[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
UM, THIS IS THE CALL TO ORDER FOR THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DESIGN COMMISSION.
UM, SOPHIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CALL? ROLL.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE, WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO SPEAK? NO.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
OF THE MEETING MINUTES.APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING FROM AUGUST 22ND, 2022.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I FOR APPROVAL? I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? A SECOND.
UM, THAT CONFIRMS APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 22ND MEETING.
YOU NEED TO TAKE A VOTE, PLEASE.
YOU ACTUALLY NEED A VOTE ON THE MINUTES FOR ACTION.
UM, ITEM TWO, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2022.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UH, DO WE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. ITEM
[3. Staff briefing regarding Project Connect.]
FOUR, DISCUSS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROJECT CONNECT AND RELATED ORDINANCE PROPOSAL.UM, EXCUSE ME, CHAIR WEAVER, IF I MAY, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS A STAFF BRIEFING.
THIS ITEM IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION.
I'M LOOKING AT THE SECOND PAGE OF DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WHERE IT WAS ALSO AN ACTION ITEM.
HELLO, I'M DONNA GALOTTI WITH THE CITY'S PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE.
FIRST, LET ME INTRODUCE JENNIFER PINE WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP.
SHE WILL START US OFF WITH A PROJECT CONNECT OVERVIEW.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
UM, COULD WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? AND ONE MORE.
SO I, I JUST HAVE A FEW SLIDES REALLY JUST BACKGROUND ON PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, SO SOME OF YOU ALREADY MAY BE FAMILIAR, BUT, UH, THE PROJECT CONNECT FUNDING, UH, FOR THAT PROGRAM PASSED IN NOVEMBER, 2020.
UM, AND IT REAL PROJECT CONNECT IS A MULTIMODAL, UM, PLAN FOR TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WITHIN AUSTIN.
THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE MODES, UH, INCLUDING A NEW LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE BUILT IN AUSTIN, ADDITIONAL METRO RAPID BUS PROJECTS, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RED LINE COMMUTER SYSTEM THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER, UM, ITEMS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PICKUP SERVICES.
UH, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES $300 MILLION FOR AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUND THAT IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL, UH, FOR DISPLACEMENT THAT WOULD RESULT, UH, FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
UH, IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, PROJECT CONNECT IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY A PARTNERSHIP OF THREE ENTITIES.
UH, ONE IS THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS WHERE I WORK.
UH, ATP WAS CREATED AFTER THE VOTE IN NOVEMBER, 2020.
AND, UH, WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM.
UH, SOME OF THE OTHER RAIL FACILITIES AND COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM, CAPITAL METRO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING
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THE BUS PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING RED LINE AND PICKUP SERVICE.AND, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS THE THIRD PARTNER RESPONSIBLE FOR PERMITTING, ALSO FOR COORDINATION ON RIGHT AWAY UTILITIES, UH, TRANSPORTATION.
AND THE CITY IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO EVEN THOUGH THE, UM, THE VOTE THAT PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM JUST PASSED, UM, GOSH, A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.
UM, SOME NEW PICKUP ZONES WERE IMPLEMENTED FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND, UM, SINCE THE VOTE, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN GROUNDBREAKINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING TWO NEW BUS ROUTES AND A NEW, UH, STATION FOR THE RED LINE THAT'LL, THAT WILL SERVE, UH, THE AUSTIN FC STADIUM.
UH, IN ADDITION, THE METRO BIKE PROGRAM WAS INCORPORATED INTO CAT METRO VERY RECENTLY WILL, WHICH WILL ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO JUST PROVIDE EVEN MORE SEAMLESS MULTIMODAL CONNECTIONS.
UM, AND, UH, CAT METRO IS JUST CONTINUING TOWARDS OVERALL ELECTRIFICATION OF THE BUS FLEET.
UH, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEW METRO RAPID BUS PROJECTS WILL BE, UM, ALL BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES.
SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE ON THE LIGHT RAIL, UM, PROGRAM, WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THE STAGES OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF LIGHT RAIL.
UM, REALLY IN EARLIEST, UH, CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE PHASES THAT ARE OUTLINED ON THIS SLIDE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, PHASES THAT ARE PART OF THE FEDERAL PROCESS TO ENABLE FUNDING.
WE ARE LOOKING TO, UM, HAVE ABOUT MAYBE ON THE ORDER OF 50% OF THE CAPITAL COSTS FOR THE LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM BE FUNDED BY THE FTA.
UM, AND SO THERE'S A RIGOROUS MULTI-YEAR PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THOSE FUNDS.
UM, SO WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING, UM, REALLY DEFINING THE PROJECT, UM, AND AFTER WE GO THROUGH A CERTAIN GATE WITH FTA CALLED ENTERING INTO ENGINEERING, WE'LL MOVE INTO ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND, AND ULTIMATELY INTO CONSTRUCTION.
SO CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING FOR THE LIGHT RAIL FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, WITH OUR BOARD IN JULY IS JUST, UH, THAT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE COST IS, IS GOING UP.
AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAUSE AND REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THINK THAT THROUGH, UH, SOME OF THE DRIVERS THAT WE'RE SEEING ARE JUST INCREASES IN REAL ESTATE COSTS.
UH, THE INFLATION RATES ARE NOT HELPING US.
UM, AND ALSO JUST REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UH, THESE KINDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE EXPERIENCING COST INCREASES DUE TO LABOR ISSUES, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, AND SO ON.
UM, AND SO WE, UM, THE INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING IS TO EXPECT THE SAME.
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CONCEPTUALIZE THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECTS, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SCOPE CHANGES THAT HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE COSTS.
AND SO, UM, KINDA AT OUR BOARD'S BEHEST, UH, STARTING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE'RE REALLY TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THAT AND JUST REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT REALLY MATCHES OUR, OUR COSTS, UH, CONSTRAINTS THAT WE CAN AFFORD IT, THAT IT'S IMPLEMENTABLE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE BIT TIME THIS YEAR TO, UH, MAKE SURE WE'RE RIGHT SIZED FOR WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE.
UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THAT, REALLY INTO 2023.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, AND I THINK THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE.
I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS, UM, WILL BE NPA AND GETTING THROUGH THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING, UH, THAT WE WORK THROUGH WITH FTA AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED, AND IT INCLUDES, UM, A FAIRLY RIGOROUS ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HUMAN, THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT COULD RESULT FROM THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROJECTS.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT COME OUTTA THE NEVA PROCESS.
ONE OF THEM IS THAT IT'S A VERY COMMUNITY BASED PROCESS, UM, WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S TRANSPARENCY AS FAR AS WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS MIGHT BE, UH, BUT ALSO DEVELOPING MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR AVOIDING OR, OR MINIMIZING THOSE ADVERSE IMPACTS.
UH, AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT OUTCOME OF THE NEPA PROCESS IS A COMMITMENT TO THOSE MITIGATION MEASURES THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED, UH, AFTER THE NEPA PROCESS CONCLUDES.
AND AS WE GET INTO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
SO I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DONNA.
THIS IS THE LARGEST RETROFITTING OF THE RIGHT OF WAY THE CITY HAS EVER UNDERTAKEN.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY'S CODE AND CRITERIA, WHICH FOCUS DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ON VERTICAL SITE SPECIFIC PROJECTS WE'RE NOT WRITTEN TO ACCOMMODATE A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE.
TODAY, WE BRING FORWARD A FOUNDATIONAL ORDINANCE THAT ADDRESSES THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT NOW AND SETS A FRAMEWORK BY
[00:10:01]
WHICH WE CAN ADD COMPONENTS AS SCOPE AND DESIGN PROGRESSES.THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS A NUMBER OF COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICIES AND PLANS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL AND BENEFITS, INCLUDING CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN GOALS, SUPPORTS THE A S AND P MODE, SHIFT GOALS, HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, AND CONNECTING COMMUNITIES.
THE ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION IS A THINK TANK THAT DID A REPORT ON WHY NORTH AMERICAN TRANSIT PROJECTS TAKE LONGER AND COST MORE THAN THOSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE 2021 ENO REPORT SITES SEVERAL CASE STUDIES DEMONSTRATING THAT AUSTIN IS NOT ALONE IN HAVING A CODE RELATED OBSTACLE.
THE REPORT IDENTIFIED LOCAL REGULATION, PERMITTING AND DECISION MAKING PROCEDURES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AS AN OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING VIABLE COST EFFECTIVE TRANSIT SYSTEMS ON PAR WITH THOSE OF PEER NATIONS.
IN OCTOBER OF 2021, COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO SCAN CODE CRITERIA AND PROCESSES LOOKING FOR OBSTACLES TO EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION AND PERMITTING OF PROJECT CONNECT THE RESOLUTION SITES, THE CITY'S MOBILITY PLAN, THE VOTER REFERENDUM FOR PROJECT CONNECT, THE ENO REPORT, AND THE KNOWN DIFFICULTIES OF AUSTIN'S CODES AND ORDINANCES.
IN IMPLEMENTING A LINEAR PROJECT, COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC MOBILITY PROJECTS IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, AND PROJECT CONNECT WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT ORDINANCE.
THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES WE KNOW TODAY.
PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE STAFF HAVE SCANNED CODE AND CRITERIA, AND GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW TODAY, WE HAVE A DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR PROJECT CONNECT REGULATIONS AND PROCESSES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE PROGRAM AS IT PROCEEDS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSIT AND HEALTH AND SAFETY BENEFITS OF LIGHT RAIL IN A WAY THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND RESPECTFUL OF THE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S RESOURCES, AND ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET IN OUR OWN WAY AS WE IMPLEMENT PROJECT CONNECT.
OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS WRITTEN FOR SINGLE LOT DEVELOPMENT.
IT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD USE OF RESOURCES TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF SITE PLANS FOR ONE FOR EACH LOT, OR BLOCK FOR PERMITTING MILES OF RAIL.
THIS ORDINANCE IS OUR FIRST STEP.
THE FOUNDATIONAL ORDINANCE HAS FIVE MAIN COMPONENTS, STRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION, NOISE AND MITIGATION PLAN, ADJUSTMENTS TO SITE PLAN USES AND FISCAL.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A STANDALONE REGULATORY INSTRUMENT SO THAT WHEN CONSTRUCTION PLANS COME IN FOR REVIEW, BOTH THE APPLICANT AND THE REVIEWER CAN GO TO ONE PLACE FOR ANY REGULATIONS OR STANDARDS FOR TR FOR TRANSIT SYSTEM PROJECTS.
THIS ORDINANCE DEFINES TRANSIT SYSTEM PROJECT AS A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT, GENERALLY DEPICTED ON EXHIBIT A, WHICH IS THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM MAP WITH ANY RELATED APP APPEARANCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSIT LINE, RAIL STATION OR TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL FUNDED BY A PUBLIC ENTITY.
WE KNOW THAT AS PART OF THE NEPA PROCESS, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP HAS TO IDENTIFY MITIGATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION NOISE AND THAT THOSE MITIGATIONS ARE BINDING.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE FTA RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES, WE REALIZED THAT MANY OF THESE STANDARDS START WHERE THE CITY'S ESCALATION OF NOISE COMPLAINTS ARE, SUCH AS REGULAR MONITORING OF CONSTRUCTION NOISE LEVELS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE THE CITY REQUIRES MONITORING.
AFTER A NUMBER OF VALID COMPLAINTS, WE WILL REQUIRE MONITORING AS A STANDARD.
THEREFORE, WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE ARE REQUIRING THAT THE MITIGATION PLAN INCLUDE THE RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES.
THE NOISE MITIGATION PLAN CONSISTS OF THREE MAIN COMPONENTS, THE NOISE MITIGATION AND MONITORING PLAN THAT IS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE NPA ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS AND SUBMITTED TO FTA ATP WILL SUBMIT THEIR PLAN REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTORS SPECIFIC NOISE PLANS THAT ADDRESS MITIGATION FOR THEIR SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTION, AND IT WILL INCLUDE A COMMUNICATION PLAN WITH PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION AND MONITORING.
UM, SO A SITE PLAN CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS, A LAND USE ELEMENT AND A CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT.
AND FOR MOST DEVELOPMENTS IN AUSTIN, THOSE TWO PARTS ARE SUBMITTED TOGETHER AS ONE CONSOLIDATED SITE PLAN.
WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TODAY, THERE'S A SECTION CALLED FAST TRACK, WHICH ACTUALLY DOESN'T MEAN FAST AT ALL.
IT MEANS A LAYERED PROCESS OF REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
FOR EXAMPLE, A GAS STATION MAYBE WOULD HAVE, UM, THE FIRST LAYER BEING TO, YOU KNOW, DIG A HOLE FOR THE UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.
THE SECOND LAYER BEING THE ACTUAL BUILDING, UM, WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TODAY, IT REQUIRES A BUILDING TO HAVE THAT LAYERED REVIEW AND LOOKING FORWARD AT CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAIL, PERHAPS THERE COULD BE A STRETCH OF RAIL SUBMITTED AS A SITE PLAN THAT DOESN'T HAVE A BUILDING IN THAT SEGMENT.
AND SO WE STILL WANNA ALLOW FOR THAT LAYERED REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
MAYBE THE FIRST LAYER IS, UH, RELOCATING UTILITIES, AND THE SECOND LAYER IS, IS THE RAIL.
AND SO WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE REMOVE THE CONSTRAINT OF REQUIRING A BUILDING, STILL ALLOWING FOR THAT LAYERED REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
AND ANY VARIANCES THAT ARE REQUIRED COULD BE APPRO, UM, COULD BE PROCESSED THROUGH
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ALL APPROPRIATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UM, AND ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS.UH, BUT WITH THE FIRST LAYER, INSTEAD OF NOT ALLOWING THE LAYERED REVIEW AT ALL, UM, AND IT, THE ORDINANCE ENSURES THAT PHASES CAN BE SUBMITTED AS UPDATES TO APPLICATIONS RATHER THAN REVISIONS TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PLANS.
AND OVERALL, IT EXTENDS THE LIFE OF A SITE PLAN TO 10 YEARS.
THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE DEFINES USES WITHIN USE CATEGORIES ALONG WITH EXAMPLES.
BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST LIGHT RAIL PROJECT, THERE IS AN EQUIPMENT THE CITY HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY SEEN.
AND WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE ARE DEFINING THE USE.
SO THERE WILL BE PREDICTABILITY ON BOTH THE APPLICANT AND REVIEWER SIDE OVER TIME.
THE FIRST TRANSIT SYSTEM USED TO ESTABLISH IS TO ESTABLISH THAT ATTRACTION POWERED SUBSTATION IS A LOCAL UTILITY SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE WORD SUBSTATION IN IT.
THESE ARE NOT GIANT OPEN SUBSTATIONS, WHICH ARE CLASSIFIED AS MAJOR UTILITY, UM, USE.
THAT'S LIKE WHAT YOU SEE AT AT C HOME NEAR DOWNTOWN, UH, TPSS.
TRACTION POWERED SUBSTATION IS MUCH SMALLER AND ENCLOSED AND IT FITS THE DEFINITION OF LOCAL UTILITY SERVICE.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL ALSO STATE THAT A MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR LIGHT RAIL FALLS WITHIN THE CIVIC USE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE FACILITY AS OPPOSED TO RAILROAD FACILITY.
USE A RAILROAD FACILITY USE IS A MUCH MORE INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY ALLOWED IN INDUSTRIAL ZONES AND INTENDED FOR ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH FREIGHT YARDS.
THE EXISTING MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR THE EXISTING RED LINE WAS PERMITTED IN 2003 WITH AS OF MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE FACILITY USE.
SO AGAIN, THIS ISN'T NEW, BUT WE WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH THE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE USE TO MAKE REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION EASIER FOR THE APPLICANT AND REVIEWER SO THAT DOWN THE LINE WHEN SUBMITTING FOR A PERMIT, UM, THE REVIEWER DOESN'T HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT IT WAS PERMITTED THIS WAY IN 2003.
THE CORRIDOR PROGRAM OFFICE ORDINANCE APPROVED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR EXEMPTED PUBLIC MOBILITY PROJECTS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY FROM POSTING FISCAL.
THIS ORDINANCE EXPANDS THAT FISCAL EXEMPTION TO TRANSIT SYSTEM PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THINGS SUCH AS PARK AND RIDES.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF WHEN WE MIGHT VISIT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OVER TIME, SUCH AS TO FULFILL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS IF WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE LIKE WE DO TODAY, OR IF THERE ARE VARIANCES ASSOCIATED WITH A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION.
UM, ALSO WE WOULD VISIT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR SUBJECT SPECIFIC PRESENTATIONS LIKE NPA DURING THE, UM, PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD AND TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE PROGRAM UPDATES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR BOTH AN ANNUAL UPDATE AND TO, UM, PRESENT THE ORDINANCE.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE THAT ARE KIND OF LIKE, UH, I AGREE THAT COST IS THE HUGE, THAT'S THE WORD, THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD, RIGHT? AND, AND IT'S A MOVING TARGET AND IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHAT IT'S GONNA BE BY THE TIME THE DESIGN IS DONE.
SO DO Y'ALL HAVE A PLAN AS TO HOW, HOW, HOW YOU'RE GONNA TREAT THE DESIGNERS, THE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS, AND KIND OF LET THEM KNOW WHERE THEY NEED TO STOP INSTEAD OF GOING ON AND ON, AND THEN HAVING THOSE ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL FEES ADD ON TO THE COST OF THE PROJECT, WHICH MIGHT NOT BE IMPLEMENTED? THERE WE GO.
UH, WELL, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
AND, UM, SO WE ARE SETTING UP A WHOLE PROJECT CONTROL SYSTEM BECAUSE THESE ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE FAIRLY LARGE CONTRACTS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
UM, IN DEVELOPING OUR ESTIMATES, YOU KNOW, AT THIS EARLY PHASE, IT'D BE FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR US TO HAVE A HIGH CONTINGENCY THAT WE ARE INCLUDING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME.
UM, AS FAR AS ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES, WE'VE ACTUALLY, WE'LL BE WORKING TO PUT IN A PLACE GUIDELINES, UM, AT THE BEGINNING, UM, TO, TO GUIDE THAT PROCESS AND SET STANDARDS.
UM, AND SO THAT WILL BE PART OF IT.
UM, BUT OVERALL I THINK WE, WE NEED TO JUST DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE RIGHT NOW TO, UH, PUT TOGETHER THE BEST COST INFORMATION THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDING CONTINGENCY SO WE CAN MANAGE IT GOING FORWARD.
I, AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS I HELP WRITE THE IMAGINE AUSTIN LAND USE OF TRANSPORTATION SECTION AND, YOU KNOW, LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION HAVE TO GO HAND IN HAND.
AND HOW DO Y'ALL FEEL ABOUT THERE NOT BEING A REVISED, UH, LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TRANSPORTATION PLAN? UH, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST KIND OF LIKE SHOOTING IN THE DARK RIGHT? ABOUT WHAT AUSTIN'S GONNA, WHAT IT'S GONNA END UP BEING.
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UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.THE, SO THIS ORDINANCE REALLY IS, UM, DRAFTED TO REPRESENT WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.
SO THESE ARE THINGS, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING ITEMS THAT WE KNOW TODAY THAT CAN WITHSTAND, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE USEFUL MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND AS A STANDALONE ORDINANCE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DESIGN AND SCOPE, UM, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF, OF CODE THAT NEEDS AMENDING IN ORDER TO, IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE THIS FOUNDATIONAL ORDINANCE AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS WHERE IT WOULD GO, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT A NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OR ONE THAT'S REVISED WOULD ACTUALLY HELP THE SITUATION? PROBABLY
PRETTY NICE PRESENTATION BY THE WAY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAROL.
SO I, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE REASONING BEHIND THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IT MAKES ME CURIOUS, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION INTERNALLY ABOUT CREATING A SMOOTHER PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THE PRIVATE PROJECTS BEING DEVELOPED ALONG THE PROJECT CONNECT LINES? CUZ OBVIOUSLY IN ORDER FOR THESE LINES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU NEED THAT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, ANECDOTALLY, I, I'VE GOT A PROJECT ALONG ONE OF THESE LINES NOW AND WORKING WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT TEAM, IT HAS EXTENDED OUR DESIGN PHASE BY ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS, UH, WHICH COSTS MONEY, RIGHT? IT COSTS MONEY.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO REDESIGN BECAUSE THEY TOLD US ONE THING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT AND THEN WE GOT IN PERMITTING AND THEY TOLD US SOMETHING ELSE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
UM, AND, AND, AND NOW WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH PERMITTING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING AN EXPEDITED PERMIT PROCESS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE PROJECTS COULD HELP EASE THAT, THAT PAIN, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THIS EARLY PHASE WHEN WHAT THESE CORRIDORS ARE GONNA BE.
AND SO IT'S SORT OF A MOVING TARGET FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO DESIGN SOMETHING ON THESE CORRIDORS.
UH, YEAH, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
WE, UM, YES, WE'RE WORKING TO STREAMLINE THAT, UM, THAT INTERFACE OF, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME THAT A PRIVATE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO WORK WITH PROJECT NEXT, WE WANNA BE AS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME AS AS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT COULD BE THAT WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, PRETTY NEW, UM, AT BEING INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.
UM, BUT I'M CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WILLING AND, AND ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND HELP YOU WORK THROUGH THAT, UM, THROUGH ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.
AND, UM, AND I KNOW JUST OVERALL, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS AN, AN EFFORT TO, TO IMPROVE OVER TIME.
I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS, UM, ABOUT, UH, MAKING THE BROAD SWANS WITH THE ZONING.
ARE WE GONNA RUN AGAINST THE SAME CHALLENGE THAT WE DID WITH CODE NEXT, WHERE YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, FOLKS WHO ARE USED TO THIS PARCEL BY PARCEL AND WHO DEMAND HAVING A PARCEL BY EVALUATION? ARE, ARE, ARE YOU FIRST THING RUNNING INTO ANY CHALLENGES WITH GETTING THAT BROADER ZONING? I'M NOT CHANGING ZONING AT ALL WITH THIS ORDINANCE AT ALL.
UM, SO WITH THIS ORDINANCE, IT ALLOWS FOR JUST THE, THE ZONING IS WHAT THE ZONING IS, AND IF THE USE SO WE'RE AND, AND USES ARE, ARE AS THEY ARE, RIGHT? SO, UM, NORMALLY IF AN APPLICANT SUBMITS AN APPLICATION FOR A RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT SAYS IT'S A RESTAURANT, IT LOOKS LIKE A RESTAURANT, I CAN SEE THAT IT MEETS THE DEFINITION OF A RESTAURANT AND THE REVIEW CONTINUES.
THE NEXT STEP IS, IS THAT RESTAURANT ALLOWED IN THIS ZONE? AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, YES OR NO.
AND, AND IF THE USE WAS NOT ALLOWED, THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE TO GET A ZONING CHANGE.
SO THE SAME THING HERE, WE ARE JUST IDENTIFYING, UM, BECAUSE ATTRACTION POWERED SUBSTATION, WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN TOWN.
THE QUESTION IS, WELL, YOU KNOW, WELL IT'S NOT A RESTAURANT, IT'S NOT A, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BANK, WHAT IS IT? AND SO WE WORKED WITH, UM, THE ZONING STAFF AND THE ZONING OFFICER TO, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, THAT IT'S A LOCAL UTILITY USE.
AND NOW WE GO, SO IF THE APPLICANT, WHEN AUSTIN TRA WHEN THE ATP APPLIES FOR ATTRACTION
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POWERED SUBSTATION AT A SITE, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO LOOK AT THE ZONING AND IF IT'S AN ALLOWED USE, WE PRO THE, UH, APPLICATION CONTIN CAN CONTINUE.AND IF THE USE WAS NOT ALLOWED IN THAT ZONE, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FOR A ZONING CHANGE AND THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE REGULAR COR REGULAR ZONING CHANGE COURSE.
AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE HAD TO KIND OF CHANGE YOUR PROJECTIONS BASED ON INFLATION, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE CITED.
UM, SO, UH, I KNOW YOU'VE MENTIONED LAND USE AS WELL.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT THAT, YOU KNOW, LAND ISN'T EVALUATED JUST GIVEN WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE, WE'VE SEEN RECORD LEVELS OF INVENTORY, LIKE WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE? OR IF THE SUPPLY CHAINS DO CLEAR UP AND THINGS DO, UM, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, UH, BECOME AVAILABLE AT A LOWER PRICE POINT, THEN WHAT'S DONE WITH THAT IS, IS THERE A POTENTIAL FOR A SURPLUS? IS THERE A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR THAT OR IS THAT JUST OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY? UM, WELL AGAIN, WE'RE ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW JUST TAKING A LOOK AT THAT REAL ESTATE COSTS ALONG CORRIDOR AND WHAT OUR NEEDS MIGHT BE.
WE ARE IN A VERY EARLY STAGE OF DESIGN, SO WE CAN ALWAYS KIND OF IMPROVE THAT SITUATION, AT LEAST IN MY EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, AS DESIGN PROGRESSES, YOU'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS.
UM, BUT AT THIS STAGE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND AND ESTIMATE FOR WHAT THOSE REAL ESTATE COSTS MIGHT BE.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE DO INCLUDE CONTINGENCY ON IT, AND I SAY IF WE'RE UNDER BUDGET AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S GREAT
YOU ALREADY, AND THEN HAVE YOU ALREADY EVALUATED YOUR PRIORITIES AS FAR AS THE IMPACT ON RIDERSHIP FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU CUT? UH, WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UH, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT METRIC FOR US.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THE RIGHT PROJECT SCENARIOS MIGHT BE, UM, THAT'S PART OF THE ANALYSIS IS, IS MODELING THAT RIDERSHIP BECAUSE, UM, YES, WE NEED TO MEET OUR COST CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE ALSO NEED A GOOD PROJECT AND A PROJECT THAT MEETS THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE'VE SET FORTH IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SALINAS, YOU MENTIONED THE NOISE MITIGATION PROCESS.
UM, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE? IT'S, CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT, IT GOES INTO THE, THE, THE AREA THAT GETS THE MOST COMPLAINTS AND WHAT IS THE DURATION OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT IS MEASURED AND THEN, THEN IT'S MONITORED AND HOW LONG IS IT MONITORED FOR, AND THEN HOW LONG UNTIL A SOLUTION TO THAT IS PROPOSED, UH, ON THE, ON THE JOB SITE.
SO ALL OF THE DETAILS WILL BE WITHIN THE MITIGATION PLAN THAT ATP, UM, DRAFTS AND THAT THAT DRAFT MITIGATION PLAN WILL BE PART OF THE NPA PROCESS.
AND SO THAT HAS A WHOLE, UM, SO WHILE THIS ORDINANCE OUTLINES, LIKE THESE ARE ALL OF THE, THESE ARE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.
SO ATP IS GONNA HAVE TO GET IN THE WEEDS AND TELL US ALL OF THOSE DETAILS FOR CITI, UM, AS PART OF THAT NPA UH, PROCESS.
AND THEN THAT WILL GO THROUGH A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, UM, BEFORE IT'S, BEFORE THEY TURN IT INTO FTA, BEFORE IT'S APPROVED.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, OF, UM, MONITORING, IT'S A CONTINUOUS MONITORING, SO THEY HAVE, LIKE, THEY HAVE MACHINES TO BE OUT THERE ON THE ROAD THAT, THAT CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR, UM, LEVELS AND THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, SO THEY CAN PLAN WHAT MACHINES ARE USED AT WHAT TIMES.
AND THE FTA BEST PRACTICES INCLUDE, UM, A WHICH WHICH WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE, UM, AN ESCALATION PROCESS, LIKE WHO TO CALL, WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT AND, AND HOW QUICKLY, UM, IT'S RESPONDED TO.
AND THEN JUST SORT OF SPEAK, UM, KIND OF THINKING BIGGER PICTURE THAN THAT.
THERE'S A JOINT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN CAP METRO, UM, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND YOU KNOW, WITHIN THAT JPA THAT WAS APPROVED, UM, IN DECEMBER OF 21, IT HAS SORT OF THIS OVERREACHING, LIKE EVERYONE WILL DO WHAT THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.
AND THEN THERE'S, UM, MEDIATION, UH, REMEDIES WITHIN THAT JPA.
SO IT'S, IT'S A STANDARD THAT JUST, IT HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED, I GUESS IS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? UM, MS. GALLATE, UH, WHEN IS THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE HEADED TO COUNCIL? NOVEMBER 15TH.
SO COMMISSIONERS, WE DO NOT HAVE THIS AS AN ACTION ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, BUT YOU CAN
[00:30:01]
WRITE YOUR RECOMMENDATION, PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION OR REFERENCE OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA COMMUNICATE TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[4. Staff briefing regarding the Palm District Plan.]
UM, ITEM FOUR STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN PRESENTED BY MR. MARK WALTERS FROM HOUSING AND PLANNING.I'M HERE FROM THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE PALM DISTRICT.
THIS PROCESS BEGAN IN EARNEST AT THE BEGINNING OF 2021.
UH, WE RECENTLY RELEASED THE PUBLIC DRAFT REVIEW OF THE PLAN AND EXPECT TO PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION IN DECEMBER.
DURING THE PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN PROCESS, SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY DURING THE VISIONING PHASE OF THIS PROJECT, AND PRESENT VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT PLAN.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THE GOAL OF THE PLAN, THE PALM DISTRICT PLANNING INITIATIVE IS TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC TO DEVELOP A SHARED VISION FOR AN AREA OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAS A RICH HISTORY AND THAT WE KNOW IS CHANGING QUICKLY.
THE STUDY AREA FOR THIS PLANNING PROCESS EXTENDS ROUGHLY FROM 15TH STREET TO LADY BIRD LAKE TRINITY TO I 35.
THE IMPETUS FOR THIS PLANNING CAME OUT OF THE DESIRE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE ENERGY, UH, COMING FROM THE DISTRICT AND TO ENSURE THAT THE CULTURAL HISTORY AND HISTORIC IDENTITY OF THE DISTRICT IS AMPLIFIED RATHER THAN RACE ERASE AS CHANGE OCCURS.
THE AREA OF DOWNTOWN IS GROUND ZERO FOR A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INVESTMENTS ANTICIPATED OVER THE YEARS AHEAD, INCLUDING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF I 35.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT CONNECT COMPLETION OF WATERLOO PARK, IMPROVEMENTS TO PALM PARK RECONSTRUCTION OF THE AMER, THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER AND EXPANSION OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.
THE AREA IS ALSO HOME TO THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT IN A PORTION OF THE EAST SIXTH STREET ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PLANNING AREA ALSO INCLUDES THE INNOVATION DISTRICT.
THE PALM DISTRICT ALSO INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, RESOURCES INCLUDING THE PALM SCHOOL, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE, BY THE COUNTY.
THE, IN ADDITION TO INITIATING THE PLANNING PROCESS, THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNSEL IN 2019 PROVIDED DIRECTION ON SEVERAL ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY.
AS THE PLANNING PROCESS MOVES FORWARD IS, IS GOING ONGOING, IT WAS INFORMED AT, BY AND WILL INFORM THESE OTHER INITIATIVES AS WELL.
SINCE EARLY 2021, WE HAVE WORKED TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS, UNDERSTAND EXISTING CONDITIONS, SUPPORT, COORDINATION OF RELATED INITIATIVES, AND TO DEVELOP A SHARED VISION FOR THE DISTRICT THAT BUILDS ON THE WORK ALREADY UNDERWAY.
WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED AN EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT, A LISTENING REPORT, A DRAFT VISION FRAMEWORK IN A SURVEY ON SCENARIOS, WE RELEASE THE PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT OF THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN ON THE 13TH OF THIS MONTH.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, WE WILL SEEK FEEDBACK ON THE PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT BEFORE PRESENTING AN UPDATED PLAN TO PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING.
AND CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 1ST.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE APPROACH THIS WORK THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE GUIDED BY KEY EQUITY GOALS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF THIS PROJECT.
THROUGHOUT 2021, IN 2022, WE'VE CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE NATIONAL AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS TO CONDUCT A VIRTUAL DESIGN WORKSHOP IN JULY, 2021.
IN FACT, UH, THE FOLKS, UH, FROM AIA WERE GOING TO BE HERE IN, THEY WERE HERE IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 WITH THE PLAN TO HAVE A RU DA FOR MARCH OF THAT SAME YEAR.
BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
WE ALSO HIRED LOCAL CONSULTANT, MARTHA CORA, TO CONDUCT TARGETED OUTREACH TO EAST AUSTIN THOUGHT LEADERS.
AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, WHO HIRED ASURA ROBINSON TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF SCENARIO PLANNING WORKSHOPS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS.
AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIVITIES, WE'VE RECEIVED, RECEIVED RICH INPUT FROM A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS
[00:35:01]
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.IN LARGE PART, TO THE TARGETED OUTREACH SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM MS. CORA, PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEYS HAVE BEEN FAIRLY DIVERSE WITH 55% OF THE RESPONDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE VISIONING SURVEY, IDENTIFYING AS HISPANIC OR LATINX.
IN JUNE, 2021, WE HOSTED TWO WELL-ATTENDED VISIONING FORUMS AND RECEIVED 372 COMMENTS ABOUT HOW FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PALM DISTRICT EVOLVE IN THE FUTURE.
AND MANY OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME OUT WERE THE HISTORY, THE COMMUNITY, UH, THE SPACE, CULTURAL IDEAS, AND SO FORTH.
THROUGH INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS, OUR CONSULTANT, MARTHA KOTERA AND HER TEAM, REACHED OUT TO A VARIETY OF KEY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING EAST AUSTIN'S AMERICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND THOSE WITH CULTURAL TIES TO THE DISTRICT.
THE RESULTS OF THIS WORK WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE LISTENING REPORT AND WILL BE, UH, DOCUMENTED IN A FINAL REPORT PREPARED BY THE CONSULTANT THAT WILL BE SHARED ON THE PROJECT SPEAK UP AUSTIN PAGE.
BASED ON THEIR TARGETED WORK, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES OF ARCHITECT TEAM PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SUMMED UP IN THE LISTENING REPORT AND PRESENTED IN A DETAILED AIA RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT ON THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN PAGE.
KEY IDEAS INCLUDED BEING SUPER INTENTIONAL WITH CULTURE AND PLACE MAKING THROUGHOUT, THROUGH THE USE OF PUBLIC ART, LEVERAGING PUBLICLY CONTROLLED AREAS AND SITES TO ACHIEVE THE VISION AND ACTING WITH URGENCY.
THE PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT OF THE PALM DISTRICT INCLUDES A VISION, THE DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR THE DISTRICT, AND IDENTIFIES PERF UH, PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE TO MOVE FORWARD THE VISION AND THE PERVERT PREFERRED SCENARIO.
STAY THERE, YOU JUMPED A SLIDE.
THE OVERARCHING VISION FOR THE DISTRICT IS THAT IT BECOME A VIBRANT HISTORIC HUB FOR DOWNTOWN WHERE THE PAST IS HONORED, CULTURE IS CELEBRATED AND THE FUTURE IS SHAPED.
THE VISION RELIES ON BALANCING INHERENT CONFLICTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THE TENSION TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING GENETICISM OF THE PLACE.
IT IS A DYNAMIC PLACE GROWING AND EVOLVING WHILE ACTIVELY SERVING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY CALLED THE PLACE HOME.
AND IT IS A PLACE CULTIVATING CREATIVITY.
OKAY, STAY RIGHT THERE, PLEASE.
THE VISION'S FIRST ELEMENT LOOKS AT ENSURING THAT GROWTH IN THE DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR LONG TIME AND RECENT RESIDENTS AND ESTABLISHED AND NEW BUSINESSES.
KEY OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS, THIS PART OF THE VISION INCLUDE, UH, KEY OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THIS.
I'LL INCLUDE THE INNOVATION DISTRICT, THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THE FUTURE OF THE A P E D HEADQUARTERS SITE.
THE SECOND ELEMENT INCLUDES ENSURING THAT THE DISTINCT CULTURE OF THE PALM DISTRICT, THAT IT BECOMES A DESTINATION THAT IS CELEBRATED, IT'S MULTI, THAT CELEBRATES ITS MULTICARE HERITAGE.
KEY OPPORTUNITIES HERE INCLUDE THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, THE MOODY AMPHITHEATER AT WATERLOO PARK, SYMPHONY SQUARE, PALM SCHOOL, RAINY STREET, AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AS WELL AS PALM PARK SIXTH STREET, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THE THIRD ELEMENT OF THE VISION CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING THE PHYSICAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITHIN DOWNTOWN AND BETWEEN EAST AUSTIN AND DOWNTOWN.
THE KEY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS PART OF THE VISION INCLUDE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSTATE, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT CONNECT, IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAILS ALONG WATERLOO GREENWAY, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC REALM THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
NEXT LINE, THE FOURTH AND LAST ELEMENT CALLS FOR PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BY RESTORING EXISTING NATURAL AND OPEN SPACES AND PURSUING HIGH STANDARDS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT WITH A FOCUS ON GREEN ARCHITECT INFRASTRUCTURE.
KEY OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE THE WATERLOO GREENWAY PALM PARK BRUSH SQUARE, UH, THE LADYBIRD LAKE SHORELINE, BUT ALSO INCLUDE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
THE DRAFT VISION FRAMEWORK ALSO IDENTIFIES 50 PLUS DESIRED OUTCOMES ACROSS THE FOUR THEMES, DESIRED OUTCOMES, VARYING LEVEL OF DETAIL, AND IN SOME CASES THE WORK ON THESE IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
IN SUMMER 2022, WE PARTNERED WITH THE DAA WHO RETAIN US AURA ROBINSON, TO SUPPORT A SCENARIO PLANNING ACTIVITY THAT LED TO DEVELOPMENT THREE.
WHAT IF SCENARIOS FOR THE DISTRICT? DURING SIX WORKSHOPS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN AUGUST, THE ASUR AND A D TEAM WORKED TO IDENTIFY FEASIBLE WAYS THAT THE DISTRICT COULD DEVELOP OVER TIME TO MOVE TOWARD THE ASPIRATIONS EXPRESSED IN THE VISION STATEMENT.
UH, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WORKSHOPS, THE TEAM DEVELOPED THREE USER EXPERIENCE FOCUSED THEMATIC SCENARIOS AROUND THE CONCEPTS OF LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.
[00:40:02]
THE PREFERRED SCENARIO BUILDS ON THE LIVE WORKPLACE SCENARIOS AND IS GUIDED BY THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY WHERE RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED TO RANK SCENARIOS AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.MOST RESPONDENTS FAVORED THE LIVE SCENARIO AND EMPHASIZE A DESIRE FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE PALM DISTRICT.
NEXT LINE, THE PREFERRED SCENARIO ENVISIONS THE PALM DISTRICT AS A THRIVING 24 HOUR A DAY COMMUNITY PRIORITIZES A STRATEGIC PLACEMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES SUCH AS PHARMACIES, MIXED SKILL, GROCERIES, AND EATERIES.
WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF RESIDENCES, IT PRIORITIZES MIXED USE BUILDINGS WITH GROUND FOUR SPACES FOR RETAIL, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES, CREATES NEW WORK OR PRACTICE SPACES FOR THE PALM DISTRICT'S CREATIVE AND INNOVATION INDUSTRIES BY PROPOSING STRATEGIC REPURPOSING OF EXISTING GOVERNMENTAL BUILDINGS BETWEEN 10TH AND 11TH STREET.
AND FINALLY, IT SUPPORTS NEW TOURISTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INVESTMENTS AND BOLSTERS EXISTING LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL SPACES BY INTRODUCING NEW HOTELS WITH ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.
THE IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION SECTION OF THE PLAN PRESENTS SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO MOVE TOWARD THE PREFERRED SCENARIO AND THE VISION AND THE DESIRED OUTCOMES OF THE PLAN.
AND THESE ARE, ARE BASED ON, UH, THE, THE HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE THE TIMEFRAME FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AT A MINIMUM, THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL MONITOR PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AS WE DO WITH ALL OTHER SMALL AREA PLANS.
WE NOW MAY ALSO REACH OUT TO EXISTING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER IMPLEMENTING KEY ASPECTS OF THE PLAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE WATERLOO GREENWAY COORDINATE ACTION ITEMS RELATED TO THE WATERLOO GREENWAY.
UH, MOREOVER, MANY OF THE PROCESSES PARTICIPANTS EXPRESS A STRONG INTEREST IN IDENTIFYING A GOVERNANCE BODY THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BROADER COORDINATION.
MORE SPECIFICALLY OF THE CULTURAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN, IF WE WANT TO PURSUE THIS OPTION, ADDITIONAL INNER AGING INNER AGENCY COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION WILL BE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY AN APPROPRIATE EXISTING ENTITY OR FORM A NEW FORM NEW ONE.
THERE ARE ALREADY MULTIPLE KEY GOVERNANCE PARTNERS IN THE DISTRICT, SO WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNANCE APPROACH FITS WITH THE CONTEXT OF THE VARIOUS EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS.
SO NEXT, NEXT SLIDE AND THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT OF THE PLAN IS AVAILABLE TILL THIS FRIDAY ON NOVEMBER 1ST, WE ANTICIPATE RELEASING AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE PLAN THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE HEARINGS AND ADOPTION PROCESS AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH A PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THE EIGHTH OF, UH, NOVEMBER.
AND AGAIN, CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 1ST.
UH, SEVERAL KEY IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES ARE RECOMMENDED IN 2023.
THESE INCLUDE, UH, AN LDC AMENDMENT THAT WAS PART OF THE SECOND REVIEW DRAFT OF THE REVISED CODE THAT WOULD CREATE A STEP BACK ALONG WATERLOO CREEK.
I MEAN, UH, WALL CREEK, SO THE BUILDINGS WOULD NOT BE BUILT RIGHT UP TO THE CREEK.
SO THERE WOULD BE SOME SPACE BETWEEN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN THE CREEK, SO IT WOULDN'T BE LOOMING BUILDINGS QUITE OVER, UH, THE WATERLOO GREENWAY.
ANOTHER ONE WOULD BE, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN TO CHANGE SOME MAPS SO THAT THE TWO PLANS ARE COORDINATED AND THERE'S NOT ANY OVERLAPPING AREAS COVERED BY TWO PLANS.
AND THEN ALSO NEXT YEAR LOOK TO SEE HOW WE MIGHT FINALIZE ANY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES FOR THE, FOR THE PLANNING FOR THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED.
UH, YOU CAN REVIEW THE PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT PLAN AND OTHER PLAN MATERIALS AND TAKE THE FEEDBACK SURVEY@THESPEAKUPAUSTIN.ORG SLASH PALM DISTRICT WEBSITE.
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS AND SCHEDULES, UH, AS OUR TIME ALLOWS, UH, IN THE INTERVENING MONTHS.
UH, YOU CAN ALSO, UH, YOU CAN EMAIL US NEXT SLIDE.
YOU CAN CALL US AT THREE ONE ONE AND YOU CAN ALWAYS USE TRIED AND TRUE, UH, US POSTAGE.
AND WITH THAT, I AM DONE WITH MY PRESENTATION WHO WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER CAROL.
UH, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE.
UM, I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
SO LOOKING AT THIS, UH, PREFERRED SCHEME, YOU KNOW, I REALIZE THIS IS JUST A SCHEMATIC, BUT MANY OF THESE
[00:45:01]
MASSING, THESE BUILDINGS LOOK VERY LOW DENSITY TO ME.IS THAT INTENTIONAL TO KEEP THIS DISTRICT LOW DENSITY? WELL, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND A GOOD PORTION OF THIS DISTRICT IS KIND OF TAMPED DOWN BY THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDORS.
SO YOU CAN ONLY GO UP TO A POINT AND KNOW MORE.
UH, AND THAT'S A GOOD SECTION OF THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT AS WELL AS, UH, PARTS OF WATERLOO PARK AS WELL AS YOU REMEMBER, THE INTAKE STRUCTURE HAD TO BE RE REBUILT FOR THEIR, IS IT PROTRUDED INTO THE, UH, INTO THE, UH, TO THE CAPITAL VIEW COURT OR DOM'S VIEW QUARTER THERE? SO I THINK THE, THE ASURA ROBINSONS FOLKS DID TAKE A LOT OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY DID TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY WERE DEVELOPING THE SCENARIOS THAT THAT IS ONE REASON WHY YOU DO SEE SUCH LOW BUILDINGS.
IT'S LIKE JUST TO THE NORTH OF STUBS, YOU SEE THAT RED BRICK APARTMENT BUILDING, IT'S SO SHORT BECAUSE IT'S BELOW THE, IT'S UNDERNEATH THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR.
UH, THAT SAID, OF COURSE, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT REACHES IN THIS DISTRICT, BUT THE CAPITAL DOMINANCE OVERLAY HAS BEEN REMOVED.
COUNCIL HAS GOTTEN RID OF THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE STATE DID THOUGH THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR STILL EXISTS, BUT THE CAPITAL DOMINANCE OVERLAY HAS BEEN REMOVED.
THE COUNCIL, I THINK THAT'S MOSTLY THE WEST SIDE OF THE CAPITAL.
WELL, IT'S A RADIUS AROUND THE ENTIRE CAPITAL THAT CAPPED IT AT 200 FEET OR AROUND 200 FEET.
BUT, SO ANYWAY, I GUESS MY POINT IS I HOPE THIS PLAN GETS UPDATED TO REFLECT THAT THAT'S NO LONGER, UH, AN ISSUE.
UH, AND TO THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS, AND, AND MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED IT YET, YOU, YOU MENTIONED UPDATES TO THE LDC.
I ASSUME THAT THIS WILL ALSO REQUIRE SOME UPDATES TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PLAN? CORRECT.
HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED WHAT THOSE SPECIFIC UPDATES WILL BE YET? WELL, TO THE PLAN IT WOULD BE REDRAWING CERTAIN DISTRICTS WITHIN THE PLAN, PARTICULARLY THE WALLER CREEK DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD CHANGE BASED ON THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS PLAN AND IT, AND MOVING ANY OF THOSE BOUNDARIES IN ORDER TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH.
SO THE TWO PLANS DON'T COVER THE SAME GEOGRAPHY.
LET ME, UM, ONE IS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT, AGAIN, LOOKING AT YOUR PREFERRED SCHEME HERE, WHAT DOES LOW INCOME MEAN? YOU HAVE LOW INCOME SPECIFIED FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION? WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THIS ON A LAPTOP.
UH, I IMAGINE THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO MAKE BELOW THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME OF 80% OR LOWER, UH, 60% IS THE NEW NUMBER THAT I'VE SEEN FOR, FOR AFFORDABILITY LEVELS, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BELOW 80% MFI.
AND SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE ENFORCED GIVEN THAT YOU CAN'T REQUIRE SOMEBODY TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WELL, I THINK A LOT OF THAT CAN BE DONE POSSIBLY THROUGH THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM WHERE YOU DO.
CUZ IF EIGHT TO ONE, THE REAL ESTATE, I GUESS IN AUSTIN, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN BEING WHAT IT IS, AN EIGHT TO ONE A R, IF YOU'RE NOT ENCUMBERED BY ANY OTHER REGULATIONS, YOU'RE GONNA BUILD TALLER THAN THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS BEARS THAT OUT.
SO IT, AND MUCH OF THIS AREA, ONCE YOU GET OUTSIDE OF RAINY, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRED IN THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
YOU CAN PAY A FEE AND LOSE, YOU CAN PAY A FEE AND MOVE.
AND SO IS DOES, ARE WE PROPOSING WITH THIS PLAN TO CHANGE THAT SOMEHOW? THERE'S NO, UH, REGULATORY ASPECT ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THIS, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH LDC UH, AMENDMENTS, WE, WE, WE, WE WILL LOOK AT, UH, DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
I MEAN, I WOULD, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE IN LOOKING AT THE RAINY STREET PLAN THAT EXISTS TODAY, THAT IT'S A TWO-TIERED DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
AND ON THAT FIRST TIER IT DOES REQUIRE ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S THE ONLY PART OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAS THAT CURRENTLY.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MAYBE EXTENDING THAT ACROSS THIS WHOLE PLANNED BOUNDARY.
WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT BACK TO PROJECT MANAGER.
UM, SECOND OR OR LAST, UH, QUESTION IS, UH, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS PLANNING FOR PIECES OF I 35 TO BE CAPPED.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT DOES DEMONSTRATE THAT.
UH, SO IT'S HOPING FOR THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, UH, OR OR IS THERE A PLAN B? IF IT DOESN'T GET CAPPED FOR THOSE SPACES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST TAKEN OUT OF THE PROJECT, I GUESS THEY JUST WOULD BE THERE AS A, AS A MEMORY.
[00:50:01]
FACE CHAIR MINERS.IN LOOKING AT THE RENDERING, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE, UH, THE DANCERS ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, UM, I I LOVE COULD YOU, SORRY, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? UH, YEAH, YOU HAVE, THERE'S A FACADE WITH A MURAL THAT LOOKS LIKE DANCERS, UM, WITH LIKE PAELLA, PICATO AS A STREET SCAPE.
UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT IN THAT AREA BY PALM, UM, THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT CITY PROJECTS MM-HMM.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, ME BEING KIND OF CYNICAL, I IMAGINE THAT I'M GONNA SEE SOME PARKING PODIUMS THERE.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENCOURAGE MATERIALS THAT WOULD ENABLE, YOU KNOW, NON-PROFITS, DANA, WHOEVER, TO INCORPORATE MURALS LIKE THIS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR RATHER THAN JUST A BUNCH OF PARKING PODIUMS? WELL, THE PICTURE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO WAS CREATED BY THE AIA DESIGN TEAM, AND THAT WAS BROUGHT IN AS MORE AS AN ASPIRATIONAL ITEM.
NOT SAYING THAT, AGAIN, IF WE WERE TO ENCOURAGE OR REGULATE, WE WOULD HAVE TO MAYBE DO, IT WOULD BE AN LDC AMENDMENT TO SAY YOU THESE MATERIALS MUST BE THAT.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I CAN'T, UNLESS YOU BUILT IT SOMEHOW INTO A PUBLIC GOOD OR A PUBLIC VALUE BONUS THAT I'M JUST SPITBALLING RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE LOOKED AT DOING IS MA YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON GETTING THE PLAN TO THE, UH, TO COUNSEL BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, AND THAT'S BEEN THE PRIMARY THING.
AND THE NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE LDC ISSUES.
BUT THE, AGAIN, IF THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDRESSED, PLEASE UH, TAKE THE SURVEY AND IT'S A SPEAK UP AUSTIN.ORG/PALM DISTRICT, AND FROM THERE YOU CAN, WE CAN GET YOUR COMMENTS THERE AS A, AS PRACTICE CITIZEN COMMISSIONERS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A FEW, UM, OH, I'M, I'M SORRY.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, UM, HATCHERY PARK HAS A TA HON TRAIL, AND THEN WE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MAC BEING EXPANDED AND WE'RE LOOKING AT CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE LATINO OLD NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND LIKE RAINY STREET AND SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UM, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THOSE TWO OTHER PROJECTS, MARK? WELL, THEY'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN INFORMED SOME OF THE, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING OF THE, THE CULTURAL TRAIL ON FIFTH STREET, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? UH, ACTUALLY OVER BY HASKELL, OVER BY THE, UM, UH, RBJ COMMUNITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING, THERE'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT GOING THERE, AND IT'S CALLED A HATCHERY PARK MM-HMM.
AND THERE'S A TEJANO TRAIL THAT, UM, THAT, UH, THE COUNCILMAN'S WIFE IS TRYING TO PROMOTE.
AND THERE WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO CONNECT THAT TO THE MAC.
SO IS THERE ANY THOUGHT AS TO CONNECT TO THOSE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES? TO MY RECOLLECTION, THAT DIDN'T COME UP THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S EXCLUDED BY ANY MEANS.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS.
SO THESE CAN BE INCLUDED INTO THE DOCUMENT, OR AT LEAST CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE DOCUMENT.
I KNOW THAT ATD IS LOOKING AT, OR, OR WAS LOOKING AT CONNECTIVITY ISSUES IN RAINY, SO THAT COULD BE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT THEY CAN BE LOOKING AT.
AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAINY, I KNOW A ABOUT RAINY.
I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER CAROL MENTIONED IT EARLIER, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF LIKE DISAPPOINTED WHERE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WENT BECAUSE IT WAS BASICALLY LATINO AT ONE TIME.
AND NOW EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DENSITY BONUS THERE, IT'S BECOME A WHITE, KIND OF A PRIVILEGED AREA AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION TO KIND OF LIKE, UH, MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL CITIZENS WHO LIVED THERE.
SO I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVER HERE AT PALM.
JUST A REMINDER TO PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE CALLED UPON.
UM, AND I'LL GO AHEAD WITH MY QUESTIONS.
UM, JUST KIND OF GENERALLY ASKING IF THIS IS A MANDATORY, CHANGED THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, OR IF IT'S KIND OF AN INCENTIVE BASED PROGRAM, WHETHER IT'S POSSIBILITY TO OFFER INCREASED ENTITLEMENTS OR, OR OTHER BENEFITS TO OWNERSHIP TO INCLUDE THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRED, BUT THEY'RE REALLY NICE FOR PUBLIC SPACE, LIKE THE UNDERGROUND PARKING OR, OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S, IT'S, THEY REALLY, THE, THE, THE REALLY ONLY STRONG IDEA IS ABOUT THE BUILDING STEP BACK FROM THE CREEK CENTER LINE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE A REPEAT OF THE HOTEL.
UH, I THINK THAT'S THE INTENT AT THIS POINT.
IT, WE, WE WERE INTENDING TO BRING FORWARD WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT TWO OF THE CODE REVISION THAT, UH, DIDN'T HAPPEN.
UM, CAN YOU EXPAND ON THE TERM GOVERNANCE? IT STARTS TO SOUND LIKE A TUR OR A PIT OR SOMETHING WHERE
[00:55:01]
I, I'M JUST UNDER CURIOUS WHAT, WHAT THE POTENTIAL OF THAT MIGHT MEAN.I THINK IT'S MORE OF A MAINTENANCE AND RATHER THAN GOVERNANCE.
WHEN YOU SAY GOVERNANCE, IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY THE COMMUNITY INPUT WE RECEIVED THOUGH SO FAR IN REGARDS TO CULTURAL PROGRAMMING AND TO HISTORIC, UH, DOCUMENTATION OF THE, OF THE HISTORY OF THE AREA, MORE ALONG THOSE LINES.
BUT, UH, CAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE THE WATER, THE CONSERVANCY, AND IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION FOR THE, THERE YOU HAVE TRAVIS COUNTY HAVING THEIRS, THAT YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WITH THEIR FEET IN THE, IN THE DISTRICT.
EVERYTHING FROM UT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF AUSTIN HAS, UH, IS HAS SOMETHING AS IN, IN, IN THE DISTRICT.
SO WHAT THAT ULTIMATELY LOOKS LIKE, AND MAYBE GOVERNMENTS AGAIN IS NOT THE CORRECT WORD, BUT MORE HOW, HOW MIGHT THIS AREA BE MANAGED? BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE STRONG THINGS THAT WE GOT FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS CREATING ACTIVITIES TO BRING PEOPLE BACK.
WHETHER THEY CAN ACTUALLY LIVE THERE OR NOT IS, BUT THEY CAN COME HERE AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN THERE'S A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AND TO HAVE THAT, TO HAVE COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS, IT'S EVERYBODY'S DOWNTOWN.
UM, WITH THAT KIND OF BUILDING ON THAT, IT'S, EVERYONE'S DOWNTOWN, THIS IS A TOPIC WE'VE, AS A COMMISSION DISCUSSED A FEW TIMES, UM, CREATING A CENTRAL PARKING GARAGE TO SUPPORT PEDESTRIAN FOCUSED AREAS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OF NO.
IT'S A VERY EXCITING PRESENTATION.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN SUPPORT YOUR WORK, OR WHAT WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR FROM US? WELL, AT THIS MEETING, YOU'RE NOT POSTED FOR ANY ACTION.
I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT ACTION WOULD BE POSTING IN THE FUTURE, BUT IF YOU, IF, IF IT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE, THE COMMISSION, UH, POSITIVE ENDORSEMENT OR I'M NOT SURE A POSITIVE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PLAN TO THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
WELL, THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK.
[5. Staff briefing regarding the Green Building Policy and Resolution.]
ITEM FIVE STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE GREEN BUILDING POLICY AND RESOLUTION PRESENTED BY RILEY TRIGS AND KRISTIN CHRISTINE WALKER FROM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.I'M RILEY TRIGGS AND I'M ARCHITECT WITH THE, UM, ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
AND I AM A SUPERVISOR OF THE, UM, SUSTAINABILITY TEAM FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THE SUSTAINABILITY LEAD IS CHRISTINE WALKER, WHO'S ALSO HERE, AND OUR DIVISION MANAGER, JANICE WHITE.
SO WHAT I'M DOING TONIGHT IS, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, UPDATE TO THE GREEN BUILDING POLICY, AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH, UM, TO, UM, TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICY AND WHAT YOUR, YOUR ROLE IS IN IT AS WELL.
SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AND A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING POLICY HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 22 YEARS NOW.
UH, IT BEGAN IN THE YEAR 2000, UH, WITH, UH, THE ORIGINAL SUSTAINABILITY RESOLUTION THAT ESTABLISHED LEAD SILVER AS A GOAL FOR, UM, FOR A CITY OF AUSTIN BUILDINGS.
UH, IN 2007, THERE WAS A CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN, UM, THAT WAS PASSED AS WELL AS SETTING DOLLAR AMOUNTS, UH, FOR THE, THE, THE GREEN BUILDING POLICY FOR, UH, FOR, UM, ACHIEVING LEAD CERTIFICATIONS.
AND THAT WAS JUST GIVING THRESHOLDS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS.
IN 2019, THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THERE BE AN UPDATE TO THE POLICY.
UM, AND BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020, THERE WAS AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP THAT, UH, WORKED ON UPDATING THE POLICY, INCLUDING DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND WHATNOT THAT, UM, I'LL PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.
AND THEN IN 2021, UH, THE COUNCIL PASSED THE RESOLUTION, UH, ACCEPTING THAT POLICY.
AND BEGINNING IN 2022, UH, THE, UM, WE'VE, WE STARTED WORKING ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THAT POLICY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN OUR, OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO, THE PURPOSE OF THE UPDATE, UH, IS TO REINFORCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO GREEN BUILDING AND TO ALL THINGS SUSTAINABLE.
[01:00:01]
THE CITY'S STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE 23 GOALS, UM, AND, UH, TO REFLECT THE, THE BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY TODAY.SO, UM, TO DATE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UH, IN THE REALM OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING.
UH, WE'VE GOT 56 PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED WITH SOME SORT OF CERTIFICATION RATING, AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 40 IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.
MOST OF THOSE ARE LEAD PROJECTS.
THERE ARE SOME AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING AND SOME OTHER, UH, ASSOCIATED BUILDING RATINGS.
UH, BUT LEAD IS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AT THE MOMENT.
SO THE POLICY TEAM, AS I SAID BEFORE, WAS THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL SUSTAIN SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP, AND THAT'S A LOT TO SAY.
SO WE HAVE, UH, SHORTENED THAT TO BEES OR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP.
AND THAT IS COMPOSED OF, UM, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FROM, FROM ANY DEPARTMENT THAT TOUCHED THE SUSTAINABILITY AND WAS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
THE EFFORT FOR THIS UPDATE TO THE POLICY WAS LED BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS, UH, HELPED MANAGE THAT PROCESS.
UH, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTED HERE.
UH, SEVERAL OF THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE LEADERS IN SUSTAINABILITY, UM, WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS, UH, AND DO GREAT THINGS ALREADY.
AND, UH, EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER TO HASH OUT THIS POLICY UPDATE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE BEST MOVING FORWARD FOR THE CITY.
SO I'M GONNA GO OVER SOME OF THE, UH, THE CHANGES TO THE POLICIES, UM, AND, UM, JUST KINDA GIVE YOU A BASIC OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE POLICY IS AND WHAT IT'S TRYING TO DO.
SO THE MAIN DIFFERENCE, UH, THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE POLICY IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE LEAD CERTIFICATION, IT NOW ALLOWS FOR, AND, OR, UH, HAVING THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, UH, CERTIFICATION.
LIKE I SAID, MOST OF THEM ARE, ARE STILL LEAD AT THIS POINT.
UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, KIND OF STARTED THE, THE SUSTAINABLE, UH, BUILDING MOVEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, UH, PROGRAM WAY BACK.
UM, AND SO IT'S NICE TO SEE IT INCLUDED NOW, UM, AS PART OF THE POLICY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE SOME, UH, OTHER ALTERNATIVE RATING SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUGGESTED USE AT THIS POINT, UH, EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST ONES SITES, THE SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY REQUIRED FOR PAR PROJECTS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S THE WELL RATING WHICH FOCUSES ON, UH, THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF BUILDING OCCUPANTS.
UM, THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUIL, OR THE AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, UH, ACTUALLY HAS THE WELL CERTIFICATION NOW.
UM, WHAT'S THAT? AND SO DOES THIS ONE.
I SAW THE STICKER ON THE DOOR.
UM, SO THE, THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT, UM, THAT WE DEAL WITH ARE HORIZONTAL PROJECTS, WHICH MEAN, YOU KNOW, CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS THAT, UH, ARE GENERALLY IN THE GROUND OR THE ROADS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE RATING SYSTEMS, UH, ARE NOW ENCOURAGED TO BE INCLUDED IN, IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK, AND THAT'S THE ENVISION GREEN ROADS AND SUITE SQL CERTIFICATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE GOT PARK SMART, WHICH IS A BUILDING, UH, IS A GARAGE, UM, UH, PARKING GARAGE CERTIFICATION, UM, AND THEN THE LIVING BUILDINGS CHALLENGES, UH, A NET ZERO, UH, CERTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT WE ASPIRE TO.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE CHANGES, UH, THE NEW POLICY NOW INCLUDES PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS OR P THREE PROJECTS.
UH, AND THOSE ARE, UM, UH, THOSE COME UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE POLICY WHEN, UH, CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ARE MEANT A, ABOUT THE PROJECT, INCLUDING IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS MORE THAN 50%, UH, FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN THE PROJECT.
UM, THE IDEA IS THAT THIS ALIGNS P THREE PROJECTS WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UM, PATHWAYS AND, AND REGULATIONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE POLICY.
AND, UM, IT ALSO CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE BETTER BUILDABLE PROGRAM TO BE, UH, PART OF, UH, THIS PROCESS.
ANOTHER NEW ADDITION IS, UM, IS ADDING IN LEASE SPACES.
UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL LEASE SPACES THAT THE CITY OWNS AND HAS VENDORS COME IN AND USE THE SPACE, UH, FOR THEIR BUSINESSES.
AND SO ANY, ANY SPACE THAT IS, UM,
[01:05:01]
UH, SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN SOMEHOW, UH, TRIGGERS THIS NEED TO, TO FOLLOW THE, THE POLICY, UH, INCLUDED IN THAT, AS, YOU KNOW, LEAD AND A EEG B CERTIFICATIONS, JUST LIKE OTHER PROJECTS.UM, IT ALSO REQUIRES UNIVERSAL RECYCLING, UH, ORDINANCE, UM, FOLLOWING, UH, FOR THESE BUSINESSES.
AND THEN TO ENCOURAGE THE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING, UH, AS WELL.
AND ALSO, DOLLAR THRESHOLDS HAVE CHANGED TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION SINCE 2007 WHEN THE LAST EDITION OF THE POLICY, UH, WAS PUT INTO PLACE.
SO EACH TYPE OF PROJECT, LIKE REMODELING OR NEW BUILDINGS, UH, HAVE DOLLAR AMOUNT THRESHOLDS WHERE THIS KICKS IN, UM, THE, THE NEW POLICY, UH, AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS OF THE POLICY.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE, UM, REGULATORY THINGS, THERE ARE SOME PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET OUT IN THIS POLICY, UM, THAT PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, TRY TO, UM, ACHIEVE.
THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE IS SITE SELECTION.
SO DOING THINGS LIKE MINIMIZING TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS, HAVING EASY ACCESS TO, UM, TO, TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, TO BICYCLING, TO WALKING, UH, LOCATING BUILDINGS AND, UH, FACILITIES, UH, WITHIN THE IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CENTERS AND CORRIDORS.
AND THEN, UM, PROVIDING, UH, OR TRYING TO CHOOSE SITES THAT ALLOW EASY ACCESS TO AMENITIES LIKE SHOPPING AND DINING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS A PRIORITY.
UM, LOOKING AT THE AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS, WHICH INCORPORATES A LOT OF THESE THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE WELL RATING AS WELL.
UM, SO ENCOURAGING THE USE OF THE WELL BUILDING CERTIFICATION, UM, HAVING DESIGN FEATURES IN THE BUILDING, LIKE ENCOURAGING STAIR USE, UM, HAVING HEALTH AMENITIES, HAVING FACILITIES, BEING NON-SMOKING, UH, DESIGNING FOR NATURAL LIGHT IN VIEWS, HAVING COLLABORATIVE AREAS, CENTRALIZING SHARED FUNCTIONS TO ENCOURAGE WALKING DURING THE DAY, AND THEN TO USE GREEN PROCUREMENT STANDARDS, UH, AND PRODUCTS FOR OPERATING THE BUILDING.
UH, SO WITH THE LANDSCAPE, UM, THE POLICY IS NOW LOOKING FOR, UH, THOUGHTFUL DESIGN IN THE LANDSCAPE THROUGHOUT.
SO THINGS LIKE, UH, ENCOURAGING GOOD GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, INNOVATIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, UM, THINGS LIKE HAVING, UM, RAINWATER HARVESTING, UH, POROUS PAVEMENT, VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIPS, AND USING NATIVE SPECIES, UH, ON A SITE ARE ENCOURAGED.
AND THEN A BIGGIE IS TO MEET, UH, THE NET ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION 2040, UH, GOAL.
UH, THIS IS A COMMUNITYWIDE, UM, EFFORT.
UM, WHAT IS COMMUNITYWIDE GOAL? AND, UH, AND SO WE'RE FEASIBLE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT AND ACHIEVE NET ZERO ENERGY, WATER, UH, AND WASTE, UH, PERFORMANCE.
SO THERE ARE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO THE NET ZERO AND LOW CARBON THAT GO ALONG WITH, UH, WITH THAT GOAL, THAT 2040 GOAL.
AND ONE OF THOSE IS EV CHARGING.
SO, UH, PROVIDING EV CHARGING STATIONS, UM, OR THE ABILITY TO HAVE EV CHARGING STATIONS LATER ON, UH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE INTENDED FOR CITY FLEET OPERATIONS.
UM, ALSO, UH, ENCOURAGING AND, UH, MAKING AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION.
UM, AND THEN HAVING BUILDING AMENITIES THAT SUPPORT, UH, HAVING THE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS LIKE, UM, HAVING SHOWERS, BIKE LOCKERS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND OF COURSE, A, A BIG PART OF, UM, THE EQUATION NOW IS, UM, BUILDINGS IN OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR EFFECTS ON CARBON.
UM, ABOUT 50% OF THE CARBON RIGHT NOW, UM, IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR BUILDING, UH, CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPATION.
SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE AREA WHERE, WHERE WE CAN AFFECT, UM, HOW SUSTAINABLE WE ARE AS A CITY.
UM, SO LOOKING AT, UM, WAYS TO REDUCE THE EMBODIED CARBON
[01:10:01]
WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, AND THEN ALSO IN OPERATION OF OUR CITY FACILITIES.BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION AND DUAL PLUMBING, UM, ARE NOW THINGS THAT, UM, WE ARE, WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON CITY FACILITIES.
UM, SO FOR NEWER REPLACEMENT H V A C OR HOT WATER SYSTEMS, UH, WE TRY TO USE ELECTRICITY AND THEN DUAL PLUMBING AND TAPPING INTO THE CITY'S EXPANDING PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM, UH, FOR RECLAIMED WATER, FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, AND HAVING DUAL PLUMBING, UM, WHERE NECESSARY OR WHERE POSSIBLE, OR PROVIDING FOR DUAL PLUMBING LATER ON WHEN THAT SYSTEM REACHES OUR SITES.
ROOFTOP SOLAR IS ANOTHER HUGE ONE.
UH, SO FOR NEWER REPLACEMENT ROOFS, THE INSTALLATION ROOFTOP SOLAR OR HAVING, UH, SOLAR READY, UH, THINGS PUT INTO PLACE IS NOW A REQUIREMENT OF THE POLICY.
SO, UH, IN ORDER TO, UM, HELP US MEET THESE GOALS, UM, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FEASIBILITY STUDIES INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.
SO THEY HIT THE BIG ONES, THE ROOFTOP SOLAR, AUXILIARY WATER BUILDING, ELECTRIFICATION, AND EV CHARGING.
UM, AND THESE ARE STUDIES THAT, UM, TELL US WHETHER WE ARE ABLE TO DO THINGS, UM, AND HOW FEASIBLE THEY ARE TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE PARTICULAR PROJECTS THAT WE, WE HAVE, UH, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THINGS LIKE SCOPE AND BUDGET AND, UM, AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HARD THINGS ABOUT A SITE OR A BUILDING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE EXISTING.
SO THOSE FIT INTO, UH, THE EARLY PART OF A PROJECT, AND I'LL JUST TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS REAL QUICK ABOUT HOW SUSTAINABILITY FITS INTO OUR, OUR PROJECT PATH.
UH, SO AT PROJECT INITIATION, WE SIT DOWN AND WE SET SUSTAINABILITY, UH, GOALS.
WE ASSESS WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE, UH, WHAT CERTIFICATION RATINGS WE CAN ACHIEVE, OR IF WE CAN'T REACH, UH, PARTICULAR CERTIFICATION RATINGS, UH, WE'LL LOOK AT DOING A PARALLEL RATING SYSTEM AND JUST TAKE ELEMENTS OF, UM, A CERTIFICATION THAT WE WILL APPLY TO A PROJECT AND, AND TO THE SCOPE THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE PROJECT.
THIS IS WHERE WE DO OUR FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENTS.
UM, SO THINGS LIKE ROOFTOP SOLAR, IF WE HAVE AN EXISTING BUILDING, UM, IT MAY BE THAT THE, THE STRUCTURE OF THE ROOF IS NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT SOLAR PANELS, SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ABOUT WHETHER WE WE DO THAT OR NOT.
IT COULD BE THAT A SITE IS HEAVILY SHADED OR, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT WILL JUST KEEP US FROM DOING SOLAR, BUT OTHERWISE WE SHOULD BE, UH, WE SHOULD BE INCLUDING THESE INDOOR PROJECTS.
UM, WE HAVE AN INTEGRATED TEAM APPROACH, UM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, COMES DIRECTLY FROM, UM, OUR CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS. SO THAT INCLUDES CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF COMMISSIONING AGENTS, WHICH THE CITY OF AUSTIN HIRES TO BE A THIRD PARTY, TO, TO HELP US REACH SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
UM, OUR ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, OUR CONSULTANTS, AND THEN OUR SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANTS IN PARTICULAR.
ALSO, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE'VE GOT GOAL TRACKING GOING ON FOR THE, THE DIFFERENT CERTIFICATION OR PARALLEL RATINGS, DEPENDING ON, UH, WHAT WE FOUND IN THE, UH, PROJECT INITIATION.
AND THEN YOU GUYS COME IN, UM, UH, AS A CHECKPOINT DURING THIS PROCESS, USUALLY WE, WE BRING OUR PROJECTS TO AT ABOUT 60%, SOMETIMES EARLIER, UH, SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE INPUT INTO OUR, OUR PROJECTS.
UM, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A WAY TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE SUSTAINABILITY POLICY ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT YOU LOOK AT.
WE ALSO HAVE A QUALITY MANAGEMENT DIVISION WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH, UM, ALSO CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SUSTAINABILITY, UM, UH, EFFORTS ARE, ARE HAPPENING ON EACH PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT ACTUALLY GETS SIGNED OFF, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
THEN DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, WE STILL HAVE OUR INTEGRATED DESIGN TEAM.
UM, WE'RE STILL TRACKING GOALS, UH, YOU KNOW, MOVING FROM DESIGN INTO ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION AND MAKING SURE THOSE THINGS ARE, ARE HAPPENING THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE.
AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR, UH, ALSO HAS A SUSTAINABILITY TEAM, WHICH IS MONITORING, UH, THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, EROSION CONTROL AND, AND, UH, TAKING CARE OF, UH, CONSTRUCTION WASTE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT MEET CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF OUR CERTIFICATION.
AND THEN IN THE POST CONSTRUCTION PHASE, WE STILL HAVE
[01:15:01]
OUR, OUR DESIGN TEAM, UH, HELPING US OUT.WE'RE STILL TRACKING THE GOALS FOR OUR CERTIFICATION RATINGS, UH, AND THEN WE ADD THE PERFORMANCE TRACKING.
SO FOR SOME OF THE RATINGS, WE NEED TO MONITOR ENERGY AND WATER USAGE FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, UH, OF THE BUILDING AFTER IT BECOMES OCCUPIED.
UM, AND SO ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND THE CERTIFICATION LEVELS THAT, THAT WE WERE SHOOTING FOR, UH, IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY GET, UM, ARE EITHER LEAD OR AEG B CERTIFICATIONS.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BEYOND THAT DIRECT INVOLVEMENT THAT WE HAVE IN A PROJECT AS, AS PROJECT MANAGERS, UH, WITHIN THE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
SO, HOW IS THIS BUILDING GONNA PERFORM YEARS FROM NOW? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE RENOVATED OR IF IT GETS TORN DOWN? SO WE'RE, WE'RE NOW STARTING TO REALLY LOOK AT THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF A BUILDING AND DOING THINGS HOPEFULLY UPFRONT IN A PROJECT THAT WILL CONTINUE THE SUSTAINABILITY VIABILITY, UM, BEYOND, YOU KNOW, OUR DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THIS.
SO WHEN WE HAND THIS OFF TO OUR SPONSORS, OUR, OUR, OUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, TO ACTUALLY RUN THE BUILDINGS AND MAINTAIN IT AND OPERATE IT, WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT SUSTAINABLE AS WELL TO, UH, FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE POLICY.
SO THESE, THESE ARE ALL THE EFFORTS THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING NOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY, UH, YOU KNOW, A PROVIDED BACKUP MATERIAL, UH, FOR YOU, THE, THE ACTUAL POLICY ITSELF, UH, WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 2021, UM, AND, UM, AND WE'RE DEVELOPING, UH, WAYS THAT WE CAN MORE EFFICIENTLY AND, UM, UH, AND BETTER MEET THESE SUSTAINABILITY POLICY GOALS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. TRIG'S, COMMISSIONERS.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? I GUESS I'LL START IT AGAIN, KIND OF LIKE TO PROJECT CONNECT, YOU KNOW, I SAID THAT THE BUDGETS ARE THE, UH, ESTIMATES ARE KIND OF LIKE A MOVING TARGET AND THE PROJECTS WE'VE ALWAYS SEEN, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS GONNA KIND OF BE READY, YOU KNOW, SOLAR READY, MAYBE WELL, YOU KNOW, RAIN WATER COLLECTION READY, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THE PROJECT, AND SHE SAID THAT THEY'RE 60 TO 70% HIGHER, SOMETIMES THE COST GOES UP THAT MUCH.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT GETS VEED OR THE SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENTS.
SO AS THE MARKET GETS EVEN WORSE, THE WAY I SEE IT IS GONNA GET WORSE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE'RE GONNA REALLY BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE, UH, ELEMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, BY POLICY, WE CAN'T CHOOSE NOT TO DO SUSTAINABILITY THINGS IN OUR PROJECT.
SO, UH, IT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE PROJECT.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE BUDGET, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE OTHER THINGS OUT TO MAKE THE SUSTAIN SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENTS WORK? YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE OTHER ELEMENTS LIKE DECREASE THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.
MAYBE THAT IS A POSSIBILITY? YES.
SO, UH, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ARTICULATE THIS, BUT, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE AS PART OF THE LIFE CYCLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING IS ESSENTIALLY, UM, DOING SOME PERFORMANCE TRACKING, UM, ALMOST LIKE A POSTMORTEM.
UM, AND, UH, I'M CURIOUS IF THERE WAS A POSTMORTEM, UM, OR SOME SORT OF PERFORMANCE TRACKING DONE, UH, WITH REGARD TO THIS STRUCTURE AND THEN ALSO THAT OF AUSTIN ENERGY.
UM, I OBSERVED THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOUR GOALS IS, UH, TO HAVE SITE SELECTION THAT FOSTERS, UH, HEALTH WELLNESS.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED WALKABILITY.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT'S REALLY SPR? MY QUESTION IS THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WALK BY THIS BUILDING, AND IT IS IN A WALKABLE AREA, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE ONE DEAD ZONES THAT HAS NOW, UH, SURFACED IN WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A MORE WALKABLE AREA.
UM, AUSTIN ENERGY, AGAIN, SITE LOCATION, IT'S IN MUELLER, VERY WALKABLE.
IS AUSTIN ENERGY'S BUILDING CONTRIBUTING TO THAT WALKABILITY? I DON'T SEE HOW THAT COULD BE THE CASE.
UM, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT, UH, THESE STRUCTURES? WHAT STRUCTURES HAVE YOU LOOKED AT? UM, AND YOU KNOW, BASED ON THAT, WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR CONSIDERATIONS AS FAR AS WALKABILITY? IS IT LOCATING IN AREAS THAT ARE WALKABLE OR IS IT CONTRIBUTING TO WALKABILITY WITH YOUR OWN STRUCTURE? HI, COMMISSIONER.
I'M THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM LEAD FOR PUBLIC WORKS,
[01:20:02]
UM, SPECIFIC TO THE AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS.UH, THERE WAS A DEEP PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, TMI, TEXAS MUTUAL, WHO WAS PART OF THE PARK THAT WAS DEVELOPED ACROSS THE STREET.
SO THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING TEAM WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THAT, AND THERE WAS ALWAYS AN EYE TO HOW DO WE MAKE THIS WHOLE AREA WORK THEIR NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS AS YOU, I THINK YOU PROBABLY KNOW.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT JUST YOUR BUILDING, IT'S EVERYTHING AROUND IT, RIGHT? AND SO AUSTIN ENERGY AND THE CITY HAD A STRONG HAND IN WORKING WITH ELLAS, WHO WAS THE DEVELOPER MILLER, AND IN BRINGING THAT ALL TOGETHER.
SO I HOPE THAT HELPS A LITTLE BIT.
UM, WHAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION? I'M JUST CURIOUS AS FAR AS WITH SITE SELECTION, UH, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING TO SELECT A SITE THAT IS KIND OF IN THAT BUILT ENVIRONMENT WITH WALKABILITY.
YOU MENTIONED THE PARK IN PARTICULAR.
BUT YOU KNOW, I, I SAW THAT YOU MENTIONED LEASING OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT EXAMPLES DO YOU HAVE OF LEASING OPPORTUNITIES, OR WHAT IS THE GOLD STANDARD? BECAUSE I'M NOT SEEING THAT WITH THIS BUILDING, I'M NOT SEEING WITH AUSTIN ENERGY AS FAR AS LIKE CREATING LEASING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE STRUCTURE ITSELF IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE WALKABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, THERE'S AMENITIES IN THE BUILDING THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORT THAT.
UM, THERE'S, UH, BIKE FACILITIES, UM, THERE ARE, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, HEADQUARTERS HAS, UM, SHOWERS.
UM, THEY HAVE, UM, UH, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE THEIR DAILY LIVES.
THEY HAVE FOOD DELIVERY AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE ACTUAL, UM, EMPLOYEES IN THE BUILDING.
UM, AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE CONCERT THERE THAN PERHAPS, UH, MAYBE THE WEBSITE SHOWS.
UH, BUT THERE WAS A HEAVY CONSIDERATION, AND THAT'S ALL PART OF THE WELL BUILDING SYSTEM AS WELL.
SO, UM, ONE THING THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT WAS, UM, PERFORMANCE AND TRACKING.
SO LEAD REQUIRES, UH, AND IS NOW REALLY STARTING TO, UM, TO ENFORCE PERFORMANCE TRACKING.
UM, AND WE ARE HOPING TO TAKE THAT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ACTUALLY HELP INFORM ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, ALL OF OUR PORTFOLIO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RILEY IS WORKING ON WITH OUR TEAM AND ENCOURAGING OUR TEAM TO DO IS REALLY START TO EMBRACE THAT AND GATHER THAT DATA SO THAT IT CAN HELP INFORM THE NEXT BUILDING IN THE NEXT BUILDING.
UM, SO WE'RE, ALONG WITH WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW CREATIVELY, HOW DO WE LEVERAGE WHAT WE'RE LEARNING, TRANSITIONING THAT TO BUILDING SERVICES IN OUR SPONSOR DEPARTMENTS IS, AND AS RIGHTLY SAID, THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE, UM, THINK ABOUT BUILDINGS BEYOND WHEN WE TURN THEM OVER, UM, INTO THEIR USE, INTO THEIR, THEIR END OF LIFE AND REUSE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS ON, UM, THOSE WHO ARE GONNA BE INHABITING THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, FOR WHATEVER BUSINESS HOURS ARE, HOURS OF OPERATION VERSUS MAYBE KIND OF BEYOND THAT.
YEAH, THE PUBLIC SPACES, UM, ARE INTERESTING.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, THIS BUILDING HAS PUBLIC SPACES, AS DOES THE HEADQUARTERS.
THEY'RE MAINLY ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AS YOU ALL CAN APPRECIATE.
UM, WE ARE A CITY ENTITY, SO WE DO HAVE RESTRICTED AREAS, RIGHT, UH, THAT ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES, BUT BY AND LARGE, THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, AN EYE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE DIFFERENT LOBBIES AND, UM, AMENITIES THAT WE'RE ENJOYING TONIGHT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
AND ACTUALLY THERE'S A, THERE'S A SPACE IN THE PARKING GARAGE THAT IS DEDICATED TOWARDS A COMMUNITY USE THAT JUST HASN'T HAPPENED YET.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THERE WAS A PROACTIVE, UM, MOVE THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS PART OF A CERTIFICATION OR NOT, BUT A PROACTIVE MOOD MOVE TO ACTIVATE THE STREET AND ACTIVATE THIS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? UM, COMMISSIONER CAROL, THANK YOU.
UH, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CALIBRATION ON THE CONSTRUCTION COST THRESHOLDS, UM, ESPECIALLY THE INTERIORS FINISH OUT, ONE THAT HAS CHANGED AND THAT AS PRESENTED, THEY COME ACROSS ARBITRARY.
I MEAN, I, I UNDERSTAND IT'S PROBABLY TRYING TO TIE IT TO A SIZE OF A PROJECT, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH CONSTRUCTION PRICES, IT FLUCTUATES AND
[01:25:01]
THE SAME PROJECT COULD COST DIFFERENT FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT.SO I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, WELL ONE, IF THAT'S EVEN THE BEST METRIC TO USE, BUT TWO, HOW, HOW WERE THOSE, UH, NUMBERS CREATED? YEAH, OKAY.
SO, UM, SO I CAME INTO THIS JOB ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT I HAD THE DISTINCT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THIS POLICY.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE SETTING THRESHOLDS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, WHAT MAKES SENSE? SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE, THE PERCENT, UM, OF OUR PROJECTS THAT REACH $2 MILLION AND UP FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, $750,000 AND UP FOR MAJOR RENOVATION, UM, THOSE TEND TO BE THE ONES THAT A, FIT IN THE PREPONDERANCE OF OUR PERCENT OF PROJECTS, UM, THAT MAKE SENSE FOR RATING SYSTEMS. AND B, THERE WAS A PROVISION MADE FOR THE MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO SAY, IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE THRESHOLD, THEN YOU NEED TO PARALLEL THE RATINGS.
SO RILEY TALKED ABOUT THAT, RIGHT? HE SAID, UM, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA CERTIFY, THEN WHAT THE, THE POLICY OUTLINES FOR US TO DO IS TO LOOK AT THE RATING.
AND LET'S SAY WE'RE REDOING, UM, A BATHROOM AND IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, A $300,000 PROJECT.
WE CAN GO FOR INTERIOR, WE CAN GO FOR INTERIOR WATER OR WATER, UH, USE REDUCTION.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, THE MATERIALITY AND HOW WE APPROACH THAT, RIGHT? SO, UM, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DO OR PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT AND MAKE THAT REALLY EFFECTIVE ON PROJECTS.
UM, WE, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IS, UM, BUILD THE BENCH WITHIN THE DESIGN COMMUNITY, BE A BETTER PARTNER.
WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO CREATE TOOLS THAT ALLOW US TO DO THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY.
IS THAT HELPFUL? UH, UM, NOT REALLY.
BUT I, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THRESHOLD DOLLARS FOR THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
UM, SO YES, SO THOSE WERE SET PRE PANDEMIC.
AND WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, 30, 50%, YOU KNOW, UH, INCREASE IN COST.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE, UM, HOW, UH, WE EFFECTIVELY, UM, SUPPORT THE POLICY.
SO LIKE CHRISTINE WAS SAYING, WE STILL, EVEN IF WE REMOVE SCOPE OR DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SCOPE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE CERTIFICATION, WE STILL HAVE TO DO THOSE INDIVIDUAL THINGS THAT, UM, THE CERTIFICATION WOULD REQUIRE.
SO FOR INSTANCE, IF WE WERE JUST REPAINTING AND, YOU KNOW, REPLACING LIGHT FIXTURES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE ELEMENTS WE WOULD HAVE TO STILL DO AS IF IT WERE BEING A CERTIFIED PROJECT.
SO PAINT WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE LOW VOC, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE LOW FLOW FIXTURES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, SO IT HASN'T, YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVELY CHANGED THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UH, TRY TO BE AS MOST SUSTAINABLE WITH EVERY PROJECT AND EVERY BIT OF SCOPE IN EVERY PROJECT.
IT JUST MEANS THAT THOSE ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENTS, UM, UH, ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE, THE THRESHOLD DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
SO IF YOU'RE DOING THOSE THINGS IN THE DESIGN ALREADY, IS IT JUST THE COST OF A CONSULTANT TO TRACK THE CERTIFICATION THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR? NO, NO.
UM, IT, IT HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH SCOPE IN ORDER FOR US TO ACHIEVE THAT CERTIFICATION LEVEL.
SO, UH, AGAIN, IF WE, IF WE'RE DOING A RENOVATION PROJECT AND WE'RE ONLY RE REPLACING, UM, YOU KNOW, LIGHT FIXTURES AND WE'RE DOING PAINT AND PAPER AND, AND CARPET, SURE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE COULD ACHIEVE A LEAD SILVER A RATING FOR THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SCOPE TO GET THE POINTS NECESSARY FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES.
NOW, IF WE'RE DOING AN H V A C RENOVATION, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MAJOR POINTS AND THAT HELPS TOO, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH SCOPE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ADD UP ENOUGH POINTS IN ORDER TO GET A CERTIFICATION LEVEL.
SO EVEN IF THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS SAY YOU SHOULD ACHIEVE LEAD SILVER, THE SCOPE MAY NOT ALLOW IT.
JUST LIKE THERE'S JUST NO WAY YOU CAN GET CERTIFICATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SCOPE.
AND IN THOSE CASES, WE GO, OKAY, WE CAN'T GET LEADS SILVER, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO THAT, BUT EACH INDIVIDUAL SCOPE ITEM WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS AND DO AS IF WE WERE CERTIFYING THEM.
SO WE IDENTIFY THOSE SCOPES AND THEN WE SAY WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER
[01:30:01]
TO, UM, STILL DO THOSE THINGS SUSTAINABLY.UM, THE, THE OTHER QUESTION I THINK IT KIND OF GETS AT WHAT COMMISSIONER TANA GUCCI WAS SPEAKING TO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE LISTED SEVERAL PRIORITIES IN HERE, INCLUDING SOLAR AND, UM, YOU KNOW, REDUCTION OF NATURAL GAS, UM, BUT ALSO INDICATED, YOU KNOW, IF BUDGET DOESN'T ALLOW, THEN THOSE THINGS COULD BE CUT.
AND THAT ALIGNS WITH A LOT OF THE CITY PROJECTS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, THAT THEY JUST SAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ON EVALUATING THE BUDGETS TO ACHIEVE THESE RATINGS WHEN, WHEN A PROJECT IS, YOU KNOW, GIVEN HOWEVER MUCH FUNDING, UM, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF, IF, IF YOU'RE STARTING OUT WITH, UH, INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA ACHIEVE THE, THE GOALS THAT, THAT ARE IN HERE, AND YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, PICKING LOW HANGING FRUIT IN THE RATING SYSTEM JUST TO, JUST TO GET A RATING.
UH, SO HAS THAT BEEN DISCUSSED INTERNALLY ABOUT EVALUATING THE BUDGETS FOR THESE PROJECTS? YES.
IT, IT IS OUR ASPIRATION THAT THESE POLICY REQUIREMENTS ARE, UH, CONSIDERED WHEN MONIES ARE BEING ALLOCATED TOWARDS FUNDING THESE SORTS OF PROJECTS.
YES, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? UM, I HAVE A COMMENT, UM, ON THE ALTERNATIVE POLICIES, UM, WHENEVER WE REVIEW FIRE STATIONS, I
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THEM, YES.
UM, UNDER THE ALTERNATIVES IT SHOULD BE SITES AND THEN WELL IS THE NEXT ONE? NO, NO, THAT'S, WELL, FITWELL IS A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.
OH, FIT, WELL, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.
BIT WELL IS ON OUR RADAR FOR THE TEAM, SO IT WASN'T NECESSARILY IN THE POLICY.
UM, BUT WE'RE, UM, WE'VE GOT THAT IN OUR, ON OUR SHORT LIST AS WELL.
YEAH, I'M, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE PROGRAM, UM, AND I THINK IT'S THE ONLY ONE I'M AWARE OF THAT IF YOU'RE USING ANY KIND OF AGENCY DEBT, YOU CAN GET A MORTGAGE DISCOUNT, UM, WHICH COULD HELP WITH FINANCING.
UH, ANY FINAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER COLEMAN? ANY LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION QUESTIONS? NO, BUT FOR SOME REASON WHAT POPS INTO MY BRAIN IS A I S D.
UH, I KNOW THEY TRY TO GET TWO STARS MINIMUM, I BELIEVE, AND, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THEY'VE ACHIEVED ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT.
AND I JUST SEE THEM STRUGGLING WITH LANDSCAPE, SPECIFICALLY LANDSCAPE ESTABLISHMENT.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT BIG FEAR AND, UH, SOMEWHERE THEY'RE GETTING PRESSURE TO REALLY CUT OFF THEIR WATER BEFORE THE LANDSCAPE IS ABLE TO ESTABLISH ITSELF.
SO THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF LOSS DURING, UH, THE LAST GO ROUND OF INSTALLATIONS.
AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT IN YOUR PURVIEW, BUT I GUESS WHERE I'M POINTING TOWARD IS SOME GENERAL EDUCATION MAYBE TO, TO ENTITIES LIKE THEIRS, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT HAS SUCH GREAT IMPACT ON OUR FUTURE, OUR CHILDREN, AND NOT TO MENTION THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT TO WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE BENEFITS OF OF LANDSCAPE RAIN GARDENS, SHADE NATIVE PLANTINGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ACHIEVED IF THEY DON'T PUT THE INVESTMENT IN ESTABLISHMENT.
A SCENARIO I'VE TRIED TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND IS JUST LIKE YOU HAVE WASTED ENERGY WITH ELECTRICITY AND WATER WHILE YOU'RE CONSTRUCTING A SITE FOR 18 MONTHS, THAT SAME WATER IS WASTED TO ESTABLISH YOUR LANDSCAPE IN 110 DEGREE HEAT SO THAT THOSE PLANTS CAN SU CAN SUSTAIN THEMSELVES IN THE FUTURE.
ALONG WITH THAT IS WE DON'T UTILIZE OUR IRRIGATION CONTROL SYSTEMS IN A SMART, THIS TUESDAY, FRIDAY MANDATE IS SO ANTIQUATED, IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY.
THERE ARE CONTROL SYSTEMS OUT THERE THAT PUT BACK EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF WATER NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THAT PLANT ON THE DAYS IN THE MOMENTS THAT IT'S REQUIRED.
THE, THE MISCONCEPTION THAT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS WASTE WATER IS REALLY TROUBLESOME TO ME.
UM, AND THAT MAY BE JUST A PROGRAM AUSTIN ENERGY WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS IF YOU UTILIZE YOUR IRRIGATION CORRECTLY, IT CAN ACTUALLY, UH, SAVE YOU IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE YOUR LANDSCAPE INVESTMENT CONTINUES TO GROW RATHER THAN DIE.
[01:35:01]
SORRY.NO, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S TOTALLY VALID.
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THAT.
ONE IS, UM, UH, THE SITES RATING AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR PARS.
SO WHAT AUSTIN IS GONNA SEE IS THE PREPONDERANCE OF, UH, GOOD EXAMPLE PROJECTS THAT OUR PARTNER, UM, ORGANIZATIONS AND, UH, PUBLIC ENTITIES CAN FOLLOW.
UM, AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT LIBRARY AND SHARING OF INFORMATION AND BEST PRACTICES.
HOW WE'RE DOING SOME OF THAT NOW IS THROUGH BEES.
YOU HEARD RILEY TALK ABOUT BEES BUILT ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUPS.
SO, UM, THAT'S OFF TO A, A FANTASTIC START.
WE RELAUNCHED THAT RECENTLY AND IT'S, UM, AND IT'S GOT A LOT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE FROM CAP METRO AND, UH, PROJECT CONNECT WHO WERE HERE EARLIER.
UM, AND WE'RE STARTING TO BEST PRACTICE SHARE, COME TOGETHER ON, UH, COMMON ISSUES LIKE EQUITY FUNDING, ET CETERA.
BUT ALONG WITH, UM, WITH YOUR POINT COMMISSIONER IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SHARE LANDSCAPE BEST PRACTICES, TIE IN, UH, BEING A B CITY, UM, UNDERSTAND HOW SITES LEADS INTO OPERATIONS AND AS PUBLIC ENTITIES, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US? SO THERE'S A LOT OF THAT HAPPENING, UH, THAT'S EMERGING THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
UM, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FROM US? ARE YOU GOING TO CITY COUNCIL AND JUST A PROGRAM UPDATE? THAT'S IT? NOPE, WE'RE HERE AT YOUR REQUEST.
SO WE'RE JUST PRESENTING WHERE WE ARE WITH THE POLICY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT RIGHT NOW.
UH, THIS POLICY WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN 2021, SO IT'S JUST SAYING HERE'S WHAT IT IS AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[6. Discussion and possible action on the proposed Design Commission regular meeting schedule for 2023.]
ITEM SIX, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE PROPOSED DESIGN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2023.UM, HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED CALENDAR HERE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR US WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE ON THE COMMISSION NEXT YEAR TO VOTE UPON THIS WHEN WE'RE NOT AFFECTED OR EVEN QUALIFIED TO VOTE ON IT? I KNOW IT'S ONE THING TO VOTE ON A, UH, MINUTES OF A MEETING THAT WE DIDN'T ATTEND, BUT WE CAN READ THEM AND, BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN PART OF THE COMMISSION, SO TO SPEAK ON THIS.
MY OFF THE CUFF COMMENT WOULD BE WE'RE ALL SERVING UNTIL THERE'S A NEW APPOINTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, SO WHO KNOWS WHEN THE NEW PEOPLE WILL BE APPOINTED.
IT COULD BE A FEW MONTHS INTO THE NEW YEAR.
UM, SO IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE ALL OF US, UM, UNTIL THOSE APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.
MR. JERUSALEN, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT IF I MAY CHAIR? YES.
IT IS PRUDENT FOR THIS COMMISSION TO VOTE ON A PROPOSED SCHEDULE.
IT, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE CONSTRUCT OF HOW THE COMMISSION WILL CONDUCT HIS BUSINESS, AND WE DO NEED TO RESERVE THE ROOM FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO IT IS THE EXPECTATION OF THE CITY CLERK THAT THE COMMISSION TAKE ACTION ON A, A SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS TO BE POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF WHEN THE COMMISSION IS MEETING FOR NEXT YEAR.
CHAIR IS, SEE THERE A FEW OPTIONS IN NOVEMBER, IN DECEMBER.
UM, SHOULD WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THOSE FOR STAFF? IF I'M SURE YES, WE WOULD NEED THE COMMISSION TO PICK A DATE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
UH, J JUST PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 27TH IS THE MONDAY AFTER THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND HOLIDAY, SO THAT MAY BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE IN PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION.
THAT HAS OFTEN BEEN A NOT A POPULAR CHOICE FOR A DESIGN COMMISSION MEETING.
HOWEVER, THE TWO MONDAYS PRIOR TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS, YOU HAVE FOUND SUCCESS IN BEING ABLE TO MEET A QUORUM.
AND DECEMBER, OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES AS WELL.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, COMMISSIONER CAROL.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, IN THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS, WE'VE ALSO BEEN TAKING JULY OFF TO ALIGN WITH THE COUNCIL'S, UH, SCHEDULE, IF YOU WANNA PUT THAT FOR CONSIDERATION.
[01:40:01]
UM, BECAUSE COUNSEL DOES NOT HAVE A MEETING IN JULY AS COMMISSIONER CARROLL POINTED OUT, UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF OMITTING JULY AS A PROPOSED MEETING DATE.I, ME? YES, YOU'LL NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR CHAIR.
I MOVE THAT WE ELIMINATE THE JULY MEETING TO ALIGN WITH THE COUNCIL OF NOT MEETING IN JULY.
I ALSO WOULD ADD TO THIS THAT I SUGGEST THAT WE GO WITH NOVEMBER 13TH AND DECEMBER 11TH AS THE DATES FOR NEXT YEAR.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF OMITTING JULY, UM, NOVEMBER 13TH, IS THAT RIGHT? AND, UM, DECEMBER 11TH, 11.
[7. Discussion and possible action regarding membership of working groups to craft recommendations on the Urban Design Guidelines.]
UM, ITEM SEVEN, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING MEMBERSHIP OF WORKING GROUPS TO CRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS ON URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME PLANNING COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE REQUESTING TO JOIN.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS FOR ACTION REGARDING MEMBERSHIP OF WORKING GROUPS? ALL RIGHT.
[8. Update from the Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding updates to the guidelines.]
ADAM MAY UPDATE FROM THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES WORKING GROUP REGARDING UPDATES TO THE GUIDELINES.NOT A WHOLE LOT TO UPDATE OTHER THAN, UM, WE, WE ARE STARTING TO MEET THE, THE ACTUAL ADVISORY GROUPS MY BUILDING ADVISORY GROUP MET TODAY, UM, AND WITH THE COMMISSIONER SALINAS.
AND, UH, I THOUGHT IT WENT PRETTY WELL JUST TO KICK OFF MEETING TO KIND OF DISCUSS AN OVERVIEW AND, AND THE SCHEDULE.
UM, I PROPOSED TO MY GROUP NINE MONTHS MEETING TWICE A MONTH, SO 18 MEETINGS TOTAL, AND NO ONE RAN OUT OF THE BUILDING, SO, UH, THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
UM, BUT I THINK OTHER GROUPS HAVE THEIR MEETINGS SCHEDULED PRETTY SOON TOO, SO HOPEFULLY THOSE GO WELL AND, AND WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER KALE REGARDING THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINE UPDATES? OKAY.
[9. Updated from representative on the Downtown Commission regarding last meeting.]
NINE, UPDATE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION REGARDING THE LAST MEETING.UM, OUR LAST MEETING LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19TH.
UM, OUR BIGGEST DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM WAS A VOTE REGARDING SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT CONNECT, UM, STREAMLINED PROPOSAL, WHICH WE ALSO REVIEWED TONIGHT.
UM, TWO COMMISSIONERS WORDED AGAINST THE STREAMLINE, UM, BUT IT WAS MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY WERE AGAINST PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, AND I THINK ULTIMATELY MOST OF THE COMMISSION WAS EXCITED TO REDUCE THE TIME AND COSTS RELATED WITH THE PROJECT APPROVALS.
UM, WE HAD A LOT OF LIVELY DEBATE ABOUT IT, AND THAT WAS THE MAIN, MAIN DISCUSSION FROM OUR, OUR MEETING.
UH, WE ALSO REVIEWED THE PALM DISTRICT PLAN AND, UM, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION 2023 UPDATED MEETING SCHEDULE.
[10. Update from representative on the Joint Sustainability Committee regarding last meeting.]
ITEM 10, UPDATE FROM REPRESENTATIVE ON THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COM COMMITTEE REGARDING THE LAST MEETING.I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE QUORUM AND COULD NOT MEET.
[11. Update from representative on the South-Central Waterfront Advisory Board regarding last meeting.]
11, UPDATE FROM REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATER FUND ADVISORY BOARD.REGARDING THE LAST MEETING, COMMISSIONER FRANCO IS NOT PRESENT.
UM, AND WITH THAT, THE TIME IS 7 53.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION IS ADJOURNED.
[01:45:02]
WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU CAN'T? DO THEY GO, WHO DO YOU KNOW? WHERE'RE ALL ALONG? WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU CAN GO HOME? WELL LOOK AROUND AND I SEE.