JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Feb 28, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Permitting and Development Center. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:09 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Larry Franklin Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Diana Wheeler, Stephanie Bazan, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Heather Houser, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha Delgado City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION • Charlie Mossburger – St. Edwards Civic lab. o Spoke about ‘Get Fertilizer Wiser’ program to replace plants that have low fertilizer requirements • Chioma Okoro – street nurse o Spoke about mental health initiatives 1. Approval of minutes from the Jan 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. • Qureshi motions to approve, Davis seconds, passes on 13-0 vote (Franklin, Phillips off dais) 2. Discussion on the benefits of adopting and implementing the Great Streets Initiative –Kevin Howard • Presentation on Great Streets Initiative • Commissioners discussed details and logistics of supporting a measure at length. 15. Approve a recommendation supporting adoption and implementation of the Great Streets Initiative. • Proposed amendments to clarify goals, add safety for bicycles and peds. • Salinas motions to support goals of Great Streets Initiative. Salinas motions, Davis seconds, passes 14-0 (Phillips off dais). 3. Discussion of next steps on the Environmental Investment Plan Resolution (Item 25 from 2/15 Council Meeting). • JSC will need to hold public hearing in May/Apr • Mar – broad, public input • Apr – narrow, possible staff draft list • May 1 – JSC presentation due; May 30 – staff response due • This is parallel with budget recommendations • JSC has commissioners over many of the plans. Homework for March meeting – each working group to look at each of the plans related to their group. • White to write a short message to share with home commissions 16. Creation of working group to advise on public input and recommendations that are responsive to the Environmental Investment Plan (Item 25 passed by the Austin City Council on 2/15). • Office of Sustainability staff support for working group • White, Leal, Scott, Qureshi, Davis, Salinas, Campbell, Franklin volunteer to be on • White motions to create a …
A Food Plan for Austin-Travis County Find your seat at the table Some Food for Thought Developing a Food Plan What is a Food Plan & why do we need one? ● A Food Plan sets clear Goals and Strategies to move toward a more equitable, sustainable & resilient food system ● The Food Plan builds on several other initiatives made by the County, City, and Communities to tackle key food system issues. ● The Food Plan centers equity and the lived expertise of those most impacted by the current food system Good to Know ● On June 2021 Austin City Council directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process ● Travis County Commissioners Court approved formal participation in the plan in fall 2022 ● A draft was released on March 18th and it’s now open for public comment. Link to full resolution Project Timeline Phase 0: Planning for the Plan Phase 1: Vision Development Phase 2: Goal & Strategy Development Phase 3: Review and Ground truthing September 2021 - January 2023 March - August 2023 September 2023 - February 2024 February - Summer/Fall 2024 We are here ● ● ● ● Building Community Awareness 📰 Release of State of the Food System Report 📚 Onboarding Planning Consultant⭐ Recruitment of Community Teams🚀 ● Website launch 📶 ● World Cafe’s ☕ ● ● ● ● Listening Sessions & Tabling at events 📞 Equity Grounding Workshops 🤝 Community Circles 👐 Selecting Issue Area Groups🍽 ● ● ● ● Issue Area Group Meetings 🏘 Develop Goals and Strategies 🎯 Review Goals and Strategies Develop a draft for the Food Plan 🖊 ● ● ● ● Community Review of Plan 👀 Council and Commissioner Review ⚖ Approval 👍 Adoption 🏁 Co-creating the plan ● Planning Team: Coordinating and managing all moving parts ○ Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ City of Austin staff Travis County staff Consultant Team Equity Consultants Austin Travis Food Policy Board Executive Leadership Team ● Community Advisory Committee: Advisory body overseeing the planning process ● Issue Area Groups: Developing goals and strategies for the plan ● Community Food Ambassadors: Connecting the plan to our communities ● Broader community feedback: Provide input at different stages of the plan Food Plan Structure ● Vision: Describes and articulates our shared aim - the kind of future we agree we would like to move toward together. ● Objectives: The ends towards …
20240215-025 “Environmental Investment Plan” March 27, 2024 1 Resolution 20240215-025 Reaffirm commitment to net-zero by 2040, act with urgency. Prepare options and costs of capital improvements or programs that would: 1. Reduce carbon emissions 2. Decrease water usage and improve water quality and detention 3. Advance the sustainability of City Operations, and 4. Improve Community Resilience Public hearing of the JSC in March (27) / April (24) to gather input from the public JSC to submit any recommendations for investments to Council by May 1 Review whether recommendations can be funded through: - Utility rates and fees - General Fund Expenditures - Grants - General Obligation Bonds (may include Nov 2024) 2 Resolution 20240215-025 Analyze investments needed to fulfill the following adopted plans: - Climate Equity Plan - Water Forward - Watershed Protection Strategic Plan - Green Infrastructure Strengths and Gaps Assessment - One Austin: Climate Resilience Action Plan - Austin Strategic Mobility Plan - ARR Comprehensive Plan - AE Resource Generation Plan - - Austin Travis County Wildfire Preparedness Plan - Central Texas Regional Air Quality Plan - Urban Forest Plan - Austin Travis County Food Plan, State of the Food System Report, & Supply Chain Vulnerability PARD Land Management Plan and Long Range Plan Assessment Analysis should also identify options for fulfilling either all or specific elements of these plans before their current target date. 3 Resolution 20240215-025 Identify capital improvements and programs that would maximize potential Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, and to develop a mechanism for reinvestment of reimbursement from such credits into similarly climate-focused capital improvements and programs, where appropriate. Provide information detailing recommendations or actions taken to promote inter-departmental coordination to ensure that departments have an aligned approach to combating the threats of the climate crisis and natural hazards, including wildfire and flooding. Present to the City Council on or before May 30,2024, with an update of the Austin Climate Equity Plan dashboard, a combined inventory of plan recommendations, and a briefing or memo on applications and opportunities for federal funding relevant to an environmental investment plan. Public hearing on May 30 to consider this Environmental Investment Plan 4 What are they really looking for? Council Member R. Alter’s Office communicated that: - They’re not looking for business as usual spending. - They’re not looking for spending to make annual incremental progress. - They’re looking for the DELTA between our current trajectory and fully …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240327-XX Date: March 27, 2024 Subject: Austin Energy Budget Recommendations Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendations on the FY 24-25 Budget Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Low-Income Bill Discounts: Austin Energy customers pay a dedicated Customer Assistance Program fee to provide bill discounts for low-income customers. The purpose of this fee is to provide needed support in a transparent way. Forcing solar to pay for low-income discounts (as is the current structure of Austin Energy’s Community Solar program) only serves to slow the transition to clean energy. Low-income discounts are needed regardless of the source of energy. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that all bill discounts for lower-income residents be paid from the Customer Assistance Program fund, including bill discounts for low-income Community Solar subscribers. 2. Transmission Improvements: Improvements to Austin Energy’s transmission system are essential for mitigating local congestion that increases costs to the utility and customers and for enabling the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Austin Energy commissioned a study that identified five recommended types of transmission upgrades. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that these recommended upgrades be implemented as quickly as possible and that sufficient funding be allocated to this need to ensure that that of funds is not a source of delay. 3. Fayette Coal Plant: Austin Energy and the Austin City Council have established that shutting down Austin Energy’s portion of the Fayette coal plant is a top priority. Investing in an asset that the utility is actively trying to shut down is not a prudent use of ratepayer or utility funds. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the budget not include any capital investments in Fayette.
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240327-XX Date: March 27, 2024 Subject: Food Plan Budget Recommendation Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendations on the FY 24-25 Budget Description of Recommendation to Council Food Plan Implementation: The Austin/Travis County Food Plan will soon be completed. The plan includes a number of strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Austin Climate Equity Plan also includes strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food consumption and to improve carbon sequestration as part of food production. This work is complex and has the potential to yield significant emissions and equity benefits. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: one (1) Food Plan Project Manager be added to the Office of Sustainability. (est. $150,000) In addition to implementing the Food Plan, this position should be responsible for implementation of the strategies related to food consumption and food production in the Climate Equity Plan.
Joint Sustainability Committee | Navigating Funding Opportunities Council Resolution Key Takeaways • Identify capital improvements and programs that would maximize potential Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, and develop a mechanism for reinvestments of reimbursement from such credits into similarly climate focused capital improvements and programs. • Review and identify which investments from the Committee have the option of being funded through utility rates and fees, general fund expenditures, grants, and/or bond instruments. Resolution: https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=424874 Funding Sources FY 2024 All City Operating Funds – $5.5 Billion Convention Center 5% Aviation 5% Austin Water 13% Austin Resource Recovery 2% General Fund Operations 24% GO Debt Service 4% Internal Service Operations 7% Other Expenses 6% Watershed Protection 2% Austin Energy 28% Transportation and Public Works 4% Funding Sources Utility Rates and Fees • $1.7 billion projected revenue for FY 2024. • 90% from rates and 10% from fees. • AE’s major expenditures include power supply costs, wholesale transmission costs, operating and maintenance expenses, debt service, investment in capital improvements, and transfers to the City’s General Fund. • Energy Efficiency Programs funded by the Community Benefit Charge include: • Rebates and incentives for energy efficiency improvements • Rebates for installation of rooftop solar systems • Austin Energy Green Building Program Funding Sources Utility Rates and Fees • $698.2 million projected revenue for FY 2023‐24. AW utilizes water and wastewater rate revenue through their operating budget and capital improvement program. • AW’s major expenditures include operating and maintenance costs, debt service payments, and transfers to other City funds, including the General Fund, Utility Billing Support, and Administrative Support. • GoPurple Program ‐ Increases use of reclaimed water in and around Austin. By 2040, onsite water reuse will save an estimated 6 million gallons of potable water per day. o Funded through a combination of fees and rates. Funding Sources FY 2024 General Fund Revenue – $1.4 Billion Sales Tax 27.8% Other Revenue 13.1% Utility Transfers 12.1% Property Tax 47.0% Funding Sources FY 2024 Budgeted General Fund Expenditures – 1.4 Billion Police 35% Housing and Planning 2% Parks and Recreation 9% Forensic Science 1% Municipal Court 3% Animal Services 2% EMS 9% Transfers & Other 7% Fire 18% Austin Public Health 9% Library 5% Funding Sources General Fund • The General Fund mainly consists of revenue from property taxes, sales taxes, and utility transfers. $1.4 billion projected revenue for FY 2023‐24. • The General Fund can …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240327-006 Date: March 27, 2024 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Part 2) Recommendations on the FY 24-25 Budget Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Low-Income Bill Discounts: Austin Energy customers pay a dedicated Customer Assistance Program fee to provide bill discounts for low-income customers. The purpose of this fee is to provide needed support in a transparent way. Forcing solar to pay for low-income discounts (as is the current structure of Austin Energy’s Community Solar program) only serves to slow the transition to clean energy. Low-income discounts are needed regardless of the source of energy. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that all bill discounts for lower-income residents be paid from the Customer Assistance Program fund, including bill discounts for low-income Community Solar subscribers. Motion: Christopher Campbell Second: Amy Noel Vote: 12-0 Yes: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Christopher Campbell, Richard Brimer, Charlotte Davis, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Craig Nazor, Jon Salinas, Amy Noel, Alice Woods, Chris Campbell Off Dais: Anna Scott Absent: Yure Suarez, Heather Houser, Bertha Delgado, Stephanie Bazan 2. Transmission Improvements: Improvements to Austin Energy’s transmission system are essential for mitigating local congestion that increases costs to the utility and customers and for enabling the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Austin Energy commissioned a study that identified five recommended types of transmission upgrades. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that these recommended upgrades be implemented as quickly as possible, by 2030, and that sufficient funding be allocated to this need to ensure that that of funds is not a source of delay. Motion: Christopher Campbell Second: Amy Noel Vote: 12-0 Yes: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Christopher Campbell, Richard Brimer, Charlotte Davis, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Craig Nazor, Jon Salinas, Amy Noel, Alice Woods, Chris Campbell Off Dais: Anna Scott Absent: Yure Suarez, Heather Houser, Bertha Delgado, Stephanie Bazan 3. Fayette Coal Plant: Austin Energy and the Austin City Council have established that shutting down Austin Energy’s portion of the Fayette coal plant is a top priority. Investing in an asset that the utility is actively trying to shut down is not a prudent use of ratepayer or utility funds. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the budget not include any capital investments in Fayette. The Joint Sustainability Committee also recommends allocating $175,000 to support water quality monitoring and remediation. Motion: Christopher Campbell Second: Amy Noel Vote: 12-0 …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Mar 27, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and City Hall. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:20 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Richard Brimer, Charlotte Davis, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Craig Nazor, Jon Salinas Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Amy Noel, Alice Woods, Chris Campbell Board Members Absent: Heather Houser, Bertha Delgado, Stephanie Bazan, Yure Suarez, Melissa Rothrock City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Zach Baumer, Leti Alvarez, Sergio Torres-Peralta, Erik Nelson, Belinda Weaver CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiba White called the meeting to order at 6:20 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 1. Approval of minutes from the Feb 28th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Brimer motions to approve, Maxwell-Gaines seconds, passes on 10-0 vote (Scott, Salinas off dais) 3. Navigating Funding Opportunities – Erik Nelson and Belinda Weaver, Financial Services Department Presentation on how the city budget works, and sources of revenue and how they function. White: are any revenue sources constrained? Nelson: general fund tight due to lege constraints, ways to override. Other sources have legal limitations on what they can be used for. 2. Presentation on the goals and strategies in the draft Austin-Travis County Food Policy Plan – Sergio Torres-Peralta, Office of Sustainability Presentation on high level food planning process, structure, goals, objectives Campbell: what are some hurdles to implement the plan? Torres: need to find a balance between community desires and what is feasible and can go in the plan. 4. Presentation on the Staff Response to Resolution 20240215-025, the “Environmental Investment Plan” – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability JSC will need 5. Public Hearing on Resolution 20240215-025, the “Environmental Investment Plan” Ted Eubanks – need to balance green with density (acres purchased and restored, wetland preserved, etc.). Inventory public lands, convert to green space, no net loss for green space, etc. Bobby Levinski, representing SOS Alliance – support Rewilding goals + programs to improve water quality. Protect land, water-smart infrastructure, smart mowing, study and mitigate damage from Fayette coal plant Spencer Schumacher – in support of ATX Walk Bike Roll, actionable items that can meet goals of ACEP and ASMP. $211 million delta between goals and funded items in mobility bonds. Tanya Payne – Rewilding ATX sent 10 recommendations. …
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 BYLAWS OF THE Joint Sustainability Committee ARTICLE 1. NAME. The name of the board is Joint Sustainability Committee. ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE AND DUTIES. The purpose of the board is to advise the council on matters related to conservation and sustainability; and review City policies and procedures relevant to the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan, including planning, implementation, community engagement, goal setting, and progress monitoring; promote close cooperation between the council, City management, City boards, commissions, committees, and taskforces, and individuals, institutions, and agencies concerned with the politics, procedures, and implementation of the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan with the goal of coordinating all similar activities within the City and the community in order to secure the greatest public benefit; and forward to the city manager all advisory material that the joint committee provides to the council, the Office of Sustainability, City departments and offices, or City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP. (A) The board is composed of eighteen members. Twelve members are each a representative of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board , Community Development Commission, the Economic Prosperity Commission, the Electric Utility Commission, the Environmental Commission, the Parks and Recreation Board, the Planning Commission, the Resource Management Commission, the Urban Transportation Commission, the Water and Wastewater Commission, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, and the Design Commission. To ensure adequate community stakeholder representation and improve racial diversity, the council committee assigned oversight of social service policies will nominate one individual to serve on the joint committee and the mayor will nominate five individuals to serve on the joint committee. A nomination to the joint committee under this subsection is subject to approval by a majority vote of the council. Council will consider the racial composition of the joint committee when making new appointments. (B) A member serves at the pleasure of the city council. (C) Board members serve for a term of four years beginning March 1st on the year of appointment. (D) An individual board member may not act in an official capacity except through the action of …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT February 28, 2024 at 6pm Council Chambers, City Hall 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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 Zach Baumer at (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov or 415-694-3111). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Electric Utility Commission) Diana Wheeler, Vice Chair (Urban Transportation Commission) Charlotte Davis (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Haris Qureshi (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Bertha Delgado (Community Development Commission) Larry Franklin (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Chris Maxwell-Gaines (Water & Wastewater Commission) Amy Noel (Economic Prosperity Commission) Stephanie Bazan (Parks & Recreation Board) Jon Salinas (Design Commission) Vacant (City Council) Alice Woods (Planning Commission) Rodrigo Leal (Mayor’s Representative) Anna Scott (Mayor’s Representative) Heather Houser (Mayor’s Representative) Yureisly Suarez (Mayor’s Representative) Christopher Campbell (Mayor’s Representative) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the January 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. DISCUSSION Council Meeting). 2. Discussion on the benefits of adopting and implementing the Great Streets Initiative. 3. Discussion of next steps on the Environmental Investment Plan Resolution (Item 25 from 2/15 4. Discussion of Joint Sustainability Committee strategic plan. 5. Update from the Zero Waste Advisory Commission on the Litter Abatement program, the Household Hazardous Waste door-to-door pilot program, multi-family composting, reports in progress, upcoming solicitations, a supplemental brush and bulk contract, and Digital Solutions for Waste Management Contract. 6. Update from the Urban Transportation Commission on Austin Transit Partnership light rail planning and next phases and MetroBike. 7. Update from the Planning Commission on DB-90 which creates a density bonus zoning district in an effort to replace VMU2 and Residential in Commercial density bonus programs that were invalidated by a lawsuit in December, in addition the Planning …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Consumption & Natural Systems) Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council Food and Product Consumption Budget Needs 1. Sustainable Purchasing: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 2 says “By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from institutional, commercial, and government purchasing are reduced by at least 50%.“ Strategy 2 to achieve that goal is “Strengthen the City’s sustainable purchasing program.” Recent analysis by the Office of Sustainability shows that over 80% of the City of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the products and services that the city purchases. It is essential that the City establish a comprehensive Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products and services the City procures. And the City must prioritize ongoing staff support to educate all departments on sustainable purchasing and ensure that purchasing decisions comply with the Sustainable Purchasing Plan. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: a. $125,000 be allocated to hire a sustainable purchasing contractor and/or purchase needed software and databases to develop a Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products, materials and services purchased by the city; and b. A full-time Sustainable Purchasing Director position should be added to the Purchasing Department. If an FTE is determined to be infeasible in this budget cycle, a temporary Sustainable Purchasing Director position should be established and funded. Natural Systems Budget Needs 2. Converting Impervious Cover to Functional Green: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Natural Systems Goal 4 says “By 2030, include all City-owned lands under a management plan that results in neutral or negative carbon emissions and maximizes community co-benefits.” Strategy 2 to achieve this goal is “Reclaim public space and prioritize green infrastructure.” There is no inventory of the unnecessary impervious cover on City-owned lands, or a plan for converting those areas to functional green. Areas along city streets, in and around parking lots, at city buildings, and in city parks all need evaluation and a plan to remediate. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $200,000 be allocated to audit City-owned non-functional or unnecessary impervious cover, including surface-level parking lots, and develop a plan to convert an ambitious percentage of these to functional green uses as soon as practical. 3. No Mow Signage: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Natural Systems Goal …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Sustainable Buildings) Motioned By: Seconded By: Date: February 28, 2024 Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Implement a Passiveand Embodied Carbon Reduction House Pilot Program: The Passive House standard (developed by nonprofit Phius)1 is the most rigorous energy efficiency building code, and provides dramatic reductions in energy use. Buildings meeting this standard are significantly more resilient, quieter, have better indoor air quality, and help the grid by reducing peak demand. This standard is now code minimum in many municipalities and is included in 20 states’ affordable housing scoring metrics. Although some affordable housing developments have come close to meeting the Passive House standard, none have met it yet. In addition to reducing energy use in buildings, reducing the embodied carbon in the materials used in construction is also important. Conducting an embodied carbon analysis during the initial design phase of a building gives the developer an opportunity to select more sustainable building materials. A pilot program will provide financial assistance to achieve certification and collect data to demonstrate the value of achieving the Passive House standard and how to reduce embodied carbon in building materials, and should help drive the market toward utilizing 1 https://www.phius.org/certifications/projects/project-certification-overview Passive House more broadly. The Energy Efficiency Programs fee2 that all customers pay as part of their Austin Energy bills is intended to fund energy efficiency programs, such as this. A local Passive House incentive would help affordable housing developers maximize utilization of the Inflation Reduction Act 45L tax credit because projects certifying with Passive House also receive Zero Energy Ready Home certification and get $5,000 per unit in tax credits. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: a. $2 million be allocated from the Energy Efficiency Programs fund for an Affordable Housing Passive House and Embodied Carbon Reduction Pilot Program to provide incentives to income-restricted affordable housing. Affordable housing projects that certify with Phius and conduct an embodied carbon analysis should be eligible for rebates, paid in three milestone payments during design (for hiring a consultant and committing to certification), construction (for precertification), and completion (for final certification). Projects should be required to share construction cost data, both hard and soft, and post-occupancy energy usage data. b. The Austin Energy Green Building department should be allocated 1 additional FTE or temporary position to develop and administer the program, in close consultation with stakeholders. …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Low-Carbon Concrete) Motioned By: Seconded By: Date: February 28, 2024 Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council Low carbon concrete: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Goal 3 says : “By 2030, reduce the embodied carbon footprint of building materials used in local construction by 40%.”. Producing concrete emits CO2 through energy required to produce it as well as the chemical process, and procuring the concrete we need to grow represents a significant portion of Austin’s footprint: 78,700 metric tons in 2023, and construction has the highest impact on carbon in terms of total city spend. Growing Austin while reducing our carbon footprint thus requires the use of low concrete concrete technology, but testing is required before scaling novel materials. Thus, the JSC recommends that $150,000 be allocated to the Office of the City Engineer division of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department for 1. Field pour demonstrations using concrete containing a total cementitious content that is 50% or more decarbonized relative to a national ordinary portland cement average embodied carbon intensity of 922 kilograms per tonne of cement, and 2. An intern to assist the Department of Engineers to procure and implement the cement testing. This work should be conducted in close coordination with the Office of Sustainability and Capital Delivery Services.
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Green Streets Initiative Recommendations Recommendation Support of the Green Streets Initiative Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability recommends that the Austin City Council approve the proposed Green Streets Initiative that minimizes barriers to plant and maintain street trees located in R.O.W’s for both public and private projects. Rationale: Prioritizing street trees in R.O.W’s aligns with the goals of the Austin Climate Equity plan. Specifically as it supports the improvement of air quality and temperature reduction within Austin’s Urban Core.
GREEN STREETS INITIATIVE Street Trees Keep Austin Cool March 28, 2024 Joint Sustainability Committee We Need Street Trees: STREETS ARE HOT & DANGEROUS ● Austin is warm and getting warmer - By 2050, Austin is estimated to experience an average of ~3 months per year (82-95 days) with a heat index over 100° compared to ~1 month” historically (29 days) ● It is even hotter in the Streets - Unshaded streets become “urban heat islands”, absorbing and reflecting the sun’s heat, causing streets to be 5-10° hotter than other parts of the city. ● Our streets are dangerous - 2022 was the deadliest year on Austin roads topping the previous record set in 2021. We Need Street Trees: IMPACTS & ACCESS ARE INEQUITABLE ● Low-income and BIPOC communities in Austin are disproportionately impacted by dangerous streets and extreme heat ● Tree canopy is inevitably distributed Austin, TX - Pedestrian incidents per 100,000 (2019-2022) Source: Austin Vision Zero via Urbinden Design Lab * Approximation- Available data misaligned. Incidents by race from 5 year avg. (2017-2022), total pop. from 2020 census, pedestrian incidents averaged 4 year avg. (2019-2022) We Need Street Trees: STREET TREES MAKE OUR STREETS COOLER & SAFER ● Street trees shade create microclimates on our sidewalks and bikeways with shade and evapotranspiration ● Street trees slow vehicle speeds and reduce the frequency and severity of crashes. Source: Urbinden Design Lab Barriers: REGULATIONS ● Private development is only required to provide street trees on ~3.3% of the streets in Austin. Incentivized ~1.1% ● Where street trees are required, it is easier to get relief from the requirement than to comply ● TCM street tree requirements are NOT regulatory - NOT enforced (required on level 2 and up) 3.3% 1.1% * 95.6% * Some PUDs may include street trees requirements (example: Mueller). PUDs represent ~8% of the City of Austin Barriers: ADMINISTRATIVE RULES ● Criteria Manual rules protect departmental interests, do not optimize limited ROWs, do not understand how trees grow ● Some rules conflict with City goals, policies, and priorities, often superseding adopted regulations ● Inflated rules trigger case-by-case departmental review of street trees - reducing predictability and often prohibiting street trees Interpretation of existing code Urban condition best practice Barriers: PROCEDURES ● Street trees require license agreement to privatize maintenance responsibility ● License agreement process is duplicative of site plan review ○ Adds time - upto 2 years ○ …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Jan 24, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Permitting and Development Center. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:07 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Haris Qureshi, Chris Maxwell-Gaines Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Melissa Rothrock, Jon Salinas, Alice Woods, Amy Noel, Diana Wheeler, Heather Houser, Charlotte Davis, Christopher Campbell, Anna Scott Board Members Absent: Larry Franklin, Bertha Delgado, Stephanie Bazan, Yure Suarez City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Angela Johnson, Ed Poppit, Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Santiago – volunteer at Festival Beach Food Forest Responding to TxDOT’s I-35 proposal o Regarding non-conforming uses and stormwater tunnel under Cesar Chavez 6. Approval of minutes from the December 13th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Qureshi motions to approve, Wheeler seconds, passes on 12-0 vote (Maxwell-Gaines off dais). 7. Low Carbon Concrete Presentation –Angela Johnson and Ed Poppit, Office of the City Engineer Presentation on approach taken in response to council resolution concrete Question on are they asking suppliers to disclose rather than requiring low carbon o Poppit – looking towards enhancements in the future. Pilots, testing (e.g. carbon injection in sidewalks), but not far down the road of action. Need more support to take more action. Taking small steps now – educating producers, etc. o Mix of fixes – no silver bullet. Changing processes, changing energy sources, changing component mixtures. o Johnson: Plan is evolving and shifting based on new knowledge advancements o Poppit: Old way was prescriptive, new path might be performance-based (meet certain important characteristics). Puts pressure on city staff to ensure performance meets needs. o This was supposed to go to council in November, no updates. o EPDs coming into effect Oct 2024 o White: need to move faster o Clarification from Campbell – CO2 impacts are in metric tons, not MMT 3. Recommendations to amend ACEP re: telework policies and AE zero waste goal Qureshi motions to approve, Scott seconds Does there need to be specificity in the time for a target? Is it aggressive enough? JSC members discuss at length. JSC ‘further recommends that ACEP be updated in near future to refine the disposal rate goal with clear target dates and set more ambitious interim goals’ Woods amendment – …
Joint Sustainability Committee 2023 Action Plan Prepared by Jen Cregar, Terra Lumina Consulting January 2023 JSC Purpose from Bylaws The joint committee shall advise the council on matters related to conservation and sustainability; and ● review City policies and procedures relevant to the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan, including planning, implementation, community engagement, goal setting, and progress monitoring; ● promote close cooperation between the council, City management, City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces, and individuals, institutions, and agencies concerned with the politics, procedures, and implementation of the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan, with the goal of coordinating all similar activities within the City and the community in order to secure the greatest public benefit; and forward to the city manager all advisory material that the joint committee provides to the council, the Office of Sustainability, City departments and offices, or City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. 2 JSC Purpose in Plain Speak The JSC advises the City Council and supports coordination among the City and community in implementing the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Community Members City Council Other Public Agencies/ Institutions City Departments Businesses Community Organizations 3 Proposed 2023 JSC Action Plan 1. Define what JSC considers a “high impact” strategy. This could include: ― Ability to increase equity in processes and/or outcomes (e.g., strategy would focus on a disinvested/ ― GHG reduction potential marginalized group or part of town) ― Relative implementation progress so far ― Responsible party’s ability (capacity + willingness) to implement the strategy, where the responsible party could be a City department, community group, etc. 2. Create working groups (WGs) to identify high impact strategies per section of the ACEP. WGs should be diverse and may include JSC members, department staff, and other community members if additional experience/perspectives are needed. WGs could be organized as follows: ― Sustainable Buildings (energy + materials) ― Transportation & Land Use + Transportation Electrification (mobility + electrification) ― Consumption + Natural Systems (food, products, and green infrastructure) 4 Proposed 2023 JSC Action Plan (cont.) 3. Working groups make recommendations for priority actions to advance their high impact strategies. Potential action areas could include: ― Budget/funding, potentially including a non-City of Austin funding partner ― Accountability tools (e.g., adding more detail to dashboard, promoting dashboard for increased awareness) ― Coalition building ― Policy changes (could be no to low …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendation (Pro-Climate/Pro-Health Foods) Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Counci: Incentives and Education for Pro-Climate, Pro-Health Foods: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 1 says “By 2030, ensure all Austinites can access a food system that is community driven, addresses food insecurity, prioritizes regenerative agriculture, supports dietary and health agency, promotes plant-based foods, and minimizes food waste.: Strategy 3 is to “Incentivize pro-climate, prohealth, food choices” with a variety of programs, including “Enhance[d] incentives to make pro-climate, pro-health food choices more affordable.” Due to the large amount of resources that it takes to produce meat, dairy and eggs, reducing consumption of these foods is one of the most effective ways for people to reduce their impact on the climate and the environment in general. Plant-based alternatives are available, but many people aren’t familiar with these foods or their benefits and some plant-based foods can be more expensive. Thus an education campaign and incentives are needed. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: $200,000 be allocated to the Office of Sustainability for a Pro-Climate Food Education and Incentive Program. These funds should be spent on a multi-lingual public education and marketing campaign to promote pro-climate/pro-health plant-based meat, dairy and egg alternatives and identification of opportunities to provide effective incentives for pro-climate/pro- health foods at local restaurants and grocery stores. The Office of Sustainability and Austin Public Health should work together on the public education and marketing campaign.
