Special Meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee April 22, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee to be held April 22, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (April 21, 2020 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the April 22, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at Zach Baumer at 415-694-3111 and zach.baumer@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (April 21, 2020). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 30 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to zach.baumer@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE APRIL 22, 2020 3PM-4:30PM VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Katie Coyne, Vice-Chair (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Kelly Davis (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) AGENDA Karen Magid (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Nhat Ho (Water & Wastewater Commission) Holt Lackey (Economic Prosperity Commission) Vacant - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Rob Schneider (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) February 26, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee a) Budget Discussion and Recommendations (Discussion and/or possible action) b) Overview of Austin Community GHG Goals and Trend Dashboard (Discussion and/or 2. NEW BUSINESS possible action) action) c) Charitable Feeding Organization Permit Recommendation (Discussion and/or possible d) Climate Resilience Update (Discussion and/or possible action) …
Climate Resilient Austin Response to Resolution 20190509-019 1 Climate Resilience Activities Timeline Austin-specific climate projections by Dr. Katherine Hayhoe Climate Resilience Action Plan for City Assets and Operations. Toward a Climate-Resilient Austin The Integrated Water Resource Plan response to Council Resolution review of city codes for wildfire (Water Forward) Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire 2014 2016 2018 Response to Resolution 20190509-019 2020 2013 2015 CAMPO Extreme Weather vulnerability assessment of regional transportation Resolution 20131121-060 passed by Council, directs staff to identify climate change impacts Austin Community Climate Plan adopted by Council Global Covenant of Mayors signed by Mayor Adler City Council Policy Workshop on Resiliency 2017 Rockefeller Foundation holds Climate Adaptation Workshop Climate Resilience Action Plan for City assets and operations 2019 Atlas 14 Update Council + Resilience Resolution 20190808-078 2 Council Response Timeline August 26, 2019 Phase 1 Response March 9, 2020 Phase 2 Response M J J A S O N D J F M 2019 May 9, 2019 Climate Resilience Resolution 20190509-019 2020 3 Climate Resilience Resolution 20190509-019 Resilience Planning Directives • “perform a literature review of climate resilience plans of peer cities…” • “explore available, potential partnerships (such as the 100 Resilient Cities model)…” • “recommendations for creating a comprehensive, community-wide climate resilience plan that is fair, just, and equitable…” Chief Resilience Officer sources, to … • Recommendations should include funding options, such as grants or other revenue 1) fund a position for a Chief Resilience Officer and staff necessary to produce a resilience plan; or 2) hire a consultant to draft or assist city staff with drafting a comprehensive resilience plan; or 3) other recommendations for achieving this objective. 4 Case Studies Criteria for selecting cities: 1. Population between 600,000 and 1.5 million 2. At least one 100RC city (Boston, Dallas, DC) and one non-100RC city (San Antonio and Indianapolis) 3. At least one city that has attempted a combo mitigation/adaptation plan (Indianapolis) 4. At least two exemplary plans (Boston, Washington DC. According to USDN CRO) 5. At least two from Texas (Dallas and San Antonio) 6. At least three not directly impacted by sea-level rise (Dallas, Indianapolis and San Antonio) Selected Cities: 1. Boston 2. Dallas 3. Denver 4. Indianapolis 5. San Antonio 6. Washington D.C. 5 Case Studies Separate documents for mitigation and adaptation Stand alone plan led by Department of Environmental Health & consultant Stand alone plan led by 100RC consultant Single …
Joint Sust ainabilit y Com m it t e e Clim a t e P la n Re vis ion - Goa l Upda t e April 22, 20 20 1 How do we choose a goal? • What’s necessary to meet 1.5C • Take full responsibility in the global context • We have way more resources than others • We’ve already emitted way more than other • We’re already reducing more than others • Take responsibility for our historical emissions once beyond zero • What’s realistic in terms of adoption rates / change potential Remember this isn’t all just additional cost. Avoiding catastrophic climate change has a positive NPV Co-benefits of clear air, safety, less pollution, better ecosystems are all valuable 2 Benchmarking Net Zero Goals 2050 - Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, NYC, LA 2045 - Canberra 2040 - Reykjavik, Stockholm 2035 - Helsinki 2030 - Bristol, New Castle, Glasgow, Liverpool 2025 - Copenhagen 2021 - Adelaide 3 UN 2019 Gap Report • At a global scale emissions reductions scenarios are clear • It’s difficult for nations to divide emissions reductions equitably, let alone cities 4 C40 Deadline 2020 Report Austin is a ‘Steep Decline’ city. • • • GDP per capita is over $15,000 and emissions above the average for C40 ‘Emissions need to be immediately and rapidly reduced and the city is sufficiently developed to do so’ 5 Target Comparison ● Deadline 20/20’s Steep Decline curve is slightly outdated (2016) ● The UN Gap Report target is more recent than Deadline 20/20, but it represents a global average ● Steering 20/20 captures the urgency of the UN Gap report and the city specific recommendation of Deadline 20/20 as well as: ○ A Net Zero by 2040 goal ○ A more aggressive reduction schedule to show Austin is a global leader ○ Negative emissions targets beyond 2040 to account for historic emissions 6 Proposal • Move from Net Zero by 2050 to Net Zero by 2040 • Re-starting in 2020 • Follow the C40 Steep Decline Trajectory • Aiming for Climate Justice by 2050 – Taking responsibility for historical emissions – Deeply negative emissions 7 20 5 0 v. 20 4 0 St e e p 8 This is Possible, but very aggressive 9 What could it take to meet this goal trajectory in 2030? ■ Austin Energy meets REACH carbon reduction targets and renewable energy targets ■ …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20200422-2A.1 – Budget Recommendation – Funding Climate Justice The Joint Sustainability Committee urges the Austin City Council to make climate change mitigation and community resilience a top priority in the FY 2020/2021 budget and as the city seeks stimulus or recovery funding. The COVID-19 emergency has once again highlighted inequities and vulnerabilities in the Austin community and throughout the United States. In many cities, Black people represent a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. This may prove to be true for Austin. Past local disasters have had a disproportionate negative impact on Austin’s communities of color. Climate change will continue to exacerbate these inequities. It is critical to simultaneously respond to the COVID-19 emergency and the ongoing climate crisis, which will likely be the source of our next acute emergency situation. Racial equity is the condition when race no longer predicts a person’s quality of life outcomes in our community. The City of Austin Community Climate Plan revision process recognizes that racial inequity is wrong and solving the problem of climate change is impossible without racial equity. In Austin, this means our Climate Plan will only succeed if we center racial equity in the goals, strategies, and plans developed through the Revision Process. City of Austin infrastructure, policies, and investment have historically and systemically neglected and harmed low-income communities and communities of color. We acknowledge these injustices and the need to right these wrongs by changing city institutions, policies and programs and creating a culture of equity. To align with the Austin Strategic Direction 2023 Health and Environment and Economic Opportunity and Affordability outcomes, the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the Austin City Council prioritize the following principles in all aspects of the budget and as the city seeks stimulus and recovery funds from the federal government and other sources: 1. Reducing Emissions: The science is clear that rapid emissions reductions are needed now to avoid climate change impacts that we won’t be able to adapt to. While Austin has been a climate leader in many respects, we must redouble our efforts to reduce emissions more quickly from all sectors, including transportation, natural gas use in buildings, refrigerants, local industry and electricity. 2. Targeting Affordability Efforts Equitably: At this time when the city budget will be strained, it is especially important to target affordability measures to those who need them the most. While …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20200422-2A.2 – Budget Recommendation – Funding Equitable Green Jobs The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends funding: Program 1. Allocate $250,000 in the FY 2021 budget to continue and expand the Equitable Green Jobs program. This investment will allow the city to capitalize on lessons learned from the pilot programs being run by EcoRise, Central South Carpenters Regional Council, American Youthworks, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 520, Solar Austin and Huston-Tillotson University to increase access to green job training opportunities and develop a strong, locally-based pipeline to living wage jobs that support a just transition to a green economy. A permanent staff person should be established in the Equity Office to oversee and engage with this work. Record of the vote: Motion to approve by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Hadden. Motion passes 7 approve, 0 opposed, 2 abstained, 2 recused. Date of approval: April 22, 2020 Attest: __________________________________ Zach Baumer, Liaison Zach Baumer
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20200422-2C – Charitable Feeding Organization Permit The following Austin‐Travis County Food Policy Board recommendation as worded was approved by the Joint Sustainability Committee on April 22, 2020. WHEREAS, the number of food insecure people in Travis County (17.3%) is higher than the national average (12.5%), making it critical to provide this population with constant and reliable access to food; and WHEREAS, the current city policy requires charitable feeding programs to acquire and maintain a Food Enterprise permit, though the majority of these programs are run by volunteers, who have limited time and financial resources as well as limited knowledge of the permitting requirements or the skills to successfully complete the process; and WHEREAS, many charitable feeding programs are offered in borrowed spaces located inside of buildings where they have no legal authority to modify the physical space; and WHEREAS, the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board is tasked with advising the Austin City Council and Travis County Commissioners' Court on the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably-grown food at reasonable prices for all residents, particularly those in need, by coordinating the relevant activities of city government NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board requests the Austin City Council to create a task force comprised of Austin Public Health, the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board, and other relevant stakeholders to amend the Food Enterprise permitting process for charitable feeding organizations in order to reduce the barriers of providing access to healthy foods for our community’s vulnerable and food insecure populations. Record of the vote: Motion to approve by Commissioner White, second by Commissioner Schneider. Motion passes 11 approve, 0 opposed. Date of approval: April 22, 2020 Attest: __________________________________ Zach Baumer, Liaison Zach Baumer
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20200422-2D – Climate Resilience Update Seconded by: Nhat Ho Motion by: Katie Coyne Approve with conditions Disapprove Postponement Date: 04/22/20 Agenda Item: 2D Subject: Climate Resilience Update Motion: X Approve RATIONALE: WHEREAS, the Joint Sustainability Committee recognizes that the future resilience of our City is a fundamental area of focus for this body; WHEREAS, climate and community resilience is generally defined as the ability to effectively manage and rebound from acute shocks and long-term stressors related not only to climate change and weather extremes, but to our ability to survive, adapt, and thrive in the face of chronic stresses such as racial inequities and social and economic disparities; WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed Resolution No. 20190509-019 May 9th, 2019 directing City Manager to explore the best path forward for creating a comprehensive, community-wide climate resilience plan that is fair, just, and equitable; and, asked for recommendations for funding options for the hiring of a Chief Resilience Officer and a consultant to lead Resilience Planning efforts; WHEREAS, City staff delivered an interim memo on August 22, 2019 and an updated memo on March 9, 2020 outlining no clear path forward for a City-wide resilience plan or the hiring of a Chief Resilience Officer; WHEREAS, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents a new, but not unique and certainly not final, opportunity to more fully understand the concept of Austin as a “resilient community” in the larger context of a global event disrupting all manner of everyday activities, and straining a range of services and supplies on a local, state, national, and international level; WHEREAS, in this context, building a resilient Austin requires adopting strategies to achieve “community resilience” in the face of a myriad of acute disasters including pandemics and catastrophic events especially in communities experiencing chronic racial inequities and social disparities which make withstanding acute shocks and stressors more difficult; WHEREAS, work towards a resilient Austin applies to all categories of the adopted Austin Strategic Direction 2023, including Safety, Health and Environment, Economic Opportunity and Affordability, Mobility, Government That Works For All, and Culture and Lifelong Learning; WHEREAS, many City departments and community leaders are actively working on projects and programs that positively impact resilience outcomes but there is not a comprehensive vision for that work city-wide or regionally; WHEREAS, Austin needs a comprehensive resilience plan that builds on the adopted …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING MEETING MINUTES April 22, 2020 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a special meeting on April 22, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 3:16 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Katie Coyne Vice-Chair, Nhat Ho, David Carroll, Melissa Rothrock, Rob Schneider, Karen Magid, Alberta Phillips, Karen Hadden, Holt Lackey, Kelly Davis Board Members Absent: Fisayo Fadelu City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) February 26, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Schneider), second (Commissioner Phillips), 9 approved, 0 opposed, 1 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Budget Discussion and Recommendations (Discussion and/or possible action) • The Budget Recommendation for Funding Climate Justice was approved with the following friendly amendments on motion by (Commissioner White), seconded by (Commissioner Phillips) on a 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained vote. A friendly amendment from Commissioner Ho included noting alignment with Austin Strategic Direction 2023 Health and Environment and Economic Opportunity and Affordability outcomes. A friendly amendment from Commissioner Magid and Commissioner Phillips included removing reference to Equitable Green Jobs Program to be voted on separately. • The Budget Recommendation for Funding Equitable Green Jobs Program was approved on motion by (Commissioner Phillips), seconded by (Commissioner Hadden) on a 7 approved, 0 opposed, 2 abstained, 2 recused vote. For the purposes of this vote, Commissioner Ho chaired the meeting on motion by (Commissioner Schneider), seconded by (Commissioner Hadden) on a 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained vote. Commissioner White and Commissioner Magid recused themselves from this item due to a potential conflict of interest. b) Overview of Austin Community GHG Goals and Trend Dashboard (Discussion and/or possible action) • Joep Meijer presented climate plan goals on behalf of the Steering Committee • Steering Committee reviewed IPCC 1.5°C Special Report, UN Emissions Gap Report, C40 Deadline 2020 Report and other city policies to determine revised goal o Revised goal captures the urgency and city-specific recommendations of reports and includes a: Net Zero by 2040 goal More aggressive reduction schedule Negative emissions beyond 2040 c) Charitable Feeding Organization Permit Recommendation (Discussion and/or possible action) • The Recommendation for Charitable …
