The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Sady Bartlett at Austin Energy Department, 513-322-6123, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force, please contact Sady Bartlett at 512-322-6123. LOW INCOME CONSUMER ADVISORY TASK FORCE JUNE 19, 2015 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM TOWN LAKE CENTER – ROOM 100 721 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704 For more information: http://www.austintexas.gov/content/low-income-consumer-advisory-task-force AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER a. Review, discussion and possible amendment of operating procedures 2. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS a. The first 5 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 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Approve minutes from June 1, 2015 meeting b. Approve minutes from June 5, 2015 meeting 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on on-bill financing and/or repayment b. Discussion and possible action on amendments to the multifamily energy efficiency program 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on low income energy efficiency program, goals, and cost benefit analysis 5. BRIEFINGS & REPORTS a. Briefing and discussion on Open Meetings Act, Public Information Act, and records retention b. Austin Energy staff update on the weatherization program job status c. Status of data requests d. Committee Reports – possible reports from the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program Committee, Low-Moderate Income Energy Efficiency Program Committee, and/or Affordable Rental Property Committee 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Discussion regarding future agenda items including a schedule of topics and issues and topics raised during briefings and citizen communications ADJOURNMENT
Page 1 of 3 LOW INCOME CONSUMER ADVISORY TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES June 19, 2015 The Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Room 100, in Austin, Texas. Chairperson, Carol Biedrzycki called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Task Force Members in Attendance: Carol Biedrzycki , Tim Arndt, Lanetta Cooper, Karen Hadden, Richard Halpin, Dan Pruett, Cyrus Reed, and Chris Strand. Member Kelly Weiss was not in attendance. Staff in Attendance: Austin Energy (AE) staff included Sady Bartlett, Toye Goodson-Collins, Liz Jambor, Debbie Kimberly, and Denise Kuehn. 1. CALL TO ORDER a. Review, discussion and possible amendment of operating procedures-The Chair discussed the Task Force’s current operating rules and processes. She distributed the interim report that was submitted to Council on June 12, 2015. The Chair wanted input from the members regarding different procedures to reduce the current hectic process of submitting recommendations. Members discussed and offered comments. The Chair introduced Cynthia Tom with the City of Austin Law Department. She would provide a presentation on the Public Information Act (PIA), Records Retention, and the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). She informed members that as the Task Force is coming towards the end of their work, they needed to keep the following guidelines in mind: • A report from the Task Force needs to be supported by a vote of the quorum. • Deliberations are not to happen behind closed doors or via email. • Recommendations need to be voted on prior to finalizing the report. • Members could convene in working groups of 4 or less. • The report should not be distributed to the group unless it is in an open meeting; this allows the entire group to be able vote on the final report. Debbie Kimberly, VP of Customer Energy Solutions noted the amount of work done by both the group and staff. She supported the idea of giving more time to review the report in an open meeting and emphasized that Austin Energy (AE) staff’s role is to advise the Task Force. Member Strand asked the Chair to formally invite AE staff to sit at the discussion table. Staff joined the members at the table. Members Reed and Pruett wanted staff responses regarding the final report throughout the process. Member Cooper recommended Member Halpin to be parliamentarian to help facilitate and ensure clarity …
City of Austin Low-Income Consumer Advisory Task Force Operating Rules January 9, 2015 1. Meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order. 2. Chair and/or Austin Energy staff will notify members of scheduled meetings at least 5 days prior to meeting time. All meetings will also be announced to the public via the City of Austin website at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting. Time certain for meetings will be every first and third Friday with some exceptions. The Task Force may schedule additional meetings at other times and will reconsider the list of meeting dates in March. The list of meeting dates is as follows: January 9, 2015 January 16, 2015 February 6, 2015 February 20, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 27, 2015 April 10, 2015 April 17, 2015 May 1, 2015 May 15, 2015 June 5, 2015 June 19, 2015 July 17, 2015 August 7, 2015 August 21, 2015 September 4, 2015 September 18, 2015 3 The Task Force meetings will be tape recorded and copied and made available to members if requested. 4. Staff shall take meeting notes and make them available to members. 5. A quorum is a majority of Task Force’s current membership. A quorum (five members) must be present to take any official action. 6. Official action must be approved by at least a majority of the members (five members). Official action can only occur on meeting days scheduled in advance and attended by a quorum of members. 7. All Task Force meetings shall include a time of 15 minutes for public input at the beginning of the meeting. However, unless a majority of the Task Force agrees, input from the public will be limited to three minutes per speaker. The Task Force may extend City of Austin Low-Income Consumer Advisory Task Force Operating Rules January 9, 2015 the total 15-minute time period as needed or hold special meetings to obtain more public input as needed. 8. The Chair shall set the agenda of the meetings but must seek input from other Task Force members. At least three members may propose or agree to a Request for Study or Presentation from staff or other third party. Presentations should be limited to 15 minutes- not including questions from Task Force members. 9. Task Force members may themselves request to make a presentation, but must limit their presentation to no more than 10 …
AMEND THE MULTI-FAMILY PROGRAM Recommendation Number _____1 Targeted Underserved Group: Renters Living in Older Multi-Family and Rental Properties Brief Description: Restructure the Multi-family Program to provide a more comprehensive approach to energy efficiency and increase the efficiency of air conditioners in rental properties. The lifecycle of central HVAC equipment is 15 years and energy performance should be recognized for incentives. Time Schedule: Implementation in 2016 Budget impact: Anticipates using funds currently allocated to the Multi-Family program. Community Need: Over half-- 55%--of Austin residents live in rental housing.2 Most housing units –61%--were built before 1990 and 40% were built between 1970 -1989.3 Census data further indicate than households who rent have lower income than those who own their own homes. Approximately 22% of owners have income below $25,000 compared to 33% of renters.4 Approximately 47% of owners have income under $50,000 compared to almost 64% for renters.5 Providing a greater amount of energy efficiency program activity in rental property is highly likely to benefit low and low moderate income customers. Tracking of demographic data for participants is highly encouraged to help determine the distribution of energy efficiency benefits to different income groups. The inability of many renters to pay their utility bills is because of high usage that could be reduced with energy efficiency improvements. These are improvements that make living in the apartment unit more affordable for the tenant and contribute to Austin Energy’s energy efficiency and climate protection goals. The current multi-family program through high rebates (85 to 90% of project costs) to owners of rental properties has been successful in promoting air infiltration measures, duct sealing, insulation, solar screens, pipe wrap, compact fluorescent lighting and low-flow water devices. However, the program does not appear have success in having landlords replace air conditioning 1 Number will be assigned in final report. 2 2014 Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis City of Austin Final Report, July 31, 2014 Prepared for City of Austin Neighborhood Housing and Community Development, 1000 E 11 St. Austin, TX 78702 by BBC Research an Consulting, 1999 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, Colorado 80202-9750 p. 9. 3 Idid., p. 6. 4 U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, S2503 FINANCIAL CHARACTERISTICS, 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 5 Ibid. units that are the drivers of high bills for many low and low moderate income renter households. A majority of program resources have been allocated to newer larger apartment communities. This …
1 Proposed Recommendation Number _____ Recommendation for Vulnerable Populations Recommendation: A residential low income energy efficiency program should be created to provide window heating and/or cooling units including installation to low income families served by Austin Energy with at least one member: aged 62 or older, disabled, or a child who is six years of age or younger. This program would be implemented through the use of contractor rebates and the provision of energy efficient window cooling and/or heating units purchased in bulk by AE. Targeted Underserved Group: Homeowners and tenants whose household income qualifies for the emergency home repair program provided by the City of Austin Neighborhood Housing & Community Development and who meet the qualifications stated above. Time Schedule: Implement in 2016. Brief Description: Provide emergency heating and/or cooling relief to vulnerable populations through the provision of energy efficiency cooling and/or heating window units. Program Description: This program would be provided in conjunction with the City of Austin’s emergency Home Repair Program which is part of the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Housing & Community Development Client Service’s Programs. Contractors certified by Austin Energy would perform the work. Austin Energy would certify that the window unit(s) is (are) needed before the window unit is installed. Once that determination is made, Austin Energy would provide the window unit(s). After installation, Austin Energy would review the household to ensure the window unit was installed and installed properly. A rebate check issued to the contractor to cover the cost of installation would be provided after the final Austin Energy review. Budget: There are two funding components to this proposed program: 1. One-time funding to establish a contingency reserve to provide payment to the manufacturer-retailer if the guaranteed minimum level of cooling and/or heating appliances are not purchased; and 2. Funding for rebates.
Cost effectiveness test of energy efficiency and renewable incentives for low to moderate income households in homeowner and rental properties: Everyone pays into the Community Benefits Charge on their electric bill from Austin Energy on kWh used. The cost effectiveness test Austin Energy uses to only measures peak kW demand reduction based on the cost of building a new power plant. Other factors should be considered like kWh reduction that increases affordability, Health and Safety that improves the quality of life of a resident through better indoor air quality or reduced risk of fire. Energy efficiency also creates local jobs. The City of Austin Sustainability Office uses a Triple Bottom Line for evaluating purchasing recommendations. The graphic below is from a presentation developed to deliver to Council by Zach Baumer (March 2015): Sustainability Triple Bottom Line Recommendation: The taskforce recommends that the cost test also consider the energy and non-energy benefits not included in current calculations. Economic/ Prosperity Environmental/ Planet Social/ People & Equity Cost of energy (kWh) Employment Industry expansion Energy grid purchases and security (ERCOT energy purchases) Market demand Climate resilience GHG emissions Water use and impact Air quality (including indoor) Land use impacts Affordability Fair distribution of Community Benefit Charge Funds Health impacts Education opportunities Energy access Safety and security Energy security We further recommend that funds in the CAP and free weatherization program be used during the cooler months (September through April) when the work demand for the Austin Energy contractors is at its lowest. This will keep their employees busy thus maximizing the economic benefit of the use of public funds.
Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force Public Information Act Records Retention Texas Open Meetings Act June 19, 2015 Purpose of Presentation •Low Income Consumer Advisory Task Force is set to dissolve October 1, 2015, if not sooner •As work of the task force is wrapping up, keep in mind requirements of the Public Information Act and records retention •Refresher on requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act Purpose of Presentation •This presentation is intended to be a general overview •For individual questions, please contact me for a one-on-one conversation –Cindy Tom –Assistant City Attorney –(512) 974-3042 –cynthia.tom@austintexas.gov What Is The Public Information Act? The Public Information Act is a Texas statute that gives the public the right to ask for government information. This body is subject to the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). What does PIA Compliance Require? The Public Information Act requires that the city and its officials provide certain documents regarding city business upon written request. Documents may be paper or electronic format. Any email – including city business on your personal email account – or social media communication regarding city business is subject to the Public Information Act. 5 Records Retention Requirements •Records retention guidelines let us know when it is ok to dispose of a document. •Please allow city staff to determine whether you may dispose of a document. 6 What is the Texas Open Meetings Act? The Texas Open Meetings Act is a Texas statute that provides for public access to meetings of governmental bodies. This body is subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act (Res. No. 20140828-158; City Code 2-1-3(D)). What does TOMA Compliance Require? Meeting notice (agenda) must be posted, and… –72-hour notice –Must include subject of what will be discussed –General citizen communication cannot be discussed 8 What does TOMA Compliance Require? Discussions of official business by a quorum or more must occur in public: –Exchanges by email and social media can constitute an inappropriate discussion of official business –Do not “reply all” to emails sent to entire panel –Walking quorums –Working groups must be made up of less than a quorum –Official business does not include ceremonies/social events 9 Questions? Thank you very much for your service!
