BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE February 8th, 2018, 10:00 AM City Hall- Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 AGENDA TASK FORCE MEMBERS Tom Nuckols (Chair) Bruce Evans (Vice-Chair) Sumit DasGupta Estrella de Leon John McNabb Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Santiago Rodriguez Jeff Smith Rachel Stone Dorsey Twidwell Jeremiah Bentley Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) Citizen communication is an opportunity for members of the public to speak on an unposted agenda item. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Approval of the minutes from the January 4th , 2018 regular meeting 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Briefing on the 2018 bond program equity results (Equity Office) b. Briefing on updates to the public engagement results to date 4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Reports and possible action on bond package recommendations from working groups (standing item) b. Discussion and possible action on a bond package recommendation c. Discussion and possible action on future meeting dates of the Task Force and Working Groups 5. FUTURE AGENDAS ADJOURNMENT 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 David Ondich, Human Resources, at 512-974-3256, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force, please visit the website http://austintexas.gov/content/bond-election-advisory-task-force or contact Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services, at 512-974-2832 or katy.zamesnik@austintexas.gov
Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 8, 2018 1 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Feb 8, 2018 The Bond Election Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting on February 8, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Chair Nuckols called the meeting to order at 1:08 PM Board Members in Attendance: Tom Nuckols, Chair Bruce Evans, Vice Chair Jeremiah Bentley Estrella de Leon Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Jeff Smith Dorsey Twidwell Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry Sumit DasGupta John McNabb Santiago Rodriguez Rachel Stone Staff in Attendance: Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services Carla Steffen, ACCD Brion Oaks, Chief Equity Officer CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION LadyeAnne Wofford, spoke on the needs for parks investment in the 2018 Bond. Stephanie Behrens, member of local area parks committee. Stillhouse Hollows Pool. Requested improvements to area parks. $147 million into parks, $45 million for parkland acquisition. Rebecca Gomez, donated time to Sylva Orozco Slyva Orozco, Executive Director of the Mexic-Arte museum, presented on the needs of the Mexic-Arte Museum, and requested funding in the amount of $15 million to improve the building. Theresa Perez Wiseley, Chair of Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Initiative. Presented recommendations to City Council on June 23, 2013. The Commission was hoping to build a beautiful building back in 2012, but that hasn’t’ happened. Must support the cultural arts. Hispanic arts commissions have been underfunded, major arts organizations need more support to continue their work. Support needed to preserve and stabilize Latino art collections. Hispanic/Latino population is growing rapidly. Urged the TF to renovate the Mexic-Arte to give it a healthy future. 35% of the population now. Requested $15 million Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 8, 2018 2 Lucky Lemieux: Spoke on behalf of the Daugherty Arts Center (DAC) and the need for investment in a new building. She spoke on the programming at the DAC and the importance of the DAC to the community. Discussed the need to leave it in the center of Austin. Gopal Guthikonda, president of the Network of Asian American Art and Musicians. Requested funding for the Asian American Resource Center (AARC). AARC is one of the critical elements to Austin’s art scene. He spoke on the programming at the AARC and the multipurpose nature of the facility. Requesting $15 million for the expansion of the AARC. David Todd, representing South River City’s Neighborhood Association, as well as the Blunn Creek …
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. January 29, 2018 Dear Bond Election Advisory Task Force, Please accept my thanks to each of you for your service on the Task Force. While this may appear to be a daunting task, the work that you are doing it is critically important to both ‘newcomers and those who have lived here for years’. I advocate on behalf of many of the individuals who reside in the City who are experiencing the pressures brought on by the rapid growth in the City of Austin, especially young families with children, elders, individuals with different abilities and those whose incomes are at the low end of the wage scale. They are being forced to relocate, sometimes to the edges of or outside the center city because they cannot afford to stay in the city due to rising cost of living. Some families have lived in the community for five generations or longer. It is my belief that city policies, including fiscal policies, must allow individuals who are hanging on by a thin thread, to ‘live within their means’ and not have another tax rate increase for the 2018 Bond. Aside from the financial burden to our constituents, it may be the reason for some to cast a ‘no’ vote for the much needed bonds. Individuals will soon be experiencing the impact of the $720 million Mobility Bond, followed closely by the $1 billion dollar school bonds. As public servants it is important to be extremely thoughtful regarding how the funds taxpayers approve are spent and ensure that projects are identified through an equity lens. Bond priorities have been historically based on the zip codes in the City or in the neighborhoods with the economic and political power to demand that their projects are included. I am writing to share my preferred priorities for the 2018 Bond proposal. Flood mitigation, bridge reconstruction and regional ponds for the urban watersheds in the District; Funding for deferred maintenance at the Carver Museum; Implementation of phases II & III for the Carver Museum & Genealogy Center; Funds to collaborate with developers to construct income accessible housing on City of Austin property or on land owned by other governmental entities; A district pool at Colony Park …
Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting January 4, 2018 1 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES January 4, 2018 The Bond Election Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting on January 4, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Chair Nuckols called the meeting to order at 4:01 PM Board Members in Attendance: Tom Nuckols, Chair Bruce Evans, Vice Chair Estrella de Leon Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Jeff Smith Dorsey Twidwell Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry Sumit DasGupta John McNabb Santiago Rodriguez Rachel Stone Staff in Attendance: Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services Carla Steffen, ACCD CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION Mary Arnold, citizen, served on a Bond Task Force back in 1996. Spoke on the reserve fund being proposed by the Open Space Working Group, specifically as it relates to the Lions Municipal Golf Course. In support of this. Katherine Fulmore donated her time to Mike Rodriguez. Mike Rodriguez, (donated time), current president of Onion Creek Homeowners Association. Presented PowerPoint on Bradshaw Road, including the development impact on the area. Bradshaw Rd is only 2 lanes with no shoulder. Concerns on the traffic impacts, especially around Wayside School. 2016 Mobility Bond has funding for preliminary engineering only. Mike Levy, public safety, spoke on the need for 5 more fire stations. He spoke on the need to keep response times low for fire response and life support. Provided a map handout to the Task Force. Austin/Travis County is #3 in terms of risk for fires. Bob Nicks, President of Austin Fire Fighters Association and former AFD battalion chief. COA has grown 33% over the past several years. Created a model on the need for more fire stations, and it shows we’re 5 short. Spoke on Travis Country and the lack of the fire station in the area. Stated need for 4 min response time for medical and fire calls. 2 years since resolution (passed out) was passed, and feels the conversation has stalled. Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting January 4, 2018 2 Scotty Sayers, representing thousands and thousands of people who have utilized Lions Municipal Golf Course over the past 90 years. Noted the historical context of the golf course.Thanked TF for allowing them to participate in the process related to a strike fund to preserve Lions. Funding is critical to show that the City is committed to preserving Lions. Clark Hancock, President of Save Barton Spring Association. Stated the …
BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE: EQUITY ANALYSISBrion Oaks, Chief Equity OfficerGinger Jacinic, City Management Fellow 2How was the worksheet developed?○Originally designed to analyze budget items○Adaptation of the Equity Assessment Tool○6 Steps for Building Racial Equity- Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)○Austin City Council’s 6 Strategic Priority Outcome AreasRecap: Equity Analysis Worksheet “3Recap: 6 Steps for Building Racial Equity1.Proposal: What is the policy, program, practice, or budget decision under consideration? What are the desired results and outcomes?2.Data: What are the data? What do the data tell us?3.Community Engagement: How have communities been engaged? Are there opportunities to expand engagement?4.Analysis and Strategies: Who will benefit from or be burdened by the proposal? What are the strategies for advancing racial equity or mitigating unintended consequences?5.Implementation: What is your plan for implementation?6.Accountability and Communication: How will you ensure accountability, communicate, and evaluate results?Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) Austin City Council 6 Strategic Priority Outcome Areas:○Economic Opportunity and Affordability○Mobility○Safety○Health○Cultural and Learning Opportunities○Government that Works4Recap: Strategic Priority Outcome Areas “5Recap: Worksheet Analysis AreasWhat does the worksheet cover?1.Alignment: Do the proposal’s goals, metrics, and outcomes align?2.History: Does the proposal address and/or interrupt historical racial inequities?3.Data: Are the data disaggregated by race/ethnicity? 4.Community Engagement: Have communities of color been engaged effectively?5.Advancing Equity: Does the proposal advance equity in a specific outcome area?6.Unintended Outcomes: Are there potential unintended outcomes and impacts associated with the proposal?7.Breadth of Impact: Does the proposal impact a few people deeply or many people broadly? How did we complete the worksheet?1.Online form adaptation created without logic models due to time constraints 2.Online form distributed to departments to fill out3.Answers checked for completion and accuracy4.Equity Office staff reviewed submissions using the Equity Analysis Worksheet6Methodology “7Spreadsheet OverviewWhat do the spreadsheet colors mean?1.Green: Proposal has potential to advance racial equity2.Yellow: Proposal does not necessarily demonstrate potential to impact racial equity, but clearly addresses critical infrastructure needs3.Red: Proposal does not demonstrate potential to impact racial equity; unclear if a critical infrastructure need will be addressed Challenges and Themes:1.Enthusiastic responses from departments2.Thought exercise - Presented opportunity for departments to see proposals as part of a larger picture-an equitable Austin3.Disaggregated data are not frequently collected; existing census and ACS data sets are out of date 4.Departments are at times reluctant to name specific projects- often due to uncertainty regarding the size of the bond package5.Department community engagement is not well tracked and measured; general confusion between “engagement” and …
NumberWhat is the name of your proposed bond project/program/initiative?Included in Staff Recommended Starting Point? What is the name of your department?Please provide a brief description of your project/program/initiative.Which district(s) does your project/program/initiative reside in?What is the goal of your project/program/initiative?What are the success indicators of your project/program/initiative?What are the desired outcomes of your project/program/initiative?What is the desired impact of your project/program/initiative?Please describe the historical context of the project1Sidewalk Rehabilitation & Replacement ProgramYesPublic Works DepartmentReplacement Program is to replace existing failed and/or non-ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliant sidewalks and curb ramps to create functional pedestrian paths for all users and maintain District 1;District 2;District 3;District 4;District5;District 6;District 7;District 8;District 9;District 10To create functional pedestrian routes by reconstructing damaged and noncompliant sidewalk to safe, compliant sidewalks throughout Austin for all users.pannual Key Performance Indicators related to sidewalks: 1. Linear feet of new ADA sidewalks constructed and linear feet of sidewalks rehabilitated to meet ADA requirements; and 2. Number of curb ramps constructed.pgwith functional pedestrian routes by rehabilitating and replacing existing sidewalk and addressing vegetation or vehicle obstructions along sidewalk paths. pconnections that give pedestrians and cyclists a viable mode of transportation that enable people to travel to and from destinations. Additionally, by including sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities as gsidewalks within public right-of-way has historically been considered the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. The City of Austin Code included this responsibility 2Affordable HousingYesNHCDNHCD's General Obligation bond program increases or maintains the supply of affordable rental housing by addressing the affordable housing needs identified in the Strategic Housing Blueprint, including Permanent Supportive Housing.District 1;District 2;District 3;District 4;District5;District 6;District 7;District 8;District 9;District 10To increase the supply of affordable housing throughout the City of Austin. The recently adopted Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint calls for an additional 60,000 affordable housing units in the next 10 years. The Blueprint is anchored by five community values with key recommended actions that City could take to support those values. One of the five values is "Foster Equitable, Integrated and Diverse Communities." Within the 60,000 goal, the Blueprint establishes sub-goals, several of which speak directly to equity and inclusion. Specifically, the Blueprint calls for a goal that at least 75% of new housing units should be within 1/2 mile of Imagine Austin Centers and Corridors (thereby connecting housing with transit access), at least 25% of new income-restricted affordable housing should be in high opportunity areas (thereby reducing the …
Open Space Working GroupReport and Possible Action on Itemsfor the Bond Election Advisory Task ForceMembers: Estrella De Leon, Tom Nuchols, Jeff Smith and Rob Walker, chair February 8, 2018I.Purpose - 2018 election bond funding forA.Watershed protection land acquisition ($72 million), andB.The Parks and Recreation Department ($45 million)II.Watershed Protection land acquisition ($72,000,000 request)A.Our water quality is at risk, and the available and affordable land is diminishing. See the Edwards Aquifer recharge contributing zone slides, attached.1.There has been significant development growth in the watershed since19982.See the 1998, 2006 and 2017 slides of maps showing the increase indeveloped tracts of land in the watershed area over those years. Time isrunning out and land prices are rising.B.Objective: Limit development to 10% impervious cover in the Edwards Aquiferrecharge and contributing (source-water protection) zones. This requirespermanently protecting 100,000 acres of land to mitigate flooding and to protectwater quality in the creeks and the aquifer.1.Presently only 28,000 acres are permanently protected.2.We recommend $72 million to acquire an estimated 4,300 acres – about6% of the 72,000 shortfall ($36 million for acquiring fee simple tracts and$36 million for acquiring conservation easement acreage).3.Popular proposition with the voters - 62% average voter approval in 4bond elections from 1998 through 20124.Good investment of bond funding. a.Of the bonds approved from 2006 through 2013, Drainage andOpen Space funding has the highest percentage of funds expendedto date of any of the bond propositions - 96%. b.The majority of funding is spent within the first 2-3 years of a bondprogram.5.Currently, bonds are the only funding source for significant WatershedOpen Space land purchases Open Space Working Group report to BEATFFebruary 8, 2018 Page 2______________________________III.Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) bond funding ($45,000,000 request)A.The issues: 1.Austin is becoming increasing deficient in parkland. The standard is 24acres per 1,000 population. We’re now below 20 acres, a deficiency ofabout 5,000 acres (please see the attached graph).2.Our Council has no funds to act quickly to secure beautiful tracts and openspaces that become available; The Grove problem.B.We recommend $45 million for parkland acquisition, allocated as follows:1.$10 million for 200 acres in Oak Hill out Highway 71 for a metropolitandestination park.2.$5 million for 5-10 infill parks in park-deficient areas of our City.3.$5 million for 10 miles of greenbelt including completing the northernWalnut Creek park and trail system 4.$25 million for a parkland reserve fund to help preserve or acquirestrategic tracts as they become available. a.This seed money will give our Council leverage to …
January 2018 Bond Development Town HallsDistrict break DownTopics# of speakers111Parks*5022Affordable Housing1632Stormwater747Open Space4510Transportation560Libraries**775General/did not speak985Total98911107*includes Mexic‐Carte, Pools, Mayfield Park, Norwood Park, cultural centers (Carver, MACC, AARC, DAC)Unidentified33**includes Austin History CenterTotal93Notes:at least 8 TF members at each oneWritten CommentsSome citizens spoke on multiple topicsAffordable Housing3Reinvestment4
