TO: Technology Commission M E M O R A N D U M FROM: Dan Martinez, Business Process Specialist, Financial Services Department DATE: April 9, 2025 SUBJECT: 2025 Grant for Technology Opportunities (GTOPs) Awardees The purpose of this memorandum is to request the Commission review and to advise staff on the twelve (12) 2025 GTOPs Core Awards, as scored by the GTOPs Grant Review Committee (the Committee) from April 4, 2025, with specific award amounts set by formula and the process described below. GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE GTOPs provides matching grant funds to Austin organizations that promote resident access to information technology, or that offer literacy programs that create digital opportunities and foster digital inclusion, particularly in underserved segments of our community. The goals of the program are to: ○ Increase use of digital and communications technology devices ○ Increase knowledge and skills of digital and communications technology ○ Increase access to and usage of the Internet AWARDEE SCORING AND SELECTION PROCESS Letters of Interest (LOI) for 2025 GTOPs Core were accepted from November 15, 2024 through January 8, 2025, thirty-four (34) LOIs were received. Grant applications were accepted from January 15, 2025, through February 12, 2025. The Technology Commission appointed a volunteer Grant Review Committee comprised of nine (9) qualified community representatives, three (3) of whom dropped from the panel prior to final scoring. The City received a total of twenty-five (25) applications for GTOPs 2025 Core. Prior to final scoring, the applicants were given the opportunity to respond to questions generated by the Committee. The Committee scored these applications using the GTOPs scoring criteria, including: Impact • Alignment with GTOPs Goals • • Success/feasibility • Budget and fiscal responsibility After the final scores were submitted by the Committee, the scores were ranked ; the top and bottom reviewer scores were then dropped in accordance with the Olympic style scoring system adopted in 2022. The remaining scores were averaged to give the formal score. Bonus points were allocated as programmatically 1 required, giving the final application score. The final application scores were then entered into an algorithm that distributed awards proportional to the scoring of each organization, within program parameters. The parameters considered by the algorithm are: 1) $315,000 in GTOPs funds available. 2) The minimum amount awarded to any organization is 70% of the requested amount. 3) Funds are distributed proportional to differences in scoring. 4) All funds must …
Technology Commission http://www.austintexas.gov/cttc SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday –April 30th, 2025 – 6:30PM Austin City Hall – Boards and Commissions Room – Room 1101 301 W 2nd St., Austin, TX 78701 Please go to http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/10_1.htm for backup materials associated with this agenda. All ATXN (City Channel 6) programming is cablecast on Spectrum, Grande Communications, and Google Fiber on their cable channel 6, on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 and webcast online. Over 20 meetings per month, including this commission meeting, are available on demand online, typically within a found at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/atxn-video-archive. the cablecast. Schedules and video can be few hours of The Technology Commission convened in a Special Called meeting on Wednesday, March 30th, 2025, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Current Commission Members Vacant ‐ Mayor Kirk Watson Brian AM Williams ‐ Council Member Natasha Harper‐Madison, District 1 Steven Apodaca – Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 Carina Alderete ‐ Council Member José Velasquez, District 3 Suzanne Heritage ‐ Council Member José “Chito” Vela, District 4 Thomas Rice‐ Council Member Ryan Alter, District 5 Rachel Frock‐ Council Member Krista Laine, District 6 Benjamin Combee ‐ Council Member Mike Seigel, District 7 Nicholas Eastwood ‐ Council Member Paige Ellis, District 8 Ibiye Anga – Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, District 9 Milena Pribic ‐ Council Member Marc Duchen, District 10 Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance in person: Steven Apodaca, Chair Carina Alderete, Vice Chair Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Ibiye Anga Brian AM Williams 1 Suzanne Heritage Benjamin Combee Board Members/Commissioners Not in Attendance: Thomas Rice Rachel Frock Nicholas Eastwood Milena Pribic CALL TO ORDER Chair Apodaca called the Technology Commission Meeting to order at 6:49 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon on the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. There were no speakers registered to deliver comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on February 12th, 2025. Motion to approve the minutes made by Chair Apodaca and seconded by Vice Chair Alderete. The minutes from (02/12/2025) were approved on a vote of 6-0. 2. Approve the minutes of the Technology Commission meeting on March 5th, 2025. Motion to approve the minutes made by Chair Apodaca and seconded by Commissioner Heritage. The minutes from (03/05/2025) were approved on a …
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the PLANNING COMMISSION TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2025, 6:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Planning Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely. Registration no later than 2 PM the day of the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. For more information on public comment, please see the agenda section “Speaker Registration.” Please contact Ella Garcia, Staff Liaison, for questions regarding speaker registration at LandUseLiaison@austintexas.gov or by phone at 512-978-0821. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Awais Azhar, Chair (Mayor’s Representative) Alice Woods, Vice Chair (District 2) Felicity Maxwell, Secretary (District 5) Casey Haney, Parliamentarian (Mayor’s Representative) Claire Hempel (District 8) Anna Lan (Mayor’s Representative) Patrick Howard (District 1) Nadia Barrera-Ramirez (District 3) Greg Anderson (District 4) Imad Ahmed (District 6) Adam Powell (District 7) Danielle Skidmore (District 9) Joshua Hiller (District 10) EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Jessica Cohen, Chair of Board of Adjustment Candace Hunter, AISD Board of Trustees TC Broadnax, City Manager Richard Mendoza – Director of Transportation and Public Works EXECUTIVE SESSION (No public discussion) The Planning Commission will announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, according to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel on matters specifically listed on the agenda. The Commission may not conduct a closed meeting without the approval of the city attorney. Private Consultation with Attorney – Section 551.071. Staff Liaison: Ella Garcia, 512-978-0821 Attorney: AJ Urteaga, 512-974-2386 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first four speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. LDC Amendment: C20-2023-037 - SMART Housing Updates Phase 2 Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Amend City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to modify requirements, including fee waivers and affordability period, for the City’s S.M.A.R.T. Housing Program Recommend Brendan Kennedy, 512-978-1594, brendan.kennedy@austintexas.gov Housing Department STAFF BRIEFING 3. Staff briefing regarding the Integrated Bond Program Development and Delivery Plan. Presentation by Eric Bailey, 512-974-7713, eric.bailey@austintexas.gov 4. …
PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 The Planning Commission convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001, 301 W. Second Street, in Austin, Texas. Chair Hempel called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Claire Hempel Awais Azhar Greg Anderson Alice Woods Nadia Barrera-Ramirez Felicity Maxwell Imad Ahmed Adam Powell Danielle Skidmore Joshua Hiller Anna Lan Casey Haney Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Patrick Howard Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Jessica Cohen Ex-Officio Members in Attendance Remotely: Candance Hunter Ex-Officio Members Absent: TC Broadnax Richard Mendoza 1 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Stuart Harry Hersh: Made comments regarding the affordability of Safe, Mixed- Income, Accessible, Reasonably- priced, Transit (SMART) Housing. Philip Wiley: Made comments regarding supply chain management (SCM), specifically in reference to Mobility-Oriented Development (MOD) and Transit- Oriented Development (TOD). APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting on March 11, 2025, and March 25, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of March 11, 2025, and March 25, 2025, were approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 13-0 vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Plan Amendment: NPA-2023-0014.04 - 4302 Nuckols Crossing; District 2 Location: 4302, 4304 1/2, & 4316 Nuckols Crossing Road, Williamson Creek Watershed; Southeast Combined (Franklin Park) Neighborhood Plan Owner/Applicant: Katherine Barnidge Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: LOC Consultants Civil Division (Sergio Lozano-Sanchez, P.E.) Single Family to Multifamily Residential land use Staff Postponement Request to May 27, 2025 Maureen Meredith, 512-974-2695, maureen.meredith@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve Staff’s postponement request to May 27, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 13-0 vote. C14-2025-0028.SH - The Bloom at Lamar Square; District 9 1326 - 1328 Lamar Square Drive, Lady Bird Lake Watershed 3. Rezoning: Location: Owner/Applicant: FC Austin Fifteen Housing Corporation (Walter Moreau) Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Foundation Communities (Kyle Russell) MF-4 & MF-5 to CS Staff Recommends CS-CO Marcelle Boudreaux, 512-974-8094, marcelle.boudreaux@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of CS-CO for C14-2025-0028.SH - The Bloom at Lamar Square, located at 1326 - 1328 Lamar Square Drive, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 13-0 vote. 2 4. Rezoning: Location: C14-2024-0163 - 1700 South Lamar; District 9 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., 1401 …
Affordability Impact Statement S.M.A.R.T. Housing Updates Phase 2 Case number: C20-2023-037 Initiated by: Resolution No. 20230720-129 Date: 3/15/2025 Proposed Regulation The proposed amendments include: • • Lowering the median family income (MFI) eligibility for rental properties from 80% to 60% while allowing income averaging to meet affordability requirements. Standardizing program administration by requiring affordability restrictions to be executed before certification. • Removing exceptions for community land trust units—an underutilized and administratively infeasible provision. • Eliminating outdated or inconsistent provisions to align with these amendments. Land Use/Zoning Impacts on Housing Costs The proposed changes would have a positive impact on housing costs. The proposed amendments will lower the eligible MFI level for rental properties from 80 percent to 60 percent and allow for income averaging to achieve the required MFI. This will improve consistency and clarity across programs and is responsive to recommendations recently made from the Comprehensive Density Bonus Study conducted by the Planning Department, the Strategic Housing Blueprint and the Displacement Mitigation Strategy. Impact on Development Cost The proposed changes would have a neutral impact on development cost. The SMART Housing program provides fee waivers for certain development permits. As noted in the staff report, SMART Housing is almost always paired with other affordable housing programs for either funding or 02 C20-2023-037 - SMART Housing Updates Phase 2 1 of 2 density bonuses, such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit or Affordability Unlocked, which means deeper affordability requirements are required in almost all cases. Staff have found that fewer than 10% of applications within the last five years have provided exclusively 80% MFI units for rental. The amendments to MFI may mean that certain developments which are considered "workforce housing" may see fewer fee waivers. However, the amendments to allow income averaging ensures that full fee waivers will still be available to workforce housing, but will encourage additional units at deeper 50% and 60% MFI levels in alignment with the City's Strategic Housing Blueprint goals. Impact on Affordable Housing The proposed changes would have a positive impact on affordable housing. These amendments will strengthen affordable housing outcomes by increasing the number of deeply affordable units available. By aligning incentives with the City’s strategic goals, these updates ensure that more housing is accessible at 50% and 60% MFI levels. Streamlining administrative processes will also enhance the program’s effectiveness, making it easier to implement affordability requirements efficiently. S.M.A.R.T. Housing remains a …
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 ORDINANCE NO. _________________ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 15 (S.M.A.R.T. HOUSING PROGRAM) OF CITY CODE CHAPTER 25-1 (GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES) RELATED TO PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: PART 1. City Code Section 25-1-701 (Definitions) is amended to amend the definition of “Director” to read: (1) DIRECTOR means the director of the City's [Neighborhood] Housing [and Community Development] Department. PART 2. City Code Section 25-1-702 (Administration) is repealed and replaced to read: § 25-1-702 ADMINISTRATION. (A) The director administers, implements, and enforces the S.M.A.R.T. Housing program. (B) The director is authorized to adopt, administer, and implement program guidelines and establish requirements for an application under the program. PART 3. City Code Section 25-1-703 (Program Requirements) is amended to amend Subsection (C), to delete Subsection (D), and to re-letter the remaining subsection to read: § 25-1-703 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (C) Except as provided in Subsection (D), a reasonably-priced dwelling unit is one that is affordable for purchase or rental by a household that meets the housing costs and income qualifications of this subsection. (1) This paragraph provides qualifications on the amount of household income spent on housing costs. (a) Except as provided by Subparagraphs (b) and (c), housing costs of a household may not exceed 30 percent of its gross income. (b) A household may spend up to 35 percent of its gross income on housing costs if a household member receives City-approved homebuyer counseling. (c) A household that complies with other federal, state, or local income eligibility standards is not subject to the expenditure qualifications of Paragraphs (a) and (b). (2) This paragraph provides qualifications on household income. 4/22/25 SMART Housing Program Update Page 1 of 4 COA Law Department 02 C20-2023-037 - SMART Housing Updates Phase 2 1 of 4 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 (a) (b) If an applicant develops dwelling units for sale, reasonably-priced dwelling units must serve households whose incomes average 80 percent of the median family …
Planning Commission S.M.A.R.T. Housing Amendments Phase 2 Brendan Kennedy, Program Manager Housing Department S.M.A.R.T. Housing S.M.A.R.T. Housing Incentives Fee waivers Permit review benefits Gatekeeper requirement for new construction seeking most City affordable housing approvals 3 S.M.A.R.T. Housing Requirements Affordable units at or below 80% MFI (both rental and sale) – Minimum of 10% of units affordable = 25% fee waiver – Scales up to 40% of units affordable = 100% fee waiver Requires AEGB 1-Star certification and additional accessibility/visitability standards Requires transit proximity, with options for waiver set in Code 4 S.M.A.R.T. Housing is usually paired with other affordable housing programs, such as a density bonus, financing, or a tax exemption for feasibility. 94% of applications within the last 5 years paired S.M.A.R.T. with another affordable housing tool 93% of applications within the last 5 years provided affordable units at MFI levels of 60% MFI or below 5 Initiation – Resolution No. 20230720-129 Phase 1: Amend Section 25-1-704 so that fees eligible for a waiver under the S.M.A.R.T. Housing program would be identified as part of the annual fee ordinance (DSD - completed Feb. 2024) Phase 2: Amend Title 25 as needed to improve the operation and functionality of the S.M.A.R.T. Housing program. 6 Proposed Amendments Amendment #1 – Land Restriction Process Amend § 25-1-705 (D) to require affordability restrictions to be executed prior to certification – Establishes consistency between programs – Ensures applicants are aware of and bound to requirements at an earlier stage 8 Amendment #2 – CLT exemption Amend § 25-1-704 (B)(2)(a-b) to remove exemption for land dedicated to City-approved CLT. – Presents significant administrative burdens and infeasible to implement – Underutilized by dedicated CLT entities – City has additional tools for CLT housing available 9 Proposed Amendment #3 – Rental MFI Amend § 25-1-703 (C)(2)(a) to lower affordable rental MFI from 80% MFI to an average 60% MFI – Establishes consistency between programs by requiring 60% MFI rental – Reduces confusion on affordability from permit reviewers – Meets Department’s programmatic goals to target 60% MFI and below – Income averaging still accommodates "workforce housing" when deeper affordability levels are provided 10 Amendment #4 – Remove Outdated Provisions Remove in their entirety: – § 25-1-702 (B), a requirement to notify TPW of all S.M.A.R.T. developments – § 25-1-703 (D),§ 25-1-704 (B)(2)(c), and § 25-1-705 (A)(4), …
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REVIEW SHEET Amendment: C20-2023-037 S.M.A.R.T. Housing Updates Phase 2 Description: Amend the City’s S.M.A.R.T. Housing Program and City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to improve the functionality of the program. Background: Initiated by City Council Resolution 20230720-129. On July 20, 2023, City Council approved Resolution No. 20230720-129 that directed staff to make amendments to S.M.A.R.T. Housing. Staff with the Development Services Department initiated amendments related to Phase 1, which amended Section 25-1-704 so that fees eligible for a waiver under the S.M.A.R.T. Housing program would be identified as part of the annual fee ordinance. On February 1, 2024, City Council approved Ordinance No. 20240201-053 to adopt these amendments. Phase 2 directs staff to amend the S.M.A.R.T. Housing program to improve the functionality of the program. Summary of Proposed Code Amendment: Amendments to § 25-1-703 (C)(2) will lower the eligible median family income (MFI) level for rental properties from 80 percent to 60 percent MFI. Amendments to this section will also allow for income averaging to achieve the required MFI for both rental and ownership. This will improve consistency and clarity across programs, and is responsive to recommendations recently made from a comprehensive density bonus study conducted by the Planning Department. Amendments to § 25-1-705 (D) will improve program administration and consistency across programs by requiring affordability restrictions to be executed prior to certification. § 25-1-704 (B)(2)(a-b) will be removed in its entirety to eliminate a provision related to exceptions for certain units dedicated to a community land trust, which has been underutilized and is administratively infeasible. Additional provisions will be removed to eliminate outdated provisions or provisions which are inconsistent with the amendments listed above. Proposed Text Amendment(s): Amend § 25-1-703 (C)(2)(a) to read, or amend with comparable language: “ dwelling units must serve households whose incomes average 80 percent of the median family income or below as determined by the director of the Housing Department. (a) If an applicant develops dwelling units for sale, reasonably-priced (b) If an applicant develops dwelling units for lease, reasonably-priced dwelling units must serve households whose incomes average 60 percent of the median family income or below as determined by the director of the Housing Department.” Amend § 25-1-705 (D) to read, or amend with comparable language: 02 C20-2023-037 - SMART Housing Updates Phase 2 1 of 2 “(D) Before the director may certify a proposed development, the applicant shall comply with …
Capital Delivery Services Public Improvement Bond Program Integrated Bond Program Development and Delivery Plan Planning Commission Update Eric Bailey Deputy Director Capital Delivery Services “Effectively and Efficiently Deliver Quality Projects with the Concept of Speed” 1 AGENDA • CDS Overview • What is a General Obligation Bond Program? • Improved Bond Development Process • Staff Work Completed to Date • Guiding Principles, Technical Criteria, & Scoring Matrices • Progress to Date & Upcoming Milestones “Effectively and Efficiently Deliver Quality Projects with the Concept of Speed” 2 Created in 2023 with the goal of reducing project delivery time Who we are • Engineers • Architects • Project managers • Community Engagement Our partners • Consultants • Contracting teams • City asset owners • Community members • Mayor & Council Role in 2026 Bond Program One City – One Team – One Approach to effectively and efficiently deliver quality public projects. • Convene asset owner departments to develop needs assessment • Guide the process to ensure projects are vetted and scopes/schedules/budgets are accurate and realistic • Coordinate projects across departments to achieve mutual benefits What is a General Obligation Bond Program? Typical Bond Projects: • Flood and Erosion Control Improvements • New or Replacement City Facilities • Rehabilitation of Existing Facilities • Housing Infrastructure/Housing Projects • Street and Thoroughfare Improvements o Sidewalks o Traffic Signals • Park and Recreation Facilities • Public Safety Facilities (Fire/EMS/Police) • Land Purchase 4 What is a General Obligation Bond Program? Types of work NOT included: • Routine operations and maintenance activities o Potholes o Minor street repair o Landscaping maintenance o General building maintenance Improvements for short term leased space • • Code enforcement initiatives • Employee salaries (including police & fire) • AE/AW Capital Projects typically funded by using debt are funded via AE and AW revenue bonds, not General Obligation debt and thus are not for the 2026 GO Bond Program City of Austin | Capital Delivery Services Department | One City, One Team, One Approach to Capital Delivery 5 Improved Bond Delivery Process for 2026 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Council calls for Bond Election (Aug) Bond Election (Nov) BEATF Meetings, Council, and Public Engagement HOW WE’VE DONE BONDS IN THE PAST: Project Proposals RFP’s/RFQ’s Project Planning to develop scope, schedule, budget Design Construction WHAT WE’RE DOING NOW: Needs Assessment and Project Evaluation Project Planning to develop scope, schedule, …
LEAD TEAM PLANNING ACTIVITIES JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2025 2026 PLANNING DEPARTMENT PLANNING INITIATIVES APRIL 2025 ETOD SMALL AREA NORTH LAMAR TC STATION AREA VISION PLAN ETOD SMALL AREA SOUTH CONGRESS TC STATION AREA VISION PLAN SMALL AREA AGRICULTURALLY FOCUSED NEIGHBORHOODS HIST. PRESERVATION DOWNTOWN HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY CODE AMENDS EQUITY OVERLAY STUDY COMP. PLAN. INDUSTRIAL STUDY URBAN DESIGN URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES UPDATE URBAN DESIGN GREAT STREETS PLAN AND STANDARDS UPDATE ETOD SMALL AREA EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR VISION PLAN UPDATE DISTRICT PLAN. NORTHEAST DISTRICT PLAN COMP. PLAN. IMAGINE AUSTIN UPDATE DISTRICT PLAN. GREATER 78702 INITIATIVE (NORTH RIVER/EAST) DISTRICT PLAN. DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN “DAP” (CENTER CITY/CENTRAL) HIST. PRESERVATION TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ANALYSIS TIMELINE TBD TIMELINE TBD TIMELINE TBD DISTRICT PLAN. DISTRICT PLANNING FRAMEWORK ETOD SYSTEMWIDE CRESTVIEW TOD PLAN UPDATE TIMELINE TBD TIMELINE TBD CHART KEY PLANNING PROCESS SCOPING AND COST ESTIMATING DEVELOPMENT AND/OR ENGAGEMENT REVIEW AND/OR ADOPTION DATES FOR REVIEW AND/OR ADOPTION CITY COUNCIL Updated 4/10/25 04 Staff briefing regarding the timeline for Planning Department planning initiatives1 of 1
PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 The Planning Commission convened in a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001, 301 W. Second Street, in Austin, Texas. Chair Hempel called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Claire Hempel Awais Azhar Greg Anderson Alice Woods Nadia Barrera-Ramirez Felicity Maxwell Imad Ahmed Adam Powell Danielle Skidmore Joshua Hiller Anna Lan Casey Haney Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Patrick Howard Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Jessica Cohen Ex-Officio Members in Attendance Remotely: Candance Hunter Ex-Officio Members Absent: TC Broadnax Richard Mendoza 1 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Stuart Harry Hersh: Made comments regarding the affordability of Safe, Mixed- Income, Accessible, Reasonably- priced, Transit (SMART) Housing. Philip Wiley: Made comments regarding supply chain management (SCM), specifically in reference to Mobility-Oriented Development (MOD) and Transit- Oriented Development (TOD). APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting on March 11, 2025, and March 25, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of March 11, 2025, and March 25, 2025, were approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 13-0 vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Plan Amendment: NPA-2023-0014.04 - 4302 Nuckols Crossing; District 2 Location: 4302, 4304 1/2, & 4316 Nuckols Crossing Road, Williamson Creek Watershed; Southeast Combined (Franklin Park) Neighborhood Plan Owner/Applicant: Katherine Barnidge Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: LOC Consultants Civil Division (Sergio Lozano-Sanchez, P.E.) Single Family to Multifamily Residential land use Staff Postponement Request to May 27, 2025 Maureen Meredith, 512-974-2695, maureen.meredith@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve Staff’s postponement request to May 27, 2025, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 13-0 vote. C14-2025-0028.SH - The Bloom at Lamar Square; District 9 1326 - 1328 Lamar Square Drive, Lady Bird Lake Watershed 3. Rezoning: Location: Owner/Applicant: FC Austin Fifteen Housing Corporation (Walter Moreau) Agent: Request: Staff Rec.: Staff: Foundation Communities (Kyle Russell) MF-4 & MF-5 to CS Staff Recommends CS-CO Marcelle Boudreaux, 512-974-8094, marcelle.boudreaux@austintexas.gov Planning Department The motion to approve Staff’s recommendation of CS-CO for C14-2025-0028.SH - The Bloom at Lamar Square, located at 1326 - 1328 Lamar Square Drive, was approved on the consent agenda on Commissioner Maxwell’s motion, Commissioner Haney’s second, on a 13-0 vote. 2 4. Rezoning: Location: C14-2024-0163 - 1700 South Lamar; District 9 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., 1401 …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Assistant City Manager FROM: Mandy DeMayo, Interim Director, Housing Department DATE: April 25, 2025 SUBJECT: SMART Housing Program – Staff Response (Resolution No. 20230720-129) The purpose of this memorandum is to respond to Resolution No. 20230720-129 regarding amendments to the Safe, Mixed-Income, Accessible, Reasonably-priced, Transit-Oriented (SMART) Housing program. The resolution directed the City Manager to identify fees eligible for waiver in the annual fee ordinance and pursue any additional administrative updates to improve program effectiveness. The amendments related to fee waivers have been completed by the Development Services Department and were approved in Ordinance No. 20240201-053. This memorandum outlines the Housing Department’s recommendations for further administrative amendments. Housing staff have identified and drafted proposed amendments to improve the SMART Housing Program’s operation and functionality. Staff presented the draft amendments to the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee on April 16th and will present to the Planning Commission on April 29th before being brought forward for the City Council’s consideration with an anticipated public hearing scheduled for the May 22nd City Council meeting. As a result, the draft amendments are subject to further changes. Staff proposes to: • • Amend the Median Family Income (MFI) requirements for rental housing from 80% MFI to 60% MFI, and allow income averaging to achieve the required MFI level Amend the certification process to align with the standard affordable housing certification process outlined in City Code section 4-18-25 • Remove numerous outdated or administratively infeasible provisions The proposed amendments are anticipated to have minimal programmatic impact. Additional resources would be needed to pursue more substantial revisions to the SMART Housing program, as the current resolution only addresses administrative updates to improve program effectiveness. A comprehensive update to the program would allow staff to evaluate substantial updates to existing requirements, consider extending the program’s scope, and weigh the budgetary impacts of changes to the program. However, this would require significant staff time across multiple departments, extensive community engagement, stakeholder involvement, third-party economic 02 C20-2023-037 - SMART Housing Updates Phase 2 1 of 2 PAGE: DATE: SUBJECT: 2 of 2 April 25, 2025 SMART Housing Program – Staff Response (Resolution No. 20230720-129) analysis, and internal evaluations. Accordingly, staff is currently assessing the resources necessary to undertake the comprehensive update. In the meantime, the proposed SMART Housing amendments being offered will …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD APRIL 28, 2025 – 6:00 PM CITY HALL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Parks and Recreation Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. For remote participation, registration must be completed no later than noon the day before the meeting. To register to speak, click here: https://forms.office.com/g/vz4wFsgDC5 or call or email Tim Dombeck, (512) 974- 6716, Tim.Dombeck@austintexas.gov. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and may be allowed up to three (3) minutes to provide their comments. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Pedro Villalobos (D-2), Chair Kathryn Flowers (D-4), Vice Chair Shelby Orme (D-1) Nicole Merritt (D-3) CALL TO ORDER Stephanie Bazan (D-5) Luai Abou-Emara (D-6) Diane Kearns-Osterweil (D-7) Kim Taylor (D-8) Jennifer Franklin (D-9) Holly Reed (D-10) Lane Becker (Mayor) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of March 24, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for PARD Staff working behind the scenes in the Support Services Division to maintain excellent administrative services across a large, diverse department. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Park Access for All, Urban Public Spaces). Presenter(s): Ben Rustenhaven, Business Process Consultant and David Hillers, Financial Services Division Manager, Parks and Recreation Department. 3. Conduct officer elections for Chair and Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board. STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (Sponsors: Villalobos, Flowers) (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces, Park Access). Presenter(s): Jesús Aguirre, Parks and Recreation Director. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Page 1 of 2 ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Tim Dombeck at …
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a REGULAR meeting on March 24, 2025 at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas Vice Chair Flowers called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Stephanie Bazan, Lane Becker, Kathryn Flowers, Jennifer Franklin, Nicole Merritt. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Luai Abou-Emara (left meeting at 7:44 p.m.), Holly Reed. Board Members Absent: Shelby Orme, Kim Taylor, Pedro Villalobos. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Liz Barhydt - Austin Rowing Club Chris Flores - Swim scholarships and budget recommendation Gavino Fernandez - Mexican American Land Owners in East Austin Mike Cannatti - Joan Mean Khabele Bathhouse Project Joy Casnovsky - Austin Parks Foundation Fleetwood Jacobs - Zilker 351 Joel Manzo - Barton Springs and Zilker Park budget issues Mary Fero - Wildfire mitigation at Northwest park APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of February 24, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of February 24, 2025 was approved on Board Member Franklin’s motion, Board Member Bazan’s second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for PARD Staff who have increased low- income access to PARD programs by improving financial aid programs, effective collaboration and removal of barriers. 1 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2025 Christa McCarthy, Centralized Programming Division Manager and Davin, Bjornaas, Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department gave a presentation and answered questions. The motion to and approve letters of support for PARD Staff who have increased low-income access to PARD programs by improving financial aid programs, effective collaboration and removal of barriers was approved on Vice Chair Flowers’ motion, Board Member Becker’s second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Board Members Orme, Taylor and Villalobos absent. 3. Presentation, discussion and approve a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and the Austin Independent School District for Project SAFE, a swim lesson and water safety education program that includes opportunities for students to continue their education by joining either paid or free swim lessons …
REGULAR MEETING of the DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY APRIL 28, 2025, 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Design Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Nicole Corona, at 512-974-3146 or nicole.corona@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Kevin Howard Saria Khan CALL TO ORDER Conners Ladner Ben Luckens Marissa McKinney Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Brendan Wittstruck AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on March 24, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Austin Convention Center Redevelopment, located at 500 East 3rd Street, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards as presented to the Design Commission on March 24, 2025. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Commissioner Wittstruck. 3. Discussion and action to select Downtown Density Bonus Program projects from the past ten years to conduct analysis on outcomes. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. 4. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Discussion of analysis on the past Downtown Density Bonus Program projects, 405 Colorado, located at 405 Colorado Street, associated with SP-2016-0260C, and 5th and West, located at 501 West Avenue, associated with SP-2013-0454C. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 6. 7. 8. 9. Update from the representative of Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on April 14, 2025. Update from the representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on April 23, 2025. Update from the representative of the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board regarding the meeting on April 21, 2025. Update from the representative of the Downtown Commission regarding the meeting on April 16, 2025. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Note: City Code requires two …
DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Brendan Wittstruck Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Marissa McKinney PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on February 24, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of 02/24/2025 were approved on Vice Chair Meiners’ motion, Chair Salinas’ second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Murkes was off the dais. Commissioners Howard, Ladner, Luckens, and Wallace were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project AUS West Garage, located at 2921 1/2 Presidential Boulevard, complies with the City Design and Sustainability 1 Standards. Presented by Mari Boren, Capital Delivery Services, Cris Ruebush, PGAL, and Shelby Horton, Dunaway. There was a motion to recommend to City Council that the project AUS West Garage, located at 2921 1/2 Presidential Boulevard, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. There was a substitute motion to recommend to City Council that the project AUS West Garage, located at 2921 1/2 Presidential Boulevard, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards with the inclusion of solar array, exploring water retention, increased electric vehicle capacity, increased vertical or horizontal vegetation to mitigate the heat island effect, and to encourage safer, intuitive paths for pedestrians was approved on Vice Chair Meiners’ motion, Commissioner Gelles’ second on a 6-0-1 vote. Commissioner Wittstruck recused from this item due to a conflict of interest and left the dais. Commissioners Howard, Ladner, Luckens, and Wallace were absent. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Austin Convention Center Redevelopment, located at 500 East 3rd Street, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. Presented by Riley Triggs, Capital Delivery Services, and Larry Speck and Josh Coleman, LMN/Page. The motion to recommend to City Council that the project Austin Convention Center Redevelopment, located at 500 East 3rd Street, complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards failed on Vice Chair Meiners’ motion, Chair Salinas’ second on a 4-1-2 vote. Those members voting aye were: Chair Salinas …
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER REDEVELOPMENT DESIGN COMMISSION PRESENTATION SPO-2025-001BC MARCH 24, 2025 PROJECT SCOPE LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 BY THE NUMBERS CONSTRUCTION COST $1.26B RENTABLE SPACE AREAS EXISTING CONVENTION CENTER 365,000 SF NEW CONVENTION CENTER INDOOR + OUTDOOR 550,000 + 70,000 SF FUTURE EXPANSION 140,000 SF LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 PROJECT GOALS LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 20210610-096 The City Council seeks to work with the prime architecture firm capable of delivering a world class design befitting a city of Austin’s size and prominence. The Convention Center design shall incorporate the most innovative ideas in programming and placemaking and shall aim to create a civic building that draws and serves Austinites as well as visitors. The City council affirms its intention that the convention Center be, like its companion civic building to the west, the Austin Central Library, a landmark of great distinction, a bustling and vital public gathering place, and a point of pride for the community. LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 THE AUSTIN MATRIX UNIQUELY AUSTIN Slide 9 | July 24, 2024 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 ARTS + CULTURE + MUSIC + ENTERTAINMENT CITY LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 FESTIVAL CITY LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 TECH CITY LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES AREA WIDE AW.1 CREATE DENSE DEVELOPMENT AW.2 CREATE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT AW.3 LIMIT DEVELOPMENT WHICH CLOSES DOWNTOWN STREETS N/A AW.4 BUFFER NEIGHBORHOOD EDGES AW.5 INCORPORATE CIVIC ART IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AW.6 PROTECT IMPORTANT PUBLIC VIEWS AW.7 AVOID HISTORICAL MISINTERPRETATIONS AW.8 RESPECT ADJACENT HISTORIC BUILDINGS AW.9 ACKNOWLEDGE ROOFTOPS ARE SEEN FROM OTHER BUILDINGS AND STREET AW.10 AVOID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEME ENVIRONMENTS AW.11 RECYCLE EXISTING BUILDING STOCK LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES PUBLIC STREETSCAPE PS.1 PROTECT THE PEDESTRIAN WHERE THE BUILDING MEETS THE STREET PS.2 MINIMIZE CURB CUTS PS.3 CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR TWO-WAY STREETS PS.4 REINFORCE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY PS.5 ENHANCE KEY TRANSIT STOPS PS.6 ENHANCE THE STREETSCAPE PS.7 AVOID CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEDESTRIANS AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT PS.8 INSTALL STREET TREES PS.9 PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN SCALED-LIGHTING PS.10 PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM CARS/ PROMOTE CURBSIDE PARKING PS.11 SCREEN MECHANICAL AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT PS.12 PROVIDE GENEROUS STREET-LEVEL WINDOWS PS.13 INSTALL PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY MATERIALS AT STREET LEVEL LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES PLAZAS AND OPEN SPACE PS.1 TREAT THE FOUR SQUARES WITH …
RECONNECTING AUSTIN LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES • • • • • • • • • • • February 25, 2025 LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 RECONNECTION OF THE GRID SCALE AND POROSITY RECONNECTION OF THE GRID SCALE AND POROSITY February 25, 2025 LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 THE BLOCKS THE BLOCKS February 25, 2025 LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 INTERSECTION OF PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE INTERSECTION OF PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE February 25, 2025 LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 URBAN TO LANDSCAPE URBAN TO LANDSCAPE URBAN / LANDSCAPE February 25, 2025 Slide 17 | September 5, 2024 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 URBAN TO URBAN TO LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE February 25, 2025 LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 INDOOR TO OUTDOOR INDOOR TO OUTDOOR INSIDE / OUTSIDE February 25, 2025 Slide 18 | September 5, 2024 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 THE NEW BLOCKS INDOOR TO OUTDOOR THE RAVINE VERTICAL CONNECTIONS EX HALL TO FLEX HALL LINKS TO NATURE AND CREEK THE PASEO ACTIVATED PROMENADE CONNECTOR URBANE AND ORDERED LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 TRIO OF LANDMARK BUILDINGS CENTRAL LIBRARY CITY HALL CONVENTION CENTER LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 ARCHITECTURALLY INTEGRATED ART LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 UNPRECEDENTED SCALE ~$17.7M TOTAL INVESTMENT Austin’s largest single investment in public art to date ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRATION 10 artists selected during Schematic Design of building for architecturally-integrated art Additional AIPP artwork will follow more traditional procurement timeline LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 SELECTED ARTISTS Aaron Michalovic Alejandra Almuelle Carmen Rangel Dave McClinton Dawn Okoro Deborah Roberts Diego Miro-Rivera Jenaro Goode Rex Hamilton Tsz Kam LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 PRELIMINARY LOCATIONS WAREHOUSE CORNER WAREHOUSE FLEX HALL PORTALS HUB WEST HUB EAST REGISTRATION PASEO SOFFIT BALLROOM SHADE CANOPY LEVEL 03 PREFUNCTION LIGHTING BALLROOM SOUTH STONE FABRICATION LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 DESIGN APPROACH LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 GROUND LEVEL PROGRAM 1 GROUND LEVEL • CONVENTION SPACES INTEGRATED WITH SURROUNDING STREETS • CENTRAL MULTISTORY LOBBY CONNECTS TO UPPER AND LOWER LEVELS • SIGNATURE TIMBER BALLROOM AND LOBBY STRUCTURE • MEETING ROOMS AND BALLROOM WITH CONNECTIONS TO OUTDOOR SPACES • MULTI FUNCTIONAL OUTDOOR EVENT SPACES February 25, 2025 LMN/Page Joint Venture LMN/Page Joint VentureMarch 24, 2025 PROGRAM STACKED WITH VERTICAL CONNECTIONS STACKED …
