Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Consumption & Natural Systems) Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council Food and Product Consumption Budget Needs 1. Sustainable Purchasing: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 2 says “By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from institutional, commercial, and government purchasing are reduced by at least 50%.“ Strategy 2 to achieve that goal is “Strengthen the City’s sustainable purchasing program.” Recent analysis by the Office of Sustainability shows that over 80% of the City of Austin’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the products and services that the city purchases. It is essential that the City establish a comprehensive Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products and services the City procures. And the City must prioritize ongoing staff support to educate all departments on sustainable purchasing and ensure that purchasing decisions comply with the Sustainable Purchasing Plan. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: a. $125,000 be allocated to hire a sustainable purchasing contractor and/or purchase needed software and databases to develop a Sustainable Purchasing Plan that sets minimum standards for all products, materials and services purchased by the city; and b. A full-time Sustainable Purchasing Director position should be added to the Purchasing Department. If an FTE is determined to be infeasible in this budget cycle, a temporary Sustainable Purchasing Director position should be established and funded. Natural Systems Budget Needs 2. Converting Impervious Cover to Functional Green: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Natural Systems Goal 4 says “By 2030, include all City-owned lands under a management plan that results in neutral or negative carbon emissions and maximizes community co-benefits.” Strategy 2 to achieve this goal is “Reclaim public space and prioritize green infrastructure.” There is no inventory of the unnecessary impervious cover on City-owned lands, or a plan for converting those areas to functional green. Areas along city streets, in and around parking lots, at city buildings, and in city parks all need evaluation and a plan to remediate. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $200,000 be allocated to audit City-owned non-functional or unnecessary impervious cover, including surface-level parking lots, and develop a plan to convert an ambitious percentage of these to functional green uses as soon as practical. 3. No Mow Signage: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Natural Systems Goal …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Sustainable Buildings) Motioned By: Seconded By: Date: February 28, 2024 Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council 1. Implement a Passiveand Embodied Carbon Reduction House Pilot Program: The Passive House standard (developed by nonprofit Phius)1 is the most rigorous energy efficiency building code, and provides dramatic reductions in energy use. Buildings meeting this standard are significantly more resilient, quieter, have better indoor air quality, and help the grid by reducing peak demand. This standard is now code minimum in many municipalities and is included in 20 states’ affordable housing scoring metrics. Although some affordable housing developments have come close to meeting the Passive House standard, none have met it yet. In addition to reducing energy use in buildings, reducing the embodied carbon in the materials used in construction is also important. Conducting an embodied carbon analysis during the initial design phase of a building gives the developer an opportunity to select more sustainable building materials. A pilot program will provide financial assistance to achieve certification and collect data to demonstrate the value of achieving the Passive House standard and how to reduce embodied carbon in building materials, and should help drive the market toward utilizing 1 https://www.phius.org/certifications/projects/project-certification-overview Passive House more broadly. The Energy Efficiency Programs fee2 that all customers pay as part of their Austin Energy bills is intended to fund energy efficiency programs, such as this. A local Passive House incentive would help affordable housing developers maximize utilization of the Inflation Reduction Act 45L tax credit because projects certifying with Passive House also receive Zero Energy Ready Home certification and get $5,000 per unit in tax credits. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: a. $2 million be allocated from the Energy Efficiency Programs fund for an Affordable Housing Passive House and Embodied Carbon Reduction Pilot Program to provide incentives to income-restricted affordable housing. Affordable housing projects that certify with Phius and conduct an embodied carbon analysis should be eligible for rebates, paid in three milestone payments during design (for hiring a consultant and committing to certification), construction (for precertification), and completion (for final certification). Projects should be required to share construction cost data, both hard and soft, and post-occupancy energy usage data. b. The Austin Energy Green Building department should be allocated 1 additional FTE or temporary position to develop and administer the program, in close consultation with stakeholders. …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations (Low-Carbon Concrete) Motioned By: Seconded By: Date: February 28, 2024 Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Council Low carbon concrete: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Goal 3 says : “By 2030, reduce the embodied carbon footprint of building materials used in local construction by 40%.”. Producing concrete emits CO2 through energy required to produce it as well as the chemical process, and procuring the concrete we need to grow represents a significant portion of Austin’s footprint: 78,700 metric tons in 2023, and construction has the highest impact on carbon in terms of total city spend. Growing Austin while reducing our carbon footprint thus requires the use of low concrete concrete technology, but testing is required before scaling novel materials. Thus, the JSC recommends that $150,000 be allocated to the Office of the City Engineer division of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department for 1. Field pour demonstrations using concrete containing a total cementitious content that is 50% or more decarbonized relative to a national ordinary portland cement average embodied carbon intensity of 922 kilograms per tonne of cement, and 2. An intern to assist the Department of Engineers to procure and implement the cement testing. This work should be conducted in close coordination with the Office of Sustainability and Capital Delivery Services.
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Green Streets Initiative Recommendations Recommendation Support of the Green Streets Initiative Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability recommends that the Austin City Council approve the proposed Green Streets Initiative that minimizes barriers to plant and maintain street trees located in R.O.W’s for both public and private projects. Rationale: Prioritizing street trees in R.O.W’s aligns with the goals of the Austin Climate Equity plan. Specifically as it supports the improvement of air quality and temperature reduction within Austin’s Urban Core.
GREEN STREETS INITIATIVE Street Trees Keep Austin Cool March 28, 2024 Joint Sustainability Committee We Need Street Trees: STREETS ARE HOT & DANGEROUS ● Austin is warm and getting warmer - By 2050, Austin is estimated to experience an average of ~3 months per year (82-95 days) with a heat index over 100° compared to ~1 month” historically (29 days) ● It is even hotter in the Streets - Unshaded streets become “urban heat islands”, absorbing and reflecting the sun’s heat, causing streets to be 5-10° hotter than other parts of the city. ● Our streets are dangerous - 2022 was the deadliest year on Austin roads topping the previous record set in 2021. We Need Street Trees: IMPACTS & ACCESS ARE INEQUITABLE ● Low-income and BIPOC communities in Austin are disproportionately impacted by dangerous streets and extreme heat ● Tree canopy is inevitably distributed Austin, TX - Pedestrian incidents per 100,000 (2019-2022) Source: Austin Vision Zero via Urbinden Design Lab * Approximation- Available data misaligned. Incidents by race from 5 year avg. (2017-2022), total pop. from 2020 census, pedestrian incidents averaged 4 year avg. (2019-2022) We Need Street Trees: STREET TREES MAKE OUR STREETS COOLER & SAFER ● Street trees shade create microclimates on our sidewalks and bikeways with shade and evapotranspiration ● Street trees slow vehicle speeds and reduce the frequency and severity of crashes. Source: Urbinden Design Lab Barriers: REGULATIONS ● Private development is only required to provide street trees on ~3.3% of the streets in Austin. Incentivized ~1.1% ● Where street trees are required, it is easier to get relief from the requirement than to comply ● TCM street tree requirements are NOT regulatory - NOT enforced (required on level 2 and up) 3.3% 1.1% * 95.6% * Some PUDs may include street trees requirements (example: Mueller). PUDs represent ~8% of the City of Austin Barriers: ADMINISTRATIVE RULES ● Criteria Manual rules protect departmental interests, do not optimize limited ROWs, do not understand how trees grow ● Some rules conflict with City goals, policies, and priorities, often superseding adopted regulations ● Inflated rules trigger case-by-case departmental review of street trees - reducing predictability and often prohibiting street trees Interpretation of existing code Urban condition best practice Barriers: PROCEDURES ● Street trees require license agreement to privatize maintenance responsibility ● License agreement process is duplicative of site plan review ○ Adds time - upto 2 years ○ …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Jan 24, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Permitting and Development Center. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:07 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Haris Qureshi, Chris Maxwell-Gaines Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Melissa Rothrock, Jon Salinas, Alice Woods, Amy Noel, Diana Wheeler, Heather Houser, Charlotte Davis, Christopher Campbell, Anna Scott Board Members Absent: Larry Franklin, Bertha Delgado, Stephanie Bazan, Yure Suarez City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Angela Johnson, Ed Poppit, Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Santiago – volunteer at Festival Beach Food Forest Responding to TxDOT’s I-35 proposal o Regarding non-conforming uses and stormwater tunnel under Cesar Chavez 6. Approval of minutes from the December 13th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Qureshi motions to approve, Wheeler seconds, passes on 12-0 vote (Maxwell-Gaines off dais). 7. Low Carbon Concrete Presentation –Angela Johnson and Ed Poppit, Office of the City Engineer Presentation on approach taken in response to council resolution concrete Question on are they asking suppliers to disclose rather than requiring low carbon o Poppit – looking towards enhancements in the future. Pilots, testing (e.g. carbon injection in sidewalks), but not far down the road of action. Need more support to take more action. Taking small steps now – educating producers, etc. o Mix of fixes – no silver bullet. Changing processes, changing energy sources, changing component mixtures. o Johnson: Plan is evolving and shifting based on new knowledge advancements o Poppit: Old way was prescriptive, new path might be performance-based (meet certain important characteristics). Puts pressure on city staff to ensure performance meets needs. o This was supposed to go to council in November, no updates. o EPDs coming into effect Oct 2024 o White: need to move faster o Clarification from Campbell – CO2 impacts are in metric tons, not MMT 3. Recommendations to amend ACEP re: telework policies and AE zero waste goal Qureshi motions to approve, Scott seconds Does there need to be specificity in the time for a target? Is it aggressive enough? JSC members discuss at length. JSC ‘further recommends that ACEP be updated in near future to refine the disposal rate goal with clear target dates and set more ambitious interim goals’ Woods amendment – …
Joint Sustainability Committee 2023 Action Plan Prepared by Jen Cregar, Terra Lumina Consulting January 2023 JSC Purpose from Bylaws The joint committee shall advise the council on matters related to conservation and sustainability; and ● review City policies and procedures relevant to the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan, including planning, implementation, community engagement, goal setting, and progress monitoring; ● promote close cooperation between the council, City management, City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces, and individuals, institutions, and agencies concerned with the politics, procedures, and implementation of the Austin Community Climate Plan and the Austin Climate Equity Plan, with the goal of coordinating all similar activities within the City and the community in order to secure the greatest public benefit; and forward to the city manager all advisory material that the joint committee provides to the council, the Office of Sustainability, City departments and offices, or City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. 2 JSC Purpose in Plain Speak The JSC advises the City Council and supports coordination among the City and community in implementing the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Community Members City Council Other Public Agencies/ Institutions City Departments Businesses Community Organizations 3 Proposed 2023 JSC Action Plan 1. Define what JSC considers a “high impact” strategy. This could include: ― Ability to increase equity in processes and/or outcomes (e.g., strategy would focus on a disinvested/ ― GHG reduction potential marginalized group or part of town) ― Relative implementation progress so far ― Responsible party’s ability (capacity + willingness) to implement the strategy, where the responsible party could be a City department, community group, etc. 2. Create working groups (WGs) to identify high impact strategies per section of the ACEP. WGs should be diverse and may include JSC members, department staff, and other community members if additional experience/perspectives are needed. WGs could be organized as follows: ― Sustainable Buildings (energy + materials) ― Transportation & Land Use + Transportation Electrification (mobility + electrification) ― Consumption + Natural Systems (food, products, and green infrastructure) 4 Proposed 2023 JSC Action Plan (cont.) 3. Working groups make recommendations for priority actions to advance their high impact strategies. Potential action areas could include: ― Budget/funding, potentially including a non-City of Austin funding partner ― Accountability tools (e.g., adding more detail to dashboard, promoting dashboard for increased awareness) ― Coalition building ― Policy changes (could be no to low …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendation (Pro-Climate/Pro-Health Foods) Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Description of Recommendation to Counci: Incentives and Education for Pro-Climate, Pro-Health Foods: The City of Austin Climate Equity Plan Food & Product Consumption Goal 1 says “By 2030, ensure all Austinites can access a food system that is community driven, addresses food insecurity, prioritizes regenerative agriculture, supports dietary and health agency, promotes plant-based foods, and minimizes food waste.: Strategy 3 is to “Incentivize pro-climate, prohealth, food choices” with a variety of programs, including “Enhance[d] incentives to make pro-climate, pro-health food choices more affordable.” Due to the large amount of resources that it takes to produce meat, dairy and eggs, reducing consumption of these foods is one of the most effective ways for people to reduce their impact on the climate and the environment in general. Plant-based alternatives are available, but many people aren’t familiar with these foods or their benefits and some plant-based foods can be more expensive. Thus an education campaign and incentives are needed. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: $200,000 be allocated to the Office of Sustainability for a Pro-Climate Food Education and Incentive Program. These funds should be spent on a multi-lingual public education and marketing campaign to promote pro-climate/pro-health plant-based meat, dairy and egg alternatives and identification of opportunities to provide effective incentives for pro-climate/pro- health foods at local restaurants and grocery stores. The Office of Sustainability and Austin Public Health should work together on the public education and marketing campaign.
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-XXX Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Recommendation on supporting pro-climate food choices in the Austin Food Plan Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation: The Joint Sustainability Committee supports the work being done to develop the Austin Food Plan and recommends that a goal be added to “Support increasing awareness of the importance and benefits choosing pro-climate, pro-health foods and address barriers to accessing pro-climate, pro-health foods.” Strategies to achieve this goal should include education campaigns, partnerships with grocery stores and other food providers, incentives for plant-based alternatives to carbon-intensive foods, and changes to city purchasing policies. Rationale: The Joint Sustainability Committee supports an increased emphasis on encouraging and promoting pro-climate eating because: 1. Animal food products are responsible for at least between 11% and 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 2. There is a policy gap at all levels of government when it comes to addressing greenhouse gas emissions from food choices. 3. Awareness of the importance of food choices in mitigating climate change is lower compared to other climate solutions, such as switching to renewable energy. 4. Changing personal behaviors is possible but can be challenging and requires a dedicated effort. 5. While federal policies are a significant driving force behind the increased consumption of high-emission, unhealthy foods, food choices ultimately occur at the local and individual level. Local efforts can address information and accessibility gaps. a. Pro-climate, pro-health foods are available but are often not featured as prominently as high-carbon, unhealthy food options in local grocery stores. b. Pro-climate, pro-health foods are available, but some are more expensive.
DRAFT Joint Sustainability Committee Transportation & Land Use Budget Recommendations Transportation Electrification Budget Recommendations The Joint Sustainability Commission (JSC) recommends that the City of Austin (COA) Equity Office conduct an Electric Vehicles Needs Assessment in collaboration with a hired consultant, CapMetro, Austin Energy, and COA Departments of Transportation and Public Works, Public Health, Economic Development, and Office of Sustainability. The assessment should focus on the Eastern Crescent, including the Rundberg and Dove Springs areas. The assessment should build on community engagement and feedback (such as leveraging an Ambassadors program and partnering with entities such as Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance [TxETRA] education fund) to address mobility challenges in these regions and consider other electric mobility options such as buses, shuttles, neighborhood circulators carsharing. The Assessment should include the following: ● A report and presentation to JSC, COA Office of Sustainability, and key identified community members within one year of the budget approval. The report and presentation should include but is not limited to: ○ Identifying the intersections of mobility challenges, transportation electrification, public health and racial and economic justice ○ Action items and recommended programs on how to achieve EV education and adoption focusing on overburdened communities, along with funding sources to implement the programs. ○ Identify major obstacles for EV adoption and corresponding action items to address the obstacles ○ A framework for EV education that focuses on clarifying the EV charging process, raising awareness about available incentives, and increasing community involvement by connecting systematically excluded groups with job and training/education opportunities in the EV field ○ Build on existing community assessments and recommendations such as Austin/Vamos Austin’s (GAVA’s) neighborhood circulators carsharing and TxETRA workshop on transportation justice in the EV Ecosystem ○ Status for achieving Austin’s Climate Action Plan Transportation Electrification Goal 1 of 40% of total vehicle miles traveled in Austin electrified by 2030 and a description for a path to achieve this goal Budget: ● Total: 300K. Breakdown includes: ○ Hire consultant to assist with the Assessment: 150K ○ Equity Office to create a paid ambassador program to provide stipends to individuals and organizations that already have trust in the community to assist in the Assessment: 50K ○ Pilot for four (4) recommended programs in on the Eastern Crescent, including the Rundberg and Dove Springs areas: 100K Transportation & Land Use Budget Recommendations ID Amount ($) 1 $120k Request Dept. Notes 1 FTE: Community Engagement & …
Subject: Environmental Impact Study for Parking in Austin Motion by: Second by: WHEREAS, the Environmental Commission recognizes Austin is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the United States; and WHEREAS, the most common transportation means remains to be the motor vehicles, either personal or commercial, which require vehicle parking at end destinations; and WHEREAS, as the City of Austin is actively engaged in making policy decisions concerning the amount and type of parking that should be utilized in new development, understanding the environmental benefits and harms for each option would better inform these decisions; and WHEREAS, cities across the United States are turning to sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of parking; and WHEREAS, technology regarding sustainable parking options has advanced significantly in vertical parking structures which reduce the impervious cover footprint. Some of those advancements; green roofs and walls, solar panels on the roof or walls, rain catchment systems and rain gardens, downcast lighting to reduce light pollution, and shade sails which can help reduce the heat; and WHEREAS, there are improved surface parking practices that include; bioswales to reduce runoff and retain the water for onsite trees and vegetation, solar panels that produce energy and offer shade, downcast lighting that reduces light pollution, tree and vegetation configuration that reduces heat island effects, sound and light pollution; and WHEREAS, there are also advancements in recycling cement from older parking structures or parking lots to be considered; and WHEREAS, there are existing parking facilities and infrastructure that have excess capacity or are underutilized during certain times of day and we should study the maximal use of these facilities. THEREFORE, The Joint Sustainability Committee requests that the City of Austin work with a qualified independent research partner to study the environmental impacts of different vehicle parking options. The report should analyze and determine what are the most environmentally friendly options that would advance the City’s goals, including achieving net-zero carbon 2 of 2 emissions in the Climate Equity Plan, Austin’s Strategic Mobility plan, SOS ordinance, and the city ordinance to eliminate parking from commercial developments. When assessing environmental impacts, the Committee asks that the study include a Life Cycle Assessment that considers all necessary raw material extraction and processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, and final disposal of materials, as well as other considerations including but not limited to its ability to capture/treat stormwater, associated heat island effects, light pollution, and …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-014 Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Joint Sustainability Committee Budget Recommendations 1. Climate Equity Plan Project Manager: The Austin Climate Equity Plan contains ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals and strategies to achieve those goals that touch every City department. Fully implementing the plan will reap great benefits to the City of Austin and its residents. The Office of Sustainability needs additional staff to track, report on, and coordinate this work to make the vision of the plan a reality. This position would be responsible for continually updating the Austin Climate Equity Plan Dashboard to reflect progress on each sub-strategy in the plan, including opportunities for the public to engage in the various initiatives (i.e. surveys, public meetings, working groups) and lists of NGOs engaging in various aspects of implementation. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that: one (1) Climate Equity Plan Project Manager be added to the Office of Sustainability. (est. $150,000) Motioned By: Qureshi Vote: 14-0 Yes: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Larry Franklin, Diana Wheeler, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Heather Houser, Alberta Phillips Off Dais: Stephanie Bazan Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha Delgado Seconded By: Scott 2. Outreach and Engagement for Sustainability Incentives: The City of Austin has numerous sustainability incentive programs aligned with the goals of the Climate Equity Plan. However, many of these programs are underutilized, especially among low-income households. Additional community outreach by trusted organizations can increase the effectiveness of these programs. The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that $320,000 be allocated to the Office of Sustainability for: a. A Community Engagement Specialist (1 FTE) to coordinate community outreach and partnership activities associated with promoting the full suite of City of Austin sustainability incentives (i.e., home weatherization and repair, water conservation, rainwater collection, landscape and green infrastructure programs), with a focus on building relationships with low-income communities, communities of color, and related organizations and service providers. (est. $120,000) b. $200,000 for grants, contracts, and stipends for community leaders and community-based organizations to do direct outreach to promote sustainability incentive programs in targeted Austin communities, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability. Motioned By: Qureshi Vote: 14-0 Yes: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Larry Franklin, Diana Wheeler, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Heather Houser, Alberta Phillips Off Dais: Stephanie Bazan Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-013 Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Recommendation on supporting pro-climate food choices in the Austin Food Plan Motioned By: White Seconded By: Qureshi Recommendation: The Joint Sustainability Committee supports the work being done to develop the Austin Food Plan and recommends that a goal be added to “Support increasing awareness of the importance and benefits choosing pro-climate, pro-health foods and address barriers to accessing pro-climate, pro-health foods.” Strategies to achieve this goal should include education campaigns, partnerships with grocery stores and other food providers, incentives for plant-based alternatives to carbon-intensive foods, and changes to city purchasing policies. Rationale: The Joint Sustainability Committee supports an increased emphasis on encouraging and promoting pro-climate eating because: 1. Animal food products are responsible for at least between 11% and 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 2. There is a policy gap at all levels of government when it comes to addressing greenhouse gas emissions from food choices. 3. Awareness of the importance of food choices in mitigating climate change is lower compared to other climate solutions, such as switching to renewable energy. 4. Changing personal behaviors is possible but can be challenging and requires a dedicated effort. 5. While federal policies are a significant driving force behind the increased consumption of high-emission, unhealthy foods, food choices ultimately occur at the local and individual level. Local efforts can address information and accessibility gaps. a. Pro-climate, pro-health foods are available but are often not featured as prominently as high-carbon, unhealthy food options in local grocery stores. b. Pro-climate, pro-health foods are available, but some are more expensive. Vote: 13-0 Yes: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Larry Franklin, Diana Wheeler, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Alberta Phillips, Heather Houser, Stephanie Bazan Recuse: Charlotte Davis Off Dais: Alberta Phillips Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha Delgado Attest: Rohan Lilauwala, Staff Liaison
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-015 Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Great Streets Initiative Motion by: Salinas Second: Davis Recommendation Support of the goals of the Great Streets Initiative that contribute to the Green Infrastructure Resolution. Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the Austin City Council approve the proposed Great Streets Initiative that minimizes barriers to plant and maintain street trees located in city right-of-way for both public and private projects. Rationale: Prioritizing street trees in city right-of-way aligns with the goals of the Austin Climate Equity plan. Specifically, as it supports the improvement of air quality and temperature reduction within Austin’s Urban Core, provides for increased safety and comfort for cyclist and pedestrians and greatly contributes to the sequestration of carbon Vote: 14-0 Yes: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Larry Franklin, Diana Wheeler, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Charlotte Davis, Heather Houser, Stephanie Bazan Off Dais: Alberta Phillips Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha Delgado Attest: Rohan Lilauwala, Staff Liaison
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240228-017 Date: February 28, 2024 Subject: Recommendation for Environmental Impact Study for Parking in Austin Motion by: Qureshi Second by: White WHEREAS, the Joint Sustainability Committee recognizes Austin is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the United States; and WHEREAS, the most common transportation means remains to be the motor vehicles, either personal or commercial, which require vehicle parking at end destinations; and WHEREAS, as the City of Austin is actively engaged in making policy decisions concerning the amount and type of parking that should be utilized in new development, understanding the environmental benefits and harms for each option would better inform these decisions; and WHEREAS, cities across the United States are turning to sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of parking; and WHEREAS, technology regarding sustainable parking options has advanced significantly in vertical parking structures which reduce the impervious cover footprint. Some of those advancements; green roofs and walls, solar panels on the roof or walls, rain catchment systems and rain gardens, downcast lighting to reduce light pollution, and shade sails which can help reduce the heat; and WHEREAS, there are improved surface parking practices that include; bioswales to reduce runoff and retain the water for onsite trees and vegetation, solar panels that produce energy and offer shade, downcast lighting that reduces light pollution, tree and vegetation configuration that reduces heat island effects, sound and light pollution; and WHEREAS, there are also advancements in recycling cement from older parking structures or parking lots to be considered as well as in low-carbon concrete; and WHEREAS, there are existing parking facilities and infrastructure that have excess capacity or are underutilized during certain times of day and we should study the maximal use of these facilities. THEREFORE, The Joint Sustainability Committee requests that the City of Austin staff study the environmental impacts of different vehicle parking options. The report should analyze and determine what are the most environmentally friendly options that would advance the City’s goals, including achieving net-zero carbon 2 of 2 emissions in the Climate Equity Plan, Austin’s Strategic Mobility plan, SOS ordinance, and the city ordinance to eliminate parking from commercial developments. When assessing environmental impacts, the Committee asks that the study include a Life Cycle Assessment that considers all necessary raw material extraction and processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, and final disposal of materials, as well as other considerations including but not limited …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Feb 28, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Permitting and Development Center. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:09 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Larry Franklin Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Diana Wheeler, Stephanie Bazan, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Heather Houser, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha Delgado City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Charlie Mossburger – St. Edwards Civic lab. o Spoke about ‘Get Fertilizer Wiser’ program to replace plants that have low fertilizer requirements Chioma Okoro – street nurse o Spoke about mental health initiatives 1. Approval of minutes from the Jan 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Qureshi motions to approve, Davis seconds, passes on 13-0 vote (Franklin, Phillips off Commissioners discussed details and logistics of supporting a measure at length. dais) 2. Discussion on the benefits of adopting and implementing the Great Streets Initiative –Kevin Howard Presentation on Great Streets Initiative 15. Approve a recommendation supporting adoption and implementation of the Great Streets Initiative. Proposed amendments to clarify goals, add safety for bicycles and peds. Salinas motions to support goals of Great Streets Initiative. Salinas motions, Davis seconds, passes 14-0 (Phillips off dais). 3. Discussion of next steps on the Environmental Investment Plan Resolution (Item 25 from 2/15 Council Meeting). JSC will need to hold public hearing in May/Apr Mar – broad, public input Apr – narrow, possible staff draft list May 1 – JSC presentation due; May 30 – staff response due This is parallel with budget recommendations JSC has commissioners over many of the plans. Homework for March meeting – each working group to look at each of the plans related to their group. White to write a short message to share with home commissions 16. Creation of working group to advise on public input and recommendations that are responsive to the Environmental Investment Plan (Item 25 passed by the Austin City Council on 2/15). Office of Sustainability staff support for working group White, Leal, Scott, Qureshi, Davis, Salinas, Campbell, Franklin volunteer to be on White motions to create a …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT January 24th, 2024 at 6pm Council Chambers, City Hall 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Committee may be participating by videoconference Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Rohan Lilauwala at (rohan.lilauwala@austintexas.gov or 512-974-9394). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Electric Utility Commission) Diana Wheeler, Vice Chair (Urban Transportation Commission) Charlotte Davis (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Haris Qureshi (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Bertha Delgado (Community Development Commission) Larry Franklin (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Chris Maxwell-Gaines (Water & Wastewater Commission) Amy Noel (Economic Prosperity Commission) Stephanie Bazan (Parks & Recreation Board) Jon Salinas (Design Commission) Vacant (City Council) Alice Woods (Planning Commission) Rodrigo Leal (Mayor’s Representative) Anna Scott (Mayor’s Representative) Heather Houser (Mayor’s Representative) Yureisly Suarez (Mayor’s Representative) Christopher Campbell (Mayor’s Representative) 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. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Approval of minutes from the December 13th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. 2. Discussion and action to approve recommendations to amend the Austin Climate Equity Plan spurred by City Council action. 3. Discussion and action to approve recommendations regarding the proposed updates to the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan. 4. Discussion and action to approve Joint Sustainability Committee recommendations for the FY25 City Budget. 5. Discussion and action to approve a recommendation amend the Joint Sustainability bylaws, including to include representation from the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission on the Joint Sustainability Committee. 6. Discussion and action on encouraging low-carbon foods in the Austin-Travis County Food Plan. DISCUSSION 7. Proposed plan to transition to Low-Carbon Concrete in support of Council Resolution (Ed Poppit and Angela Johnson, Office of the City Engineer). 8. 2023 JSC Strategic Plan review 9. Update from Water and Wastewater Commission 10. Update from Electric Utility Commission 11. Update from Environmental …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Dec 13, 2023 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Permitting and Development Center. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:11 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Kaiba White Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Heather Houser, Melissa Rothrock, Chris Campbell, Jon Salinas, Rodrigo Leal, Haris Qureshi, Anna Scott, Charlotte Davis, Diana Wheeler, Amy Noel, Yure Suarez Board Members Absent: Larry Franklin, Bertha Delgado, Alice Woods, Stephanie Bazan City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Amanda Mortl, Tasnuva Udita CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION N/A 6. Approval of minutes from the October 25th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Need a correction on item 10. Should say ‘Leal motions, Wheeler seconds’ Wheeler motions to approve with correction, Leal seconds, passes on 11-0 vote (Noel and Suarez off Dais) 1. Sustainable Procurement Update – Amanda Mortl, Office of Sustainability Discussions around accuracy + relevance of spend-based inventory o Current work is estimate. When further analyses done are measurements, we can’t compare to estimate. We’re on the cutting edge, methods are still evolving. o Inflation factored in, uses EPA database These are cradle-to-purchase measurements, only uses production emissions 3. Air Quality in Austin – Scott Johnson Discussion on importance of air quality. 2. Regional Air Quality – Anton Cox, CAPCOG Discussion on top sources of air pollution and opportunities to improve air quality No budget for incentives, requires voluntary action Request for Anton to provide NOx inventory and detailed list of measures taken High impact thing Austin could do – replace high emitting generation facilities (Decker, Fayette) would make a big difference 4. Updates from the Electric Utility Commission on Austin Energy Generation Plan Updates – Kaiba White 7. Resolution on Austin Energy Resource Planning. Discussion around issues with AE proposal for natural gas/hydrogen plant, including lack of transition plan, identified source, green hydrogen standard, assumption that hydrogen will be same price as natural gas, lack of delivery clarity. Assumption that transition to hydrogen would happen in 2027-2028. Qureshi motions to approve recommendation, Scott seconds, passes on a 11-0 vote (Campbell abstains, Suarez off dais). 5. action. Discussion of amendments to the Austin Climate Equity Plan spurred by council White is hoping to include ARR disposal rate goal while ACEP is …
Joint Sustainability Committee RECOMMENDATION 20240124-XXX Date: January 24, 2024 Subject: Recommendations on amendments to the Ausitn Climate Equity Plan on telework and disposal rate goals Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation: The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends and supports the following updates to the Austin Climate Equity Plan: 1. Adding language to explicitly support telework policies as outlined in City Council Resolution No. 20231109-029. 2. Amend Food and Production Consumption Goal 3 on page 75 to reflect the disposal rate goals in the 2023 Austin Resource Recovery Comprehensive Plan adopted by Council Resolution No. 20231102-002. a. Current language: “Aggressively pursue waste reduction, organics composting, and recycling to achieve a new zero-waste goal following adoption of the new Austin Resource Recovery Zero Waste Plan*. *The new community-wide per capita disposal rate goal will be added as an amendment to this plan when available.” b. Recommended language: “Aggressively pursue waste reduction, organics composting, and recycling and maintain a per capita disposal rate of 4 pounds disposed per ARR-serviced household per day in the near-term and work to achieve 1 pound disposed per ARR-serviced household per day over time.” Rationale: 1. The Joint Sustainability Committee supports expanded support and encouragement for telework for the reasons described in Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20230628-4. 2. The Joint Sustainability Committee recognizes that product consumption is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The addition of the disposal rate goals reflects this fact and was envisioned in the drafting of the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Page 75 of the Plan states “*The new community-wide per capita disposal rate goal will be added as an amendment to this plan when available.”
Recommendation to amend Austin City Code Chapter 2-1-206 to include Austin Travis County Public Health Commission on the Joint Sustainability Committee WHEREAS, degraded air quality from climate-related factors like increased particulate matter, ground-level ozone and wildfire smoke is linked to higher rates of respiratory illnesses including asthma and lung cancer, a leading cause of death in Travis County; and WHEREAS, heightened temperatures and recurrent heatwaves in Austin have escalated the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly impacting vulnerable populations, including elderly residents, children, and the unhoused population; and WHEREAS, erratic weather patterns, including more extreme winter storms and thunderstorms, have posed challenges to healthcare services, caused infrastructure damage, and raised the potential for injuries, impacting the health and safety of Austin's residents; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color are the most impacted by extreme weather and pollution, leading to unjust quality of life outcomes and health disparities; and WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization, “By 2030, climate change is projected to cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year, with mental health disorders accounting for a significant portion due to increased stress, anxiety, and trauma from climate-related events”; and WHEREAS, City Code directs the Joint Sustainability Committee to “promote close cooperation between the council, City management, City boards, commissions, committees, and task forces... with the goal of coordinating all similar activities within the City and the community in order to secure the greatest public benefit;” NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Joint Sustainability Committee of the City of Austin hereby recommends that City Code Chapter 2-1-206 and the bylaws of the Joint Sustainability Committee be amended to add the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission to the membership of the Joint Sustainability Committee to foster collaboration and address the critical intersection of climate change and public health for the betterment of the Austin community. .
