PARD Recommended Land Management Strategies and Climate Vulnerability Analysis A GUIDE TO RESTORATION OF PARKLAND NATURAL AREAS Presenters: Matt McCaw Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Land Management, Austin Parks and Recreation Department Amanda Ross Division Manager, Natural Resources, Austin Parks and Recreation Department BACKGROUND plants and animals. • A natural area is one with natural character, typically dominated by native • 74% of parkland (~12,500 acres) is designated as natural areas in Nature Preserves, Greenbelts, and other park types. • Natural areas provide critical services such as support for human health and well-being, climate regulation, clean air and water, and support for strong economies. 2 CHALLENGE 26% Developed/ mowed 74% Natural Areas PARD lands DEGRADED LANDS 0.2% Natural Areas 99.8% Developed/mowed lands, programs, admin PARD budget Most parkland natural areas have not been managed for ecosystem health and are degraded. As a result, they are threatened by heat, drought, disease, and wildfire and present safety risks to both park users and neighbors. 2019 WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS AUDIT Found that PARD does not have the capacity to manage parkland natural areas and address wildfire risk. SOLUTION: ACTIVE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN Natural Systems Goal 1: Manage natural areas for resilience. Natural Systems Goal 4: Include all City-owned lands under a management plan that results in negative carbon emissions and maximizes co-benefits. 2019 WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS AUDIT Recommended that PARD create and implement land management plans with a priority on “high-risk Response: PARD established the beginnings of a land management program as well as a technical properties.” guiding document to help direct action. OTHER INITIATIVES This strategy is also recommended by: • Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan • PARD Long Range Plan • Nine parks vision plans • Austin Green Infrastructure Strengths and Gaps Assessment • Austin Healthy Parks Plan (Austin Parks Foundation) LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDE SCOPE • 10,347 acres of natural areas • All PARD Nature Preserves and PARD Balcones Canyonlands Preserves • Contiguous natural areas > 75-100 acres • Excludes small and/or fragmented natural areas which provide difficult access and are expensive to manage • Creates large management complexes 5 LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDE COMPONENTS SITE ANALYSIS Current conditions and challenges. Existing vegetation communities, wildfire fuel conditions, soils, hydrology, endangered species, other elements CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS Defined the components of climate vulnerability. Identifies and maps vulnerability to intense heat, drought, disease, and wildfire. Incorporates social vulnerability as a component of risk. MANAGEMENT …
Recommended Land Management Strategies and Climate Vulnerability Analysis City of Austin, Parks and Recreation Department June 13, 2023 Acknowledgements This Climate Vulnerability and Land Management effort would not have been possible without the generous participation of numerous individuals. We would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time to participate in numerous conversations, meetings, and field work so that we could shape a plan that reflects the values of Austin. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was particularly helpful in field assessments. We also want to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to review the draft language of this report and provide comments. Each comment was thoroughly reviewed, and your recommendations helped shape this plan. COA Staff in Austin Parks and Recreation with valuable contributions from Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division, Austin Public Health, Austin Water - Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, City of Austin Equity Office, Office of Sustainability, Office of Resilience, and Watershed Protection Department. Consulting Team Blackland Collaborative Inc. Biohabitats Inc. RES Inc. 1 Introduction and Background ............................................................................................................... 1 Contents 1.1 1.2 Statement of Need Overview of Approach 1.2.1 Plan Scope ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Plan scope ............................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Relation to Other Plans and Studies 1.3.1 Climate, Park, and Sustainability Plans ................................................................................. 6 1.3.2 Land Management Plans ....................................................................................................... 7 2 Vision and Goals.................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Land Acknowledgement Mission Goals Investment Gaps and Equity Mapping Natural Areas and Human Health 3 Social Equity ........................................................................................................................................ 12 3.1.1 Physical health .................................................................................................................... 12 3.1.2 Mental health ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.1.3 Economics ........................................................................................................................... 13 3.1.4 Safety .................................................................................................................................. 14 Land Conservation in Austin Engagement and Decision Making 4.1 Regional Setting 4 Ecological Management Framework .................................................................................................. 20 4.1.1 Ecoregions ........................................................................................................................... 20 4.1.2 Geology ............................................................................................................................... 29 4.1.3 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................ 30 4.1.4 Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 33 4.1.5 Plant Community Types ...................................................................................................... 35 4.1.6 Habitat................................................................................................................................. 36 4.1.7 Land Use .............................................................................................................................. 37 4.2 Ecological Site Descriptions i 1 1 6 9 9 11 12 12 14 18 20 37 4.2.1 State and Transition Pathways ............................................................................................ 37 4.2.2 Ecological Site Summaries ................................................................................................... 39 5 Climate Vulnerability Analysis ............................................................................................................ 42 5.1 Climate Change Summary 5.1.1 CO2 concentrations and emissions scenarios ..................................................................... 42 5.1.2 Temperature ....................................................................................................................... 42 5.1.3 Precipitation ........................................................................................................................ 43 5.1.4 Evaporative demand ........................................................................................................... 44 5.1.5 Austin’s Timeline for Change .............................................................................................. 46 5.2 Ecosystem Components 5.3 Climate Analogues 5.2.1 Abiotic Components ............................................................................................................ 47 5.2.2 Biotic Factors ....................................................................................................................... 48 5.3.1 COA-generated analogues ..................................................... 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Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC) Core Curriculum Presentation for Joint Sustainability Committee Summer 2023 Outline - 15 mins ● Program Overview ● Challenges & Going Forward ● Q & A We are the next generation Climate Corps We envision and model a transformed work culture in which we, Vision Care for ourselves, others, and the planet; Dismantle supremacist systems that operate upon us and within us; (from Allied Media) Support leadership that represents the communities we live in and collaborate with; Adapt to changing circumstances and address the most pressing environmental and social challenges, (currently climate change & displacement) Mission Prioritize equity in green workforce development. Expand the narrative of green vocations. Examine and shape change in work cultures; Build more equitable pathways to employment and organizational leadership and entrepreneurship, and strengthen networks of support for those most impacted by a changing climate; Cultivate and fairly compensate the next generation of leaders; Invest in people and projects that have direct impact on climate justice ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Logo designed by youth digital media team Employment Outcomes Total number of individuals employed Individuals transitioned from ACCC to full time City positions 128 82 0 2 5* Fiscal Year 2023* 225 (rerun this number!) Fiscal Year 2021 Fiscal Year 2022 Running Totals Project Outcomes for FY23 ● Over 85,000 hours of natural systems management on parkland ● —--hours of environmental programming with —- participants (add next week) Challenges & Opportunities Going Forward Systems change, work cultures, & representative leadership Equitable pathways to employment & networks ● ● ● Direct impact on climate justice ● Long term funding Q & A Below are slides to support Q & A Newsletter Updates from May Newsletter from May https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U9l2cJ-ea545pfb7-r6gf9vdVyQIsps N/view ACCC Website https://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-civilian-conservation-corps Resources ACCC Guiding Reports: MEASURE Report; Build with Humanity Report; UT Green Jobs Study; ACCC Photovoice Report COA Equity Office CCCC Resources: History.com ; TPWD ; NPS ; The Corps Network; Camp Chicano; Living New Deal; TexasCCCParks, PNAS; Science; Princeton; Green 2.0; Conservation Letters; Yale CCC Equity & Inclusion Resources assembled by Sona Shah https://www.racialequityalliance.org/ https://www.racialequityalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/1-052018-GARE-Comms-Guide-v1-1.pdf https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/RSJI/Resources/Building-a-Relational-Culture-September-2021-City-of-Seattle-Office-for-Civil-Rights-RSJI.pdf https://www.cacgrants.org/assets/ce/Documents/2019/WhiteDominantCulture.pdf USDN-Equity-in-Recruitment_Hiring_Retention
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES June 28, 2023 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at PDC. Acting Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:06 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White (Chair), Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Rodrigo Leal, Christopher Campbell Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Lane Becker, Alice Woods, Yure Suarez, Melissa Rothrock, Jon Salinas, Heather Houser, Frances Deviney Board Members Absent: Kelsey Hitchingham, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Anna Scott City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Rohan Lilauwala, Daniel Culotta 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. Ben Suddaby – President AFCSME (Speaking on telework policy) Transportation costs, energy for buildings. City showing a lack of respect for employees by forcing people to show up to a workplace they don’t want to travel to or be at. Travis County has won awards for telework policy, and saved million of dollars in heating/cooling costs and office space. Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network (speaking on work CAN has been doing) Partnership of public, private, non-profit, faith based resources, leverage mutual resources to advance social, economic goals. Data is available in dashboard – 18 different indicators that assess community health/well-being. 1. Approval of minutes from the May 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Motion by Qureshi, seconded by Davis. Approved unanimously (10-0) (Deviney, Campbell off dais) 2. Refresher on JSC Attendance and Conflict of Interest Form Form needs to be signed if in person If attending remotely – form must be signed before the meeting, otherwise you don’t count towards quorum and cannot vote. 3. Innovation Office support of Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Presentation – Daniel Culotta, Innovation Office (Discussion and/or Possible Action). (Discussion and/or Possible Action). Green Workforce Accelerator (GWA) – training next gen climate/sustainability workforce Qureshi – lots of existing climate/sustainability accelerators in Austin – engaging them would be good, especially for organizations that don’t get accepted to GWA. Have you had conversations with private accelerators? Culotta – we fill a gap that others miss. A lot of those are focused on for-profit companies, bottom-line focused outcome. GWA focused on programs around social services, people, workers – difficult to invest in …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation Number: (20230726-XXX): Regarding Proposal to Eliminate the Independence of the Offices of Sustainability, Resilience, Equity, and Civil Rights WHEREAS, the purpose of the Joint Sustainability Committee is “to 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”; and WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Joint Sustainability Committee to “promote close cooperation between the council, City management, City boards, commissions, committees, and taskforces, 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 WHEREAS, the Office of Sustainability is central and essential to the implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and the Equity Office and Office of Resilience have important supporting roles to play in the implementation of the plan; and WHEREAS, direct access to the Office of the City Manager and at least being on equal status with other city departments is essential to promoting cooperation between all departments in achieving full and timely implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and WHEREAS, each of the offices of Sustainability, Equity, Resilience and Civil Rights were intentionally created as independent offices as a result of extensive community input with the intention of ensuring that the principles that guide the work of these offices are established as core priorities for the city; and WHEREAS, the scope of the work the offices of Sustainability and Resilience engage in goes well beyond that of the Planning Department; and WHEREAS, the Chief Sustainability Officer should be able to advocate for sustainability initiatives directly to the Office of the City Manager and city council, without going through another department head; and WHEREAS, promoting equity improvements in the Austin community is a priority within the Austin Climate Equity plan; and WHEREAS, merging the Equity Office, Office of Civil Rights, and Minority Business Resources Department reduces the influence that these priorities will have with the Office of the City Manager and likely with City Council because only one person will be responsible for advocating for the priorities of the combined department; NOW, THEREFORE, …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT Jun 28th, 2023 at 6pm Austin Energy Headquarters – Shudde Fath Conference Room 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, Texas 78723 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 Zach Baumer at (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov or 415-694-3111). 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) Vacant (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Chris Maxwell-Gaines (Water & Wastewater Commission) Kelsey Hitchingham (Economic Prosperity Commission) Lane Becker (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 May 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. 2. Refresh on JSC attendance and conflict of interest rules – Rohan Lilauwala, Office of Sustainability. 3. Innovation Office support of Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Presentation – Daniel Culotta, Innovation Office (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 4. City of Austin Telework Policy – Whitney Holt, AFSCME (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 5. Austin Community Investment Budget Presentation – Daniela Silva, Equity Action (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 6. Updates from JSC working groups on Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 7. Updates from home commissions (Discussion and/or Possible Action). FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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) …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES June 28, 2023 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at PDC. Acting Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:06 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White (Chair), Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Rodrigo Leal, Christopher Campbell Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Lane Becker, Alice Woods, Yure Suarez, Melissa Rothrock, Jon Salinas, Heather Houser, Frances Deviney Board Members Absent: Kelsey Hitchingham, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Anna Scott City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Rohan Lilauwala, Daniel Culotta 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. • Ben Suddaby – President AFCSME (Speaking on telework policy) • Transportation costs, energy for buildings. • City showing a lack of respect for employees by forcing people to show up to a workplace they don’t want to travel to or be at. • Travis County has won awards for telework policy, and saved million of dollars in heating/cooling costs and office space. • Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network (speaking on work CAN has been doing) • Partnership of public, private, non-profit, faith based resources, leverage mutual resources to advance social, economic goals. • Data is available in dashboard – 18 different indicators that assess community health/well-being. 1. Approval of minutes from the May 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. • Motion by Qureshi, seconded by Davis. Approved unanimously (10-0) (Deviney, Campbell off dais) 2. Refresher on JSC Attendance and Conflict of Interest Form • Form needs to be signed if in person • If attending remotely – form must be signed before the meeting, otherwise you don’t count towards quorum and cannot vote. 3. Innovation Office support of Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Presentation – Daniel Culotta, Innovation Office (Discussion and/or Possible Action). (Discussion and/or Possible Action). • Green Workforce Accelerator (GWA) – training next gen climate/sustainability workforce • Qureshi – lots of existing climate/sustainability accelerators in Austin – engaging them would be good, especially for organizations that don’t get accepted to GWA. Have you had conversations with private accelerators? • Culotta – we fill a gap that others miss. A lot of those are focused on for-profit companies, bottom-line focused outcome. GWA focused on programs around social services, people, workers – difficult to invest in …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation No 20230628-4 Resolution on City Employee Work from Home Policy WHEREAS, the City of Austin's vision for net zero emissions by 2040 prioritizes greenhouse gas emission reduction and calls for 50% of trips to be made by using public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, or avoided altogether by working from home; and WHEREAS, the Climate Equity Plan states that climate impacts are not felt equally across all communities and that the City of Austin's Interim City Manager's recent orders to revoke work- from-home will disproportionately impact employees who may not be able to afford transportation costs, child care, and other expenses related to commuting while inflation and affordability issues continue to be of concern when recruiting and retaining city staff; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is struggling to fill many positions and allowing employees to work remotely is a benefit that costs the city nothing and removing this benefit will likely make recruitment and retention of employees even more challenging, and vacancies result in unfulfilled goals and reduced services, which is not in the community’s interest; and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan aims to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases by encouraging telework and work-from-home initiatives; and WHEREAS, driving contributes to the creation of ground-level ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant that causes and contributes to asthma and other respiratory illnesses; and WHEREAS, driving creates a large amount of plastic pollution from wear on tires and brakes; and WHEREAS, Travis County has implemented a work-from-home policy and 75% of the employees who are eligible to work from home are doing so; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council directed the city manager to research the benefits of expanding the telework option for City of Austin employees in June 2022 to be completed in September 2022, but the city manager never delivered results of the study; and WHEREAS, the Joint Sustainability Committee recognizes that the Interim City Manager's recent orders are partially meant to stimulate economic activity in the City of Austin near its currently underutilized commercial spaces, but that allowing local startups and creative classes to take advantage of the underutilized city office space as incubators and accelerators for their businesses may provide more long-term economic benefits to the City of Austin than having public workers and city staff drive into an office; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation No 20230628-5 Resolution Endorsing the Community Investment Budget The Joint Sustainability Committee hereby endorses the attached FY 2023-2024 Community Investment Budget created and endorsed by dozens of Austin community organizations because it is aligned with the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and improving sustainability in Austin. For: Kaiba White, Haris Qureshi, Rodrigo Leal, Christopher Campbell, Lane Becker, Alice Woods, Melissa Rothrock, Jon Salinas, Heather Houser, Frances Deviney Date: June 28, 2023 Motioned By: Rodrigo Leal Seconded By: Haris Qureshi Vote: 10-0 Against: None Abstain: Charlotte Davis Off Dais: Yureisly Suarez Attest: Rohan Lilauwala, Joint Sustainability Committee Staff Liaison Community Investment Budget The City’s budget is a reflection of our values. Those values should be reflected in a city budget created through an equitable, language-accessible and digitally-inclusive participatory budgeting process. The undersigned organizations jointly urge the following investments in community health, affordability, sustainability and safety for FY24 totaling $101.7 million or 7.8% of this year’s roughly $1.3 billion General Revenue budget. This request should be prioritized in the development of the City Manager’s Proposed Budget and as Council finalizes it. Austin’s budget is also a reflection of our city’s priorities. Austin should center its community needs in its budget, as articulated below. The undersigned groups ask that City management and elected officials prioritize the community issues listed below, which include but are not limited to, appropriate across the board pay increases for city staff to address inflation, park/youth/family programming, workforce development and services for those most in need. In recognition of the need for equitable resource support we ask that BIPOC led & served organizations be prioritized. ● Parent Support Specialists [$2.4M] ● Tenant Notification & Relocation Assistance Ordinance [$500,000] ● Emergency rental assistance, eviction defense, and tenant legal and support services [$16M] ● Inflation adjustment for city workers [$4M] ● Ebook Licensing Fees [$1M] ● Workforce Development [$5.9M] ● EMS Wage Increase [$14.7M] ● Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Victim services [$1.2M] ● Office of Violence Prevention [$500,000] ● Implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan [$685,000] ● Park Maintenance, Safety, Equity, and Restoration [$3.9M] ● Carver Library and Museum [$300,000] ● Tenant Education, Stabilization Support, and Community-based Agreement Support [$600,000] ● Displacement Prevention and Reentry Navigators [$1.5M] ● Estate and Probate Planning for Seniors [$300,000] ● Fair Housing Education, Support, and Testing [$500,000] ● Emergency Supplemental Assistance for Low Income Residents …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES May 24, 2023 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at PDC. Acting Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:12 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Anna Scott, Kaiba White, Charlotte Davis, Rick Brimer, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Yure Suarez Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Alice Woods, Jon Salinas, Melissa Rothrock, Rodrigo Leal, Heather Houser, Chris Campbell, Diana Wheeler Board Members Absent: Kelsey Hitchingham, Frances Deviney, City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Rohan Lilauwala, Sydnee Landree 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. Scott Johnson o Air quality and climate are intertwined. Find ways to implement air quality plan. Scott can be a resource. o JSC made a recommendation to hire a full-time employee on sustainable purchasing – Scott supports this. o Need JSC support to make this position successful and expand their reach across the city. 1. Approval of minutes from the April 26th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. Scott motions to approve, Houser seconds, all in favor (13-0) Passes 12-0 with Woods abstaining. 2. JSC Officer Elections for the 2023-2024 Term (Discussion and/or Possible Action). Wheeler nominates White for Chair, Campbell seconds. White nominates Wheeler for Vice-Chair, Scott seconds. o Both pass unanimously (13-0) 3. Creation of JSC working groups to help advance implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and updates from previously informal working groups (Discussion and/or Possible Action). Groups have been meeting informally, and are unofficial to date – Transportation, Buildings, Consumption + Natural Systems. Existing members been meeting unofficially, new members welcome. Goal – bring momentum to plan implementation, identify priorities and push them forward. Buildings – Salinas, Maxwell-Gaines White motions to formally create groups; Houser seconds o Passes unanimously (13-0) Updates from groups o Buildings – interest in moving forward building codes (2024 IECC, Passive House, etc.) some already happening with AEGB, how do we build on that work? o Consumption + Natural Systems – difficult to go through the plan and strategically rank actions. Consider implementation difficulty – will require outside outreach. Consumption section does not include as many policy changes, needs more money. Composting, green infrastructure, carbon neutrality for public lands – high impact + …
Green Workforce Accelerator Program Overview Joint Sustainability Committee | 06/28/2023 1 1 What and Why 2 Green Workforce Accelerator The GWA is a collaboration led by the Innovation Office between the Office of Sustainability, Office of Resilience, PARD, EDD, and ARR to expand the number and capacity of organizations providing good green jobs and green job training in Austin. ● The Climate Equity Plan has the overarching strategy of creating equitable access to good green jobs ● Several other departments and programs - e.g. Resilience, EDD, ARR, PARD - have initiatives that call for or support green jobs and equitable workforce development ● Historic IRA, BIL, and CHIPS and Science legislation is investing over $1T in clean energy and infrastructure, could create 12 million jobs - but no guarantee they will be good jobs that are accessible and provide career pathways to those who are most affected by climate change and have been locked out of economic prosperity. ● This program gives the City a vehicle to support community-based good green jobs and programs that help pursue our climate and equity goals. How we got here ● Fourth iteration of this program model for green jobs (others in 2019, 2021, 2022), seventh for all focus areas (affordability and homelessness, displacement mitigation 2019; homelessness 2023) ● Innovation Office developed the ACCC which included two community-based research studies to better understand what people want and need from green jobs programs, and an Austin green jobs economic analysis by UT. ● Number of partners providing training for and access to green jobs is low. Even less improving access for BIPOC, low income, LBGTQIA+, women, and other groups highly affected by climate impacts but with low access to green careers. ● City and its partners have and will grow significant power and influence for creating and supporting good green jobs based on the grants, direct payment tax credits, and infrastructure projects available through legislation. Now is the time to support and advance good partners. (Some of) the results from past programs ● ● ● ● ● Since 2019, 45 orgs enrolled/completed programs on affordability, homelessness, green jobs and climate change, workforce development, and anti displacement ● Created capacity for over 100 new jobs or job placements for residents 16 new programs or areas of service launched serving thousands of residents ● Majority of org participants go through major restructurings, growth, or formalizations or their …
City of Austin’s Telework Sustainability Impact Joint Sustainability Committee June 28, 2023 Whitney Holt Pushing for a return to office rather than expanding telework demonstrates leadership that is out of touch with the needs of taxpayers and the workforce. A fully maximized telework policy is the only option that both saves taxpayers money and brings the City of Austin closer to our Climate Equity goals. A robust and fully maximized telework policy for City of Austin employees will move us closer to meeting the goals outlined the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan and Vision Zero.
FY24 Community Investment Budget Led by Equity Action ATX Introductions Who is Equity Action? ● Equity Action is a Political Action Committee (PAC) focused on centering equity and justice in Austin’s political system. What is the Community Investment Budget? ● In collaboration with dozens of community organizations, Equity Action has been facilitating a 2024 Community Investment Budget that will ask Austin City Council to commit to invest directly to community needs, such as: increased wages for Parent Support Specialists, emergency rental assistance and tenant support services, social services for those experiencing homelessness, increased funding for park support, and much more. Who are the organizations involved? ACLU of Texas Alliance for Safety and Justice Austin Area Urban League Austin Community Law Center Austin Environmental Democrats Austin Justice Coalition Austin Mutual Aid Austin Urban Technology Movement Avow Blackland CDC Black Lives Veggies The Nonprofit Black Mamas ATX Community Resilience Trust Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice District 5 for Black Lives East Austin Conservancy Education Austin Equity Action Fruitful Commons Fund Texas Choice Go Austin/ Vamos Austin Ground Game Texas Hungry Hill Foundation Just Liberty Lilith Fund MISMA (Mujeres Inspiradas en Sueños, Metas y Acciones) Planning Our Communities Pro Choice with Heart Public Citizen Save Our Springs Alliance Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group Statewide Leadership Council Sunrise Movement Austin Survive2Thrive Foundation Sustainable Food Center Texas Center for Justice and Equity Texas Fair Defense Project Texas Harm Reduction Alliance Texas Women’s Justice Coalition The NICE Project Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation Undoing White Supremacy Austin University Democrats Zilker Neighborhood Association And the list continues to grow… Why is the CIB important? When Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc across Austin, community members and organizations were the first to respond. Parent Support Specialists checked in on families to make sure they had what they needed to be safe, mutual aid and nonprofit organizations mobilized to rescue people from their homes (whether in a house or on the street), and local restaurants donated their time, food, and space to prepare and distribute meals. Our public libraries serve as community spaces, resource centers for unhoused and low-income people, and cultural hubs. EMS and City Workers are exploring opportunities in other cities due to salaries that have not kept pace with the increase cost of living in Austin. Lack of affordable, safe childcare is a barrier from employment and other opportunities to many families across the city. Why is the …
Sustainable Buildings WG Recommendations: • Adopt 2024 IECC Energy Conservation Code • Create a density bonus (that stacks on top of Affordability Unlocked bonus and others) to incentivize use of Passive House standard and/or Living Building Challenge • ECAD 2.0 – require efficiency upgrades to buildings that perform poorly on energy audits • Address AEGB limitations that exist because of Smart Housing (bifurcate program) • Explicitly promoting or incentivizing Passive House Standard, Living Building Challenge and Low Carbon building throughout the CoA RFP and building funding scoring metrics (stating preference for and/or adding points to scoring for meeting these standards)
Transportation WG Updates ID Strategy Description Key Questions and Next Steps ACEP Dashboard Status Not yet started Starting soon Underway/ Ongoing TLU 1.3 Create mobility hubs: Improve the physical access to and through the transit stop/station area to be accessible to all. TLU 3.6 Improve sidewalks, urban trails, and crossings: For new sidewalk and trail construction, improve access to transit stops, healthy food locations, health centers, community centers, multi-family residences, and facilities for seniors. Include provisions for shade and ambient lighting in the design and construction of new sidewalks and trails. ● ● ● ● ● ● What locations have already been identified by City staff/community for mobility hubs? How can mobility hubs integrate with the resilience hubs effort? Learn about status of Resilience Hubs Has the City engaged with groups like Smart Columbus to learn about implementation challenges, successes, etc.? What lessons learned has the City identified? Given that status is "ongoing" and several bonds have funded this work in recent year (trails, sidewalks, Project Connect, etc), what's the progress? Presentation from Public Works et al.? Coordinate with WalkBikeRoll - status of their efforts, where JSC can put its weight to move the needle. Research shade/climate-resilient design, to improve accessibility, safety of transit & trails. Invite leaders in this space. ID Strategy Description Key Questions and Next Steps TE 1.1 Conduct an EV Community Needs Assessment: Work with local community partners, grassroots organizations, and connection points like the Austin Energy Customer Assistance Program and the City’s affordable housing programs. TE 1.2 Create equitable incentives for buying and leasing EVs: Collaborate with community partners to create inclusive and easily accessible incentives for buying or leasing electric vehicles. This strategy would supplement existing state and federal programs, prioritize low-income communities and communities of color and focus on geographic areas with limited or no access to transit. TE 1.4 Launch an e-bike and electric car-sharing program: Be intentional and equity-focused when considering where to install car sharing locations, what types of vehicles to include, and how to accept payment ● What are obstacles to this starting? ● At AE presentation, ask about EV charging infrastructure in Austin - where will it be located? In multifamily housing? How is equity factored into this? Possible rec: Allocate funding for staff/consultant to conduct the assessment. The ACEP Dashboard states that additional research is needed to identify possible funding sources for increased EV incentives. What is …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT May 24th, 2023 at 6pm Permitting and Development Center – Room 1401/1402 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 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 Zach Baumer at (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov or 415-694-3111). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Diana Wheeler, Acting Chair (Urban Transportation Commission) Charlotte Davis (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Richard Brimer (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Vacant (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Vacant (Water & Wastewater Commission) Kelsey Hitchingham (Economic Prosperity Commission) Vacant (Parks & Recreation Board) Jon Salinas (Design Commission) Vacant (City Council) Randall Chapman (Electric Utility Commission) 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 April 26th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. 2. JSC Officer Elections for the 2023-2024 Term (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 3. Creation of JSC working groups to help advance implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and updates from previously informal working groups (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 4. Updates on the Inflation Reduction Act Coordinated Grant Approach – Rohan Lilauwala, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 5. Climate Ambassadors Overview, Projects, and Lessons Learned – Sydnee Landry, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or Possible Action). 6. City of Austin Support for Energy Innovation and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (Discussion and/or Possible Action). FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT May 24th, 2023 at 6pm Permitting and Development Center – Room 1401/1402 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 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 Zach Baumer at (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov or 415-694-3111). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Diana Wheeler, Acting Chair (Urban Transportation Commission) Charlotte Davis (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Richard Brimer (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Vacant (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Vacant (Water & Wastewater Commission) Kelsey Hitchingham (Economic Prosperity Commission) Vacant (Parks & Recreation Board) Jon Salinas (Design Commission) Vacant (City Council) Randall Chapman (Electric Utility Commission) 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 ADDENDUM 7. Promotion of cooperation between the Airport and Environmental Commissions and the Department of Aviation on environmental matters that extend outside the boundaries of the ABIA property (Discussion and/or Possible Action).
