DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200219-06 Date: February 19, 2020 Subject: Downtown Public Safety Motioned By: Vice Chair Bristol Seconded By: Commissioner Megan Meisenbach Recommendation Recommend to City Council to fully staff the Austin Police Department and improve lighting and cameras along pedestrian heavy areas in downtown Austin. Chair Joel Sher, Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol, Commissioner Meghan Skomia, Commissioner Sam Sargent, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Commissioner Andrew Harrison, Commissioner Jim Schissler, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach 10-0 Vote For: Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Commissioner August Harris Attest: Mona Sanchez, Commission Liaison, Economic Development Department 1 of 1
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 …
City of Austin Downtown Commission Wednesday, January 15, 2020 5:30 p.m. Boards and Commission Room 1011 Austin City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas AGENDA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Call to Order Citizen Communications Each speaker will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Approval of Minutes of the December 18th, 2019 Meeting Minutes Discussion and Action Parking Enterprise Presentation by Jason Redfern, Austin Transportation Department (25 minutes) Discussion and Possible Action (20 minutes) Downtown Development Presentation by Jenell Moffett, Downtown Austin Alliance (20 minutes) Discussion and Possible Action (15 minutes) Working Groups A. Moonlight Tower Working Group Discussion and Possible Action (5 minutes) B. Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACTP) Working Group Discussion and Possible Action (5 minutes) Items from other Commissions Update from Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo on recent activities and actions taken by Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the Design the Design Commission Commission Update from Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby on recent activities and actions taken by the Urban Transportation Commission Update from Commissioner Felipe Garza and recent activities and actions taken by the Arts Update from Commissioner Richard DePalma on recent activities and action taken by the Commission Parks and Recreation Board The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Mona Sanchez at the Economic Development Department, at (512) 974-7864, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. 8. Potential Future Agenda Items Impact of Past Housing Bonds: Affordable Units Chapter 380 Incentive Location-based Real Estate Incentives South Central Water Front 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 Central Health Update Emerging Projects 9. Adjournment The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon …
1 Austin Transportation Department Parking Enterprise Division Downtown Commission January 15, 2020 Jason T. Redfern – Parking Enterprise Manager 2 PRESENTATION OVERVIEW 01 SUPPORTING AUSTIN’S MOBILITY GOALS 02 03 04 PARKING STRATEGY FY2019-20 ON-STREET METERED PARKING OVERVIEW ACTION ITEMS & NEXT STEPS SUPPORTING AUSTIN’S MOBILITY POLICIES/ GOALS 3 MODE CHOICE Balance curb space allocation, to encourage sustainable trip options, to reach a 50/50 mode split by 2039 COMMUTE TIME Improve parking system efficiencies to reduce travel time and vehicle miles traveled EQUITY Curb management strategies that promote equal and flexible access for all travel types and public needs. GOAL: MODERNIZE AUSTIN’S PARKING OPERATIONS 4 STABILIZE MODERNIZE • Meter base rate adjustment • Level meter hours to be the same across the city • Adjust parking citation penalties AUSTIN • Grant Directors Authority to flex parking rates within a range • Test & enable data capturing technology to test curb access efficiency. STRATEGY: MODERNIZE AUSTIN’S PARKING OPERATIONS PHASE 1 PHASE 2 BASE RATE STABLIZATION AUTHORITY TO ADJUST RATES Currently there are two different base rates for core and non-core. Over the last three decades, population and inflation have outpaced the cities valuation of on-street parking rates but demand has rapidly increased. Existing fee ordinance is rigid, requiring Council action each time. This flexibility will allow for the testing of more progressive curb management strategies, like variable pricing. SYSTEM LEVELING OF METER HOURS Different hours and days for parking in separate geographical areas of the city make it hard for the public to know when they have to pay to park. CURB PRICING STRATEGY PILOT Variable pricing strategies are intended to incentivize a behavior and change a car-centric culture. It has been proven to ease traffic congestion, provides opportunities for patrons of local business and encourages the use of underutilized off-street parking facilities. 5 PHASE 3 ADJUST PARKING CITATION FINE AMOUNTS Adjust parking citation amounts, to encourage responsible curb usage. STRATEGY: MODERNIZE AUSTIN’S PARKING OPERATIONS PHASE 1 PHASE 2 BASE RATE STABLIZATION AUTHORITY TO ADJUST RATES Currently two different base rates for core and non-core and is undervalued. The Maximum parking rate for the core downtown has only increased $0.80 and there has been no increase in areas outside the core in over three decades Existing fee ordinance is rigid, requiring Council action each time. This flexibility will allow for the testing of more progressive curb management strategies, like variable pricing. SYSTEM …
Downtown Commission January 15, 2020 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN DEVELOPMENT UPDATE PHOTO: MICHAEL KNOX DOWNTOWN AUSTIN OVERVIEW As of October 2019 Next Update: April 2020 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN DEMOGRAPHICS • Millennials (ages 23-38) make up 50% of downtown residents* • Baby Boomers are moving into downtown, increasing their share in the past few years* • Well paid, highly educated population • Workforce is on pace with Austin’s growth rate As of October 2019 • Residential is triple Austin’s growth rate Source: ACS 2018 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS UNIQUE …. BUT! STATE OF DOWNTOWN 2019 REPORT ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS • Highest concentration of city's workforce is in downtown • Place of employment for Austin's young creative • class Innovative hub containing a host of notable companies, co-working spaces, and flexible commuting options • Anchor of Austin's tourism industry drawing millions • Energized with development and public/private to Austin investment • Budding residential neighborhood DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS UNIQUE …. BUT! DOWNTOWN’S GROWTH OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS • More than 35 MSF have been developed • Almost 40% of new SF delivered was residential development • Scale of development has reached a new level Photo: RALPH BARRERA/AMERICAN-STATESMAN and BRONTE WITTPENN/AMERICAN-STATESMAN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS UNIQUE …. BUT! All product types are represented in the development pipeline • Ten projects Completed in 2019 • 20 projects Under Construction • 19 projects Planned • Large scale projects • Mixed Use is here to stay DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS UNIQUE …. BUT! DOWNTOWN AUSTIN DEVELOPMENT BY THE NUMBERS • 35 MSF has been developed in the last 20 years…. At the current rate, that amount will be matched in less than 10 years. • Retail/Restaurant revival with increasing amount of new space in mixed-use projects As of 1/10/2020 ! DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS Development is happening throughout downtown led by: • Core/Waterfront • Waller Creek • Rainey Street • Lower Shoal Creek CORE/WATERFRONT Downtown Metro Rail Guadalupe 6X Indeed Tower • Explosive Growth • Mixed Use is a common theme • Large scale projects such as Guadalupe 6X, Indeed Tower, and the Downtown Metro Rail Station amongst others are changing the downtown landscape. www.downtownaustin.com WALLER CREEK Innovation • Tunnel is now complete • Waterloo Greenway will provide a much-anticipated amenity and attraction for the market starting with Waterloo Park • Many projects are underway Block 36 Waterloo Park Austin Marriott WALLER CREEK Waller Creek / Palm District Planning Process: Addressing …
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN DEVELOPMENT November 2019 Development Summary Austin has seen a large amount of development activity in the urban core this past year. With eight projects completed in 2019, 18 under construction, and 17 planned, downtown development doesn’t seem to be slowing any time soon. While residential and hotel projects continue to dominate across downtown, we have seen a remarkable increase in commercial office projects along Colorado Street, creating a 21st century urban office district. There are three office towers under construction along Colorado Street totaling 1.2 million square feet and representing almost half of the 3.5 million square feet of office space underway in downtown. d v l B r a m a L As a whole, downtown has 3.7 million square feet of office space under construction, representing an amazing 23% of our current multi-tenant inventory. 6X Guadalupe, Austin’s next tallest building, broke ground this past month. The project is located just two blocks north of downtown’s marquee greenspace, Republic Square. Downtown’s unprecedented surge in development is reflective of Austin’s emergence on the national stage as both the top overall real estate prospect1 as well as the number one place to live2. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 15th Street Texas State Capitol WP d v l B o t n i c a J n a S e u n e v A s s e r g n o C 6th Street MR Convention Center 11th Street I - 3 5 Plaza Saltillo Cesar Chavez Street Lady Bird Lake Rainey District South Central Waterfront Emerging Development Recently Completed Under Construction Planned or Proposed Public Projects The Otis Hotel - (hotel, 40,000 sf) The Huston - (residential, 350,000 sf) 1836 San Jacinto - (office, 248,596 sf) Alexan Capitol - (residential, 421,000 sf) State Office Building #1 - (public, 603,000 sf) The Tyndall at Robertson Hill - (residential, 182,000 sf) 410 Uptown - (office) Episcopal Church Site Block 87 - (mixed use) 17th Street Condos - (residential) Hyatt Centric Hotel - (hotel) State Office Building #2 - (public, 416,000 sf) 701 Rio Grande - (office) SXSW Center - (office, 143,988 sf) Canopy by Hilton - (hotel, 120,000 sf) 1313 Red River Street - (office) 6X Guadalupe - (office) 1205 Nueces at Capitol West - (office, 11,297 sf) Indeed Tower - Block 71 - (office, 669,130 sf) 1204 San Antonio Street - (office, 41,698 sf) Hanover Republic Square - (apartments, …
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 …
