Racial Landscaping: A Brief History of Park Planning along Lower Waller Creek Austin, 1880 A Social Survey of Austin, 1913 …people are crowded together in small huts, one and two families in a one-room shanty, and little children are forced to play out in the dusty street on the filthy, dirty creek or river bank where their homes are located. A City Plan for Austin, 1928 …we are recommending the ultimate establishment of a neighborhood park in the vicinity of Eleventh and Twelfth Streets just east of the I& G N Railroad…The topography is very rough and is at present occupied by the cheapest type of negro shacks, whereas the property immediately adjoining is more valuable and can eventually be residential property of the highest order. The acquisition of this property for park purposes, and the removal of the present type of development, will increase the value of the surrounding property many times the cost of the acquisition thereof. A City Plan for Austin, 1928 The property immediately north of Palm School, on account of being isolated and cut up by Waller Creek, is very cheap property, and in a neglected state … The block to the west of Palm School … is also very cheap property and will remain so as long as Waller Creek is permitted to continue in its present condition. It is our recommendation that these tracts of land be acquired by the city, and that the course of Waller Creek be straightened … Second Street from Red River to East Avenue and Sabine Street from First to Third could be vacated and this entire tract converted into a very desirable neighborhood play ground. A City Plan for Austin, 1928 [The] Shoal Creek Valley … is flanked on either side by high bluffs, and very desirable residential property. Between the bluffs ... are considerable lowlands which are not particularly desirable for residential use. We are recommending that the lowlands of this valley be acquired for a large park ... to control the nature of developments of the bluff front properties. The completion of this drive will entail the acquisition of certain cheap property along the banks of Waller Creek from Eighth Street to Nineteenth Street. Most of the property which will be needed is at present occupied by very unsightly and unsanitary shacks inhabited by negroes. With these buildings removed...remaining property will be of a substantial …
Forgetting Waller Creek: An Environmental History of Race, Parks, and Planning in Downtown Austin, Texas Katherine Leah Pace Journal of Southern History, Volume 87, Number 4, November 2021, pp. 603-644 (Article) Published by The Southern Historical Association For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/840045 Access provided at 5 Dec 2021 03:27 GMT from The University Of Texas at Austin, General Libraries Forgetting Waller Creek: An Environmental History of Race, Parks, and Planning in Downtown Austin, Texas By Katherine Leah Pace Waller Creek is a flood-prone stream that runs through the center of Austin, Texas. To quote Joseph Jones, an English professor who published a 1982 treatise on the waterway, Waller Creek flows “quite literally” through “the inner heart of Austin.” It originates in the city’s north-central suburbs and flows generally south through the University of Texas (UT) flagship campus, past the historic Brackenridge Hospital, around the east side of Capitol Square, which sits on a hill, and down the eastern edge of down- town, where it empties into Town Lake, an impounded stretch of the Colorado River. It is Austin’s most urbanized, polluted, and degraded creek; yet, as ecologists insist, it continues to provide habitat for a host of animal and plant species.1 A “flash flood alley,” central Texas is a convergence zone for divergent weather systems, including massive, humid tropical fronts that roll off the Gulf of Mexico and cold dry fronts that move into Texas from the north and west. When these systems collide, they produce intense storms. Central Texas soils are relatively thin and rocky or heavy in clay, while the region’s terrain is hilly, limiting the soil’s capacity to absorb rainfall. As such, during intense storms, runoff flows rapidly into nearby streams, trig- gering sudden, high-velocity, and enormously destructive flash floods.2 1 Joseph Jones, Life on Waller Creek: A Palaver about History as Pure and Applied Education (Austin, 1982), 8–9 (quotation on 9). In 2007 Town Lake was renamed Lady Bird Lake. I would like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance provided to me by archivists at the Austin History Center and to thank Dr. Sarah Dooling for her encouragement and edits. 2 Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, “Flash Flood Safety,” Take 5 for Safety, no. HS99-501E (05-21), https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/t5flood .pdf (quotation); William Keith Guthrie, “Flood Alley: An Environmental History of Flooding in Texas” (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kansas, 2006), 1–9; Victor R. Baker, Flood …
7/12/22, 4:18 PM Edmund T. Gordon's Bio - Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost Home ▸ The Office ▸ Edmund T. Gordon’s Bio Edmund T. Gordon’s Bio fmiller@austin.utexas.edu C U R R I C U L U M V I TA E Edmund T. Gordon's V I E W / D O W N L O A D Dr. Edmund T. Gordon is an anthropologist whose work focuses on power and social transformation in the Black Diaspora. He is founding C O N TA C T U S Dr. Gordon’s publications have appeared nationally and internationally, CV chair of the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies (2010- 2017), is an associate professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and Anthropology, and is the executive director of the Contextualization and Commemoration Initiative at The University of Texas at Austin. His teaching and research interests include: power and identity in the African Diaspora, critical race and gender theory, and the racial economy of space and resources. and his book Disparate Diasporas: Identity and Politics in an African- Nicaraguan Community (UT Press, 1998), a historical ethnography of Black Nicaraguans’ politics and identity, is currently being translated into Spanish. In an e ort to bring his scholarship into public engagement, Dr. Gordon has conducted collaborative research projects with communities in Central America funded by Ford Foundation and World Bank. He also received a major grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, which supported his development of the African Diaspora Program in the Department of Anthropology at UT Austin and the expansion of the Center for African and African American Studies, as its director. Under Dr. Gordon’s leadership, the Department of African Diaspora Studies was founded in 2010. He was an elected member of the Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees (2015-2018). He continues his service work through the creation of a Racial Geography Tour of UT Austin’s campus. In 2014, Dr. Gordon received UT’s highest honors, a Presidential Citation and the Pro Bene Meritis award in 2016 from the College of Liberal Arts. C O N TA C T U S R E L AT E D Q U I C K L I N K S Phone 512-471-4363 110 Inner Campus Dr. Public Access Fax 512-475-7385 STOP G1000 to Course Email Austin, TX 78712-1701 Information Diversity, Equity & Inclusion provost.o ce@utexas.edu The O ce Initiatives News (HB2504) Faculty & Academic Resources UT Austin Home …
Austin Parks and Recreation Department Donde Corre El Agua, or Where the Water Runs July 25, 2022 Presentation on the Where The Water Runs /Donde Corre El Agua Community Activated Park Project proposal for East Williamson Creek Trailhead and Greenbelt within the Dove Springs Community Christine Chute Canul, Partnership Manager, Park Planning Division • Frances Acuña Go Austin Vamos Austin • Blanca Ortíz, Elena Rodríguez and Enedina Sánchez E. Williamson Creek Adopters • Bjørn Sletto School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin Agenda • Partners: • Site History • Community Engagement • Community Priorities • Proposed Site Improvements • Next Steps E. Williamson Creek Greenbelt | Dove Springs Partnership We worked in collaboration with: ● Urban Roots youth interns ● UT Professor Bjørn Sletto with School of Architecture and his graduate Community & Regional Planning class ● The community residents of E. Williamson Creek ● Park Ranger Cadets Overview of Community Engagement Creek adopters, students and Urban Roots worked actively through the pandemic speaking individually with neighbors, hosting group discussions, knocking on doors, receiving feedback and designing the project. They also walked the proposed trail. Donde Corre El Agua | Where the Water Runs Donde Corre El Agua | Where the Water Runs • High level priorities that came out of the Community Engagement were: • Culture • Signs designed with community input • History of culture and recipes along the trail signs • Preservation flood mitigation • Conservation • Land preservation for air quality, wildlife and • Neighborhood conservation of culture, values and beliefs are displayed along the flood wall Donde Corre El Agua | Where the Water Runs • Continued priorities of the engagement: • Area must be safe to walk, play and de-stress • Swings, volleyball and basketball • The park should welcome people of all ages to relax and play. • Benches along the trail and tables in open spaces for gathering • Changes should be made in a way that does not hurt the natural environment. • Any changes to the park should be easy-to- maintain and contribute to visitors’ safety and comfort. Next Steps ✔Community Activated Park Project Proposal| Complete (2022) • Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) Application • Project Scope and Project Budget Estimate • NPP Board Approval • Design & Permitting • NPP & PARD - Implementation of Identified Priorities • Trailhead, nature trails and placemaking • Partnership - Ongoing …
DONDE CORRE EL AGUA WHERE THE WATER RUNS Narración de historias, coproducción y diseño comunitario de parques en Dove Springs, Austin, Texas Storytelling, Co-Production and Community-Based Park Design in Dove Springs, Austin, Texas DONDE CORRE EL AGUA Narración de historias, coproducción y diseño comunitario de parques en Dove Springs, Austin, Texas WHERE THE WATER RUNS Storytelling, Co-Production and Community-Based Park Design in Dove Springs, Austin, Texas August 2021 DONDE CORRE EL AGUA WHERE THE WATER RUNS Autores Authors Samira Bashar Alaina Bompiedi Caitin Hartnett Jongmoon Lee Jorge Losoya Raviya Mysorewala Michelle Parke Veronica Romero Editor Editor Bjørn Sletto Community and Regional Planning School of Architecture The University of Texas at Austin Project Website: https://sites.utexas.edu/environmentaljustice-austin/ Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eOC5j The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture 310 Inner Campus Drive B7500 Austin, TX 78712-1009 www.soa.utexas.edu/programs/commu- nity-and-regional-planning Go Austin/Vamos Austin 3710 Cedar Street Suite #230 Austin, TX 78705 www.goaustinvamosaustin.org/ Urban Roots 4900 Gonzales St. Austin, TX 78702 www.urbanrootsatx.org/ Este proyecto fue fondeado por la Fundación Hogg a través de la Escuela de Arquitectura de La Universidad de Texas en Austin. Fue definido como un Proyecto Académico solo con propósitos educativos por la Oficina de Apoyo y Cumplimiento de la Investigación (RSC) de La Universidad de Texas. Este trabajo fue facilitado y supervisado por GAVA, Urban Roots y los Creek Adopters. This project was supported with funding from the Hogg Foundation through the School of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin. Defined as a Class Project for educational use only by the Office of Research Support and Compliance (RSC), The University of Texas, the work was facilitated and supervised by GAVA, Urban Roots, and the Creek Adopters. AGRADECIMIENTOS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Este proyecto comunitario se originó con el liderazgo de Blanca Ortiz, Elena Rodríguez y Enedina Sánchez, residentes de mucho tiempo de Dove Springs quienes adoptaron esta porción del Cinturón verde Williamson Creek a través de Keep Austin Beatiful. Nuestro grupo de estudiantes y profesores de la UT estamos profundamente agradecidos con Blanca, Elena y Enedina sus invitarnos a participar en por incansables esfuerzos de mejorar el parque de su vecindario. Nos gustaría agradecer también a Carmen Llanes Pulido y Frances Acuña de GAVA y Ana Aguirre con el equipo Southeast Neighborhood Contact por habernos dado la bienvenida como socios, además de facilitar el involucramiento con los residentes. Nuestro más profundo agradecimiento para Sydney Corbin con Urban Roots, sin cuyo comprometido liderazgo, atento …
Republic Square Conditional Use Permit Parks Board Meeting May 23, 2022 City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department: Reynaldo Hernandez, PLA Project Manager Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation: Molly Alexander, Executive Director Angela Navarro, Community Outreach Coordinator WHO, WHAT AND WHY WHO is involved: City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation WHAT is the purpose: Permit the consumption of alcohol at the designated areas in Republic Square WHY are we here: To align current permit with City of Austin Land Development Code Republic Square Conditional Use Permit (CUP) OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND Republic Square park renovation completed in Fall 2017 Salt & Time Café received a TABC permit and began the sale of alcohol from vendor on park premises in 2020 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CUP required for sale of alcohol on public property CUP changes the zoning of the property from ‘PUBLIC’ to PARK AND RECREATION SERVICES (SPECIAL)’ which will permit the sale of alcohol on the grounds The CUP does not apply to special events. Events at Republic Square will continue to need a separate agreement for alcohol sales. Republic Square Conditional Use Permit (CUP) CUP PROCESS SUBMITTAL TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES START JANUARY 2022 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Open House APRIL 13, 2022 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 2022 COMPLETE AUG./SEPT. 2022 The CUP does not apply to special events Events at Republic Square have a separate agreement for alcohol sale and area. Republic Square Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Republic Square Park Context TEXAS ALCOHOL BEVERAGE COMMISION • The license allows for the sale of alcohol on-premises and in designated areas. • Permit issued for a 2-year duration and is renewable. • Austin Police Department can issue citations for consumption of alcohol outside • No one under the age of 18 can sell alcohol. No one under the age of 21 can of defined boundaries. consume alcohol. Republic Square Conditional Use Permit (CUP) OPERATIONAL PLAN • Downtown Austin Alliance Park Ambassadors are present to ensure compliance with CUP from 6 am to 10 pm daily. • Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation agreement with the vendor to adhere to TABC guidelines. Republic Square Conditional Use Permit (CUP) EXAMPLES OF URBAN PARKS WHERE ALCOHOL SALE IS ALLOWED DALLAS • Klyde Warren Park • Tietze Park • Crowley Park HOUSTON • Discovery Green • Market Square Park San Antonio • Hemis Fair • Tower of the Americas • La …
Presented by: Gabrielle Restivo, Contract Management Specialist IV, and Amanda Ross, Division Manager, Natural Resources Programs Parks and Recreation Board July 25, 2022 1 AGREEMENT HISTORY • The City entered into an agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) on July 26, 2007, for buoy installation and maintenance to alert boaters to the hazards associated with the floodgates and spillway of the then recently renovated Tom Miller Dam. • In July 2013, this agreement was amended to include the City’s water treatment plants and other improvements abutting or adjacent to Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, and the area surrounding Handcox Water Treatment Plant on Lake Travis. • This agreement expires on December 30, 2022, and will be replaced by the proposed agreement. 2 3 SERVICES AND DELIVERABLES City and LCRA will together: LCRA will: City will: • Determine the location, type, number, and anchoring of the buoys. • Provide all labor and equipment for buoy installation. • Establish processes and • Maintain, repair, or • Pay for the cost of buoys and installation ($5,000- 10,000 annually). • Assist if requested as mutually agreed. procedures for the purchase and installation of buoys. • Mutually loan equipment for the purposes of the agreement. replace damaged buoys subject to staffing, funding, and water and weather conditions. 4 AGREEMENT TERM APPROVALS REQUIRED • Five years with two additional five- year terms upon written agreement • Austin City Council • LCRA Board of Directors 5 ACTION REQUESTED Recommend that the City Council authorize the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with LCRA for the installation, maintenance, and replacement of buoys to assist boaters in recognizing hazards on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, and the area surrounding Handcox Water Treatment Plant on Lake Travis. 6
INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY REGARDING BUOYS AT LAKE AUSTIN, LADY BIRD LAKE, DECKER LAKE, AND THE AREA SURROUNDING HANDCOX WATER TREATMENT PLANT ON LAKE TRAVIS Agreement Overview: City of Austin agrees to work with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to install, maintain, and replace buoys, signs, cables and/or markers and appurtenances (Buoys) to assist boaters in recognizing hazards associated with Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, and the area surrounding Handcox Water Treatment Plant on Lake Travis. What is the Purpose of the Agreement? Following major renovations to Tom Miller Dam in 2005, the City entered into an agreement with LCRA on July 26, 2007, for Buoy installation and maintenance to alert boaters to the hazards associated with the floodgates and spillway of Tom Miller Dam. On July 16, 2013, this agreement was amended to incorporate the City’s water treatment plants and other improvements abutting or adjacent to bodies of water within the City of Austin's controlling jurisdiction, including all of Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, and the area surrounding Handcox Water Treatment Plant on Lake Travis. This agreement is set to expire on December 30, 2022. The proposed interlocal agreement between the City and LCRA will replace the expiring agreement. What is the Required Reciprocity from each Governmental Agency? LCRA Services to be Provided and Deliverables • LCRA will work with the City to mutually determine the location, type, number, and anchoring of the Buoys. • LCRA will work with the City to establish processes and procedures for the purchase and installation of Buoys in the aforementioned waterways. • LCRA will provide all labor and equipment for Buoy installation. • LCRA agrees to use best efforts to maintain, repair, or replace damaged Buoys subject to staffing, funding, and water and weather conditions. • LCRA agrees to mutually loan equipment to the City for purposes of the agreement. City of Austin Deliverables • City’s Contract Manager will work with LCRA to mutually determine the location, type, number, and anchoring of the Buoys. • City will work with LCRA to establish processes and procedures for the purchase and installation of Buoys in the aforementioned waterways. Page 1 of 2 INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY REGARDING BUOYS AT LAKE AUSTIN, LADY BIRD LAKE, DECKER LAKE, AND THE AREA SURROUNDING …
CEMETERY OPERATIONS Perpetual Care Fund Parks and Recreation Board Presentation July 2022 MISSION STATEMENT | Cemetery Operations strives to honor the past, present, and future of Austin’s sacred municipal burial grounds with integrity, empathy, and respect. VISION STATEMENT | Cemetery Operations utilizes available resources to provide the best quality of service and care to our diverse community and historic cemeteries. The Founding of Historic Cemeteries 1839 • Oakwood Cemetery 1872 • Stanley- Nolen 1878 • Cemetery at Longview Park 1898 • Plummers Cemetery 1915 • Oakwood Cemetery Annex 1926 • Evergreen Cemetery 1927 • Austin Memorial Cemetery • 24 FTE’s, 6 administrative, 18 grounds • 200+ acres • 400+ burials/year • 80,000 burials total • Spaces sold in two • Approximately 30 acres of undeveloped land at Austin Memorial Park for future burials 2 What Is The Perpetual Care Fund(PCF)?: The Perpetual Care Trust Fund ("PCF“) was created by City Council in 1983 pursuant to the statutory predecessor of: Texas Health and Safety Code Chap. 713, Subchap. A. The PCF is currently codified in City Code Chap. 10-1. The purpose of the Fund is to assure the perpetual maintenance of the cemetery lots and graves in the City cemeteries; invest and reinvest money in trust accounts in the Trust Fund; and apply the income earned by the Trust Fund that is in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the individual cemetery lots or graves to the beautification of the city cemeteries generally. 3 Perpetual Care Fund History: • Council established PCF, directing that 25% of the sale of each cemetery plot be deposited in the Fund. This practice was discontinued in 1982. 1959 • Council transferred PCF funds into Cemetery Endowment 1982 Fund(established in 1982. 1985 • City became the trustee for ten small, individual trusts transferred from Texas Commerce Bank and Bank One into the PCF. Based on existing records, it is unclear whether these are the only individual trusts – i.e., trusts established for the maintenance of a specific lot or gravesite -- that were ever created pursuant to Chap. 10-1. 1990 • Council merged Cemetery Endowment Fund into PCF. 4 What Is The Current Balance of The PCF: $1 million (Current Principle) $10,000 ( Interested Yielded and Deposited In GF) $3.3 million (Current Budget Funded by GF) $330 million (Amount needed in PCF to be solvent) Meanwhile, deferred maintenance at the cemeteries remains a significant issue. …
PERPETUAL CARE FUND - FAQ The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) assumed management of the City's five historic cemeteries on November 1, 1986. Until March 2013, PARD used a contractor, InterCare Corporation, exclusively for cemetery sales, operations, maintenance and management. In assuming direct management of the five City cemeteries, PARD staff uncovered a number of operational and administrative challenges that not only required thorough research, but also required the development and implementation of new processes and procedures in accordance with established State and City laws and industry best practices. Systematically, PARD addressed a number of issues and recently uncovered an additional challenge related to the Perpetual Care Fund (PCF). Unfortunately, other immediate challenges associated with direct cemetery management prevented PARD from addressing this issue until this time. What is the purpose of the Perpetual Care Fund The Perpetual Care Trust Fund ("PCTF" or "Fund") was created by City Council in 1983 pursuant to the statutory predecessor of Texas Health and Safety Code Chap. 713, Subchap. A. The PCTF is currently codified in City Code Chap. 10-1, Art. 2. See Attachment 1. The purpose of the Fund is to assure the perpetual maintenance of the cemetery lots and graves in the city cemeteries; invest and reinvest money in trust accounts in the Trust Fund; and apply the income earned by the Trust Fund that is in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the individual cemetery lots or graves to the beautification of the city cemeteries generally. When was the last contribution made to the PCF The Cemetery Perpetual Care Interest Fund was utilized for expenditures to operate and maintain the City of Austin’s cemetery until FY 2013-14, when all costs associated with cemetery operations were moved to the General Fund. The remaining balance of the fund was transferred to a separate account in FY 2013-14. The Cemetery Perpetual Care Principal Fund has a current balance of approximately $1 million. Annual interest earnings on this principal are approximately $10,000 and the interest is recorded as revenue that goes back into the General Fund. The balance must remain in the fund due to legal requirements (City Code: Article 2. Section 10‐1‐11). What is the current balance of the PCF Councilman Bechtol moved to increase cemetery lot charges and set up a special fund for perpetual care to receive 25% of each lot sale. Minutes of the City Council …
M E M O R A N D U M Parks and Recreation Board Kimberly A. McNeeley, M. Ed., CPRP, Director Austin Parks and Recreation Department July 20, 2022 TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Dissolving the Perpetual Care Trust Fund The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information related to the origin and purpose of the Perpetual Care Trust Fund (PCF), as well as provide justification for why it should be dissolved. The PCF was created by City Council in 1983 pursuant to the statutory predecessor of Texas Health and Safety Code Chap. 713, Subchapter A. The PCF is currently codified in City Code Chap. 10-1, Art. 2. The purpose of the fund is to assure the perpetual maintenance of the cemetery lots and graves in the City cemeteries; invest and reinvest money in trust accounts; and apply the income earned by the PCF, that is in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the individual cemetery lots or graves, to the beautification of City cemeteries generally. The Parks and Recreation Department’s (Department) objective, since it assumed direct responsibility for cemetery maintenance in 2013, has been to provide the same level of care to all graves, lots and public areas in the five City-owned cemeteries. The amount of income generated from the PCF principal is a small fraction of the Department’s cemeteries budget. Meanwhile, deferred maintenance at the cemeteries remains a significant issue, and its cost alone exceeds the cemeteries budget. The Department would prefer the PCF principal be moved into a Capital Improvement Project account or a Special Revenue account that is specifically for cemetery maintenance and operations. This would allow the funds to roll over each fiscal year as needed to cover differed maintenance. Before the PCF can be dissolved, the Texas State Legislature must pass an amendment to Health and Safety Code Chapter 713 that gives Austin City Council permission to do so. The Parks and Recreation Board can aid this process by recommending that Austin City Council support an amendment to State Law to allow the City to dissolve the Perpetual Care Trust Fund and use the principal for general cemetery maintenance and capital improvements. cc: Jodi Jay, M.B.A., CPRP, Assistant Director Liana Kallivoka, PhD, PE, LEED Fellow, Assistant Director Lucas Massie, M.Ed., CPRP, Assistant Director Suzanne Piper, DBA, Chief Administrative Officer Page 1 of 1
Austin Parks and Recreation Department Presentation on: Parkland Dedication Requirements for Commercial Developments Paul Books, Planner III; Robynne Heymans, Planner Senior; Thomas Rowlinson, Principal Planner; Randy Scott, Program Manager - Parks and Recreation Department July 25th, 2022 1 Proposed Formula Required Parkland = 9.4 acres X Functional Population 1,000 people • 9.4 acres per 1,000 people equals the established parks level of service • Functional Population • The estimated commuter workforce of a new development discounted by their relative opportunity to access parkland, representing the full-time equivalent population of new development • Functional Population = Employee Density X Occupancy Rate X Operation Time X Percent Commuter from Outside City Limits Employee Density (SF Per Employee) Occupancy Rate Operational Hours Percent Commuter Industrial Retail Office Hotel 2,500 SF 550 SF 300 SF 1,500 SF 94% 95% 92% - 70.8% 37.5% 23.8% 70.8% 58% 58% 58% 58% 2 2 Proposed Requirements Land Dedication – 9.4 Acres per 1,000 functional population Fee-in-Lieu – $3,781.32 per functional population Development Fee – $351.85 per functional population Per SF by Use Category: Fee-in-Lieu Development Fee Office $1.6007/SF $0.1489/SF Total: $1.7497/SF Retail $1.4206/SF $0.1322/SF $1.5528/SF Industrial $0.5838/SF $0.0543/SF $0.6382/SF Hotel $1.0352/SF $0.0963/SF $1.1315/SF Figures are preliminary and subject to change 3 3 Example of Application - Mixed Use Commercial Step 1: Calculate Estimated Employees in Commercial Space Total SF SF/Employee Total Employees 136,000 300 453 Commercial Step 2: Derive Functional Population of Commercial Space Employees Occupancy Operation Hours Percent Commuter Functional Population 92% B 23.8% 58% 57.57 C D Formula = A * B * C * D Total 453 A Commercial Step 3: Calculate Requirements of Commercial Space Commercial Land Owed 0.54 acres Formula = (Functional Population/1000) x 9.4 acres Commercial Fee-In-Lieu $217,695 Commercial Development Fee $20,250 Formula = SF of Development x $1.6007 Formula = SF of Development x $0.1489 Total Requirement: Land Owed 5.48 acres Fee-In-Lieu $1,117,376 Development Fee $182,935 Residential Step 1: Calculate Residential Population Residential Step 2: Calculate Residential Requirements Total Units SMART Units Resident Population 309 0 525 Residential Land Owed 4.94 acres Residential Fee-In-Lieu $899,681 Residential Development Fee $162,685 4 Figures are approximate Formula = (Total Units x 1.7 / 1,000)*9.4 Formula = People x $2,912.17 Formula = People x $526.49 Example of Application - Office Urban Office Hypothetical Step 1: Calculate Estimated Employees Total SF SF/Employee Total Employees 325,000 300 1,083 Step 2: Derive Functional Population Operation Hours Total …
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ARTICLE 14 (PARKLAND DEDICATION) ADDING COMMERCIAL PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS DRAFT SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL CHANGES VERSION TWO ARTICLE 14. PARKLAND DEDICATION.1 § 25-1-601 GENERAL PROVISIONS. (A) The City of Austin has determined that recreational areas in the form of public parks are necessary for the well-being of residents and employees. The City has further determined that the approval of new residential and commercial development is reasonably related to the need for additional parkland and park amenities to serve new development. This article establishes a fair method for determining parkland dedication, or the payment of a fee in-lieu of dedication, to be required as a condition to the approval of new development in an amount proportionate to the impact of development on existing parks and established levels of service. (B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the parkland dedication requirements of this article apply to: (1) a residential and commercial subdivision within the planning jurisdiction; a site plan within the zoning jurisdiction that includes residential units or commercial square footage [a hotel-motel use]; and a [residential]building permit for residential and commercial development, as provided under Section 25-1-608 (Dedication of Land or Payment In-Lieu at Building Permit). (C) The following are exempt from the requirements of this article: a subdivision or site plan for which parkland was previously dedicated or payment made under this title, except for the dwelling units or commercial square footage [lots] that exceed the number for which dedication or payment was made; (2) development within the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction that is within Travis County and governed by Title 30 (Austin/Travis County Subdivision Regulations); and (3) affordable dwelling units that are certified under the S.M.A.R.T. Housing Policy approved by the city council. (2) (3) (1) (D) The following definitions apply throughout this article: (1) ANNUAL OCCUPANCY RATE means the hotel-motel occupancy rate for the City of Austin, as reported annually by the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office. (2) COMMERCIAL OCCUPANCY RATE means the City of Austin’s current commercial occupancy rate as determined annually by the director annually using the most recent data from the Austin Chamber of Commerce or a comparable source if deemed appropriate by the director. (3) COMMUTER POPULATION PERCENTAGE means the percentage of employees who live outside the City of Austin’s corporate limits, as determined by the most recent United States Census. 1Editor's note(s)—Ord. No. 20160128-086, Pt. 2, adopted February 8, 2016 …
Updated : 6/27/22 --Draft: Study of Parkland Dedication Requirements for Commercial Uses-- This study provides an overview of parkland dedication as it pertains to retail, industrial, and office uses, as directed by City Council in Resolution No. 20220407-042, passed April 7th, 2022. This Study, produced by the Parks and Recreation Department, outlines the applicability of creating a new ordinance to require parkland dedication for commuters of commercial developments and outlines the methodology behind said ordinance. This Study may be used as the basis for creating a parkland dedication commuter commercial ordinance, for review and approval by City Council after a public and stakeholder engagement period. Purpose Parkland is an essential city service that affords well documented economic, recreational, physical, and mental health benefits to its users (see research conducted by RigolonError! Hyperlink reference not valid. 2022, who cite CromptonError! Hyperlink reference not valid. 2019, and Markevych, et al. 2017). The current parkland dedication ordinance is a critical tool that allows the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) to mitigate the impact of new users on the park level of service for the people of Austin in accordance with goals and mandates set forth in the City Charter, City Council Resolution 20091119-068, Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, and the PARD Long Range Plan. Parks provide recreational opportunities, create community, preserve the city’s character and natural resources, contribute to economic growth and tourism, increase transportation opportunities, and keep Austin beautiful. Parkland dedication requires new developments to account for their direct impact on the existing park system, thereby addressing several of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan’s key goals including : “Expanding Transportation Choices” in Austin. “Tackling the Ethnic Divide”, “Prosperity for All”, “Protecting Our Natural Resources” and “Preserving Livability” by providing consistent parkland under rapidly changing development conditions. On February 25, 2020, the Parks and Recreation Board passed Recommendation 20200225-B3, which included the provision that commercial developments be subject to parkland dedication requirements. On March 28, 2022, the Parks and Recreation Board reaffirmed its support to require parkland dedication for office, retail, and industrial developments in Recommendation 20220328-B5. Enacting this provision would better provide parkland to Austin’s growing workforce; currently, 58% of the workforce commute from outside the city limits, and as such are not served by the existing parkland dedication ordinance, which only addresses the impact of full-time residential and hotel developments. Research shows that access to parkland is directly connected to an individual’s …
PLD Commercial Development Input SURVEY RESPONSE REPORT 09 May 2022 - 11 July 2022 PROJECT NAME: Parkland Dedication for Commercial Development PLD Commercial Development Input : Survey Report for 09 May 2022 to 11 July 2022 SURVEY QUESTIONS Page 1 of 57 PLD Commercial Development Input : Survey Report for 09 May 2022 to 11 July 2022 Q1 Approximately how far is your place of work from a public park? 16 (5.0%) 16 (5.0%) 109 (33.7%) 109 (33.7%) 72 (22.3%) 72 (22.3%) 58 (18.0%) 58 (18.0%) 68 (21.1%) 68 (21.1%) Question options Less than 1/4 mile 1/4 to 1/2 mile 1/2 to 1 mile More than 1 mile I do not know where the closest park or natural space is Optional question (321 response(s), 8 skipped) Question type: Radio Button Question Page 2 of 57 PLD Commercial Development Input : Survey Report for 09 May 2022 to 11 July 2022 Q2 How often do you access public parks before, during, or after work? 25 (7.7%) 25 (7.7%) 47 (14.5%) 47 (14.5%) 30 (9.3%) 30 (9.3%) 37 (11.4%) 37 (11.4%) 185 (57.1%) 185 (57.1%) Question options Never Rarely (fewer than 5 times a year) Occasionally (5 to 10 times a year) Sometimes (10 to 20 times a year) Often (more than twice a month) Optional question (322 response(s), 7 skipped) Question type: Radio Button Question Page 3 of 57 PLD Commercial Development Input : Survey Report for 09 May 2022 to 11 July 2022 Q3 If you visit park space before, during, or after the work day, please share how you use the park (choose all that apply). 250 190 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 145 109 50 34 Question options Other (please specify) Exercise (walking, running, biking, workout equipment, etc.) Relaxation, meditation, mental breaks Eating or picnicking Part of your commute to or from work Connecting with friends or family Optional question (304 response(s), 25 skipped) Question type: Checkbox Question Page 4 of 57 PLD Commercial Development Input : Survey Report for 09 May 2022 to 11 July 2022 Q4 What park amenities would encourage you to visit a nearby public park before, during, or after the work day? (choose all that apply) 251 203 184 115 91 79 71 95 59 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 Question options Multipurpose field or lawn Exercise or workout equipment Trails …
DRAFT 2022-2023 Commuter Commercial Parkland Fee Calculation Methodology In 2022 the City Council approved Ordinance XXXXXXXXXX which created a formula to determine the commercial fees required in-lieu of parkland dedication. The Ordinance requires an annual adoption of the parkland dedication fees during the annual fee schedule process. The fee calculation methodologies are established in § 25-X-XXX The below 2022-2023 fees reflect the Council approved calculation methodology to be adopted annually. Several of the variables in the formula are static from year to year, including the square feet per person and the operations hours. Some of the variables will be reevaluated each year based on publicly available data, such as the occupancy rate and the percent commuter workforce, as well as the fees-in-lieu of parkland land dedication and park development. The only variable in the above formula that is unique to the new development is the total square feet of the development. Variables Calculation Factor Description Parkland Level of Service Service Population / Park Acres Fee In-Lieu of Land 96.70 Service Population per 1 acre Park Acres City Population 10,086.32 Park Acres (excludes Metro and District Parks) Parkland Cost Factor $365,653.44 per acre 975,321 (2021 Population) Current City Population Average land cost of acres purchased over the last five years Park Development 4,046.98 Service Population per park Facilities Level of Service Service Population / Number of Developed Parks Number of Developed Parks City Population Park Development Cost Factor 241 975,321 (2021 Population) $1,423,928.42 Count of all developed parks Current city population Cost of developing one Neighborhood Park Functional Population Office Employee Density 300 sq ft /person Office Occupancy 0.92 Office Operation Hours 0.238 Retail Employee Density 550 sq ft / person Retail Occupancy Retail Operation Hours 0.95 0.375 U.S. Green Building Council estimate of the square feet per person in LEED BD+C: New Constructionv4 - LEED v4. Appendix 2. Default occupancy counts Austin area occupancy rates derived from the Chamber of Commerce 'Austin Area Profile' reflecting occupancy by use in Q2 2021 Office use occurs 5 out of 7 days of the week, and 8 hours a day, equal to 23.8 percent (40 hours out of 168 hours a week) operation occupancy. U.S. Green Building Council estimate of the square feet per person in LEED BD+C: New Constructionv4 - LEED v4. Appendix 2. Default occupancy counts Retail occupancy rates derived from NAI Partners report published in Q2 2021 Retail use occurs …
Commercial Parkland Dedication Stakeholder and Advocate Responses 7/15/2022 Page 1 Category affordability Question Have you done an economic impact statement to measure the affordability impact of this proposed additional fee? $2 psf for office is not small and creates concern that office rents will be raised impacting jobs and pay rates. Response City Code § 2-5-2 states the that city manager shall prepare a fiscal note for a proposed ordinance, resolution, or policy that could create an expense for the City, including a modification to the City's budget, a capital improvement project, or a council initiated matter before it is submitted to the council. To clarify, the combined per square foot fee for office is $1.75. This fee would have a positive impact on the city's budget by accounting for the impact to the park system caused by new commercial development. PARD shall confirm with the Housing and Planning Department on the issuance of an Economic Impact Statement regarding affordability. affordability In the different categories, are there any excluded categories? Different types of businesses that don’t have to do parkland dedication? We are still evaluating the applicability of the ordinance based on stakeholder and survey feedback. Draft ordinance outlines an exemption for civic uses including but not limited to schools, governmental agencies, and hospitals: "(4) civic uses as defined in Section 25-2-6 (Civic Uses)." affordability In the office example, what is the proportion of the impact of the fees to the overall cost of the office development? affordability affordability Can you provide a list of all COA development related fees in addition to proposed commercial PLD fee, including a Brief explanation/estimate/range of what a developer would pay for each of the fees. Any language about why fees are not the reason for "affordability issues." What percent of the total project cost the PLD fees would be. According to a proforma prepared by Cummings in 2021, cost per square foot to build a typical commercial building is anywhere between $148/sq ft - $657/sq ft, depending on the construction type, in Dallas, Texas. This estimate only accounts for ‘hard costs’ of construction, not the land acquisition, building design or contractor/developer overhead. Cost of parkland dedication fees currently range from $0.63/sq ft to $1.75/sq ft depending on the commercial building category. This is equivalent to about 0.27- 0.42% of the ‘hard costs’. The Development Services Website lists several fee schedules for different types …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JULY 25, 2022 – 6:00 PM CITY HALL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Parks and Recreation Board may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Laura Cottam Sajbel (D-9), Chair Sarah Faust (D-5), Vice-Chair Nina Rinaldi (D-1) Anna Di Carlo (D-2) Kim Taylor (D-8) Dawn Lewis (D-10) Richard DePalma (Mayor) Patrick Moore (D-3) Kathryn Flowers (D-4) Lisa Hugman (D-6) Nancy Barnard (D-7) AGENDA ADDENDUM STAFF BRIEFINGS 18. Monthly report from the Parks and Recreation Department Director. Presenter(s): Kimberly McNeeley, Director, Parks and Recreation Department. 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 Tim Dombeck at Parks and Recreation Department, at (512) 974-6716 Tim.Dombeck@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Parks and Recreation Board, please contact Tim Dombeck at (512) 974-6716 Tim.Dombeck@austintexas.gov. Page 1 of 1
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JUNE 27, 2022 MINUTES The Parks and Recreation Board convened in a regular meeting on Monday, June 27, 2022, at 301 W. Second Street, Austin Texas Chair Cottam Sajbel called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. Board Members in Attendance: Laura Cottam Sajbel, Sarah Faust, Nina Rinaldi, Anna Di Carlo, Patrick Moore, Kathryn Flowers, Dawn Lewis. Board Members Absent: Lisa Hugman, Nancy Barnard, Kim Taylor, Richard DePalma. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Chase Wright – Springdale Park Neighbors Peggy Vasquez Anna Maciel – Oswaldo AB Cantu Recreation Center Antony McGregor Day – Springdale Park Neighbors Scott Cobb – Barton Springs Lifeguard Jim Ruddy – Austin Rowing Club Gavino Fernandez A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board Member Lewis made a motion to approve the minutes of Parks and Recreation Board Regular Meeting of May 23, 2022. Board Member Rinaldi seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0 with Board Members Hugman, Barnard, Taylor and DePalma absent. B. NEW BUSINESS: PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS 1. Presentation, discussion and possible action on Permanent Wastewater Use and Temporary Work Area, not to exceed 600 Calendar Days on parkland located at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, Roy Kizer Golf Course, Onion Creek Soccer Complex, Onion Creek Metropolitan Park N. Entrance, and Onion Creek Metropolitan Park S. Entrance. Total Mitigation is $818,542. Greg Montes, Program Manager II, Parks and Recreation Department and Brent Crawford, Project Manager, Austin Water gave a presentation and answered questions. Vice Chair Faust made a motion to recommend that Austin City Council approve a Permanent Wastewater Use and Temporary Work Area, not to exceed 600 Calendar Days on parkland located at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, Roy Kizer Golf Course, Onion Creek Soccer Complex, Onion Creek Metropolitan Park N. Entrance, and Onion Creek Metropolitan Park S. Entrance. Total Mitigation is $818,542. Board Member Moore seconded the motion. The Page 1 of 3 motion passed on a vote of 7-0 with Board Members Hugman, Barnard, Taylor and DePalma absent. 2. Briefing on Equity Office history, purpose, and updates on the work within the City and Parks and Recreation department. Sona Shah, Equity and Equality Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department and Ana Perez and Amanda Jasso, Equity Office gave a briefing and answered questions. No action was taken on this item. 3. Briefing on the progress of the draft Commercial Parkland Dedication Ordinance for commuters and associated community …
