Item 1 - Draft Meeting Minutes January 21, 2026 — original pdf

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Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Downtown Commission Regular Called Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 21, 2026 The Downtown Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Austin City Hall Chambers Room 1001, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Levinson called the Downtown Commission Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ed Ishmael, Chair Kimberly Levinson, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Pat Buchta David Carroll Liz Coufal Jennifer Franklin Gina Houston Nathan McDaniel Charles Peveto Sania Shifferd Philip Wiley COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY: N/A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission Regular Called meeting on December 17, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on December 17, 2025, were approved on Commissioner McDaniel’s motion, Commissioner Peveto’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Pollak was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 Downtown Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 21, 2026 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Presentation regarding the Downtown Density Bonus Program Update by Alan Pani, Planner Principal, Austin Planning. The presentation was made by Alan Pani, Planner Principal, Austin Planning. Presentation from the Downtown Austin Alliance on goals, trends, and challenges. Presentation by Davon Barbour, President & CEO, Downtown Austin Alliance. Withdrawn. Update on the status of the Hideout Theater. Presentation by Jessica Arjet, Owner/Youth Programs Director, Hideout Theater. Withdrawn. Update on the City of Austin Cultural Arts Funding as discussed at recent Arts Commission meetings. Postponed to the February 2026 meeting without objection. Discussion of the Central City District Plan. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. 8. Approve the formation of a working group to provide recommendations on the Central City District Plan. The motion to approve the formation of a working group to provide recommendations on the Central City District Plan was approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Shifferd’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Pollak was absent. Chair Ishmael, Vice Chair Levinson, Commissioners Carroll, Shifferd, and Wiley were added to the working group without objection. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding Two-Way Streets in the Downtown Area. The motion to approve a Recommendation to Council regarding Two-Way Streets in the Downtown Area was approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Carroll’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Pollak was absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Imagine Austin Overview Downtown Austin Plan Overview 50/50 Modeling – Modeshare Downtown Housing Assessment ADJOURNMENT Chair Ishmael adjourned the meeting at 6:31 p.m. without objection. 2