01 - 4/27 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 27, 2026 The Design Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Monday, April 27, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Jon Salinas called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Salinas, Jon (Chair) Aradhyula, Ramachandra Gelles, Nkiru Howard, Kevin Murkes, Jenny Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Meiners, Josue (Vice Chair) Ladner, Conners Khan, Saira Mckinney, Melissa (arrived at 7:20) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Ryan Saunders, East Cesar Chavez Contact Team-Neighborhood Association Seeking to propose two future agenda items regarding Plaza Saltillo and activating public alleyways. Ryan is a local public space activist looking to reengage Plaza Saltillo as a community space as well as speak on bringing improvements to an alley that runs parallel to East Cesar Chavez Street. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Design Commission Regular Meeting on. The minutes from the Design Commission regular meeting on March 23rd, 2026, were approved on Vice Chair Josue Meiners’s motion, Chair Jon Salinas’s second on an 8-0. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the Barton Springs Road Bridge. Presented by Eric Bailey, Austin Capital Delivery Services. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Commissioner Carroll. Postponed to Design Commission Regular Meeting on May 18, 2026. 1 3. 4. Staff briefing regarding Downtown Density Bonus Phase I Updates. Presented by Alan Pani, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Vice Chair Meiners and Commissioner Howard. Item was discussed. Staff briefing regarding the inclusion of West Campus into the Downtown area. Presented by Shanisha Johnson, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. Postponed to Design Commission Regular Meeting on May 18, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and action to recommend to City Council whether the project Fiesta Gardens, located at 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards. Presented by Clayton Korte and Travis Greig of Clayton Korte. Postponed to Design Commission Regular Meeting on May 18, 2026. 6. Conduct officer elections for Design Commission Chair and Vice Chair. Kevin Howard was nominated for Vice Chair by Vice Chair Meiners and seconded by Chair Jon Salinas in a vote of 8-0. Marissa Mckinney was nominated for Chair by Nkiru Gelles and seconded by Chair Jon Salinas in a vote of 8-0. 7. Discussion and action to appoint a member of the Design Commission to serve as the Commission’s representative on the Downtown Commission. Sponsors: Chair Salinas and Vice Chair Meiners. The motion to postpone this item to May 18th, 2026, meeting was approved on Chair Jon Salinas’s motion, Commissioner Aradhyula second on an 8-0 vote. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Motion by Chair Jon Salinas to call a special meeting on May 4, 2026, to review and draft a recommendation letter on the proposed Downtown Density Bonus Program Phase I Urban Design Standards for consideration by the Planning Commission. Discussion and possible action on the implementation of Urban Design Guidelines in future development projects. Sponsors: Vice Chair Kevin Howard and Chair Jon Salinas. Discussion and possible action, including a staff briefing, on the construction and use of Plaza Saltillo and the use of surrounding alley spaces for access, activation, and economic vitality, including coordination with TPW and CapMetro, with input from Brian Summers (TARP) on alleyway streetscape standards and Lauren Stanley (Green Streets/JJC Brook Neighborhood). Sponsors: Commissioner Nkiru Gelles and Chair Jon Salinas 2 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Kevin Howard adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m. without objection. 3