REGULAR MEETING OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2026, AT 5:30 P.M AUSTIN CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 W 2ND ST. 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 participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Edith Olivas, (512) 974-1602, edith.olivas@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner David Carroll Nathan McDaniel VACANT Ed Ishmael, Chair Charles Peveto Pat Buchta Phillip Wiley Fang Fang Kimberly Levinson, Vice Chair Appointment District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 District 9 Commissioner Saxton Archer Sania Shifferd Gina Houston Jenny Murkes Bat Taniguchi VACANT Jennifer Franklin Rebecca Bernhardt Kevin Chen Appointment District 10 Mayor’s Office Arts Commission Design Commission Historic Landmark Commission Music Commission Parks and Recreation Board Public Safety Commission Urban Transportation Commission AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 meeting of October 21, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Metropolis Parking and Red River Cultural District presentation regarding discounted parking for musicians in Austin. Presented by Nicholas Ogilvie, Market Leader with Metropolis Parking. 3. Presentation regarding the current vision and updates for the new History Center Campus Building. Presented by Executive Director Adam Powell from the Austin History Center Association. 4. Arts Commission update presentation regarding current actives and concerns in relation to the Downtown Commission. Presented by the Arts Commission Chair Gina Houston. 5. Update regarding Public Safety Commission activities and concerns related to the Downtown Commission’s scope. Presented by Commissioner Rebecca Bernhardt. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a motion to amend the 2026 meeting schedule by moving the regular scheduled meeting of December 16th to December the 9th. 7. Approve recommendations regarding pedicab policies. 8. Approve a recommendation for a Rainbow Crosswalk Reinstallation. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to …
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES, WEDNSDAY OCTOBER 21, 2026. The Downtown Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Kimbery Levinson called the Downtown Commission Meeting to order at 05:31pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Kimberly Levinson (Vice Chair) Pat Bucha David Carroll Gina Houston Charles Peveto Sania Shifferd Phillip Wiley Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Saxton Archer Rebecca Bernhardt Kevin Chen Fang Fang Jennifer Franklin Bat Taniguchi PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission regular meeting of September 16, 2026. The September 16, 2026, minutes were approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Peveto’s second on a 8-0 vote. Chair Ed Ishmael and Commissioner Nathan McDaniel were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Downtown Strategy Office Strategies and Goals framework. [Jonathan Stone, Downtown Officer, Downtown Strategy Office] 1 Presentation was made by Jonathan Stone, Downtown Officer, Downtown Strategy Office. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation regarding Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) policy positions and priorities. [Matt Geske, Vice President of Public Affairs, and Bill Price, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations, DAA] Presentation was made by Matt Geske, Vice President of Public Affairs, and Bill Price, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations, DAA 4. Presentation regarding an overview of the Sobering Center, its services, and areas for Downtown Commission support. [Ashley Branscum, Program Manager, The Sobering Center] Presentation was made by Ashley Branscum, Program Manager, The Sobering Center. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the Downtown Commission 2027 Annual Meeting Schedule. The Downtown Commission 2027 Annual Meeting schedule was approved by Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Peveto’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Ed Ishmael and Commissioner Nathan McDaniel were absent. 6. Approve a recommendation regarding pedicab policies. Withdrawn without objection. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Arts and commission update presentation was requested by Arts Commission chair Gina Houston. VC Kimberly second it Commissioner Pat Buchta would like to invite Metropolis Parking and Red River Cultural District to do a presentation regarding discounted parking for musicians in Austin. VC Kimberly second. Commissioner Charles Peveto would like Austin History Center Association to present their current vision and updates for the new History Center Campus Building. VC Kimberly Second ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Kimberly Levinson adjourned the meeting at 06:42p.m. without objection. 2
Public Safety Commission Report to Downtown Commission October 21, 2026 Flock Cameras Although the City of Austin no longer operates its own Flock cameras, there are still several Flock cameras in downtown Austin. Texas DPS continues to use Flock cameras and share that data with APD. From Flock Camera Locations at https://flockcameralocations.com/locations/texas/austin Lady Bird Lake Deaths ● 30 drowning deaths from 2015 to 2025, led to rumors about a potential Austin “serial killer.” Rumors were debunked by an APD/Texas State study in 2025. ● Due to Austin’s geography, the risk of accidental drowning in Lady Bird Lake remains high; the most recent drowning victim was discovered on October 16, 2026. ● City can invest in guardrails, warning signs, increased lighting, safety patrols & raising community awareness to prevent future drownings. By Jouaienttoi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138768165
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Downtown Commission Recommendation Number_________________________: Needed Pedicab Regulations Recommendation: WHEREAS, pedicab businesses in Austin have contributed to the local economy, culture, tourism, and provided jobs for over 25 years; and WHEREAS, small human-powered transportation modes like pedicabs make streets welcoming, safe, and comfortable places for all people; and WHEREAS, pedicabs are a safe and effective mode of transportation in an urban environment and contribute to a truly multimodal society in accordance with the goals of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP); and WHEREAS, pedicabs are helpful to the public in getting around by providing first- and last- mile transportation and help those with mild to moderate mobility difficulties; and WHEREAS, pedicabs provide an invaluable tool for managing traffic flow, particularly during special events and road closures; and WHEREAS, known crash data shows that the risks of serious injury and death in vehicle collisions increase dramatically with greater vehicle speed and weight; and WHEREAS, the Austin code of ordinances limits a pedicab to a maximum passenger capacity of three (3), excluding the pedicab driver, regardless of passenger age or size; and WHEREAS, the Austin code of ordinances defines a pedicab as a chauffeured vehicle operated for compensation that has at least three wheels, is propelled by human power exerted through pedals, a belt or chain and gears, and that is capable of transporting passengers on seats attached to the vehicle; and WHEREAS, the Austin code of ordinances allows pedicabs to have an electric assist motor to support the human power of the driver with a top assisted speed of 15 mph; and WHEREAS, the Austin code of ordinances limits a pedicab frame 55 inches or less in width; and WHEREAS, a maximum pedicab length is not defined under in the current city ordinance; and WHEREAS, the Austin code requires pedicab operating authority holders to assign numbered pedicab permit decals to each pedicab’s unique serial number, and these permit decals may not be transferred to a different pedicab without approval by the department; and WHEREAS, company signs with owner contact information and city permit decals displayed in a visible, consistent, and unobstructed location on the pedicab are essential for enforcement identification and public and consumer accountability; NOW THEREFORE we, the Commissioners of the Austin Downtown Commission, do hereby strongly recommend and urge the Austin City Council to amend City of Austin codes and regulations to impose the following regulations: • That …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Downtown Commission Recommendation Number_________________________: Prepare for the Reinstallation and Preservation of Rainbow Sidewalks and Pedestrian Infrastructure on 4th Street Recommendation: WHEREAS, Downtown Austin’s 4th Street district, including the Bettie Naylor Corridor, has served for decades as the historic, cultural, and communal epicenter of Central Texas’s LGBTQ+ community, providing a vital safe harbor, economic engine, and gathering space; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin originally authorized and installed rainbow pedestrian treatments at 4th and Colorado Streets to honor this civil rights history, commemorate local LGBTQ+ trailblazers, and outwardly project the City’s core values of equality, inclusivity, and public safety for all residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, The rainbow flag and its colors are globally recognized symbols within the LGBTQ+ movement representing visibility, dignity, acceptance, sanctuary, and pride, sending an indispensable message that queer and transgender individuals are embraced as full and equal members of civic life; and WHEREAS, Greater Austin is home to one of the largest and most vibrant LGBTQ+ populations per capita in the nation, with demographic studies from the Williams Institute estimating that over 5.9% of metro residents—more than 100,000 individuals—identify as LGBTQ+, contributing immeasurably to the city's cultural richness, workforce, and downtown vitality; and WHEREAS, Transgender and gender-nonconforming Texans have faced an unprecedented wave of hostile legislation, administrative directives, and systemic marginalization from the State of Texas—ranging from restrictions on essential healthcare and public accommodations to invasive inquiries and rhetoric that directly threaten their physical safety, mental wellbeing, and basic human dignity; and WHEREAS, In the face of this sustained statewide campaign of erasure and hostility against transgender and queer communities, visible municipal affirmations of protection and community solidarity are not merely symbolic, but critical public declarations of local values and public safety; and WHEREAS, Texas governors possess executive authority over state administrative agencies, including the power to appoint executive leadership and commissioners to the Texas Department of Transportation; and WHEREAS, Following directives from the Governor of Texas and administrative enforcement actions by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) targeting unapproved roadway surface treatments and political expression, the City of Austin was forced under threat of regulatory and financial penalties to eradicate the beloved 4th Street rainbow crosswalks; and WHEREAS, A new gubernatorial administration will be empowered to direct TxDOT leadership to review, revise, and potentially reverse overly restrictive administrative enforcement interpretations regarding roadway markings and decorative crosswalks, ending state interference in local municipal placemaking; …
