01 CPA-2024-002 Equity-Based Preservation Plan Staff Memo — original pdf

Backup

M E M O R A N D U M TO: Planning Commission Chair and Commissioners FROM: Cara Bertron, Planning Department DATE: October 17, 2024 Equity-Based Preservation Plan adoption SUBJECT: This memo provides a brief synopsis of the Equity-Based Preservation Plan planning process. In 2021, the Historic Landmark Commission initiated the development of a new historic preservation plan to replace Austin’s existing preservation plan from 1981. The Commission created a community working group, the Preservation Plan Working Group, to develop the plan. In this phase, the Preservation Plan Working Group comprised 26 community members who lived in 19 ZIP codes across the city and reflected Austin’s racial and ethnic diversity. Working Group members brought a range of experiences, perspectives, and expertise to the planning process. They received input and feedback from 275 community members through: • A community heritage survey • Focus groups of representatives from cultural and heritage organizations, legacy businesses, and neighborhood organizations • A Technical Advisory Group of City staff from 12 departments • A Technical Assistance Panel facilitated by the Urban Land Institute The Working Group met monthly from June 2021 to June 2022, with subcommittee meetings between many of the full-group meetings. It presented the Historic Landmark Commission with the draft Equity-Based Preservation Plan on September 7, 2022. From February through May 2024, staff coordinated a robust, inclusive community engagement process. Community members were engaged through a number of methods, including: SpeakUp Austin website (www.speakupaustin.org/ATXpresplan, 34,000 views) • • Online and paper surveys in multiple languages (2,083 surveys completed) • Email newsletters, both plan-specific (1,400 subscribers) and from other City departments and organizational partners Social media from the City of Austin (organic and paid) and organizational partners Flyer distribution at locations, events, and presentations • • • 4 City-hosted outreach events held at community hubs in East, West, and South Austin (350 • Pop-up tabling at 45 community events around Austin (1,000+ people engaged) • 31 presentations to community groups and professional stakeholder organizations, including online discussions hosted by ULI Austin and USGBC-Texas • 29 small-group and 1-on-1 conversations held by community ambassadors and mini-grant partner attendees) organizations • Briefings to 17 City boards and commissions (see below) • Article in Austin Utilities Now newsletter mailed to households citywide in April 2024 • Online survey distributed to 4,400 randomly selected service area households via email by Austin • Distribution of plan information to Small Business Week participants in April 2024 by EDD staff • • Earned and paid media in The Austin Chronicle, The Austin Common, Austin Monitor, Austin South Slide in rotation on ATXN broadcast and the Permitting and Development Center Asian, The Daily Texan, El Mundo, KAZI-FM, KUT, and The Villager • Mini-grants to 5 community organizations to conduct outreach and engagement around the draft plan: Anderson Community Development Corporation, Creative Action, East Austin Conservancy, Taiwanese American Professionals - Austin Chapter (TAP-ATX), and Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation (TPF) • Outreach via 9 paid community ambassadors to conduct outreach and engagement around the draft Energy plan In June and July 2024, the Preservation Plan Working Group and the Preservation Plan Committee of the Historic Landmark Commission met four times. Together, the groups reviewed community feedback on the draft plan, then revised and finalized the Equity-Based Preservation Plan. In addition to the Planning Commission, the following boards and commissions were briefed about the Equity-Based Preservation Plan in spring 2024. Update briefings to listed commissions are currently in progress. • African American Resource Advisory Commission • Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission • Austin Youth Council • Building and Standards Commission • Commission on Aging • Comprehensive Planning Joint Committee (initial briefing in summer 2024) • Design Commission • Downtown Commission • Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission • Historic Landmark Commission • • Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities • Parks and Recreation Board • Tourism Commission • • Zero Waste Advisory Commission Zoning and Platting Commission LGBTQ+ Resource Advisory Commission