JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING - HYBRID MEETING FORMAT June 22nd at 6pm City Hall, Council Chambers 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Board may be participating by videoconference Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. To register: Please email Phoebe Romero (phoebe.romero@austintexas.gov). The information required is the speaker’s name, item number(s) they wish to speak on if applicable, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Haris Qureshi (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Diana Wheeler (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Christy Williams (Water & Wastewater Commission) Alexis Taylor (Economic Prosperity Commission) Richard DePalma - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Solveij Praxis (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS a) May 25th, 2022, regular meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee a) Rain to River Presentation – Nick Kincaid, Watershed Protection Department (Discussion and/or possible action) b) Zero Waste and Circular Economy Presentation – Ken Snipes, Austin Resource Recovery (Discussion and/or possible action) c) Austin Regional Food Plan – Edwin Marty, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or possible action) d) Fayette Power Plant Recommendation (Discussion and/or possible action) e) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Ongoing updates on Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation • Ongoing updates on community and climate resilience 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, …
N I T S U A F O Y T I C A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks and Communities Joint Sustainability Committee June 22, 2022 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 Watershed Protection Department 2 MISSION The Watershed Protection Department (WPD) protects lives, property, and the environment of our community by reducing the impact 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 3 What is the Strategic Plan? N I T S U A F O Y T I C GUIDING BLUEPRINT FOR DEPARTMENT – Sets goals and objectives – Establishes method to prioritize problems – Creates a process for evaluating solutions EVALUATION FRAMEWORK Provides framework for evaluating future programs, projects, and regulations and measuring success of current portfolio COMMUNICATION TOOL Helps explain WPD’s work and priorities to staff, City executives, policymakers, and Austin community 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 4 Why are we updating the plan? • Watershed Protection Master Plan was originally adopted by City Council in 2001 The previous planning effort did not prioritize gathering input from the full diversity of Austin’s residents • Revisions have been ad-hoc and focused on updates to technical information without public input The plan does not address major challenges like climate change, population growth, and racial inequities The plan does not sufficiently capture the knowledge and experience our staff have gained over the last 20 years The plan does not reflect the findings and recommendations of other City plans The plan does not set time-specific targets or objectives to demonstrate we are making measurable progress • • • • • 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 …
ARR Climate Equity Plan Activities Austin Resource Recovery Goals and Strategies • Goal 1 / Strategy 4: Conduct a food waste root cause analysis • Goal 2 / Strategy 4: Expand the City’s Circular Economy program • Goal 3 / Strategy 1: Promote waste reduction and reuse • Goal 3 / Strategy 2: Create Eco-hubs • Goal 3 / Strategy 5: Retool the bulk pick-up collection program Food & Product Consumption Aggressively pursue waste reduction, organics composting and recycling to achieve a new zero waste goal pending adoption of the new Austin Resource Recovery Zero Waste Plan. • Current study underway to provide update on community wide diversion rate and data to establish per capita disposal and capture rates. • Draft Plan update to be released for review in late summer 2022. Circular Economy Expansion • Circular Cities program education and buy in. • Look at the City of Austin’s internal operations including procurement, useful life and end of life of goods and services. Waste Reduction and Reuse • Work to develop new opportunities and programs • Promote existing programs • Fix it Clinics • Reuse Directory • MoveOutATX • Reverse Pitch • Circular Showcase Bulk Collection Program • Review and modify applicable policies/practices • On-call pilot has been completed • Facilitated better planning, increased efficiency Transportation Transportation - Electrification Goal 1 / Strategy 5: Electrify public sector fleet vehicles Transfer Station ARR Equity Tool Background • Began development early FY21 • Modeled after: • City of Seattle’s Racial Equity Tool • Circular Economy Team’s draft Equity Tool • Useful definitions: • Equity - Racial equity is the condition when race no longer predicts a person’s quality of life outcomes in our community. • Implicit bias – (a.k.a. unconscious or hidden bias) a negative association that people unknowingly hold expressed without conscious awareness. General Feedback • Feedback was provided by SID staff, ARR DMs, non- ARR City peers, and external subject matter experts • Positive feedback overall • Comments focused on: • ARR equity goals • Time needed to complete the tool • Providing a mechanism of accountability to the public • Language clarifications • Editorial recommendations Purpose of the Tool “This ARR Racial Equity Tool provides a process and questions to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of external ARR initiatives to identify and address impacts on racial equity. ” ARR Equity Goals To develop and invest in anti-racist …
A Food Plan for Austin Developing the City’s first-ever Food Plan What is a Food System? The Office of Sustainability defines the food systemas an interconnected networkthat includes everything that happens with food — where and how it is grown, distributed and sold, consumed, and ideally recovered. The food system is shaped by its stakeholders, practices, and the laws that regulate both. Post Consumption & Waste Diversion Processing & Distribution Production Food Justice Consumption & Access Markets & Retail Did you know? ● ● ● ● ● 14.7% food insecurity in Travis County 18 out of 47 zip codes in Travis County don’t have a full service grocery store 16.8 acres of farmland are lost every day in Travis County Less than 1% of food consumed in Travis County is locally produced 1.24 million pounds of food is wasted every day in Austin Disparities in food insecurity in U.S. Source: Feeding America, 2021 When disaster strikes ● Lack of supplies and limited organized means of distribution ● Road conditions can prevent people from getting what they need ● Support services closed ● Long lines and bare shelves ● Emergency supplies lack food that meets culture and dietary needs Disaster Food & Water Appendix ● Working with Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) and other departments ● Creating a plan to supplement the Emergency Operations Plan ● Will include learnings from Winter Storm Uri, COVID-19, boil water notices, and other possible scenarios Developing Austin’s first ever Food Plan Why do we need a Food Plan? ● The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic & Winter Storm Uri exposed and exacerbated deficiencies in our food system. ● A Food Plan will set clear Goals and Strategies to mitigate the impact of future crises, correct the system’s inequalities, and move toward a more equitable, sustainable & resilient food system that serves everyone. ● This will be Austin’s first ever Food Plan; when completed, it will provide a coordinating structure for all food related initiatives to work towards a shared vision and address key issues Resolution In June 2021, Austin City Council directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process and multilingual engagement strategy for the creation of the Austin Travis County Food System Plan, which shall convene experts and stakeholders to craft a 5-year plan. The Office Of Sustainability is the department in charge of overseeing the achievement of this goal. Source: Austin …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING - HYBRID MEETING FORMAT May 25th at 6pm City Hall, Council Chambers 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Board may be participating by videoconference Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. To register: Please email Zach Baumer (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov). The information required is the speaker’s name, item number(s) they wish to speak on if applicable, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Haris Qureshi (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Diana Wheeler (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Christy Williams (Water & Wastewater Commission) Alexis Taylor (Economic Prosperity Commission) Richard DePalma - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Solveij Praxis (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS a) March 30th, 2022, special called meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee a) Austin Bergstrom International Airport Presentation– Jennifer Williams, BJ Carpenter, Lyn Estabrook, and Kane Carpenter, ABIA (Discussion) b) Climate Ambassadors Update – Sydnee Landy, Office of Sustainability (Discussion) c) Signature Flight Support Presentation – Jeff Talbert, Signature Flight Support (Discussion) (Discussion) d) Fayette Coal Plant Presentation –Sunrise Movement (Discussion) e) Boards and Commissions Rules Refresher – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability f) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Ongoing updates on Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation • Ongoing updates on community and climate resilience 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 …
Airport Expansion Development Program Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting April 27, 2022 AUS Outreach AUS Overview AUS Master Plan Sustainability & Resiliency Overview Airport Expansion Development Program Overview Airport Fuel Facility Update 1 AUS Overview 2 AUS Service Area & Economic Impact 21+ Counties • The “Texas Triangle” contains 5 of the 20 largest cities in the United States • Home to 80% of all Texans • 6% of the U.S. population Source: Texas Aviation Economic Impact Study Technical Report 2018 (TxDOT) 3 AUS Campus and Facilities • 4,242 acres owned by the City • 2 wide spaced parallel runways simultaneous landings and takeoffs 18L-36R Length of 9,000 ft. • (CAT IIIb runway) • 18R-36L Length of 12,250 ft. • 34 Gate Passenger Terminal – 930,000+ s.f. • 1.6M S.F. Car Rental Facility • 18,250 Parking Spaces • Two FBOs: 200+ based aircraft • 25 acre cargo apron • Diverse base of carriers (11) – no major carrier and top two carriers account for 53% of traffic. • Hilton Hotel – 262 rooms • Hyatt Hotel – 139 rooms • 40 acre Texas national guard 4 AUS Strategic Aim Our Vision: Gateway to the world for all — the AUS way every day. Our Mission: To provide safe journeys to the world, economic opportunity to our community, and be the employer of choice. Our AUS Promise: We commit to put people first and provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all AUS guests, employees, and partners. City of Austin Strategic Direction 2023 (SD23) Getting us where we want to go, when we want to get there, safely and cost effectively. 5 PROGRAM PURPOSE: To meet demand to fly AUS. Welcoming gateway to the world for all • Reliable air service for Central Texas and global travelers • Reflect local food, music, art, technology, and the “Austin vibe Economic Opportunity and Community Benefit Economic vitality in our local community and communities of color with investment, jobs, and inclusive business opportunities Sustainable for years to come Safe, convenient travel experience Efficient design to provide “easy in-easy out” journey Increase connectivity for multi-modal options to and from airport • Minimize inconveniences during construction with enhanced customer care and wayfinding • • • • Historic Activity and Forecast Ensemble Historic Activity 8.3% Growth Return to Mean 5.5% 4.5% Growth Master Plan High: 4.5% Master Plan Base: 3.7% 29 MAP in 2030 24 MAP in …
2022 Climate Ambassador Program Sydnee Landry Overview ● Program Summary ● Program Overview ● Program Components ● Recruitment Strategy ● Recruitment Timeline Program summary: Supporting local climate initiatives through small-scale projects with engaged community members Engagement Project Design Workshops Meetings Program Overview Advance a local climate initiative in line with the strategies of the Climate Equity Plan Meet with stakeholders relevant to their projects & goals Create plans for the direction of their engagement and Community Action Project Develop group understanding of equity, civic engagement, and how to incorporate those practices into their work and projects Discuss their work, share ideas, collaborate, learn from their peers Estimated 60 hour time commitment over 6 months (August 2022 - January 2023) Monthly Meetings Estimated time commitment: 10 hours ● Opportunity to share their experiences as organizers, discuss their work, and learn from one another ● Occasional guest speakers to provide insight on specific topics of interest ● About 1.5 - 2 hours per meeting Intros, OOS staff, guest ambassador MONTH 1 MONTH 2 Project ideas & project management MONTH 3 Project management Guest speaker on grants MONTH 4 MONTH 5 Guest speaker on organizing MONTH 6 Check in, wrap up Example Meeting Topics Workshops Estimated time commitment: 6 hours Equity Workshop Facilitated by Susana Almanza ● TOPIC: Providing context for environmental racism in Austin Civic Engagement Workshop Facilitated by Austin Common ● TOPIC: Explaining different departments, entities, organizations, and processes that the ambassadors are likely to encounter Project Design Estimated time commitment: 6 hours ● With guidance, the ambassadors will complete project management assignments to track their progress throughout the program ● While completing these assignments, the ambassadors will have an opportunity to: ○ ○ ○ Reflect on the workshops Pinpoint the CEP strategy they want to focus on Identify specific stakeholders to approach in the engagement portion of the program ○ Outline their projects Example Project Management Template Engagement Estimated time commitment: 12 hours ● ● The ambassadors will network and do engagement with stakeholders that are relevant to the goals of their projects Flexibility in the types of engagement they do, so long as they meet the hours requirement ● Any of the following could count towards hours: ○ Attending committee, commission, or advisory group meetings ○ Meeting with community members ○ Meeting with other organizations and/or local businesses Prepping engagement materials Doing community outreach at an event ○ ○ …
WHO WE ARE SUNRISE MOVEMENT AUSTIN Jordyn What do we do? ● Fight for climate justice and a Green New Deal on a local and state level ● Climate strikes & direct actions (sit-ins, walk-outs, protests, teach-ins, and more!) ● Support other movements for social justice ● Endorse & throw down for candidates ● And more! Jordyn WHAT IS CLIMATE JUSTICE? ● Climate change affects vulnerable populations disproportionately ○ Increase volume of power outages in historically low-income/BIPOC neighborhoods during Winter Storm Uri Hanna on the Rio Grande Valley ○ Higher rates of asthma in Black and Brown communities, the effect of Hurricane ● This means that we cannot solve climate change without addressing all systems of oppression ○ Climate justice = racial justice, economic justice, an end to misogyny and the oppression of marginalized people ● “Climate justice insists on a shi(cid:550) from a discourse on greenhouse gases and melting ice caps into a civil rights movement with the people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts at its heart.” -Mary Robinson WHAT IS THE FAYETTE POWER PROJECT? Cecily ● ● ● ● ● The Fayette Power Project is a coal-fired power plant in La Grange, TX. Began operating in 1979 and is co-owned by Austin Energy and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The plant is responsible for 80% of Austin Energyʼs emissions and 28% of Austinʼs total emissions. In March 2020, Austin Energy promised that it would cease operating their portion of the plant by the end of 2022 as part of their “Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan to 2030”. HOWEVER in November 2021, Austin Energy went back on that promise, citing inability to reach an agreement with the LCRA on how to cease operations as the reason. ● We are demanding that Austin City Counsel take action to hold Austin Energy accountable and transition the power plant. Cecily FPP CONTAMINATION & POLLUTION Throughout itʼs 4 decade tenure, the Fayette Power Project has been involved in numerous scandals surrounding its pollution and contamination. ● WATER CONTAMINATION A 2019 study found unsafe levels of contaminants in groundwater near all of Texasʼs 16 coal plants including the Fayette Power Plant ○ Water under the Fayette Power Plant was found to contain “unsafe levels of arsenic, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and sulfate.” ● VEGETATION DAMAGE About ten years ago a wave of dying vegetation in Hill Country near Austin …
Austin, TX Joint Sustainability Commission May 25th, 2022 20,000 ft What is SAF? SAF is… • A blend of up to 50% petroleum-based Jet A and Jet A produced from a sustainable feedstock • Feedstock examples are fats and greases, tallows, woody bio-mass, Municipal waste • Most common blend is 65%-70% Petroleum based Jet A, 30%-35% Sustainable Jet A Legacy parcel Main Leasehold 2 20,000 ft What is SAF? SAF is… • A product that meets ASTM 1655 standards and is considered able to be dropped into any Jet supply with no changes in QC or negative effects on aircraft performance or systems • has an overall reduced lifecycle Carbon Intensity (CI) over petroleum-based jet fuel: Legacy parcel • Lifecycle is a quantification of the CO2 emissions from beginning of production process to end including all transportation. Main Leasehold 3 CO2 Impact across industries 4 How is SAF Made? 3 Global Targets 3 How are we going to hit the target 3 Physical Supply – Overall Plan/Status • Current bases pumping SAF: • Available for retail sales: SFO, LTN, BFI, OAK, AUS, HOU,SJC, VNY, LGB,EGE, EDI,GLA • Pumping for wholesale customer: BFM • Production, Carrier/driver shortage impacting SAF availability • As of the end of 2021, Signature has pumped more 6.5M gallons of blended SAF • Book and Claim locations: available at select locations & at Corporate Account level SIGNATURE RENEW OFFERS A SOLUTION FOR OPERATORS SUSTAINABLE FLIGHT OPERATIONS 1 2 Sustainable Aviation Fuels Purchase low-carbon Jet A fuel at selected Signature FBO locations Book & Claim Purchase SAF credits at any Signature FBO, generate reduced carbon globally 2 BOOK & CLAIM OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PHYSICAL FUEL Purchase Book & Claim sustainable aviation fuel credits and confirm your carbon reductions Purchase SAF credits as add-on per flight Buy traditional Jet A at many SFS locations Purchase Renew Book & Claim credits and receive an invoice confirming a 25% reduction in carbon emissions Enroll in a SAF credit subscription Reduce your total emissions with a gallon or percentage-based subscription to Renew Book & Claim Renew credits help prevent 25% OF AIRCRAFT EMISSIONS before they occur ADDITONAL EFFORTS AT SIGNATURE FBOs Sustainable Facilities S U S T A I N A B L E D E S I G N A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N Vehicle Fleet Upgrades N E W …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING May 25, 2022 MEETING MINUTES The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting on May 25, 2022 via videoconferencing and at City Hall, Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas Vice Chair Diana Wheeler called the Board Meeting to order at 6:24 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Diana Wheeler Vice Chair, Richard DePalma, David Carroll, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Melissa Rothrock, Christy Williams, Haris Qureshi, Frances Deviney, Fisayo Fadelu, Randy Chapman (EUC Alternate for Karen Hadden) Board Members Absent: Alexis Taylor, Karen Hadden, Alberta Phillips City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) March 30th, 2022, meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Carroll), second (Commissioner DePalma). Record of the vote: 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Austin Bergstrom International Airport Presentation– Jennifer Williams, BJ Carpenter, Lyn Estabrook, and Kane Carpenter, ABIA (Discussion) • Crosswalk between airport operations and the Austin Climate Equity Plan • Overview of airport expansion and ongoing schedule and work on infrastructure developments • Overview on air emissions from expansion; provided 2027 modeling scenario with default and additional conditions to mitigate NOx and VOC emissions • Overview of jet fuel tank farm permitting and operations; will do ongoing monitoring • Commissioners discussed ongoing concerns with tank farm, equity, and increased airport emissions b) Climate Ambassadors Update – Sydnee Landry, Office of Sustainability (Discussion) • Program overview of 2022 Community Climate Ambassadors, including goals, schedule, training, resources, and recruitment • Commissioners discussed timeline, size of ambassadors, opportunities for organizations and individuals to partner with, and how ambassadors may help with implementation c) Signature Flight Support Presentation – Jeff Talbert, Signature Flight Support (Discussion) • Provided overview of sustainable airline fuel, made from sustainable feedstock that has a lower carbon intensity over petroleum-based jet fuel • Currently operates out of San Francisco airport, but has a Book and Claim system that allows for carbon attributes to be used for airlines outside of that airport • Commissioners had questions regarding cost and agricultural emissions impact d) Fayette Coal Plant Presentation – Sunrise Movement (Discussion) • Representatives Jordyn Middlebrooks and Zachary Whiteman provided an overview of the …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING - HYBRID MEETING FORMAT April 27th at 6pm City Hall, Council Chambers 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Board may be participating by videoconference Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. To register: Please email Zach Baumer (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov). The information required is the speaker’s name, item number(s) they wish to speak on if applicable, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Audrey Barrett (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Diana Wheeler (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Christy Williams (Water & Wastewater Commission) Alexis Taylor (Economic Prosperity Commission) Richard DePalma - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Solveij Praxis (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS a) March 30th, 2022, special called meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee a) Austin Bergstrom International Airport Presentation– Jennifer Williams, BJ Carpenter, Lyn Estabrook, and Kane Carpenter, ABIA (Discussion and/or possible action) b) Signature Flight Support Presentation – Jeff Talbert, Signature Flight Support (Discussion and/or possible action) c) Fayette Coal Plant Presentation – Zachary Whiteman, Sunrise Movement (Discussion and/or possible action) d) Boards and Commissions Rules Refresher – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or possible action) e) Working Group Updates – (Discussion and/or possible action) f) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Ongoing updates on Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation • Ongoing updates on community and climate resilience ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will …
SPECIAL CALLED JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT March 30th at 6pm City Hall, Council Chambers 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Audrey Barrett (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Diana Wheeler (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) Karen Magid (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Christy Williams (Water & Wastewater Commission) Alexis Taylor (Economic Prosperity Commission) Richard DePalma - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Solveij Praxis (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. 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. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please email Zach Baumer (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov). 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) February 23, 2022 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Chair Election – (Discussion and/or possible action) b) Airport fuel tank expansion presentation (Discussion and/or possible action) c) Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Update, Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability – (Discussion and/or possible action) d) JSC FY22-23 Budget Recommendations– (Discussion and/or possible action) e) Departmental presentation schedule and committee questions– (Discussion and/or possible action) f) Working Group Updates – (Discussion and/or possible action) g) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Ongoing updates on Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation • Ongoing updates on community and climate resilience 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 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Zach Baumer at the Office of Sustainability at 415-694-3111, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20220330-2D – FY 2022-2023 Budget Recommendations The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the Austin City Council prioritize improving sustainability and reducing GHG emissions when allocating federal infrastructure funds. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the Austin City Council allocate funds for: • Outreach to the Austin business community to share information and provide tools to improve sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals and strategies in the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and • Antiracism and equity training for those involved in implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and Implementing recommendations for an alternate location for ABIA fuel tank farm; and • • Robust community engagement to implement the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and • Each department to track and report metrics on implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and • A Community Solar subsidy, funded by the Energy Efficiency Services fee; and • Research and development of a system as part of Austin Energy Green Building program to reduce the use of toxic building materials. Date of Approval: _____March 30, 2022____________ Motion to approve (Commissioner Wheeler), second (Commissioner Praxis). Record of the vote: 7 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Attest: Zach Baumer, Staff Liaison
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20220330-2B – Airport Jet Fuel Tank Farm THE AUSTIN JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE recommends that The City Manager be directed by Austin City Council to instruct the Department of Aviation to execute and oversee the following: • Strike authorization from the 2020 ABIA Fuel Farm EA to relocate the fuel facility to the west side of the Airport and until further authorization, limit all expansion of fuel storage to the current footprint only; Identify at least three possible alternative locations to where the fuel facility could be relocated in phase two of the implementation, not including the west side location identified as the Proposed Action in the 2020 ABIA Fuel Farm EA; • • Prepare a preliminary draft Environmental Assessment considering these possible alternative • fuel facility locations for purposes of receiving public input; Include in the EA a robust environmental justice analysis with the contribution from the City of Austin’s Equity Office and local Environmental Justice experts; • Provide for robust City of Austin-led public participation, including meaningful engagement with the affected communities, on the preliminary draft EA, and • Bring back to City Council for approval, the Proposed Action alternative, prior to publishing the EA for notice and comment pursuant to NEPA. Date of Approval: _____March 30, 2022____________ Motion to approve (Commissioner Hadden), second (Commissioner Phillips). Record of the vote: 7 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Attest: Zach Baumer, Staff Liaison
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 RESOLUTION NO. WHEREAS, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970, and requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions; WHEREAS, NEPA guarantees that the relevant information concerning environmental impacts will be made available to the larger audience, including the general public, that may also play a role in both the decision-making process and the implementation of that decision; WHEREAS, under NEPA, all federal agencies are to prepare detailed statements assessing the environmental impact of and alternatives to major federal actions significantly affecting the environment, and these statements are commonly referred to as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA), with the possibility of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI); WHEREAS, an EA for the “Fuel Farm Improvements” at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) was published in March 2020, and a FONSI was signed on April 6, 2020; WHEREAS, the ABIA Fuel Farm EA was not posted for public notice and comment, nor did the preparers of the Fuel Farm EA seek out or receive any public comments before preparing the Fuel Farm EA, nor did they make available to the public a draft of the EA before finalizing and publishing; WHEREAS, the ABIA Fuel Farm EA considered only the No Action alternative and the Proposed Action alternative; Page 1 of 6 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 WHEREAS, the ABIA Fuel Farm EA’s Proposed Action is in two phases: (1) an expansion within the footprint of the existing fuel farm involving an additional interim fuel delivery truck offload rack and a new ground service equipment fuel service station, consisting of two, separate 10,000-gallon above ground tanks, one for diesel and one for gasoline, and (2) development of the fuel farm in on the west side of the existing runway, consisting of two 1.5-million- gallon fuel storage tanks, new offload racks, and supporting infrastructure and equipment; WHEREAS, the ABIA Fuel Tank EA’s Proposed Action specifically states that “[t]he existing fuel tanks will remain in operation until airfield improvements require them to be removed”; WHEREAS, on October 30, 2018, during a regular Council work …
Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Update March 30, 2022 1 Topics ● JSC Working Group / Ongoing Community Input ● Departmental Schedule & Questions 2 JSC Oversight implementation ● JSC will continue to function as a public v enue for B&C rev iew of departmental actions / ● JSC will continue to hav e the Implementation Working Group ● Working to increase the usefulness, functionality, and accountability driv en by the JSC – see departmental schedule & pre-defined questions ● Still need to define the Purpose / Scope of a new community input group 3 Implementation "Community Group" ● Stand-alone from the B&C System ● Similar in ways to the steering committee; made up of JSC members, citizens, and City Staff ● Allows for more flexibility and to pay community members for their time ● Must have a clearly defined purpose, not overlapping with other groups ● Hiring a consultant to facilitate 2 meetings and get the group to define audience, scope, purpose, strategy, etc. 4 Pending Questions ● Determining the role of this group ● Joint definitions of success between Staff and Community ● Who is the community? Who is the audience? What is the mechanism for action? ● Dev eloping strategies to engage different sectors of the community based on a Stakeholder Power Mapping Analysis ● Centering and adv ancing equity. This will be done through the Climate Ambassadors. ● Lev eraging support from large businesses and organizations. What is the best ● Ensuring the City implements the plan to its fullest extent is important, but how do we influence community action by businesses, organizations and indiv iduals beyond the Other means? mechanism for this? city’s purview? 6 Stakeholder Power Mapping 5 Departments, Schedule, and Questions ● We only have time for 2 briefings max per meeting ● 30 questions is not feasible– We recommend 5 as guidance / direction ● The JSC can only really ask for a presentation, not answers in writing, there's a line between gathering information to inform recommendations and creating work 7 Draft Schedule for Briefings Month Department April 2022 Economic Development / Austin Airport May 2022 Austin Resource Recovery / Innovation Office June 2022 Purchasing Office / Capital Contracting Office July 2022 Housing and Planning / Austin Public Health August 2022 Austin Water / Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Program Office September 2022 Equity Office / Small and Minority Business Resources October 2022 November …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20220322-008 Resolution on City of Austin 2022-2023 Budget Recommendations Whereas in a memo dated February 2nd, Kerri Lang, City of Austin Budget Officer, requested feedback on the City’s FY 2022-23 budget from Boards and Commissions by March 31st, 2022. Whereas the Resource Management Commission would like to provide feedback and recommendations regarding certain items on the FY 2022-23 budget. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission has the following comments and recommendations regarding the City of Austin FY 2022-23 Budget: 1. Customer Energy Solutions (Green Building Program): Austin Energy staff are requesting “$50,000 to hire a firm to look at an existing database of hazardous materials, add to it, and develop a calculator to direct decision making for building designers based upon healthy material typology. The tool will provide the information necessary to allow a project team to identify which materials should be prioritized to maximize the long-term health benefits to building occupants.” The RMC supports this budget request, as both the RMC and Austin Energy staff are interested in exploring ways to incentivize the use of healthy materials and reduce the use of hazardous materials in building construction. The RMC recommends that the consultant work with a community advisory group assembled by the RMC and Austin Energy staff and that this process not preclude a more near-term solution to address this issue. 2. Customer Energy Solutions (Community Solar): The Resource Management Commission recommends that a Community Solar subsidy sufficient to allow for deployment of additional Community Solar installations on the local distribution grid in line with the criteria previously adopted by the RMC, funded by the Energy Efficiency Services (EES) Fee be included in Austin Energy’s FY 2023 Customer Energy Solutions budget. This subsidy will improve transparency and will enable equitable deployment of local rooftop solar. All customers pay the EES fee, which supports both energy efficiency and solar programs at Austin Energy, including residential solar rebates for those who install solar on their homes. Using some of those funds to support the Community Solar program will give renters, multifamily dwellers, lower-income and middle- income residents, those with poor credit, and those with rooftops unsuitable for solar greater ability to participate in a program that can utilize available roof space for solar. In addition to equity benefits, this reduces overall environmental impact by reducing land use for energy production …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MEETING MINUTES March 30, 2022 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting on March 30, 2022 via videoconferencing and at City Hall, Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:14 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Diana Wheeler Vice Chair, Richard DePalma, Karen Hadden, David Carroll, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Alberta Phillips, Board Members Absent or Unconfirmed: Alexis Taylor, Karen Magid, Audrey Barrett, Melissa Rothrock, Fisayo Fadelu, Christy Williams City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • Dale Bula energy and transportation. • Brandi Clark Burton o Discussed the opportunity with the new Infrastructure Bill to transition to clean o Discussed the need to allocate resources to reach out to small and medium businesses in Austin regarding climate action. of Commerce. o Discussed the Good Traveler Program and the opportunity to have a regional • Scott Johnson offset program. • Amanda Carillo • Alicia Trejo o Resident of McCall Lane; opposes the proposed jet fuel tank farm, which would be 430 feet from her home. Is concerned with health problems and lack of notice. o Resident living near the proposed jet fuel tank farm; opposes the proposal. Is very concerned about her family and children, and health effects of polluted air. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) February 23, 2022 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Hadden), second (Commissioner Praxis). Record of the vote: 7 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Chair Election – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner DePalma nominates Commissioner White, second by Commissioner Hadden. Record of the vote: 7 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. b) Airport fuel tank expansion presentation (Discussion and/or possible action) • Overview on issue from Daniel Llanes, organizer with PODER and River Bluff Association chair • Noted parallels between Tank Farm located in the Govalle neighborhood and is concerned about the lack of notice; believes it’s a moral issue. • Organizers worked with Council Member Fuentes to draft a resolution to relocate the jet fuel tank farm. Commissioner Hadden put together a draft resolution based off Council Member Fuentes’ resolution. • Commissioner Hadden read the …
