COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (CDC) MEETING September 8, 2026 – 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS - ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND STREET, 78701 AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the CDC 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, contact Miguel Lopez, (512) 975-1575, Miguel.lopez@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Noe Elias, Chair, Montopolis Jenny E. Achilles, Private Sector Omar Gamboa, Public Sector Cynthia Jaso, Dove Springs Sonia Martinez, East Austin Valerie Menard, St. John’s CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Lyric E. Wardlow, Vice Chair, Public Sector Taniquewa S. Brewster, Rosewood-Zaragosa Tisha-Vonique Hood, Public Sector Raul E. Longoria, South Austin Cassandra Medrano, South Austin Jo Anne Ortiz, Public Sector AGENDA 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 CDC Regular meeting on August 14, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) activities and outcomes. Presentation by Angel Zambrano, Program Manager III, Austin Public Health (APH). DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Discussion on the recent meeting of the Housing Investment Review Committee (HIRC). Discussion led by Commissioner Valeria Menard. Update and discussion of the CDC Election process. Discussion led by Chair Noe Elias. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. Discussion and action on the election and nomination process for APH concerning Public Sector and Private Sector Appointees. Presentation by Angel Zambrano, Program Manager III, Austin Public Health. Discussion and possible approval of a recommendation regarding the Dog’s Head Development. Discussion led by Commissioner Valeria Menard. WORKING GROUP UPDATES FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Miguel …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Community Development Commission Recommendation 20260722-001: Dog’s Head Development WHEREAS, the Community Development Commission was informed about the Dog’s Head project by the Environmental Commission, city staff, and more than 35 concerned citizens at the June 17, 2026, Environmental Commission meeting; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission formed a working group to advise and make recommendations regarding the environmental aspects of the project; and WHEREAS, the working group, comprised of commissioners and citizens, met on June 22, 24, and 29; and WHEREAS, the working group was informed that the City of Austin has not conducted an Environmental Assessment Study or an Environmental Resource Inventory, or Tree Survey, or worked with the state to assess the existing pollutants on the property; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is recommending expanding access to the Dog’s Head by at least 3 bridges across the Colorado River as part of the infrastructure package, yet has not conducted an Environmental Assessment or Impact Study; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Commission disagrees with the statements made by the developer that the ENTIRE property is “bombed out” or totally degraded to the point that it 100% has to be restored; however, we do agree major restoration is necessary and should be guided by the City’s policies and practices; and WHEREAS, Travis County and the State Historical Commission, via the Hicks Report, recognized portions of this property to have existing historic structures from earlier farms and ranching efforts in the 1850s, and adjacent properties that are still in ranching production; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Commission recognizes this project falls in the blackland prairie ecoregion, and that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department states that less than 1% of this region is left in Texas; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Commission acknowledges the project is habitat for hundreds of species of migratory and resident birds that bring in birders from around the world every year who contribute millions to the regional economy; and . WHEREAS, the Community Development Commission understands the project encompasses the alluvial aquifers that store and filter water along the river to provide drinking water for Austin’s Colony, Manor, Travis County, downstream counties, livestock, and wildlife; and WHEREAS, on November 6, 2024, the Environmental Commission passed a recommendation concerning the Colorado River Code Amendment, and subsequently the City Council passed Ordinance 20250327-084, amending section 27-7-32 of the Land Development Code as the “Colorado …
Austin Public Health Report on PY26 Community Action Plan MISSION: To prevent disease, promote health, and protect the well-being of our community. TOP 5 NEEDS: Housing; Basic Needs; Employment; Health; Income Community Services Block Grant 2026 Contract Programmatic/Financial Report September 8th, 2026 The Community Services Block Grant funds the delivery of services to low-income Texas residents in all 254 counties. These funds support a variety of direct services in addition to helping maintain the core administrative elements of community action agencies. For the City of Austin, the grant provides funding for the delivery of basic needs, case management, preventive health and employment support services through the City’s seven (7) Neighborhood Centers. Mission: The Neighborhood Services Unit aims to improve the lives and health of people experiencing poverty by providing public health and social services and connecting residents of Austin and Travis County to community resources. ◼ Basic Needs (food, clothing, information and referral, notary services, transportation, car safety education and car seats, tax preparation, fans, Thanksgiving food baskets and other seasonal activities); ◼ Preventive Health (screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar including a1C, and cholesterol; pregnancy testing; health promotion presentations, coordination and participation in health fairs, immunizations, coordination of wellness activities, linkages to medical home providers and diabetes case management); ◼ Case Management (individual/family support counseling, advocacy, self-sufficiency case management, crisis intervention, linkages with employers, educational opportunities and training, and working with individuals on quality-of-life issues); ◼ Employment Support (intake, assessment and goal setting, job readiness training, job placement assistance, and job retention services) Expenditures Categories Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total 2026 Contract Budget $ $ $ $1,148,214 Cumulative Expenditures through 7/31/26 $439,803.50 $242,134.53 $ $681,938.03 Percent of Total 59% 1 Neighborhood Services Unit Success Stories From the social worker’s own words: Self-Sufficiency Case Management Success Story At the start of services, the client had been unemployed for over a year and had a history of difficulty maintaining employment beyond six months. The client also identified goals related to improving social skills, increasing volunteer engagement, and securing stable employment. Through consistent one-on-one case management, we worked to build social confidence, participated in group outings to strengthen interpersonal skills, and developed a structured and realistic job-search plan. Each session included reviewing job opportunities, discussing application strategies, and setting attainable goals to support continued progress. As a result of these efforts, the client obtained employment in their field of interest within IT. …
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2026 The COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION convened in a REGULAR MEETING on TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2026, at CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSION ROOM in Austin, Texas. Some members of the commission participated by video conference. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Noe Elias, Chair Jenny E. Achilles Cynthia Jaso Raul E. Longoria Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Lyric Wardlow, Vice Chair Tisha-Vonique Hood Sonia Martinez Valerie Menard Jo Anne Ortiz Staff Members in Attendance: Jill Smith Nefertitti Jackmon Marla Torrado Miguel Lopez Angel Zambrano CALL TO ORDER Chair Noe Elias called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM. 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 CDC Regular meeting on July 14, 2026. The minutes from the Community Development Commission regular meeting on August 11, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Longoria’s motion, Commissioner Achilles’ second, on a 7-0-1 vote with the amendments listed below. Commissioner Jaso abstained. Endorsing Commissioners for the Special Called Meeting: Commissioners Brewster, Longoria, and Menard. Public Communication speakers to be listed as Dr. Maria Del Carmine Unde and Marianna Kruger STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) activities and outcomes. Presentation by Angel Zambrano, Program Manager III, Austin Public Health. The presentation was made by Angel Zambrano, Program Manager III, Austin Public Health. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion on the Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program. Presentation by Nicole Joslin, Housing and Community Development Officer, and Chanda Gaither, Housing Development Manager, Austin Housing. The presentation was made by Chanda Gather, Housing Development Manager, Austin Housing. 4. Presentation and discussion on the Digital Equity Assessment Survey. Presentation by Jesse Rodriguez, Program Manager II, Austin Economic Development. The presentation was made by Jesse Rodriguez, Program Manager II, Austin Economic Development. 5. Update and discussion of the CDC Election process. Discussion led by Chair Noe Elias. This item was tabled for the CDC General Meeting set to be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. 6. Discussion concerning the Dog’s Head Development. Discussion led by Commissioner Valerie Menard. This item was tabled for the CDC General Meeting set to be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Discussion and action …
