think as we as we have the conversation during the budget process is that uh how we budget next year begins, you know, began that day, and I I'm just concerned because this is a lot of programs and initiatives, and um it's a lot of data to collect, but I think we did that last time, and now we're walking into an environment that is completely different than than we did four years ago.

So yeah, I think I think we would need an update next next month on what exactly we're gonna set forth for this solicitation process and what our our exact goals are here.

Um while small business construction support grants we used, I think a lot of the the and we're just one committee.

I think a lot of the conversation coming out of council right now and B session is um get construction projects done faster, get things done faster, and I think until we address that and and talk about this that moving forward with programs uh needs to be in a limited capacity.

But that's just where I'm at now.

So I I know we want to get this process started in the fall, but I'd like you to come back uh next month and and kind of give us a uh the clear goals of terms of what what what they're gonna do with all the stakeholder information.

I don't know how much it's going to change, and I think we need to get SBAC set and going, this committee set with uh members uh as we as we move forward on that.

So that's what I would like to see.

And I'd like to this is for briefing only, so I like to hear from my council colleagues.

Anyone want to volunteer to go first?

I'll just okay, councilman Spears.

Um thank you for the presentation.

I do see we probably do need a refresh, but I I want to double down on what Terra Via Gran is saying because it seems like a an enormous undertaking to do well and comprehensively.

Um I echo that I'm hearing everywhere construction faster on time, it's gonna affect us in a multitude of ways, including funding.

So we we've really got to get that under control.

Um yeah, a more measurable understanding of what our expectation would be from a consultant.

Um maybe we do this in chunks, maybe we can do something more comprehensive.

But like some of the things I'm thinking about is how on the unmet demand and low funding rates on the south and east sides, how are we gonna ensure the refresh closes those disparities and how long will that take?

And and that that question alone seems like a has a lot of punch to it.

And then you know, I of course welcome continued growth in District 9, just gonna throw that out there.

But um, you know, I want to see more small businesses coming back.

I know I mean we no district is whole from everything that happened in COVID.

And so how do we what's the low-hanging fruit?

How do we how do we make that happen quickly?

And um I'm also interested in the wraparound services, which one how are we funding and coordinating across so many city departments and the different partnerships privately we can have and the resources that we need to really make them actionable and what's effective.

I know childcare is always mentioned, but I just I just really want to make sure we're doing it well and serving it well to set it up for success if we're gonna make those kinds of investments.

Um again, I do like seeing that the military personnel is included on your talent retention and attraction.

Just gonna say that.

Um then integrating.

I I think that is wise to integrate the international component there, because um we do want to we do want to prioritize that and see that growth uh here locally.

So I'm glad that we are adding that.

But I share those same concerns about construction and how I mean it just seems like this could be as how long did the study take last time to do?

Um we kicked it off in about January, and then it came to council in October.

Um but a lot of the the work, if you will, that kind of initial phase data collection was pretty well done by like June.

Uh we had done a B session, and then we just used the rest of the time for kind of some clarification follow-up betting.

So I and I guess did we we added a lot of programming then?

I would assume.

So we added a lot of program.

Well, so the the strategy, the framework identified gaps, opportunities, strengths, um, and then as a result, programs were added, or some of them were requested by council.

I think that year we had five new programs that are during the budget process.

Um so it the programs kind of got added.

Uh, and then we use the framework and then the different committees and relationships to help shape, if you will, the programs as well.

Um, and then all of them as we looked at like the different performance metrics and deliverables for each program uh was was again helped shape by the framework.

Okay.

One of the other things I really want to emphasize and make sure we're focusing on is that the left hand knows what the right is doing.

So our workforce development is responding and understanding the needs for where we're going with our economic growth.

I think that I know there's a gap there.

So I I really am looking at how we revamp or rework the the workforce development piece to really meet those goals so we see significant success stories come out of that.

Um I I really get excited to think about the potential there.

So that's one of the main things I would like to see.

But again, I know I've said it now.

This will be my third time totally on the same vein as you, Chair Pia Gran.

So thank you very much.

I really appreciate the the presentation.

Councilman Galvant.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Brenda, for the presentation.

I I think we're in the same boat.

I think it's a good committee because we're similarly aligned on this kind of conversation.

Um I mean, I guess the biggest thing that I'm thinking about initially is of course I'm very appreciative of the benchmarking piece.

I think it's always helpful with these frameworks that we're looking at measurable goals that we're attaining here.

To your point, Brenda, how we're moving the needle, something that I'm always focused on, right?

If we're looking at uh economic conditions in our city, what are those conditions that we're looking at?

If it's poverty, how is our programming not only within this uh department but generally throughout our city departments impacting that?

Whether it's good or bad, right?

Is it are we seeing progress towards reducing poverty or are we seeing stagnation because of X reason uh the way a department works?

I think those are value valuable benchmarks to have and measurable goals to look at, uh, or I guess maybe an analysis analyses.

Um I really uh ever since I started working at City Council, the small business ecosystem assessment has been something that I always held dear uh along with the kind of uh the status of poverty report, some of the other reports that we've uh commissioned or conducted uh from other departments too were always very helpful for that reason, right?

Taking a snapshot of our economy and seeing, okay, where are we at here?

What have we done since then?

Um, but I think that just it's missing those analysis analysis are missing some of these pieces of our internal work, right?

Of what is ready to work do on this, or what did uh the construction mitigation grant do on this versus simply addressed maybe this problem in some way, rather than did it affect the entire scope of the issue at hand uh effectively or to significant degree.

Um make sure I got these points.

Again, just appreciate the focus on outcomes.

I think that's gonna be really helpful with this.

I I don't know if Chair Via Grande and I had the same hesitation initially when the solicitation process piece.

Um but I think something that I I mentioned, I think I can't remember which council meeting it was, I believe it was during the sports entertainment conversation, uh, talking a bit about what are the internal capabilities we have and data that we collect as a city within either their department or other departments too on some of this work that we're looking at on some of these economic conditions.

Uh are we able to do any kind of preliminary analysis that are more regular?

Um, whether it's regularly reported to our council or even in just in a report annually, uh so we can kind of see how we're tracking this.

Um I guess it's always my question seeing are there ways that we can bring some of this stuff in-house.

Uh, we have good partners out there, I think they're great.

I think Lisc is doing a great job, and again, I've referenced their work a lot, um, but I think it's always helpful if we are able to do stuff in-house with of course staffing capacity, right?

Understanding that to see that it's just easier for us to kind of better analyze the economic development incentives we're giving out, better analyze the uh programs that we're producing and better analyze uh how our city is just really making these impacts.

Um that's always something that's on top of mind when I think about looking at analysis for economic conditions here in our city.

Um the last thing I wanted to mention was it's kind of along the lines with I know we're gonna talk about this with the refresh, right?

We're looking at some of these uh goals that we've set.

I think the larger part of of all of it is uh I guess our council's or maybe our city's goals in return for all these pieces, maybe just circling the same point about moving the needle, but I think about right we look at growth, right?

I think what that's one of the biggest ones here.

It's investment in growth, it's looking at assets as well, and looking at resilience or maybe more equity than resilience.

Um seeing the reality that we're in in our city, the economic conditions that we are facing with uh property tax uh flattening, sales tax declining.

Um, it feels like the I mean I don't think it's any harm to the goals that we set, but I think it just feels like to the reality situation that we're in, how how are we even moving the needle on these things with our with our programs here or throughout our city?

If it seems like you know, we can say that we're doing good work, and yet I I'm not seeing the reality shift in our city.

Some parts are, right?

And that's fine.

And it's not to say that this department's not doing the good work or the city's not doing good work.

It is really just understanding are are there ways that we can move better as a city?

Uh I think that would just be helpful within this entire analysis to make sure that these guiding principles are not just uh good goals to have, but that we're actually inching closer to them.

We're seeing a return in the asset uh development, we're seeing a return or investment in equity for small businesses or for capital um access and credit access throughout our city.

Uh I know there's some data within the performance dashboard.

Um, but I think the tangible is the always the big question, the tangible feel for our residents.

Um we see stagnation in economic development for certain parts of our city, it just it's almost like how are we saying that one hand is doing well, the other one's just not.

Um anyway, that's just my my soapbox conversation on that.

Thank you, thank you, Chair.

Yeah, and I I want to reiterate ADD has done an incredible job.

I'm not saying you guys have brought us out to the pandemic to this point, but I think where we're at now, and why I'd like you to take some time, Brenda, and have your team visit some of the council members is in terms of the refresh, when you when you talk about equitable economic opportunities, we have so many new council members that when you give them that term, it's gonna mean something completely different from the other council that you just had.

And then our city manager just created two new departments to address goals, and I think that is where we're gonna need to look at how are we working holistically in terms of if I've got um director Shannon working on um you know, the the goals of bond projects, and then I've got Director Carmona working on housing, how does that impact what we're doing here, and then a whole new UDC opportunity coming in with what the state has just put forward?

So I think when we need to look at it, um this is where the economic impact does we need to look, what does economic equitable economic opportunities look like from member to member?

You know what it looks like to me because I've been here for four years.

For the others that that have just arrived, what does that look like for them?

And how are we going to communicate that really well to whoever uh comes up with this solicitation process so they understand the full picture?

Because the one thing that I heard through the conversations we've had regarding the sports and entertainment district regarding the construction mitigation is it means different things to different council members in on different streets.

And that's when I want to I you know I think about Givers and Pleasanton and that road.

And and we were talking about construction mitigation grants, but they're paying rent on you know a building that's maybe 20 years old, and they're paying rent and water for for something that should have been updated.

So I think we need to we need to think about where we're going into and how we do this before we start the solicitation process.

So to to give your team a little more work is just to brief the new council members and you know, maybe brief the the council members that were here again and just say, hey, here's a reminder, this is where we want to head.

This is what the refresh is gonna look like.

What does that mean to you?

Um, and then that the council can get on one page so that we're not here um next year at budget cycle and we're not being told this isn't what we wanted in terms of grants or or uh this isn't what we wanted in terms of business development, and then half of us are saying, yeah, that's exactly what we wanted.

So let's just get on the same page for that, and and hopefully late fall we can move move this forward when when we all feel comfortable with it.

So and just to that point, I would like to highlight which I did not, but when we talked about stakeholders, uh the the mayor and council had significant roles throughout the process this last time, um, and we would certainly plan on continuing that.

So there is a lot of um conversations with mayor and council by our consultants and kind of throughout the process, just hey, here's what we're hearing.

How do you feel about that?

And our our consultants did a fantastic job on that.

So would certainly um expect that to continue.

And uh thank you, Brenda.

And then if you could give to us, because I think this is where we hold our council members accountable.

If you try and set up meetings with the council members and they're not meeting with you, let us know so we can say, don't come to us and complain what we do in committee because we asked them to go talk to you.

So let's get that done so we can continue to move forward.

And I think I think what you hear is you you hear you have a committee that's that's ready to support.

We just have questions and concerns as we move forward to make sure that they they truly do move that needle um, like we have we had in the past and before, and and some of these projects worked and you identified them.

Um some of them, I I mean I can think about facade improvements that you made up and down uh my Basilier corridors on Pressa and Roosevelt, but I think some of them are like, oh, we need we need to tweak, and you seem to understand that, but we need to go to this council and and let them know what's coming.

All right.

Thank you.

This is for briefing only.

Um before we end, are there we are there any other items as we prepare for um the upcoming meetings for um EWDC uh that we want that we want to kind of make sure are on the agenda?

And I know we've talked benchmarks, um any anything else specifically I'd like to give the members time to to bring forward.

Uh in no, in specific to economic workforce and development.

So we've got I I think we we still need to look at the small business construction grants as we move forward, um, addressing some of the issues we heard um from our council members because I think if if we're we need to have the data to say this is why it didn't work, or this is these are the only cases it did work in, because I heard a lot of um you know uh talk regarding budget on that.

So if if they all don't have anything today, we can send that via memo and we can make sure that we get that um agendizer if there's anything else specific y'all would like to hear about um I want to bring it up now because we're at quorum.

I want to be very conscious about quorum level, so that's why I'm giving the opportunity now.

And then again, they can send it via memo and we're fine with that.

Yes, we're we're gonna start prioritizing benchmarks and uh we'll bring what we are currently doing and and Brenda can uh help with that because they already do that on on most of the on many of the programs and it's it's on the um dashboard, and then we can we from there we can see where we might need a a little more data.

Any anything else?

I think I'll send a memo if anything's more specific, but I think generally I laid out most of our comments.

Okay, thank you.

So the time is now three twenty-nine and the meeting is now adjourned.