REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2025, 5:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 W 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 remotely, contact Christi Vitela at participation by Christi.Vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2792. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Ed Ishmael, Chair Pat Buchta David Carroll Kevin Chen Liz Coufal Jennifer Franklin Nkiru Gelles Gina Houston AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Kimberly Levinson, Vice Chair Nathan McDaniel Charles Peveto Nancy Pollak Sania Shifferd Philip Wiley 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 November 19, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Presentation regarding the Great Streets Update by Jill Amezcua, Planner Principal, Austin Planning. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget to provide feedback on priorities and proposals that may result in budget savings or operational efficiency. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Approve the formation of a Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Working Group. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the Commission as a stakeholder in the Central City Plan process. inclusion of the Downtown FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Downtown Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 Downtown Commission Regular Called Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 The Downtown Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Austin City Hall Boards and Commissions, Room 1101, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ishmael called the Downtown Commission Meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ed Ishmael, Chair Kimberly Levinson, Vice Chair Pat Buchta David Carroll Gina Houston Nathan McDaniel Charles Peveto Nancy Pollak Sania Shifferd Philip Wiley COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY: Jennifer Franklin Nkiru Gelles PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission Regular Called meeting on October 15, 2025. 1 Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 The minutes from the meeting on October 15, 2025, were approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Peveto’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Pollak abstained. Commissioner Coufal was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Presentation regarding Staff’s response to Council Resolution 20241121-073 related to Bird- Friendly design by Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection. The presentation was made by Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection. Presentation regarding the Central City District Plan by Shanisha Johnson, Principal Planner, Austin Planning. The presentation was made by Shanisha Johnson, Principal Planner, Austin Planning. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. Presentation by Central Health regarding an overview of services as it relates to downtown Austin. Presentation by Virginia Potter, Development Director, Central Health. The presentation was made by Virginia Potter, Development Director, Central Health, and J.P. Eichmiller, Vice President of Strategy, Central Health. Presentation by Safe Streets Austin regarding one-way to two-way street conversions downtown. Presentation by Adam Greenfield, Advocacy Director, Safe Streets Austin. The presentation was made by Adam Greenfield, Advocacy Director, Safe Streets Austin. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding one-way to two-way street conversions downtown. Discussed. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion of ways to save money and how commissions can assist the City of Austin Formation of a Budget Working Group Recommendation to Council regarding the addition of the Downtown Commission as a stakeholder in the Central City District Plan Planning Process. ADJOURNMENT 2 Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 A motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m. was approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Shifferd’s second a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Coufal was absent. …
Great Streets Update Austin Planning | Urban Design Agenda ▪ Great Streets Update Goals ▪ Community Engagement Overview ▪ Great Streets Update Schedule ▪ Next Steps 2 Great Streets Update Goals ▪ Align the program with other initiatives ▪ Holistic conversations around right of way ▪ Focus on the entirety of the Downtown experience ▪ Modernization and clarification of the standards ▪ Create champions for the program ▪ Work flexibility and conflict resolution into the standards ▪ Ensure continued and consistent funding and accountability 3 Community Engagement Overview ▪ July to December 2025 ▪ Gather feedback from residents, employees, and visitors about how they experience downtown streets and what they would like to see moving forward. ▪ Our outreach included: ▪ Online survey - 328 participants ▪ Open house - 75 attendees ▪ Stakeholder meetings ▪ Imagine Austin Speaker Series Event ▪ Almost 1,000 comments from all engagement ▪ This input will form the recommendations for the Update and define the priorities, challenges, and shared values that will guide future enhancements. 4 Who We Heard From How often do you visit Downtown? 5 What We've Heard: Survey What are the biggest challenges facing Downtown? 66% Would like to see shade trees and landscaping 61% Would like to see more pedestrian-only zones 6 What We've Heard: Emerging Themes ▪ Over 600 open-ended survey comments were analyzed and grouped into recurring themes that reflected what survey respondents value most about Downtown streets. ▪ From these patterns, Urban Design distilled 20 community themes into six core values: ▪ People First ▪ Vibrant Public Life ▪ Shade and Comfort ▪ Safety and Inclusive Design ▪ Seamless Connectivity ▪ Clean and Enduring Design 7 Survey Comment Analysis 8 Great Streets Update Schedule Analysis •Existing Conditions •Review of Relevant Plans Community Engagement Summer 2025 – Spring 2026 •Community Advisory Group Meetings •Briefings for City Boards and Commissions • Community Survey •Public Meetings •Technical Advisory Group Meetings Feedback Fall 2025 – Winter 2026 Production Fall 2025 – Winter 2026 •Compiling Feedback •Draft Plan Review •Draft Deliverables Reviews and Approval Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 •Commission Review/ Public Review •Hearings •Planning Commission •Urban Transportation Commission •Downtown Commission •Design Commission •Review and Potential Approval by Council 9 Next Steps ▪ Community Advisory Group Meeting #2 ▪ Technical Advisory Group ▪ Continue work on the plan document ▪ Boards and Commissions ▪ Urban Transportation Commission 10
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Downtown Commission Recommendation Number: 20251217-005: Recognizing the Downtown Commission as Primary Stakeholders in and Stewards of the Central City District Plan WHEREAS the Downtown Commission was literally created to guide the development of downtown; and WHEREAS the development of downtown is critical to the wellbeing of all of Austin; WHEREAS the residents of downtown look to the Downtown Commission to safeguard their interests; and WHEREAS the Downtown Commission passed a Recommendation on September 17, 2025, that the Downtown Commissions borders be officially expanded to match the boarders of the Central City District Plan. NOW THEREFORE, we, the commissioners of the Austin Downtown Commission, do hereby strongly recommend and urge that: The City of Austin Planning Department and the Planners on the Central City District Plan 1. should officially recognize the Downtown Commission as a primary stakeholder in the Central City District Plan, and that 2. The City Council should officially recognize that the Downtown Commission, as stewards of and primary stakeholder in the Downtown Austin Plan (DAP), are now stewards of and primary stakeholders in the Central City District Plan, and that The City Council should, without delay, amend the Downtown Commission Bylaws to 3. expand its borders to match that of the Central City District Plan; and that The City Manager direct all city offices involved in the creation and development of the 4. Central City District Plan and any consultants hired by the city to work on creation and development of the Central City District Pan, to consult the Downtown Commission and keep it abreast of all effort and decisions involving the creation and development of the Central City District Plan, in particular, and on all decisions that materially affect the development and wellbeing of downtown Austin and its residents, in general. Date of Approval: Seconded By: . Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or commissioner can sign)
