Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission July 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM Permitting And Development Center, Events Center, Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Environmental Commission will be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Elizabeth Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov, no later than noon the day before the meeting. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). Colin Nickells Jennifer Bristol, Secretary David Sullivan Richard Brimer Perry Bedford, Chair CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi Peter Einhorn Mariana Krueger Melinda Schiera Hanna Cofer, Vice Chair AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1 Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on June 5, 2024. APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing on Austin's Drought Contingency Plan and Water Conservation Plan – Kevin Kluge, Water Conservation Division Manager, Austin Water Staff briefing on updates to single family residential landscape transformation activities – Kevin Kluge, Water Conservation Division Manager, Austin Water DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation, discussion and recommendation on the Community Investment Budget – Kathy Mitchell, Equity Action. Sponsored by Commissioners Sullivan and Krueger COMMITTEE UPDATES Discussion on the draft recommendation from the Urban Forestry Committee on supporting Austin’s tree canopy – Richard Brimer Update from the Bird-Friendly Design working group on their first meeting on July 1st – Jennifer Bristol 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 (48 …
2. in a REGULAR meeting on ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bedford called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Jennifer Bristol, Richard Brimer, Peter Einhorn, Haris Qureshi, and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Colin Nickells and Mariana Krueger Commissioners Absent: Hanna Cofer and Melinda Schiera PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers Santiago Kathy Mitchell APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 15, 2024. The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on May 15, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Einhorn’s motion, Commissioner Qureshi’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Bristol abstained. Commissioners Cofer and Schiera were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion and recommendation of Austin Water Capital Improvement Projects located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone for approval to include in the 5-year Capital spending plan as required by Financial Policy #8 – Frida Guo, Financial Manager II, Austin Water The Environmental Commission took a ten-minute recess at 6:16 P.M. Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 6:26 P.M 1 3. 4. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A motion to recommend the approval of the request for inclusion of the CIP projects in Austin Water Utility’s 5-year capital spending budget passes on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer and Schiera were absent. Presentation, discussion, and recommendation on bird-friendly design and building solutions from Travis Audubon – Heidi Trudell, requested by Commissioner Bristol Speakers Craig Nazor Maura Powers A recommendation regarding bird-friendly design and building solutions approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on an 7-0 vote. Commissioner Nickells abstained. Commissioners Cofer and Schiera were absent. Name: 290 Parmer Industrial – 2, SP-2023-0401C Applicant: Ryan Taylor, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Location: 10095 E US 290 Hwy Service Road EB Austin, Texas Council District: District 1 Staff: David Michael, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Applicant request: Variance request is to A) vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut up to 15 feet and B) vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill up to 16 feet. Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the variances with conditions Speakers Ryan Taylor, Civil Engineer, Kimley-Horn A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Einhorn’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s …
2024 Updates to the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans Environmental Commission – July 3, 2024 Kevin Kluge, Water Conservation Division Manager Agenda Water Supply Conservation & Drought Planning Water Conservation Plan (WCP) Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) Next Steps 2 Austin’s Water Supply Colorado River • Combination of State-granted water rights & long-term contract with LCRA • Up to 325,000 acre- feet per year (afy) LCRA reservation & use fees pre-paid in 1999 • Additional use payments trigger when average for 2 consecutive years exceeds 201,000 afy Centralized Reclaimed System 3 Water Supply Storage Levels 4 Conservation & Drought Planning Texas requires a Water Conservation Plan (WCP) and Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) to be updated every 5 years • Submit to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) • Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) requires an updated WCP for financing WCP – reduce overall water consumption and improve water use efficiency DCP – water supply drought triggers and response activities 5 Conservation & Drought Planning Water Conservation Plan (WCP) Activities in non-drought and drought conditions Describes • Conservation (rebates, education, enforcement) • Water loss • Reuse Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) Focused on drought conditions Describes drought • Stages (1-3, emergency) • Triggers (demand and supply) • Actions (historically, restrictions) Must be consistent with the LCRA 5- and 10-year goals for Total GPCD, Res. GPCD, and Water Loss DCP Requires Code changes How does this work regionally with our water supply partner? LCRAs Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) Austin DCP must align with LCRAs DCP LCRA recently updated its DCP on March 26, 2024 LCRAs significant updates include: • Adjusting drought trigger levels (From 4 stages to 5 stages) • Adding LCRAs inflow trigger for Drought Stage 2 • Adding specific drought condition water use restrictions 7 Water Conservation Plan Residential Customer Programs Household Material Distribution Residential Irrigation Audits Go Repair! and Plumbing Program Austin Energy All-Star Conservation Kits 8 Water Conservation Plan Residential Incentive Programs 9 Water Conservation Plan Commercial Incentive Programs Bucks for Business • Performance-based: $1 per 1,000 gallons saved over 10 years • Examples: high-efficient fixtures, cooling systems, reusing high quality rinse water • Program resurgence: In Fiscal Year 2024, 18 applications, saving 16.4 million gallons, plus up to 10 more by end of the fiscal …
Landscape Transformation Activities Environmental Commission | July 3, 2024 Kevin Kluge, Water Conser vation Division Manager Why New Water Conservation Measures? Lakes are 50% full Highland Lakes inflow • 2022 - record low • 2023 – 4th lowest El Niño will shift to La Niña Drought Stage 2 restrictions Per-person use has declined but plateaued 2 Landscape Transformation Strategy From traditional landscaping to plants with reduced water needs New single-family residential Potential limits on turf and irrigation Savings goal of 2,490 AF (811 MG) by 2040 3 Public Engagement & Input Public and stakeholder meetings • February, May, June, & November 2022 • August 2023 Smaller stakeholder group meetings Speak Up Austin! page • 2 surveys (256 and 303 responses) • Majority of local responses favored regulating landscape transformation 4 Internal City Stakeholders Watershed Protection Department (WPD) Development Services Department (DSD) Austin Energy (AE) – Green Building Office of Sustainability Equity Office Planning and Housing Department Wildlife Austin (PARD) Austin Fire Department – (Wildland-Urban Interface) 5 Stakeholder Meetings Home Builders Association of Greater Austin (HBA) • Concern about project delays Central Texas Professional Irrigation Association - • Supported increased enforcement • Supported high-efficiency irrigation system components Association of Professional Landscape Architects (CTPIA) (ASLA) Texas Nursery and Landscape Assoc. 6 (TNLA – Region 8) Additional Meetings Other utilities in Texas • New Braunfels • City of Frisco • Model homes with 50% turf reduction • Post-installation inspections (within 1-2 days) • Irrigation check-up • Georgetown • Residential landscape ordinance 7 Steps to Transform Landscapes Build with savings Set customers up for success Encourage alternative water 8 Build with Savings Enhanced Soil Inspections • A minimum of 6 inches of topsoil • Topsoil mix composed of 20% compost • Estimated Water Savings: 10% reduction 9 Required residential plant list • Apply commercial plant requirements to residential • Grow Green Plant Guide as a model Build with Savings Limit irrigation area • Up to 50% of landscape area; front yard or back • Estimated Water Savings: 35% annually per home 10 Set Customers Up for Success Est. Water Savings Potential Cost 22% savings $543 plus labor 10% savings Austin Water inspection 5% savings Austin Water staff time Require pressure reduction devices (new irrigation systems) Require …
Community Investment Budget Fiscal Year 2025 Introductions Who is Equity Action? ● Equity Action is a non-profit (c4) focused on protecting and expanding Austin’s transformative justice efforts. What is the Community Investment Budget? ● In collaboration with dozens of community organizations, Equity Action facilitated a FY2025 Community Investment Budget prevent violence and overdoses, stabilize people and families living on the margins, address crises with appropriate first responders, create opportunity and ensure that the long-awaited Climate Equity Plan and Sustainable Food Plans are implemented starting FY25. History of CIB and other Community-Led Budget Initiatives Austin has a long history of community-based budgeting. ● For many years Communities of Color United organized and advocated for an annual People’s Budget. These community-driven spending priorities centered public health and equity. ● The first Community Investment Budget was FY22-23 and reflected input from the largest coalition ever coordinated to address unmet community needs. After voters rejected a ballot proposal to tie up $120M in additional police, we pressed the city to think about public safety in a new way -- well-maintained parks, housing, youth activities, living wages, an independent forensic lab, public health initiatives to keep people safe from the pandemic and more! ● This year we’re back because mental health first response, substance-related deaths, rehousing and housing stabilization, safe and well maintained parks, and workforce opportunity requires ongoing investment! Community Investment Budget Priorities Fiscal Year 2025 ● Crime survivor support, violence prevention ● Park maintenance, library materials ● Overdose prevention/NARCAN ● Mental health crisis response ● Sheltering/housing the unhoused ● Preventing eviction and stabilizing vulnerable families ● Re-entry assistance with jobs, housing for formerly incarcerated ● Resilience hubs in areas most vulnerable to extreme weather ● Workforce development & opportunity ● New sustainable food plan ● Implement climate equity plan and address water availability/cost Why is the CIB important? While Austin is considered one of the best cities in the country to live in for many people, we still have a long way to go to ensure that it is the best for everyone - regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, language and income. The CIB this year details spending priorities for 5.7% of the roughly $1.4 billion General Revenue budget. These funding recommendations address well established community needs, gaps in existing programs and services, and suggest ways to improve the safety and quality of life for Austinites across the city. …
Summary of Community Investment Budget and Endorsing Groups The City’s budget is a reflection of our values. Austin is a progressive city, but budget processes are by nature conservative. Each budget is built on the prior one, and such a process makes the city resistant to change, regardless of the priorities expressed by voters and those they elect to address the urgent needs of today. The undersigned organizations jointly urge the city to continue its commitment to AFSCME (4%) in the baseline and invest in the following priorities in community health, housing, affordability, sustainability and safety for FY24 totaling $79.5 million or 5.7% of this year’s roughly $1.4 billion General Revenue budget. ● Parent Support Specialists [$2.4M] ongoing ● Tenant Relocation Assistance Program [$1M] ongoing ● Emergency Rental Assistance, Eviction Defense, and Tenant Legal and Support Services [$10M] ● Forensic Nursing, Austin Health Department [$328K] ongoing ● Mental Health 1st Response [$4M] ongoing ● Library books/materials [$900K] ● Reentry navigators for jobs/housing formerly incarcerated [$1.4M] ongoing ● Workforce Development [$3.46M ] ● Office of Violence Prevention [$500K] ● Implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan [$1.335M] ● Improve rebates for residential and commercial landscape conversions [$400,000, Austin Water Utility Revenue] ● Increase Leak Detection Programs [$2.28M, Austin Water Utility Revenue] ● Park Maintenance and Safety [$2M] ongoing ● Tenant Education, Stabilization Support, and Community-based Agreement Support [$300K] ongoing ● Displacement Prevention Navigators [$1M] ongoing ● Fair Housing Education, Support, and Testing [$350K] ● Emergency Supplemental Assistance for Low Income Residents [$300K] ● Inclement Weather Response [$4.5M] ongoing Community Crisis Response [$2.3M] ongoing [$4M] ● Street Outreach Services, Case Managers, and Peer Support Specialists ● Strengthen Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and create a bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) [$8M] ● Service funding for Permanent Supportive Housing [$4M] ● Early Childhood Education and Development [$1.575M] ongoing ● Resilience Hubs [$15M] ● Harm Reduction Services and Infrastructure [$1M] ongoing ● Immigration Legal Services for Low Income Families [$250K] ● Equity Office [$800K] ongoing ● Family Stabilization Grant [$3M] ongoing ● Logistical Support For Austinites Seeking Abortion Care [$250K] ongoing ● Food Sovereignty and Food Systems-Related Funding [$850K] ● East Austin Performing Arts Funding [$850K] ● Austin Community-Owned Food Retail Initiative [$500K] ● Give the Resilience Office a budget [$1M] ongoing TOTAL REQUEST FOR NEW FUNDS: $79.5M (General Fund) $2,680,000 (AWU) Endorsing Organizations Alliance for Safety and Justice American Civil Liberties Union of Tx …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240703-004 Second by: Mariana Krueger Date: July 3th, 2024 Subject: Community Investment Budget proposal Motion by: David Sullivan RATIONAL: WHEREAS, marginalized communities in Austin are disproportionately threatened by food apartheid and insecurity, heat islands and limited access to green space, climate change and its resultant natural disasters, pollution and poor health, and housing instability and homelessness; WHEREAS, the City of Austin, to varying degrees, has acknowledged these inequities and pledged to curtail them, including through the implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and the first-ever Austin/ Travis County Comprehensive Food Plan; WHEREAS, in order to achieve a more equitable city and see the fruition of these plans and other equity-oriented policies, the City must appropriately fund them with input from the community at- large; WHEREAS, Equity Action has organized a broad coalition of support for an FY2025 Community Investment Budget after public input, thorough research, and endorsements from more than 40 organizations and individuals, including the Sierra Club (Austin Regional Group), Black Lives Veggies, Austin Environmental Democrats, Save Our Springs Alliance, Fruitful Commons, Sunrise Movement Austin, and others; WHEREAS, the City Manager and his office will soon draft a proposed FY2025 budget for City Council’s approval; WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission may advise City Council on matters of environmental importance, including as they relate to funding initiatives related to the environment and intersecting issues; THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends that the City Manager’s office incorporates the entirety of the Community Investment Budget proposal into the forecasted, baseline FY2025 budget. Vote: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: 1 of 1
URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20240627-004 Seconded by: Richard Brimer Date: June 27, 2024 Subject: City of Austin Tree Canopy Ordinance Motion by: Melinda Schiera WHEREAS, the Urban Forestry Committee recognizes Council approved, on August 8, 2019, a Resolution declaring a climate emergency in the City, and WHEREAS, the Council approved, on September 30, 2021, the Austin Climate Equity Plan setting a goal of 50% Tree Canopy by 2050, and WHEREAS, Council re-affirmed its target of net-zero community-wide emissions by 2040 on February 15, 2024, and WHEREAS, current data shows 41% canopy cover city-wide based on satellite imagery captured in the summer of 2022, and WHEREAS, the payment rate to the Urban Forest Replenishment Fund (UFRF) was last set in 2010 and has not been updated since then, and WHEREAS, the tree canopy over East Austin is less than West Austin, and there is a specific need to increase tree canopy on private land in East Austin, and WHEREAS, an expansive Tree Canopy mitigates the heat island effect, removes carbon from the air, improves community health by removing pollutants from the air, and improves biodiversity, and WHEREAS, feedback from Urban Landscape Architects to the Environmental Commission is that trees planted from site plan requirements are not surviving, THEREFORE, the Urban Forestry Committee recommends the Environmental Commission advise Council adopt the following actions to more aggressively expand, protect, and enhance the City’s Tree Canopy: 1. Set a goal of 50% city-wide canopy cover by 2040 instead of 2050 with a particular emphasis on racial equity and and reducing heat island effects in East Austin (that is, land East of I-35 within the city limits). 1 of 3 2. Capture satellite imagery to calculate the city-wide canopy cover biennially instead of every four years and use this data to inform methods for achieving 50% canopy cover by 2040. 3. Require the City Arborist and the Development Services Department to document the number and scope of unpermitted removal of protected and heritage trees removed each year by address and actions taken. A report of these activities shall be presented to the Environmental Commission, Urban Forestry Committee, and Council annually. 4. Add fruit and nut-bearing trees to the list of preferred trees that are appropriate for the Central Texas climate. Bennually update the list of preferred trees to adjust for changing climate. 5. Define a new category of protected trees, based on the breadth of …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240703-004 Second by: Mariana Krueger Date: July 3rd, 2024 Subject: Community Investment Budget proposal Motion by: David Sullivan RATIONALE: WHEREAS, marginalized communities in Austin are disproportionately threatened by food apartheid and insecurity, heat islands and limited access to green space, climate change and its resultant natural disasters, pollution, and poor health, and housing instability and homelessness; WHEREAS, the City of Austin, to varying degrees, has acknowledged these inequities and pledged to curtail them, including through the implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and the first-ever Austin/ Travis County Comprehensive Food Plan; WHEREAS, in order to achieve a more equitable city and see the fruition of these plans and other equity-oriented policies, the City must appropriately fund them with input from the community- at-large; WHEREAS, Equity Action has organized a broad coalition of support for an FY2025 Community Investment Budget after public input, thorough research, and endorsements from dozens of organizations and individuals, including the Sierra Club (Austin Regional Group), Black Lives Veggies, Save Our Springs Alliance, Fruitful Commons, Rewild ATX, and others; WHEREAS, the City Manager and his office will soon draft a proposed FY2025 budget for City Council’s approval; WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission may advise City Council on matters of environmental importance, including as they relate to funding initiatives related to the environment and intersecting issues; THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends that the City Manager’s office incorporate the entirety of the Community Investment Budget proposal into the forecasted, baseline FY2025 budget. Vote: 8-0 For: Haris Qureshi, Hanna Cofer, Perry Bedford, Melinda Schiera, David Sullivan, Richard Brimer, Mariana Krueger, Peter Einhorn Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Jennifer Bristol, Colin Nickels Attest: 1 of 2 Perry Bedford, Commission Chair 2 of 2
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bedford called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Jennifer Bristol, Richard Brimer, Hanna Cofer, Haris Qureshi, Melinda Schiera and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Peter Einhorn, Mariana Krueger Commissioners Absent: Colin Nickells PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers Patricia Bobeck, Butler Landfill Kimerly Duda, Exposition School in a REGULAR meeting on APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on June 5, 2024. The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on June 5, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Cofer and Schiera abstained. Commissioner Nickells was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing on Austin's Drought Contingency Plan and Water Conservation Plan – Kevin Kluge, Water Conservation Division Manager, Austin Water Speakers: Anna Bryan-Borjas, Austin Water Kevin Kluge, Austin Water Ramesh Swaminathan, Watershed Protection Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 1. 2. 1 3. 4. 5. 6. Staff briefing on updates to single family residential landscape transformation activities – Kevin Kluge, Water Conservation Division Manager, Austin Water Speaker: Kevin Kluge, Austin Water Item conducted as posted. No action taken. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation, discussion and recommendation on the Community Investment Budget – Kathy Mitchell, Equity Action. Sponsored by Commissioners Sullivan and Krueger Speakers: Bobby Levenski, Save Our Springs A motion to recommend the Community Investment Budget was approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on an 8–0 vote. Commissioner Nickells was absent. Commissioner Bristol was off the dais. COMMITTEE UPDATES Discussion on the draft recommendation from the Urban Forestry Committee on supporting Austin’s tree canopy – Richard Brimer Speakers: Bobby Levenski, Save Our Springs Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Update from the Bird-Friendly Design working group on their first meeting on July 1st – Jennifer Bristol Commissioners Sullivan and Krueger provided an update. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None ADJOURNMENT Chair Bedford adjourned the meeting at 8:35 P.M. The minutes were approved at the July 17, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Einhorn and Nickells were absent. Commissioner Qureshi was off the dais. 2
