Aust in Climat e Equit y Plan - St at us Updat e - January 28, 2020 Recent Act ivit ies ● Took in 53 pages of detailed comments ● Created a November internal draft ● More Revisions ● Finalizing a new draft final document in February ● Will transmit a summary of comments and the Draft Final Plan to Council in March ● Will be drafting a Request for Council Action to adopt the Plan Upcoming Schedule February 23 – Planning and Housing Council Committee March 11 – Mobility Council Committee March 23 – City Council Work Session March 25 – City Council Meeting Implement at ion – Long View (1) Account abilit y: ● Ongoing City Council feedback, attention, and engagement ● Continued activity and energy to center equity in implementation ● City Departments Accountable to the City Manager ● City Council Accountability to the Community Sust ained Communit y Engagement : ● Community engagement and inclusive participation ● Boards and Commissions engaged, supportive, and listened to ● Ongoing support and engagement from the Equity office ● Support and action from residents and individuals ● Leadership and participation by businesses Funding: ● Non-city funding and spending on implementation ● City Budget allocations for spending on implementation Implement at ion – Long View (2) ● Create a new Council Committee on Environmental Justice to provide leadership on these topics and to oversee implementation of and future updates to the Austin Climate Equity Plan ● Add the topic of environmental justice to an existing council committee ● Adopt an ordinance to update the bylaws for the Joint Sustainability Committee to add five additional members to the committee from the Austin community, appointed by City Council. ● Create a day-long convening of all the steering committee, advisory group members, and climate ambassadors and community for a celebration of plan adoption, and kickoff of implementation. Sponsored by Ofc Sustainability and Equity Office. Repeat this convening annually to report on progress and keep everyone engaged. ● An existing non-profit or coalition of non-profit partners with the City to raise money for implementation and / or keep up the pressure on City Council to implement the plan Implement at ion – Now ● Focus on the Strategies and Policy Changes that are already underway or connected with ongoing efforts ● Talk with Departments about what is proposed to be funded in the FY21-22 Budget …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING January 28, 2021 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a special meeting on January 28, 2021 via videoconferencing. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 9:07 am. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Katie Coyne Vice-Chair, Melissa Rothrock, Karen Magid, Alberta Phillips, Nhat Ho, Rob Schneider, Kelly Davis, Holt Lackey, Karen Hadden Board Members Absent: Fisayo Fadelu, David Carroll 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. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) November 19, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Hadden), second (Commissioner Coyne),10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Approval of 2021 JSC Meeting Schedule (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioners voted to approve the schedule as proposed. • Motion to approve (Commissioner Ho) second (Commissioner Coyne) with no changes. 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. meeting. b) Resolution for consideration in support of COA State Legislative Agenda (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioners voted to approve based on presentation on this topic from a previous • Motion to approve (Commissioner Phillips), second (Commissioner Coyne) with no changes. 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. c) Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration Overview (Discussion and/or possible action) • Recommendation for cities to sign on to this food and climate declaration that is well- aligned with Austin Climate Equity Plan, and will also be going to the Austin-Travis County Food and Policy Board • Motion to approve (Commissioner White), second (Commissioner Phillips) with no changes. 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. d) Update from the Climate Program Manager – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or possible action) • Update on process and schedule including finalizing the Austin Climate Equity Plan and getting it on the council agenda • Key issues to think about are accountability, sustained community engagement, funding, and building a baseline for actions • Commissioners discuss the importance of funding, the current budget process and ensuring implementation • Commissioner Coyne makes motion to approve processes outlined by Zach Baumer in his presentation. Commissioner White proposes to have an assessment to hire additional staff to conduct community outreach in a manner to help advance and continue Community Climate Ambassadors …
Versión en español a continuación. Special Meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee November 19, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee to be held November 19, 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 (November 18, 2020 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the November 19, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at 415-694-3111 and zach.baumer@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (November 18, 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 15 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. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Comité Conjunto de Sostenibilidad Noviembre 19, 2020 La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (noviembre 18, 2020 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: junta al 415-694-3111 o • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de zach.baumer@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión – noviembre la 18, 2020). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de la …
87TH STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Intergovernmental Relations Office – Brie L. Franco, Officer TEXAS LEGISLATURE INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON CITIES Total Bills Introduced Total Bills Passed City-Related bills introduced City-Related bills passed Year 76th-1999 77th-2001 78th-2003 79th-2005 80th-2007 81st-2009 82nd-2011 83rd-2013 84th-2015 85th – 2017 5,813 5,612 5,633 5,512 6,241 7,464 5,938 5,950 6,476 6,800 1,622 1,601 1,384 1,389 1,481 1,459 1,379 1,437 1,329 1,208 1,230+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,500+ 1,500+ 1,900+ 1,900+ 2,500+ 86th – 2019 7,324 1,429 2,300+ 130+ 150+ 110+ 105+ 120+ 120+ 160+ 220+ 220+ 294 338 • 54 % more City- related bills were passed between 2015 and 2019 • 182 % more City – related bills were passed between 2009 and 2019 11/18/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 2 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: IGRO ROLE In the 86th session • 3,970 Bills/JR’s were filed in last 10 business days before filing deadline, March 8th. (54%). • 7,324 bills read and analyzed by IGRO. • Over 2,500 bills were determined by IGRO to affect cities. • 1,296 Bills/JR’s required analysis/action by departments and IGRO. 11/18/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 3 POST-ELECTION UPDATE Republicans will control House and Senate in the 87th Session • Senate: 18 Republicans, 13 Democrats Democrats gained 1 seat, Republicans lost supermajority • House: 83 Republicans, 67 Democrats Same as 86thSession Austin / Travis Delegation Held Seats • Including hotly contested seats: Reps. Goodwin, Bucy, Zweiner, & Talarico will all be back TREND: ANTI-CITY TONE: STATE LEADERSHIP "I think a broad-based law by the state of Texas that says across the board, the state is going to pre-empt local regulations, is a superior approach“ –Governor Greg Abbott 1 "Our cities are still controlled by Democrats…and where do we have all our problems in America? …in our cities that are mostly controlled by Democrat mayors and Democrat city council… That's where you see street crime.“ -Lt. Governor Dan Patrick 2 1: “Abbott wants "broad-based law" that pre-empts local regulations” Texas Tribune, March 21, 2017 2: “Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames city governments for "all our problems in America" Texas Tribune, AUG. 4, 2017 ISSUES THAT WILL INFLUENCE THE 87TH SESSION TREND: TONE Politically Charged, Overarching Issues Influencing the 87th session • Electing a new Speaker Rep. Dade Phelan? • Redistricting (Special Session) • School finance • Budget • COVID-19 11/18/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 6 87TH AGENDA: LEGISLATURE’S CITY-RELATED PRIORITY ISSUES Super Preemption Police Reform Preemption COVID Preemption Employees’ Rights …
planettexas2050.utexas.edu Dave Kramer (he/him/his) PT2050 Program Director david.kramer@austin.utexas.edu Recent Texas transplants by way of Boston and Colombia … PT2050 Vision: A Resilient Texas A Climate Crisis, Booming Growth, & Resource Strain + Deeply Interwoven Equity and Justice Issues What happens when Texas roads can’t handle the crush of traffic, systems for cooling and heating buildings break under strain, water systems fall apart, and land dries out? In the face of hurricanes, how will people safely evacuate? How will they trust and understand models? How do communities prepare for the next big storm and lay claim to the resources they need? Planet Texas 2050 is a Research Grand Challenge of UT Austin working to make Texas more resilient in the face of these challenges. What is a Grand Challenge? A wicked problem that requires new kinds of collaboration across disciplines and between diverse communities of thinkers, doers, and dreamers to solve. A grand challenge initiative addresses problems that, when solved, have a significant positive impact on people and society. Large in scale, ambitious in scope, and multi-disciplinary, university-based grand challenges come in many shapes and sizes. What is a Grand Challenge? 6 7 Who are we? Faculty Leadership + Staff Jonathan Lowell Community Liaison I am trained in social science research methods, facilitation, and community engagement. My role is to help ensure research is done with community and that its outputs have social impacts.. Highlights from first phase of PT2050 • Truly transdisciplinary, including the arts • Wide range of innovative & creative research • Deep student engagement • Vibrant & collaborative community of practice of over 127 researchers from more than 20 distinct parts of UT (Colleges, Schools, and Units) • Extreme challenges & disruptions + adaptation • Publications and leveraged funding 12 Children garden at Pleasant Hill Elementary in South Austin while their parents organize with Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin. Credit: GAVA Priorities moving forward • Apply lessons learned: How do we apply what we have learned from years 1 and 2? • Commit to justice (social, racial, environmental) through engaged solidarity • Make big bets that leave a legacy • Publish groundbreaking, innovative, transdisciplinary work as a model for grand challenges and academic leadership 18 Frontlines and Flagships Flagships Six Flagship Projects Community-driven research 23 Aspirational brainstorming • • • In a world where complexity reigns, communities come together to harness the power of many and the knowledge of …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee October 28, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee to be held October 28, 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 (October 27, 2020 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the October 28, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 415-694-3111 and zach.baumer@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (October 27, 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 15 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. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Comité Conjunto de Sostenibilidad octubre 28, 2020 La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (octubre 27, 2020 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: junta al 415-694-3111 o • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de zach.baumer@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión – octubre 27, la 2020). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de la junta, los residentes recibirán un …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Recommendation 20201028-2A –Austin Climate Equity Plan and support for bold actions JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE Seconded By: Commissioner Carroll Date: 10/28/2020 Subject: Community Climate Plan Bold Actions Motioned By: Commissioner White Recommendation Our community has built meaningful momentum, but it is critical that we maintain our sense of urgency and commitment. The 2030 Austin Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan jump started the original climate plan. Policies such as Affordability Unlocked ordinance not only enabled emission reduction through compact footprints but also proactively addressed equity through affordable housing. Project Connect and related transit initiatives are essential to set up Austin Climate Equity Plan 2020 update for success. The JSC recommends that more bold actions such as the ones above are proposed and taken at an increasingly faster rate to truly move the needle and change our trajectory Description of Recommendation to Council • Support and promote Austin Climate Equity Plan 2020 • Empower City Manager and all city departments to put forth bold action proposals that put City of Austin on a more urgent path to net-zero by 2040 while proactively addressing equity • Leave playbook for the next Council to continue making Climate Equity Plan a top priority Rationale: While the original Community Climate Plan in 2015 to reach net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 was a bold action in and of itself, the recent scientific data from the 2019 UN Emissions Gap Report showed a stark reality that temperature has already increased 1.1°C and even the most ambitious national climate action plans today are far short of limiting 1.5°C increase. C40 Deadline 2020 Report provided a roadmap to tackle this increasing challenge with a more aggressive 2040 net-zero target. Even major community investment such as Project Connect will only reduce 5% of the total reduction goal at full realization. Record of the Vote: Motion to approve by Commissioner White, second by Commissioner Carroll. Motion passes: 9 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained, 3 absent. Date of Approval: October 28, 2020 Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] Zach Baumer, Liaison 1 of 1 Zach Baumer
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING October 28, 2020 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a regular meeting on October 28, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 5:37 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Katie Coyne Vice-Chair, David Carroll, Nhat Ho, Karen Hadden, Rob Schneider, Fisayo Fadelu, Holt Lackey, Kelly Davis Board Members Absent: Karen Magid, Melissa Rothrock, Alberta Phillips 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. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) September 25, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Hadden), second (Commissioner Coyne), 7 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Recommendation stating support for public transit as part of Austin Climate Equity Plan (Discussion and/or possible action) • Moved this timing of this item to follow staff presentations (Items 2B and 2C) • Recommendation emphasizes the need for bold actions in order to support the successful implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan. • The recommendation was approved with a friendly amendment by Commissioner White to write out the Austin Generation, Resource and Climate Protection Plan by its full name. Motion to support (Commissioner White), second (Commissioner Lackey). Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. • Commissioner Davis was not able to vote in previous vote due to technical difficulties, requested for vote to be reconsidered. Motion to reconsider vote (Commissioner Schneider), second (Commission White). Record of the vote: 9 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. • The recommendation was approved on a second vote with a motion to support (Commissioner White), second (Commissioner Carroll). Record of the vote: 9 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. b) Presentation on Community Solar - Tim Harvey, Austin Energy (Discussion and/or possible action) • Provided an overview of all community solar projects in Austin • Provide community solar discount for Customer Assistance Program customers, including for new Austin-Bergstrom International Airport solar project • Request for Proposal (RFP) out for local solar and includes call to provide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and local workforce development plan • Provided overview of shared solar multi-family projects • Testing automation in the billing system; target date July 2021 c) Presentation on equity and the …
Versión en español a continuación. Special Meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee September 25, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee to be held September 25, 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 (September 24, 2020 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the September 25, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 415-694-3111 and zach.baumer@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (September 24, 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 15 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. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Comité Conjunto de Sostenibilidad septiembre 25, 2020 La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (septiembre 24, 2020 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: junta al 415-694-3111 o • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de zach.baumer@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión - septiembre la 24, 2020). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de la junta, los residentes recibirán un …
Aust in Climat e Equit y Plan - St at us Updat e - September 25, 2020 Updat es and Announcement s ● Draft Plan was released on September 2nd ● Comment Period Closes on September 30th ● SpeakUP Austin page and Survey - 170 survey responses so far https://www.speakupaustin.org/community-climat e-plan ● Comment Review / Revisions in early October ● Aiming for the Oct. 29 or Nov. 12th Council Meeting Boards and Commissions Present at ions (24) Commission on Immigrant Affairs Zero Waste Advisory Commission Commission on Seniors Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Joint Sustainability Committee Parks Board Environmental Commission Water and Wastewater Commission African American Resource Advisory Commission Urban Transportation Commission ATC Food Policy Board Electric Utility Commission Resource Management Commission LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Pedestrian Advisory Council Bicycle Advisory Council Economic Prosperity Commission Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission – 9/25 Human Rights Commission - 9/28 Design Commission – 9/30 Community Development Commission - 10/13 Planning Commission - 10/13 Commission on Women - Pending Boards and Commissions - Feedback The presentation is a LOT of information and most are new to this topic Webex plus only allowing 15-20 min. restricts discussion Distinct interest in the Ambassador Program Support for the focus on equity Clarify Transportation goals for Trips/Distance and how Project Connect fits into our goals Support for stronger building electrification / decaronization goals What’s the cost and how will we prioritize cost / benefit? When do we get started on implementation? Aust in Climat e Leaders Init iat ive ● Invited over 330 Businesses / Organizations ● Sign up by November 3rd to be a Founding Partner ● 3 Part commitment ○ Confirm support for the Climate Equity Plan through a letter from a company executive on letterhead ○ Take action to lower the business carbon footprint by committing to at least 4 actions aligned with the Climate Equity Plan ○ Amplify Success through social media, official list of supporters, and participation in future implementation teams
Project Connect. A Transit Plan Designed for Austin. INITIAL INVESTMENT OVERVIEW Project Connect & How It All Came Together A comprehensive transit plan that would include multiple services to run simultaneously – that would create more frequent transit options for customers across the region. The result of: You, The Public The product of 60,000+ conversations with Austin residents – 17,000 from virtual engagement in May, June, and July 2020. Partnerships Collaboration with dozens of local cities, counties, transportation agencies, and many others. 2 Community Leaders Engaged with more than 150 community organizations and stakeholders. Stakeholders Extensive outreach through neighborhood meetings, corridor working groups, and small-group presentations. Project Connect: A Comprehensive Transit Plan The System Plan includes all elements of the transportation expansion plan that were adopted by the Capital Metro Board and received a resolution of approval from the Austin City Council on June 10, 2020. The Initial Investment was adopted by the Capital Metro Board and received a resolution of approval from the Austin City Council on August 7. The Initial Investment includes the portions of the System Plan to be advanced for development through proposed local and federal funding. A ballot measure for the Initial Investment will be on the November 2020 ballot. 3 Initial Investment Plan Serving Austin’s north, south and neighborhoods east of Austin with routes to the airport, downtown, Austin FC’s Stadium, The Domain and Colony Park. Additional 27 miles & 31 stations New Rail System Expanded Bus Service LIGHT RAIL COMMUTER RAIL 4 new MetroRapid routes; high-frequency bus service with priority treatments. 42 miles, 65 stations 10 new stations, with planned conversion to Light Rail 3 new MetroExpress commuter routes Downtown Transit Tunnel 9 New Park & Rides and 1 New Transit Center Separate light rail from street traffic, enabling faster, safer and more reliable travel through downtown. Residents of the greater Austin area and nearby cities could connect into the transit system. All-Electric Bus Fleet 15 new neighborhood circulator zones with on-demand pick-up MetroBike integration All-electric bike fleet available for rent at transit hubs MetroAccess On-demand services and system-wide accessibility Maintenance Facilities 4 Light Rail Transit Conceptual Illustration 5 New Rail System Light rail is planned to connect north and south Austin. Operating from North Lamar and U.S. 183 and extending to Stassney Lane. Destinations include: • North Lamar Transit Center • Crestview • UT • Republic Square • Auditorium Shores • The …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING September 25, 2020 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a special meeting on September 25, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 10:01 am. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Katie Coyne Vice-Chair, Fisayo Fadelu, Holt Lackey, Karen Magid, David Carroll, Alberta Phillips, Nhat Ho, Melissa Rothrock, Karen Hadden Board Members Absent: Rob Schneider, Kelly Davis City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Cavan Merski 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. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) August 26, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Coyne), second (Commissioner Carroll), 9 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Conduct JSC officer elections (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commission discussed that continuity may be important considering current Climate Equity Plan process. • Motion to nominate Commissioner White for Chair (Commissioner Hadden), second (Commissioner Lackey), 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. • Motion to nominate Commissioner Coyne for Vice Chair (Commissioner White), second (Commissioner Phillips), 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. b) Presentation from CapMetro on Project Connect (Discussion and/or possible action) • Jackie Nirenberg from CapMetro provided an initial investment overview of Project Connect • Lesson learned from previous bond initiatives was to allow the community to see what a full system would look like; have provided an overview of the varying components of the routes • Austin Transit Partnership will bridge CapMetro and the City of Austin with independent governance for full transparency • Discussed questions regarding funding, equity and environmental considerations in the plan c) Presentation on the Draft Austin Climate Equity Plan (Discussion and/or possible action) • Provided overview of public comment period and revision schedule • Discussed presentation process with boards and commissions • Motion proposed to draft a letter for next meeting in support of public transit and Project Connect in reference to the Austin Climate Equity Plan (Commissioner Ho), second (Commissioner White), 9 approved, 0 opposed, 1 abstained. d) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Design Commission will be getting a presentation on the climate plan in the next week, Commissioner Carroll will attempt to garner support. …
Special Meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee August 26, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee to be held August 26, 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 (August 25, 2020). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the August 26, 2020 Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 415-694-3111 and zach.baumer@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (August 25, 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 15 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 August 26, 2020 (1:00 pm) 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) 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 AGENDA 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) July 22, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee 2. NEW BUSINESS possible action) a) Presentation and Review of the Draft Austin Climate Equity Plan (Discussion and/or b) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Planet Texas 2050 presentation • Food …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20200826-2A Supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20150604-048 adopting the Austin Community Climate Plan and creating the Joint Sustainability Committee; and WHEREAS, the Austin Community Climate Plan includes a schedule for reporting and updates, with a full plan revision in 2020; and WHEREAS, the harmful effects of climate change, including floods, droughts, heat waves and wildfires, are worsening in the Austin area and around the world; and WHEREAS, the “Global Warming of 1.5 °C” issued in 2018 by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change illustrates that keeping the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius will help to avoid severe effects of climate change, including ecosystems collapsing, that will very likely occur if warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color in Austin and around the world are the most impacted by extreme weather and pollution despite having contributed least to the drivers of climate change and pollution; and WHEREAS, harmful land use and the refusal to create or enforce real environmental regulations continue to disproportionately expose communities of color to environmental harms, leading to unjust quality of life outcomes both historically and today; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color must be prioritized to receive the disproportionate benefits of the transition to a pollution-free society to remedy disproportionate harm done historically and presently; and WHEREAS, if we design and implement programs to serve low-income communities and communities of color, we will positively impact all residents in the Austin area; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change set a goal of “keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius”; and WHEREAS, current international, federal, state and local commitments to greenhouse gas reduction fall short of what is needed to keep average global warming to either 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s “Emissions Gap Report 2019” illustrates the significant magnitude in the gap between international commitments and needed emissions reductions; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is a member of C40 Cities, a network of global cities committed to addressing climate change; and WHEREAS, C40 Cities has developed guidance for cities on setting greenhouse …
2020 Austin Climate Equity Plan August 2020 Summary ● We’ve been updating the Community Climate Plan o First draft has been internally reviewed o Draft for public comment coming out next week – full and summary documents. o Council in October ● What we’re looking for from you: ○ Comments ○ Areas of Interest ○ Pledge of Support 2015 Community Climate Plan Adopted by Council in June 2015 Electricity & Natural Gas Transportation & Land Use Materials & Waste Management 135 qualitative actions directed at departments 2 0 1 7 Travis C ounty C arbon Footprint 12.5 million metric tons carbon dioxide-equivalent Industrial Processes How was this plan update created? • 24 City Staff • 120 Community Members (NGO, Govt., Business) • 12 Ambassadors • 4 Equity Trainings • 5 Community Workshops (over 250 attendees) • 14 Steering Committee Meetings • 60+ Advisory Group Meetings • 50+ Interviews by Ambassadors Steering Committee Members Co-Chairs Mayuri Raja, AZAAD, Google Shane Johnson, Sierra Club Katie Coyne, Asakura Robinson Susana Almanza, PODER Joep Meijer, Citizen Jim Walker, Univ. of Texas Rocio Villalobos, Equity Office Drew Nelson, Mitchell Foundation Rodrigo Leal, Guidehouse Rene Renteria, Citizen Kaiba White, Public Citizen Lauren Peressini, Sunrise Movement Shawanda Stewart, Huston-Tillotson Univ. Kenneth Thompson, Solar Austin Ben Leibowicz, Univ. of Texas Suzanne Russo, Pecan Street Inc. Pooja Sethi, Sethi Law Darien Clary, AISD Alberta Phillips, Joint Sustainability Committee, ECHO AG Representatives: Nakia Winfield, Brandi Clark Burton, Karen Magid, Kurt Stogdill, and Nick Kincaid A History of Inequities that Remains Today • The Austin 1928 Master Plan divided the city along racial lines, forcibly displacing Black residents into specific, undesirable areas. • The Tank Farm fuel storage facility, Eastside Landfill, and the Holly Power Plant exposed people of color to toxic pollution in East Austin neighborhoods. • Gentrification is taking place in parts of the city where low-income people and people of color have been forced to live, the African-American share of the Austin population declined from 12% in 1990 to 7.7% in 2010. • As of 2015, 52% of white Austin residents were homeowners, only 27% of African-American and 32% of Hispanic/Latinx residents owned homes. • Cases of COVID-19, hospitalization and mortality rates are disproportionately affecting Latinx and Black communities We are Changing the Earth’s Climate Warming over 2℃could be catastrophic to life on earth Climate Projections for Austin • Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING August 26, 2020 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a special meeting on August 26, 2020 via videoconferencing. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 1:03 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Fisayo Fadelu, Rob Schneider, Holt Lackey, Karen Magid, David Carroll, Alberta Phillips, Kelly Davis, Nhat Ho, Katie Coyne Vice-Chair, Melissa Rothrock, Karen Hadden Board Members Absent: None 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. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) July 22, 2020 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner Coyne), second (Commissioner Lackey), 10 approved, 0 opposed, 2 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Presentation and Review of the Draft Austin Climate Equity Plan (Discussion and/or possible action) • Office of Sustainability staff provided overview of plan process and all draft goals • Reviewed equity-focused process, themes, tool and Community Climate and strategies Ambassadors program • Overall, the new proposed community-wide target is to be Net Zero by 2040 and pursue negative emissions to 2050. There are 18 goals and 75 strategies. Three goals are cross-cutting big picture, and the rest are across five topic areas, including: o Sustainable Buildings o Transportation and Land Use o Transportation Electrification o Natural Systems o Food and Product Consumption • Reviewed implications of strategies in meeting emissions reduction targets • Discussion on questions regarding new additions to plan, regional collaboration and alignment with other Texas cities and the baseline for goals. • The Recommendation for Supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan was approved with the following friendly amendments on motion by (Commissioner White), seconded by (Commissioner Coyne) on a 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained vote. A friendly amendment by Commissioner Davis to fix a typo was adjusted. A friendly amendment by Commissioner Carroll to clarify that the five additional members proposed for the Joint Sustainability be appointed by council. b) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) • None discussed FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • None discussed Motion to adjourn (Commissioner White). Meeting adjourns at 2:33 pm. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. …
