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Board votes to recommend ordinance change for small‑business advisory commission; staff outlines FY2026 economic development workplan
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Summary
The Economic Development Board recommended the City Council amend the ordinance that sets the composition of the Small Business Advisory Commission (reducing membership from 15 to 11 and retaining categorical representation) and received an update on the department—s FY2026 strategic workplan and measurement efforts; members emphasized measurable,
The Economic Development Board on Sept. 24 voted to recommend the City Council amend the ordinance that establishes the Small Business Advisory Commission—s composition, and board staff presented the department—s strategic workplan for fiscal 2026.
Soledad (presenter name in transcript) and other staff outlined that the current advisory commission is constituted of 15 members: the presentation described 11 members appointed by the council and the mayor and four at‑large members (the transcript's exact appointment mechanism and statutory citation were not specified). Staff recommended reducing the statutory number of members from 15 to 11 to address quorum and participation problems while keeping categorical representation of small‑business sectors.
Councilmember Galvn made a motion to recommend an ordinance amendment changing the commission—s composition; he presented and seconded the motion on the record and the committee approved it by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally.
Staff also presented the department—s strategic framework (adopted with earlier council direction in 2022) and a set of programmatic priorities for FY2026, including innovation and industry, real estate and place‑making, and talent and workforce. Presenters emphasized measurement and program evaluation: staff described past ecosystem assessments and ARPA‑funded implementation programs and proposed continuing outcome‑oriented metrics (employment changes, revenue, program retention) and periodic surveys at 18, 24 and 36 months to track results.
Board members expressed several concerns and requests: they asked staff to provide evidence on which past programs succeeded or failed before seeking outside consultants; to provide cost estimates for any consultant engagements; to ensure proposed initiatives align with construction project timelines and council budget cycles; and to coordinate internally across city departments to avoid duplication of effort.
Councilmember Spears, President Villagrán and other members urged the department to include veterans, ensure equitable geographic distribution of investments (for example, the south side), and to produce clear, measurable goals that show how initiatives move the needle on poverty and business formation. Staff said the procurement of consultants and the project timeline will include data collection, analysis, preliminary findings, stakeholder engagement and implementation beginning in fall 2026.
The committee—s recommendation to amend the ordinance will be forwarded to the full City Council for consideration. No binding budget decisions or contract awards were made at the Sept. 24 meeting.
