2. 3. Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission September 1, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers, 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Environmental Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi (D-1) Rachel Scott (D-2) Pam Thompson (D-3) Katie Coyne (D-4) Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol (D-7) Kevin Ramberg (D-8) Vacant (D-6) Audrey Barrett Bixler (D-5) Linda Guerrero (D-9) Chair _________________________________________________________________________________ Richard Brimer (D-10) Perry Bedford (Mayor) Secretary Agenda CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UPDATES a. Update on Climate Equity Plan—Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the August 18, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) BRIEFINGS a. Update on Northwest Park Dam Maintenance and Modernization project—Annabell Ulary, Engineer B and Pam Kearfott, Supervising Engineer, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) 1 4. b. Update on Watershed Protection Department Equity Initiative—Nikki Fowler, Kelly Gagnon, Victor Nelms, Jorge Morales, Janna Renfro, and Ramesh Swaminathan, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Update and request for recommendation of support for the Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta Project—Diana Wang, Project Manager, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS and Linda Guerrero a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, Audrey Barrett Bixler, b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne c. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Kevin Ramberg d. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board –Linda Guerrero and Pam Thompson e. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 before the meeting date. Please call Kaela Champlin at Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Environmental Commission, please …
Shoal Creek – Northwest Park Dam Maintenance and Modernization Project Environmental Commission September 1, 2021 C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Pam Kearfott, PE, CFM Annabell Ulary, PE, CFM Dam Safety: Program Overview 3 3 d a m s i n Au s t i n r e g u l a t e d by TC E Q * Height Volume Downstream Risk TC E Q s a f e t y r e q u i r e m e n t s Structural stability Ability to safely pass % of PMF (Probable Maximum Flood) • W P D m a n a g e s D a m S a f e t y P ro g r a m Inspections Emergency Action Plans Routine maintenance and repairs CIP projects for modernization & large repairs • • • • • • • • • • • C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T * Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Northwest Park Dam and Regional Detention Facility C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Northwest Park Dam and Regional Detention Facility: How it Works * 100-year Floodplain Shoal Creek Top of Dam Inflow Spillway C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Northwest Park Dam and Regional Detention Facility: How it Works Creek side 100-year Floodplain Shoal Creek Top of Dam Inflow Spillway Outfall Pipe C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T …
Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta Project Update City of Austin Environmental Commission Meeting September 1, 2021 1 Agenda 1. Waterloo Greenway Program Overview 2. Creek Delta Project Update 3. Gain feedback and request recommendation of support for the Creek Delta Project 2 Program Overview Sponsoring City Departments: Watershed Protection Department & Parks and Recreation Department Private Non-Profit Partner: Waterloo Greenway Conservancy 4 Waterloo Park Opened August 14, 2021 6 7 Creek Delta • • • • Located along Waller Creek between Lady Bird Lake and 4th Street Identified in Council- approved Waller Creek Design Plan Approximate 10-acre project area. Creek restoration, 1 mile of new trails, pedestrian bridges, water quality and utility improvements Preparing 100% construction documents, anticipated by December 2021 9 10 Functional Assessment of Ecosystems 11 Environmental Goals Functional Assessment (Environmental Criteria Manual) Sustainable SITES Certification • • • Water Quality - Biofiltration Pond and Inline Stormwater Treatment • Trees o Vegetation and Soil Protection Zones o Enhanced tree mitigation and planting 12 13 Elevated Walkway + Bridges 2 3 1 *Lattice Bridge 3 is currently an add/bid alternate. * 14 Elevated Walkway + Bridges 15 Elevated Walkway + Bridges 16 Elevated Walkway + Bridges 17 The Spring 18 The Spring 19 Cypress Grove + Trailhead Plaza 20 Cypress Grove + Trailhead Plaza Creek Delta Schedule Design Phase Briefings: ESB-MACC Board, EV Commission, PARB, Design Commission, Waller Creek LGC. Seek conditional use approval from Planning Commission Bidding & Construction Complete 100% construction documents by end of 2021 January-November 2021 Bid project early 2022 Construction begins summer 2022 Funding Sources • Waller Creek Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #17 • Watershed Protection - Drainage Utility Fund Riparian Mitigation Zone Fund - - Urban Structural Control Fund Parks & Recreation - - • 2012 General Obligation Bond Parkland Dedication and Mitigation Fees • Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Private Donations • Developer Agreementsloper Agreements • Other COA Department Contributions: • Austin Energy • Austin Water • Austin Convention Center 23 THANK YOU! Parks & Recreation Lana Denkeler: lana.denkeler@austintexas.gov Watershed Protection Diana Wang: diana.wang@austintexas.gov (512) 974-7168 Waterloo Greenway Chris Perkes: cperkes@waterloogreenway.org
Watershed Protection Department Equity Initiative Update September 1, 2021 Nikki Fowler, Kelly Gagnon, Jorge Morales, Victor Nelms, Janna Renfro, Ramesh Swaminathan Definitions • City of Austin Equity Initiative: Why we lead with race • How equity applies to Watershed operations 1992 photo of petroleum storage tank farm and adjacent homes in East Austin Photo credit: Osbourne, Heather. Austin American Statesman. Source: City of Austin State of Our Environment Report, 2021 2 A Strategic Approach • Racial Equity Tools • Data to develop strategies & drive results • Shared analysis & definitions • Urgency/Prioritize • Names the history • Dedication to transformation • • Partnerships: Internal & External Internal Infrastructure Source: Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), Communications Guide, 2018 3 Normalize • Shared analysis & definitions • Urgency/Prioritize • Name the history • Analyzing Power • Gatekeeping • • • Networking Learning from History Identifying Manifestations of Racism • DATA • PRIORITIZATION • ENGAGEMENT • INTERNAL EQUITY 4 Organize • Dedication to transformation • • Partnerships: Internal & External Internal Infrastructure Watershed Protection Department Employee Demographics Source: WPD Department Demographic Data, Jan 2021 49% 48% 29% 13% 7% 2% 29% 13% 4% 5% 28% 47% 19% 1% 5% Asian 65% 14% 8% 7% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% City of Austin (US Census) Watershed Protection Department 332 staff Field Operations Division 150 staff (45%) Other Divisions 182 staff (55%) White Hispanic/Latinx Black or African American All Other Categories 5 Operationalize: Informal 6 Operationalize: Formal • Hiring practices • New FTE to lead Equity Initiative in FY22 • Budget for equity-related trainings • Core curriculum for department leadership Photo source: https://pisab.org/undoing-racism-community-organizing-workshop/ 7 Listen, Learn, and Repeat: Internal Watershed Protection Department Citywide 84% 73% 72% 67% 62% 68% 65% 63% 59% 59% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% 45% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% 45% 2018 2019 2018 2019 65.72% 60.45% 56.16% 52.52% 49.95% 67.35% 63.69% 55.77% 55.68% 53.68% Valuable to Discuss Impacts of Race Leadership Supports Discussion of Race Dept. Committed to Racial Equity Dept. Taken Steps to Reduce Racial Inequity Comfortable Talking About Race Source: Listening to the Workforce Survey Results, City of Austin Equity Action Team Dashboard, 2020 https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=abc25cbc68c041249aa79dab1d9253ae 8 Listen, Learn, and Repeat: External Apply framework to how we work with the community Expanding community engagement networks Updating the Watershed Protection …
1 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MOTION 20210901 004a Date: September 1, 2021 Seconded by: Perry Bedford Subject: Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta Project Motion by: Katie Coyne RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the City of Austin and Waterloo Conservancy’s work to enhance the Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta; which will improve both the local ecological function of the delta, as well as provide more opportunities for people to connect with nature in downtown Austin. WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes this project will pursue and attain a Sustainable SITES Certification. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends City Council’s approval of the Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta Project. VOTE 8-0 For: Bedford, Qureshi, Scott, Thompson, Barrett Bixler, Coyne, Guerrero, and Brimer Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: Ramberg Absent: Bristol Approved By: Linda Guerrero, Environmental Commission Chair
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 1, 2021 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford Haris Qureshi Rachel Scott Pam Thompson Audrey Barrett Bixler Rick Brimer Kevin Ramberg Katie Coyne Linda Guerrero Commissioners Absent: Jennifer Bristol Staff in Attendance: Pamela Abee-Taulli Kaela Champlin Nikki Fowler Kelly Gagnon Liz Johnston Pam Kearfott Mike Kelly Jorge Morales Victor Nelms Darcy Nuffer Janna Renfro Mateo Scoggins Lee Shermann Lisa Storer Ramesh Swaminathan Annabell Ulary Diana Wang CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Coyne called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. 1 CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. None 1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UPDATES a. Update on Climate Equity Plan—Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the August 18, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting was approved on Commissioner Guerrero’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 7-0 vote. Bedford abstained. Commissioner Qureshi was off the dais. Commissioner Bristol was absent. 3. 4. BRIEFINGS a. Update on Northwest Park Dam Maintenance and Modernization project—Annabell Ulary, Engineer B and Pam Kearfott, Supervising Engineer, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. b. Update on Watershed Protection Department Equity Initiative—Nikki Fowler, Kelly Gagnon, Victor Nelms, Jorge Morales, Janna Renfro, and Ramesh Swaminathan, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Commissioner Coyne called a recess at 8:12 P.M. Commissioner called the meeting back to order at 8:23 PM ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Update and request for recommendation of support for the Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta Project—Diana Wang, Project Manager, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) A motion to recommend support for the Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta Project was approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Ramberg recused on Item 4a. Commissioner Bristol was absent. a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, Audrey Barrett Bixler, 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS and Linda Guerrero b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – …
