JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT March 26, 2025 at 6 pm City Hall – Council Chambers 301 W 2nd St, Austin TX 78701 Some members of the Committee may be participating by videoconference 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, email or call Rohan Lilauwala at (Rohan.lilauwala@austintexas.gov or 512-974-9394). Alternate Randall Chapman Member Kaiba White (Chair) Charlotte Davis (Vice-Chair) Genell Gary Diana Wheeler Haris Qureshi Melissa Rothrock Vacant CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Home Commission Electric Utility Commission Resource Management Commission Urban Transportation Commission Environmental Commission Zero Waste Advisory Commission Community Development Commission Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Marissa Bell Economic Prosperity Commission Water & Wastewater Commission Parks & Recreation Board Design Commission Planning Commission Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission City Council Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Amy Noel Chris Maxwell-Gaines Lane Becker Vacant Vacant Natalie Poindexter Vacant Rodrigo Leal Anna Scott Yure Suarez Christopher Campbell Heather Houser For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc Vacant Richard Brimer Craig Nazor Miriam Garcia Rosamaria Murillo Luis Osta Lugo Vacant Shelby Orme Ben Luckens Alberta Phillips Vacant Vacant 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the February 26th, 2025 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee DISCUSSION Department 2. Austin Core Transportation Plan Update – Cole Kitten, Transportation and Public Works 3. CapMetro Sustainability Updates – Rob Borowski, CapMetro 4. Internal Climate and Efficiency Revolving Fund Proposal – Rohan Lilauwala, Office of Climate Action and Resilience efforts. – Chris Maxwell-Gaines 5. Water and Wastewater Commission update on recent approvals that affect water conservations 6. Environmental Commission updates on PARD Concessions Report Presentation, Austin Energy Green Building Program overview and WPD FY25 Budget, programs, and projects. – Haris Qureshi DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Recommendation on the Austin Core Transportation Plan 8. Recommendation on Internal Climate and Efficiency Revolving Fund Proposal 9. JSC Sustainable Buildings Working Group FY 25/26 …
February 26, 2025 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Austin Energy Headquarters. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Charlotte Davis, Haris Qureshi, Kaiba White, Chris Maxwell-Gaines Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Marissa Bell, Lane Becker, Melissa Rothrock, Diana Wheeler, Heather Houser, Anna Scott, Chris Campbell, Rodrigo Leal Board Members Absent: Yure Suarez, Natalie Poindexter, Amy Noel, Ben Luckens, Alberta Phillips City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Braden Latham-Jones, Juan Espinoza CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiba White called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Public Communication • Zachary Leeper – speaking in favor of ACCC • Chase Wright – speaking in favor of ACCC, benefits from providing jobs and workforce training to individuals exiting homelessness and incarceration • Parc Smith – speaking in favor of ACCC 1. Approval of minutes from the January 22nd 2025 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. • Maxwell-Gaines motion, Qureshi second, passes on a 12-0 vote. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Austin Light Rail Phase 1 project update, timeline and the opportunity to provide feedback as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Public Review and Comment Period – Lisa Storer, Alvin Livingstone, Deron Lozano and Yannis Banks, Austin Transit Partnership. • Rothrock: what is priority extension? Answer: Airport will be next • White: can you elaborate more on DEIS? Answer: documents impacts during construction and operation. E.g. noise and vibration. Understanding what JSC is interested in is helpful. Federal gov’t doesn’t require level of detail being provided. E.g. working with city arborist to come up with tree preservation-first approach. • Model shows 20 million + VMT reduced. All electric vehicles. 3. Austin Civilian Conservation Corps Update on staffing, current agreements, pathways, and its future funding opportunities. – Juan Espinoza, Economic Development Department. • Davis: what happened to other pathways? Espinoza: funding shortfall meant that only natural systems pathway is active. Program has always been funded with one-time funding. • White: how much funding is needed to bring programming back? Espinoza: $2.8m at max capacity. 4. Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program Update – Braden Latham-Jones, Office of Climate Action and Resilience. • White: what about public-facing items? Latham-Jones – some items feature this. • White: will this come back to JSC? Latham-Jones: TBD, depends on timeline. 5. Recommendations and possible action on the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program, including supportive action and/or recommendations for additions …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 2025XXXX-XXX Date: XXX, 2025 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee 2025-26 Budget Recommendations (Natural Systems) Motioned By: Seconded By: Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Public Tree Inventory: Urban forests serve as carbon sinks that promote climate mitigation efforts, but the city does not have a comprehensive tree inventory that would allow for effective urban forest planning and maintenance. Developing and maintaining a robust catalog of existing trees is a necessary first step to ensuring the city can maintain the health of the overall tree ecosystem, and also supports the increase of our overall tree canopy to the 50% goal outlined in the Climate Equity Plan. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $10,000,000 be allocated to fully fund a comprehensive public tree inventory across all City-owned properties as directed by Council resolution 20240418-051. This data will enable the city’s Urban Forester to implement a comprehensive urban forest management plan including robust tree planting and replacement efforts. Methods should follow national best practices and involve collaboration with relevant partners. Data should be stored for easy access and sharing across departments. 2. Green Workforce Program Expansion: Equitable access to green jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities is an overarching strategy of the Climate Equity Plan. Green workforce programs like the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps build more equitable pathways to employment and strengthen support networks for those most impacted by climate change. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $4,000,000 per year be allocated to permanently fund the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps. This funding would be used to support and expand the following tracks: ○ Natural Systems (protecting critical ecosystems on City land, green infrastructure development, wildfire mitigation, enhancing the City’s trail network) ○ Clean Energy (solar for all, energy efficiency, demand response, batteries) ○ Environmental Education ○ Zero Waste (expand beyond computer refurbishment) 3. Natural Land Restoration and Wildfire Prevention: Most city parkland natural areas have not been managed for ecosystem health and are thus degraded. Threatened by heat, drought, disease, and wildfire, they present safety risks to both park users and neighbors. In 2023, City Council approved the Parks and Recreation Department’s Land Management Plan, created to guide the restoration of natural areas to improve climate resilience and reduce wildfire risk. The program currently has a budget of $828,000 and four FTEs to oversee the 10,300 acres under city management. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends fully funding this program at an estimated …
DRAFT Joint Sustainability Committee Transportation & Land Use Budget Recommendations Transportation Electrification Recommendation Transportation Electrification Goal 2 of Austin Climate Equity Plan (ACEP) aims for 40% of vehicle miles traveled be supported by a mix of charging infrastructure by 2030. Based on ACEP Implementation Dashboard, as of 2023, Austin is behind on this goal, necessitating additional assistance to accelerate EV charging and adoption. The City of Austin will complete an assessment of city facilities to identify installation of charging stations, focusing on fleet, workplace, and public needs. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $120,000 be allocated for a full-time Program Manager position within the Capital Delivery Services or Office of Climate Action and Resilience, to facilitate the acceleration of installing the identified charging stations to accelerate EV adoption and to identify and manage funds for the installations. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds should be prioritized rather than operating budgets in order to be rolled over multiple years and be tied to city-owned assets. Also, the Project Manager should prioritize charging stations benefiting low-income and marginalized communities, heavy- duty diesel vehicle electrification, and city buildings near small businesses to boost the local economy. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $1,000,000 be allocated for the installation of priority charging stations identified as part of the COA assessment, to help the acceleration of EV adoption. Cool Corridor Pilot Projects The lived realities of increasing extreme heat in Austin demand greater investment in mitigating heat through the development of “cool corridors.” Cool corridors are high-transit areas that provide relief from extreme heat via a suite of green infrastructure and cooling amenities, including shade structures, water fountains, drought-tolerant trees, and other vegetation and plantings. Cool corridors offer multiple benefits, including improved air and water quality, reduced heat island impacts and tree canopy disparities, increased walkability, bikeability, and transit ridership, neighborhood greening and beautification, and improved health outcomes and quality of life. Creating cool corridors serves ACEP Transportation and Land Use Goal 3, "50% of trips in Austin are made using public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, or avoided altogether by working from home" through strategies 3 (enhance transit stops and stations), 4 (prioritize bicycle networks), and 6 (improve sidewalks, urban trails, and crossings). Cool corridors also support the ACEP Natural Systems Goal 3, “Achieve at least 50% citywide tree canopy cover by 2050, focusing on increasing canopy cover equitably.” Additional funding is needed to implement cool …
Joint Sustainability Committee Cross-Sector DRAFT FY 2025/2026 Budget Recommendations 1. Execution of the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program: The Office of Climate Action and Resilience needs additional staff to execute the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program, directed by Council Resolution 20240718-093. Staff are needed to track progress, identify gaps, coordinate and assist other departments with projects, and lead on some projects that fall to the Office of Climate Action and Resilience (OCAR). Some current OCAR staff are temporary and this work will be ongoing. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends $90,000 for a Climate Implementation Program Project Coordinator in the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. 2. Outreach and Engagement for Sustainability Incentives: The City of Austin has numerous sustainability incentive programs aligned with the goals of the Climate Equity Plan. However, many of these programs are underutilized, especially among low-income households. A part of the challenge is awareness. The city should host a user-friendly website that consolidates information on all sustainability incentives offered by the City of Austin (i.e., home weatherization and repair, water conservation, rainwater collection, water conserving landscaping, waste reduction, transportation electrification, public transit and green infrastructure programs), as well as state and federal incentives that align with the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and other city sustainability plans. Additional community outreach by the city and trusted organizations can increase the effectiveness of these programs. A Community Engagement Program Manager is needed in the Office of Climate Action and Resilience to coordinate community outreach and partnership activities associated with promoting sustainability incentives, with a focus on building relationships with low-income communities, communities of color, and related organizations and service providers. This employee would manage grants, contracts and stipends for community leaders and community-based organizations to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs in targeted Austin communities, in partnership with the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $270,000 be allocated to the Office of Climate Action and Resilience for the following: ○ $110,000 for a Community Engagement Program Manager ○ $60,000 for 20 climate ambassadors to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs, under the direction of the Office of Sustainability. ○ $100,000 for grants for community-based organizations to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability. 3. Austin Civilian Conservation Corps: Equitable access to green jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities is an overarching strategy …
Austin Core Transportation (ACT) Plan Small Area Mobility Plan of the ASMP: Downtown Austin Joint Sustainability Committee – March 26, 2025 Agenda • ACT Plan Purpose and Background • Planning Process • ACT Plan Project Recommendations • Implementation Plan • Next Steps 2 ACT Plan Purpose • The ACT Plan is a Small Area Mobility Plan covering Downtown Austin and will be adopted by Council as an attachment to the ASMP. • It is an update to previous transportation focused efforts Downtown – dating back to 2000 • Why are we updating the transportation plan for Downtown? • changes in transit and bicycle planning, • changes in highway improvements serving Downtown, • changes in national best practices on urban street design, and • disruptions to traditional mobility • The ACT Plan will create a unified vision for transportation Downtown and align the many projects and initiatives under one actionable plan to help accomplish the goals in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. 3 Background • Great Streets Master Plan, 2001 • The goal of the Great Streets program is to pursue the vision of streets for people • Downtown Access and Mobility Plan, 2002 • The emphasis of the access and mobility study was on modeling and simulating intersection traffic operations and determining existing and future levels-of- service and operational needs • Downtown Transportation Framework, 2008 • The Downtown Transportation Framework Plan builds on the Great Streets Master Plan, further developing the system of “priority streets by mode”, and developing more detailed streetscape cross sections of all of the different street types and variations • Downtown Austin Plan, 2011 • Established the vision to develop a multimodal transportation system that improves access to and mobility within Downtown 2001 2002 2008 2011 4 Background • New policy • The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) aspires to achieve a 50/50 mode share where 50% of commuters use means other than driving alone to get to work in 2039 • Transit planning • The Project Connect Long Term Vision Plan established a High-Capacity Transit System and was adopted as an element of the ASMP – an initial investment was funded in 2020 2019 • Managing demand • Transportation Demand Management programming, parking policy, and curb management are becoming critical strategies to manage congestion • New street design • The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative shows how to reimagine the allocation of space • Many …
Austin Core Transportation (ACT) Plan Phase 1 & 2 Engagement Summary August–October 2022 | November 2022–March 2023 1. "What is the ACT Plan" informational brochure 2. Phase I Feedback Summary 3. Phase I Engagement Report 4. Phase 2 Feedback Summary 5. City Council Mobility Committee May 11, 2023 Presentation WHAT IS THE AUSTIN CORE TRANSPORTATION (ACT) PLAN? The ACT Plan is studying mobility options into, out of, through and within Downtown Austin. With Project Connect transit plans and the I-35 Capital Express Central rebuild project bringing significant change to the area, it is important to reexamine the form and function of the street network to interact with those changes and meet future needs and modes of transportation. WHAT WILL ACT DO? The ACT Plan will produce a list of projects and a vision for how Downtown Austin streets should operate. These projects will work within our real-world constraints, providing safe and efficient mobility enhancements. Whether people are delivering food, commuting to work, enjoying entertainment or appreciating our public spaces, the ACT Plan seeks to make accomplishing those tasks easier. WHAT WILL ACT DO? Austin Transportation Department wants to hear from all stakeholders and travelers to downtown Austin. Comments are best provided through online surveys, emailing the team or attending community meetings. Scan here for more info AustinTexas.gov/ACTplan ACTplan@AustinTexas.gov @AustinMobility /ATXtransportation 512-974-23OO ¿QUÉ ES EL PLAN DEL CASCO CENTRAL DE AUSTIN (ACT)? El Plan ACT está estudiando opciones de movilidad hacia, desde, a través y dentro del centro de Austin. Con los planes de tránsito del Proyecto Connect y el proyecto de reconstrucción de la I-35 Capital Express Central trayendo cambios significativos al área, es importante reexaminar la forma y función de la red de calles para interactuar con esos cambios y satisfacer las necesidades futuras y los modos de transporte. ¿QUÉ HARÁ ACT? El Plan ACT producirá una lista de proyectos y una visión de cómo deberían operar las calles del Centro de Austin. Estos proyectos funcionarán dentro de nuestras limitaciones del mundo real, brindando mejoras de movilidad seguras y eficientes. Ya sea que las personas estén entregando alimentos, yendo al trabajo, disfrutando del entretenimiento o apreciando nuestros espacios públicos, el Plan ACT busca facilitar el cumplimiento de esas tareas. ¿CÓMO PUEDO PARTICIPAR EN ACT? El Departamento de Transporte de Austin quiere escuchar a todas las partes interesadas y viajeros al centro de Austin. Puede enviar comentarios a través de …
Joint Sustainability Committee Sustainable Buildings Working Group DRAFT FY 2025/2026 Budget Recommendations 1. Water Leak Detection and Repair Programs: In 2023, Austin Water loss was 8,678,000,000 gallons of water which equates to 21.68 gallons per capita per day of water loss. This waste also results in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions from the energy needed to pump and treat the water. Austin Water’s current budget includes $2 million/year for leak detection and $6 million for repairs, but water waste would be reduced faster with an increased budget. An additional staff person would be needed to help manage the additional work. The Joint Sustainability Committee Recommends that the Austin Water water leak detection budget be increased to $3 million/year and the repair budget be increased to $7 million/year, including the addition of one full time staff position to manage the increased work. 2. Residential and Commercial Landscape Conversion Rebates for Water Conservation: During summer months, the use of water dramatically increases, mainly due to the watering of landscapes. Turf areas in particular require the most water per square foot in any landscape. While ordinances for new construction can help reduce the amount of turf areas, existing properties don’t have requirements to adapt their landscapes to conserve water. Reducing the amount of turf grass that requires a lot of water to survive will help conserve water and reduce energy use needed for pumping and treatment. Austin Water should offer more substantial and accessible rebates for landscape conversions. Currently, Austin Water offers a landscape conversion rebate of $100 per 100 square feet, up to a maximum rebate of $3000. Most conversions will be smaller areas and thus, the currently offered rebate amounts don’t incentivize many customers to implement landscape conversions. In 2023, only 19 rebate applications were submitted to Austin Water. Austin Water should implement a tiered rebate structure that offers more rebate money for smaller areas of landscape conversion for residential properties and should substantially increase the maximum rebate offered. As suggested by the Get Fertilizer Wiser campaign, there should also be incentives that are more easily accessible to individuals who may not need to fully remove turf grass in order to reduce or eliminate watering. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends increasing Austin Water’s Landscaping Conversion budget from $40,000/year to $150,000/year. 3. Establish Sustainability Revolving Fund to Reduce GHG Emissions, Starting with Rooftop Solar and Refrigerant Leakage Mitigation: Revolving funds are an effective …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Date: February xx, 2025 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council Sustainable Purchasing: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 2 says “By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from institutional, commercial, and government purchasing are reduced by at least 50%.“ Strategy 2 to achieve that goal is “Strengthen the City’s sustainable purchasing program.” Recent analysis by the Office of Sustainability shows that over 80% of the City of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the products and services that the city purchases. It is essential that the City establish a comprehensive Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products and services the City procures, and the City must prioritize ongoing staff support to educate all departments on sustainable purchasing and ensure that purchasing decisions comply with the Sustainable Purchasing Plan. This work is also foundational for achieving Climate Equity Plan goals for private sector sustainable purchasing in the Austin Community. Current staff in the Office of Climate Action and Resilience and the Purchasing Department have been making efforts to accomplish this goal while also doing their other work, but the volume of work needed is beyond what existing staff have capacity for. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $110,000 be allocated to adding a full-time Sustainable Purchasing Program Manager position to the Purchasing Department. Pro-Climate/Pro-Health Food Implementation: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 1 says: “By 2030, ensure all Austinites can access a food system that is community- driven, addresses food insecurity, prioritizes regenerative agriculture, supports dietary and health agency, promotes plant-based foods, and minimizes food waste.” The Austin/Travis County Food Plan includes “Goal 8: Pro-climate, Pro-health Raise awareness of the benefits of foods that nourish our bodies and reduce the overall environmental impact of our food system while addressing barriers to access.” A key need for the plan is for community education and outreach. Partners have developed some materials but there is no budget for community outreach to share information and opportunities. The JSC recommends that $75,000 be allocated to the Office of Climate Action and Resilience for community outreach and education on benefits and opportunities to eat more pro-climate/pro-health foods. Circular economy and waste diversion programs: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 3 says : “Aggressively …
Climate and Efficiency Revolving Funds To reduce operational costs and GHG emissions Limited dedicated funds to make city facilities more sustainable New opportunities in renewables + resilience Pressure on general fund means there is a need to reduce operational costs Context 2 Precedents Revolving funds are not a new idea, and many communities across the country have successfully implemented them to address challenges like those we face in Austin. San Antonio Philadelphia Harris County Portland Seattle 3 Case Study: San Antonio ● Energy Efficiency Fund seeded in 2009 ● Projects include lighting, HVAC with $12 million in ARRA funds ● 432 energy projects in 190 facilities completed by 2023 ● Annual avoided cost savings of $1.7m equipment and controls, solar window film, pool pump upgrades, etc. ● In 2023, $30m investment in solar, savings to be rolled into fund Case Study: Harris County ● Revolving Energy Efficiency Fund established in 2023 with one FTE ● No direct funding for projects, captures savings from already funded capital projects ● Savings (tax credits, utility rebates, energy savings) from projects flow into fund ● Fund pays for things complementary to projects (training, salaries, tools) How it Could Work Seed Funding Climate and Efficiency Revolving Fund Staff Salaries, Software, Training, Capacity Building Reinvest Savings Implement Projects Measure Energy and Other Savings 6 Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Fleet Electrification Lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, weatherization Solar, batteries Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure Example Projects 7 Example Projects LED Lighting Retrofit in an Office Building Solar Array on a Library Upfront Cost: $300,000 Annual Savings: $75,000 Simple Payback Period: 4 years Lifespan: 10-15 years Upfront Cost: $95,340 (incl 30% tax credit) Annual Savings: $13,913 Simple Payback Period: 6.8 years Lifespan: 25-30 years ● As the initial investment is paid off, savings can be returned to the fund and can be ● After the investments are paid off, the projects continue to generate annual savings reinvested into other projects. for the remainder of their lifespans. 8 Thank you. Do you have any questions? www.austintexas.gov/climate /austinsustainability rohan.lilauwala@austintexas.gov
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation Number 20250326-007: Austin Core Transportation Plan WHEREAS, the Austin Core Transportation Plan seeks to create a cohesive and adaptable transportation framework that addresses the unique mobility challenges of downtown Austin while building on previous downtown planning efforts and integrating upcoming major infrastructure projects like I-35 Capital Express Central and Project Connect; and WHEREAS, the Downtown street network is 1% of Austin’s overall network but accounts for 12% of all pedestrian crashes and 17% of intersection-related pedestrian crashes; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan sets a goal of 50% non-single occupancy vehicle mode share by 2039; and WHEREAS, two-way streets are safer and increase economic activity where conversions are implemented; and WHEREAS, street trees and additional shade downtown make walking more feasible and can even reduce vehicle speeds; and WHEREAS, the East side of downtown is not currently slated to have a new on-street, high- quality North-South bicycle facility in the current ACT plan; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Austin Alliance Downtown Parking Study was created to comprehensively and holistically find parking management solutions to better serve the residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Austin; and WHEREAS, the Urban Land Institute convened a Technical Assistance Panel focused on reducing the growth of parking downtown, improving management of current parking supply, improving the human experience downtown, and improving other transportation modes; and WHEREAS, City Council Resolution No. 20240201-054 and corresponding ordinances seek to reduce the overall number of new parking spaces built within downtown Austin and create a more pedestrian-oriented built environment; and WHEREAS, the future Austin Light Rail and expanded MetroRapid services are projected to carry tens of thousands additional riders into downtown; and WHEREAS, there are limited resources devoted to transportation infrastructure improvements across the City, with competing priorities, including installing transportation facilities outside of downtown where no current facilities exist; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City Council adopt the Austin Core Transportation plan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the Austin Core Transportation Plan prioritizes the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and non-car modes of transportation throughout the downtown area over car volume throughput; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the ACT plan continue the protected bike lane on Red River Street from 7th Street to 12th Street, as contemplated by the 2023 Bicycle Plan and …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation Number 20250326-007: Austin Core Transportation Plan WHEREAS, the Austin Core Transportation Plan seeks to create a cohesive and adaptable transportation framework that addresses the unique mobility challenges of downtown Austin while building on previous downtown planning efforts and integrating upcoming major infrastructure projects like I-35 Capital Express Central and Project Connect; and WHEREAS, the Downtown street network is 1% of Austin’s overall network but accounts for 12% of all pedestrian crashes and 17% of intersection-related pedestrian crashes; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan sets a goal of 50% non-single occupancy vehicle mode share by 2039; and WHEREAS, two-way streets are safer and increase economic activity where conversions are implemented; and WHEREAS, street trees and additional shade downtown make walking more feasible and can even reduce vehicle speeds; and WHEREAS, the East side of downtown is not currently slated to have a new on-street, high- quality North-South bicycle facility in the current ACT plan; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Austin Alliance Downtown Parking Study was created to comprehensively and holistically find parking management solutions to better serve the residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Austin; and WHEREAS, the Urban Land Institute convened a Technical Assistance Panel focused on reducing the growth of parking downtown, improving management of current parking supply, improving the human experience downtown, and improving other transportation modes; and WHEREAS, City Council Resolution No. 20240201-054 and corresponding ordinances seek to reduce the overall number of new parking spaces built within downtown Austin and create a more pedestrian-oriented built environment; and WHEREAS, the future Austin Light Rail and expanded MetroRapid services are projected to carry tens of thousands additional riders into downtown; and WHEREAS, there are limited resources devoted to transportation infrastructure improvements across the City, with competing priorities, including installing transportation facilities outside of downtown where no current facilities exist; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City Council adopt the Austin Core Transportation plan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the Austin Core Transportation Plan prioritizes the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and non-car modes of transportation throughout the downtown area over car volume throughput; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the ACT plan include protected bike lanes in both directions on all downtown streets; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation Number 20250326-009: Sustainable Buildings Budget Recommendations 1. Water Leak Detection and Repair Programs: In 2023, Austin Water loss was 8,678,000,000 gallons of water which equates to 21.68 gallons per capita per day of water loss. This waste also results in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions from the energy needed to pump and treat the water. Austin Water’s current budget includes $2 million/year for leak detection and $6 million for repairs, but water waste would be reduced faster with an increased budget. An additional staff person would be needed to help manage the additional work. The Joint Sustainability Committee Recommends that the Austin Water water leak detection budget be increased to $3 million/year and the repair budget be increased to $7 million/year, including the addition of one full time staff position to manage the increased work. 2. Residential and Commercial Landscape Conversion Rebates for Water Conservation: During summer months, the use of water dramatically increases, mainly due to the watering of landscapes. Turf areas in particular require the most water per square foot in any landscape. While ordinances for new construction can help reduce the amount of turf areas, existing properties don’t have requirements to adapt their landscapes to conserve water. Reducing the amount of turf grass that requires a lot of water to survive will help conserve water and reduce energy use needed for pumping and treatment. Austin Water should offer more substantial and accessible rebates for landscape conversions. Currently, Austin Water offers a landscape conversion rebate of $100 per 100 square feet, up to a maximum rebate of $3000. Most conversions will be smaller areas and thus, the currently offered rebate amounts don’t incentivize many customers to implement landscape conversions. In 2023, only 19 rebate applications were submitted to Austin Water. Austin Water should implement a tiered rebate structure that offers more rebate money for smaller areas of landscape conversion for residential properties and should substantially increase the maximum rebate offered. As suggested by the Get Fertilizer Wiser campaign, there should also be incentives that are more easily accessible to individuals who may not need to fully remove turf grass in order to reduce or eliminate watering. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends increasing Austin Water’s Landscaping Conversion budget from $40,000/year to $150,000/year. 3. Establish Sustainability Revolving Fund to Reduce GHG Emissions, Starting with Rooftop Solar and Refrigerant Leakage Mitigation: Revolving funds are an effective …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20250326-010 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations Motioned By: Charlotte Davis Seconded By: Haris Qureshi Date: March 26, 2025 Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Sustainable Purchasing: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 2 says “By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from institutional, commercial, and government purchasing are reduced by at least 50%.“ Strategy 2 to achieve that goal is “Strengthen the City’s sustainable purchasing program.” Recent analysis by the Office of Sustainability shows that over 80% of the City of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the products and services that the city purchases. It is essential that the City establish a comprehensive Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products and services the City procures, and the City must prioritize ongoing staff support to educate all departments on sustainable purchasing and ensure that purchasing decisions comply with the Sustainable Purchasing Plan. This work is also foundational for achieving Climate Equity Plan goals for private sector sustainable purchasing in the Austin Community. Current staff in the Office of Climate Action and Resilience and the Purchasing Department have been making efforts to accomplish this goal while also doing their other work, but the focus has been limited to two products because the volume of work needed is beyond staff’s existing capacity. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $110,000 per year be allocated to adding a full-time Sustainable Purchasing Program Manager position to the Financial Services Department or the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. 2. Pro-Climate/Pro-Health Food Implementation: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 1 says: “By 2030, ensure all Austinites can access a food system that is community- driven, addresses food insecurity, prioritizes regenerative agriculture, supports dietary and health agency, promotes plant-based foods, and minimizes food waste.” The Austin/Travis County Food Plan includes “Goal 8: Pro-climate, Pro-health Raise awareness of the benefits of foods that nourish our bodies and reduce the overall environmental impact of our food system while addressing barriers to access.” A key need for the plan is for community education and outreach. Partners have developed some materials but there is no budget for community outreach to share information and opportunities. The JSC recommends that $75,000 be allocated to the Office of Climate Action and Resilience for community outreach and education on benefits and opportunities to eat more pro-climate/pro-health …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20250326-011 Date: March 26, 2025 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee 2025-26 Budget Recommendations (Natural Systems) Motioned By: Charlotte Davis Seconded By: Lane Becker Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Public Tree Inventory: Urban forests serve as carbon sinks that promote climate mitigation efforts, but the city does not have a comprehensive tree inventory that would allow for effective urban forest planning and maintenance. Developing and maintaining a robust catalog of existing trees is a necessary first step to ensuring the city can maintain the health of the overall tree ecosystem, and also supports the increase of our overall tree canopy to the 50% goal outlined in the Climate Equity Plan. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $10,000,000 be allocated to fully fund a comprehensive public tree inventory across all City-owned properties as directed by Council resolution 20240418-051. This data will enable the city’s Urban Forester to implement a comprehensive urban forest management plan including robust tree planting and replacement efforts. Methods should follow national best practices and involve collaboration with relevant partners. Data should be stored for easy access and sharing across departments. 2. Natural Land Restoration and Wildfire Prevention: Most city parkland natural areas have not been managed for ecosystem health and are thus degraded. Threatened by heat, drought, disease, and wildfire, they present safety risks to both park users and neighbors. In 2023, City Council approved the Parks and Recreation Department’s Land Management Plan, created to guide the restoration of natural areas to improve climate resilience and reduce wildfire risk. The program currently has a budget of $828,000 and four FTEs to oversee the 10,300 acres under city management. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends fully funding this program at an estimated cost of $250 per acre per year for a total cost of $2,575,000, which will allow the program to expand efforts to address biodiversity loss, wildfire risk, and tree mortality. 3. Land Acquisition and Preservation: According to the Austin State of the Food System Report (2022), less than 0.6% of food consumed in Travis County is produced locally and 16.8 acres of farmland are lost daily to development. The Austin/Travis County Food Plan (Goal 1) prioritizes expanding community food production and preserving agricultural land, and the Austin Climate Equity Plan (Natural Systems Goal 2) aims to protect 500,000 acres of regional farmland by 2030. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: ● $50,000 be allocated …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20250326-012 JSC Transportation and Land-Use Budget Recommendations Date: March 26, 2025 1. Transportation Electrification Recommendation Transportation Electrification Goal 2 of Austin Climate Equity Plan (ACEP) aims for 40% of vehicle miles traveled be supported by a mix of charging infrastructure by 2030. Based on ACEP Implementation Dashboard, as of 2023, Austin is behind on this goal, necessitating additional assistance to accelerate EV charging and adoption. The City of Austin will complete an assessment of city facilities to identify installation of charging stations, focusing on fleet, workplace, and public needs. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $110,000 per year be allocated for a full-time Program Manager position within the Capital Delivery Services or Office of Climate Action and Resilience, to facilitate the acceleration of installing the identified charging stations to accelerate EV adoption and to identify and manage funds for the installations. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds should be prioritized rather than operating budgets in order to be rolled over multiple years and be tied to city-owned assets. Also, the Program Manager should prioritize charging stations benefiting low-income and marginalized communities, heavy-duty diesel vehicle electrification, and city buildings near small businesses to boost the local economy. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $1,000,000 be allocated for the installation of priority charging stations identified as part of the COA assessment, to help the acceleration of EV adoption. 2. Cool Corridor Pilot Projects The lived realities of increasing extreme heat in Austin demand greater investment in mitigating heat through the development of “cool corridors.” Cool corridors are high-transit areas that provide relief from extreme heat via a suite of green infrastructure and cooling amenities, including shade structures, water fountains, drought-tolerant trees, and other vegetation and plantings. Cool corridors offer multiple benefits, including improved air and water quality, reduced heat island impacts and tree canopy disparities, increased walkability, bikeability, and transit ridership, neighborhood greening and beautification, and improved health outcomes and quality of life. Creating cool corridors serves ACEP Transportation and Land Use Goal 3, "50% of trips in Austin are made using public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, or avoided altogether by working from home" through strategies 3 (enhance transit stops and stations), 4 (prioritize bicycle networks), and 6 (improve sidewalks, urban trails, and crossings). Cool corridors also support the ACEP Natural Systems Goal 3, “Achieve at least 50% citywide tree canopy cover by 2050, focusing on increasing canopy cover …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation Number 20250326-013: Cross-Sector Budget Recommendations 1. Execution of the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program: The Office of Climate Action and Resilience needs additional staff to execute the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program, directed by Council Resolution 20240718-093. Staff are needed to track progress, identify gaps, coordinate and assist other departments with projects, and lead on some projects that fall to the Office of Climate Action and Resilience (OCAR). Some current OCAR staff are temporary and this work will be ongoing. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends $90,000 per year for a Climate Implementation Program Project Coordinator in the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. 2. Outreach and Engagement for Sustainability Incentives: The City of Austin has numerous sustainability incentive programs aligned with the goals of the Climate Equity Plan. However, many of these programs are underutilized, especially among low-income households. A part of the challenge is awareness. The city should host a user-friendly website that consolidates information on all sustainability incentives offered by the City of Austin (i.e., home weatherization and repair, water conservation, rainwater collection, water conserving landscaping, waste reduction, transportation electrification, public transit and green infrastructure programs), as well as state and federal incentives that align with the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and other city sustainability plans. Additional community outreach by the city and trusted organizations can increase the effectiveness of these programs. A Community Engagement Program Manager is needed in the Office of Climate Action and Resilience to coordinate community outreach and partnership activities associated with promoting sustainability incentives, with a focus on building relationships with low-income communities, communities of color, and related organizations and service providers. This employee would manage grants, contracts and stipends for community leaders and community-based organizations to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs in targeted Austin communities, in partnership with the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $270,000 per year be allocated to the Office of Climate Action and Resilience for the following: ○ $110,000 per year for a Community Engagement Program Manager ○ $60,000 per year for 20 climate ambassadors to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs, under the direction of the Office of Sustainability. ○ $100,000 per year for grants for community-based organizations to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability. 3. Austin Civilian Conservation Corps: …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT February 26, 2025 at 6 pm City Hall – Council Chambers 301 W 2nd St, Austin TX 78701 Some members of the Committee may be participating by videoconference 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, email or call Rohan Lilauwala at (Rohan.lilauwala@austintexas.gov or 512-974-9394). Alternate Randall Chapman Member Kaiba White (Chair) Charlotte Davis (Vice-Chair) Genell Gary Diana Wheeler Haris Qureshi Melissa Rothrock Vacant CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Home Commission Electric Utility Commission Resource Management Commission Urban Transportation Commission Environmental Commission Zero Waste Advisory Commission Community Development Commission Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Marissa Bell Economic Prosperity Commission Water & Wastewater Commission Parks & Recreation Board Design Commission Planning Commission Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission City Council Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Amy Noel Chris Maxwell-Gaines Lane Becker Vacant Vacant Natalie Poindexter Vacant Rodrigo Leal Anna Scott Yure Suarez Christopher Campbell Heather Houser For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc Vacant Richard Brimer Craig Nazor Miriam Garcia Rosamaria Murillo Luis Osta Lugo Vacant Shelby Orme Ben Luckens Alberta Phillips Vacant Vacant 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the January 22nd, 2025 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. DISCUSSION 2. Austin Light Rail Phase 1 project update, timeline and the opportunity to provide feedback as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Public Review and Comment Period – Lisa Storer, Alvin Livingstone, Deron Lozano and Yannis Banks, Austin Transit Partnership 3. Austin Civilian Conservation Corps Update on staffing, current agreements, pathways, and its future funding opportunities. – Juan Espinoza, Economic Development Department 4. Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program Update – Braden Latham-Jones, Office of Climate Action and Resilience. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Recommendations and possible action on the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program, including supportive action and/or recommendations for additions to existing plan. 6. Recommendation and possible action in Support for …
