REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 6:00 PM CITY HALL ROOM 1001 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission maybe participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. To register contact Gustavo Valle, at Gustavo.Valle@AustinTexas.gov or via phone at 512-974-4350. AGENDA Members: Gerry Acuna, Chair Ian Steyaert, Vice Chair Melissa Caudle Cathy Gattuso Caitlin Griffith Amanda Masino Craig Nazor Melissa Rothrock Vacant Vacant Vacant CALL MEETING TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission meeting on August 14, 2024. ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action to approve Equity-Based Preservation Plan. 3. Discussion and action on amending By-laws related to ZWAC Committees. 4. Approve a resolution making recommendations about Austin Resource Recovery Refuse Truck Electrification. STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing on the 2024 Austin Energy Green Building Program Overview by Heidi Kasper, Energy Efficiency Services Director, Austin Energy. 6. Staff briefing on the Equity-Based Preservation Plan by Cara Bertron, Program Manager, Austin Planning Department, and Rocio Peña-Martinez, Preservation Plan Working Group member. 7. Staff briefing on the status of Austin Resource Recovery Operational and Administrative projects as well as public outreach efforts by Richard McHale, Director of Austin Resource Recovery. 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) before the meeting date. Please call Gustavo Valle at Austin Resource Recovery, at (512) 974-4350 or email Gustavo.Valle@AustinTexas.gov , for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Electric Utility Commission, please contact Gustavo Valle at (512) 974-4350 4350 or via email Gustavo.Valle@AustinTexas.gov or Claudia Quiroz at Claudia.Quiroz@AustinTexas.gov …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Zero Waste Advisory Commission Resolution on Austin Resource Recovery Refuse Truck Electrification WHEREAS the Austin Resource Recovery Comprehensive Plan includes a goal to “Develop necessary infrastructure to support electrifying the fleet. The department has interest in switching as many vehicles as possible in its fleet to run on electric power.”; and WHEREAS the Transportation Electrification section of the Austin Climate Equity Plan includes a strategy to “Electrify public sector fleet vehicles: Encourage vehicle fleets from public sector agencies in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA such as cities, counties, Capital Metro, and school districts to commit to buying 100% electric vehicles when they are available, cost- competitive, and meet operational needs.”; and WHEREAS vehicle that run on diesel, including refuse trucks, are a significant source of air pollution, including particulate matter (PM), accounting for as much as 100 times the pollution when traveling at speeds of 0-25 MPH as light-duty vehicles running on gasoline;1 and WHEREAS the particulate matter (PM) pollution in the Austin Metro Area exceeds the health- based standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency2; and WHEREAS electric heavy-duty trucks utilize cheaper fuel and maintenance costs, and can have a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than their diesel counterparts over the lifetime of the vehicle;3 and WHEREAS electric heavy-duty trucks are preferred by drivers,4 for whom it is easier and more enjoyable to operate and could meaningfully contribute to employee retention; and WHEREAS integrating even a small number of electric refuse trucks now will give Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) valuable experience that can inform long-term planning for full electrification of the fleet; and 1 Pg 3. https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/NOx_Emissions_In_Use_HDV_US_20191125.pdf 2 https://www.capcog.org/news/air-quality-program-prepared-for-new-standard/ 3 https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2022/02/FINAL-Roush-Fact-Sheet- 2.10.22.pdf 4 https://cleantechnica.com/2024/01/18/people -who-drive-trucks-for-a-living-really-like-driving-electric- trucks/ WHEREAS there are financial incentives available from state and federal grant programs that could cover anywhere from 40-100% of the upfront cost of purchasing electric heavy-duty trucks and corresponding charging infrastructure; and WHEREAS the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) offers free services to assist entities with fleet transition planning as well as grant applications for fleet electrification, including fellowship programs that can study and shape long-term fleet transition plans; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Zero Waste Advisory Commission recommends that Austin Resource Recovery work with the Environmental Defense Fund to: 1. Apply for funding from state and federal agencies to assist with the purchase of one or more electric refuse trucks and associated charging infrastructure as soon as possible …
ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 Austin History Center (C05767, PICA 24201, PICA 29995); Chen Chen Wu; City of Austin Planning Process HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Michelle Benavides Mary Jo Galindo*1 Jolene Kiolbassa 1 Debra Murphy 2 Misael Ramos* 1 JuanRaymon Rubio 2 Bob Ward 1 Noel Bridges 1 Jerry Garcia 1 Kevin Koch Robin Orlowski 2 Mary Reed* 1 Maria Solis* 1 Caroline Wright 1 Julia Brookins* Hanna Huang* 1 Kelechi Madubuko 1 Leslie Ornelas 1 Lori Renteria 1 Erin Waelder 1 Amalia Carmona 2 Linda Y. Jackson Brenda Malik Emily Payne Gilbert Rivera 1 Brita Wallace* 1 Ursula A. Carter Meghan King* Alyson McGee 1 Rocio Peña-Martinez* *Drafting Committee member 1 Phase 1 only 2 Phase 2 only Plan Vision Historic preservation in Austin actively engages communities in protecting and sharing important places and stories. Preservation uses the past to create a shared sense of belonging and to shape an equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and economically vital future for all. Joe’s Bakery, anonymous, Amy Moreland/ Austin’s Atlas Plan Goals 107 recommendations 1. Tell Austin’s full history 9. Proactively identify important places 2. Recognize cultural heritage 10. Follow good designation practices 3. Preserve archaeological resources 11. Support stewardship of community 4. Stabilize communities assets 5. Support environmental sustainability 12. Be strategic with review 6. Make preservation more accessible 13. Protect historic resources 7. Support people doing the work 14. Implement the plan collaboratively 8. Engage new partners What We Preserve Images, clockwise from top left: Parade and mural unveiling (The Austin Chronicle), San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation Think broadly. • Recognize Austin’s rich and complex history through active listening, inclusive research, and interpretation • Better recognize and protect legacy businesses, murals, and archaeological resources • Use preservation tools to support displacement prevention and environmental sustainability Who Preserves Invite and support. • Engage new partners and audiences • Help community members access knowledge and resources • Support homeowners and tenants, craftspeople, commissioners, and staff Images, clockwise from top left: Bertha Rendon Delgado, San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, Austin Asian American Film Festival How We Preserve Be strategic and effective. • Update designation criteria to reflect modern standards • Support the stewards of Austin’s historic properties • Be strategic with review • Improve enforcement processes • Implement the plan collaboratively Selected Recommendations 20) Streamline and expedite the development review process for projects that support the retention of historic-age properties. (19) …
To: From: Date: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Richard McHale, Director, Aus(cid:415)n Resource Recovery September 11, 2024 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission MoveOutATX 2024 Recap MoveOutATX 2024 took place from July 27-31, 2024. This event, a partnership between Austin Resource Recovery, the UT Office of Sustainability, and the UT Office of the Dean of Students, sets up temporary donation stations to help students living off- campus keep gently used items out of the landfill during the end-of-July move-out period. This year, the event had seven donation stations scattered around West Campus. The City collaborated with six reuse organizations to collect, process, and redistribute all the donated materials: Austin Area Urban League, Austin Creative Reuse, Arms of Hope, Goodwill Central Texas, Salvation Army Family Stores, and UT Outpost. The Free Furniture Market, where furniture donated at MoveOutATX donation stations is made available for anyone to take for free, celebrated its third year. Event Highlights: full. Material Collected: 60,227.79 lbs (30.11 tons) – equivalent to 634.72 cubic yards, or approximately 4.5 semi-truck trailers Donation Station Drop-offs: 1,044 Free Furniture Market: Re-homed 641 pieces of furniture and welcomed 1,039 visitors over six days. Since its founding in 2018, MoveOutATX has diverted 253 tons of material from the landfill, representing an estimated economic value of almost $600,000. Multi-family Composting In September 2023, City Council approved amendments to the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) that will require composting access at multi-family properties in Austin. This policy change will be in effect on October 1, 2024. Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) conducted educational event with the Austin Apartment Association, sent all multi-family property owners and managers letters and e-mails to notify them of the ordinance change. Additional mailed letters will be sent to all multi-family property managers in October. More information at: austintexas.gov/multifamilycompost. Universal Recycling Ordinance New Online Survey and Database Each year over 15,000 business, food permit holders, and multi-family properties are required to report to the City how they are meeting the zero waste ordinance requirements of the Universal Recycling Ordinance in their recycling plans. This information is primarily collected from affected properties thru a public-facing webpage (called a survey) that then feeds the entered data into a database. This data is used by City staff for internal performance measures, to identify trends for educational needs, and identify non-compliant properties for follow up. Since 2012, the City has used …
