Urban Renewal Board Regular Meeting of the Urban Renewal Board - Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, TX 78752. See details on agenda.
1. REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the URBAN RENEWAL BOARD MAY 20, 2024, 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1401/1402 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR. AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752 *NOTE: The Urban Renewal Board no longer meets at the Street-Jones Building. Some members of the Urban Renewal Board may be participating by videoconference and a quorum will be present at the location identified above. 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 Hunter Maples, (512) 974-3120 or hunter.maples@austintexas.gov. The Urban Renewal Board reserves the right to go into closed session to discuss any of the items on this agenda as permitted by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Manuel Escobar, Chair Darrell W, Pierce, Vice Chair Amit Motwani Jacqueline Watson Kobla Tetey Tam Hawkins CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 10 speakers who registered to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting, if speaking virtually, or who signed up prior to the meeting being called to order if speaking in person, will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Renewal Board’s (URB’s) regular-called meeting on April 15, 2024 1 of 2 DISCUSSION ITEMS Update and discussion regarding the appointment of the seventh commissioner to the Urban Renewal Board (URB) Discussion related to updates on future development of Blocks 16 & 18 from Austin Economic Development Corporation, including the Request for Proposals process and Evaluation process underway (Anne Gatling Haynes, Austin Economic Development Corporation) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and approve a recommendation to City Council supporting the continued need for the Urban Renewal Plan and Urban Renewal Agency in response to the City Ordinance No. 20181213-101 (Chair Escobar) Discuss and approve further action in support of the Urban Renewal Board Recommendation 20240318-005 to City Council related to the FY 2024-25 annual budget for the Urban Renewal Board EXECUTIVE SESSION Discuss legal matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of an interest in Blocks …
1. URBAN RENEWAL BOARD MEETING DRAFT MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024 The URBAN RENEWAL BOARD convened on MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024, at the Permitting and Development Center - 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Manuel Escobar called the Urban Renewal Board meeting to order at 6:11 p.m. with four members present. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Manuel Escobar, Vice Chair Darrell W. Pierce, and Commissioners Kobla Tetey and Amit Motwani were present. Commissioner Watson joined the dais at 6:16pm. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: No commissioners attended remotely Board Members Absent/off the dais at call to order: Commissioner Tam Hawkins was absent, and Commissioner Watson was off the dais. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the URB’s special-called meeting on March 18, 2024 On Commissioner Tetey’s motion, Commissioner Motwani’s second, the March 18, 2024, minutes were approved, on a 4-0-0 vote with Commissioners Hawkins absent and Commissioner Watson off the dais. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update and discussion regarding the appointment of the seventh commissioner to the Urban Renewal Board (URB) 1 Chair Escobar briefed the board that there was no appointment of a seventh commissioner at this time. Presentation and discussion regarding the FY 24-29 Consolidated Plan process and related community needs and federal spending priorities (Chris Duran, Julie Smith, and James May, Housing Department) Julie Smith and James May gave the presentation. Discussion related to updates on future development of Blocks 16 & 18 from Austin Economic Development Corporation, including the Request for Proposals process and Evaluation process underway (Anne Gatling Haynes and Jose Lopez, Austin Economic Development Corporation) Anne Gatling Haynes gave a brief update. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and approve a recommendation to City Council supporting the continued need for the Urban Renewal Plan and Urban Renewal Agency in response to the City Ordinance No. 20181213-101 (Chair Escobar) Following discussion, the board requested this item be taken up again at the May 20, 2024, meeting focusing on further action in support of the URB’s FY2025 budget request. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Chair recessed the meeting for Executive Session at 7:17pm. Discuss legal matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of an interest in Blocks 16 and 18 located on East 11th Street in Austin (Private consultation with legal counsel - Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code) The Chair entered into the private consultation with …
URBAN RENEWAL BOARD RECOMMENDATION 20240318-005 Commissioner Watson FY25 Budget Recommendation Seconded By: Commissioner Motwani Date: March 26, 2024 Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation Approve the base budget for the Urban Renewal Board (the “Board”) consistent with the approved FY 2023-24 budget, including a 5% increase for inflation, and providing an additional $100,000 to support an initial year of strategic planning initiatives, additional planning, engagement and outreach relating to the African American Cultural Heritage District, for a total FY 2024-25 budget of $152,000. Description of Recommendation to Council The Board’s budget for FY 2023-2024 is $47,956. For FY 2024-2025, the Board requests this base funding amount be increased for inflation and supplemented with funds to support strategic planning initiatives for the Board as well as additional planning, engagement and outreach related to activation and implementation of district specific improvements within the Urban Renewal Plan area related to and supportive of the African American Cultural Heritage District (the “District”) and the vibrancy of a commercial corridor that reflects the heritage and future of the District, building upon the initial engagement accomplished and programs that have been identified for the multi-use project proposed for Blocks 16 and 18. Rationale: Strategic Planning The Board has diligently pursued the tasks assigned to it by City Council when the Urban Renewal Plan (the “Plan”) was renewed in 2018, and has completed its work on the updates to the Plan and the neighborhood conservation combining district documents relating to the Plan area. As the Board has already launched and continues to progress through the RFP process for the development of Blocks 16 and 18 – the final item assigned to it by City Council – the Board desires to explore how it may best support the Plan area and the City of Austin in the future. Many similarly situated urban renewal agencies and boards across the country have transitioned over time into other district support organizations once the goals of their original urban renewal plans have been accomplished. The Board would like to build on the engagement accomplished in the work to date and potentially help transition the momentum into a longer-term district support organization as has been done by similar bodies nationwide. The Urban Renewal Board would like to engage in a strategic planning process to determine its best path forward, from district support specific activities/purposes to potential governance models and requests funding to engage with consultants …
1. URBAN RENEWAL BOARD MEETING MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024 The URBAN RENEWAL BOARD convened on MONDAY, May 20, 2024, at the Permitting and Development Center - 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Manuel Escobar called the Urban Renewal Board meeting to order at 6:11 p.m. with four members present. Commissioner Hawkins joined the dais at 6:19pm. There is currently one vacancy on the board. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Manuel Escobar, Vice Chair Darrell W. Pierce, and Commissioners Kobla Tetey, Amit Motwani, Jacqueline Watson and Tam Hawkins were present. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: No commissioners attended remotely. Board Members Absent/off the dais at call to order: Commissioner Tam Hawkins joined the dais at 6:19pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Mr. Stables addressed the board regarding Ordinance #20220915-065. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Renewal Board’s (URB’s) regular-called meeting on April 15, 2024 On Commissioner Watson’s motion, Commissioner Motwani’s second, the minutes of the April 15, 2024, meeting were approved on 5-0-0 vote. 1 DISCUSSION ITEMS Update and discussion regarding the appointment of the seventh commissioner to the Urban Renewal Board (URB) Chair Escobar briefed the board that there is a newly appointed commissioner to fill the vacancy. He is working through the eligibility process. Discussion related to updates on future development of Blocks 16 & 18 from Austin Economic Development Corporation, including the Request for Proposals process and Evaluation process underway (Anne Gatling Haynes, Austin Economic Development Corporation) The Chair postponed this item to the Executive Session. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and approve a recommendation to City Council supporting the continued need for the Urban Renewal Plan and Urban Renewal Agency in response to the City Ordinance No. 20181213-101 (Chair Escobar) Courtney Banker updated the board; Chair Escobar led the discussion. Discuss and approve further action in support of the Urban Renewal Board Recommendation 20240318-005 to City Council related to the FY 2024-25 annual budget for the Urban Renewal Board Following discussion, Commissioner Watson made a motion to authorize Chair Escobar and Vice Chair Pierce to speak on behalf of the URB to advocate for the board’s recommendation regarding the FY 2024-25 annual budget for the URB, seconded by Commissioner Tetey. Commissioner Motwani motioned for a friendly amendment to allow any board member to speak on behalf of the full board. Commissioner Watson agreed to the amendment and on Commissioner …
