Backup Item #1 - 5/18 Draft Meeting Minutes — original pdf

Backup

DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR OR MEETING Monday May 18, 2026 The Design Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Monday May 18, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Marissa McKinney called the Design Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Marissa McKinney (Chair) Kevin Howard (Vice Chair) Ramachandra “Rao” Aradhyula (arrived 6:05) David Carroll Jenny Murkes (arrived 6:11) Jon Salinas Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Nkiru Gelles Saira Khan Josue Meiners Brendan Wittstruck PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Present APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission Special Called Meeting on May 4th, 2026. The minutes from the Design Commission special called meeting on May 4th, 2026, were approved on Chair McKinney’s motion, Commissioner Gelle’s second on an 8-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding the Barton Springs Road Bridge. Presented by Eric Bailey, Austin Capital Delivery Services. Sponsors: Commissioner Salinas and Commissioner Carroll. Item was discussed. Staff briefing regarding the inclusion of West Campus into the Downtown area. Presented by Shanisha Johnson, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Commissioner Salinas and Chair Meiners. Item was discussed. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. Discussion and possible action on recommendations regarding the future of the Design Commission and their role in the development review process. Sponsors: Commissioner Murkes and Vice Chair Howard. There was a motion by Vice Chair Howard seconded by Commissioner Jenny Murkes that the design commission repurpose the urban design guideline working group to sort out a recommendation to council regarding the changing role of the design commission on an 8-0 vote. 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. There was a motion by Commissioner Jon Salinas, seconded by Commissioner David Carroll to recommend to City Council that the project Fiesta Gardens, located at 2101 Jesse E Segovia St., complies with the City Design and Sustainability Standards on an 8-0 vote. Discussion and action to appoint a member of the Design Commission to serve as the Commission’s representative on the Downtown Commission. Sponsors: Commissioner Salinas and Chair Meiners. There was a motion by Vice Chair Howard seconded by Commissioner Jon Salinas to appoint Commissioner Jenny Murkes as Design Commission representative to the Downtown Commission on an 8-0 vote. 7. Discussion and possible action on a letter from Design Commission to City Council regarding the Density Bonus Standards. Sponsors: Chair McKinney and Vice Chair Howard. There was a motion by Vice Chair Howard seconded by Commissioner David Carrol to recommend the letter as drafted to send to council on an 8-0 vote. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Staff briefing from City Law Department to provide consultation on legal barriers around discretionary review, urban design standards, and density bonus programs. Sponsors: Howard and Carroll. Discussion and Action items regarding the makeup of the urban design guidelines working group. Sponsors: McKinney and Wittstruck. ADJOURNMENT Chair Marissa McKinney adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m. without objection. 2