Approved Minutes — original pdf
Approved Minutes
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 The Downtown Commission convened in a meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 301 W. 2nd Street in the Boards & Commissions Room. Downtown Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Joel Sher, Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol, Commissioner Meghan Skornia, Commissioner Sam Sargent, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Commissioner Andrew Harrison, Commissioner Jim Schissler, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner Richard DePalma Downtown Commissioners Not in Attendance: Commissioner August Harris, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Felipe Garza City Staff in Attendance: Christine Maguire and Mona Sanchez, Economic Development Department Commander Jay Bryant, Austin Police Department Erica Leak, Land Development Code Team 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. 2. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizens were signed up to speak. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 15, 2020 MEETING MINUTES Commissioner Meisenbach motioned to approve the January 15, 2020 meeting minutes with Vice Chair Bristol’s second on a vote of 9-0 with Commissioner Christopher Lehman off dais. The Commission received a presentation from Molly Alexander, Downtown Austin Alliance. 4. WRITING ON THE WALLS 5. OUR AUSTIN STORIES No action was taken. The Commission received a presentation from Melissa Barry, Downtown Austin Alliance and Ted Eubanks. Vice Chair Bristol motioned to recommend that City Council support Our Austin Stories project and provide funding to support implementation for the report’s recommendations and activation with Commissioner Sargent’s second on a vote of 10-0. - 1 - 6. DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY The Commission received a presentation from Commander Jay Bryant, Austin Police Department. Vice Chair Bristol recommended to fully staff the Austin Police Department and improve lighting and cameras along pedestrian heavy areas in downtown Austin. 7. DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM RECALIBRATION The Commission received a presentation from Erica Leak, Land Development Code Team. No action was taken. 8. WORKING GROUPS A. Moonlight Tower Working Group No progress to report. B. Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACTP) Working Group No progress to report. 9. ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONS Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo reported that there is a District 7 vacancy on the Design Commission. Commissioner Ben Heimsath reported that the Historic Landmark Commission had discussions regarding the signage at Republic Square Park and the expansion of the French Ligation that will allow upgrades to the visitor’s center and on the next meeting agenda the German Free School is making repairs. 10. STAFF UPDATES Staff liaison Mona Sanchez asked Commissioners to review and update their financial statements and their service terms to ensure all information remained up to date and accurate. 11. POTENTIAL FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Impact of Past Housing Bonds: Affordable Units Chapter 380 Incentive Location-based Real Estate Incentives South Central Waterfront Wayfinding Initiative Update Small Cell Initiative / Downtown Installation Protocols of Media Interaction for the Commission Shoal Creek Restoration - 2 - 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 Pecan Streets Merchants Association & Activity on East Sixth Street Capital Metro Project Connect and Downtown Station Update ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. 12. The minutes were approved on this the 17th day of June 2020 on Commissioner Harris’ motion and Commissioner Sargent’s second on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioner Lehman off dais. - 3 -