8/24 Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING Monday, August 24, 2026 The Design Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Monday, August 24, 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 Brendan Wittstruck (arrived 6:13) Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Saira Khan Connors Ladner Josue Meiners Jenny Murkes PUBLIC COMMUNICATION : GENERAL None Present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Design Commission Regular Meeting on June 22, 2026. The minutes from the Design Commission regular meeting on June 22, 2026, were approved on Vice Chair Howard’s motion, Commissioner Jenny Murkes second on a vote of 6-0. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff Briefing regarding the implementation of urban design guidelines into the Great Streets plan update. Presented by Jill Amezcua and Mudita Bilay, Austin Planning. Sponsors: Vice Chair Howard, Commissioner Nkiru Gelles. Item was discussed. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action regarding the Downtown Density Bonus Program (DDBP), including Phase I background and context, Design Guidelines Working Group recommendations, and the proposed approach, strategy, and stakeholder engagement process for Phase II. Sponsors: Vice Chair Kevin Howard and Commissioner David Carroll. Item was discussed and no action was taken. 4. Discussion and possible action to approve a recommendation regarding the future of the Design Commission and their role in the development review process. Sponsors: Commissioner Murkes and Vice Chair Howard. Item was discussed and no action was taken. 5. Discussion on alley access and promoting the use of alley spaces for economic vitality. Sponsors: Commissioner Nkiru Gelles and Commissioner Jon Salinas. Item was discussed and no action was taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion and possible action on items within the annual internal review, such as changes to the Design Commission bylaws and policies not currently covered by the Commission, as well as discussion of the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. Sponsors: Chair McKinney and Vice Chair Howard. Discussion item to provide an update on clarifying the future role of the Design Commission. Sponsors: Chair McKinney and Vice Chair Howard. Staff briefing on phase two of the DDBP and its stakeholder engagement plan. Sponsors: Vice Chair Howard and Commissioner Wittstruck. Discussion and possible action to learn about how the Art in Public Places Program interacts with the Density Bonus Program. Sponsors: Commissioner Meiners and Commissioner Wittstruck. ADJOURNMENT Chair Marissa McKinney adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m. without objection. The minutes from the Design Commission regular meeting on September 28, 2026, were approved on Vice Chair Howard’s motion, Commissioner Wittstruck second on a vote of 7-0 with 2 abstaining. 2