[00:00:02]
COMMISSIONERS, PENN,[CALL TO ORDER]
MICHELLE MUSGROVE AND MYSELF PRESENT.IN ADDITION, UM, COMMISSIONERS FISHER AND, UH, NAVARRO REMOTE.
AND WE HAVE, UM, AND, AND THAT WOULD BE IT.
UM, UH, LIKE TO, UM, OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
BE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM JANUARY 18TH, 2023.UM, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE'S BEEN A CORRECTION, UH, TO THE MINUTES THAT COMMISSIONER MODIS AND MICHELLE ATTENDED IN PERSON, NOT REMOTE.
UM, BUT IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, I'M SURE COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD TIME TO REVIEW.
ARE THERE OTHER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CORRECTIONS? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UM, MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER PENN, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER MUSGROVE.
AND, UM, ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION, UM, PLEASE SHOW HANDS FOR APPROVAL.
APPROVAL, UM, LOOKS LIKE ALL UNANIMOUS APPROVAL.
[DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL]
THE NEXT, UM, ITEMS TWO THROUGH SEVEN.UM, COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER.
I'D LIKE TO GO AROUND THE TABLE, UM, FOR QUESTIONS AND RECUSALS.
UH, COMMISSIONER PENN, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE A RECUSAL ON ITEM THREE.
OUR FIRM IS A, UH, THE PRIME CONSULTANTS ON THE DESIGN TEAM.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE.
NO QUESTIONS OR RECUSALS? COMMISSIONER MAROW? NO QUESTIONS.
NO RECUSALS COMMISSIONER FISHER? NO QUESTIONS.
NO RECUSALS AND COMMISSIONER NAVARRO? NO QUESTIONS? NO RECUSALS.
AND I HAVE NO QUESTIONS OR NO, RECUSALS.
SO THE CONSENT, UM, AGENDA WOULD INCLUDE, UH, ITEMS 2, 4, 5, 6, AND SEVEN.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.
COMMISSIONER PENN MOVES TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
COMMISSIONER MICHELLE SECONDS.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, SHOW OF HANDS FOR APPROVAL PLEASE.
LOOKS LIKE UNANIMOUS APPROVAL.
AND FOR ITEMS TWO, UH, MINUS ITEM THREE.
SO THEN WE HAVE, UH, ITEM THREE.
[3. Recommend approval to execute a construction contract for Oltorf Street Reclaimed Water Main Phase 1 project, with Cash Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $6,475,547 plus a $647,555 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $7,123,102. (District 3)]
I'LL READ IT IN.IT'S RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR ULTA STREET RECLAIMED WATER MAIN PHASE ONE PROJECT WITH CASH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,475,547 PLUS SIX.
UM, $147,555 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 7 MILLION $123,102.
UM, COMMISSIONER PENN IS RECUSING AND IS THERE VICE CHAIR CASTLEBERRY? I MOVE TO APPROVE.
UM, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, UH, GIVES THE FIRST, SECOND, AND COMMISSIONER MESS GROVE GIVES THE SECOND.
I'LL TAKE A SHOW OF HANDS FOR APPROVAL.
YET NOTED THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER PENN APPROVE WITH PENN RECUSING.
SO I JUST WANT TO, UH, COMMENT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY FIVE APPROVING, UH, THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS BASED ON, UH, FAILURE TO MEET QUORUM.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT GETS US TO STAFF BRIEFINGS.
[8. Staff briefing on February 2023 winter weather event]
UM, STAFF HAS A BRIEFING FOR THE FEBRUARY, 2023 WINTER WEATHER EVENT.LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, GOOD EVENING CHAIR COMMISSIONERS, SHAY OLSON, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN WATER.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE A FORMAL, UM, SLIDE DECK FOR YOU OF, UH, WHAT HAPPENED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, BUT WE DO, I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW THE STORM EVENT WENT FOR AUSTIN WATER.
AND BE HAPPY TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF HERE WHO CAN ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS, UM, AS
[00:05:01]
NEEDED.WE WILL BE DOING, UM, AS WE ALWAYS DO, AFTER AN ACTIVATION OF OUR DEPARTMENTAL OPERATION CENTER AND AFTER ACTION REVIEW.
UM, SO WE WILL BE LOOKING ALWAYS FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE BECAUSE WE ARE A LEARNING ORGANIZATION.
SO, UM, OUR PREP STARTED PRIOR TO, UH, THE WINTER WEATHER ROLLING IN.
WE HAD ALL OF OUR TEAMS, UM, OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THE PREP AT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS AND AT OUR VARIOUS SITES, UM, UH, MAKING SURE GENERATORS WERE READY TO GO, MAKING SURE THAT, UM, FLEETS WERE, WERE SET, UM, AND STAFF WERE READY.
UH, AND WE PUT OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM ON STANDBY.
UM, UH, AND WE ROLLED OUT OUR, OUR MESSAGING TO OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL FOR PREPARING FOR THE WINTER WEATHER.
UM, THAT'S ONE OF OUR THEMES, UM, GOING FORWARD IS HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM WINTER STORM URI, IS THAT IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.
UM, AND SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING, TRYING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, UM, SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED IN THEIR OWN HOMES FOR THE THINGS THEY CAN DO, UM, ON OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS OPERATED NORMALLY THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.
UM, STORAGE IN, IN MOST PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM STAYED VERY HEALTHY.
UM, WE ACTIVATED OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM ON WEDNESDAY MORNING WHEN WE LOST POWER TO THE DAVIS LANE PUMP STATION.
SO WE OPERATED OFF OF STORED WATER IN THE SOUTHWEST PART OF OUR STORAGE AREA UNTIL, UM, POWER WAS RESTORED, WE DID GET A, A SMALL PUMP AND SERVICE THERE ON A GENERATOR.
AND THEN WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH AUSTIN ENERGY TO, TO GET THAT POWER RESTORED.
UM, WE COORDINATED OUR RESPONSE, UM, WITH, UH, WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, PARTICULARLY AE WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH AE, UM, BUT ALSO WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND STREET AND BRIDGE.
UM, IT WAS A REALLY COORDINATED EFFORT.
UM, AND ALSO OUR CREWS DID A REALLY GREAT JOB OF COORDINATING AND HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.
UM, WE HAD, UM, WE OBVIOUSLY HAD CREWS IN THE FIELD 24 HOURS A DAY, UM, HAULING GENERATORS, HAULING FUEL.
UM, WE HAD OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR POST STATION CREWS WOULD BE HELP, WOULD HELP GET THE SITE READY FOR THE ELECTRICIANS TO SHOW UP AND WIRE UP THE GENERATORS.
UM, OUR, UH, OUR, UM, CRS, OUR CONSTRUCTION CREWS WERE HAULING FUEL.
UM, AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF TEAMS WORKING TOGETHER TO, TO RESPOND TO THAT EVENT.
AND, AND AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, WE HAD PUMP STATIONS AND LIFT STATIONS COMING IN AND OUT OF POWER.
UM, SO POWER WOULD BE RESTORED AND THEN IT WOULD GO OUT AGAIN.
SO WE WERE HAULING A LOT OF GENERATORS AROUND.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WAS WE PROCURED ADDITIONAL RENTAL GENERATORS.
UM, AND SO WE DEPLOYED THOSE AS WELL.
AND WE, WE STILL HAVE THOSE, UH, WE HELD ONTO THOSE THROUGH THIS, UM, SORT OF THE, THE STORMS THAT WERE EXPECTED THAT THANKFULLY, UM, WE HAVEN'T HAD THE HIGH WINDS THAT THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT.
BUT WE, WE HELD ONTO THOSE GENERATORS THROUGH THIS TIME.
UM, WE ALSO HAD OUR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTER.
UH, WE WENT BACK TO, UH, ON, UH, STANDBY ON MONDAY.
UM, BUT WE WERE STILL ON STANDBY UNTIL TODAY.
AND SO JUST AS OF FIVE O'CLOCK TODAY, WE ARE BACK TO, UH, OPCON ONE, WHICH IS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
SO, UM, AND ALL OF OUR FACILITIES ARE BACK TO, UM, COMMERCIAL POWER, MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE SMALL STATION.
UM, BUT, BUT PRIMARILY WE ARE, WE'RE BACK TO VERY NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
UM, WE DID LOSE STORAGE IN TWO SMALL POCKETS OF OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT SERVE A NEIGHBORHOOD IN MOUNT LARSON AND ONE IN, UM, GLEN LAKE.
AND SO THERE WERE ABOUT, UM, JUST SHY OF 40 HOUSEHOLDS, UH, THAT LOST SERVICE.
AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF OUTBOUND CALLING HAPPENING FROM OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
WE HAD WATER DELIVERED, UH, AND THEN AGAIN, WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET GENERATOR POWER TO THOSE PUMP STATIONS AND GET THAT SERVICE RESTORED.
AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, I IMMEDIATELY FLUSH THE SYSTEM, GET SAMPLES, AND THEN LIFT THE BOIL WATER NOTICE THE NEXT DAY.
SO, UM, REALLY JUST INCREDIBLY PROUD OF EVERY, EVERY PART OF AUSTIN WATER WAS INVOLVED IN THIS RESPONSE.
WE HAD SOMEONE, UM, WE HAD AN EOC RESPONDER, SO THAT'S SOMEBODY FROM AUSTIN WATER THAT GOES AND SITS AT THE CITY'S, UH, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.
UM, THEY, UH, UM, WENT THERE IN PERSON ON MONDAY AND HAD IN-PERSON REPRESENT ROUND THE CLOCK REPRESENTATION UNTIL SATURDAY WHEN, UH, THE EOC WENT TO DAYS ONLY.
UM, BUT STILL HAD HAD SOMEONE, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMEONE THERE TODAY, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAD SOMEONE THERE THROUGH, UM, I THINK YESTERDAY.
SO, UM, JUST REALLY, UH, GREAT COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION.
[00:10:01]
LIKE THE PLANS WE HAD PUT IN PLACE AFTER YURI, Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE TOOK A REALLY HARD LOOK AT OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AFTER YURI AND JUST FELT, UM, VERY, UM, UH, JUST VERY PLEASED TO SEE HOW OUR, UM, HOW THOSE PLANS HELD UP.THERE ARE THINGS WE WILL, UM, DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
WE ALL, WERE KEEPING LISTS OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS WE WANNA LOOK AT AND ADD AND, AND REINFORCE IN OUR PLANS.
UM, CUZ THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO BETTER, BUT, UM, A VERY SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME FOR US.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I, I HAD A QUESTION.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW THE ICE WITH TELEMETRY AND ANTENNAS, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A BIG DEAL WITH THE U STORM URI, UM, AND WE HAD MADE SOME CHANGES.
AND UM, JUSTIN WARE CAN COME CORRECT ME, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WE COULD SEE ALL OF OUR INSTRUMENTS WHERE THERE WAS POWER.
UM, THERE ARE SOME INSTRUMENTS THAT WERE DEPENDENT ON THE POWER AT THE LOCAL STATION, SO IF THAT POWER WAS OUT, WE COULDN'T SEE THAT INSTRUMENT UNTIL POWER WAS RESTORED.
BUT WE ALSO COULDN'T PUMP TILL POWER WAS RESTORED, SO THAT WAS FINE.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO TEST, UM, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAD PUT INTO PLACE AFTER STORM MURI.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT ALL, I MEAN, THE PRIDE GOES FROM EVERYONE AT THE HIGH MANAGEMENT LEVEL, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW? UM, SO NOT THAT EVERYBODY'S MAKING IT HAPPEN
IF THEY HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE IN GETTING US THROUGH THAT, DEFINITELY WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE, TO CELEBRATE, UM, ALL OF OUR TEAMS, UM, FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND, AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE ELECTRICIANS.
THEY HAD, EVERY, EVERY PERSON ON THE TEAM WAS IN THE FIELD.
UM, AND, UH, IF THERE'S ONE LIMITATION TO OUR RESPONSE, IT WAS, UM, THE ABILITY TO, TO GET ELECTRICIANS WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE.
UM, WE COULD USE A FEW MORE HANDS ON THAT TEAM.
THAT REMINDED ME THE STAFFING, CUZ I, WE HAD JUST HEARD THE LAST MEETING WE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THE LACK OF STAFFING.
UM, DID THAT HURT YOU IN ANY WAY? IT IT DID ON FOR ELECTRICIANS.
THEY WERE STRETCHED VERY THIN.
UM, AND THEY HAD, UM, SOME, THEY RAN UP AGAINST THEIR MANDATORY LEAVE.
MANDATORY REST, SORRY, MANDATORY REST REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING SO MANY HOURS IN A ROW.
UM, WE DID PRIORITIZE SAFETY, UM, AND WE SENT THOSE GUYS HOME WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME AND, AND THEN THEY CAME BACK ON THE JOB IMMEDIATELY.
BUT THEY WERE ALL, UM, OUT THERE AS MUCH AS THEY COULD BE.
AND WE, WE HAD A COUPLE OF, UM, SLIPS AND TRIPS.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF BRANCHES FALL ON OUR VEHICLES, BUT OTHERWISE WE HAD NO SAFETY INCIDENTS.
OH, COMMISSIONER MERO, WERE THERE ANY LIFT STATIONS THAT OVERFLOWED BECAUSE OF LACK OF POWER? YES, THANK YOU.
I MEANT TO MENTION THAT WE HAD SIX SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS, UM, AND MOST OF THEM WERE, WERE SMALL.
BUT YEAH, WE'RE, UH, GIVEN THE, UM, THE MAGNITUDE OF THE POWER OUTAGES ACROSS OUR SYSTEM, WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT PERFORMANCE.
YEAH, I KNOW I'M TO TALK, SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
I'D JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DIRECTOR RSON AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN WATER TEAM ON DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB THROUGH THIS STORM.
YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT I, I FIGURED THERE WERE SOME, BUT THAT, THAT'S WAY LOWER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR COMPARISON.
AND WINTER STORM URI, WE HAD NINE SSOS, SO THOSE GUYS ARE JUST, THEY'RE JUST KILLING IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY.
ANYBODY FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY WANNA ADD TO THAT? NO.
[9. Staff briefing on a preliminary proposal for a Residential Landscape Transformation Ordinance]
BRIEFING, UM, ON A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL FOR A RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION ORDINANCE.[00:15:05]
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.KEVIN CRITON, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN WATER OVER ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
UM, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, UM, COUNCIL APPROVED OUR WATER FORWARD, UH, UH, A HUNDRED YEAR INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLAN.
UM, IN 2018, UM, WE'VE BEEN BUSI WORKING ON A LOT OF IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES ASSOCIATED THAT.
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS, UH, THAT WAS IDENTIFIED OR ONE OF THE STRATEGIES WAS A MOVE TOWARDS RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION FOR NEW HOMES.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT.
UM, AND SO WITH ME TONIGHT IS KEVIN KLUGE.
HE IS OUR DIVISION MANAGER OVER WATER CONSERVATION.
SO HE'S GONNA KIND OF PROVIDE KIND OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT.
UM, REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE CONTINUED TO WORK IN THE WATER CONSERVATION FRONT AND, AND HAD A LOT OF SUCCESSES ON WATER CONSERVATION GENERALLY.
SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST THING WE'VE EVER DONE RELATED TO WATER CONSERVATION OR OUTDOOR WATER USE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'VE DONE IS MOVE TO ONE DAY PER WEEK WATERING RESTRICTIONS.
AND I MEAN, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS HUGE.
UM, IT, IT'S, YOU KNOW, UM, AMONGST THE MOST STRICT WATER, OUTDOOR WATER CONSERVATION APPROACHES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
UM, AND SO THIS IS REALLY JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HOMEOWNERS TO HAVE THEM RETHINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT LAWN MAY LOOK LIKE OUTSIDE OF KIND OF OUR TRADITIONAL APPROACH.
AND SO KEVIN'S GONNA GO OVER KIND OF THE WORK THAT HE AND STAFF HAVE BEEN DOING, AND, UM, KINDA SHARE THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT AND THEN TALK ABOUT KIND OF OUR NEXT STEP.
SO WITH THAT, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU KEVIN.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS AGAIN.
KEVIN KLUGE, WATER CONSERVATION DIVISION MANAGER.
UH, THIS BRIEFING TONIGHT IS IN REGARDS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION ORDINANCE STRATEGY FROM THE WATER FORWARD PLAN.
TONIGHT I'LL DESCRIBE THE POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND ORDINANCES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM, BUT WE WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE PROCEEDING WITH, AND WE WANT TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT.
AS KEVIN MENTIONED, THE 2018 WATER FORD PLAN INCLUDED A LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION ORDINANCE STRATEGY THAT ENVI ENVISIONS TRANSFORMING THE TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPES OF NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO LANDSCAPES THAT REQUIRE LESS DRINKING WATER IRRIGATION.
THE STRATEGY FOCUSES ON NEW HOMES AND COULD LIMIT TURF FOR IRRIGATION, AND IS ENVISIONED IN THE PLAN TO SAVE ABOUT 2,500 ACRE FEET OF WATER BY 2040.
THE WATER FORWARD PLAN INCLUDED AN IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF 2025.
UM, HOWEVER, IN MAY OF 2021, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER IN AUSTIN WATER TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF, OF THIS STRATEGY.
NOW, BEYOND THE PLAN AND THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVE, UH, IT IS THE BASIC NECESSITY OF AUSTINITES TO CONTINUE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AS WE GO ALONG.
THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN MEET OUR WATER USE AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS GOING FORWARD IS IF EVERY RESIDENT AND BUSINESS USES A LITTLE LESS WATER ON AVERAGE NEXT YEAR THAN THEY USE THIS YEAR.
UM, ALSO, EVERY NEW HOME USE NEEDS TO USE A LITTLE LESS WATER THAN CURRENT HOMEOWNERS.
THE LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, WE BEGAN ENGAGING THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING IDEAS FOR LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION.
STAFF HELD, UH, TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY, TWO IN MAY, TWO IN JUNE, TWO IN NOVEMBER.
IN ADDITION, WE HAD SMALLER MEETINGS WITH SPECIFIC STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
SOME OF THOSE INCLUDED THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, UH, IRRIGATION PROFESSIONALS AND THE IRRIGATION ASSOCIATION, TEXAS NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND EVEN SOME OTHER, UH, CITIES IN TEXAS, SUCH AS NEW BRAUN FOLDS OR FRISCO OR GEORGETOWN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AUSTIN PAGE PROVIDED INFORMATION AND INCLUDED TWO PUBLIC SURVEYS, ONE IN THE SPRING AND ONE IN THE WINTER, THE LAST ONE JUST ENDING JANUARY 17TH.
IN BOTH SURVEYS, MOST AUSTINITES FAVORED REGULATING AND INCENTIVIZING CHANGES TO TRANSFORM, UH, FUTURE RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPES.
SO, AFTER CONSIDERING ALL OF THE FEEDBACK, WE ARE PROPOSING A THREE PART PLAN THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE LANDSCAPES OF NEW
[00:20:01]
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN A WAY THAT WILL HELP AUSTIN MEET OUR GOALS OF WATER USE AND SUSTAINABILITY.FIRST, WE'LL WORK WITH BUILDERS TO BUILD WITH SAVINGS, SHAPING NEW LANDSCAPES THAT WILL USE LESS WATER BY DESIGN.
UH, SECOND, WE WILL SET CUSTOMERS UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FROM THE BEGINNING.
AND THIRD, WE'LL ENCOURAGE WATERING LANDSCAPES WITH ALTERNATIVES TO OUR HIGHLY TREATED DRINKING WATER.
I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITIES IN EACH ONE OF THESE THREE PARTS.
THE FIRST ACTIVITY IS TO ENSURE BETTER SOIL BY ENHANCING THE NEW HOME.
ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTIONS CURRENTLY BEING DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE SOIL AND COMPOST REQUIREMENTS AND NEW HOMES ARE BEING MET.
YOU SEE THAT UP THERE MINIMUM IS SIX INCHES OF SOIL AND 20%, UH, COMPOST.
BETTER SOIL WILL HOLD MORE WATER AND GIVE THE TURF FOR PLANTS THE NUTRIENTS THEY NEED.
UH, WE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATE THAT SUCH REQUIRED SOIL DEPTH AND COMPOST COULD SAVE 10% OF THE AVERAGE NEW HOMES, IRRIGATION WATER USE, WHICH IS ABOUT 28,000 GALLONS PER YEAR PER HOME.
FOR THESE NEW, THE NEW HOMES, THE COST OF ENHANCING THE INSPECTION COULD INCREASE THE COST OF INSPECTIONS BY $80.
AND I ONLY SAY COULD THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE ABOUT THAT.
UH, IF A BUILDER NEEDS TO BRING IN SOIL FROM OFFSITE, THAT COULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $800 IF NEED BE.
THE SECOND WAY TO BUILD A SAVINGS, UM, IS TO REQUIRE THE NEW HOMES HAVE PLANTS FROM A LIST OF NATIVE AND ADAPTIVE ADAPTED PLANTS, WHICH MAY BE A COMMON, THIS LIST MAY BE A COMBINATION OF THE CURRENTLY REQUIRED COMMERCIAL, UH, PLANT LIST AND THE GROW GREEN GUIDE.
SO WE'RE STILL, WE'RE WORKING WITH STAFF AND INDIVIDUALS ON THOSE TWO TO DETERMINE A FUTURE, UH, REQUIRED PLANT LIST.
NOW WE DO NOT HAVE A CALCULATED WATER SAVINGS FOR THIS ACTIVITY AND, AND DO NOT ANTICIPATE A SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL COST, UH, FOR SUCH A REQUIREMENT.
BUT THIS PROPOSED REQUIREMENT HAS HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC, PROBABLY THE MOST SUPPORT OF ALL OF THEM.
UH, BUILDING WITH WATER EFFICIENT AND APPROPRIATE L PLANTS CAN LESSEN THE REQUIRED WATER USE OF NEW HOMES.
THE THIRD WAY TO BUILD WITH SAVINGS IS TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TURF IN LANDSCAPES FOR NEW, AND I WANNA UNDERSCORE NEW HOMES GOING FORWARD.
UH, LIMITING THE AREA OF TURF GRASS, WHICH IS GENERALLY IRRIGATED IN NEW HOMES TO 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA, COULD SAVE A LOT, UH, OVER 4,000 GALLONS OF THEIR IRRIGATION WATER USE PER HOUSE PER YEAR.
NOW THIS TACTIC ENVISIONS THAT MUCH OF THE AREA THAT IS NOT IN TURF WILL BE CONVERTED TO BEDS, VEGETATED BEDS, WHICH COULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $8,700 PER HOUSE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE FOR THESE ESTIMATES.
SO IT COULD BE LOWER FOR PRODUCTION BUILDERS, UM, WHO BUY LARGE AMOUNTS IN BULK.
UH, THE EN ENVIRONMENTAL EXPANDED ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY MENTIONED BEFORE FOR SOIL COULD ALSO CHECK THE MANDATORY TURF AREA.
OPTION IS TO LIMIT THE AREA OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN NEW HOMES TO 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE PORTION OF A LOT, MOST LIKELY THE FRONT YARD OR THE BACKYARD.
THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, LIMITED TURF.
AND THIS ONE IS LIMITING IRRIGATION.
UM, IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO DO BOTH, SO WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING THIS AS A EITHER OR.
UH, THESE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, THE SAVINGS IS ESTIMATED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL BY LIMITING AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. ALMOST 10,000 GALLONS SAVED PER YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE NEW HOME.
LIMITING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM WILL HAVE ONLY A VERY LIMITED IMPACT ON THE COST OF A NEW HOME.
UH, A POSSIBLE INCREASE IN THE COST OF AN IRRIGATION PERMIT, UH, FOR THE INSPECTION, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A MOMENT.
COULD BE THE COST, COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST, BUT AGAIN, THAT COULD BE THAT MUCH.
SO WE'VE DISCUSSED BUILDING WITH SAVINGS.
THE NEXT PART OF OUR PLAN IS TO SET CUSTOMERS UP FOR SUCCESS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.
NOW, TO DO THIS, WE REQUIRE IN ORDINANCE THAT PRESSURE REDUCTION DEVICES BE STANDARD ON ALL NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEMS.
[00:25:01]
UH, HIGH WATER PRESSURE AND AN IRRIGATION CON SYSTEM CONTRIBUTES TO SIGNIFICANT WASTE THROUGH WATER, THROUGH MISTING AND LARGER LEAKS.IN ADDITION, WE PROPOSE REQUIRING A POST-INSTALLATION INSPECTION OF ALL NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. AND PREVIOUSLY SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES I MENTIONED WOULD APPLY TO NEW HOMES.
THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY IS INTENDED TO BE APPLIED TO ALL CURRENT HOMES AND NEW HOMES.
UM, SO NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE THE PRESSURE REDUCTION DEVICES AND THEY WOULD HAVE A REQUIRED, UH, POSTIN INSTALLATION INSPECTION.
THESE INSTALLATION INSPECTIONS WILL ENSURE THAT MINIMUM STANDARDS ARE MET.
UH, THEY, THE SYSTEMS HAVE THE PROPER WATER PRESSURE AND THAT CONTROLLERS ARE SET TO THE AUSTIN'S WATER SCHEDULE.
AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A FREE IRRIGATION CHECKUP TO NEW HOMEOWNERS, UH, TO ADDRESS ANY BASIC QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE, UH, WITHIN 90 DAYS OF MOVING INTO THE HOUSE.
BOTH THE LADDER ACTIVITIES, THE INSPECTIONS AND THE CHECKUPS ARE CURRENTLY BEING DONE BY THE CITY OF FRISCO WITH A LOT OF SUCCESS.
AND WE WANT TO BRING THAT SUCCESS HERE TO AUSTIN.
MOVING INTO THE THIRD PART OF OUR, OUR IMPLEMENTATION IS TO ENCOURAGE OUR ALTERNATIVE WATER, UH, ENCOURAGE THE USE OF NON-POTABLE WATER FOR LANDSCAPES IN LIEU OF DRINKING WATER.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'LL REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE THAT ALL NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT HAVE CLOSED WASHERS CLOSE TO AN EXTERIOR WALL WILL BE PLUMBED TO ALLOW THE WATER FROM THE CLOTHES WASHER, LAUNDRY WATER TO BE USED OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE FOR LIMITED LANDSCAPE USE.
NOW SUCH A SYSTEM, IF THE HOMEOWNER PURSUED BY INSTALLING THE EXTERIOR PIPING, UM, TO THE, THE PLANTS COULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 3,500 GALLONS OF WATER EVERY YEAR, UH, TO WATER, PLANTS AND TREES.
IN ADDITION, WE PROPOSE DEVELOPING A SPECIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR PRODUCTION HOMEOWNERS HOME BUILDERS, RATHER TO INCLUDE RAINWATER CATCHMENT TANKS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR NEW HOMES.
NOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE REBATE PROGRAMS FOR EXISTING HOMES, BUT THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE GEARED DIRECTLY TO LARGE HOME BUILDERS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
BOTH OF THESE ACTIONS WILL PROVIDE NON-POTABLE WATER TO NEW HOMEOWNERS TO SUPPLEMENT ANY LANDSCAPE NEEDS.
SO THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
UH, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WATER COULD BE SAVED IF WE BUNDLED ALL OF THESE ACTIONS TOGETHER INTO TWO SCENARIOS.
UH, ONE WILL LIMIT TURF AND THE OTHER WILL LIMIT IRRIGATION.
SO THE FIRST EXAMPLE SCENARIO RESTRICTS THE AREA OF TURF TO 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA, BUT, BUT IT ASSUMES A FULL YARD IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
THE ACTIVITIES WILL SAVE AN ESTIMATED 14,000 GALLONS PER YEAR PER HOME.
UM, AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE AVERAGE IN THE CALCULATIONS WE'VE HAD IS 28,000 GALLONS PER YEAR PER HOME, UH, FOR IRRIGATION.
SO TOTAL SAVINGS IN THIS SCENARIO BETWEEN 2025 AND 2040 WOULD BE ABOUT 2,400 ACRE FEET, WHICH IS PRETTY CLOSE JUST BELOW WHAT THE WATER FORWARD PLAN ENVISIONED.
TOTAL ADDITIONAL COSTS COULD BE AS HIGH AS $10,000 FOR EACH NEW HOME.
AND A LOT OF THAT IS BASED ON THAT CONVERSION COST OF, OF TURF TWO BEDS.
AND DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE THERE YOU SEE THE, UH, ALTERNATIVE NON-POTABLE WATER ACTIVITIES.
WE DON'T INCLUDE THOSE AS SAVINGS CUZ THEY WOULD TECHNICALLY BE JUST ADDITIONAL SUPPLY, BUT WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THEM ALSO AT THE VERY BOTTOM TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
THE SECOND EXAMPLE SCENARIO RESTRICTS THE AREA OF AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM TO 50% AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER.
NOW, THE ACTIVITIES HERE IN THIS BUNDLE WILL SAVE AN ESTIMATED 14,600 GALLONS PER YEAR.
SO A, A BIT MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS SCENARIO.
AND BETWEEN 2025 AND 2040, THEY'D SAY ABOUT 2,700 ACRE-FEET OF WATER, UH, JUST A BIT MORE THAN WHAT THE WATER FORWARD PLAN ENVISIONED.
THE TOTAL ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COST COULD BE AS HIGH AS $1,500.
[00:30:02]
UM, AGAIN, MUCH LOWER WITHOUT THE COST OF THE TURF CONVERSION.UM, MOST OF THIS COST WOULD BE IS IF IF SOIL THAT $800 IF SOIL HAD TO BE BROUGHT IN TO, UH, OFF FROM OFFSITE.
AS WE MENTIONED, THIS IS JUST A BRIEFING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON AND TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK AS WE GO FORWARD.
THERE'S STILL A GOOD AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WITH OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COORDINATING IN WHAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD BECAUSE SOME OF THESE WOULD BE ACTUALLY EXECUTED INSPECTIONS WOULD TAKE PLACE BY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN FROM IMPLEMENTATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
UH, AFTER THAT WE INTEND ON HAVING A, A FINAL PUBLIC MEETING, ESSENTIALLY GOING BEFORE THE PUBLIC AND THINKING THIS IS EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY PLANNING TO GO FORWARD WITH.
UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE THE DIFFERENT REVIEWS, AFFORDABILITY AND LEGAL, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK THROUGH THE COMMISSIONS AND TASK FORCE AND FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO IN CLOSING, HOW CAN AUSTIN CONTINUE TO GROW AND MEET OUR WATER USE AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS? WE FEEL THAT IT COULD BE DONE BY BUILDING WITH SAVINGS, SETTING THE IRRIGATION CUSTOMERS UP FOR SUCCESS AND ENCOURAGING ALTERNATIVE WATER IN OUR LANDSCAPES.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
UH, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LOT SIZE, ELLA ARE ASSUMING 5,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND ON THE, THE ASSUMPTION TO LIMIT, UM, LIMIT TURF GRASS TO 50% IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE REMAINDER WOULD BE NATIVE OR UNTOUCHED? UN UNDEVELOPED.
UH, I, I THINK THE, THE OTHER 50%, THE NON 50% WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, EITHER BEDS OR SOME TYPE OF AGGREGATE, WHICH CERTAINLY BRINGS UP A LOT OF CONVERSATION WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT OTHER 50% AND THE USE OF AGGREGATE OR GRAVEL.
UH, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT AS IF WE, WE PURSUE THIS ACTIVITY ON JUST A LIMIT ON AGGREGATE SO THAT IT CAN'T BE ALL 50% ROCK.
UM, SO WE'LL BE, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT ON THAT OTHER 50%.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMA GREAT INFORMATION IN HERE TO, TO THINK THROUGH.
UM, ONE QUESTION THAT MIGHT HELP ME THINK THROUGH THAT IS, YOU MENTIONED FRISCO HAS ASPECTS OF THE PLAN THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
ARE THERE OTHER CITIES THAT, THAT YOU ARE, THAT ARE, YOU'RE LOOKING IN THAT LOOKING AT THAT HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS THAT COULD BE USED AS AN EXAMPLE OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT? THERE'S NOT A LOT WITH WITHIN TEXAS, RIGHT? I MEAN, CERTAINLY YOU GO OUT WEST TO LAS VEGAS OR OTHER AREAS OUT IN THE WEST.
UM, THERE ARE, BUT WITHIN TEXAS, FRISCO REALLY HAS THAT, THAT INSPECTION AND THAT THAT CHECKUP.
UH, GEORGETOWN DOES HAVE A, A LIMIT ON IRRIGATED TURF, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE A LARGE LIMIT.
SO IT'S NOT MUCH OF A LIMIT ON MANY OF THEIR LOTS EXCEPT FOR THE REALLY BIG ONES.
UM, AND, AND NEW BRAUNFELS HA HAS SOME LIMITS ALSO, BUT NOT A LOT WITHIN TEXAS.
SO THIS LIKELY WOULD BE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING OUT WEST, LIKE YOU SAID, LAS VEGAS, ARIZONA, OR AS JUST NOT COMPARABLE WITH AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENT.
THERE'S CERTAINLY THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM, WHAT THEY'VE DONE BEFORE.
UM, BUT THERE ARE, UH, CERTAINLY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES, WHEREAS IN LAS VEGAS, IF YOU HAVE GRASS, YOU, IT HAS TO BE IRRIGATED, RIGHT? WHEREAS IN AUSTIN, YOU CAN HAVE GRASS WITHOUT AN AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, I MEAN, I FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE STAFF'S GOOD WORK HERE BECAUSE I MEAN, I, I REALLY THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR APPROACH, IT'S KIND OF THIS THREE PHASED APPROACH.
I THINK THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF TEASE OUT NEW TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, FROM OTHER CITIES.
BUT THERE'S ALSO THINGS THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING IN AUSTIN THAT WE'RE JUST TAKING, TALKING ABOUT MOVING IT FROM LIKE THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR TO THE RESIDENTIAL
[00:35:01]
SECTOR.SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAY FEEL A LITTLE BIT NEW AND RADICAL, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, A LOT OF THIS STUFF WE'VE TRIED AND WE'VE SEEN IT WORK IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS.
AND SO LIKE PLANT LISTS AS AN EXAMPLE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S, THEY'RE OUT THERE, THEY'RE USED IN DIFFERENT LANDSCAPING PROGRAMS, THE GROW GREEN PROGRAM, UM, AND THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE PROGRAM.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, MEET TOO MUCH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UM, OPPOSITION.
UM, I THINK WHEN YOU START TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF LIMITING TURF GRASS, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT STARTS TO GET PEOPLE NERVOUS OR ALTERNATIVELY LIMITING WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM ON.
THOSE, IN MY OPINION, WILL BECOME SORT OF THE REAL HOT BUTTON ITEMS AS WE KIND OF CONTINUE THROUGH OUR, OUR OUTREACH.
BUT STAFF'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN KIND OF DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FINDING KIND OF A, A COUPLE OF CLEAR OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES THAT CAN SAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER OUTSIDE AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY SHOULDN'T CAUSE A LOT OF PANIC.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO US AS A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL SO WE CAN START WRAPPING OUR HEADS AROUND IT.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR, FOR AUSTIN AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK TO THIS POINT AND SEEING THIS THROUGH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
UM, ARE THERE ANY EXAMPLES OF, UH, LIMITING THE, THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM SIZE? LIKE I GET THE TURF LIMITATION, BUT THE ACTUAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM? UH, WE, WE HAD A HARD TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER FOUND EXAMPLES OF LIMITING JUST THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
I'M GONNA LOOK BACK AT MY STAFF TO SEE IF I'M CORRECT.
I, I DON'T THINK WE DID WE FIND UP INSTANCES OF JUST LIMITING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
UM, THERE WERE SOME IN LIKE, UM, NEVADA OR LAS VEGAS THAT WERE LIMITING, UH, THE FRONT YARD OF THE BACKYARD.
I, I THINK THEY ACTUALLY LIMIT THE TURF, BUT AGAIN, IN LAS VEGAS, TURF IS IRRIGATION.
I'D JUST BE CURIOUS ON THE LEGALITY OF PROPERTY RIGHTS DOWN THAT PATH.
I MEAN, IN THE COMPARISON, IT LOOKS REALLY GREAT FOR THE BUILDER TO SAVE MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW, IN DOING THAT.
ANYWAYS, THAT WOULD JUST BE A CONCERN.
UM, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS STILL KIND OF VERY MUCH IN DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK? DID YOU HAVE LIKE DEVELOPER OR HOME BUILDERS AS PART OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP? WE DID.
UM, AND WE RECENTLY MET SEVERAL TIMES, WELL, WE TALKED TO 'EM EARLY IN JANUARY.
UM, BUT THEN WE'VE RECENTLY HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH THEM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, UH, FOR GREEN INDUSTRY, UH, ORGANIZATION, TEXAS NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, THE TEXAS TURF GRASS GROWERS AND THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
UM, AND DEFINITELY, AND THEY WERE CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BOTH LIMITING PLANTS, PLANT LIST AND, UM, AND THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
AND THESE WERE THE, THE STATEWIDE, UH, GROUPS WERE QUITE CONCERNED.
UH, HOWEVER, WE DID ENGAGE THE LOCAL GROUPS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND IRRIGATING ASSOCIATION, CENTRAL TEXAS IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION, AND NEITHER ONE OF THOSE GROUPS WERE AS CONCERNED.
SO I THINK THERE'S KIND OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOCAL IRRIGATORS, UH, AS OPPOSED TO THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION.
I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK THE NEXT YARDS WILL BE THE HARD YARDS, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'VE GOT SOME IDEAS THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT MORE CLEARLY.
WE'LL START TO WRITE, I MEAN, SOME OF THESE THINGS REQUIRE CODE LANGUAGE.
SO WE'LL START TO WRITE CODE LANGUAGE.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD, I, I LOVE IT, BUT WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THE LATEST.
I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS EITHER THE, I THINK IT WAS THE TURF GROWERS ASSOCIATION, THE STATE TURF GROWERS ASSOCIATION, THAT REMINDED US THAT PLANTS DON'T WASTE WATER, PEOPLE WASTE WATER.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA GET A LITTLE DICEY.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S ABOUT CHANGE, RIGHT? AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE HARD PART.
PEOPLE ADAPTING TO CHANGE AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
CERTAINLY SUBSEQUENT REGULATORY IMPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET A, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE A NEW HOME, THEY MOVE IN.
IT'S ONLY IRRIGATED IN THE FRONT YARD BECAUSE
[00:40:01]
OF CODE REQUIREMENTS.WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT POTENTIAL IF THEY WANT TO PUT IN A BACKYARD IRRIGATION SYSTEM? ARE WE GONNA LIMIT THAT AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE? SO THERE'S LOTS STILL OUT THERE.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS? I KNOW, OH YES, I KNOW WE'VE GOT COMMISSION, MICHELLE, UH, REGULAR UPDATES.WE'VE GOTTEN REGULAR UPDATES, UM, IN SOME FASHION ABOUT OUR EFFORTS AGAINST ZEBRA MUSCLES.
AND NOT SURE WHEN THAT NEXT UPDATE IS, IS WITH THE TIMING OF THAT NEXT UPDATE IS, BUT CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE AN UPDATE ON HOW WE'RE DOING WITH THAT.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER SKOVE? I'D LIKE TO HEAR A REPORT ON, UM, WATER PLANT RESIDUALS, WHAT'S BEING DONE OR IS SHAW LANE ABOUT NEAR IT'S END OF ITS LIFE OR DO YOU HAVE OTHER PITS? JUST IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF MASTER PLAN THERE, WHATEVER, I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT.
I HAD ALSO NOTED THE ZEBRA MUSCLES CUZ THAT WAS MENTIONED, UM, A WHILE BACK.
UM, ALSO, I KNOW THE LARGE VOLUME USERS REPORT WAS ASKED QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND I KNOW IT WAS SPECIFICALLY ON ONE, BUT REFINED.
AND, AND THEN, UM, HAVE WE GOTTEN AN UPDATE ON THE A S R PILOT STUDY? YES, IN A WHILE.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING MAYBE ANOTHER UPDATE AFTER THESE OTHERS.
YEAH, WE CAN PUT IT ON THE LIST AND WORK IT IN.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION OR ANYTHING, THEN UH, MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 6 54.