Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the URBAN RENEWAL BOARD June 09, 2025, SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 6:00 pm STREET JONES BUILDING, ROOM 400A 1000 EAST 11TH ST, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78702 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Manuel Escobar, Chair Darrell W, Pierce, Vice Chair Amit Motwani Byron Davis Jacqueline Watson Kobla Tetey Tam Hawkins Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Manuel Escobar, Commissioners Byron Davis, Kobla Tetey, and Jacqueline Watson, and Vice Chair Darrell W. Pierce. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: No Commissioners attended virtually. Board Members Absent/off the dais at call to order: Commissioner Tam Hawkins was absent. CALL TO ORDER Chair Escobar, called the meeting to order at 6:09 p.m. with five members present. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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. 1 of 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES No minutes were reviewed or approved. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Discussion related to updates on future development of Blocks 16 & 18 from Pleasant Hill Collaborative and Rally Austin, including project status and anticipated timeline (Sean Garretson and Garrett Scharton, Pleasant Hill Collaborative; Lex Miller, Rally Austin) Sean Garretson, Pleasant Hill Collaborative, addressed the board. On Commissioner Watsons’ motion, seconded by Commissioner Davis the board has approved a new working group of stakeholders, which was approved with a vote of 5-0-0. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and authorization of Chair Escobar to draft and sign letter of support regarding the credit enhancement requested by Pleasant Hill Collaborative for the future development of Blocks 16 & 18 On Commissioner Watsons’s motion, seconded by Commissioner Davis, the board approved for Chair Escobar to draft and sign a letter of support addressed to the Mayor of the City of Austin, which was approved with a vote of 5-0-0. 3. Discussion and authorization of Chair Escobar to draft and sign letter of support regarding the height variance requested by Pleasant Hill Collaborative for the future development of Blocks 16 On Commissioner Watson’s motion, seconded by Commissioner Davis, the board approved for Chair Escobar to draft and sign a letter of support regarding the zoning change requested by Pleasant Hill Collaborative, which was approved with a vote of 5-0-0. EXECUTIVE SESSION 2 of 3 Chair Escobar recessed the regular meeting and called the Executive Session to order at 7:03 p.m. 4. 5. 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) Discuss real estate matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of an interest in Blocks 16 and 18 located on East 11th Street in Austin (Real Property - Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code) Chair Escobar ended executive session and reconvened the regular meeting at 7:38p.m. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Chair Escobar adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:39 p.m. The minutes of the URB’s June 9, 2025, meeting were approved on Commissioner Watson’s motion, seconded by Commissioner Davis, on a 6-0-0 vote at the July 7, 2025, meeting. Commissioner Hawkins was absent. 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 Hunter Maples at the Housing Department, at (512) 974-3120, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Urban Renewal Board, please contact Hunter Maples at (512) 974- 3120. 3 of 3