20250319-003: WPD 2026 Bond Criteria Presentation — original pdf

Backup

Guiding Principles & Technical Criteria for the 2026 Bond Development Program N I T S U A F O Y T I C Environmental Commission Meeting March 19, 2025 Kelly Gagnon, Principal Planner Pam Kearfott, Managing Engineer 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 Presentation Overview 2 N I T S U A F O Y T I C 1. Introduction to the Watershed Protection Department (WPD) 2. WPD & General Obligation (G.O.) Bond History 3. 2026 Bond Development Process & Guiding Principles 4. WPD Technical Criteria for 2026 Bond Development 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 3 Watershed Protection Department (WPD): Mission To protect the lives, property, and environment of our community by reducing the impacts of flooding, erosion, and water pollution. N I T S U A F O Y T I C 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 4 N I T S U A F O Y T I C WPD: Funding Sources Operations • Drainage Utility Charge • Other Fees and Interest Income Capital Program • Cash transfer from Operations • G.O. Bonds • Grants • Tax Increment Financing • Regional Stormwater Management Program (RSMP) & Urban Structural Control Fund (USCF) Payments 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 5 N I T S U A F O Y T I C WPD: Strategic Plan “Worst Problems First” • Defines mission • Sets goals + objectives • Defines “Problem Score” methodologies for prioritization • Commits to data and asset management • Shares our solutions inventory • Defines framework to identify “preferred solutions” • Sets recommendations 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 6 WPD: Strategic Plan Needs Assessment Over $2 billion needed to solve the most severe watershed problems and critical asset management priorities N I T S U A F O Y T I C Solutions Development • Projects • Programs • Regulations “Top 20” problems prioritized in CIP planning 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 7 Strategic Plan Update “Rain to River” Update Underway: N I T S U A F O Y T I C • • • Evaluating and defining levels of service with better understanding of problems, impacts, and limited resources Investigating other ways our community can build resilience within our mission areas Phase 2 engagement scheduled summer 2025 www.raintoriveratx.com 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 WPD: Overview 8 N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Despite considerable progress, WPD has an estimated $2B in unfunded needs to meet highest priorities identified by our Strategic Plan • While WPD is largely funded by the drainage charge, G.O. bonds have been used as a source of income to fund a large subset of our work 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 9 WPD & G.O. Bonds 1. Open Space Acquisition • $152M (2006, 2012, 2018) 2. Drainage / Stormwater Projects • $207M (2006, 2018) N I T S U A F O Y T I C 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 WPD Open Space Bonds 10 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Water Quality Protection Lands Purchase of land and conservation easements to protect the quality and quantity of water in Austin’s aquifers, springs, greenbelts, and parks; mitigate flooding; and preserve open space in perpetuity. • Bond funds used to permanently protect over 35,000 acres to-date • Land Acquisition program included in 2024 Environmental Investment Plan to address citywide Climate Equity goals 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 WPD Drainage Bonds 11 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Drainage/Stormwater Projects Implementation of projects to reduce flood and erosion risks, such as storm drain improvements, streambank stabilization, low-water crossing improvements, and buyouts in flood-prone areas. • Bond funds used towards 52 stormwater projects to-date • Stormwater Resilience projects included in the 2024 Environmental Investment Plan to address watershed needs 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 2018 Bond Progress 12 Left to Spend Spent to Date N I T S U A F O Y T I C Drainage / Stormwater Projects, $112M Open Space Land Acquisition, $72M S N O I L L I M $200 $180 $160 $140 $120 $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 $0 2019 2022 Spent to Date $22,732,550 $58,077,747 $71,730,552 $77,913,986 $82,477,204 $127,145,021 $155,068,765 $170,730,824 Left to Spend $161,267,450 $125,922,253 $112,269,448 $106,086,014 $101,522,796 $56,854,979 $28,931,235 $13,269,176 2021 2020 2024 2026 2023 2025 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 13 WPD & G.O. Bonds 1. Bonds have been a significant funding source for WPD’s Drainage CIP program 2. Bonds are the primary funding source for the Water Quality Protection Lands Program N I T S U A F O Y T I C 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 14 2026 Bond Development & Guiding Principles N I T S U A F O Y T I C 1. Council Resolution 2. 2026 Integrated Bond Development Guidance 3. 2026 Process / Schedule 4. Guiding Principles 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 Council Resolution for the 2026 BEATF 15 N I T S U A F O Y T I C 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 BEATF = Bond Election Advisory Task Force 16 2026 Integrated Bond Development Guidance N I T S U A F O Y T I C 1. Projects or programs can be implemented within a 6-year timeframe (FY27-32) 2. Expenditures result in a public asset that benefits the City for duration of debt repayment (20 years) 3. Proposals integrate 2024 Environmental Investment Plan recommendations, where possible 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 2026 Bond Development Schedule 17 N I T S U A F O Y T I C WE ARE HERE 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 2026 Bond Development Guiding Principles 18 N I T S U A F O Y T I C 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 19 Proposed WPD Technical Criteria for 2026 Bond N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Apply to Drainage / Stormwater Resilience CIP projects only • Land Acquisition and other Environmental Investment Plan (EIP) recommendations undergoing review and collaborative development with other departments 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 20 Proposed WPD Technical Criteria for 2026 Bond N I T S U A F O Y T I C • First filter: WPD need • Second filter: bond funds eligibility • Third filter: 2026 bond timeframe • Then: prioritize using criteria 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 Drainage/Stormwater Projects: Technical Criteria 21 Question/Evaluation Projects that improve quality of life outcomes for all residents, eliminate racial disparities, and mitigate unintended consequences. Identify CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) Overall Theme, SVI Race & Language Theme, Displacement Risk, and Environmental Hazard Exposure Risk for each project. If a project is "High" in any of these categories, it gets 15 points. If a project is "Medium" in any of these categories, it gets 10 points. If a project is "Low" in all of the categories, it gets 0 points. Projects that improve quality of life for community members while minimizing financial burdens. If a project is a partnership with another department/agency for a "dig once" opportunity -OR- if a project is leveraging external funding to reduce the use of city funding, then it gets 15 points. Projects that work to understand challenges and needs of users and create new solutions to solve them. If a project includes innovative, but trusted, processes, methods, or materials in its delivery, then it gets 5 points. Sustainability: Projects that aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. If a project is pursuing sustainability ratings (such as SITES or Envision), then it gets 5 points. Guiding Principle Equity Affordability Innovation N I T S U A F O Y T I C Sustainability & Resiliency Resiliency: Projects that increase the community's ability to prepare for, withstand, and recover from shocks and stressors related to climate change. Identify Community Health Index for each project. Index generated by WPD staff using an analysis that incorporates mental health, physical health, and diabetes. If a project will provide benefits to communities with worse community health outcomes, then it gets 5 points. 0, 5 (Other Sustainability & Resiliency outcomes for WPD CIPs are captured in the Proactive Prevention section) Proactive Prevention Projects that improve condition or function of assets, address service gaps, and/or improve public health and safety. Identify Strategic Plan and Asset Management priority rankings. Priority ranking of Very High = 40 points Priority ranking of High= 20 points Priority ranking of Moderate= 10 points All others = 0 points Customer Trust & Relationships Projects that deliver on community expectations. Projects that are currently in final design/permitting and securely on a schedule to be able to start construction in FY27 and complete construction by FY30 = 20 points. Projects that are currently in design phase and securely on a schedule to be able to start construction in FY28 or later and complete construction by FY32 = 10 points. Projects that have not started design yet but have design funding and could complete design and construction by FY32 = 0 points. Projects that do not meet any of the criteria will be removed from the potential 2026 bond project list. 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 Score Range Max Score 0, 10, 15 15 0, 15 0, 5 15 5 5 0, 10, 20, 40 40 0, 10, 20 20 Total Score 100 Guiding Principle: Equity 22 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Principle Equity Question/Evaluation Projects that improve quality of life outcomes for all residents, eliminate racial disparities, and mitigate unintended consequences. Identify CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) Overall Theme, SVI Race & Language Theme, Displacement Risk, and Environmental Hazard Exposure Risk for each project. If a project is "High" in any of these categories, it gets 15 points. If a project is "Medium" in any of these categories, it gets 10 points. If a project is "Low" in all of the categories, it gets 0 points. 15% Score Range Max Score 0, 10, 15 15 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 Guiding Principle: Affordability 15% 23 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Principle Question/Evaluation Projects that improve quality of life for community members while minimizing financial burdens. Affordability If a project is a partnership with another department/agency for a "dig once" opportunity -OR- if a project is leveraging external funding to reduce the use of city funding, then it gets 15 points. Score Range Max Score 0, 15 15 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 Guiding Principle: Innovation 5% 24 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Principle Innovation Question/Evaluation Projects that work to understand challenges and needs of users and create new solutions to solve them. If a project includes innovative, but trusted, processes, methods, or materials in its delivery, then it gets 5 points. Score Range Max Score 0, 5 5 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 Guiding Principle: Sustainability & Resiliency 5% 25 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Principle Question/Evaluation Score Range Max Score Sustainability: Projects that aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. If a project is pursuing sustainability ratings, then it gets 5 points. Sustainability & Resiliency Resiliency: Projects that increase the community's ability to prepare for, withstand, and recover from shocks and stressors related to climate change. Identify Community Health Index for each project. Index incorporates mental health, physical health, and diabetes. If a project will provide benefits to communities with worse community health outcomes, then it gets 5 points. 0, 5 5 (Other Sustainability & Resiliency outcomes for WPD CIPs are captured in the Proactive Prevention section) 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 Guiding Principle: Proactive Prevention 40% 26 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Principle Proactive Prevention Question/Evaluation Projects that improve condition or function of assets, address service gaps, and/or improve public health and safety. Identify Strategic Plan and Asset Management priority rankings. Priority ranking of Very High = 40 points Priority ranking of High= 20 points Priority ranking of Moderate= 10 points All others = 0 points Score Range Max Score 0, 10, 20, 40 40 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 Guiding Principle: Customer Trust & Relationships 20% 27 N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Principle Question/Evaluation Projects that deliver on community expectations. Score Range Max Score Projects that are currently in final design/permitting and securely on a schedule to be able to start construction in FY27 and complete construction by FY30 = 20 points. Customer Trust & Relationships Projects that are currently in design phase and securely on a schedule to be able to start construction in FY28 or later and complete construction by FY32 = 10 points. 0, 10, 20 20 Projects that have not started design yet, but have design funding and could complete design and construction by FY32 = 0 points. Projects that do not meet any of the criteria will be removed from the potential 2026 bond project list. 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 28 Proposed WPD Technical Criteria for 2026 Bond N I T S U A F O Y T I C • Criteria will be used to prioritize a subset of our Drainage / Stormwater CIP projects that meet the 2026 bond guidelines • We will be participating in citywide needs, including Open Space / Land Acquisition using separate criteria 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 N I T S U A F O Y T I C 29 Questions? Kelly.Gagnon@austintexas.gov Pam.Kearfott@austintexas.gov 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