20240207-005: COA Telework Recommendation — original pdf

Recommendation

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240207-005 Second by: Mariana Krueger Date: February 7, 2024 Subject: City of Austin Telework Policies Motion by: Haris Qureshi WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes the Austin City Council approved Resolution No. 20190808-078, declaring a climate emergency in the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, the Austin City Council approved Ordinance No. 20190411-033 adopting amendments to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan as an amendment to the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, on September 30, 2021 the Austin City Council approved the adoption of the Austin Climate Equity Plan, which sets a new community-wide goal of equitably reaching net- zero community-wed greenhouse gas emissions by 2040; and WHEREAS, on October 24, 2023 the Planning Commission approved an action making recommendations to the Council to initiate amendments to the Climate Equity Plan and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan related to the City’s telework policies; and WHEREAS, Joint Sustainability Committee approved Recommendation 2024124-002 to add explicit language supporting telework policies ensuring that, whenever appropriate, all City of Austin telework and remote work policies contribute towards the goal of achieving 25% of Austin residents working from home by 2039 and include a strategy to implement a City of Austin telework policy of no less than 85% of eligible City of Austin employees choose to work from home. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends the Austin City Council increase the share of City of Austin employees who work at home, use mass transport to travel to work, bicycle to work, walk to work, use micro-mobility or assisted mobility devices instead of driving to work and ensure that whenever appropriate city telework, remote work, and green commuting policies contribute to the goal of achieving 20% of Austin residents not driving alone to work by 2039. Additionally, to achieve this goal, implement a city telework policy of no less than 85% of eligible City of Austin employees are allowed to work from home. Vote: 8-1 For: Bedford, Bristol, Cofer, Einhorn, Krueger, Qureshi, Ramberg, Sullivan Against: Nickells 1 of 2 Abstain: none Absent: Brimer and Schiera Attest: Kevin Ramberg, Environmental Commission Chair 2 of 2