Recommendation Number: [20260706-005]: Inclusion of Infrastructure Equity and Medical Resilience in the Pilot Knob Library & Austin Resilience Network — original pdf

Recommendation

. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: [20260706-005]: Inclusion of Infrastructure Equity and Medical Resilience in the Pilot Knob Library & Austin Resilience Network Project WHEREAS, the Pilot Knob area is experiencing a rapid influx of high-density data centers equipped with advanced power hardening, while surrounding legacy residential neighborhoods remain on an aging grid; and WHEREAS, data center industrialization creates voltage fluctuations that pose a high risk of motor failure for standard residential HVAC systems and life-saving medical equipment, such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and power chairs; and WHEREAS, the medically vulnerable and disabled community in surrounding Austin neighborhoods, particularly those located within historically underserved District 2, face disproportionate life-safety risks during localized outages, making standard "cooling centers" insufficient for their needs; and WHEREAS, the City must ensure that infrastructure improvements made for industrial growth are extended to residential circuits to prevent vulnerable residents from being left on a "second-class" grid. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs encourage the Austin City Council to formally include specific language and funding in the November 2026 Bond to ensure the Pilot Knob Library and Austin Resilience Network serves as a high capacity "Medical Triage Anchor". This includes scaling the facility for specialized medical plug-in capacity, coordinating with Austin Energy for residential grid hardening, and equipping the hub with industrial-grade redundant power systems to support medical devices. Date of Approval: July 6, 2026 Motioned By: Commissioner De La Rosa Seconded By: Commissioner Joshi Vote: 8-0 For: Vice Chair Johnson, Commissioners De La Rosa, Edwin, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Ortega, and Solis Absent: Chair Dorantes, Commissioners Ramirez, Roy, and Saucedo . Attest: Nekaybaw Watson, Staff Liaison