Torch Literary Arts Amplifying Black Women Writers TorchLiteraryArts.org ABOUT TORCH Founded in 2006, Torch Literary Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established to create advancement opportunities for Black women writers. We publish contemporary writing by emerging and experienced writers alike in our online publication, Torch Magazine. Our features have gone on to be nominated for the Emmy Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, and have received notable honors including the NAACP Image Award, National Book Award, Lambda Literary Award, and more. Torch has featured work by Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Ebony Stewart, Lisa B. Thompson, Crystal Wilkinson, Sapphire, Evie Shockley, Natasha Trethewey, Shay Youngblood, and many others. Our programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, creative writing and professional development workshops, an annual retreat, and special events with community partners like the Texas Book Festival. “...if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. ” ― Toni Morrison THE ISSUE Black women writers live and create at the intersection of race, gender, and class. Representation and visibility remain scant across the literary landscape. Creating and supporting spaces for the advancement of Black women writers is vital to ensure our voices are heard and our stories are available for all readers. While Toni Morrison was an editor at Random House, their first female Black editor, the number of Black authors published increased to 3.3 percent. However, the percentage dropped quickly after her departure. Of 512 books published by Random House between 1984 and 1990, only two were by Black authors: Morrison's Beloved and Sarah Phillips by Andrea Lee. One person cannot be responsible for changing the systems that continue to marginalize and silence diverse voices. From hiring publishing executives of color to supporting emerging writers finding their way to the page, we must encourage, empower, and nurture writers of color for inclusive representation on and off the page. Torch Literary Arts works to combat these disheartening statistics and make a meaningful impact in the lives of Black women by encouraging and amplifying their work as writers and industry leaders. 11% In 2018, only 11% of books published were by people of color. New York Times 5.3% In 2023, just 5.3% of people in publishing identified as Black or being of African Decent. Diversity Baseline Survey, Lee & Low Books 8% Only eight percent of literary journals pay contributors. The Millions …
Community Navigator Program Update March 18, 2024 Community Navigator Program Overview Program Intent: The Economic Development Department’s (EDD) Community Navigator Program supports local businesses, non-profit organizations, and creative professionals impacted by the COVID- 19 pandemic. Clients can register for no-cost assistance from Community Navigators, including one-on-one coaching, virtual classes, and help applying for government and philanthropic support. This program was approved by Austin City Council, and it is funded through Austin’s allocation of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Client Eligibility: To be eligible, local entities must be located in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The Austin-Round Rock MSA includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. Community Navigator Program Overview Community Navigators: EDD and partners informed the community about the program Interested clients will register for services using the Portal System EDD will refer clients to partners based on clients’ interests, or clients can select their preferred partner Partners will render services and leave “service notes” in the Portal System on service notes. Partners will invoice EDD for services; EDD will pay invoices based The Community Navigator Program has been ongoing since March 2022. Community Navigator Program Overview Austin Revitalization Authority will provide registration assistance for any help in setting up an account. Community Navigators Austin Revitalization Authority Business & Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) Mission Capital On the Money Finance LLC The Volt Studios Visual Matters Consulting Task Category Target Client Base Vendor Name A: One-on-One Technical Assistance A: Technical Assistance Cohort Classes B: Application Assistance for Grants Small Businesses Non-Profits Creative Professionals Austin Revitalization Authority Business & Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Mission Capital On the Money Finance LLC The Volt Studios Visual Matters Consulting No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Funding Exhausted Funding Exhausted (Federal Health Coverage) Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No No Current Program Results To Date: -327 Applications received -$326,800 expensed as of 03/18/2024 Community Navigator Program We look forward to working with you!
Live Music Venue and Creative Space Regulatory Incentives Phase II March 2024 Council Actions Resolution No. 20220728-094: Establish the criteria to be a Live Music Venue Create live music venue bonus and incentive program for new and existing venues, Initiate changes to Land Development Code Section 25 Resolution No. 20220901-089: Develop and adopt clear creative space land use definitions Create creative space bonus and incentive program for new and existing including venues Create new code elements to "Diversify, sustain, and cultivate the city's culture, music, and arts communities and industries“ Criteria for designation of Arts Districts Initiate changes to Land Development Code Section 25 Resolution No. 20230921-102: Develop LDC amendments with incentives for cultural space preservation and creation by Spring 2024 Bring an ordinance establishing a Cultural District Overlay initiated in Resolution No. 20220728-094 and Resolution No. 20220901-089 by Spring 2024 Guidance from Resolutions Resolution No. 20220728-094: Fee Waivers Modified Parking requirements Expanded facilitation of affordable commercial space... in new construction Prioritization of music venue or creative space as a community benefit for density bonuses or other overlays within the Red River Cultural District, East 6th Street Entertainment District, and Warehouse Entertainment District Resolution No. 20220901-089: Fee waivers Modified parking requirements Expedited permitting process "increase in floor to area ratio (FAR) in square footage or other appropriate development incentive related to what is provided for the dedicated creative space" "Prioritization of creative space as a city-wide community benefit as it relates to density bonus programs, Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning, or within other regulatory plans Increased flexibility in development regulations and opportunities for modification of policies, rules, codes, or design standards Permit accessory use as a theater, art gallery, or art workshop in all commercial and industrial/warehousing zoning districts Goals Develop a paper district that is not mapped; no change to a property’s zoning will be made through initial district adoption After adoption, owners of eligible properties may then request a rezoning to incorporate “Creative District (CD)” code string Goals and Timeline Milestones Codes and Ordinances Backup Due: March 13 Arts Commission: March 18 Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee (COJC): March 20 Music Commission (tentative): April 1 PC Backup Due: April 16 City Council Set Date: April 18 Planning Commission …
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX UPDATE MARCH 18, 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 1 Hotel Occupancy Tax – February 2024 o Total HOT Collections February 2024 = $10,560,588 o 50% towards FY24 Approved Budget of $152,172,894 o Cultural Arts Fund February 2024 = $1,008,583 HOT Cultural Arts Fund - FY24 Approved Budget for FY24: $14,525,594 FY24 HOT Cultural Arts Fund in the bank: $7,275,248 HOT Collections (FY22-FY24) $15.65M $12.87M Questions
Cultural Arts Funding Update Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor Cultural Arts Division Economic Development Department March 18, 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 1 Status Reports • Contracts and Payments • Arts Education (ARPA) • Grant Funded activities this month • • • • Elevate • Nexus Thrive • Nexus Elevate Thrive C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 2 Elevate Grant Status – 200 awardees • 199 Contracts sent (TLC holds the contract) • 198 Contracts signed/processed • 199 test payments issued • 199 test payments verified • 198 First payments issued (50% of award) - 99% of awardees • 143 Second payments issued (40% of award) - must complete Miles Partnership Marketing class (+take survey) or post to Visit Austin (+tell COA staff) to be eligible. • 5 Third payments issued (10% of award) - successful Final Report closeout • $4,999,000 Total Distribution to date ($6,250,000 total) • COA staff working with TLC re: outreach to non-responsive awardees. C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 3 Nexus Grant Status – 51 awardees • 51 Contracts sent (COA holds the contract) • 51 Contracts signed/processed • 42 test payments issued • 42 test payments verified • 50 First payments issued (90% of total award = $4,500) • 8 Second payments issued (10% of award) - successful Final Report closeout • $189,000 Total Distribution to date • TLC invoiced 11/1; takes 2-3 business days to process; Nexus funds will be distributed when it hits TLC account to those who have signed an agreement/ submitted financial information/ verified a test payment. C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 4 Thrive Grant Status – 36 awardees • 36 Contracts sent (COA holds the contract) • 36 Contracts signed/processed • 36 test payments issued; 36 test payments verified • 36 First payments issued • 36 Second payments issued • 26 Third payments issued • $3,823,000 Total Distribution to date ($3,935,000 total in year 1) • Grant Administrator has met with each organization individually to set their strategic growth goals for Year …
KB Brookins 1 Letter of support for establishing an Austin Poet Laureate program Dear Austin City Council, Since the 1600’s, poet laureate positions have existed in cities, states, and countries to be stewards of poetry in their communities through programs that positively impact the general public. As of 2022, Austin is the only major city in Texas without a Poet Laureate program, and we, the undersigned, are of the belief that Austin could benefit from a socio-politically engaged Poet Laureate who uses poetry as a way to promote literacy across the city and to integrate poetry into the fabric of Austin’s history, politics, and culture. According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Texas ranks 42nd among states supporting artists in the US1. As of 2003, 121,074 adults in Central Texas either cannot read or struggle with reading2. For decades, many local organizations have created and nurtured Austin’s poetry scene with little to no budget and recognition, yet, University of Texas at Austin has one of the most nationally recognized MFA programs34, and Austin markets itself as a mecca for Texas arts. Having a poet laureate program would keep Austin accountable to its promise of being the arts center of Texas, and assist with improving Austin’s literacy rate. Also, local poets deserve an opportunity to shine. An adult Poet Laureate program has the potential to inspire Austin residents to read and write; to celebrate Austin’s literary scene; to nurture and amplify Austin-based poets of all ages through performances, teaching, and public speaking; and to create new ways of understanding Austin’s policies and culture via poems written by the Poet Laureate. We, the undersigned, call on Austin City Council to please do the following: - - Pass a resolution that makes Austin Poet Laureate an official city program run by the Austin Public Library, and provides Austin Public Library the authority to choose a Poet Laureate. Set aside $27,000 biennially in the City of Austin's budget for the Austin Poet Laureate program in perpetuity. - Allow Austin Public Library to establish a City Poet Laureate Committee that includes a representative of the library, a representative of the arts commission, and members of the city’s literature community. The City Poet Laureate Committee will review applications and recommend City Poet Laureate nominees to the head of the public library. 1 https://nasaa-arts.org/research/funding/#nasaa_field_8 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=208375#:~:text=Why%20is%20literacy%20so% 20important%3F&text=121%2C074%20adults%20in%20Central%20Texas%20cannot%20read%20or%2 0struggle%20with%20reading.&text=43%25%20of%20all%20adults%20with%20lowest%20literacy%20le vels%20live%20in%20poverty. 3 https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/best-mfa-creative-writing-programs/ 4 https://designdash.com/2023/12/13/these-are-the-best-creative-writing-mfa-programs-in-the-u-s/ KB Brookins …
Arts Commission FY 24-25 Budget Recommendations DRAFT ● $548K for Cultural Arts Division staff and admin fees from General Fund, alleviating this expense from the limited Hotel Occupancy Tax reserved for CAD funding. $548,000 / City of Austin General Fund ● Fiscal support for Service Organizations to be issued $500,000 / City of Austin General Fund ● Fiscal support for Community Navigators in order to better support applicants during the cultural funding program application process, in particular for translation service providers. $1 Million / City of Austin General Fund ● Fiscal support to continue the Austin Civilian Conservation Core program. $1 Million / City of Austin General Fund ● Funding* to support the Austin Economic Development Corporation to continue implementing the Cultural Trust program, especially with Common Area Maintenance and other associated costs borne by operators who would be managing spaces for community use *Economic Development Department has provided funding to the extent feasible within their Department budget but cannot continue to contribute funding (see memo attached), so any funding for AEDC would need to be identified through another City source. (Amount?) Items from the Music Budget Requests to consider including: ● Fiscal support for the Creative Space Assistance Program – match FY23-34 funding lever. CSAP awards between $5,000 and $50,000 to commercial creative spaces facing displacement or new leases at higher and unaffordable rates. Grant funds may be used for revenue-generating space improvements, partial lease payments, and gap financing for creative space purchases. $1.5 Million/ City General Fund
Austin and Travis County Food Policy Board BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Recommendation Number: 20240318-7: Recommended Support for Food Plan Implementation WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed RESOLUTION NO. 20210610-039, which directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process for an Austin Food Plan in June 2021 to support a more resilient, equitable food system for the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan is currently being developed through comprehensive and collaborative community workgroups across five identified issues areas including 1.) Food Access and Consumption, 2.) Food Markets and Retail, 3.) Food Production, 4.) Post-Consumption and Food Waste, 5.) Food Processing and Distribution, as well as Community Advisory Committee, Community Food Ambassadors, planning team across both City and County offices, and public engagement; and WHEREAS, the developed Food Plan will outline strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable objectives, goals, and strategies that can be accomplished within the next five years to create a more just, accessible, and culturally diverse food system for Austin and Travis County that supports and sustains thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and solutions to climate changes where all individuals can reach their full potential; and WHEREAS, the final draft of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan will be presented to Austin City Council by summer 2024 for review and approval; and WHEREAS, it is critical to begin implementation of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan immediately following the approval of the Food Plan by the Austin City Council to satisfy the recommendations of the 5-year plan timeline; WHEREAS, concerns about the need to prevent duplication of services are complex and implementation that will avoid redundant actions requires significant coordination leadership; WHEREAS, established funding for implementation from the City is needed to support and implement the work of thousands of community members to fully realize and begin the transformative change that is outlined in the Austin/Travis County Food plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board strongly encourages the Austin City Council to allocate funds and explore all means to create one full-time equivalent positions within the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability to support the implementation of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan once approved. Date of Approval: March 19th, 2024 Record of the vote: 7 – 0 – 2 Voting in Favor: Andrea Abel, Lisa Barden, Marissa Bell, Joi Chevalier, Kacey Hanson, Rosamaria Murillo, Natalie Poulos, Attest: Voting Against: none …
Austin and Travis County Food Policy Board BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Recommendation Number: 20240318-8: Recommended Support for Food Plan Implementation WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed RESOLUTION NO. 20210610-039 in June 2021, which directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process for an Austin/Travis County Food Plan to support a more resilient, equitable food system for our community, and which directed the City Manager to engage Travis County in this effort; and WHEREAS, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved Travis County’s formal participation in and support for the Food Plan on December 13, 2022, creating the current directive to develop a comprehensive Plan that incorporates both the City of Austin and Travis County, thus expanding the scope and support for an Austin/Travis County Food Plan; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan is currently in development through a robust public engagement process including: Comprehensive and collaborative community workgroups across five identified issues areas of, 1) Food Access and Consumption, 2) Food Markets and Retail, 3) Food Production, 4) Post-Consumption and Food Waste, and 5) Food Processing and Distribution; a Community Advisory Committee; Community Food Ambassadors; and a planning team across both City and County offices; and WHEREAS, the Food Plan will outline strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable objectives, goals, and strategies, of which meaningful progress can be accomplished within a five year time period to support the Food Plan’s vision: a more just, accessible, and culturally diverse food system for Austin and Travis County that supports and sustains thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and solutions to climate change where all individuals can reach their full potential; and WHEREAS, the final Austin/Travis County Food Plan will be presented to Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court during summer 2024 for approval; and WHEREAS, it is critical to begin implementation of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan following the approval of the Food Plan by the Austin City Council and Travis County Commissioners Court to satisfy the recommendations of the 5-year plan timeline; WHEREAS, implementation of the Food Plan will be complex, and reducing duplication of efforts will require significant coordination and leadership WHEREAS, dedicated resources from the City of Austin/Travis County are needed to support the implementation of the Food Plan, which represents the work of thousands of community members to begin achieve, and sustain transformative change for our food system. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin …
Austin and Travis County Food Policy Board BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Recommendation Number: 20240318-9: Recommended Support for the Joint Sustainability Committee’s budget recommendation on Sustainable Purchasing WHEREAS, the Joint Sustainability Committee passed a budget recommendation on Sustainable Purchasing on February 28th 2024 with the following language: Sustainable Purchasing: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 2 says “By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from institutional, commercial, and government purchasing are reduced by at least 50%.” Strategy 2 to achieve that goal is “Strengthen the City’s sustainable purchasing program.” Recent analysis by the Office of Sustainability shows that over 80% of the City of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the products and services that the city purchases. It is essential that the City establish a comprehensive Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products and services the City procures. And the City must prioritize ongoing staff support to educate all departments on sustainable purchasing and ensure that purchasing decisions comply with the Sustainable Purchasing Plan. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: a. $125,000 be allocated to hire a sustainable purchasing contractor and/or purchase needed software and databases to develop a Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products, materials and services purchased by the city; and b. A full-time Sustainable Purchasing Director position should be added to the Purchasing Department. If an FTE is determined to be infeasible in this budget cycle, a temporary Sustainable Purchasing Director position should be established and funded. (est. $170,000) NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board supports the Joint Sustainability Committee’s budget recommendation on Sustainable Purchasing with an additional recommendation to ensure consideration is taken in the implementation of this Plan for smaller businesses, and especially Black and Brown owned-businesses, to prevent unintended consequences, such as limiting participating in City business by minority-owned companies. Date of Approval: March 19th, 2024 Record of the vote: 8 – 0 – 0 Voting in Favor: Andrea Abel, Lisa Barden, Marissa Bell, Joi Chevalier, Kacey Hanson, Rosamaria Murillo, Natalie Poulos, Larry Franklin Voting Against: none Abstaining: none Attest: Not on the dais: Mark Bethell, Sari Vatske Edwin Marty, City of Austin, Office of Sustainability, Food Policy Manager/ ATCFPB Staff Liaison
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Electric Utility Commission Resolution 20240318-13 on Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan WHEREAS, the climate crisis continues to worsen and is causing harm to the Austin community. Immediately reducing greenhouse emissions is essential; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan established a goal for the Austin community to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, with approximately 75 percent reduction by 2030; and WHEREAS, the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030 established that Austin Energy would achieve 100% carbon-free energy by 2035 and that Austin Energy would no longer invest in fossil fuel resources; and WHEREAS, in December 2022, the Austin City Council adopted Resolution 20221201- 040, which directed Austin Energy to collaborate with the Electric Utility Commission (EUC) to update the 2030 Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan; and WHEREAS, the electric market and federal incentives have changed significantly since the last update, and the financial viability of battery storage (as evidenced by widespread investment within the ERCOT market), as well as opportunities to improve energy efficiency and demand response programs and increase deployment of local solar make a transition to clean energy possible; and WHEREAS, the Electric Utility Commission Resource Planning Working Group consisted of 16 energy experts and community members and met 14 times between September 2023 and January 2024 to learn about and discuss a wide variety of energy topics; and WHEREAS, the existing Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030 includes a goal to achieve carbon-free generation by 2035, which implies that Austin Energy’s gas-burning generation would be shut down, but the plan does not include details on how to fully replace those resources; and WHEREAS, the plan recommended by the Electric Utility Commission Resource Planning Working Group identifies a robust suite of clean energy resources that can be used to allow Austin Energy to achieve a full transition away from fossil fuels and other polluting resources, while maintaining reliability and affordability; WHEREAS, the plan recommended by the Electric Utility Commission Resource Planning Group could benefit from further refinement and input from Austin Energy; and WHEREAS, full the implementation of strategies to enable the transition to clean energy takes time, so moving from planning to implementation in a timely manner is important; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s mission is to deliver clean, affordable, reliable energy and excellent customer service, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the …
Electric Utility Commission RECOMMENDATION 20240318-12 Date: March 18, 2024 Subject: Budget Recommendations on the Austin Energy FY 2025 Budget Motioned By: Commissioner Chapman Seconded By: Commissioner Reed Recommendations on the FY 24-25 Budget Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Low-Income Bill Discounts: Low-income residents are struggling with the lack of affordability in Austin and Austin Energy has increased customer bills three times in the past year and a half. Utility bill discounts are one of the limited tools that the City of Austin has available to address affordability. Austin Energy customers pay a dedicated Customer Assistance Program fee for this purpose. The Electric Utility Commission recommends that: a. The default bill discount for customers eligible for the Customer Assistance Program be increased, as it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; and b. All bill discounts for lower-income residents be paid from the Customer Assistance Program fund, including bill discounts for low-income Community Solar subscribers. 2. Transmission Improvements: Improvements to Austin Energy’s transmission system are essential for mitigating local congestion that increases costs to the utility and customers and for enabling the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Austin Energy commissioned a study that identified five recommended types of transmission upgrades. The Electric Utility Commission recommends that these recommended upgrades be implemented as quickly as possible and that sufficient funding be allocated to this need to ensure that that of funds is not a source of delay. 3. Fayette Coal Plant: Austin Energy and the Austin City Council have established that shutting down Austin Energy’s portion of the Fayette coal plant is a top priority. Investing in an asset that the utility is actively trying to shut down is not a prudent use of ratepayer or utility funds. The Electric Utility Commission recommends that the budget not include any capital investments in Fayette. Chair Dave Tuttle; Vice Chair Kaiba White, Commissioner Raul Alvarez; Commissioner Jonathon Blackburn; Commissioner Randy Chapman; Commissioner Mick Long; Commissioner Cyrus Reed Vote: For: 7-0-1 Against: None Off Dais: None Absences: None Abstentions: Commissioner Cesar Benavides Vacancies: District 1; District 6; District 8 Attest: Robin Otto, Staff Liaison
URBAN RENEWAL BOARD RECOMMENDATION 20240318-005 Commissioner Watson FY25 Budget Recommendation Seconded By: Commissioner Motwani Date: March 26, 2024 Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation Approve the base budget for the Urban Renewal Board (the “Board”) consistent with the approved FY 2023-24 budget, including a 5% increase for inflation, and providing an additional $100,000 to support an initial year of strategic planning initiatives, additional planning, engagement and outreach relating to the African American Cultural Heritage District, for a total FY 2024-25 budget of $152,000. Description of Recommendation to Council The Board’s budget for FY 2023-2024 is $47,956. For FY 2024-2025, the Board requests this base funding amount be increased for inflation and supplemented with funds to support strategic planning initiatives for the Board as well as additional planning, engagement and outreach related to activation and implementation of district specific improvements within the Urban Renewal Plan area related to and supportive of the African American Cultural Heritage District (the “District”) and the vibrancy of a commercial corridor that reflects the heritage and future of the District, building upon the initial engagement accomplished and programs that have been identified for the multi-use project proposed for Blocks 16 and 18. Rationale: Strategic Planning The Board has diligently pursued the tasks assigned to it by City Council when the Urban Renewal Plan (the “Plan”) was renewed in 2018, and has completed its work on the updates to the Plan and the neighborhood conservation combining district documents relating to the Plan area. As the Board has already launched and continues to progress through the RFP process for the development of Blocks 16 and 18 – the final item assigned to it by City Council – the Board desires to explore how it may best support the Plan area and the City of Austin in the future. Many similarly situated urban renewal agencies and boards across the country have transitioned over time into other district support organizations once the goals of their original urban renewal plans have been accomplished. The Board would like to build on the engagement accomplished in the work to date and potentially help transition the momentum into a longer-term district support organization as has been done by similar bodies nationwide. The Urban Renewal Board would like to engage in a strategic planning process to determine its best path forward, from district support specific activities/purposes to potential governance models and requests funding to engage with consultants …
1. SOUTH-CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 18, 2024, AT 7:00PM The South Central Waterfront Advisory Board convened the Regular Meeting at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 in a hybrid format. BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Jim Stephenson, Chair David Sullivan DeWitt Peart, Ex-Officio BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY: Julia Woods Felicity Maxwell, Vice Chair Isaac Cohen Stephanie Bazan Ryan Puzycki Conner Ladner Hopie Martinez, Ex-Officio Absent Matiur Rahman, Ex-Officio Rebecca Edwards, Ex-Officio CALL TO ORDER Chair J. Stephenson called the Meeting to order at 7:01 pm. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board (SCWAB) Regular Meeting of the February 22, 2024 The motion to approve the minutes was made by Board Member D. Sullivan, seconded by Vice Chair F. Maxwell and approved by a vote of (8-0). DISCUSSION 2. Discussion on a presentation on redevelopment plans for 500 South Congress in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) application by Michael Iannacone of The Related Companies, L.P. Michael Iannacone, Executive Vice President, and Dawood Rouben, Vice President, of The Related Companies, L.P. briefed the Board on redevelopment plans for 500 South Congress through a powerpoint presentation and video. No action was taken 3. Discussion on the proposed South Central Waterfront Combining District with a Density Bonus Program. Public speaker Maureen Powers from Texas Audubon Society requested SCWAB consider including in their recommendation “bird safe design” and other elements that support biodiversity in SCW District. No action was taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Special called meeting on April 1, 2024 for Board action on Combining District and Density Bonus Program from City Planning Department staff (Chair Stephenson, Vice Chair Maxwell) Updates from Working Groups (Chair Stephenson, Vice Chair Maxwell) ADJOURNMENT Chair J. Stephenson adjourned the meeting at 8:13 pm. The minutes were approved at the April 1, 2024 Special Called Meeting on a motion from Board Member D. Sullivan and seconded by Vice Chair F. Maxwell on a 6-0 vote. (Absent: Board Member S. Bazan and Board Member C. Ladner)
