REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION Wednesday May 21, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, 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 register, please contact Christi Vitela at Christi.Vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2792. telephone. To Jennifer Franklin Nkiru Gelles Nelly Paulina Ramírez Spencer Schumacher CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Ed Ishmael, Chair Kimberly Levinson, Vice Chair Peter Breton Pat Buchta David Carroll Liz Coufal Nathan McDaniel Charles Peveto Sania Shifferd Philip Wiley CALL TO ORDER 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 regular called meeting on April 16, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing by Carey Chaudoir, Commander - Downtown Area Command, Austin Police Department, and Joshua Griggers, Lieutenant - Downtown Operations, Austin Police Department, regarding an update on the reopening of Sixth Street and crime statistics as they relate to the Safer Sixth Street Initiative. 3. Staff briefing by Michael Kimbro, Program Manager III, Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, and Joseph Al-Hajeri, Parking Enterprise Manager, Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, regarding the Shared Micro Mobility Program. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Presentation by Nicole Klepadlo, Executive Director, Red River Cultural District, regarding the recent work toward the advancement of tourism and entertainment. 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 …
Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, April 16, 2025 DOWNTOWN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025 The Downtown Commission convened the regular meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at City Hall, 301W 2nd St, in a hybrid meeting format. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE Ed Ishmael, Vice-Chair Peter Breton Pat Buchta David Carroll Kimberly Levinson Charles Peveto Philip Wiley COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY Liz Coufal Jennifer Franklin Anne-Charlotte Patterson Nelly Paulina Ramírez CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Ishmael called the meeting of the Downtown Commission to order at 5:31 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission regular called meeting on March 19, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on March 19, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Peveto’s motion, Commissioner Levinson’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Coufal was off the dais. Commissioner Shifferd was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, April 16, 2025 2. Staff briefing by Charles Loosen, Community Engagement Consultant, Austin Public Health and David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer, Homeless Strategy Office, regarding an update on the work of the Homeless Strategy Office in the downtown Austin area. The presentation was made by Charles Loosen, Community Engagement Consultant, Homeless Strategy Office, and David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer, Homeless Strategy Office. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion on proposed amendments to the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO), which includes height allowances, uses, affordability requirements, district boundaries, parking standards, and design criteria. Presentation by Alan Pani, Planner Principal, Planning Department. The presentation was made by Alan Pani, Planner Principal, Planning Department and Paul Books, Principal Planner, Parks and Recreation Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. The motion to approve Commissioner Ishmael as Chair was approved on Commissioner Peveto’s motion, Commissioner Levinson’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Shifferd was absent. The motion to approve Commissioner Levinson as Vice Chair was approved on Commissioner Peveto’s motion, Commissioner Ishmael’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Shifferd was absent. 5. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding Cap and Stitch Initial Funding. The motion to approve the Cap and Stitch Initial Funding Recommendation was made by Commissioner Peveto, seconded by Commissioner Levinson. A motion to amend the recommendation as follows was made by Commissioner Breton and seconded by Commissioner Levinson. The amendment was to revise “Ceaser” to “Cesar” and add a “th” after “12” on the third …
UPDATE ON MICROMOBILITY AND DIRECTOR RULES Downtown Commission May 21, 2025 1 5/21/2025 Michael Kimbro – Program Manager, Shared Mobility Services AGENDA • PROGRAM UPDATE • COMMUNITY & STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH • DIRECTOR RULES 2 5/21/2025 TRIP DATA Changes to Micromobility program in April 2024 • Limiting devices citywide • Reducing devices downtown core • Changes to Customer Service Request reporting Total Trips Downtown Trips Total Trips per Day Downtown Trips per Day Total Available Vehicles Downtown Vehicles Total TVD* Downtown TVD* Customer Service Requests April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024 April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025 2,915,815 2,850,455 1,997,837 1,810,541 7,159 4,422 7,395 7,159 4,076 5,229 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 4,086 2,280 Customer Service Requests April 2023 - March 2024 April 2024 - March 2025 1.21 1.1 1.36 1.79 3 5/21/2025 *Trips per Vehicle per Day COMMUNITY & STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH Community Feedback • Vision Zero Community Board • Mayors Committee for People with Disabilities • University of Texas Market Days • Community online survey • Micromobility Open House • Intercept surveys (Planned) Stakeholder Feedback • Multiple meetings with current vendors and TPW leadership • Ongoing monthly vendor meetings with staff • Multiple meetings with Vision Zero team Image from Micromobility Open House at Carver Library on March 24th 4 5/21/2025 COMMUNITY OUTREACH – SURVEY Key Takeaways • 54% do not ride because of safety concerns • 51% ride to Entertainment • 30% use to commute for work or school • 49% consider devices to be somewhat or very safe • 20% have experienced a crash on a shared device • 61% are concerned about blocked sidewalks • 51% concerned by dangerous rider behavior 5 5/21/2025 Recurring Themes • Need for more bicycle infrastructure • Protected bike lanes mentioned frequently • Poor road conditions and poor lighting • Lack of dedicated parking • Feeling that scooter design is dangerous • Need more helmet usage • Unsafe operation • More rider education • Strong support for CapMetro Bikeshare and desire for expansion COMMUNITY OUTREACH – SURVEY Summary of comments drivers.“ I think shared scooters are a good thing, but I do sometimes feel they are not safe to drive around due to vehicle “ ” They should have to be returned to established banks. The fact that they can be strewn anywhere is absurd - a safety hazard and an eyesore. They also should not be …
