Recommendation 20260918-005: Meridian Archer Rapid Gate Purchase — original pdf

Recommendation

. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Downtown Commission Recommendation Number 20260916-005: Meridian Archer Rapid Gate Purchase WHEREAS the City of Austin is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of our citizens and visitors in public spaces; and WHEREAS the City of Austin is committed to ensuring the safety of those who participate in street-closure community events; and WHEREAS Austin has more than 1,000 special events permits issued annually, many of which require street closures and many of which occur downtown; and WHEREAS in recent years the number of attacks on street closure events in the US and worldwide has escalated; and WHEREAS after this Commission recommended the purchase of Meridian Archer 1200 Barriers which the City of Austin approved on April 2025, the City of Austin purchased 65 barriers which are currently in use; and WHEREAS although the barriers are working well at street closure events in preventing would be perpetrators from causing injuries by vehicular assault, other emergencies can and do occur on the streets and sidewalks of these enclosed street events necessitating emergency vehicle ingress and egress at the events; and WHEREAS emergency access into and out of these events can be slowed by the very barriers intended to enhance safety; and WHEREAS the Austin Police Department has identified the need for two Meridian Archer Rapid Gates that allow for faster emergency vehicle ingress and egress, and WHEREAS The Meridian Archer Rapid Gates are compatible with the Meridian Archer 1200 Barriers APD is currently using; and . WHEREAS the City of Austin is committed to providing the Austin Police Department with the equipment needed to enhance, to the extent possible, the safety of street-closure community events to provide greater safety for Austinites, our guests, and visitors; and WHEREAS the Meridian quote for the two needed Rapid Gates and associated freight charges is $81,185.36 and is attached hereto. NOW THEREFORE we, the commissioners of the Austin Downtown Commission, do hereby strongly recommend and urge that the Austin City Council pass a resolution directing the City Manager to: Immediately appropriate funding in the amount of $81,185.36 to purchase two (2) Meridian Archer Rapid Gates and thereby further equip the Austin Police Department and Transportation and Public Works Department with equipment necessary to enhance pedestrian safety for Downtown activities and events. Date of Approval: September 16, 2026 Motioned By: Vice Chair Levinson Seconded By: Commissioner Buchta Vote: 7-0 For: Chair Ishmael, Vice Chair Levinson, Commissioners Buchta, Fang, Peveto, Shifferd, Wiley Against: None Abstain: None Off the dais: None Absent: Commissioners Carroll, McDaniel Attest: _____________________________________________ (Ryan Sperling, Staff Liaison)