20240402-011: FY 24-25 Budget Recommendation — original pdf

Recommendation

ZONING AND PLATTING RECOMMENDATION 20240402-011 April 2, 2024 Commissioner Flores FY 24-25 Budget Recommendation Seconded By: Commissioner Stern Date: Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation The Zoning and Platting Commission respectfully urges City Council Members to consider the following recommendations regarding the City of Austin FY 2024- 2025 budget. Description of Recommendation to Council Planning Department, Development Services - Provide funding to purchase and implement software tools to give staff members access to the details they need to more quickly work through permitting and zoning applications. One platform should include everything needed including property details, zoning regulations, flooding maps (both localized and creek) and Austin’s wildfire risk map. The tools should automatically check submitted applications for accurate mathematical calculations as well as consistency with property details and zoning regulations. Once implemented, these web-based tools can also be used to create and analyze the impact of larger projects such as small area plans and affordable housing studies, as well as facilitate public engagement. The software should also be made available to the public so that zoning, permitting, and site plan applications can be analyzed before submission. Housing Department – Substantially increase funding to provide affordable housing at the 30% MFI and below level. In 2108-2022, units were constructed to meet 36% of the 10 year goal for units at 121% MFI and above, but less than 2% of the 10 year goal for units at the 30% MFI and below level has been met. Transportation Department - Provide funding to study ways to improve transportation grid connectivity for areas where industrial and commercial properties are being converted to multifamily and mixed use properties (aka “Superblocks”). Transportation easements are needed to ensure that there is nothing to impede the development of a grid for shared use paths, roads, and standard block lengths in former warehouse and commercial areas outside of downtown. Transportation Department - Increase funding to upgrade substandard roads, especially those not currently planned for Capital Improvement Projects. Housing Department - Ensure adequate staffing and resources in all City incomerestricted housing programs to timely monitor compliance with income restricted housing requirements including the number of units provided, how quickly the units are 1 of 3 filled, and whether health and safety maintenance is provided on a regular and sufficient basis. Planning Department – As our region has doubled in size every 20 to 25 years, provide adequate planning staff and resources to initiate and facilitate additional planning through the city: • Neighborhood planning areas, • Displacement prevention and mitigation in Project Connect corridors, and • Historic surveys of neighborhoods and community assets impacted by rapid redevelopment and displacement. Planning Department - Provide Land Use Commissioners with optional training and a notebook of frequently used resources including but not limited to Austin’s Zoning Guide, tables of allowed uses, development standards, commission rules and bylaws, where to look up info (zoning profile, zoning application, flooding maps, wildfire risk maps, traffic crash data), and a summary of Robert’s Rules. Fire - Increase staffing for construction and environmental inspections to ensure that all public infrastructure is built according to approved requirements and to address the $261,617 decrease in funding from the FY 2020-2021 budget. Fire - Provide funding to facilitate implementation of City wildfire prevention and preparedness programs, and Firewise program. Development Services (CODE) - Ensure adequate staffing and resources to proactively monitor and enforce compliance with health and safety regulations by developments that participate in city, state, and federal income-restricted housing, rental assistance, or home repair assistance programs in Austin. Development Services (CODE) - Provide funding for a Livability Team to facilitate timely response to time-sensitive code complaints after regular business hours and on weekends Watershed Protection - Increase funding for engineering consultants for floodplain study projects currently underway. Watershed protection - Provide new funding for mapping of localized flooding based on both surveys and reported flooding incidents. Climate change, combined with more impervious cover from development, and clogged or overstressed drainage infrastructure will continue to increase Austin's risk of flooding. It is crucial to know where there is flooding risk. Funding should be provided to keep drainage infrastructure functional and make improvements where needed. City Clerk - Provide ongoing funding to allow the public to participate virtually in public meetings held by Council, boards, and commissions. Office of Land Use Commissions - Establish the Office of Land Use Commissions (OLUC), which will involve the transfer of existing commission liaisons and the recruitment of supplementary staff as needed. The OLUC will encompass the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, Zoning and Platting Commission, Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee, Comprehensive Plan Joint Committee, and Small Area Planning Joint Committee. Additionally, the office will incorporate a specialized legal 2 of 3 representative tasked with attending commission meetings in person, exclusively representing the best interests of the commissions Vote: For: Chair Smith, Vice Chair Greenberg, Commissioner Boone, Commissioner Flores, 8-0 Commissioner Floyd, Commissioner Fouts, Commissioner Puzycki, Commissioner Stern Against: Abstain: Absent: Commissioner Thompson Attest: 3 of 3