January_15_2020_Downtown_Commission_Approved_Meeting_Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 The Downtown Commission convened in a meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 301 W. 2nd Street in the Boards & Commissions Room. Downtown Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Joel Sher, Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Commissioner Jim Schissler, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner Richard DePalma Downtown Commissioners Not in Attendance: Commissioner Meghan Skornia, Commissioner Sam Sargent, Commissioner Andrew Harrison, Commissioner August Harris, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Felipe Garza City Staff in Attendance: Christine Maguire and Mona Sanchez, Economic Development Department Jason Redfern and Joseph Al-Hajeri, Austin Transportation Department 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizens were signed up to speak. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 18, 2019 MEETING MINUTES Vice Chair Bristol motioned to approve the December 18, 2019 meeting minutes with Commissioner Lehman’s second on a vote of 7-0. 4. PARKING ENTERPRISE The Commission received a presentation from Jason Redfern and Joseph Al-Hajeri, Austin Transportation Department. The Commission received a presentation from Jenell Moffett and Michele Van Hyfte, Downtown Austin Alliance. No action was taken. 5. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT No action was taken. - 1 -  6. WORKING GROUPS A. Moonlight Tower Working Group No progress to report. B. Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACTP) Working Group  The Working Group met on January 3rd with staff from the Austin Transportation Department (ATD) Development Division and received an update on their progress on their stakeholder outreach. The Working Group provided them with the stakeholder list that they developed; the Working Group will continue to work with ATD. ATD also provided the Working Group with a preliminary schedule of the work on the ACTP to be completed. 7. ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMISSION  Commissioner Heimsath reported the Historic Landmarks Commission is seeing more cases where development is pressuring established landmarks. He noted the controversy over the 30+ story tower proposed for the Masonic Lodge is likely a foreshadow of more conflicts to come.  Commissioner DePalma reported that he anticipates that the Parks and Recreation Board will be discussing the Lady Bird Lake Rowing concession and the potential expansion and an amendment to the existing contract with partners Downtown Austin Alliance and Austin Parks Foundation for the improvement, management and operation of Republic Square at their January meeting. 8. POTENTIAL FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Impact of Past Housing Bonds: Affordable Units   Chapter 380 Incentive Location-based Real Estate Incentives  South Central Waterfront  Ted Eubanks: Austin Stories  Wayfinding Initiative Update  Small Cell Initiative / Downtown Installation  Protocols of Media Interaction for the Commission  Downtown Public Safety  Shoal Creek Restoration  Palm School Future Recommendations  Emerging Projects  Rezoning and Redevelopment of the Town Lake YMCA  Overview of historic resources  Rainey Street Coalition and Proposed Future Development  Red Line Parkway and Potential Biking Pathway  Central Health / Brackenridge Campus Update and Future Development Plans  Micro Mobility Ordinance  Density Bonus Recalibration  Pecan Streets Merchants Association & Activity on East Sixth Street ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. 11. - 2 -  The minutes were approved on this the 19th day of February 2020 on Commissioner Meisenbach’s motion and Vice Chair Bristol’s second on a vote of 9-0 with Commissioner Lehman off dais. - 3 -