Downtown Commission – Oct. 21, 2026

Item 1: September 16, 2026 Draft Minutes — original pdf

Backup
Thumbnail of the first page of the PDF
Page 1 of 2 pages

REGULAR MEETING DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 The Downtown Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Chair Ishmael called the Downtown Commission Meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Ed Ishmael (Chair) Kimberly Levinson (Vice Chair) Pat Buchta Charles Peveto Sania Shifferd Philip Wiley Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kevin Chen Fang Fang Jennifer Franklin Jenny Murkes Bat Taniguchi PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Downtown Commission regular meeting of August 19, 2026. The August 19, 2026 minutes were approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Peveto’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Buchta was off the dais. Commissioners Carroll and McDaniel were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the Creative Reset Phase II: Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums. Briefing by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager, Cultural Education & Programs, ACME. 1 Item 2 was taken up after Item 3 without objection. The presentation was made by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager, Cultural Education & Programs, ACME. 3. Staff briefing on the Central City District Plan. Briefing by Shanisha Johnson, Principal Planner and Chris Ryerson, Division Manager, Austin Planning. The presentation was made by Shanisha Johnson, Principal Planner and Chris Ryerson, Division Manager, Austin Planning. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Presentation regarding safety of large pedicabs. Presentation by Patricia Schaub and Ara O’Keefe, Pedicabbers for Progress and Regulation Reforms. The presentation was made by Patricia Schaub and Ara O’Keefe, Pedicabbers for Progress and Regulation Reforms. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a recommendation regarding a Meridian Archer Rapid Gate Purchase. The motion to approve a recommendation regarding a Meridian Archer Rapid Gate Purchase was approved on Vice Chair Levinson’s motion, Commissioner Buchta’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Carroll and McDaniel were absent. 6. Approve a recommendation regarding Homelessness, Behavioral Health and Public Order. Item 6 was taken up before Item 5 without objection. The motion to approve a recommendation regarding Homelessness, Behavioral Health and Public Order was approved on Commissioner Peveto’s motion, Commissioner Shifferd’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Carroll and McDaniel were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion regarding the macro-level regulatory environment observations applicable to central city planning – Wiley, Levinson Recommendation regarding the Austin History Center Association – Peveto, Levinson ADJOURNMENT Chair Ishmael adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:11 p.m. 2