Environmental Commission Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission - Remote meeting to be held with social distancing modifications. See agenda for details.
Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission October 7, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. Environmental Commission to be held October 7, 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, October 6, 2020 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the October 7, 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 Reunión del Environmental Commission Fecha de la reunion (7 de octubre de 2020 a las 6:00 P.M.) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social. Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (6 de octubre de 2020 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en (512) 690-6729, Kaela.Champlin@gmail.com a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de …
87TH STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Intergovernmental Relations Office – Brie L. Franco, Officer TEXAS LEGISLATURE INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON CITIES Total Bills Introduced Total Bills Passed City‐Related bills introduced City‐Related bills passed Year 76th‐1999 77th‐2001 78th‐2003 79th‐2005 80th‐2007 81st‐2009 82nd‐2011 83rd‐2013 84th‐2015 85th – 2017 5,813 5,612 5,633 5,512 6,241 7,464 5,938 5,950 6,476 6,800 1,622 1,601 1,384 1,389 1,481 1,459 1,379 1,437 1,329 1,208 1,230+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,500+ 1,500+ 1,900+ 1,900+ 2,500+ 86th – 2019 7,324 1,429 2,300+ 130+ 150+ 110+ 105+ 120+ 120+ 160+ 220+ 220+ 294 338 • 54 % more City- related bills were passed between 2015 and 2019 • 182 % more City – related bills were passed between 2009 and 2019 9/30/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 2 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: IGRO ROLE In the 86th session • 3,970 Bills/JR’s were filed in last 10 business days before filing deadline, March 8th. (54%). • 7,324 bills read and analyzed by IGRO. • Over 2,500 bills were determined by IGRO to affect cities. • 1,296 Bills/JR’s required analysis/action by departments and IGRO. 9/30/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 3 TREND: ANTI-CITY TONE: GOVERNOR ABBOTT "As opposed to the state having to take multiple rifle- shot approaches at overriding local regulations, I think a broad-based law by the state of Texas that says across the board, the state is going to pre-empt local regulations, is a superior approach“ * – Governor Greg Abbott, March 21, 2017 *Source: “Abbott wants "broad‐based law" that pre‐empts local regulations” Texas Tribune, March 21, 2017 Governor Greg Abbott in 2017 9/30/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 4 TREND: ANTI-CITY LEGISLATION: POST 85TH SPECIAL SESSION "Our cities are still controlled by Democrats…And where do we have all our problems in America? Not at the state level run by Republicans, but in our cities that are mostly controlled by Democrat mayors and Democrat city council men and women. That's where you see liberal policies. That's where you see high taxes. That's where you see street crime." * -Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, 2017 *Source: “Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames city governments for "all our problems in America" Texas Tribune, AUG. 4, 2017 9/30/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 5 Lt Governor Dan Patrick in 2016. Photo by Gage Skidmore. TREND: ANTI-CITY TONE: POST 86TH SESSION “Any mayor, county judge that was dumb ass enough to come meet with me, I told them with great clarity, my goal is for this to be the …
Ecoregion context: east and west Austin Edwards Plateau Austin Blackland Prairie Social context: east and west Austin http://projects.statesman.com/news/economic‐mobility/ Lake Austin, Barton Creek, and Williamson Creek Watershed Ordinances Comprehensive Watersheds Ordinance Drainage Criteria Manual Floodplain Ordinance Waterway Ordinance 1974 1977 1980 1981 1983 1986 1991 1992 1997/98 2001 2012 2013 2015 2019 Urban Watersheds Ordinance Watershed Protection Ordinance Land Development Code Revision Atlas 14 floodplain ordinance Save Our Springs Ordinance Lower Watershed ordinance What is a Riparian Area? Soil Water Vegetation Soil Water Vegetation Why protecting and restoring creeksides? community‐centric Urban Heat Island mitigation Access to nature to explore, learn, relax, breath Greenbelt connectivity Air quality Shade Why protecting and restoring creeksides? system‐focus Summarize watershed health Higher moisture and tree survival than uplands Wildlife habitat corridors Natural networks Healthy creeksides, healthier creeks (water quality and quantity, erosion protection) Why restoring creeksides? community and resiliency In tending to nature, can we heal? Is the resiliency in creeksides a story that speaks to us as communities? Existing protections Gaps Critical Water Quality Zones Floodplain Modification Provisons Substantial development restrictions in floodplains No restoration triggered when CWQZ or creek are in poor condition (except when floodplain modification) Current stormwater management allows bypassing of creek
2. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 7, 2020 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Curtis Smith Pam Thompson Kevin Ramberg Linda Guerrero Perry Bedford Katie Coyne Peggy Maceo Mary Ann Neely Wendy Gordon Commissioners Absent: Andrew Creel Ryan Nill Staff in Attendance: Kaela Champlin Brie Franco Ana Gonzalez Chris Herrington CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Guerrero called the meeting to order at 6:06 P.M. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the September 16, 2020 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) The minutes of the September 16, 2020 Environmental Commission meeting were approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Thompson’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Creel, Nill, Maceo, and Gordon were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Briefing on 87th State Legislative Agenda—Brie Franco, Officer, Intergovernmental Relations Office (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 1 b. Briefing on riparian zone protection—Ana Gonzalez, Environmental Scientist Senior, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Update on remote meeting schedule—Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Growth Policy and Water Quality Protection Committee – Pam Thompson, Kevin Ramberg, Mary Ann Neely, Curtis Smith, and Perry Bedford b. Urban Forestry Committee – Peggy Maceo, Pam Thompson, Linda Guerrero, and Mary Ann Neely c. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne Commissioner Katie Coyne gave an update on the Joint Sustainability Committee. d. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Mary Ann Neely e. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Mary Ann Neely, Peggy Maceo, Linda Guerrero, and Pam Thompson f. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero Commissioner Linda Guerrero gave an update on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Guerrero adjourned the meeting at 7:02 P.M. 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 before the meeting date. For additional information, please call Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection …
