DOWNTOWN COMMISSION JANUARY 19, 2022, TIME: 5:30 p.m. Austin City Hall, Boards and Commission, Room 1101 301 W 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Downtown Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: August Harris, Chair Christopher Lehman, Vice Chair Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner Jen Weaver, Commissioner Josh Lickteig, Commissioner Joel Sher, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner kYmberly Keeton, Commissioner CALL TO ORDER David Gomez, Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Kimberly Taylor, Commissioner Mike Lavigne, Commissioner Preston Reine Commissioner Laura Templeton, Commissioner Christopher Limon, Commissioner Kelan Robinson, Commissioner AGENDA CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten 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. 1. Approval of Minutes of the October 20, 2021 Meeting Minutes Discussion and Possible Action (5 minutes) 2. New Business – Discussion and Possible Action a. Safer Sixth Street Initiative: Presentation by Brian Block, Development i. Creation of a Downtown Commission Safer Sixth Street Working Group b. Rainey Street Trailhead (SPC-2021-0286C): Presentation by Heidi Anderson, Services Department Trail Foundation c. Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association: Presentation by Andrew Rice and Elizabeth Brummett, Housing and Planning Department 3. Old Business – a. Staff Updates b. Convention Center Expansion Working Group c. Items from representatives of collaborating commissions including non-voting members: i. Update from Commissioner Jen Weaver on recent activities and actions taken by the Design Commission ii. Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the Historic Landmark Commission iii. Update from Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby on recent activities and actions taken by the Urban Transportation Commission iv. Update from Commissioner kYmberly Keeton on recent activities and actions taken by the Arts Commission v. Update from Commissioner Christopher Limon on recent activities and actions taken by the Music Commission vi. Update from Commissioner Kimberly Taylor on recent activities and actions taken by the Parks & Recreation Board vii. Update from Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez on recent activities and actions taken by the Public Safety Commission 4. Potential Future Agenda Items Adjournment The Commission may discuss and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentations The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications …
TO: Mayor and Council Members FROM: Joseph Chacon, Austin Police Department Chief Denise Lucas, Development Services Director DATE: December 27, 2021 SUBJECT: Safer 6th Street Initiative (Resolution No. 20210729-175) The purpose of this memo is to provide a response on action items related to the Safer 6th Street resolution. Background Council Resolution No. 20210729-175 established City Council support for implementing a more comprehensive strategy toward 6th Street that maximizes its assets, embraces new opportunities, and ensures a safer environment for all, and established that the strategy needs to be multi-faceted and build on previous stakeholder processes and consultant reports. The resolution outlined actions to be taken, and for staff to report to Council on the results. Below is the response on each action item. Response to Action Items • Action #1: Create an interdepartmental team led by the Entertainment Services Group and with representation from – at a minimum – the Austin Police Department, Austin Transportation Department, Austin Energy, Austin Fire Department, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services, Austin Code, and the Historic Preservation Office. Response: The interdepartmental team was created, held their kick-off meeting on August 16, 2021, and continued to meet to carry out the action items in the resolution. • Action #2: Use temporary lighting and upgrade existing lighting if necessary to provide dramatically brighter spaces along the 6th Street corridor. Response: The interdepartmental team identified locations that need additional lighting as well as priority areas for lighting. For context, 6th Street has decorative light poles, and the north-south side streets and alleys have traditional street light poles. The decorative poles on 6th Street had previously been upgraded to LED and optimized. The locations identified by the team for additional lighting are the north-south side streets and alleys. Austin Energy crews went through the 6th Street District to assess and perform maintenance on the existing traditional street lighting poles. Within the district crews replaced all of the old style high pressure sodium fixtures with LED. In all, AE replaced 64 heads of which approximately 10% were not working. Next Steps: • Conduct a lighting study to assess if there are gaps in the street light network in the district. Requests for new street light poles to fill any identified gaps will require funding and need to be added to Austin Energy’s priority list for installs. • Street light poles in the alleys are limited. There is very little …
REGULAR MEETING DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 MEETING MINUTES The Downtown Commission convened in a meeting on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 301 W. 2nd Street in hybrid meeting format. David Gomez, Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Jen Weaver, Commissioner Joel Sher, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner Downtown Commissioners in Attendance: August Harris, Chair Christopher Lehman, Vice Chair Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Kimberly Taylor, Commissioner Mike Lavigne, Commissioner Laura Templeton, Commissioner Kelan Robinson, Commissioner Downtown Commissioners Not in Attendance: Chris Kanipe, Commissioner, Preston Reine Commissioner, Josh Lickteig, Commissioner, Christopher Limon, Commissioner, kYmberly Keeton, Commissioner City Staff in Attendance: Mona Sanchez and Christine Maguire, Economic Development Department Brian Block, Development Services Department Andrew Rice and Elizabeth Brummett, Housing and Planning Department CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizens were signed up to speak. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 20, 2021, MEETING MINUTES The October 20, 2021, Downtown Commission meeting minutes were adopted. 2. NEW BUSINESS - Discussion and Possible Action a. Safer Sixth Street Initiative: Presentation by Brian Block, Development Services Department i. Creation of a Downtown Commission Safer Sixth Street Working Group Chair Harris motioned to create the Downtown Commission Safer Sixth Street Initiative Working Group with Commissioner Lavigne’s second on a vote of 8-0. b. Rainey Street Trailhead (SPC-2021-0286C): Presentation by Heidi Anderson, Trail Foundation Commissioner Meisenbach motioned to support Community Engagement Concept 2 of the Rainey Street Trailhead with Commissioner Sher’s second on a vote of 8-0. c. Historic Resources Survey for Old Austin Neighborhood Association: Presentation by Andrew Rice and Elizabeth Brummett, Housing and Planning Department The Commission received a presentation from Andrew Rice and Elizabeth Brummett, Housing and Planning Department. No action was taken. - 1 - 2. OLD BUSINESS b. Convention Center Expansion Working Group Commissioner Templeton and Commissioner Lavigne provide an update of the work being done with Professor Sanders from UT San Antonio. Items from representatives of collaborating commissions including non-voting members a. Update from Commissioner Jen Weaver on recent activities and actions taken by the Design Commission. Commissioner reported that the Design Commission discussed the 80 Rainey Street Tower, and their work on the Great Streets Program. b. Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioner Heimsath reported that the Commission passed the old west Austin warehouse …
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021 The Downtown Commission convened in a meeting on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 301 W. 2nd Street in hybrid meeting format. Downtown Commissioners in Attendance: August Harris, Chair David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Vice Chair Nelly Paulina Ramirez, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner Mike Lavigne, Commissioner Josh Lickteig, Commissioner Preston Reine Commissioner Joel Sher, Commissioner Laura Templeton, Commissioner Kelan Robinson, Commissioner Downtown Commissioners Not in Attendance: Melissa Henao-Robledo Commissioner, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner Christopher Limon, kYmberly Keeton, Commissioner, Kimberly Taylor, Commissioner City Staff in Attendance: Mona Sanchez and Christine Maguire, Economic Development Department CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizens were signed up to speak. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 15, 2021, MEETING MINUTES The September 15, 2021, Downtown Commission meeting minutes were adopted. 2. NEW BUSINESS - Discussion and Possible Action a. Cypress and Shoal Creek Public Space Strategy: Presentation by Nina Rinaldi, Shoal Creek Conservancy Item withdrawn. (DSC) No action was taken. b. Safer Sixth Street Initiative: Presentation by Brian Block, Development Services Department c. Discussion and possible action on the 2022 Downtown Commission Meeting Schedule. - 1 - Commissioner Joel Sher motioned to approve the 2022 Downtown Commission meeting schedule with Commissioner Meisenbach’s second on a 7-0. 3. OLD BUSINESS Items from representatives of collaborating commissions including non-voting members a. Update from Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo on recent activities and actions taken by b. Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the the Design Commission. Commissioner Henao-Robledo absent; no updates. Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioner Heimsath absent; no updates. c. Update from Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby on recent activities and actions taken by the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) Commissioner Weatherby report that the UTC had discussed the changes in taxi service. d. Update from Commissioner kYmberly Keeton on recent activities and actions taken by the e. Update from Commission Christopher Limon on recent activities and actions taken by the f. Update from Commissioner Kimberly Taylor on recent activities and actions taken by the Arts Commission. Commissioner Keeton absent; no updates. Music Commission. Commissioner Limon absent; no updates. Parks & Recreation Board Commissioner Taylor absent; no updates. Public Safety Commission. No updates. g. Update from Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez on recent activities and actions taken by the …
