REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2026, 6:00 P.M. 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 Stephen Crews at 512- 978-1399 or Stephen.crews@austintexas.gov . CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Marissa McKinney, Chair Kevin Howard, Vice Chair Ramachandra “Rao” Aradhyula David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Saira Khan CALL TO ORDER AGENDA Conners Ladner Josue Meiners Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Jon Salinas Brendan Wittstruck 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 October 26th, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion on alley access and promoting the use of alley spaces for economic vitality. Sponsors: Commissioner Gelles and Commissioner Salinas. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. Discussion and possible action to approve a recommendation to the Austin City Council regarding the Green Infrastructure Initiative. Sponsors: Commissioner Carroll and Commissioner Wittstruck. Discussion and action to appoint a member of the Design Commission to serve as the Commission’s representative on the Joint Sustainability Committee. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from Urban Design Guidelines Working group regarding the future of the Design Commission. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS City Code requires at least two board members sponsor an item to be included on an agenda. This section of the agenda provides members an opportunity to request items for future agendas. Staff should assume that if there is no objection from other members expressed at the meeting, the members’ silence indicates approval for staff to include on the next agenda. 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 …
DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING Monday, October 26,2026 The Design Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Kevin Howard called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:09 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kevin Howard, Vice Chair David Carroll Josue Meiners Jon Salinas Brendan Wittstruck Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Nkiru Gelles PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission Regular Meeting on September 28, 2026. The minutes from the Design Commission regular meeting on September 28, were approved on Commissioner Wittstruck’s motion, Commissioner Salinas’ second on a vote of 6-0. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and possible action on approving a recommendation to Council regarding the future roles, name, and mission of the Design Commission. Sponsors: Commissioner Wittstruck and Vice Chair Howard. A motion to approve the recommendation, as provided in the meeting’s backup, to council was approved, Commissioner Wittstruck motion and Commissioner Salinas second on a vote of 6-0. 1 3. Discussion and possible action to approve the Design Commission annual schedule for 2027. A motion was made to approve the schedule as provided in backup, Commissioner Wittstruck Motion and Commissioner Salinas second on a vote of 6-0. 4. Discussion and possible action to approve a recommendation to the Austin City Council regarding the Green Infrastructure Initiative. Sponsors: Commissioner Carroll and Commissioner Wittstruck. A motion was made to postpone this item to the November meeting of the Design Commissioner, Vice Chair Howard motion and Commissioner Carroll second on a vote of 6-0. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from Urban Design Guidelines Working group regarding the future of the Design Commission. Item was discussed. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion on alley access and promoting the use of alley spaces for economic vitality. Sponsors: Commissioner Nkiru Gelles and Commissioner Jon Salinas. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Kevin Howard adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m. without objection. 2
Recommendation to the Austin City Council Regarding the Green Infrastructure Initiative WHEREAS, the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan outlines a vision for a complete community where development occurs in connected and pedestrian friendly patterns supporting transit and identifying green infrastructure as a key strategy to achieve these goals; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan call for a 50/50 mode share whereby 50 percent of commutes are made in ways other than driving alone and envision completing the Bicycle, Sidewalk, and Urban Trails Plans by 2039; and WHEREAS, in 2013, Council approved Resolution No. 20131212-080 that directed the City Manager to create and implement the Complete Streets Policy which encouraged city streets to integrate nature and green practices into our city including trees, landscaping, and rain gardens, also known as Green Infrastructure; and WHEREAS, street trees are critical infrastructure, providing shade, mitigating urban heat, managing stormwater, improving air quality, and enhancing the safety, comfort, and quality of the public realm; and WHEREAS, on March 21, 2024, the Austin City Council adopted Resolution No. 20240321-039, directing the City Manager to resolve existing barriers to implementing street trees and advance their integration into public rights-of-way; and WHEREAS, the Austin Roadmap for Advancing Green Infrastructure in the Right-of-Way identifies regulatory, technical, procedural, and institutional barriers and recommends actions to prioritize street trees in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of Austin's streets; and WHEREAS, tax payers are making substantial, once-in-a-generation investments to make our streets safe, comfortable, and support sustainable mobility options including, Project Connect, East Avenue Trail and I-35 cap and stitch parks, Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative, Corridor Mobility Bond projects, to which tree-lined streets are essential to the function, return on public investment, and long-term legacy of these projects; and WHEREAS, Incorporating tree-lined streets into these improvements relies on the implementation of the Austin Roadmap for Advancing Green Infrastructure in the Right-of-Way, making timely and effective resolution imperative; and WHEREAS, implementing these recommendations in Austin’s constrained rights-of-way requires reconciling legitimate and sometimes competing infrastructure objectives, including preserving sufficient planting sites between the sidewalk and the roadbed to provide a continuous canopy of street trees, providing enough soil volume to support tree health, minimizing the risk that tree root growth will damage utilities, and ensuring fast and cost-effective utility serviceability in the event of emergencies; and WHEREAS, successful implementation requires sustained City leadership, clearly defined responsibilities, …
