20251103-008 : Support for Rally Austin’s “Keep Austin Ours” 2026 Bond Proposal — original pdf

Recommendation

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL MUSIC COMMISSION Recommendation number: 20251103-008 : Support for Rally Austin’s “Keep Austin Ours” 2026 Bond Proposal Description of Recommendation to Council: The Austin Music Commission recommends that the City Council support Rally Austin’s “Keep Austin Ours” 2026 Bond Proposal for $259 Million, recognizing the organization’s ability to leverage public, private, and philanthropic resources to preserve Austin’s cultural and creative identity while reducing the City’s long-term financial burden. The Commission recommends City Council receive a formal briefing from Rally Austin to consider how its multi-purpose local government corporation model can: • Implement programs that secure affordable creative and cultural, residential and commercial spaces; • Expand the Austin Cultural Trust and related initiatives supporting music and arts venues; • Reduce risk and administrative burden to the City through independent, community-driven project delivery; and • Strengthen Austin’s long-term economic and cultural resilience by investing in local, iconic, legacy and irreplaceable assets. The Commission affirms that Rally Austin’s proposal aligns with the City’s goals for equitable, community-based development and represents a proactive opportunity to secure Austin’s creative and cultural future through the 2026 Bond Program. WHEREAS, Austin’s cultural, creative, and music sectors are foundational to the city’s identity and economy, contributing over $1.8 billion in annual economic activity and supporting thousands of local jobs; and WHEREAS, the loss of affordable creative, cultural, and commercial spaces poses a critical threat to Austin’s local music venues, legacy businesses, and community-serving organizations; and WHEREAS, Rally Austin, the City’s first multi-purpose local government corporation, was created by Austin City Council in 2020 to facilitate equitable, community-driven development and deliver projects that generate public benefit while leveraging public, private, and philanthropic resources; and WHEREAS, the Keep Austin Ours 2026 Bond Proposal presented by Rally Austin outlines comprehensive strategies for securing cultural, residential and commercial affordability, including property acquisition, long-term lease stabilization, capital improvement programs, and expansion of the Austin Cultural Trust; and WHEREAS, Rally Austin’s model reduces long-term fiscal risk and administrative burden to the City by independently managing complex real estate and development projects while advancing Council priorities for equity, sustainability, and cultural preservation; and WHEREAS, supporting community-based economic development through the 2026 Bond Program aligns with the Music Commission’s commitment to strengthening Austin’s music ecosystem and ensuring creative and cultural spaces remain accessible to all residents; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Music Commission recommends that the Austin City Council support inclusion of Rally Austin’s Keep Austin Ours 2026 Bond Proposal for $259 Million as part of the City’s 2026 Bond Program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Music Commission recommends that the Austin City Council receive a formal briefing from Rally Austin on how its organizational structure, partnerships, and resource strategies can be used to: • Implement programs that secure affordable creative and cultural, residential and commercial spaces; • Expand the Austin Cultural Trust and related initiatives supporting music and arts venues; • Reduce risk and administrative burden to the City through independent, community-driven project delivery; and • Strengthen Austin’s long-term economic and cultural resilience by investing in local, iconic, legacy and irreplaceable assets. Date of Approval: November 3, 2025 Motioned By: Nagavalli Medicharla Seconded By: Celeste Quesada Record of the vote: For: 9 - Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Pedro Carvalho, Clarissa Cardenas, Clayton England, Nagavalli Medicharla, Ray Price, Penny Jo Pullus, Celeste Quesada Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Off the dais: 0 Absent: 2- Joe Silva, Scott Strickland Attest: Shelbi Mitchell____________ Shelbi Mitchel, Music & Entertainment, Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment