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Downtown Commission elects officers unanimously and urges council to fully fund I-35 caps and stitches roadway infrastructure
Summary
At its April 16 meeting the Austin Downtown Commission elected Ed Ishmael as chair and Kimberly Levinson as vice chair and approved a recommendation urging City Council to fully fund the roadway elements necessary to support full-size I-35 caps and stitches.
The Austin Downtown Commission on April 16 elected its chair and vice chair, approved the minutes and unanimously adopted a recommendation urging Austin City Council to fully fund the roadway elements necessary to support "full-size" caps and stitches over I-35.
Elections and minutes - The commission approved the meeting minutes (motion recorded; mover: Commissioner Thibodeaux; second: Commissioner Levinson). The motion carried. - For officer elections, Commissioner Thibodeaux nominated Ed Ishmael for chair and Kimberly Levinson for vice chair. The nominations were seconded and both officers were elected unanimously.
Caps and stitches recommendation - The commission read and discussed a resolution that urged the City of Austin to fully fund the roadway elements necessary to support the full caps envisioned in the Our Future 35 project. The written recommendation identified four potential cap locations: (1) Cesar Chavez to Fourth Street; (2) Fourth Street to Seventh Street; (3) Eleventh Street to Twelfth Street; and (4) 30 Eighth Street to Airport Boulevard (the northern cap).
- Commissioners moved and seconded adoption of the recommendation. Before the final vote, Commissioner Breton moved an amendment to fix spelling errors in the resolution (including correcting "Cesar Chavez"); the amendment was seconded and adopted unanimously. The amended recommendation was then approved unanimously.
Why it matters: The commission represents downtown stakeholders and its recommendation asks council to pursue funding scenarios that enable the full caps and stitches design set developed through the Our Future 35 process rather than funding smaller, 800-foot shortened caps that the commission said would not support the full project vision.
Commission discussion: Commissioners raised equity concerns and noted potential gentrification risks while also observing that caps could reconnect east and west Austin and improve pedestrian and civic space downtown. Commissioners and staff discussed the current funding picture: some federal funding has been indicated for the Cesar Chavez-to-Fourth Street segment but broader funding scenarios, construction timing and post-construction amenity funding remain to be resolved at council and through TxDOT coordination.
Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting minutes: mover Commissioner Thibodeaux; second Commissioner Levinson; outcome: approved. - Election of Chair (Ed Ishmael): nominated Commissioner Thibodeaux; outcome: elected unanimously. - Election of Vice Chair (Kimberly Levinson): nominated Commissioner Thibodeaux; outcome: elected unanimously. - Amendment to caps & stitches recommendation (spelling corrections): mover Commissioner Breton; second (recorded); outcome: approved unanimously. - Caps & stitches recommendation (urge council to fully fund roadway elements for full-size caps): mover (recorded); second (recorded); outcome: approved unanimously.
Ending note: Commissioners said they may revisit prioritization as council and TxDOT refine funding options; staff said the downtown caps remain under budget and schedule review and that the City will continue stakeholder outreach as funding discussions proceed.
