Downtown Commission Regular Meeting of the Downtown Commission

Agenda — original pdf

Agenda

Item #1 Draft Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 — original pdf

Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 20, 2024 DOWNTOWN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, November 20, 2024 The Downtown Commission convened the regular meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in hybrid meeting format. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE August Harris, Chair Ralph E Ishmael Jr., Vice-Chair Peter Breton Charles Peveto David Carroll Kimberly Levinson Anne-Charlotte Patterson Sania D. Shifferd COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY Liz Coufal Jennifer Franklin Amy Mok CALL TO ORDER Chair Harris called the meeting of the Downtown Commission to order at 5:36 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 16, 2024. 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission regular called meeting on October The minutes from the meeting on October 16, 2024, were approved on Vice Chair Ishmael’s motion, Commissioner Levinson’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Lavigne was absent. Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes DISCUSSION ITEMS Wednesday, November 20, 2024 2. Presentation on benchmarking downtown plans in comparable cities by Melissa Barry, Chief Program Officer, Downtown Austin Alliance, and discussion of the update to the Downtown Austin Plan. The presentation was made by Melissa Barry, Chief Program Officer, Downtown Austin Alliance. 3. Presentation on the Great Streets Plan by Jill Amezcua, Program Manager II, Planning Department. The presentation was made by Jill Amezcua, Program Manager II, Planning Department. 4. Presentation on the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative by Laura Dierenfield, Division Manager, Austin Transportation and Public Works. The presentation was made by Laura Dierenfield, Division Manager, Austin Transportation and Public Works. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the formation of a Working Group to contribute input to the update of the Downtown Austin Plan. The motion to approve the formation of a Working Group to contribute input to the update of the Downtown Austin Plan was approved on Commissioner Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Peveto’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Coufal was off the dais. Commissioner Lavigne was absent. Vice Chair Ishmael, Commissioners Levinson, Peveto and Shifferd were added to the working group without objection. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Waterloo Greenway (Harris, Levinson) ADJOURNMENT Chair Harris adjourned the meeting at 7:25 pm without any objection.

Item #2 Downtown Austin Plan Update Presentation — original pdf

Downtown Austin Plan Update Downtown Commission December 18, 2024 Agenda Background Pre-Planning Process Next Steps A Background: …The 2011 Downtown Austin Plan 2011 Downtown Austin Plan 7 Transformative Steps 1). Create Signature Parks 2). Urban Rail 3). East 6th Street “Re-imagined” 4). Affordable Housing 5). Downtown Infrastructure 6). LDC Amendments 7). “Central-City” Economic Development Corporation 4 How It Works!  7 Total Plan Elements – 7 Overall Goals – 30 Recommendations – 114 Actions – Key Considerations  9 Downtown Districts (Sub-Areas) – Individual Goals – Character & Form 5 Downtown Austin Plan (Resolution No. 20240814-028) …The Update! Resolution No. 2024084-028 • Initiate updates to the Downtown Austin Plan […], covering the next 10 years at minimum, reviewing updates through an equitable, resilient, and sustainable lens. • Engage with stakeholders […] in envisioning the future of Downtown, identifying the needs of those who live, work, and visit Downtown, and identifying solutions. • Ensure the implementation and coordination of recently completed projects and plans that are shaping Downtown’s future, to incorporate the needs of unique features of Downtown, and to address the issues that affect growth [ ]. 7 Resolution No. 2024084 - 028 • Provide detailed information for implementation including cost estimates, potential partners, funding opportunities, financial tools, and any necessary code amendments for identified projects, programs, policies, and infrastructure recommendations. • Provide a memo to Council by Mid-February, outlining estimated cost, scope, and preliminary timeline of the Downtown Austin Plan update, identifying City staff resources, and potential external partnerships or third parties that can assist in providing resources for plan development. 8 “How do we know where we are going if we don’t know where we are at?” The Pre – Planning Process August 2024 - March 2025  Preliminary Research – Implementation Status Review* – Initial Stakeholder Engagement*  Produce Draft (February) – Scope (V1) – Timeline (V1)  Cost Estimate (March) – Estimate based on Scope (V1) *Ongoing Activity beyond March 2025 March 2025 – June 2025  Council Approval of Direction  Preliminary Research (cont’d.) – Implementation Status Review* – Broadened Initial Stakeholder Engagement*  Synthesize Findings – 2011 DAP Implementation Status Report – Initial Stakeholder Findings Report  Produce Final – Updated Scope (V1) / Potential Scope (V2), – Updated Timeline (V1) / Potential Timeline (V2) – Updated Cost Estimate (V1) / Potential Cost Estimate (V2) 10 2011 DAP Implementation Status Review  Activity 1: …