April 2020 April 2020 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT • The live outcome rate for April was 95.1 percent. • A total of 186 animals were adopted (132 dogs, 53 cats and one bird). • A total of 74 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). Animal Services News Animal Protection month of April. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 49 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 48 fencing assistance applications, implanted seven microchips and impounded 96 injured animals. • A total of 54 animals were transferred to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 258 rabies exposure reports and submitted 57 specimens for rabies testing. Seven bats tested positive. • Wildlife APO received 17 coyote-related activities: o 5 sightings o 5 wild sick reports of mange o 3 incidents o 2 encounters o 1 wild injured o 1 observation • Out of 17 coyote related reports, 10 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets were a factor in all activities • o Two incidents involved a coyote suspected of killing an unattended cat. o One incident involve a coyote injuring a dog in a fenced backyard. • Encounters: Pets were a factor in all verified activities o Two encounters involved a coyote displaying flushing behavior with a dog and citizen. Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs • A total of 60 volunteers donated 1,957.58 hours, primarily as fosters, in April. April 2020 Animal Services Report from foster care. • A total of 420 families provided foster care and a total of 186 animals were adopted directly • There are 1758 approved fosters in GivePulse, and 1548 new foster applications were processed. • There are currently 394 animals in 329 different foster homes. • 68 live outcomes were attributed to 14 AAC partners: o 28 cats o 39 dogs o 1 ferret Veterinary Services shelter grounds. • Shelter veterinarians were medically responsible for 587 animals; 495 in foster care and 92 on • Veterinarians addressed 95 emergency cases, performed 12 orthopedic surgeries and 18 other specialty surgeries including enucleations, amputations, mass removals, hernia repair, wound repairs and dentals. A total of 478 spay/neuter surgeries were performed and 765 vet exams.
Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, August 7, 2020 Special Meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission Friday, August 7, 3 p.m., 2020 Animal Advisory Commission to be held August 7 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by noon, Thursday, August 6. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, residents must: • Email or call board liaison, Belinda Hare, Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov, phone 512-978-0565, no later than noon, August 6. Email works best and most efficiently. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, phone number, and an email address. • Once a request to speak has been emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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 Board Liaison, Belinda Hare, Austin Animal Services, at 512-978-0565, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 3 to 4:30 P.M., 2020 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING Lisa Mitchell, Vice Chair Edward Flores Monica Frenden Andrea Schwartz Jo Anne Norton Ryan Clinton REVISED AGENDA Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, August 7, 2020 CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: David Lundstedt, Chair Katie Jarl Palmer Neuhaus Craig Nazor Dr. Jon Brandes Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian District 4 Vacant CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission’s July …
February 2020 February 2020 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News Animal Protection • The live outcome rate for February was 97.5 percent. • A total of 609 animals were adopted (412 dogs, 187 cats and 10 small pets). • A total of 197 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 96 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 20 fencing assistance applications, implanted 14 microchips and month of February. impounded 98 injured animals. • A total of 39 animals were transferred to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 226 rabies exposure reports and submitted 38 specimens for rabies testing. Two bats tested positive. • Wildlife APO received 109 coyote-related activities: o 61 sightings o 33 wild sick reports o 5 incidents 3 reports involved pets 2 reports involved livestock o 4 encounters o 3 observations o 1 wild speak report o 1 coyote presentation o 1 wild roam (sighting) near a school • Out of 109 coyote related reports, 70 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets and livestock were a factor in all five activities • o Two incidents involved two coyotes that injured off-leash pets in the greenbelt. Both dogs survived with minor injuries. o Two incidents involved a single coyote entering a yard and leaving with a chicken. o One incident involved a coyote approaching a cat in a backyard. Wildlife officer was unable to reach citizen to determine if it was a pet or stray. • Encounters: Pets were a factor in three of the four verified activities o Three encounters involved a coyote displaying flushing behavior with a dog and citizen. February 2020 Animal Services Report o One encounter involved a coyote with mange that approached a citizen without a dog, but left when it was hazed. Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs • A total of 432 volunteers donated 5,223 service hours; 19 groups of volunteers donated 444 hours with their “Giving Group” to the Center; 16 community service restitution volunteers contributed 175 hours toward animal care tasks. • Volunteer Coordinators hosted six New Volunteer Orientations, introducing 132 individuals to our organization and volunteer opportunities. from foster care. • A total of 200 families provided foster care, and a total of 78 animals were adopted directly • There are 806 approved …
May 2020 May 2020 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT • The live outcome rate for May was 94.9 percent. • A total of 189 animals were adopted (141 dogs, 46 cats, one bird and one small pet). • A total of 81 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). Animal Services News Animal Protection month of May. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 47 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 30 fencing assistance applications, implanted two microchips and impounded 241 injured animals and more than half of those were transferred to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 231 rabies exposure reports and submitted 33 specimens for rabies testing. Three bats tested positive. • Wildlife APO received 44 coyote-related activities: o 21 sightings o 5 incidents o 5 wild sick reports of mange o 5 wild injured o 3 encounters o 3 wild speak o 1 observation o 1 investigate exposure puncture wound. No confirmed incident- dog escaped yard and came back with small • Out of 44 coyote related reports, 29 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets and livestock were a factor in all activities • o Two incidents involved a coyote on-camera taking an unattended cat o One incident involved a coyote injuring an off leash dog in a greenbelt o One incident involved a coyote that injured a cat in a front yard o One incident involved a coyote that took chickens from a backyard • Encounters: Pets were a factor in all activities o All encounters involved a coyote displaying flushing behavior with dog and citizen. Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs May 2020 Animal Services Report from foster care. • A total of 57 volunteers donated 1,410 hours, primarily as fosters, in May. • A total of 368 families provided foster care and a total of 155 animals were adopted directly • There are 1860 approved fosters in GivePulse, and 257 new foster applications were processed. • There are currently 367 animals in 285 different foster homes. • 108 live outcomes were attributed to 14 AAC partners: o 57 cats o 51 dogs o 1 ferret Veterinary Services shelter grounds. • Shelter veterinarians were medically responsible for 587 animals; 495 in foster care and 92 on • Veterinarians addressed 95 emergency cases, performed 12 orthopedic surgeries and 18 other specialty …
Special Meeting of the “Economic Prosperity Commission” August 7, 2020 of meeting Economic Prosperity Commission to be held August 7th 2020 at 10 AM with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Day before the scheduled meeting, August 6, 2020 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the August 7,2020 Economic Prosperity Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at Michelle Clemons at Michelle.Clemons@austintexas.gov / 512-974-2713 or Nydia Castillo at Nydia.Castillo@austintexas.gov / 512-974-6452 no later than noon, August 6, 2020. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 30 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Michelle.Clemons@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •Residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live if this meeting is broadcast live Economic Prosperity Commission August 7, 2020, at 10 am VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Amy Noel, Chair – District 7 Holt Lackey, Vice Chair – District 10 Commissioners: Rachel Green- Mayor’s Appointee, Larry Anazia - District 1; Kirsha Haverlah- District 2, Alexis Taylor -District 3, Ivanna Neri- District 4, Preston Tom- District 5, Michael Ybarra- District 6, Nathan Ryan- District 8. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from May and June 2020 Meetings 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Action and Discussion on COVID-19 City of Austin Relief Programs from Council Agenda Items: b. Small Business: Resolution from March 26, 2020 Agenda Item 88 authorizing the creation of a temporary Austin Economic Injury Bridge Loan Program to small businesses. c. Creatives: Resolution from 4/9/2020 Agenda Item 86 related to the use of the Live Music Fund for Emergency Assistance grants for musicians. d. Paycheck …
The new model of animal sheltering MYTHS vs FACTS Myth Fact Sick and injured dogs and cats will be turned out on the streets. All incoming pets or calls about pets will be given a needs assessment to determine the pathway that they need: shelter, foster or remain in the home and receive care. People in underserved communities within Austin will be discriminated against and unfairly left behind with this model. Stray, healthy pets will be turned away from the shelter. The animal welfare industry (both publicly and privately funded) has systems that have been known to discriminate against marginalized people. The current system unfairly leaves people without the same means as the richest parts of cities out of the reclaim, foster and adoption process as it stands. One of the primary objectives of this new model, and one of the reasons for its creation, is to be inclusive and welcoming of every person who lives in Austin. We know pets are many times more likely to find their owners if they stay in the neighborhood. People who find a lost pet will be given support to find the owner if they’re willing. If they can’t find the owner or aren’t able to hold the pet, the shelter will take in the lost pet and triage them based on their needs. Finders are required to hold an animal they find and are responsible for finding the owner themselves. The local shelter will take the animal if the finder isn’t willing or able to find the owner on their own. The new model will add resources and services in neighborhoods to help people and their pets. Lost pets are more likely to get back home if kept in the area they were found. Lost pets won’t be at the shelter so the owner can’t find them. 21st Century technology allows us to work more efficiently and not solely rely on in-person interactions. The system has to be reimagined and rebuilt to make it virtually impossible for an owner not to find their pet, regardless of where it is temporarily housed. Austin Pets Alive! and a few other executives are working in a silo and changing the whole animal sheltering system by themselves. More shelter industry organizations are working together than ever before to build systemic change. Leadership from over 30 municipal shelters nationally and their communities, as well as industry leaders …
THE HASS MODEL The new journey for stray pets FINDING A STRAY ANIMAL A direct shelter hotline would be created where residents are connected to a trained operator who will get you DISTRICT SPECIFIC assistance with trapping, triage, microchip scanning, and transport. Intake testing, vaccinations, and behavior assessments will be provided by DISTRICT SPECIFIC stations throughout Central Texas. TRAPRS Austin Lost and Found Pawboost EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY The vast network of fosters, volunteers, and adopters will be given resources, training, and support for short/long term fostering. Tele - health services will be available for pet owners considering surrender, foster caregivers and finders of pets who may be sick or injured. Residents can reach the organization quickly and easily using remote technologies like text, phone and web chats. StayatHomeandFoster.org Central Texas Food Bank Maddie's University FearFreeHappyHomes.com Free Spay/Neuter clinics throughout Central Texas VIRTUAL ADOPTIONS Getting animals healthy and into forever homes is already happening online! Using the latest technological tools, marketing, foster placement teams, and matchmaking services will allow for every animal to go into a home that they deserve. EMERGENCY MEDICAL NEEDS Pregnant, injured, neonatal, wounded, and senior animals will be getting direct intake priority. Collaboration. Solutions. Now.
A Proposal to Make Austin Animal Services (even) Better for People and Pets Ellen Jefferson, DVM Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive!/American Pets Alive! Executive Leadership Team, Human Animal Support Services Project Great News Coming Out of Shelters In March, shelters all over the country, even those that historically never had a foster program, saw the benefit of massive numbers of fosters coming forward to take pets home in an effort to prevent pets from being stuck in shelters in case of govt shutdowns or staff illness. This was extremely eye opening because shelters are entrenched in the “not enough homes” mindset. Lifesaving rates have never been higher. 80,000 foster homes signed up through Greater Good, only 30,000 were used In May, Greater Good did a national push to count foster homes that still wanted a shelter pet (this is more than 30 days after the shelters already emptied out so doesn’t count that initial rush of homes that were already full). Only a fraction were used which means that there is a much larger demand than shelters have ever realized for homes willing to house and help animals. COVID-19 Caused Disruption • The human virus made it impossible to care for animals en masse in a building • Shelter systems pivoted to sustain lifesaving and keep people and pets safe • This pivot fueled a nationwide re-envisioning for how shelters operate image source: unschool.co Because government funded shelters all over the country were able to take a breath from the rat race of intake, kenneling, outcomes due to empty kennels, discussions started about how the entire system needed to be overhauled to more accurately reflect what people want as exemplified by the outpouring of support to keep pets out of shelters. The history of animal sheltering in Austin ● 1900 - emergency of the dog pound model ● Pets are taken from their homes and neighborhoods, rounded up, and reclaimed or killed ● Our movement is built on this old foundation The “taking a breath” also allowed the industry to reflect on how we got here into this system that is so fundamentally broken. In doing research on Austin (which turns out is typical of almost every city), we found that the entire shelter system was created to deal with the pandemic of Rabies. Rabies caused huge amounts of livestock losses, massive public fear of death from it (100% fatal) …
June 2020 June 2020 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for June was 93.1 percent. • A total of 306 animals were adopted (172 dogs, 125 cats, three birds and six small pets). • A total of 93 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). • A total of 843 animals were brought to the shelter (513 stray, 209 owner surrender, 31 abandoned, 47 public assist and 43 wildlife). Animal Protection month of June. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 38 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 33 fencing assistance applications, implanted 11 microchips and impounded 216 injured animals. • Officers entered 240 rabies exposure reports and submitted 33 specimens for rabies testing. Six bats tested positive. • Wildlife APO received 35 total coyote-related activities: • Out of 35 coyote related reports, 17 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets and livestock were a factor in all activities. • o One incident involved a coyote injuring an off-leash cat in a greenbelt near an apartment complex. • Encounters: Pets were a factor in all verified activities. o Encounter involved a coyote displaying flushing behavior with a citizen and a dog. o 15 sightings o 8 wild sick reports of mange o 5 wild injured o 4 wild speak o 1 incident o 1 encounter o 1 observation Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs June 2020 Animal Services Report from foster care. • A total of 33 volunteers donated 1,018.17 hours, primarily as fosters, in June. • A total of 340 families provided foster care and a total of 139 animals were adopted directly • There are 1928 approved fosters in GivePulse, and 170 new foster applications were processed. • There are currently 423 animals in 293 different foster homes. • 168 live outcomes were attributed to 20 AAC partners: o 80 cats two to AHS six to Spay-Neuter-Return program with Austin Humane Society 27 behavior/medical cases to Austin Pets Alive! 45 neonates to APA! o 82 dogs 40 to APA! 42 Other partners o Six Other Species Two doves (housing pull) One chicken (medical pull) Two rats (housing pull) One rabbit (medical pull) Veterinary Services • Veterinarians addressed 130 emergency cases, performed five orthopedic surgeries and nine other specialty …
AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-08-07 SPECIAL MEETING APPROVED SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION August 7, 2020 The Animal Advisory Commission convened via a remote meeting, Friday, August 7, 2020, 3 to 4:58 p.m. Chair David Lundstedt conducted a verbal roll call and called the Commission Meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. Commissioner Monica Frenden recused herself from discussion and voting on Agenda Item 4a. Commission Members in Attendance: David Lundstedt, Katie Jarl, Craig Nazor, Palmer Neuhaus, Edward Flores, Monica Frenden, Andrea Schwartz, JoAnne Norton, Nancy Nemer, and Ryan Clinton. Commission Members Absent: Dr. Jon Brandes, Lisa Mitchell, District 4 Vacant Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Mark Sloat, Dr. Kathryn Lund, Robert Golembeski, Kelsey Cler, and Belinda Hare Speakers: The following 10 citizens spoke for three minutes on agenda items: Shelly Liebham, item 3b Lana Lesley, item 4a Lauren Silva, item 4a Beverly Luna, item 3e Christine Poreca, item 4a Rusty Tally, item 4a Leslie Padilla, item 3c Sharon Wichterich, item 4a Lucy Fernandez, item 4a Sandra Muller, item 4a 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-08-07 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Nemer moved to approve the minutes from the July 6, 2020, Special Called meeting, and Commissioner Nazor seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, 10 – 0, with Commissioners Lundstedt, Jarl, Nazor, Neuhaus, Flores, Frenden, Schwartz, Norton, Nemer and Clinton voting approval. Commissioners Mitchell and Brandes were absent, and District 4 is vacant. 2. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Animal Services Office (ASO) Chief Animal Services Officer, Don Bland, and Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer, presented a summary of the Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports for February, March, April, May, and June 2020. b. Don Bland presented an update on the Austin Animal Center’s intake operations. 3. OLD BUSINESS Commissioner Clinton moved to table Old Business; Commissioner Nazor seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 10 – 0, with Commissioners Lundstedt, Jarl, Nazor, Neuhaus, Flores, Frenden, Schwartz, Norton, Nemer and Clinton voting approval. Commissioners Mitchell and Brandes were absent, and District 4 is vacant. a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Budget and Priorities Workgroup b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Workgroup on Austin Animal Center’s Shelter-Neuter-Release (SNR) Program c. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Code Revision Workgroup d. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Target and Reporting e. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on the Animal Services Budget Categories 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Update, Discussion …
Regular Meeting of the Commission for Women Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Commission for Women to be held Wednesday, August 5, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Tuesday, August 4, 2020 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the August 5, 2020 Commission for Women Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-2597 or april.shaw@austintexas.gov no later than noon, Tuesday, August 4, 2020 (the day before the scheduled meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to april.shaw@austintexas.gov by Noon on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live CITY OF AUSTIN COMMISSION FOR WOMEN REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, August 5, 2020, 10:00 a.m. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES meeting on June 22, 2020. 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Commission for Women special called a. Discussion and possible action regarding the following working groups: 1. Economic equity 2. Sexual assault, violence prevention, and survivor experience 3. Access to quality and affordable healthcare 4. Women’s Hall of Fame b. Discussion and possible action regarding updates from the Joint Inclusion Committee. c. Discussion and possible action regarding the recommendation for the City of Austin d. Discussion and possible action regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FY2021 budget. Austin’s women and girls. e. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the City Council on anti-racism. 3. BRIEFINGS 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Presentation from the …
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 22, 2020 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Monday, June 22, 2020 COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MINUTES The Commission for Women convened for a special called meeting on Monday, June 22, 2020 via videoconference. Chair Austen called the Commission Meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Rebecca Austen, Chair Flannery Bope, Vice Chair Tanya Athar-Jogee Juliana Gonzales Amanda Lewis Julia Cuba Lewis Sarah Tober Commissioners Absent: Neva Fernandez Dyana Limon-Mercado Vacant: District 2 District 3 Staff in Attendance: April Shaw, Human Resources Department 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Commission for Women special called meeting on April 17, 2020. The minutes from the special called meeting on April 17, 2020 were approved on Commissioner Tober’s motion, Vice Chair Bope’s second on a vote of 6-0, with Commissioner Athar-Jogee off the dais and Commissioners Fernandez and Limon- Mercado absent. COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding the following working groups: Monday, June 22, 2020 ii. Sexual assault, violence prevention, and survivor experience i. Economic equity Discussion was held. No action was taken. Discussion was held. No action was taken. iii. Access to quality and affordable healthcare Discussion was held. No action was taken. iv. Women’s Hall of Fame Discussion was held. No action was taken. Committee. Discussion was held. No action was taken. FY2021 budget. Discussion was held. No action was taken. b. Discussion and possible action regarding updates from the Joint Inclusion c. Discussion and possible action regarding the recommendation for the City of Austin d. Discussion and possible action regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Austin’s women and girls. Discussion was held. No action was taken. 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to the City Council on anti-racism. Discussion was held. Commission for Women Recommendation No. 20200622-03A1 regarding race and gender equity was made on Commissioner Lewis’ motion, Vice Chair Bope’s second on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioner Cuba Lewis off the dais and Commissioners Fernandez and Limon-Mercado absent. COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 22, 2020 Commission for Women Recommendation No. 20200622-03A2 regarding equity in renaming made on Commissioner Tober’s motion, Commissioner Athar-Jogee’s second, on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioner Cuba Lewis off the dais and Commissioners Fernandez and Limon-Mercado absent. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Austen adjourned …
Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission August 5, 2020 at 3:00 P.M. Environmental Commission to be held August 5, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (day before the scheduled meeting, August 4, 2020 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the August 5, 2020 Environmental Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the commission liaison at: Kaela Champlin (512) 974-3443 or Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov, no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •Residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 1 2. 3. Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission August 5, 2020 3:00 P.M. To 4:30 P.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live COMMISSIONERS: Andrew Creel (D-1) Curtis Smith (D-2) Pam Thompson (D-3) Ryan Nill (D-4) Mary Ann Neely (D-5) Katie Coyne (D-6) Peggy Maceo (D-7) Linda Guerrero (D-9) Chair _________________________________________________________________________________ (Mayor) Vice Chair Wendy Gordon (D-10) Perry Bedford Kevin Ramberg (D-8) Secretary Agenda CALL TO ORDER 1. (5 minutes) APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the July 15, 2020 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Update on Green Infrastructure web portal—Erin Wood, Planner Principal, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Update on the Environmental Commission Annual Internal Review—Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair (5 minutes) b. Discuss and consider a recommendation to name an unnamed tributary in Battle Bend Neighborhood Park in memory of Watershed Protection Department employee Nick Down—Chris Herrington, Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (10 minutes) c. Discuss and consider a …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and Council Members THRU: Rey Arellano, Assistant City Manager Chris Shorter, Assistant City Manager FROM: Jorge L. Morales, P.E., CFM, Director, Watershed Protection Department Lucia Athens, Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Sustainability DATE: July 17, 2020 SUBJECT: Update on Council Resolution No. 20170615-071 (Green Infrastructure) The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on outcomes related to Council Resolution No. 20170615-071, which directed the City Manager to assess the City’s progress toward achieving the vision, goals, policies, and actions relating to green infrastructure, as defined in the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan1 and to identify and evaluate opportunities and strategies to further integrate and leverage the City's green infrastructure related programs and projects. Staff provided two deliverables to Mayor and Council via a memo on March 30, 2018: a report entitled Green Stormwater Infrastructure: A Catalog of Infrastructure, Initiatives, and Next Steps as well as a framework for the development of an Integrated Green Infrastructure Plan. Attached is a matrix that provides an updated status for each element of the Council Resolution. Phase 1 of the framework for an Integrated Green Infrastructure Plan proposed to create a dynamic web portal to introduce the concept of green infrastructure and serve as a streamlined, user-friendly gateway to available data and resources. This phase has been completed with the launch of the Green Infrastructure web portal this June at http://arcg.is/0HXLyH0. The content was developed in partnership with multiple City departments, including Watershed Protection, Office of Sustainability, Parks and Recreation, Development Services, Austin Water, Public Works, and Planning and Zoning. The portal is divided into eleven major topics: Introduction, Urban Forest, Water Resources, Parks, Wildlands, Trails, Green Streets, Food, Habitat, Landscape, and Land Management. Using the ArcGIS Online Story Map format, the portal provides descriptions of key plans, programs, and regulations; maps of relevant data; links to additional resources; and ways for the community to get involved. For Phase 2 of the framework, the City hired local environmental planning firm, Siglo Group, to prepare a data-rich inventory of the city’s current green infrastructure and identify existing strengths and gaps. Data from multiple departments and external sources was compiled into a 1 Imagine Austin defines green infrastructure as an interconnected system of parks, waterways, open space, trails, green streets, tree canopy, agriculture, and stormwater management features that mimic natural hydrology. single resource, …
