01. Draft Meeting Minutes October 27, 2025 — original pdf

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DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 27, 2025 The Design Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Jon Salinas, Chair Josue Meiners, Vice Chair Ramachandra “Rao” Aradhyula David Carroll Nkiru Gelles Conners Ladner – Commissioner Ladner left the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Evgenia “Jenny” Murkes Brendan Wittstruck Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kevin Howard Saira Khan Marissa McKinney PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission regular meeting on August 25, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of 08/25/2025 were approved on Commissioner Aradhyula’s motion, Vice Chair Meiners’ second, on a 9-0-2 vote. Commissioners Gelles and Ladner abstained. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding the Green Infrastructure in the Right of Way. Presented by Michelle Marx, Austin Transportation and Public Works. The presentation was made by Michelle Marx, Austin Transportation and Public Works. Staff briefing on proposed amendments to City Code Title 25 (Land Development Code), Case C20-2025-010, related to establishing a maximum building height limit within the Central Business District (CBD) zoning district, and amending the Downtown Density Bonus Program (DDBP) and Rainey Street Subdistrict regulations to modify allowable maximum building height when participating in the DDBP. Presented by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Commissioner Carroll. The presentation was made by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. Presentation and discussion regarding Staff’s response to Resolution 20241121-073 related to Bird-Friendly design. Presented by Leslie Lilly, Austin Watershed Protection. The presentation was made by Leslie Lilly, Austin Watershed Protection. Discussion of analysis on the Design Commission's recommendations and the final approved Downtown Density Bonus Program projects from the past ten years. The motion to postpone items 5, 6, and 7 to November 17, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Howard’s motion, Commissioner McKinney’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ladner was off the dais. Discussion of the draft Urban Design Guidelines regarding the sections: Introduction, Core Principle A: Protect Pedestrians and Bicyclists from the Elements, and Core Principle B: Protect Sidewalk and Bikeway Users from Motor Vehicles. The motion to postpone items 5, 6, and 7 to November 17, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Howard’s motion, Commissioner McKinney’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ladner was off the dais. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. 8. 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. The motion to postpone items 5, 6, and 7 to November 17, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Howard’s motion, Commissioner McKinney’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ladner was off the dais. Discussion and action to approve the Design Commission annual schedule for 2026. The motion to approve the Design Commission annual schedule for 2026 was approved on Commissioner Wittstruck’s motion, Commissioner Howard’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Ladner was off the dais. 2 COMMITTEE UPDATES 2. 3. 4. Update from the representative of the Downtown Commission regarding the meeting on September 17, 2025, and October 15, 2025. Update was given by Commissioner Gelles. Update from the representative of the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding the meeting on June 25, 2025, August 27, 2025, September 24, 2025, and October 22, 2025. Update was given by Chair Salinas. Update from the representative of the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board regarding the meeting on September 15, 2025, and October 20, 2025. Update was given by Commissioner McKinney. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m. without objection. 3