Audit & Finance Committee recommends dissolving South Central Waterfront Advisory Board

Deputy City Clerk Stephanie Hall told the Audit and Finance Committee on March 4 that the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board has struggled to achieve quorum for roughly a year, with the last regular meeting in March 2025 and vacancies dating to June 2024. "City code does require that if the advisory commission fails to convene for a continuance of 6 months that we are to report them to the audit and finance committee," Hall said.

Kim Olivares, Director of Financial Services, explained that several factors led staff to recommend dissolving the advisory board: the proposed tax increment reinvestment zone supporting the waterfront was struck down by a Travis County District Court decision in April 2024; the regulatory framework for implementing the South Central Waterfront Vision Plan was indefinitely postponed in September 2024; and planning and oversight work is being handled by other commissions. Olivares said staff believes much of the board’s intended work could be incorporated into an existing commission with aligned geographic purview.

Council member Alter moved to dissolve the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board; Council member Fuentes seconded. The chair called for discussion and, without objection, the motion was adopted. Council member Siegel signaled his support for the dissolution on the record.

Why it matters: The advisory board’s formal dissolution changes where public input and staff oversight for South Central Waterfront-related work will be routed and could consolidate responsibilities into other commissions or the planning process.

What’s next: The committee’s recommendation will be sent to the full council per code timelines for advisory-board dissolution.