REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION November 2, 2026 6:30 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 1001, 301 W 2ND STREET, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Music Commission may be participating virtually. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Shelbi Mitchell, 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Clarissa Cardenas – Secretary, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Penny Jo Pullus, Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. MUSIC PERFORMANCE Anastasia Hera APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Music Commission meeting on October 5, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on Live Music Fund collections by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment, Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (ACME). 3. Staff briefing on ACME funding programs by Laura Odegaard, Division Manager, Cultural Affairs and Investments, ACME. 4. Staff briefing regarding the Creative Reset Phase II: Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager, Cultural Education & Programs, ACME. 5. Staff update on City Council direction related to City Co-Sponsorship processes for special events in Austin by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, ACME. DISCUSSION ITEMS 6. Downtown Commission update on priorities and recent actions by Parliamentarian Silva. 7. Music Commission strategic goals and budget recommendations to council. 8. Music Commission retreat meeting date and planning for 2027. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discussion and action item on creating working group for special events in Austin to gather data and report to Music Commission led by Nagavalli Medicharla. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 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 you require Sign Language Interpreters or alternative …
Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections Live Music Fund Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment November 2, 2026 FY 26 Year-to-Date Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections – Live Music Fund September 2026 w/ Encumbrances $11,095 FY26 Year-to-Date w/ Encumbrances % Change in Year–to-Date Total $4,736,546 7% $17,874 $312,748 $827,586 $19,399 $338,773 $854,923 $12,938 $323,076 $798,287 $5,509 $217,400 $744,461 $4,573 $472,660 $716,095 $36,835 $335,537 $782,771 $19,180 $288,001 $856,608 $5,354 $172,557 $754,925 $26,351 $1,123,522 $21,687 $16,485 $352,514 $816,197 $48,397 $316,607 $809,445 $17,407 $159,710 $696,141 FY 23 October April November May FY 24 December June January July FY 25 February August FY 26 March September $11,095 $163,688 $1,054,179 $23,038 $242,794 $1,026,231 $58,521 $398,910 $798,245 $18,226 $179,271 $762,348 2
The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment July 2026 Why Now? Austin Has Changed. Our Cultural System Must Change With It. ▪ Austin's population continues to grow and diversify. ▪ Community expectations have shifted from simply preserving facilities to actively programming and activating them. ▪ Residents expect welcoming, accessible, vibrant public spaces that are open, responsive, and community-centered. ▪ The Creative Reset presented an opportunity to rethink how our facilities operate, not just maintain the status quo. Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center 2 Our Community Spaces Cultural Centers and Entertainment Complex Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex African American Cultural & Heritage Facility + Dedrick Hamilton House Asian American Resource Center Connelly-Yerwood “Pink” House Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural + Genealogy Center Museums and Art Center Montopolis Negro School Zilker Hillside Theater Dougherty Arts Center Elisabet Ney Museum UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum Susanna Dickinson Museum O. Henry Museum Old Bakery & Emporium 23rd Street Renaissance Artist Market 3 Our Approach The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums Beverly Sheffield Hillside Theater Our Approach We designed this process around listening. Community Engagement Internal Assessment Staff Visioning Site Identity Exercise Operational Review Recommendations Implementation Plan Evaluation 5 Nearly a year of engagement ensured that our recommendations reflect both community priorities and operational realities. Elisabeth Ney Museum 6 Community: What We Heard The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums ACME Creative Reset Engagement Community: What We Heard Activate our facilities More activity, more energy, more opportunities. Expand partnerships Collaborate with artists, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. Improve customer experience Create welcoming, consistent, easy-to-access spaces. Reduce barriers Simplify processes and increase accessibility. Celebrate each site's unique identity Honor history while creating new opportunities. Brush Square Pun-Off Event 8 Staff: What We Learned The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities and Museums Dougherty Arts Center Staff: What We Learned ▪ Staff are passionate and deeply committed to serving the community. ▪ Operational processes vary significantly across facilities. ▪ Administrative responsibilities often limit time available for programming and community engagement. ▪ Greater collaboration, shared services, and consistent expectations can improve efficiency while preserving each site's unique identity. ▪ Our facilities are aging. Staff Engagement Event 10 Our New Operating Model The Creative Reset Phase II Reimagining Austin’s Cultural Facilities …
City Co-Sponsorship Processes for Special Events in Austin Music Commission Meeting Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | Nov 2, 2026 Special Events Co-Sponsorship – History 1997 – Resolution 19970612-034: City of Austin fee waiver guidelines 2002 – Resolution No. 021003-40 (replaced 1997 policy for events): Designated specific events co- sponsored by the City, meaning financial support to an event in the form of fee waivers and/or authorized reimbursement for pre-payment of City services. Members of the City Council were each allotted $6,000 per budget year to use for non-co-sponsored event fee waivers that have a municipal purpose. 2014 – Resolution 20140501-036: Explore sources of alternative funding for special events and to create a fee waiver process for large-scale events 2015 – Resolution No. 20150305-025: Created the Parkland Events Task Force to develop recommendations to ensure that all City parks, but most particularly Auditorium Shores, Zilker Park, and Festival Beach, remain first and foremost assets for the citizens of Austin to enjoy and that the parks are preserved and enhanced for future generations of Austinites and visitors to experience and enjoy. 2016 – Staff Response to Resolution No. 20140501-036: Long-Term Analysis of Special Events 2018 – Staff Response to Resolution No. 20150305-025: Parkland Events Task Force Implementation Update 2 Special Events Co-Sponsorship – History 2018 – Special Events Task Force established by Council, which consisted of 11 voting members and 13 ex officio members comprised of the Austin Center for Events City departments. The mission of the task force was to assess Ordinance No. 20180510-018, the associated rules, and Austin Center for Events processes 2022 – Work concluded with the generation of the Special Events Task Force Final Report with recommendations to Council for improvements 2023 – Council approved recommendations from the Special Events Task Force, and the Special Events Ordinance was passed 2024 – Resolution 20240215-023: Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to investigate ways to preserve accessible, inclusive, open-to-the-public events and Citywide traditions and to identify opportunities for the City to support and promote community events including a free annual summer concert series 2024 – Resolution 20240814-015: Approve a resolution amending Resolution No. 20021003- 040 and directing the City Manager to solidify the City’s efforts and financial support for Juneteenth celebrations, to identify opportunities to further support and sustain other culturally significant and legacy events, and to return to council with updates 3 Special Events Co-Sponsorship – …
