REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the DOWNTOWN COMMISSION July 17, 2024, TIME: 5:30 p.m. Austin City Hall, Council Chamber, Room 1001 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 Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register, please contact Christi Vitela at Christi.Vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974- 2792. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: August Harris, Chair Ralph E. Ishmael Jr, Vice Chair VACANT (District 5) David Carroll Liz Coufal Mike Lavigne Kimberly Levinson Taylor Major Tania Ortega Sania Shifferd VACANT (District 8) CALL TO ORDER Jennifer Franklin (Parks and Recreation Board) David Holmes (Public Safety Commission) Amy Mok (Arts Commission) Anne Charlotte Patterson (Music Commission) Spencer Schumacher (Urban Transportation) VACANT (Historic Landmark Commission) VACANT (Design Commission) AGENDA PUBLIC 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission June 26, 2024 meeting. 2. Presentation by Austin Transportation and Public Works on Our Future 35 Project, a project that aims to co-create public spaces over IH 35. 3. Update by Commissioner Mok on the Thrive and Elevate grants for artists and art DISCUSSION organizations. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk, at (512) 974-2792 for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Downtown Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2792.
Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 26, 2024 DOWNTOWN COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WEDNESDAY, June 26, 2024 The Downtown Commission convened the special called meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX in hybrid meeting format. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE August Harris, Chair David Carroll Mike Lavigne Kimberly Levinson Anne Charlotte Patterson Spencer Schumacher Sania Shifferd COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY Ralph E Ishmael, Jr. Vice-Chair Liz Coufal Jennifer Franklin Amy Mok Tania Ortega CALL TO ORDER Chair Harris called the meeting of the Downtown Commission to order at 5:33 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No speakers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission May 15, 2024 meeting. The minutes from the meeting on 05/15/24 were approved on Commissioner Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Shifferd’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cardona-Beiler and Major were absent. Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes STAFF BRIEFING Wednesday, June 26, 2024 2. Presentation on the Downtown Austin Plan by Chad Sharrard and Jill Amezcua, Austin Planning Department. The presentation was made by Chad Sharrard, Planner Senior, Planning Department; Jill Amezcua, Program Manager II, Planning Department; and Matthew Schmidt, Program Manager III, Economic Development Department. 3. Presentation on the Economic and Cultural District Framework Policy by Matthew Schmidt, Economic Development Department. The presentation was made by Matthew Schmidt, Program Manager III, Economic Development Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. The motion to override the four consecutive term limit and nominate Commissioner Harris as Chair was made by Commissioner Ishmael, seconded by Commissioner Lavigne and approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cardona-Beiler and Major were absent. The motion to elect Commissioner Harris as Chair was made by Commissioner Ishmael, seconded by Commissioner Ortega and approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cardona-Beiler and Major were absent. The motion to elect Commissioner Ishmael as Vice Chair was made by Commissioner Levinson, seconded by Commissioner Shifferd and approved on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cardona-Beiler and Major were absent. 5. Approve a recommendation to Council to update the Downtown Austin Plan and create an overseeing department charged with implementing the elements of the updated plan. A motion to approve the recommendation was made by Commissioner Levinson and seconded by Commissioner Shifferd. The following amendment was motioned by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Vice Chair Ishmael. The amendment was to add the following under Item 7: “r. Urban Design …
Downtown Commission July 17, 2024 I-35 TODAY The East/West Divide I-35 AT 5TH STREET I-35 UPPER & LOWER DECKS OUR FUTURE 35 The Opportunity Our Future 35 can provide transformational new infrastructure for Austin that is of regional and national significance • TxDOT project lowering the main lanes allows the City to deck over the highway • Up to 25 acres of new urban real estate • Local enhancement can provide an array of community benefits and change the landscape of Austin IMAGE: Klyde Warren Park, Dallas POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF FREEWAY CAPS • Reconnect East and West Austin • Change the landscape of Central Austin • Create marquee public space for citywide use • Support / incubate local businesses • Address local noise and air quality concerns • Create climate resilient public spaces CAP AND STITCH OVERVIEW Potential Cap Locations Potential UT Cap Locations Potential Stitch Location 5 WHERE ARE CAPS POSSIBLE? Height Clearances The image below shows a cross section through a highway cap. The cap needs to have at least 16 ½ feet height clearance above the roadway and any ramps or structures. Highway Cap Highway Bridge 16 ½ feet clearance (min) Roadway Surface Beneath Deck CAP & STITCH COMPONENTS Roadway Elements + Tunnel Elements and Cap + Amenities Amenities Deck Cap COA-Funded Roadway Elements COA-Funded Deck Structures COA-Funded Amenities Roadway Elements - Preserves the opportunity to build Caps and Amenities in the future. 7 FUNDING STATUS (All Costs = 2024 Dollars) Decision by Dec 2024 Decision by Dec 2026 Concept Decision by Dec 2024, Final Layout by 2032+ Recurring Annually 2032+ Structural Design Costs Roadway Elements Costs Deck Costs Amenity Costs O&M Costs Acres ($M) ($M) Design ($M) Structure ($M) Amenities ($M) Construction ($M) 1.05 0.23 5.28 3.72 2.10 5.21 4.76 2.74 Holly Stitch CC South Extension CC-4th* 4th-7th 11th-12th 38th-41st 41st-Red Line Red Line-Airport Total Need Funding Secured Remaining Need $34 $34 $15 $19 ($M) $9 $5 $30* $26 $15 $37 $33 $19 $174 $30* $144 - - $69* $49 $28 $70 $65 $37 $318 $69* $249 $1 $1 $6* $4 $2 $6 $5 $3 $28 - $28 $13 $3m $45** $47 $26 $65 $60 $34 $293 $6m* $287 $1 $0.5 $7 $5 $7 $6 $4 $1 $0.5 $3 $3 $3 $2 $1 $1.5 $3.5 $15 $34 * Received $105 Million Neighborhood Access and Equity Federal grant for CC-4th Structures (Roadway Elements + Deck Costs). * …
