Item 03 - Balcones Canyonlands (BCCP) MyGovernmentOnline ILA — original pdf

Backup

Item 3 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 18, 2025 Council: July 24, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for City Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) staff access to the Travis County MyGovernmentOnline program (“MGO”) to accept, process, and track BCCP infrastructure Incidental Take Permit applications. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. ..De Lead Department Austin Water Fiscal Note This item has no fiscal impact. Prior Council Action: May 4, 1995 – Council authorized the negotiation and execution of the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Travis County and the City of Austin Implementing the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (“BCCP”) Shared Vision, which guided the creation of the BCCP Habitat Conservation Plan for issuance of the Federal Endangered Species Incidental Take Permit issued to the City of Austin and Travis County in 1996 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. September 21, 2023 – Council authorized negotiation and execution of an amended and restated interlocal cooperation agreement with Travis County for the implementation of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Shared Vision to update implementation of the BCCP and to reflect current industry standards. For More Information: Heather Cooke, Austin Water Chief Administrative Officer, 512-972-0083, heather.cooke@austintexas.gov Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: June 18, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: The Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) provides a fast-track solution to habitat mitigation for Endangered Species Act compliance that supports economic growth and protection of endangered species habitat. It honors multiple community priorities by enabling the construction of roads, utilities, and buildings, while upholding a commitment to natural resources, including the parks, creeks, and preserves that make up our green infrastructure. The BCCP Permit is the name given to the Federal Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit issued to the City of Austin and Travis County in 1996 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service combined with the BCCP Habitat Conservation Plan which is the governing document that established the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP). The permitting process for infrastructure projects and the City owned BCP lands are managed by City of Austin staff at Austin Water and the permitting process for development projects are managed by Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources staff. In the 28+ years since the BCCP was created, more than 1,200 private landowners and developers have applied for BCCP take permits, resulting in the development of over 17,100 acres and the authorization of more than 300 public infrastructure projects. Item 3 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 18, 2025 Council: July 24, 2025 Since 1996, developers and infrastructure providers have obtained their endangered species take authorization for the BCCP covered species directly from the City or the County, providing a faster alternative to the USFWS permitting process and with much lower mitigation costs and with more certainty in project cost and timing. The County is transferring to the MyGovernmentOnline program (“MGO”) to accept and track applications for participation in the BCCP. City BCCP administrative staff for infrastructure permitting requires access to MGO for purposes of processing and issuing infrastructure Incidental Take Permits. It has been determined that it would be mutually beneficial and advantageous for the City to have access to MGO to assist the City in performing its statutory duties.