Jun 07, 2023 Environmental Commission

JONATHAN.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST GIVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ELIZABETH IN CASE WE WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

AND SIR, CAN I MAKE A A, A MARK? UH, HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SORRY.

WE CAN'T SPEAK.

I MEAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN MAKE A REMARK BUT YOU CAN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS THEN I WON'T.

AND SO, UH, JUST KIND OF FOR ALL NEW PEEPS, UM, DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE JUST CAN HEAR AND WE CAN'T REALLY ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE SPEAKER WITHOUT ASKING A QUESTION? WE'LL, WE'LL ASK THE ARBITERS.

I THINK A A, A SMALL AMOUNT WOULD BE OKAY.

WELL, THE POINT IS WE HAVE A ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON WHICH I SERVED, AND SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO ADDRESS A QUESTION LIKE THIS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

AUSTIN, ALSO KNOWN AS THE EASTERN CRESCENT, DESERVE THE SAME EQUAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AS RESIDENTS DO IN WEST AUSTIN? THIS INCLUDES, FOR EXAMPLE, PROTECTIONS RELATED TO CREEK AND LOCALIZED FLOODING, IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS, DRAINAGE, EROSION, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, WETLANDS GROUNDED AIR QUALITY, GREEN SECONDARY CANOPY.

ONE MORE.

UM, ANNA AGUIAR, AND, UH, SHE THINKS SHE'S CALLING IN.

YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THAT NAME AND VOICE WHEN WE HEAR IT.

YOU MIGHT BE MUTED.

UH, ANNA, I ACTUALLY, I, I I KNOW THAT YOU, I, YES.

UM, MY NAME IS ANNAK AND, UM, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I'M A DISTRICT TO RESIDENT.

I'M THE IMMEDIATE PASTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST COMPANY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACT TEAM AND PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.

I'M SPEAKING ONLY ON MY BEHALF ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU REGARDING THE PROPOSED BOARD AND TRACK, WHICH IS SCHEDULED ON TOMORROW'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

FIRST, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR EACH.

COMMISSIONER.

DO YOU BELIEVE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN EAST

[00:05:01]

WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PROTECTION, IT IS BEING REPORTED THAT AN THESE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THE SITE PLAN PROCESS AS THE CONTACT TEAM MEMBER WHO REACHING OUT TO STACK IN THE PAST REGARDING A SITE PLAN, I WAS TOLD BY CITY STAFF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAD NOK.

AT THIS POINT, THESE PROTECTIONS CAN ONLY BE INSURED WHEN CONSIDERED AND PROPOSED BY AUSTIN ENFORCE COMMISSIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY INCLUDED AS CONDITIONS IN THE ORDINANCES APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.

SPECIFIC TO THE BOARD AND TRACK.

PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DID NOT REVIEW THIS CASE, THESE CASES PRIOR TO THEM BEING REFERRED TO CITY COUNCIL, I ASKED THAT EQUITY BE A PRACTICE AND NOT JUST A POLICY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE STAFF OF THE THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

THIS PRACTICE NEEDS TO BE DEMONSTRATED WHEN WORKING WITH BOTH RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND DEVELOPERS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS SEPARATES CONCERNING, UH, CON CONCERNS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED FOR THE BOARDING TRACK.

THIS PROPERTY IS CLOSE TO THE RIVER, COLORADO RIVER, AND THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES REGARDING EQUITABLE TREATMENT.

FIRST, THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY PROTECTS ONLY CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE WATERFRONT.

THESE RULES DO NOT APPLY AS THE BOARD AND TRACK WAS CARVED OUT OUT OF THE ORDINANCE DECADES AGO.

PLEASE FIX THIS AND PROTECT THE ENTIRE WATERFRONT WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.

THIS IS URGENT AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO ENSURE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE AFFORDED THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN, WHICH STARTED A LONG-TERM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WITH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THESE PROPERTIES.

WHY AREN'T EASTERN CRESCENT RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS KEEPING THE SAME EQUAL PROTECTION AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED, ENGAGED, OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED ON LARGE PROJECT PROJECTS? AS THE RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN WERE ADDITIONALLY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN WAS REVIEWED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION BEFORE BEING PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL EVEN CREATED THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD.

AGAIN, THERE'S A CLEAR DIS AND DEMONSTRATED DISCREPANCY ON HOW EASTERN CRESCENT PROPERTIES AND COMMITTEES ARE BEING TREATED COMPARED TO WEST BOSTON.

IN THIS CASE, THE LARGE GORDON, UM, TRACT PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF US IN EASTERN PRESIDENT, DESERVE TO BE TREATED BETTER THAN THIS.

THIS IS SO AND JEST.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES FOR SECURE AND EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS TO RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT, AS HAVE BEEN AFFORDED TO WEST BOSTON RESIDENTS IN THE PAST.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MS. AGUIRE.

UM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ELIZABETH AS WELL.

I THINK WE KNOW HOW TO FIND YOU, BUT JUST IN CASE, UM, UH, IF ANYONE WANTS TO FOLLOW ANY QUESTIONS, THANK.

TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, UH, REVIEW OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING ON MAY 17TH.

UM, MOVING ON

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

I KNOW THERE WAS A COMMENT, UM, DID THE COMMENTS GET ADDRESSED PREVIOUSLY ON THE, UH, MINUTES? ELIZABETH BUNK WATERSHED? I DIDN'T SEE A COMMENT, SO NOT YET.

I'M JUST ABOUT THE MOTION THAT, UH, THAT'S NOT OKAY.

APPLICABLE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES AS DRAFTED AND DISTRIBUTED? ALL RIGHT.

UH, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE, UM, AS DRAFTED ALL.

CAN I GET A SECOND? CAN I GET A NAME? AMEN.

UM, THANK YOU.

UH, SECOND BY BRIMER.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR BEDFORD, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING WHO ABSTAINS.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, UM, ELECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, VICE CHAIR FROM MAY 1ST, 2023 TO APRIL 30TH, 2024.

MOTION PASSES.

SPEAKING OF, UM, AGENDA

[2. Election of the Environmental Commission Vice Chair for May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024 term (10 minutes)]

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, PREVIOUS CHAIR, UH, PERRY BEDFORD FOR THAT POSITION, SECOND BY SCOTT.

UH, NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE SECOND UNDER PARLIAMENTARIAN RULES.

ALL RIGHT, UNANIMOUSLY PASSES.

UM, OKAY.

WE'VE GOT A NOMINATION AND, UM, IF WE DID NEED ONE, WE HAD ONE.

UM, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER? WELCOME.

I'LL MOVE WITH, I'LL MOVE WITH CLOSE NOMINATIONS.

, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SECOND THAT.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

LET US VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF, UH, PERRY BEDFORD.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

WELCOME, WELCOME HOME.

WELCOME BACK.

THANKS ALL.

WE EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM YOU.

UH, ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE BLOWING THROUGH THIS AGENDA.

HERE WE GO.

UM, OKAY.

WE GOT A STAFF BRIEFING

[3. Update on Austin’s reservoirs monitoring and management efforts — Brent Bellinger, Environmental Scientist, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes)]

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, AN UPDATE FROM AUSTIN'S RESERVOIR, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT

[00:10:01]

EFFORTS FROM MR. BELLINGER.

WELCOME, WELCOME BACK.

AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPDATE.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN PERSON, UH, FOR THIS.

UM, I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT SHOULD BE COMING UP SHORTLY.

UH, WELL, THANK YOU, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FOR HAVING ME HERE.

UH, MY NAME IS BRENT BELLINGER, UH, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR.

UM, THIS IS A PICTURE I TOOK, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO, UH, WALKING THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL.

UH, IT'S, UH, TO ME AN AMAZING JUXTAPOSITION OF THIS TREMENDOUS RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE, UH, THIS AMENITY THAT IS LADY BIRD LAKE, ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS OF THE CITY, UH, THIS BURGEONING BOOMING SKYLINE BEHIND IT.

UM, SOMETHING THAT I FIND EXCITING.

UM, YOU CAN SEE ON THE WATER, OBVIOUSLY VERY POPULAR, UH, SPOT.

THIS IS THE MOUTH OF BARTON CREEK.

UH, FOR THOSE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON, UH, WHICH NICKNAME YOU GIVE IT, I PREFER THE BRO.

UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION, UH, STRIVES FOR IS THAT ALL OF OUR WATERWAYS ARE ACCESSIBLE AND USABLE BY THE COMMUNITY.

UM, BUT AS A RECENT STUDY BY HOUSTON TILLSON PUT OUT, UM, IT, IT IS KIND OF POSSIBLE TO, UH, LOVE SOMETHING, UH, TOO MUCH.

UM, YOU KNOW, DON'T GO FOOL GEORGE WITH IT.

PET IT AND LOVE IT, AND KISS IT AND HUG IT, UH, TO DEATH.

UM, WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL AND CONSCIENTIOUS.

UM, AND ALSO, UH, TO THE PREVIOUS CALLER THAT WE JUST HAD, I HOPE SHE'S STILL LISTENING.

UM, I'M VERY EXCITED, UH, TO BE PART OF WATERSHED PROTECTIONS, UH, REIMAGINING OF THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE RAIN TO RIVERS PROGRAM.

UH, WE ACTUALLY HEARD, UH, UH, DEBRIEFING ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING.

UM, THERE'S BEEN A VERY LARGE, UH, CONCERTED COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORT, UM, FOR RAIN TO RIVERS, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON, UH, THE EAST SIDE OF OFF AUSTIN, AND REALLY DRAWING IN THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSERVED, UNDERPRIVILEGED, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE JUST AS DESERVING AS EVERYONE ELSE.

AND IT IS GOING TO DEFINITELY BE, UH, FOREFRONT, UM, IN OUR, UH, DECISION MAKING PROCESSES, UM, HOW WATERSHED FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDES SERVICES IN THE FUTURE.

UM, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

UM, MY DIRECT CHARGE IS ON THE RESERVOIRS, UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY RESEARCH, UH, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING WITH STAFF, UH, WITH COLLEAGUES, UM, TO MORE AREAS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.

SO, WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS IS FOR THOSE THAT WERE HERE LAST YEAR, OR MAY HAVE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR'S, UH, PRETTY MUCH A REHASHING.

UM, I TRIED TO KEEP ESSENTIALLY THE SAME FORMAT, UH, REPLACE A LOT OF 2020 ONES WITH 2020 TWOS, UH, ADD IN SOME NEW DATA AND GRAPHS.

UM, AND I'LL THROW IN SOME MORE BIG WORDS.

UH, BUT WHAT I'M GONNA COVER TODAY ARE, UH, SOME OF THE ONGOING, UH, MONITORING AND STUDY EFFORTS, UH, OF OUR RESERVOIRS.

AND THAT INCLUDES LAKE AUSTIN, LADYBIRD LAKE, AND LAKE WALTER LONG, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, FOR LAKE WALTER LONG, IT IS A LITTLE, UH, UNDERREPRESENTED IN THIS, UH, PRESENTATION TODAY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE OTHER HOT BUTTON TOPICS.

UM, AND JUST KIND OF TIME CONSTRAINTS.

UM, I WOULD ALSO OFF SCRIPT HERE, I WOULD BE VERY MINDFUL.

UH, LAKE WALTER LONG, THE WALTER LONG METRO PARK, I THINK IS ONE OF THE MOST TREMENDOUS ASSETS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS.

AND I HOPE THE CITY IS VERY MINDFUL ABOUT HOW IT'S UTILIZED IN THE FUTURE, UM, BECAUSE OF, IT'S JUST A TREMENDOUS RESEARCH THAT MORE PEOPLE, UH, I HOPE LEARN ABOUT AND HAVE ACCESS TO IN THE FUTURE.

UH, SO WITH THAT, SO I'LL GO OVER SOME ONGOING PROJECTS AND THEN, UH, INTRODUCE SOME OF THE NEW PROJECTS, UH, THAT ARE GOING ON.

AND YES, A LITTLE BIT OF SELF BRAGGING.

UM, OVER THE WINTER, I WAS PROMOTED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST SENIOR, UH, TO CONSERVATION PROGRAM SUPERVISORS.

SO I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF FANTASTIC STAFF, UH, THAT BRING A WHOLE LOT OF NEW, UH, SKILLS AND ENTHUSIASM TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH, DEVELOPING, AND, UM, IN THE FUTURE, BRINGING THEM UP HERE SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

SO, WE'RE GONNA START WITH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.

THE AUSTIN LAKES INDEX, REALLY, WHAT IS THE OVERALL CONDITION OF OUR RESERVOIRS.

UH, THIS IS AKIN TO, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY INDEX.

E I, UH, THAT IS ONE OF THESE BIG, UH, REALLY IMPRESSIVE MONITORING PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY, THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION HAS CARRIED OUT FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES.

EVALUATING, UH, THE OVERALL CONDITION, UH, OF AUSTIN'S CREEKS, AND USING THOSE, UH, SITE SCORES, UH, TO DECIDE AND HELP, HELP TO, UH, DEVELOP, UM, RESTORATION MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, UH, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE, UH, THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THOSE WATERWAYS.

SO THE AUSTIN LAKES INDEX DOES THAT WITH OUR

[00:15:01]

RESERVOIRS.

WE MONITOR THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A YEAR A VARIETY OF ATTRIBUTES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUR WATER QUALITY, WATER CLARITY.

UH, WE LOOK AT THE ALGAE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENT.

WE LOOK FOR, UH, POTENTIAL TOXINS, PCBS, UM, OTHER HEAVY METALS IN THE SEDIMENTS.

WE LOOK AT HABITAT, UH, DENSITY, QUALITY, DIVERSITY, AVAILABILITY IN THE WATER, AND ALONG OUR SHORELINES.

ALL OF THAT GOES INTO THIS FANTASTIC BLENDER.

AND OUTCOMES OF PRETTY LITTLE NUMBER, UH, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IS KIND OF THAT BLACK DOT, UH, WITH THE HORIZONTAL BAR, THAT IS THE OVERALL AVERAGE.

AND YOU CAN SEE, UH, GOING BACK TO 2010, UP THROUGH 2022, THE CONDITION OF OUR RESERVOIRS BOUNCES AROUND A LITTLE BIT YEAR TO YEAR, BUT IN GENERAL, IS FAIR TO GOOD CONDITION.

UH, BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY START TO LOOK AT EACH OF THOSE CONDITION, UH, METRICS THAT ARE THERE, UH, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF LEVERS, UH, THAT ARE THERE FOR US TO PULL TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE RESERVOIRS.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON LAKE AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, WE FINALLY HAVE AQUATIC VEGETATION BOUNCING BACK.

UH, BUT THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT, SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE SHORELINE IS REMOVING VERY IMPORTANT, UH, RIPARIAN HABITAT.

CONVERSELY, WE HAVE IN, UH, WALTER LONG AND LADYBIRD LAKE IN ABUNDANCE OF AQUATIC VEGETATION.

WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT AROUND BOTH OF THOSE RESERVOIRS IS PARKLAND, AND SO KENT BE DEVELOPED.

HINT, HINT, UM, THIS PROVIDES A TREMENDOUS SUBSIDY AND PROTECTION OF THE WATER QUALITY.

BUT YOU HAVE HIGH NUTRIENT INPUTS GOING INTO THOSE RESERVOIRS.

UH, IF IT'S THE URBAN TRIBUTARIES THAT ARE DRAINING OR HIGHLY DEVELOPED, UH, CENTRAL CORE, UM, OR IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, WATER THAT'S BEING PUMPED INTO WALTER LONG.

SO THERE ARE STRESSES AND THERE'S THINGS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE AND TRYING TO IMPROVE IN OUR RESERVOIRS TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTINUE, UH, TO PUSH THAT NEEDLE, UH, AT, TO THE GOOD, TO VERY GOOD CATEGORY.

NOW, THERE'S A NUMBER OF STRESSES.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY I WILL KIND OF, UH, FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVES, UH, BUT I'LL PEPPER IN A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD IN THERE, UH, ALONG THE WAY.

UM, BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE RESEARCH, UH, IF EVERYTHING WAS HUNKY DORY, WELL THEN I WOULD PROBABLY BE OUT OF A JOB.

SO, WHEN, UH, NEW MELODIES AND ISSUES COME INTO OUR SYSTEMS, WE WANNA LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE ECOSYSTEM RESPONSES.

UH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KIND OF NEW PLAYERS IN THE GAME HERE.

UM, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, NEW HYDRILLA, DON'T WORRY, THAT'LL BE BACK.

UH, BUT FOR NOW, THE, UH, FOCUS IS ON ZEBRA MUSCLES.

UH, THIS IS A NON-NATIVE TINY LITTLE MOLLUS.

THEY'RE REALLY COOL LOOKING.

THEY GOT THESE ZIGZAGS ON THEIR SHELLS, UH, BUT THEY'RE SUPER SHARP.

ANYONE THAT'S WALKED ALONG A BEACH, UH, BEEN SWIMMING, YOU CUT UP YOUR HANDS, YOU CUT UP YOUR FEET, IT'S NO FUN.

AND THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH, SUCH AN OUTWEIGHED INFLUENCE ON THE STRUCTURE OF AN ECOSYSTEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, BOTTOM TO TOP, THEY ARE ALTERING DYNAMICS THROUGHOUT A WATER BODY, WHICH IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS TINY LITTLE THING.

BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DENSITIES THAT THEY CAN ATTAIN AND BECAUSE OF HOW EFFICIENTLY THEY FILTER THE WATER.

AND THAT'S THE MAIN CRUX HERE, UH, FROM OUR MONITORING OF THE ADULT POPULATIONS IN ESTIMATE.

THIS IS A PRETTY ROUGH ESTIMATE.

I DON'T HAVE AIR BOERS ON THERE, CUZ YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT SHAME ME.

BUT AS, AS AN AVERAGE DENSITY, IF YOU LOOK AT LAKE AUSTIN, LADYBIRD LAKE 2019, WE'RE TALKING BETWEEN THREE AND 5,000 ZEBRA MUSCLES IN A THREE BY THREE SQUARE.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS DENSITY.

UM, AND THESE ARE MUSCLES THAT ARE FILTERING A GALLON OF WATER A DAY.

AGAIN, TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

WE LIKE OUR NATIVE MUSCLES, THEY'RE IN BALANCE WITH THE ECOSYSTEM.

THEY'RE FILTERING JUST ENOUGH TO BE GOOD AND HEALTHY.

THEY TAKE OUT SOME OF THE BAD THINGS.

YOU OVER FILTER THE WATER, AND YOU'RE LEFT WITH THIS.

WHAT IS GIN CLEAR WATER? UH, BUT ECOLOGICALLY SPEAKING, IT'S MORE OF A DEAD ZONE.

AND WE HAVE SOME DATA THAT THAT KIND OF ILLUSTRATES THAT.

UM, I'LL DRAW YOUR LINES TO THE ARROW, THE ZM, THAT'S ZEBRA MUSCLES, APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE POPULATION REALLY WOULD'VE STARTED TAKING OFF IN THE RESERVOIRS.

THIS IS FOR LAKE AUSTIN.

AND THIS ARE TWO VERY COMMON METRICS THAT WE MEASURE IN OUR WATER BODIES.

ON THE LEFT, WE HAVE SECI DISC DEPTH.

AND THIS IS JUST A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ONE FOOT WIDE DISC.

UH, IT'S BLACK AND WHITE CHECKERED.

YOU DROP IT IN THE WATER, YOU LOOK TO SEE WHEN DOES IT, UH, DISAPPEAR FROM MY VISIBILITY.

IF IT GOES DOWN REALLY DEEP, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD WATER CLARITY.

IF IT DISAPPEARS IN A REALLY SHALLOW DEPTH, THAT MEANS IT'S REALLY TURBID WATER.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD, WHAT'S BAD, VERY HUMAN-CENTRIC THINGS.

BUT IN GENERAL, HUMANS LIKE TO HAVE CLEAR WATER.

WE LIKE TO LOOK DOWN, SEE DOWN IN THE BOTTOM, SEE THE FISHES AND THE TURTLES AND THOSE THINGS.

AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE WITH THE SECOND DISC STEP IS AROUND 20 16, 20 17, THERE IS A GRADUAL INCREASE IN OUR WATER CLARITY.

NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT CONSIDER, OF COURSE, THESE ARE FLOW THROUGH RESERVOIRS.

THEY'RE GETTING CONSTANT INPUTS FROM TRIBUTARIES,

[00:20:01]

FROM THE HIGHLAND LAKES.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT A SUPER CLEAN RELATIONSHIP.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHLOROPHYL A, THIS IS THE PRIMARY FOOD OF THE ZERO MUSCLES.

IT'S THOSE LITTLE FLOATING ALGAE, NOT THE BAD ONES PRODUCING TOXINS, BUT THE GOOD ONES THAT PRODUCE THOSE ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS, UH, THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE IN THEIR VITAMINS, OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS AND THOSE THINGS.

ZERO MUSCLES, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FILTERING OUT.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ALGO BIOMASS, YOU CAN SEE THAT PEAK 20 15, 20 16, WHICH COINCIDED WITH OUR LAST DROUGHT OF RECORD.

UH, THAT WAS WHEN WE ESSENTIALLY HAD ZERO FLOWS MOVING THROUGH LAKE AUSTIN.

SO INSTEAD OF BEING A RIVERINE ISH SYSTEM, IT WAS NOW A LAKE ISH SYSTEM ALLOWING PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS, FLOATING ALGAE TO REALLY BOOM AND THRIVE.

ZERO MUSCLES COME IN AND IT'S A BUFFET.

THERE YOU GO, BUCK WILD.

AND THEY DRAW DOWN, UH, THOSE DENSITIES, AND YOU SEE OUR ALGO BIOMASS VERY LOW.

SO THAT'S THAT INVERSE RELATIONSHIP.

THE AMOUNT OF ALLERGY CLARITY MOVE INVERSELY WITH EACH OTHER.

UH, THE LADYBIRD LAKES.

OH, TOO FAR, THE LADYBIRD LAKE STORY, VERY SIMILAR.

UH, BUT THE PATTERNS ARE A BIT MORE DRAMATIC.

AGAIN, THERE'S NO SIMPLE RELATIONSHIPS IN NATURE AND IN ECOLOGY, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT DO JUMP OUT.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS ONES, YOUR MUSCLES PROBABLY GOT INTO THE SYSTEM.

YOU SEE THE WATER CLARITY REALLY START TO GO UP KIND OF PEAKS IN 2020.

THAT WAS WHEN, IF YOU COULD THINK BACK TO TWO SLIDES AGO, UH, THAT WAS AT THE PEAK OF THE ZERO MUSCLE DENSITY 20 19, 20 20, THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE THE LOWEST CHLOROPHYL A UH, D UH, VALUES CONCENTRATIONS, UH, IN THE LAKE.

BUT THEN, AS THE POPULATION HAS CRASHED SO DRAMATICALLY IN LADY BIRD LAKE, YOU SEE A REBOUND OF THE ALGAE BIOMASS.

UH, THE WATER CLARITY HAS REMAINED FAIRLY HIGH DESPITE, UH, THE INCREASE, UM, IN THE ALGAE BIOMASS.

WELL, AND THAT'S BECAUSE FOR ANYONE THAT'S BEEN DOWN TO LADY BIRD LAKE LATELY, YOU SEE A LOT OF PLANTS GROWING IN THERE, RIGHT? PLANTS, VERY GOOD THING.

THEY COMPETE FOR NUTRIENTS, UH, WITH THE PHYTOPLANKTON, THEY'RE COMPETING.

UH, THEY'RE PROVIDING HABITATS, SUBSTRATE CLARIFYING THE WATER.

UH, SO I KNOW THE KA BAMBA AROUND AUGUST, NOT THE MOST AESTHETICALLY PLEASING THING.

IT'S FLOATING UP.

IT'S RAFTING, IT'S ACCUMULATING NEARSHORE LIKE IT'S SARGASSUM EVENT.

UH, WE, HOPEFULLY WE WON'T, WE DON'T GO FULL FLORIDA.

UH, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.

BUT IT'S THAT WATER CLARITY IS REMAINING HIGH THANKS TO THE KABA, THE FAN WART THAT'S OUT THERE.

AND WHY IS IT FAN WART GOING WILD? WELL, THAT'S THANKS TO THE ALTERED HYDROLOGY OF OUR SYSTEMS. UH, AS WE'VE ENTERED INTO A NEW DROUGHT, WE HAVEN'T HAD A BIG FLUSH SINCE 2018.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO FLUSH OUT THAT VEGETATION.

WE DON'T HAVE THE GRASS CARP IN THESE RESERVOIRS.

UM, AND SO THE PLANTS ARE COMING BACK AND THEY'RE THRIVING OUT HERE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, THERE'S A TOXIC ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, UH, THE HARMFUL ALGAL PROLIFERATIONS.

AND FOR THOSE THAT MAYBE, UH, PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS STORIES, WHY DOES IT SAY PROLIFERATIONS AND NOT BLOOMS? UH, THAT IS A VERY PURPOSEFUL, UH, NOMENCLATURE TO DIFFERENTIATE.

BLOOMS ARE THE PLANTA PLANKTONIC EVENT.

SO AGAIN, IT'S THESE SINGLE CELLS FLOATING IN THE WATER COLUMN.

REACHING THESE TREMENDOUS DENSITIES MAKES THE ENTIRE WATER BODY LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY'S SPILLED GREEN PAINT IN IT.

UH, THESE ARE THINGS RIGHT NOW, LAKE OKEECHOBEE, 50% OF THE ENTIRE LAKE, UH, IS COVERED IN A, UH, TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM MICROS.

UM, THESE ARE VISIBLE FROM SPACE.

THESE ARE TREMENDOUS BROAD WIDESCALE EVENTS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT THREATEN WATER SUPPLIES HAVE SHUT DOWN, TOLEDO, DES MOINES, IOWA, WEST PALM BEACH, A NUMBER OF OTHER PLACES.

HOWEVER, AUSTIN, WHAT WE HAVE HERE, THE PROLIFERATIONS, UH, IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE PICTURE, THESE ARE SLIMY, COHESIVE MATS THAT ARE GROWING OUT THERE.

SO IT'S THE SAME ORGANISM SIGN OF BACTERIA, BUT INSTEAD OF BEING FREE FLOATING AND DOING THEIR OWN THING, THEY'RE LIVING IT AS A COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE GROWING TOGETHER, UH, IN THIS MATRIX.

THEY'RE GROWING ON THE SEDIMENTS.

AND THEN AS THEY BECOME BUOYANT OR SOME OTHER DISRUPTION OCCURS, THEY FLOAT TO THE SURFACE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THEY ACCUMULATE AND, AND GET BUNCHED UP NEAR SHORE, THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A DOG INTERACTION.

DOG GETTING IN AND OUT, GETS THIS VERY STICKY, SLIMY ALGAE, UH, IN ITS FUR.

AND THEN WHEN IT'S GROOMING ITSELF, UH, INCIDENTALLY, IT'LL INGEST IT AND RELEASE THAT TOXIN, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, INTO HIS BLOODSTREAM.

SO WE'VE BEEN MONITORING, UH, THESE PROLIFERATIONS SINCE 2019 WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST DOG DEATHS, UH, THAT WERE REPORTED ON LADY BIRD LAKE.

THIS IS AN ONGOING STUDY IN COLLABORATION, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS, THE TIMING OF THESE EVENTS.

UH, FROM WHEN I STARTED THE SAMPLING IN JUNE, 2021.

I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF DATA.

WE'RE STARTING WITH LAKE AUSTIN.

UH, THERE'S TWO GRAPHS THAT ARE HERE ON THE LEFT IS YOUR TYPICAL KIND OF TIME COURSE,

[00:25:01]

TAKE THE WINTER OFF, COME BACK IN, UH, 2022 WITH SAMPLING.

AND YOU CAN SEE AT OUR THREE MONITORING SITES, THE CONTENTS OF OUR ANTITOXIN A THE DIHYDRO ANTITOXIN.

THIS FAMILY OF, UH, VERY POTENT NEUROTOXIN REMAINS FAIRLY SIMILAR OUT THERE, PRETTY LOW LEVELS.

FOR CONTEXT, CALIFORNIA HAS ESTABLISHED, UH, A GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS WHERE, UM, OF THREE MILLIGRAMS PER KILOGRAM, UH, IS WHERE THINGS REALLY GET DANGEROUS, UH, FOR DOGS AND THE LIKE.

SO WE'RE WELL BELOW THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE AN ANIMAL SICK, SO WE RECOMMEND ALWAYS AVOIDING THE ALGAE MATS WHEN YOU SEE THEM.

DON'T INTERACT WITH IT.

ALWAYS CLEAN YOURSELF OFF, DRY YOURSELF OFF, UH, BECAUSE ANY LEVEL COULD POTENTIALLY BE HARMFUL.

THESE ARE JUST KIND OF THE AVERAGES THAT WE SEE.

THE SECOND GRAPH THERE, UM, IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF KIND OF PRESENTING THAT TEMPORAL DATA, THAT TIME SERIES DATA.

AND YOU NORMALIZE YOUR DATE TO THE DAY OF THE YEAR.

JULIAN DAY.

JANUARY 1ST IS DAY ONE.

DECEMBER 31ST IS DAY 365, UNLESS IT'S A Y LEAP YEAR 360 6.

UH, BUT THEN YOU CAN PUT YOUR DATA ON THIS KIND OF NORMALIZED TIME SCALE, AND YOU CAN LOOK FOR PATTERNS ARE THINGS MORE OR LESS EARLY IN THE SUMMER VERSUS LATE SUMMER.

AND AGAIN, THINGS KIND OF REMAIN FAIRLY STATIC THROUGHOUT, UM, OUR SUMMER AND EARLY FALL MONTHS.

NOW, THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO LADY BIRD LAKE, WHERE WE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMICS.

AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THIS SYSTEM FOR THREE YEARS.

UH, OUR TOP ROW, THAT IS OUR ANTITOXIN ATX, UH, ABBREVIATION, THE BOTTOM ROW.

WE HAD ANOTHER, UH, CYTOXIN SHOW UP.

THIS IS CYLIN SPERM OPIN.

UM, THIS IS ONE CYLIN SPERM OPIN AND MICRO ARE TWO, UH, THAT ARE WATCHED VERY CLOSELY FOR DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES.

UH, BECAUSE CYLIN, SPERM, OPIN AND MICROCYSTIN ARE STABLE IN THE WATER OUTSIDE OF THE CELLS.

ANTITOXIN A IS ACTUALLY PRETTY FORTUNATE.

IT'S VERY UV UH, SENSITIVE.

WE GOT A LOT OF LIGHT, A LOT OF HEAT IN AUSTIN.

SO IT, UH, IF, IF THE TOXIN HAPPENS TO GET RELEASED BY THE CELLS, IT GENERALLY FAIRLY QUICKLY BREAKS DOWN, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE HAD NON-DETECT, UH, IN OUR WATER COLUMN.

THIS IS A GOOD THING.

SO THAT MEANS THAT IT TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ANTITOXIN, A AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO INGEST THE ALGAE ITSELF.

IT'S IN THOSE CELLS.

UH, THE INTERESTING THING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT TOP LEFT, UH, GRAPH IS 2020, THERE WAS A LOT OF TOXIN THAT WAS OUT THERE.

I'LL GO BACK TO THAT THREE MILLIGRAMS PER KILOGRAM THRESHOLD.

AND WE HAD A LOT OF, UH, SAMPLES THAT WERE ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD AT RED BUD ISLE.

UM, THIS, THIS WAS SOMETHING OF A LOT OF CONCERN, UM, AND WE'VE SEEN THE CONTENTS KIND OF DECLINE OVER TIME.

NOW, IS THIS DROUGHT RELATED? IS THIS ZEBRA MUSCLE RELATED? IS THIS, UH, THE CRASH OF THE ZEBRA MUSCLES? IS IT BECAUSE WE STARTED OUR LANUM, MODIFIED BENTONITE? I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE STILL TEASING OUT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE, THE TOP RIGHT, UH, UH, FIGURE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, IN GENERAL, UH, IN A YEAR, YOUR TOXIN CONTENTS ARE GONNA KIND OF PEAK, UH, IN SEPTEMBER-ISH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHEN YOU'RE GETTING TO THAT HOTTEST PART, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE, UH, THE, THE MATHS ARE GETTING READY TO REALLY SSES.

IT'S THEIR, YOU KNOW, LAST THROWS.

WHO KNOWS? UH, BUT THIS IS WHEN WE GENERALLY SEE OUR PEAK.

UM, AND THEN IT DROPS OFF, UM, IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.

IT'S, YOU GENERALLY DON'T SEE VERY MUCH BIOMASS AND THE CYLIN SPERM OPSIN, THIS IS ONE THAT LIKES TO SHOW UP IN AUGUST, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.

UM, SO WE'RE ANALYZING, WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S A SHIFT IN THE COMMUNITY COMPOSITION WITHIN THESE MATS, OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL THAT'S CAUSING, UH, SALIN PRODUCERS, UH, TO BECOME PROMINENT.

OXYGEN MEANS A LOT OF PHOSPHORUS BEING RELEASED.

NOW, I MENTIONED THELAN, MODIFIED BENTONITE.

UH, THIS IS OUR NUTRIENT MITIGATION PROJECT, THE PILOT PROGRAM.

WE'VE ENTERED YEAR THREE OF THIS.

UM, WE JUST FINISHED UP OUR FIRST TREATMENT OF THE YEAR, UH, THIS WEEK AT RED BUD IS, UM, AND ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF, UH, THE FESTIVAL, BEACH BOAT, RAMP PARK AREA BELOW I 35, UH, LANTA MODIFIED BENTONITE.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY A CLAY COMPOUND THAT'S CHEMICALLY MODIFIED WITH WHAT IS KNOWN AS A VERY EFFECTIVE PHOSPHORUS BINDER.

ALL RIGHT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHY DO WE HAVE TOXIC SIGN OF BACTERIA? WELL, WE HAVE THESE GOLDILOCKS CONDITIONS THAT COME INTO PLAY.

THE TEMPERATURE IS JUST RIGHT.

OUR FLOWS ARE JUST RIGHT, AND WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF NUTRIENTS.

THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT FUEL AND ALLOW SIGN CYANOBACTERIA TO OUT-COMPETE THE GOOD ALGAE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CONTROL OVER THE HEAT OR THE FLOWS.

UM, NITROGEN IS PRETTY HARD, UM, ALSO TO REGULATE.

BUT PHOSPHORUS, IT TURNS OUT, IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TARGET.

SO WHAT WE, UH, HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, CREATING A SLURRY, SPRAYING OUT THIS LANIN, A MODIFIED BENTONITE, IT SETTLES DOWN TO THE SEDIMENTS AND STARTS MIXING IN THAT SURFACE SEDIMENT LAYER.

AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR SURFACE? SEDIMENTS, UH, I'LL, I'LL SKIP A LOT OF THE REDOX CHEMISTRY, BUT BASICALLY NO,

[00:30:01]

THAT'S A BAD THING.

UH, INSTEAD, IF YOU GOT ALL THIS LANTHANUM DOWN THERE, IT'S GONNA SCAVENGE AND GRAB THAT PHOSPHORUS BEFORE A SIGN OF BACTERIA CELL CAN GRAB IT.

SO WE'RE ESSENTIALLY ROBBING THEM OF THIS ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT THAT THEY NEED TO GROW TO PROLIFERATE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE'VE BEEN MEASURING IN THE SEDIMENTS, THESE PHOSPHORUS POOLS.

THERE'S WAYS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT HOW ARE YOU PUSHING THAT NEEDLE.

OXYGEN'S PRESENT DIFFERENT PH CONDITIONS.

UH, THIS IS A MESSY SLIDE.

I DECIDED TO PUT THE AIR BARS ON THERE BECAUSE SCIENCE IS MESSY.

UM, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE AN IDEA THOUGH, OF WHERE THINGS ARE AT, ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR SEDIMENT PHOSPHORUS POOL IS A TOTAL PIE, A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF MAIN FRACTIONS COMPONENTS THERE.

YOU HAVE SOME THAT'S JUST IRREVERSIBLY BOUND UP AND WILL BE BURIED AND IS THE SIGN OF BACTERIA, CAN'T GET IT NO MATTER WHAT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS MOBILE FRACTION, AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF BEING EXCHANGED RAPIDLY AND FREQUENTLY.

ALL THESE THINGS AFFECT HOW PHOSPHORUS IS MOVING IN AND OUT OF THE SEDIMENTS AND WHAT IT'S BOUND TO.

AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS, UH, AFTER THE 2021, OUR INITIAL TREATMENTS AT RED BUD IS WE HAD ALMOST A 50% ON AVERAGE REDUCTION IN THAT MOBILE PHOSPHORUS FRACTION.

SO ESSENTIALLY, WE'VE, WE'VE ROBBED THE SIGN OF BACTERIA, 50% OF THE PHOSPHORUS THEY WOULD'VE OTHER OTHERWISE HAD ACCESS TO.

WE CAME BACK AFTER THE WINTER.

UH, WE WERE FORTUNATE, GIVE OR TAKE, UH, THAT WE ARE IN A DROUGHT.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF RELEASES FROM THE TOM MILLER DAM.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF NEW SEDIMENT BEING DEPOSITED IN THIS AREA.

AND WE MAINTAIN, UH, A GOOD SHIFT IN THAT PHOSPHORUS POOL.

WE DID A SMALLER TREATMENT, A ROUND RED BUD, IS TO MAINTAIN THOSE LEVELS AND TOOK WHAT WE HAD THERE.

AND THEN WE MOVED TO BELOW I 35.

FESSEL BEACH.

THIS AREA VERY DIFFERENT.

UH, AGAIN, IF YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS, UH, RIGHT BELOW I 35, THE NORTH SHORE, THIS IS SEEING, UH, ANYTIME THERE'S A RAIN EVENT IN THE URBAN CORE.

UH, THE RUNOFF FROM WALLER CREEK, FROM SHOAL CREEK, FROM EAST BOLDON IS DEPOSITING AND MOVING A LOT OF SEDIMENT MATERIAL INTO LADY BIRD LAKE, WHICH IS MOVING DOWN SHORE AND THEN SETTLING OUT.

WHEN WE DID OUR TREATMENT LAST YEAR, UH, WE ESSENTIALLY SAW NO CHANGE OR SHIFTS IN THOSE PHOSPHORUS POOLS.

YE YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPENS.

IF IT WAS JUST CALLED, UH, IF WE GOT IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO RESEARCH.

WE WOULD JUST SEARCH AND FIND.

UM, SO THIS YEAR WE'RE MODIFYING OUR, UH, APPLICATION APPROACH TO SEE HOW HARD DO WE HAVE TO HIT THESE SEDIMENTS, THESE AREAS THAT ARE BEING, UM, INUNDATED WITH MORE SEDIMENTS TO START TO PUSH THAT NEEDLE.

NOW I'M GONNA GET INTO SOME OF THE NEW PROJECTS, UM, THAT HAVE JUST KICKED OFF, UH, FOR THIS YEAR.

UH, ONE THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

UM, I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SEDIMENT DYNAMICS, THE MOVEMENT, THE DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENTS, UH, THEIR, THEIR NUTRIENT DYNAMICS AND THEIR SOURCES.

AND WHAT WE HAVE, UH, IS A COLLABORATION, A NEW COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

AND THEY HAVE THIS GREAT MULTI-BEAM SONAR TO GET THIS REALLY HIGH RESOLUTION MAPPING OF OUR SEDIMENT, UH, CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES.

UH, THESE ESSENTIALLY BED FORMS. UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE SIZE OF, OF DUNES, ESSENTIALLY, THAT ARE OUT IN, UH, LAKE AUSTIN AND LADYBIRD LAKE.

WE'RE COMPARING RESULTS FROM THIS YEAR TO YEARS PAST TO SEE HOW THESE SEDIMENT DUNES, UM, AND PROFILES ARE CHANGING OVER TIME.

AND WE'RE TAKING SEDIMENT CORES, UH, AT A VARIETY OF SITES TO LOOK AT THE CHARACTERISTICS.

ARE WE SEEING OVER TIME A SHIFT FROM SAND TO, TO CLAYS, TO SILTS? ARE WE SEEING, UH, THE REVERSE? UH, ARE WE SEEING CHANGES IN THE ISOTOPIC SIGNATURES? UH, YOU CAN USE CARBON AND NITROGEN ISOTOPES TO GET AN IDEA OF YOUR SOURCES, UM, OF THOSE ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS.

AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOT BUTTON TOPIC MICROPLASTICS.

OOH, THERE'S A, THERE'S A BUZZWORD.

UH, BUT WE'RE COUPLING THIS, OBVIOUSLY, IF, AS WE HAVE A LOT OF INPUTS INTO OUR SYSTEMS, SUBURBAN, URBAN, RURAL, UH, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF OUR LOADING OF MICROPLASTICS? UH, SO THIS IS A STUDY, THIS IS A TWO YEAR PROJECT, UH, VERY EXCITING.

WAS JUST OUT YESTERDAY, UH, WITH THE TEAM.

UH, WE MAPPED, UH, THE AREA AROUND ELONG PARK AND COLLECTED, UH, 44, UH, SEDIMENT SAMPLES.

A LOT OF FUN.

BACK STILL HURTS.

THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS MODELING CAPABILITY.

UM, A NEW ONE.

WE ALSO JUST KICKED OFF, UH, THIS PAST MONTH, UH, WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET U S G S TO LOOK BEYOND THE PARADIGM OF PLANKTONIC BLOOMS AND, UH, SHIFT THEIR FOCUS INTO THE BENTHIC PROLIFERATIONS, THE, THESE COHESIVE MATTE SIGN OF BACTERIA EVENTS.

UH, FOR YEARS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO COLLABORATE ON A STUDY, UM, TO LOOK AT, UH, TOXIC SIN BACTERIA EVENTS IN HERE.

[00:35:01]

AND S GS BRINGS, UH, WEALTH OF EXPERTISE AND HISTORY WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, LOOKING AT OUR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.

SO FOR THIS STUDY, UH, THIS IS A TWO YEAR STUDY.

WE HAVE ONE YEAR OF FIELD WORK WHERE WE'RE GOING OUT TO THREE SPRING SITES, UH, IN THE EDWARDS PLATEAU.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO THREE SPRING SITES, UH, DOWN IN THE, UH, SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE CITY.

THESE ARE KIND OF FALL, FLUVIAL, UH, SPRINGS.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JUST UNDERGROUND WATER THAT'S MOVING THROUGH OLD SPRING.

UM, OLD RIVER DEPOSITS, VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMICS, VERY DIFFERENT WATER CHEMISTRIES.

UM, THESE ARE, THESE PLACES ARE IMPORTANT.

UM, IF YOU THINK ABOUT BARTON SPRINGS POOL, UM, UH, BACKDOOR SPRING, COLD, SPRING POPULAR RECREATIONAL AREAS, OBVIOUSLY, UH, DOWN IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, UH, PIPE SPRING IN PARTICULAR, UH, IT'S A SPOT THAT HAS A VERY LARGE, UM, ENCAMPMENT, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

UH, THEY'VE SET UP A PIPE AT THE SPRING SITE THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE FOR WASHING, FOR CLEANSING.

UH, SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF OUTREACH IN SPEAKING WITH THEM, AND WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE WATER AND THE CHARACTERISTICS LOOK LIKE.

KIND OF THAT REACHING OUT BOTH SIDES OF THE I 35 DIVIDE.

UM, WITH THIS.

SO WE HAVE OUR FIELD WORK AGAIN, WE JUST KICKED OFF LAST MONTH, OUR FIRST ROUND OF SAMPLING, NEXT ROUND NEXT MONTH.

I'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE IN TWO YEARS ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, .

AND BECAUSE, WELL, THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF RESEARCH GLOBALLY ABOUT THE BENTLEY PROLIFERATIONS.

WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN.

UH, L C R A, UH, THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING THE HIGHLAND LAKES.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, A DOG PASSED AWAY THERE IN LAKE TRAVIS IN, IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, KIND OF CAUGHT US OFF GUARD LIKE, WOW, THIS CAN OCCUR IN WINTER.

GRANTED, TEXAS WINTERS GENERALLY AREN'T THAT COLD, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FOUR DAYS, UH, NOTWITHSTANDING WHEN EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN THE STATE.

BUT WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S PARTNER UP.

LET'S LOOK LONGITUDINALLY ACROSS THE HIGHLAND LAKES AND SEE WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN OUR ALGAE COMMUNITIES, IN THE POT, IN THE TOXICITY ACROSS ALL THESE RESERVOIRS.

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN YEAR ROUND FOR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF THESE THINGS, BUILDING UP THIS, THIS DATABASE AND THIS INFORMATION BANK TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, THE, THE SPREAD THE DYNAMICS AND THE POTENTIAL RISK FOR PEOPLE VISITING OUR WATER BODIES.

UH, WE'LL HAVE, STARTING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, UH, A STUDY, UH, BY ONE OF OUR NEWER RESEARCH SCIENTISTS LOOKING SPECIFICALLY IN THE CREEKS OF AUSTIN.

SO WE WILL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS OF KIND OF WHAT'S DRIVING THIS, FIXING IT DOWN THE ROAD, UH, BUT AT LEAST WE'LL UNDERSTAND THE DRIVERS THAT WE CAN BETTER INFORM PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE GOING OUT TO VISIT AUSTIN'S WATERWAYS, UM, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IT.

WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

BELLINGER, SEND YOUR BELLINGER.

IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.

UM, LET'S GO AROUND THE HORN HERE AND, AND SEE IF ANYBODY'S GOT ANY QUESTIONS.

CHRIS, YOU HERE UP? HEY, MR. BELLINGER.

DR.

YEAH, BRENT IS FINE.

HEY, BRENT.

UM, YEAH, SO YOU APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

VERY INFORMATIONAL.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY I FAILED A LOT OF MY BIOCHEMISTRY TYPE CLASSES IN COLLEGE, SO I CAN'T REALLY DRILL DOWN TOO DEEP.

BUT, UH, YOU MENTIONED SORT OF LIKE THE ZEBRA MUSCLES, UH, POPULATION SORT OF CRASHING, AND THEN I GUESS GRADUALLY BUILDING BACK UP.

DO YOU, IN Y'ALL'S, UH, ESTIMATION, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE EVENT WAS THAT CAUSED THEM TO GO DOWN? WAS IT LIKE A DROUGHT TYPE THING, OR? I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF THAT THEY JUST, UH, GOT A LITTLE OVERZEALOUS.

UM, THEY, THEY OVER EXPANDED, YOU COULD SAY.

YES, RIGHT? , UM, IT'S, ESPECIALLY IN LADYBIRD LAKE, THEY'RE MUCH MORE, UH, HABITAT LIMITED.

, UM, THEY DON'T DO WELL IN SOFT SEDIMENTS.

THEY NEED A, A HARD SUBSTRATE TO ATTACH TO LAKE AUSTIN.

YOU HAVE THAT, UH, PLENTIFUL, ALL OF THE, UH, RIP WRAP AND, AND, AND BULKHEADS, ET CETERA IN THAT RESERVOIR.

WHEREAS LADYBIRD LAKE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SOME ROCKS TO ATTACH TO.

UM, THEY HAVE TREE LIMBS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT THEY'RE MUCH MORE LIMITED.

SO MY GUESS IS THAT THEIR DENSITY GOT TOO HIGH, TOO FAST.

UM, AND THEY JUST STRIPPED OUT THEIR RESOURCES VERY, UH, UH, TYPICAL OF, OF A NON-NATIVE SPECIES WHEN IT ENTERS A NEW ECOSYSTEM.

AND OVER TIME, IT'LL PROBABLY FIND SOME KIND OF HAPPY EQUILIBRIUM.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF HOW WARM THE SYSTEM IS HERE.

UH, THAT BOOM BUS CYCLE WAS KIND OF ACCELERATED COMPARED TO WHAT HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN THE, IN THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UH, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, BUT APPRECIATE THE, UH, INFORMATION.

UH, THERE IS, UH, YOU MENTIONED IRON SPRINGS PIPE, SPRING PIPE SPRINGS, YEAH.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, WHAT ARE THE SPRINGS THAT, THAT YOU SHOWED BRIEFLY THAT ARE IN THE, UM, SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AREA?

[00:40:01]

UH, HARRIS BRANCH, UH, AND AT ROY KAISER, UM, ACTUALLY RIGHT BY THE GOLF COURSE.

PIERCE BRANCH.

YES, MA'AM.

AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ROY.

UH, I THINK IT'S THE 17TH OR 18TH HOLE .

THANKS.

UM, I DON'T, YOU WENT OVER, YOU WENT OVER A, A, A HECK OF A LOT OF STUFF.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, A LOT OF WHICH I, UH, LIKE A COMMISSIONER KREI, I DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.

SO, UM, THAT KINDA LIMITS, UM, HOW FAR, HOW MUCH I CAN ASK.

UM, FOR A, I'LL A I'LL ASK THIS ONE THING IF FOR, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOGS AND WANNA TAKE 'EM TO THE VARIOUS, UH, GREEN BELTS AND SO FORTH, UM, IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW WHEN IT'S SAFE, UH, FOR THE, FOR YOUR DOG TO BE IN THE WATER OR, OR TO, OR NOT? I MEAN, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO CAN YOU KNOW, OR, OR DO YOU JUST NEED TO KEEP 'EM AWAY ALL THE TIME? OR WHAT, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT? I, YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO EMPOWER AUSTINITES TO KIND OF MAKE THOSE BEST DECISIONS.

UM, YOU KNOW, SHOWING PICTURES, KIND OF, UH, GIVING, UH, THE CONDITIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO LOOK FOR, WHERE YOUR WATER QUALITY, NOT JUST SIGN OF BACTERIA, BUT WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS OR, OR OTHER MIBA VIRUSES, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS IN THE WATER.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR AND BE COGNIZANT OF WHEN YOU VISIT.

SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT GREEN BELT RESERVOIR YOU GO TO, UM, IF YOU'RE IN A BACKWATER AREA, PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO ENTER THAT WATER.

YOU WANNA LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT'S FLOWING, SOMETHING THAT'S CLEAR, UH, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE FLOATING SCUMS AND MATS OR DISCOLORATIONS ODD SMELLS, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN YOU WALK UP, YOU KNOW, I VISUALLY ASSESS, UH, THOSE CONDITIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND JUST BE MINDFUL OF, OF WHAT THE DOG IS DOING WHEN IT'S RUNNING IN AND OUT FOR PEOPLE.

SAME THING.

YOU, YOU ALWAYS WANNA RINSE OFF, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NATURAL WATER BODIES.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, BE MINDFUL OF THE WATER, UH, AND WHAT'S AROUND THE WATER.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA DISSUADE AND, AND TELL PEOPLE NOT TO VISIT OUR WATERWAYS.

THAT'S, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ANTITHESIS TO WHAT WATERSHED PROTECTION'S TRYING TO DO.

WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE AND LOOK FOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS AND AVOID THEM.

UH, ONE QUESTION THAT, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE RINSING STATIONS IN, IN SOME OF THE, UM, AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO GO WITH THEIR DOGS? LIKE, UM, UM, A NEW CREEK HAS A, HAS A, UH, AN OFF LEASH AREA WHERE DOGS ON A DAILY BASIS GO INTO ONION CREEK AND, AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S SHALLOW THERE SO THEY CAN, PEOPLE CAN THROW FRISBEES AND WHATNOT.

AND, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WATER AVAILABLE THERE WHERE YOU COULD RINSE OFF YOUR DOG IF YOU WERE CONCERNED AFTER OR RINSE OFF YOURSELF.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD MAYBE SUGGEST TO THE PARKS FOLKS, OR, I DUNNO.

UM, IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES, UH, FOR THOSE TYPES OF, OF AMENITIES, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT ZERO MUSCLES HAVE GOTTEN INTO OUR WATER BODIES THROUGHOUT TEXAS IS IRRESPONSIBLE BOATERS.

IF YOU GO UP NORTH, YOU LOOK INTO NORTH, UH, IN, IN THE NORTHWEST, NORTHEAST, UH, AT THE BOAT RAMPS, THEY HAVE CLEANING STATIONS FOR THE BOATS.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE MONITORING THE BOATS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING CLEAN, CLEAN, DRAIN, AND DRY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PRIORITY IN TERMS OF, BECAUSE OF OUR GREEN BELTS HAVING, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO PRIORITIZE A DOG RINSING STATION VERSUS, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER CLEANING STATION, I THINK WOULD BE, UH, A MISDIRECTED ASK.

UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN A DOG GETS OUT, TOWEL IT OFF, RINSE IT OFF WHEN IT GETS HOME.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, FOR THAT DIRECT PURPOSE, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE, WOULD BE A TOUGH SELL.

AS FAR AS THE HOMELESS POPULATION GOES, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME, UM, UM, UH, PORTA POTTIES, WHATEVER YOU CALL 'EM, NOT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I'M USING THE RIGHT TERM, BUT SOMETHING AVAILABLE SO THAT, UM, THOSE POPULATIONS THAT I SEE AT THE HEAD OF LAR CREEK AND AT AT, UM, ALONG ONION CREEK HAVE SOMEPLACE ELSE THAT THEY CAN, UM, USE.

BUT, BUT, UM, THEY, THEY DON'T, AND, UH, I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY ISN'T DOING THAT.

UM, THAT'S MORE, THAT'S MORE OF A COMMENT, BUT THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, MANY OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED AT THIS POINT, BUT I AM CURIOUS, I DON'T RECALL IF YOU MENTIONED ANY MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE ZEBRA MUSCLES.

HI.

THANK YOU FOR THAT THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

THAT WAS SO INTERESTING.

[00:45:01]

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN OR NEEDS TO HAPPEN? UM, UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE NO MITIGATION EFFORTS FOR THE ZEBRA MUSCLES.

THEY'RE ONE OF THOSE CRITTERS THAT ONCE THEY'RE THERE, IT'S TOO LATE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION FOR 40 YEARS.

UM, THEY'VE EXPANDED OUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, UH, SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE THAT DOOM WATCHED, UH, THE NEWS DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU SAW THE EPICENTERS AND THINGS, UH, RADIATING OUT.

IT'S THE SAME, SAME EXACT MAP FOR ZEBRA MUSCLES.

UM, ONCE THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE JUST REALLY EFFECTIVE.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE FLOW THROUGH RESERVOIRS MEANS THAT EVEN IF YOU HAPPEN TO ELIMINATE A POPULATION IN ONE BODY, WATER BODY, UH, IT WOULD PROBABLY JUST BE REESTABLISHED FROM INFLOWS FROM A CONTRIBUTING WATERWAY.

, AND OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHERE ARE THEY NATIVE TO, UH, TO EURASIA? OKAY.

EASTERN EUROPE.

SO DOES IT BECOME MORE OF A HARM REDUCTION EFFORT ONCE THEY'RE IN PLACE? UH, ESSENTIALLY, YES.

YOU LOOK AT, UM, LIKE, UH, FOR AUSTIN WATER, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGET TO, UH, CLEAN INTAKE PIPES.

THEY HAVE TO, UH, CLEAN OFF, UH, DAM GATES.

UH, THEY'RE INSTALLING, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREVENT FOLLOWING OF THEIR INTAKE PIPES.

UM, THESE ARE GENERALLY THE THINGS MUNICIPALITIES THEN SUFFER, UM, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF, OF THE INVASION OF THE ZERO MUSCLES.

AND THEN FOR THE RECREATIONAL USERS, UH, THE CUTS, UM, TO HANDS AND FEET AND OTHER THINGS.

UM, AND THEN AT THE LARGER ECOLOGICAL SCALE, UM, THE CONCERNS FOR THE IMPACTS IN NATIVE SPECIES, UM, THEY, AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A HARD SUBSTRATE TO GROW ON.

IT TURNS OUT THE NATIVE MUSCLES ARE A TREMENDOUS, UH, SUBSTRATE FOR THEM, AND THEN THEY'LL JUST COMPLETELY ENCASE A NATIVE MUSCLE AND KILL IT.

OH, NO.

THAT'S SAD.

UM, , BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, JUST LOOKING AT THIS AUSTIN LAKES INDEX SLIDE, WHICH IS SLIDE NUMBER THREE, UM, IT SEEMS THAT LAKE AUSTIN, LADY, BIRD LAKE, WALTER LONG LAKE, ARE ALL AVERAGING IN THE FAIR TO GOOD, UM, REGION IN TERMS OF SCORING.

AND I'M CURIOUS, AND THIS IS A BIG QUESTION, LIKE WHAT POLICIES YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO HELP TAKE US FROM FAIR WATER QUALITY TO ULTIMATELY VERY GOOD.

UM, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION, OUR PARTNERS IN THE BASIN ARE, ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STORM WATER CONTROL MEASURES IN PLACE.

NEW PROJECTS GOING IN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT NEW PILOT PROGRAMS, UM, LIKE WALL THREE, PUTTING IN MORE CISTERNS, PUTTING IN MORE RAIN GARDENS.

ALL OF THESE, WHAT SEEM LIKE SMALL, UH, PROJECTS ON THEIR FACE INCREMENTALLY WILL IMPROVE WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN RIVER.

, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE RECEIVING WATERS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT TRIBUTARIES.

UM, SO IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF, OF MOVEMENT AND EFFORT, BUT ALL OF THOSE LITTLE THINGS HELP, UH, UP IN THE BASIN.

YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE LAND PURCHASING, UH, INCENTIVIZING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, LEAVING BUFFER STRIPS INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, REMOVING VEGETATION ALL THE WAY TO THE CREEKSIDE.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE ALSO WILL HAVE AN EFFECT OF IMPROVING THE WATER QUALITY DOWN THE ROAD AND DOWN THE WAY.

THE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS ARE SOMETHING

AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE CITY IS CURRENTLY ON THAT PATH? ARE THERE ANY AREAS FOR POTENTIAL ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE TO, UH, THE CITIZENS ARE, ARE THE BEST, UH, RESOURCE, UM, EMPOWERING THE CITIZENS, MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES, REMOVING LAWN ZERO ESCAPING, REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF WATER BEING USED BEING NEEDED, UH, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, A REGULAR PIPE, IF IT'S A PURPLE PIPE, JUST MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF WATER YOU HAVE TO PUT ON YOUR LANDSCAPE.

CAPTURING THE RAINWATER TO MINIMIZE, UH, OVERLAND FLOW EROSION, UM, ARE BIG.

AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I'M GONNA ADVOCATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAT COULD BE DONE, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA PRIORITIZE, UH, HOW YOU'RE SPENDING THOSE RESOURCES.

AND, AND WATERSHED HAS A LOT OF THINGS IN PLACE TO HELP INFORM THOSE DECISIONS.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE NEW REINDER RIVER PROGRAM IS, UH, OF BRINGING, YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMATION, UH, TO THE FORE TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK SOMETHING MAYBE MORE RANDOM, UM, FROM ONE THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED TODAY.

DO YOU ALSO TRACK THE, THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER? AND I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY, ANY, UH, I GUESS, CHANGES THERE AND CONCERN ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER ? UM, WE DO, WHEN WE DO OUR ROUTINE MONITORING AS PART OF AUSTIN LAKES INDEX, UH, WE DO TAKE, UH, WATER TEMPERATURES.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, A GOOD LONG RECORD OF THAT.

L C R A ALSO COLLECTS WATER TEMPERATURE ON LAKE AUSTIN.

THERE'S A GREAT DATABASE OF THAT.

[00:50:01]

THAT, UH, ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON OUR CLIMATE, OBVIOUSLY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.

UH, BUT IN TERMS OF IT, IT'S MORE ABOUT THE HYDROLOGY.

UM, AS WE ENTER INTO DROUGHT PERIODS, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE 2010 TO 2015 PERIOD, UH, THE WATER TEMPERATURES WERE WARMER ON AVERAGE IN A GIVEN MONTH.

UH, AND THEY WARMED UP EARLIER.

ON AVERAGE, UH, COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, WHEN YOU HAVE LARGE FLOWS, UM, OUR DAMS ARE BUILT TO RELEASE FROM THE BOTTOM.

AND IF ANYONE'S BEEN UP TO JESSICA HOUSE PARK RIGHT BELOW THE MANSFIELD DAM, UH, WHEN THERE'S BEEN A RELEASE, THAT WATER IS FRIGID COLD.

IT'S FANTASTIC, INVIGORATING, I THINK IT'S EVEN COLDER USUALLY THAN, UH, BARTON SPRINGS POOL.

UM, AND IT'S BECAUSE THAT COLDER WATER, UH, THAT DENSE WATER SETTLES ON THE BOTTOM, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TO DROUGHT CONDITION AND YOU CAN'T RELEASE THOSE WATERS, UM, THAT CREATES A, A WARMING EFFECT.

UM, AND, BUT, SO IT'S, WE TRACK IT.

UM, BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS, AGAIN, THAT ARE KIND OF OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

IS THERE A CONCERN, PER SE, ? I WOULD SAY, UH, TO GO BACK TO THE ONE QUESTION ABOUT, UH, ZERO MUSCLE CONTROL, UM, TEMPERATURE, UH, IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS AND, AND A LACK OF OXYGEN.

AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THAT, UM, THAT CAN, UH, REGULATE ZEBRA MUSCLE DENSITIES, SO YAYE.

SO IF YOU LIKE YOUR SAUNAS AND YOUR SPAS AND YOUR HOT TUBS, YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY ZEBRA MUSCLES.

ON THE AUSTIN LAKES INDEX SLIDE, AND MAYBE THERE'S A, A WEBSITE OR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST DIRECT ME TO, BUT DO YOU HAVE SORT OF MORE DENSITY MAPS OF THE MEASURED CONDITIONS SO THAT WE CAN SEE MORE SORT OF HYPER-LOCAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE CON ESPECIALLY LIKE THE EUTIFICATION IS CONCERNING IN ALL OF THESE CASES? , UH, RIGHT.

UM, WE MONITOR THREE SITES ON EACH OF OUR RESERVOIRS.

UM, SO THAT'S ABOUT AS HYPER-LOCAL AS IT GETS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE EQUIDISTANT IN, IN THE WATER BODIES.

UM, IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, LIKE A EUTIFICATION MEASURE FOR NUTRIENT CHEMISTRY, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF VARIABILITY BETWEEN THE SITES.

UM, THERE IS SOME, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE WATER TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES.

THAT DOESN'T GO INTO THAT, THAT SPECIFIC CALCULATION.

UM, THERE ARE SOME LONGITUDINAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR RESERVOIRS.

UM, AND THEN POSSIBLY WE DO HAVE A STORYBOARD, UH, WHERE WE HAVE THE DATA FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY INDEX FOR THE AUSTIN LAKES INDEX.

AND A LOT OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE, UM, END UP GOING INTO THE STATE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

UM, AND THERE'S PROBABLY MORE INFORMATION, YOU COULD SEE, MORE SITE SPECIFIC.

IF THERE IS MORE SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION YOU WANTED, YOU COULD ALSO REACH OUT.

UM, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO PUT SOME THINGS TOGETHER FOR YOU.

THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

AND THEN, UM, JUST CURIOUS TOO, THE FESTIVAL BEACH, UM, WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE JUST DONE AND ARE KIND OF DOING A REDO ON THAT, WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU'LL HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT? UH, SO WE JUST DID OUR, UH, WE DID A PRE, UH, SEDIMENT SAMPLING, UM, PRIOR TO DOING OUR FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BENTON NIGHT.

UM, THOSE RESULTS WILL PROBABLY BE IN, IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, BUT THAT, THAT'S KIND OF JUST TELLING US HOW DID THINGS CHANGE FROM THE END OF LAST YEAR.

UH, WE'LL GO BACK OUT AND COLLECT SAMPLES THEN IN THE FALL AFTER WE'VE DONE OUR THREE TREATMENTS.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER-ISH, UH, IS WHEN WE'LL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF KNOW THE EFFICACY OF THIS YEAR'S TREATMENT.

UM, SO IS THERE, I MEAN, DO YOU PUBLISH A REPORT LIKE EVERY YEAR OR ON A REGULAR BASIS? UH, WITH THE AUSTIN LAKES INDEX, UH, THAT GETS UPDATED EVERY YEAR, UM, IN THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

AND, UM, I I, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LOOK AROUND TO SEE IF I COULD FIND IT HERE, BUT COULD YOU PROVIDE THAT TO THE STAFF SO WE COULD GET A HARD, NOT A HARD COPY, BUT COULD, WE COULD FIND IT ONLINE? YEP.

HISTORY, UM, OF THE NUTRIENTS AND MICROPLASTIC DYNAMICS, UH, IN EACH OF OUR RESERVOIRS.

UM, MY QUESTION HAS TO DO THE, UM, MICROPLASTICS, UH, WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THEM? I GUESS PROBABLY NOT THIS , UH, EVERYTHING EV EVERY, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING'S A SOURCE.

THE BIGGEST ONES, UH, THAT ARE HYPOTHESIZED IN AUSTIN, UM, IS ACTUALLY, UH, SHREDDED TIRES, UM, SHREDDED WHAT? TIRES.

AH, OKAY.

UM, SO, SO OFF THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, THE YEP.

JUST NORMAL DRIVING.

AND THEN, UH, IT'LL ACCUMULATE, IT'LL BREAK DOWN IN THE LIGHT, UH, GET FLUSH INTO OUR TRIBUTARIES, UH, IN A RAIN.

UM, AND, AND THEN END UP, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IN THE RECEIVING WATER BODIES, UH, WHERE IT'LL UNDERGO FURTHER TRANSFORMATION, BREAK DOWN, UH, EITHER BY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, UM, OR FROM LIGHT, UM, AS IT MAKES ITS WAY.

AND THEN DEPENDING ON, UH, THE FLOW DYNAMICS, IT'LL EITHER BE DEPOSITED AND LEFT IN LADYBIRD LAKE OR LAKE AUSTIN, UH, OR IT'LL MAKE ITS WAY DOWN TO THE COAST.

ONE OF THE, UH, THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING, WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE STUDY IS TAKING, UH, DEEP CORES BY THE DAMS OF EACH OF THE RESERVOIRS, UH, WHICH WILL GIVE US A

[00:55:01]

SO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, BEST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE WE COULD TRACK, UH, CHANGES IN THE MICROPLASTICS, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INCREASING DENSITY, UM, AND POPULATION, UH, DYNAMICS IN AUSTIN.

AND THAT SHAMELESS PLUG, UH, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, TIRES ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS CUZ WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRY IN AUSTIN, IS KIND OF JUST MORE MOTIVATION TO REALLY EXPAND A LIGHT RAIL NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO TRY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROAD.

SO IT'S TIRES, BUT IT'S NOT, IS THERE ANYTHING AFTER TIRES, AS YOU KNOW? OH, I MEAN, EVERY PLASTIC, WELL AFTER TWO, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY AUSTIN LOST ITS ABILITY TO BAN, UH, PLASTIC BAGS.

THESE ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE VERY PREVALENT AND COMMON IN OUR GREEN BELTS, IN OUR CREEKS.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE BREAKING DOWN.

EVERYTHING THAT DOESN'T END UP IN A LANDFILL, UH, IS A POTENTIAL SOURCE.

AND I KNOW THIS MAY BE OUTTA YOUR BAILIWICK, BUT, UH, GOOD ONE IS THE, UH, DRINKING WATER SUFFICIENTLY, UH, FILTERED TO REMOVE IT FROM THE DRINKING WATER.

I CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT.

THAT'S IT.

I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION THAT HASN'T BEEN ASKED YET.

I WAS CURIOUS IF THERE'S A, UM, LIKE A PRIORITY, UH, CONCERN OVER, LIKE, LIKE BASICALLY WOULD YOU WANT TO ATTACK, UM, THE ALGAL GROWTH IN PRIORITY TO LIKE THE ZEBRA MUSCLES? LIKE IS THERE LIKE A LIST OF LIKE, OKAY, IF WE SEE THIS EXISTING IN THIS ORGAN, IN THIS, UH, ECOSYSTEM, LET'S GO FOR THIS ONE FIRST.

UM, HOPEFULLY THEY SHARE AUSTIN'S LONG HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.

UH, I MEAN, THERE ARE DEFINITELY THOSE DECISIONS.

IT ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BOILS DOWN TO WHAT IS FEASIBLE.

UM, BUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOXIC SIGN OF BACTERIA IS, IS OBVIOUSLY A LARGE CONCERN.

EAR MUSCLES REALLY AREN'T GONNA, YOU KNOW, FORCE A CLOSURE OF A WATER BODY OR IMPACT A DRINKING WATER SUPPLY, WHEREAS CYTOTOXINS COULD, UM, AND THE FACT THAT THE PROLIFERATIONS WE HAVE HERE ARE SO UNDERSTUDIED GLOBALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY MIX THAT ONE RISE TO THE TOP, NO PUN INTENDED.

UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE A FOCUS OF RESEARCH, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS, UH, LOOKING IN THAT DIRECTION TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS PHENOMENON AND WHAT, WHAT CHANGED, YOU KNOW, AROUND 2019 THAT THAT LED TO THIS.

THANK YOU, .

YEAH, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE FOLLOW UPS THAT WEREN'T ADDRESSED BY OTHERS, UM, AND REALLY THAT RELATES TO THE PUBLIC OUTREACH.

WHEN YOU CAME LAST YEAR, I KNOW THERE WAS A BIG PUSH TO KIND OF GET YOU IN FRONT OF THE NEWS CAMERAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UM, AND I THINK IT, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT IS THERE ANY FEEDBACK ON, ON WHAT PUBLIC OUTREACH WAS SUCCESSFUL? AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING TO AUSTIN AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE VACATIONING IN AUSTIN MM-HMM.

, YOU KNOW, INTERACTING WITH THE LAKES.

UM, WHAT, WHAT'S THE PLAN KIND OF FOR THIS SUMMER AS, AS WE GET READY FOR CINO BACTERIA SEASON? YEAH.

UH, TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR EDUCATION TEAM, YOU KNOW, THEY ACTUALLY ACCUMULATE THOSE NUMBERS.

WE TRACK, UH, INTERACTIONS, UM, WITH OUR WEBSITES, WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

UM, I FEEL THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN, UH, VERY PRODUCTIVE.

UM, WE'RE MODIFYING OUR DASHBOARD, UH, FOR THIS YEAR, TURNING THAT INTO A STORY MAP, UH, MAKING A BIT MORE INTERACTIVE, PUTTING SOME DIFFERENT INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT MIGHT BE MORE PUBLIC FRIENDLY, AND WE'RE GONNA BUILD IT OUT TO INCLUDE MORE SITES.

ONE OF THE BIG FEEDBACKS WE HEARD, UM, WAS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DO THINGS LOOK LIKE IN, IN MORE PARTS OF AUSTIN? AND SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET MORE OF THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION, THIS PLACE IS SAFE, OR THIS PLACE ISN'T.

BUT JUST SO PEOPLE, AGAIN, HAVE A BETTER IDEA, UM, OF WHAT'S OUT THERE.

UM, AND FOR THIS YEAR, AGAIN, IT'S JUST BEEN KIND OF THE SAME, UH, BLITZ, UM, A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, POSTING PICTURES, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MEDIA ATTENTION AROUND THE, UH, THE BENTONITE TREATMENT, YOU KNOW, TO, TO KIND OF DEMONSTRATE, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE.

WE'RE EXPLORING DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES TO, UH, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF IT.

UM, AND ABSOLUTE CURE IS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO TRULY ACHIEVE.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT TECHNOLOGIES WORK IN TERMS OF PUSHING THE NEEDLE AND W WE'RE GONNA DO ALL THAT WE CAN, UH, TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION, OUR RESULTS, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC, UM, AND GO FROM THERE.

BUT, UH, YEAH, LIKE I SAID, I, I, I THINK OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION TEAM, UH, COULD ACTUALLY GIVE YOU SOME GOOD SOLID NUMBERS ABOUT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE REACHED.

AND IN TERMS OF NEW PEOPLE MOVING HERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

THEY BRING A DIFFERENT, UM, ETHOS, UH, EXPECTATION.

[01:00:01]

UH, THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL, UH, THING TO HAVE HERE.

IT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE LONG-TERM MONITORING PROGRAMS. THERE'S, THERE'S NO OTHER CITY AND, AND THERE'S ALMOST NO OTHER ENTITY AT, AT STATE OR FEDERAL THAT HAS, UH, THE DATA SETS THAT THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DOES TO UNDERSTAND OUR ECOSYSTEMS, HOW THEY'VE CHANGED OVER TIME, AND WHAT IT TAKES TO KIND OF ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS, UM, AND WHAT HAS CAUSED SOME OF THESE CHANGES.

AND IT'S, IT'S A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE, AND IT'S EXCITING HOW MUCH OUTREACH WE DO, UM, IN TERMS OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING AND IN, AND, UH, GETTING OUT SOLUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A CITIZEN TO REDUCE YOUR, YOUR FOOTPRINT AND IMPACT ON OUR WATERWAYS? SO I, I REALLY APPLAUD.

UH, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS HANDLERS.

THEY MAKE ME LOOK GOOD.

I'M JUST THE PRETTY FACE ON TV.

UM, BUT THEY GET A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

THEY DISTILL A LOT OF MY JARGON THAT I DROPPED ON Y'ALL TONIGHT, UH, TO MAKE IT DIGESTIBLE TO, TO, TO THE PEOPLE.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I GUESS AS, AS THAT INFORMATION COMES OUT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST KIND OF PARING WHAT I'VE SAID BEFORE, BUT GET IT TO ELIZABETH SO SHE CAN GET IT OUT TO US, UM, BECAUSE WE GET, I MEAN, I GET QUESTIONS FROM, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS AND, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

SO SURE.

SOMETHING THAT'S DIGESTIBLE, UH, IS, IS, IS HELPFUL.

UM, IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING WATERSHED PROTECTION ON, UH, TWITTER AND FACEBOOK, YOU'RE MISSING OUT.

I KNOW , I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD I AM ALREADY .

UM, UH, YEAH.

AND THEN TO FOLLOW UP ON WITH SULLIVAN, THE STORYBOARDS OR WHATEVER YOU WERE REFERENCING BEFORE, IF YOU COULD SEND THOSE TO US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, AND, AND AS REPORTS COME OUT ON FESTIVAL BEACH OR WHEREVER, PLEASE PUSH 'EM OUR WAY.

UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

COMMISSIONER NICHOLS.

I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WHAT DO YOU GOT? .

SCOTT, ONE, ONE MORE AND THEN WE GOTTA MOVE ON.

UM, IS THERE A, IS THERE A WEBSITE THAT, OR A, UM, A LINK THAT YOU CAN GIVE US TO, UH, TO MONITOR WHAT'S GOING ON THAT THE CITY'S DOING? YES, MA'AM.

WELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WEBSITES THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION CURATES, UH, SOME SPECIFIC, UH, TO THE RESERVOIRS, UH, THE AUSTIN LAKES, UM, RESOURCE.

WE HAVE, UH, SOME THAT ARE SPECIFIC, UH, TO OUR ALGAE MONITORING AND MITIGATION EFFORTS, UM, OUT THERE.

SO WE CAN, WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE LINKS TO YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE TRY TO KEEP, UH, PUT A LOT OF THOSE LINKS IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, IN OUR, UH, MEDIA POSTS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, UH, HAVE THOSE, THAT THEY CAN VISIT THEM.

BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE THOSE AS WELL.

AND THOSE INCLUDE, UM, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

HOW ABOUT NEXTDOOR? DO YOU, ARE YOU AWARE OF NEXTDOOR? YES, MA'AM.

UM, I DO BELIEVE WE PUT SOME POSTS ON NEXTDOOR.

I, I'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT.

I KNOW THAT THAT IS A GROWING, UH, RESOURCE, UM, UH, AND, AND PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO, UH, SHARE INFORMATION, UM, VERY HYPER-LOCAL, UH, VERY QUICK RESPONSES, UH, TO DIFFERENT EVENTS.

UM, SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT MORE WITH, INTERNALLY WITH OUR EDUCATION TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENGAGING, UM, ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ON NEXT DOOR.

COULD YOU, WHAT ABOUT TIKTOK? I JUST KIDDING.

UM, THEY STOLE MY CAR.

ANYWAY.

UM, COULD YOU SEND, UH, THE MOST IMPORTANT LINKS TO ELIZABETH TO GIVE TO US? YES, MA'AM.

UM, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, GRAYSTAR TWO 90 C 14 DASH 85 DASH 28 8 79.

MOVING ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION OF THE AGENDA.

[4. Name: Greystar 290 C14-85-288.79 (Restrictive Covenant Amendment) ( Part 1 of 2 )]

UH, I BELIEVE THEY'RE REQUESTING A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT AND, UH, PRESENTATION FROM STAFF.

LESLIE JUST MAY BE INTRODUCE HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THE NEXT TWO AGENDA ITEMS. ADAMS? YES, I WILL DO THAT.

UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I AM LESLIE LILLY, AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A JOINT PRESENTATION WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, KAYLA CHAPLIN.

AND THE REASON WE'RE DOING A JOINT PRESENTATION IS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

THE FIRST ONE IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT, UM, AND THE SECOND ONE IS A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST, UM, IS FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY THAT I WILL SHOW YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.

THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT IS FOR A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT APPLIES TO A SMALLER PORTION OF THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.

SO I WILL DISCUSS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.

WE CAN TAKE A BREAK TO, UM, ANSWER

[01:05:01]

QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS FOR BOTH STAFF AND FOR THE APPLICANT.

UM, AT THAT TIME, IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THE, UH, US COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE THE, UH, ITEM UP, UH, AND MAKE A MOTION, OR WE CAN THEN PROCEED TO THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

AND KAYLA WILL GIVE HER A PRESENTATION.

UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT PART OF THE STORY, UH, BEFORE YOU ACT ON THE FIRST ITEM.

UM, SOUNDS GREAT.

YEAH, MAYBE LET'S DO THAT AND THEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, WE CAN KIND OF DISCUSS HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH IT.

UM, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GONNA, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE, UH, PROPERTY AND WHAT IS, WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING FOR BOTH ITEMS, AND THEN KIND OF DIVE DEEPER INTO THE ELEMENTS OF THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, A SITE OVERVIEW IS THE ENTIRE PROPERTY THAT WILL BE, UH, SERVICED BY THE PROPOSED SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS 35.72 ACRES.

IT IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

IT IS IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION, WHICH IS WITHIN THE ZONING JURISDICTION OF AUSTIN.

UM, IT'S IN THE WILLIAMSON CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH IS IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE.

AND BECAUSE IT'S IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE, IT'S IN THE DRINKING WATER PRO PROTECTION ZONE, AND THEN IT'S ALSO IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE.

UM, SO AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT TO DO WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE AND THE APPLICABILITY OF THAT, UH, ON THIS SITE.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS KIND OF BREAKS DOWN, UH, WHERE THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT IS APPLICABLE.

SO THE LARGER PROPERTY, INCLUDING BOTH THE 26.96 ACRES AND THE 8.2 0.62 ACRES, THAT IS THE ENTIRE SITE THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

HOWEVER, THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT AND PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY IS JUST ON THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.

UM, SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, WE'RE REALLY ONLY LOOKING AT THAT SIDE.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THERE'S A LITTLE NOTE UNDER THE ACREAGE THAT INDICATES THAT THE WESTERN PORTION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS, UM, WITHOUT ANY, UM, SPECIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THEM.

UM, SO A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OVERALL, UH, REQUEST.

AND WHAT THE PROJECT, UH, ENTAILS IS IT'S, UH, 154 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS WITH 253 CONDO UNITS, AND THAT IS EXTENDING ACROSS THE ENTIRE SITE.

UM, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT FOR ONLY THAT EASTERN PORTION, WHICH IS 8.6, ROUNDING UP TO TWO OR 8.6149 ACRES.

UH, THE REMAINING IS SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE, INCLUDING, UM, SUBJECT TO SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCES LIMITS, AND, UM, WATER QUALITY TREATMENT TO NON DEGRADATION STANDARDS.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, AS I'VE MENTIONED, THERE IS A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROPERTY, AND KAYLA WILL BE PRESENTING THAT AFTER WE TALK ABOUT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONES, AND NONE OF THE, UH, AREA THAT IS WITHIN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AREA DRAINS TO OCCUPIED AN IDENTIFIED SALAMANDER HABITAT.

SO THERE IS, UM, A SITE PLAN THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED, AND THIS IS A SHEET FROM THE SITE PLAN.

SO THE SITE PLAN IS AN INFORMAL REVIEW YET, BUT I ASKED FOR A SHEET SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, WHAT, UH, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

AND AGAIN, WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS ON THE EASTERN SIDE, YOU HAVE A MULTI-FAMILY, UH, UH, BUILDING.

AND THEN ON THE EASTERN SIDE THAT IS, UH, SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF SMALLER SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.

IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALONGSIDE BOTH THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND SERVICE EXTENSION RELEASE, THERE IS ALSO A ZONING APPLICATION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN REVIEW AS WELL.

UM, THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE BACKUP, AND IT JUST, IT, IT MOSTLY, UM, IS A REQUEST TO REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL USES TO MULTI-USE IN RESIDENTIAL.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

SO, UM, WHAT YOU COULD SEE ON THAT FIRST AERIAL, AND WE'LL LOOK AT ANOTHER AERIAL, AND THE NEXT SLIDE IS THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT HAVE SETBACKS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

AND WITHIN THAT 8.46, UH, OR 8.42 ACRES, THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, THERE ARE NO KNOWN CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.

THERE'S NO WATERWAYS OR, UH, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES,

[01:10:01]

UH, AND THIS IS FURTHER DEMONSTRATED JUST, UM, SHOWING THIS IS INFORMATION IN OUR DATABASE THAT DOCUMENTS ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, KEEP TRACK OF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES, ANY CARS, FEATURES ANY WETLANDS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NONE DOCUMENTED, UH, ON THIS SITE.

SO WHAT THE RESTRICTIVE, WHAT A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT, UM, KIND OF ENTAILS IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT KIND OF DEFINES THE RESTRICTIONS FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, UM, AS THEY RELATE TO, TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AND THOSE, UH, STANDARDS TEND TO BE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN CURRENT CODE ALLOWS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.

UM, AND THIS PARTICULAR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WAS, UM, ESTABLISHED IN THE MID EIGHTIES BEFORE THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED, MEANING THAT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY, THAT SECTION OF THE PROPERTY ON THE EAST SIDE IS NOT CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO THE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE, SAY OF OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE PARTON SPRINGS ZONE.

UM, AND SO RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENTS DO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO REQUEST GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAN OTHERWISE ALLOWED.

AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, EMPHASIZE THAT THIS RESTRICTIVE OF COVENANT AMENDMENT, THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IN THE EIGHTIES, IS SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE AT THAT TIME WHEN IT WAS, UH, ADOPTED.

UM, SO NOT ONLY IS IT NOT SUBJECT TO SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT IT'S ALSO NOT SUBJECT TO BECAUSE IT IS SUBJECT TO THOSE, UH, THAT CODE THAT WAS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THAT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WAS ADOPTED.

UM, OKAY.

SO IN, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE.

IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF CONSIDER IS THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ORDINANCE AND COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.

SO, CURRENT CODE FOR THIS SECTION OF PROPERTY, UH, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE AND IT'S IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE, THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, AND IT'S IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE, IT WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER NET SITE AREA.

UM, I WILL MENTION THAT THE EASTERN, I MEAN THE WESTERN PORTION, THAT LARGER TRACT THAT IS SUBJECT TO THIS IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, THE NON DEGRADATION WATER QUALITY, UH, TREATMENT REQUIREMENT IS NOT CURRENTLY REQUIRED ON THE PORTION OF LAND THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

IT'S TRUE ON THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE LAND.

UM, SO A SUMMARY OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN THIS AMENDMENT.

UM, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN THE 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER AS CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

UM, AND THE, THE THINGS THAT WILL BRING, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO THIS SECTION, THIS ATTRACTIVE LAND, IS THAT THE, UH, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS REMOVING THE VESTING RIGHTS OR THE GRANDFATHERING LANGUAGE THAT ALLOW IT TO BE SUBJECT TO PREEXISTING CODE AND BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, EXCEPT AS MODIFIED BY THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO THE 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER.

SO THAT MEANS IT WILL COMPLY WITH SOS NON DEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT.

AND THAT IS THE, YOU KNOW, MOST INTENSE, MOST THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT CAN BE PROVIDED ON A SITE, PROVIDING WATER QUALITY TREATMENT TO THE DEGREE THAT, UH, WATER FLOWING OFFSITE WOULD, WOULD BE AS, UH, UH, AS IF IT WAS FLOWING OFF AN UNDEVELOPED SITE.

SO THAT IS THE LEVEL OF WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT'S EXPECTED IN SOS DE UH, NON DEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT.

UH, MINIMUM.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, THE APPLICANT IS, UH, OFFERING TO PROVIDE 110% OF ANY REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION FOR ANY, UM, TREES THAT WOULD BE REMOVED.

UM, AND ADDITIONALLY, THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WILL INCLUDE DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS AS THEY RELATE TO LIGHT TEMPERATURE SHIELDING AND LIGHT TRESPASS, UM, TO PROVIDE COMPLIANCE WITH BEST PRACTICES OF DARK

[01:15:01]

SKY, UM, LIGHTING.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS SLIDE UP AGAIN TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT ALL OF THE CONDITIONS THAT STAFF HAS, UH, REQUESTED AND THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WOULD ONLY APPLY TO THE EASTERN PORTION, THAT 8.62 ACRES, UM, AND BOTH THE CONDITIONS AND THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT ONLY ON THAT SIDE OF THE, THE PROPERTY.

AND STAFF PROVIDES A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS THAT THE AMENDMENT AND THE ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS PROVIDE OVERALL, UH, GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ACHIEVES A HIGHER DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT REGULATIONS THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED.

IT BRINGS SITE THE SITE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SOS DEGRADATION, WATER QUALITY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER.

UH, IT PROVIDES 110% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION, AND IT WOULD COMPLY WITH DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS.

SO THAT IS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

UM, WE CAN STOP HERE AND TAKE QUESTIONS FOR BOTH STAFF AND THE APPLICANTS, UM, AND GO FROM THERE.

SOUNDS GOOD? YEP.

UM, DOES THE APPLICANT, DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PRESENTATION OR JUST HERE FOR QUESTIONS? THEY'RE JUST HERE FOR QUESTIONS.

OKAY, PERFECT.

OKAY, THEN LET'S, UM, LET THE QUESTIONS, YES.

OH, ALSO THERE, UM, THERE ARE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP YEAH.

TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

IF LET'S HEAR THOSE SPEAKERS TAKE IT UP TO FOUR QUESTIONS.

UM, GO FOR IT.

UH, BOBBY LAVINSKY AND ALSO, UH, MR. WHALEY WAS GOING TO DONATE TIME.

ARE YOU DONATING OKAY TO YOU? SO, MR. LEVINSKY, HE'S GOT SIX MINUTES CORRECT, ELIZABETH.

IT WAS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS.

BOBBY LAVINSKY SAFE FOR SPRING ALLIANCE.

IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, I'LL JUST SPEAK ON BOTH ITEMS. UM, CAUSE I THINK THEY'RE INTERRELATED.

SO THE CITY HAS HAD A LONGSTANDING POLICY WITH SCR WHEN THE EXTENSION OF THE UTILITIES WOULD RESULT IN A GREATER DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY ON THE SITE BECAUSE, UM, IT HAS ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES RATHER THAN AN ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE.

THE CITY HAS CONSISTENTLY REJECTED THOSE APPLICATIONS.

SO IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, YOUR, UH, THIS COMMISSION HAS CONSISTENTLY REJECTED IT OVER THE YEARS AS WELL.

ON THAT VERY SAME BASIS WITH EVERY S E R STAFF HAS AN ANALYSIS WHERE THEY SAY, WELL, WHAT, WHAT OTHER WASTEWATER SURFACES ARE AVAILABLE? CAN THEY DO LAND APPLICATION HERE? THE STAFF SAID NO, OR IT WOULD BE PRACTICALLY INFEASIBLE.

CAN THEY USE SEPTIC? AND IF SO, HOW DOES THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, HOW DOES THE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT, UH, POTENTIAL GET IMPACTED? THE FINDING MADE BY THE STAFF WAS THAT, UH, IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF THE SITE.

SO UNDER THE LONGSTANDING POLICY OF THE CITY, THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED FOR DENIAL.

UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S CLEAR IF YOU LOOK AT THROUGH ANY, ALL THE RECORDS WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF THE YEARS.

UM, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY, WHY THAT HAS CHANGED.

I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN, ITS A POLICY SHIFT THERE.

AND IF THAT'S A POLICY SHIFT, I THINK IT REQUIRES A BROADER CONVERSATION THAN EVEN JUST THIS APPLICATION.

IT SHOULD BE DONE, UM, NOT ON A PROJECT SPECIFIC BASIS, UM, OR THAT SAID, UM, THERE ARE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH THIS SITE THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN, UH, TO ACCOUNT.

ALTHOUGH THAT THERE IS NO A C E F THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THIS SITE, DOESN'T MEAN IT HASN'T BEEN STUDIED.

UM, THERE IS A C UH, WITH THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE WITH WILLIAMSON CREEK, WITH THE, WHERE THIS LINE WOULD GO THROUGH.

SO THIS IS ENTIRELY CONNECTED.

I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO CF, SO THEREFORE THERE'S NO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN HERE.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE POLICY THAT WE HAD IN PLACE WAS FOR GROWTH MANAGEMENT.

WHEN YOU BRING MORE INVOLVEMENT INTENSIVE INTO THIS AREA, YOU ARE INCREASING THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

SO, UM, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DENSITY CLUSTERED DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE GREAT, AND THAT WOULD BE REDUCING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE.

AND SO THAT KIND OF BRINGS ME TO THE POINT WITH THE RCA.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, UH, AMENDMENT HERE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE RCS ARE VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO, WITH THE CITY AMENDING THEM, WOULD REQUIRE BOTH THE CITY AND THE APPLICANT TO AGREE TO IT.

THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT TO THE F A R, WHICH DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY OF THE SITE.

UM, WITHOUT SAYING, HEY, WE COULD RECOMMEND, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION COULD RECOMMEND TO

[01:20:01]

REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, THAT WOULD BE WITHIN YOUR RIGHT AS A COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN HERE.

I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, THE CITY SHOULD EITHER POSTPONE WITH THE APPLICANT'S CONSENT, UM, THE S E R OR JUST REJECT IT, AND THEN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE, UM, THE, UH, RESTRICTIVE COVER AMENDMENT AND LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES THAT COULD REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR THIS AREA OF THE SITE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS AGAR SPRINGS ORDINANCE.

I'D ALSO LIKE, UM, UH, TO POINT OUT HERE, VESTING IS AN EXCEPTION TO THAT REQUIREMENT.

SO THE APPLICANT HAS A CHOICE IN CHOOSING TO VEST THEIR PROPERTY TO THEIR RICHARD RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

SO EVERYTHING SHOULD BE WITHIN THE CITY'S RIGHT TO SAY, HEY, NO, WE WANT OUR STANDARDS ENFORCED.

WE HAVE THIS AGREEMENT WITH YOU.

YES, YOU COULD DO, YOU COULD DO YOUR DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE OLD RC BUT IT WOULD BE A REALLY SMALL DEVELOPMENT AS COMPARED TO WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED.

AND SO THAT GOES BACK TO THE MAIN POINT.

THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST SHOULD BE DENIED BECAUSE IT INCREASES DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIAL OF THE SITE.

UM, I'M THINKING IT'LL BE PRODUCTIVE FOR US TO HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC ABOUT THE, THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT.

UM, AND THEN, AND THEN HERE, KAYLA'S PRESENTATION ABOUT THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

UM, BUT BEFORE WE GO INTO THAT, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EITHER LESLIE OR KAYLA ABOUT HOW THESE TWO ELEMENTS ARE INTERCONNECTED? UM, AND IF, AND IF NOT, THEN WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT THE, THE R C A.

GO FOR IT.

SCOTT, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW TO POSE THIS, BUT, UM, MR. LAVINSKY HAS BROUGHT UP A POINT, WHICH IS, UM, PRECEDES MY, UM, BEING ON THE COMMISSION AND, AND MY AWARENESS OF WHAT HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS POLICY.

I WONDER IF, UH, THE CITY STAFF COULD SPEAK TO THAT.

I THINK THE, THE, THE, YES, THIS IS LIZ JOHNSTON WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE THE S E R PRESENTED FIRST TO TALK ABOUT CHANGES IN POLICIES RELATED TO THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS.

UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE CONCERN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP.

UM, NOT NECESSARILY RESTRICTED COVENANT, BUT THE CHANGE IN OR POTENTIAL CHANGING OF POL RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS.

AND THAT ONE HASN'T BEEN PRESENTED YET.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

AND I, AND I WOULD SAY MAYBE JUST EITHER AT, AT THE END OF THAT PRESENTATION AND KIND OF ROLL INTO TO THAT ELEMENT OF IT, PLEASE, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THESE INTERRELATE? OKAY.

LET'S GO.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RCA UM, AND OR LESLIE'S PRESENTATION? I HAVE A QUICK ONE.

THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, W WERE ASSESSED BY CITY STAFF, UH, AND VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NO SEEN CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ON THE PROPERTY.

YEAH, GO, GO.

UM, JUST CUZ YOU KIND OF MENTIONED IT AND JUST SORT OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT OTHER CODES, YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS SORT OF PREDATES A LOT OF THE CODE THAT'S OUT THERE.

NOW, ASIDE FROM SOS, WHAT OTHER SORT OF NEWER CODES DOES THIS PROPERTY NOT HAVE TO MEET DUE TO WHEN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WAS FIRST PASSED? SURE.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UH, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES IN THE CODE THAT WAS APPLICABLE IN, UH, THE EIGHTIES VERSUS TODAY.

AND ONE IS, UH, HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE, UM, WAS NOT ADOPTED AT THAT TIME.

IT WAS THE TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE, WHICH DID PROTECT OR REQUIRED MITIGATION AND PROTECTED, UH, TREES BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE ADOPTED.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS NO RESTRICTIONS ON CUT FILL, UM, AND CURRENT CODE REQUIRES, UH, OR LIMITS CUT AND FILL TO FOUR FEET.

UM, THERE WAS, UH, RESTRICTIONS OR THERE'S CURRENT RESTRICTIONS, UH, CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES OF 15% OR MORE.

THAT LIMITS IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 25%.

UM, AND THAT RESTRICTION WAS MUCH LESS IN THE EIGHTIES.

IT WAS LIKE, UM, I CAN LOOK IT UP.

IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER ON SLOPES THAT WERE ZERO TO 20%.

SO YOU COULD BUILD A LOT MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON SLOPES.

UM, THERE WERE ALSO DIFFERENCES IN CREEK BUFFERS, BUT THERE'S NO CREEK BUFFERS ON SITE.

UM, AND THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE BIG ONES THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THIS SITE.

UH, AND JUST TO, TO CLARIFY

[01:25:01]

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT POINT.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UH, MARIANA KRUEGER, DISTRICT THREE, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK MORE TO THE 110% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION.

UM, LESLIE LILLY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, FOR EVERY INCH OF TREE REMOVED, SO YOU HAVE A FOUR INCH, UH, DBH TREE THAT'S DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT, AND THAT TREE HAS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF INCHES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR MITIGATION IF THAT TREE IS REMOVED.

AND THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH 110% WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL 10% BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR THE REMOVAL OF THOSE INCHES.

AND WHAT IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT? UM, I BELIEVE FOR A FOUR INCH IT'S ONE, IT'S, SORRY, IT WOULD BE EIGHT INCHES.

IS THE MINIMUM TREE REQUIRED LIZ JOHNSTON FOR MITIGATION PROTECTION? YEAH, IT, IT VARIES BASED ON THE SIZE AND THE CATEGORY.

SO, UM, BETWEEN EIGHT TO 19 IT'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND, UM, ABOVE THAT IT'S, IT'S MORE SO IT, IT DEPENDS.

YEAH, I'M JUST CURIOUS CAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE MAP AND IT LOOKS LIKE REALLY DENSE TREE COVER.

UM, SO I'M JUST WANTING TO UNDERSTAND IN MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCRETE OR VISUAL TERMS WHAT THAT MITIGATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN ALSO TO MAYBE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE, IF THAT THEN DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY HERITAGE TREES ON THIS PROPERTY, OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING THAT? SO HERITAGE TREES INCLUDE, UM, A SPECIFIC LIST OF, UH, NATIVE TREE SPECIES THAT ONCE THEY'RE A CERTAIN SIZE, THEY CANNOT BE REMOVED UNLESS THEY'RE IDENTIFIED AS, UH, DAMAGED, DISEASED, UM, OR AN IMMINENT HAZARD.

UH, AND IF THEY ARE REMOVED, IT REQUIRES A LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE, WHICH THIS COMMISSION HAS SEEN A COUPLE OF THOSE.

UM, SO THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE WAS NOT, UM, IN EFFECT AND, AND AT THE TIME THAT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WAS APPROVED.

SO EVEN IF THERE ARE HERITAGE TREES ON THIS SITE THAT DOES NOT, THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY IN THIS CASE, THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE WOULD APPLY? IT WOULD APPLY.

IT WOULD, OKAY.

SO REQUIRED MITIGATION, UM, IS THE, THE, IN THE, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN IS THERE'S, FOR ANY REQUIRED MITIGATION MM-HMM.

, UM, FOR THE REMOVAL OF TREES THAT THERE WOULD BE 110%, NOT THAT IT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE BECAUSE THERE, THERE WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED MITIGATION IF YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REMOVE THE TREE.

BUT I THINK TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION, DOES THE COMMITMENT TO 110 MI PERCENT MITIGATION ALSO INCLUDE THE COMMITMENT OF PROTECTING HERITAGE TREES UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE? THE PART OF THE REDLINED ORDINANCE THAT, UM, INDICATES COMPLIANCE WITH THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE IS THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH ALL CURRENT CODE.

UM, THE MITIGATION JUST REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO THAT, UH, WHICH IS REQUIRED WHEN TREES ARE REMOVED.

THANKS.

I'M SORRY, I JUST THOUGHT OF ANOTHER FOLLOW UP.

UM, I THINK I, I ASKED A SIMILAR QUESTION AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, BUT I DON'T RECALL THE ANSWER.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THINGS LIKE THIS, CUZ IT SOUNDS NICE TO HAVE 110%, YOU KNOW, TREE MITIGATION.

BUT WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT? RIGHT.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT I SHOWED WAS A, A SHEET FROM THE SITE PLAN.

THAT SITE PLAN IS NOT CURRENTLY INFORMAL REVIEW, BUT THE CITY ARBORISTS WILL HAVE REVIEW STAFF THAT, UM, EXAMINE, UH, THE, THE TREE SURVEY FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.

AND THEN THE LANDSCAPING PLAN, THE SIZE OF THE TREES ARE ALL IDENTIFIED IN THE SITE PLAN AND COMPLIANCE WITH THAT 110% MITIGATION.

AND THAT DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE BY THE CITY ARBORIST.

BRIMER, YOU'RE RIGHT.

UH, REQUIRE THAT A REPLACEMENT NAME BE PUT IN THERE BECAUSE LIKE, UH, I DON'T SIGN BLANK CHECKS.

COMMISSIONER, UH, BRIMER, UH, I'M GONNA START WITH A COUPLE OF LITTLE DETAILS IN, UH, EXHIBIT D IT SAYS WHEREAS, AND THEN STRUCK OUT IN RED IS BE LAMB TRUSTEE.

THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT IN THERE.

UH, MY ASSUMPTION IS, UH, THAT THERE'S A REPLACEMENT IN THERE AND I WOULD,

[01:30:01]

SO, UH, I WOULD THINK THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GONNA BE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.

AND SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

UH, SECOND THING IS DOWN THERE, AND THIS MAY BE A DETAIL THAT I'M KIND OF LIKE NOT CORRECT ON, BUT IT SAYS, UH, CITY CODE 25 DASH EIGHT, ARTICLE 13.

SHOULD THAT NOT READ CITY CODE 25 DASH EIGHT, UH, SUB WHERE CHAPTER A, ARTICLE 13.

WHERE WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS? UH, THIS IS, UH, EXHIBIT D, PARAGRAPH FOUR.

WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY PARAGRAPH THREE.

THERE'S A, THEY, THEY EXIT OUT AND BELOW THERE THERE'S A BOX THAT OVERRIDES PARAGRAPH FOUR AND IT SAYS CITY CODE 25 25 DASH EIGHT, ARTICLE 13 SAVE OUR SPRINGS INITIATIVE.

BUT I THINK WHEN I LOOKED IT UP, IT SAID CITY CODE 25 DASH EIGHT SUBCHAPTER A ARTICLE 13.

SO THAT MAY JUST BE A, UH, TYPOGRAPHIC CLA BUT THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE CORRECTED.

NOW MY QUESTION IS, ARE THERE, UH, SO I MEAN, AM I CORRECT IN THAT THERE IS NO OTHER ARTICLE 13 IN SUB CHAPTER IN 25 8? SO, UM, MAYBE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE PRECISE, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S ONLY ONE ARTICLE 13 IN OH, OKAY.

25 8.

WELL, WHATEVER.

UH, ARE THERE ANY HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PROPERTY? UM, THERE ARE NO KNOWN HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

SO THEY CAN BUILD AS HIGH AS THEY WANT TO, UM, BASED ON THEIR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS.

SO WE CAN LOOK AT 25 STORIES.

UM, MAYBE THE APPLICANT CAN CONFIRM THAT WE DON'T HAVE A, THE ZONING CASE MANAGER HERE TONIGHT.

BUT CAN ANDREW, COULD YOU, UH, NO SIR.

AND I'M LARSON ER REPRESENTING THE PROJECTS, SO WE'RE COMMITTING TO STAY AT TWO 40.

SORRY.

YEAH, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AT THE MIC AND, AND RESPOND SO THE REMOTE COMMISSIONER CAN HEAR AS WELL.

UH, MY NAME IS LARSON MITCHNER.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE PROJECT AND HAVE OUR ENGINEERS AND SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF MY TEAM PRINT ANY PROJECTS.

BUT, UM, SO ON THE 8.62 ACRES WHERE THE RESTRICTED COVENANT IS IN PLACE, WE ARE PROPOSING TO BUILD A THREE AND FOUR STORY MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TWO STORY TOWN HOMES AND SINGLE FAMILY AS WELL.

SO WE'RE COMMITTING TO STAY AT A MAXIMUM OF FOUR FOUR STORIES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT, UH, IN EXHIBIT D, WHICH IS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, AND YOU'VE CROSSED OUT THE PARTS THAT YOU'RE INTEND CHANGING, YOU DON'T INSERT A PART THAT REQUIRES A LIMIT ON THE HEIGHT.

SO TECHNICALLY IF THIS IS THE LEGAL DOCUMENT, YOU'RE NOT SETTING A, UH, YOU KNOW, A HEIGHT ON IT.

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU'RE GIVING ME A VERBAL ASSURANCE, NOT A LEGAL ASSURANCE.

AND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS A LEGAL ASSURANCE, WHICH YOU CAN'T GIVE ME BASED UPON THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED HERE.

SO I MEAN, IT'S JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SURE YOU MEAN WELL, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GONNA STAND UP REALLY.

UM, JOHN HAVE THE EFFECTIVE R NUMBER THAT YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THAT YOU'RE USING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT? OKAY.

UH, NOW STAFF MENTIONED A SIMILAR CASE AT 77 15, UH, HALF, UH, STATE HIGHWAY 71 RCA C 14 DASH 85 DASH 2 88 0.23.

AND THAT WAS APPROVED ON APRIL 6TH, 2022, UH, THE IMPERVIOUS.

AND SO THAT WAS A SLIMMER THING.

UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, IMPERVIOUS COVER WAS REDUCED FROM 65% TO 50% AND IT ALSO, UH, SPECIFICALLY ADDS COMPLIANCE TO 1.6 0.9 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA.

AND THEY SET AN F A R OF, UH, WELL THERE'S PROBABLY A TYPO IN THERE.

IT SAYS ONE COLON, ONE SYMMETRICAL, AND ONE SEMICOLON.

THREE.

I'M SURE THEY MEANT ONE COLON, 1.3.

NOW YOU'RE DOING AWAY WITH, UH, THE APPLICANT IS DOING AWAY WITH THE F A R COMPLETELY, UH, IN THIS DOCUMENT.

SO WHAT IS THE EFFECTIVE F A R OF THAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO DEVELOP IN HERE? AND AS MUCH AS THEY'RE REMOVING IT COMPLETELY, THEY'RE ASKING FOR NONE.

SO, UM, LESLIE LILLY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, FOR THE, UH, EFFECTIVE FAR FAR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS ONE TO ONE.

[01:35:01]

LARSON ER BACK REPRESENTING THE PROJECT.

UM, SO IT DOES NOT HAVE AN F A R RESTRICTION, BUT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT'S RESTRICTED OR ADDRESSED BY ZONING WHEN THAT GOES THROUGH THE ZONING COMMISSION.

BUT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE ANY FAR IN THE, THE ALTERED DOCUMENT.

YES, SIR.

SO WITH THE RESTRICTED COVENANT, WE'LL BE INCREASING THE F A R TWO TWO, WE'RE GONNA TO CALCULATE THAT TWO A, A NUMBER THAT IS NOT PUT IN THE LEGAL DOCUMENT.

NO, SIR.

BUT THAT WILL BE RESTRICTED WITH THE ZONING ZONING CASE.

I KNOW, BUT WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THE ZONING CASE.

WE'RE VOTING ON THIS DOCUMENT HERE.

WE'RE NOT THE ZONING BOARD, SO WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T ADDRESS ZONING.

WE CAN ADDRESS THE DOCUMENT YOU'RE ASKING US TO CHANGE NOW.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU IS WHAT NUMBER ARE WE GONNA PUT IN HERE? AND CUZ YOU'RE GONNA TAKE OUT THE FAR OF 0.25, THE DOCUMENT THAT, OR THE, THE CASE THAT WE VOTED ON IN APRIL LAST YEAR, WHICH STAFF REFERENCE AS BEING SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, UH, WENT TO AFAR OF ONE TO 1.3 WAS THEIR REQUEST.

AND SO IF THIS IS A SIMILAR REQUEST AS REQUEST AS REFERENCED BY STAFF, THEN ONE WOULD SAY THAT IF IT'S SIMILAR, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR FAR IN THERE OF ONE TO 1.3.

COMMISSIONER BRIER, CAN YOU, UM, ARTICULATE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN F A R AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DRAW? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON BECAUSE SPECIFICALLY THEY'RE REMOVING THIS AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A PART OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

CAUSE THAT WILL BE A, WELL ACTUALLY THEY'RE TAKING OUT A SECTION OF THE, OF THIS CONTRACT.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO DEF UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON BECAUSE WE ARE VOTING ON TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.

AND SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON IT, AND I PERCEIVE THAT THERE IS CUZ IT'S GONNA ALLOW GREATER DENSITY, WHICH CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON IT.

I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT I'M VOTING ON.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE THING IF YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT AMOUNTS TO, WHAT AM I VOTING ON HERE? AM I VOTING ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BLACKED OUT HERE OR, OR NOT OR WHAT'S IN RED OR NOT? AND SO I'M JUST TRYING, I'M BEING PICKY ON IT CUZ I CAN BE RIGHT.

THE, UM, LIZ JOHNSON WATERSHED, THE, UH, THE ASK IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THIS ZONING, UM, REQUEST TO AMEND THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT THAT WILL GO TO, IT WILL GO TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER OR PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICHEVER IS APPROPRIATE, AND CITY COUNCIL.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS SPECIFICALLY.

SO IMPERVIOUS COVER AND WATER QUALITY TREATMENT ARE THE, THE BIG ONES.

UM, BUT OF COURSE OTHER ELEMENTS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENT, UM, HEIGHT, FAR, THOSE ARE NOT ELEMENTS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TYPICALLY HAS PURVIEW OVER TYPICALLY OR ALWAYS.

I'M NOT AWARE OF OTHER CASES, UM, WHERE THAT HAS BEEN, UM, DISCUSSED, BUT I CAN'T SAY NEVER CUZ IT'S BEEN, THERE'S A LONG HISTORY HERE.

SO HOW MANY UNITS ARE WE LOOKING FOR ON THE, UH, PARCEL IN QUESTION? AGAIN, I I I THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO ASK THE CHAIR TO HELP, HELP US STAY IN THE LANE HERE.

I OKAY.

THE UNIT COUNT, THE F A R, THE HEIGHT, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I, I DON'T HAVE ANY SCIENTIFIC BACKING TO SAY THAT THOSE HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

AND SO IT'S NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL IS IN OUR LEGAL PURVIEW TO CONSIDER, UH, AS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONERS.

YEAH, I MEAN, I I WOULD SAY WE DON'T HAVE A SITE PLAN YET, UM, UH, THAT WE HAVE A, A DRAFT OR KIND OF A CONCEPT AND THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN COURTEOUS ENOUGH

[01:40:01]

TO PROVIDE THAT TO US.

DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON? BUT, BUT REALLY, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER BRIMER FROM A, UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE RELEASING? UM, BUT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT TYING IT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS OF WHAT THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT PROVIDED, UM, AND OR ALLOWANCES, I GUESS, UM, IS, IS WHERE WE, LET'S TRY TO KIND OF KEEP IT, KEEP IT IN THAT OR, OR TIE IT TO THAT AS YOU'RE GOING FORWARD.

UM, YEAH, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I, I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THIS ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I THINK GROWING UP IN THIS AREA, UM, I FEEL LIKE A BROKEN RECORD SAYING THAT A LOT, BUT, UH, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF, UH, TREES CHOPPED DOWN AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES BUILT, AND I THINK, UH, INCREASING HOUSING IS GOOD, RIGHT? BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR IS THIS LIKE LUXURY HOUSING? RIGHT? SO IF WE'RE CHOPPING DOWN TREES, RIGHT, BUILDING, UH, TALLER DEVELOPMENTS IN, UH, AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA, UM, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT IT.

UM, AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND IF THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR PURVIEW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S MORE OF A ZONING PURVIEW, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THE APPLICANT COULD STATE LIKE, HEY, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THIS AREA, BUT WE'LL BE PROVIDING SUCH AND SUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WHATEVER.

AND AGAIN, IF IT'S NOT IN THE PURVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT IT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION.

UM, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE MARKET RATE HOUSING, UM, BUT WE THINK WE REALLY ARE PROVIDING A COMMUNITY WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, BUT THE SINGLE FAMILY AND TOWN HOMES, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A, YOU KNOW, FOR SALE HOME, THIS APPROXIMATES AUSTIN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE APARTMENT ALSO MARKET RATE UNITS THERE FOR ANOTHER OPTION.

UM, AND SO KIND OF GOING BACK TO YOUR TREE COMMENT AS WELL, WE THINK, OR WE ARE GOING TO BE MITIGATING MUCH MORE THAN WHAT SOMETHING IN CURRENT ZONE WOULD DO.

UM, SO IF SAY A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CA IN WAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE CURRENT RESTRICTED COVENANT, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE LIKE SHE MENTIONED EARLIER, AND THEY WOULD NOT BE MITIGATING THE TENANT ADDITIONAL PERCENT.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEP.

APPRECIATE IT.

GO AGAINST OUR OWN, SAVE OUR SPRINGS STANDARDS OF 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER AND SAY, OH YEAH, GO AHEAD WITH A 65%, CUZ YOU'RE GONNA PUT IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF ONE, UH, OF, UH, FOUR INCH TREES TO REPLACE A BUNCH OF, UH, UH, EIGHT IN 10 INCH TREES THAT YOU'RE TAKING DOWN.

LET'S GO AROUND THE HORN.

EVERYBODY'S GOT YEAH, SCOTT, YOU'RE UP.

UH, FIR FIRST OF ALL, I, I, UM, I'M, I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CONCEPT OF, OF, UH, WHAT IT MEANS TO PROVIDE 110% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION.

UM, THERE'S, THIS WHOLE AREA IS JUST COVERED WITH TREES AND THE CONCEPT THAT, THAT I SEE HERE SHOWS SUDDENLY, UM, A BLOCK THAT'S REQUESTED TO BE 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER LEAVING THIS, I DON'T KNOW, A HUNDRED MINUS 65 LEGACY, I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT 35% FOR 110% OF TREE MITIGATION.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S CON I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WORKS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE MY MATH IS DIFFERENT OR MAYBE I DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS.

I MEAN, DOES IT MEAN THAT YOU CAN HAVE A HUNDRED, UH, ONE INCH TREES, UM, THAT ARE GONNA DIE, UH, IN A COUPLE WEEKS? OR, UM, HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THAT? I, I, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A ACHIEVABLE GOAL.

AND SECONDLY, I'M WONDERING WHY, IF, I GUESS IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE, THIS, THIS, THIS COUNTRY IS EXPANDING THE WHOLE WORLD.

THE POPULATION IS EXPANDING.

AUSTIN HAS EXPANDED AT A REALLY ACCELERATED PACE.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LOSING, UH, HALF OF THE, OF THE, UM, SPECIES ON EARTH ARE, ARE, UM, AT RISK OF, OF DISAPPEARING.

UH, AND PART OF THE REASON THEY'RE DISAPPEARING IS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOSING HABITAT.

SO WHY SHOULD WE

[01:45:01]

CUZ FRANKLY, YOU JUST CAN'T, FROM WHAT PAST DEVELOPERS WHO'VE COME UP HERE AND SPOKEN TO US HAVE SAID, IT'S HARD TO EVEN SOURCE THESE TREES, THESE LITTLE TREES, AND THEN YOU DO HAVE TO KEEP 'EM ALIVE.

AND, AND, UH, I'M, I'M, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING ASKED TO, UM, EXCEPT SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT STRIKES ME AS, UM, IMPROBABLE AND IMPRACTICAL AND, AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THE, OF THE GECKO THAT'S GONNA DIE .

I DON'T KNOW WHAT BIRDS ARE GONNA BE ENDANGERED BY THIS.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THIS IS ALL GONNA COME DOWN, BUT I JUST, I DON'T LIKE BEING PART OF A, UM, OF A PROCESS IN WHICH WE CONTINUALLY COMPROMISE OUR OWN STANDARDS THAT WE'VE APPROVED IN THE PAST FOR GOOD REASON WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, UM, HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT WOULD WORK.

RIGHT NOW, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT WOULD WORK.

LESLIE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZING HOW THE MITIGATION, YOU KNOW, WITH AN EXAMPLE OR SOMETHING, AND THEN SPEAK TO THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ELEMENTS IN THE WATER QUALITY ATTENUATION YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

UM, SURE.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SITE PLAN THAT WE SHOWED, UH, IS JUST FOR REFERENCE THAT ONE SHEET, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IS, THAT IS NOT APPROVED.

AND IF YOU, CAN WE BRING THE, UM, PRESENTATION BACK UP JUST TO, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION AGAIN? I, I HAVE IT HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

I SEE THE, OKAY.

UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROPOSED IMPERVIOUS COVER IS 65% PROPOSED IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS FOR THAT ABOUT 25% OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY.

AND THE SITE PLAN THAT'S APPROVED SHOWED, UH, KIND OF A REFERENCE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF THE BUILDINGS THAT'S NOT APPROVED BY A CITY ARBORIST OR BY ANY STAFF AT THIS POINT.

IT'S JUST FOR REFERENCE.

UM, IN TERMS OF MITIGATION, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN MITIGATE.

AND THOSE MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TREE REMOVAL ARE OUTLINED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL.

AND THEY DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF SPECIES, THE, UM, THE SIZE OF THE TREE AND THE REQUIRED MITIGATION, UH, WHAT KIND OF TREES YOU CAN PLANT TO REPLACE THEM.

UM, AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT METRICS THAT HAVE TO BE ACHIEVED TO SATISFY MINIMUM MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS.

AND THEN IN MITIGATION IS EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF INCHES.

SO LIKE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, LIKE ONE INCHES, ONE INCH TREES.

UM, BUT IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, A, A LARGE TREE THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO REMOVE AND ARE MEETING MINIMUM MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS, THE MITIGATION PLAN HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY ARBORIST.

AND DOING, YOU KNOW, 601 INCH TREES IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY ARBORIST AND THE REVIEWERS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR VIABILITY OF ACTUAL, UH, SUCCESS OF THE, THE PLAN FOR MITIGATION.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 110% MITIGATION, THAT IS, IF YOU'RE REQUIRED TO PLANT A HUNDRED INCHES AS A MINIMUM TO MEET THE MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS, THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WOULD THEN REQUIRE YOU TO PLANT 110 INCHES.

SO THAT WOULD BE BIGGER TREES OR MORE TREES.

UM, SO THAT IS HOW THE MITIGATION WORKS.

AND SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGER SITE AVAILABLE, THE MITIGATION CAN HAPPEN NOT ONLY ON SITE, UM, ON THE PROPERTY, BUT ALSO ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY, UH, IS SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

SO THERE'S A LARGER AREA TO ACHIEVE THE, UH, HIGHER RATE OF MITIGATION REQUIRED IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

AND THAT, AND THAT ANY OF THAT MITIGATION WOULD WALK THROUGH, THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO SURVIVAL OF THOSE TREES IN THE SITE PLANS OR, I, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT QUESTION THERE, BUT EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT.

UH, NOT ONLY IS THE PLAN REVIEWED, BUT THEN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROPOSED PLAN IS, UH, ASSESSED AND THEN ONGOING SUCCESS AND SURVIVAL OF THE TREES IS ALSO, UM, REVIEWED BY, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF THAT GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S IN THE PLAN IS CORRECT AND WHAT HAS BEEN PLANTED HAS SURVIVED.

SO THERE IS, UM,

[01:50:02]

SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE 8.62 ACRES AND THERE IS THAT ADJACENT 26.96 ACRES, BUT THAT'S ALSO VERY HEAVILY WOODED CURRENTLY.

THAT'S TRUE.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I WAS AT A SCHOOL BE BEFORE THEY STARTED DOING THOSE, UM, THAT MATHEMATICS, UM, IN, IN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, IN, IN THE DIFFERENT, UM, KIND OF NON, MORE IN THE HYPOTHETICAL REGION OF MATHEMATICS.

AND TO ME, THIS LOOKS, LOOK, THIS JUST DOESN'T LOOK DOABLE.

I DON'T, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN PUT 110% TREES WHEN THIS IS ALREADY JUST A HUNDRED PERCENT TREES.

I MEAN, THEY'RE SHADE JUST EVERYWHERE AS YOU LOOK AT IT.

OF COURSE, IT'S A SMALL PICTURE, BUT EVEN WHEN I, EVEN WHEN I ENLARGE IT, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST COMPLETELY SHADED.

I MEAN, ARE YOU GONNA PUT TREES ON TOP OF THE, OF THE BUILDING? I MEAN, UM, IT'S A SERIOUS QUESTION.

UM, ONE OTHER, UM, ELEMENT THAT MAY BE APPROVED BY THE CITY ARBORIST STAFF, UM, WOULD BE TO, UM, IF THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT ROOM ON SITE IS TO PAY INTO, UM, A MITIGATION FUND.

SO THAT IS, THAT IS ANOTHER OPTION IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON SITE, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WORKS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE WILDLIFE.

THAT'S MY PROBLEM.

I MEAN, YOU CAN PAY INTO ANY FUND YOU WANT TO, BUT I, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS HAS REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES AND, UM, I'M NOT GETTING ANSWERS THAT MAKE ME FEEL ANY BETTER.

UM, BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR ANSWERS.

I MEAN, I, I GET IT.

DO YOU MIND IF I YEAH, GO FOR IT.

JUST IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

HI, UH, CHRIS RAWS, BGE WE'RE THE, UH, ENGINEERS FOR THE PROJECT.

UH, JUST WANNA CLARIFY, DID THE MITIGATION, OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THE CONCERN THERE.

EXCUSE ME.

SO THERE'S THE TWO OPTIONS FROM, THERE'S THE PAYMENT, THERE'S THE PLANTINGS, UM, AND OBVIOUSLY ON THE PLANTING SIDE, AS THEY SAID, PROFESSIONAL CITY ARBORISTS BOTH HAS TO APPROVE THOSE AND HAS TO SEE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THEM AFTERWARD.

UM, THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS NOT, EXCUSE ME, NOT REQUESTING AN INCREASE TO 65% IN PREVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE THAT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY IN THE COVENANT.

SO THE SITE AT PRESENT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE BARTON SPRINGS ORDINANCE.

SO IN THEORY, YOU COULD BUILD A WAREHOUSE ON THAT SITE RIGHT NOW, I THINK, OR SOMETHING COVERING 65% AND HAVE NO MITIGATION REQUIREMENT OR THE, THE MINIMUM MITIGATION REQUIREMENT.

SO I, I THINK THAT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT POINT OF CLARITY HERE IS I, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT THE PHYSICAL LIMITATION, BUT WE'RE NOT COMPARING IT TO A 0% DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE COMPARING IT TO A 65% DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO IF WE DON'T, IF WE, IF WE VOTED THIS DOWN, THEN YOU WOULD JUST DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO.

UM, I, I UHHUH I DON'T CARE.

I IPG I'M MISSING SOMETHING HERE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.

NO, SOMEBODY WOULD DO SOMETHING THERE.

I, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS, RIGHT, IF DEVELOPMENT TAKES A LOT OF TURNS, BUT THE SITE IS ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER, SOMEBODY WOULD PROBABLY COME ALONG AND DO IT.

THE THE POINT HERE IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOMETHING ENHANCED TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED, RIGHT.

THE 65% COMPONENT.

I'M UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THIS PLAN BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR, FOR BEING HERE AND THEIR PATIENCE.

AND AGAIN, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE TENSION THAT, AND I'M NEW HERE, BUT I'M STARTING TO FEEL EVERY MEETING OF, OKAY, WHAT IS WITHIN OUR PURVIEW, WHAT IS ZONING'S PURVIEW? AND, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR OURSELVES, FOR SOCIETY.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS I JUST FEEL A NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

UM, AND, AND I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT

[01:55:01]

AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM KATIE OR LIZ ABOUT LIKE, WHY THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING THIS AND WHAT CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND.

UM, YEAH, THANK YOU.

UM, SO RIGHT, THE BASELINE THAT THIS PROJECT IS ALLOWED IS ESTABLISHED FROM THE, UH, RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IN THE EIGHTIES.

UM, THE REALLY BIG WIN FOR OUR PERSPECTIVE IS THE NON DEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT WAS NOT REQUIRED, UM, IN THE PREVIOUS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT IS THE STANDARD SET BY THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS INITIATIVE.

AND SO WHILE OF COURSE WE WOULD PREFER REDUCED IMPERVIOUS COVER, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IS THE, THE MAJOR, UM, UM, WIN FOR THE, FOR WATER QUALITY, UM, FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRACT.

THE TREES, THE DARK SKIES ARE ALSO GREAT.

UM, UM, THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MINOR, SO WATER QUALITY IS REALLY THE, THE MAIN THING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING FOR.

SO GO, GO FOR IT.

IT'S, IT'S NONDEGRADATION.

ONE, ONE, UH, QUESTION IS ABOUT THE, UM, NONDEGRADATION AND, AND THAT ONLY TREATS THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, UM, FOR, WELL, ALL DEVELOPMENT IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE WATER QUALITY.

SO IT'S IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE.

SO ANY DEVELOPMENT, SO IT INCLUDES IMPERVIOUS COVER, BUT WOULD IT ALSO, IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE LANDSCAPING? CORRECT.

ANY, ANY AREA WITH, UM, FERTILIZERS, ANY, UM, DOG PARKS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, SO ANYTHING THAT'S NOT NATURAL AREA.

AND ARE WE GONNA HEAR MORE ABOUT THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST? WE ARE.

IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.

UM, UM, ALRIGHT.

ANY OTHER, THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, SPECIFIC TO THE, TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT OR WE CAN KAYLA'S WITH BATED BREATH READY TO PRESENT.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO KAYLA.

OH, SORRY.

NICHOLS.

HEY, ACTUALLY, I, UH, CHAIRMAN, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS FROM THE REMOTE DESK, BUT I ACTUALLY NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF BOTH FOR THIS ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM.

SO I WON'T BE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS OR PARTICIPATING.

AND TALK ABOUT THE FIRST ONE, UM, AND SEE IF THERE'S, UM, A MOTION WE WANT TO REVIEW.

UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, NICHOLS, I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU'RE ACCUSING TO TURN YOUR OFF YOUR CAMERA, UM, FOR THESE TWO DISCUSSIONS.

PRIMARY, SHOULD WE NOT GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THIS BEFORE WE GET INTO THE OTHER ONE? I MEAN, I, I DON'T CARE.

I'M JUST KIND OF, I THINK IT WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDING LIKE KIND OF THE WHAT, WHAT THE, THE, THE CONTEXT OF THE WHAT, WHAT THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS A, A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND WE DO NEED TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE VOTES.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

I KNEW THAT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON WHAT WAS ALREADY PRESENTED AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

OR, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE TO KIND OF HEAR THIS, TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT, CUZ THEY'RE INTERRELATED SLIGHTLY, RIGHT.

SO, UM, I'D SAY LET'S HEAR IT AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND,

[5. Name: Scenic Brook Multifamily Wastewater Service Extension Request #5172 ( Part 1 of 2 )]

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? OKAY.

NO, I, I JUST WANTED TO YEAH, CLARIFY.

HI, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS KAYLA CHAPLIN.

I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF INTRODUCTORY SLIDES ON THE S SCR PROCESS.

JUST OVERALL THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO GO OVER IT.

I KNOW IT'S KIND OF NEW FOR SOME PEOPLE.

OKAY, THANKS.

SO, UM, AN S E R OR A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS AN APPLICATION FOR CITY WATER OR WASTEWATER SERVICE FROM A PROPERTY OWNER OR DEVELOPER.

SORRY, THIS FEELS VERY TALL.

I'M JUST GONNA SCOOCH THIS DOWN.

UM, A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS REQUIRED WHEN THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED MORE THAN A HUNDRED FEET FROM, UH, AN ACCESSIBLE WATER OR WASTEWATER SYSTEM OR ONE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE IS INADEQUATE FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT DEMANDS SERVICE MAY INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LINE OR AN ASSOCIATED FACILITY OR UPGRADES TO EXISTING LINES OR FACILITIES.

AND THE APPLICANT PAYS FOR THE ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE AS OUTLINED IN THE S E R.

THAT NO CONDITIONS CAN BE PLACED ON YOUR RECOMMENDATION.

SO PER THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, S SCRS ARE REQUIRED ONE COUNCIL, I MEAN, IF THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE WATER AND A WASTEWATER COMMISSION REVIEW AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE S SCR, UH, THAT REQUIRES COUNSEL APPROVAL.

UM, AND ONE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS

[02:00:01]

SO YOU EITHER HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT OR AGAINST APPROVAL.

AND, UM, SOME OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS, UM, PARTICULAR S E R STAFF ARE TARGETING THE JULY 19TH WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION, AND THEN IT WILL SUBSEQUENTLY GO TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL ON JULY 20TH.

AND, UM, JUST A REFRESHER AGAIN, JUST TO SEND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

SO THIS APPLICATION IS FOR 235 LIVING UNIT EQUIVALENTS OR UES.

AND UH, THIS MAP IS JUST SHOWING AN OVERVIEW OF THE LOCATION OF THE SITE IN RELATION TO THE CITY'S FULL JURISDICTION AND THE GREEN AREA.

AND THE, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE SITE IS OUTLINED, IT'S LOCATED IN THE LIMITED PURPOSE JURISDICTION.

AND, UH, JUST SO IT'S IN THE RECORD, THE ADDRESS FOR THIS PROPERTY IS 83 52 WEST US TWO 90 HIGHWAY.

SO THIS IS THE SAME MAP THAT LESLIE SHOWED BEFORE SHOWING, UH, IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES ON THE SITE.

SO THE APPLICANT COMPLETED AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY AND NO CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WERE IDENTIFIED.

UM, THERE IS NO CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE OR WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE ONSITE, AND IT DOES NOT DRAIN TO OCCUPIED ACCELERATOR HABITAT.

THERE ARE NO CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OR RECHARGE FEATURES ON SITE.

UH, THIS IS JUST A WRITTEN SUMMARY.

OKAY, SO THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE PROPOSED WASTEWATER EXTENSION.

I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE, UM, WITH THE CALL OUTS, BUT I WILL SHOW ANOTHER SLIDE THAT GOES CLOSER, ZOOMS CLOSER INTO THE PROPOSED EXTENSION IN A MOMENT.

UM, SO, AND A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN A STAFF MEMO THAT'S IN YOUR BACKUP.

UM, SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT WATERSHED WORKED WITH AUSTIN WATER IN THE APPLICANT TO DETERMINE THE LEAST ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPACT, UM, IMPACTFUL ALIGNMENT THAT WOULD NOT PUT THE WASTEWATER LINE IN THE CREEK OR REQUIRE A SOS AMENDMENT.

THIS IS JUST A GENERAL MAP KIND OF SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE ARE ALONG SCENIC BRICK DRIVE.

THE LIGHT BLUE IS THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE AND THE DARKER BLUE IS THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

AND THEN THIS IS A, A CLOSEUP OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SAN BROOK DRIVE SHOWING THE EXTENT OF THE ALIGNMENT IN THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE.

AND THE PROPOSED WASTEWATER LINE WILL REQUIRE A LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE BECAUSE A PORTION OF THE LINE IS WITHIN AND PARALLEL TO THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE FOR WILLIAMSON CREEK.

AND THE WASTEWATER LINE WOULD ALIGN WITH SCENIC BRICK DRIVE AND BE BUILT UNDERNEATH THE FOOTPRINT OF THE EXISTING ROAD.

AND, UM, JUST A REMINDER, JUST PROCESS-WISE, SO YOU'RE AWARE THE LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE WOULD BE PROCESSED WITH THE SITE PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER WASTEWATER LINE.

AND THEN ONCE IT'S, UM, COMES IN AND IS REVIEWED BY STAFF, THEN IT WILL COME TO YOU FOR REVIEW BEFORE IT GOES TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

OKAY, SO FOR THE WATER SERVICE, THE APPLICANT WILL BE UTILIZING THE EXISTING 16 INCH WATER MAIN NC NETWORK DRIVE.

AND AN S C R IS NOT REQUIRED BECAUSE THE WATER MAIN IS LOCATED AT THEIR SITE ALREADY AND IT IS SUITABLE SIZE TO SERVE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

LOOKED AT THIS SAID THAT SOIL COULD BE IMPORTED AT A CONSIDERABLE COST, BUT THE LAND APPLICATION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS WOULD INCREASE DUE TO THOSE SOILS.

OKAY, SO FOR ALTERNATIVE WASTE WATER SERVICE, UM, WE DETERMINED WE PER, WE PERFORM AN ANALYSIS IN WATERSHED FOR ALTERNATIVES AND WE DETERMINE THAT IF THE ESTIMATED 235 LIVING UNIT EQUIVALENT ARE PERMITTED.

APPROXIMATELY 56,600 GALLONS OF WASTEWATER PER DAY WOULD BE PRODUCED.

SO IF SERVICE, IF CENTRALIZED SERVICE IS NOT EXTENDED TO THE SITE AND WASTEWATER DISPOSAL IS REQUIRED, THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR THIS AMOUNT OF EFFLUENT TREATMENT.

UM, AN ONSITE SEPTIC FACILITY, OR IT'S ALSO COMMONLY CALLED AN OS S F OR LAND APPLICATION, EITHER SURFACE IRRIGATION OR SUBSURFACE LAND APPLICATION.

AND THOSE, UM, PERMITS ARE ISSUED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, WHICH IS A STATE AGENCY.

UM, THE SOIL DESCRIBES IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY FOR THIS SITE HAS SEVERAL POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS FOR THESE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. THE, UH, THEY'RE CALLED BRACKET SOILS, WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED AS BEING THIN AND ROCKY.

AND THIS TYPE OF SOIL IS NOT IDEAL FOR OSS F'S OR LAND APPLICATION.

UM, OUR ANALYST WHO

[02:05:01]

AND, UH, THE OTHER FACTOR IS THAT SOIL PIPING AND PREFERENTIAL FLOW PATHS WOULD LIKELY FORM, WHICH WOULD, BASICALLY WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT IT WOULD ALLOW WASTEWATER MIGRATION BELOW THE ROOT ZONE, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT.

SO, UM, THE OTHER FACTOR TO CONSIDER IS THAT WITH LAND APPLICATION, IT REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LAND FOR AN IRRIGATION FIELD, A STORAGE TANK, WHICH IS ABOUT 13 ACRES, UM, AND A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOOTPRINT OF ROUGHLY 2.8 ACRES.

UM, IN ORDER TO REACH THE SECONDARY TREATMENT LEVELS, AND THIS WOULD CONSIST OF ROUGHLY 39% OF THE TRACT COVERAGE, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO ALSO BE DEDUCTED FROM THE NET SITE AREA CALCULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS.

SO BASED ON THE ALLOWABLE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE IRRIGATION LAND THAT IS REQUIRED, THE APPLICANT WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO DEVELOP WITH A SIMILAR DENSITY, UH, WITH A LAND APPLICATION PERMIT.

UM, AND SO DUE TO THE UNSUITABILITY OF THE SOILS ONSITE.

AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, UM, AS MENTIONED, SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST, UM, BECAUSE WE'VE FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, UM, TO EXTEND SERVICE TO THE SITE.

AND THEN, AS I'VE JUST MENTIONED, UM, DUE TO THE PROPOSED DENSITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE UNSUITABILITY OF THE SOILS ON SITE, CENTRALIZED WASTEWATER SERVICE IS ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE TO DECENTRALIZED SERVICE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS, IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK AGAIN.

AND I HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, THANK YOU, KELLY.

UM, ALL RIGHT, SO THAT KIND OF FRAMES UP.

YOU WERE GONNA TALK KATIE, OR NO, UP TO YOU CHAIR, UH, KATIE CONEY, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

HAPPY TO ANSWER COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

UH, SCOTT'S PREVIOUS QUESTION, WHENEVER, WHENEVER THAT'S USEFUL.

YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT.

SURE, GO FOR IT.

LIZ, UH, CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE HISTORIC PRECEDENT ON THAT.

I CAN WEIGH IN IF THIS.

SPEAK TO PRECEDENT BECAUSE SHE WAS AROUND BEFORE I WAS, UH, BUT THIS BEGAN TO SHIFT OR REALLY SHIFTED WHILE I WAS IN YOUR SEAT AS A COMMISSIONER AND I THINK, UH, OH, IN HIS SEAT.

UM, YEAH.

SO, UH, THE, THE POLICY AS I UNDERSTAND, UM, RELATED TO SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS HAS SHIFTED THROUGHOUT, UM, TIME B BASED ON THE DISCRETION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

SO, UM, THE PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, CHRIS HARRINGTON, UM, DID INHERIT THE, WELL, IT IS THE DISCRETION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OFFICER TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.

THE PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENT OFFICER TO CHRIS WAS, UM, CHUCK LESNIAK.

HE HAD A DIFFERENT, UM, WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS.

WHEN CHRIS HARRINGTON CAME ALONG, HE, UM, WANTED TO PUT MORE OF A STRUCTURE TO THE WAY STAFF DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND MAKE IT BE KIND OF MORE OF A, A MATRIX SO THAT IT WOULD BE LESS KIND OF A, A GUT FEEL AND MORE OF A, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS.

SO, UM, PREVIOUS STAFF AND KAYLA HAVE PUT TOGETHER A, A MATRIX THAT WE USE TO KIND OF GUIDE WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS.

UM, I AM NOT AWARE OF A PAST POLICY THAT WOULD GUARANTEE STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IF THE PROJECT, UM, DID NOT COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE.

HOWEVER, THAT IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE MATRIX THAT WE ARE, UM, LOOKING AT NOW.

BUT IT IS ONE OF MANY THINGS, INCLUDING IMPACTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, UM, ET CETERA.

AND SO, UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE MATRIX WE PUT ALL THE INFORMATION IN, IT IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.

UM, THAT IS, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO THAT, UM, THAT, THAT SYSTEM.

AND OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT OTHER, OTHER THINGS.

UM, BUT, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BECAUSE THE SITE, UM, WAS PROVIDING ONSITE WATER QUALITY BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT BECAUSE THE, UM, PROPOSED ALIGNMENT IS FOLLOWING A ROADWAY.

UM, UH, AND, AND OTHER ELEMENTS, THE, THE, THE, THE IMPACTS IN OUR ESTIMATION WERE, UM, UH, WORTHY OF RECOMMENDATION.

SO, AND IF I COULD JUST EXPAND, UM, TH THIS ISSUE DATES BACK TO BEFORE I CAME TO THE CITY, OBVIOUSLY, WHICH IS WHY I WANTED LIZ TO

[02:10:01]

YEP, YEP.

UM, SO JUST WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT CONTEXT.

AND SO REALLY GOING BACK TO EVEN THE QUESTION EARLIER, IS REGULATING DENSITY REALLY AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE OR ARE WE REGULATING THE SIZE OF THE FOOTPRINT? SO IMPERVIOUS COVER VERSUS F A R, WE COULD HAVE, THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES THAT THERE ISN'T SCIENCE TO SUPPORT THAT F A R HAS A NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW INCREASING IMPERVIOUS COVER DOES.

THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS, BUT HISTORICALLY, WE USED SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS AS A COMMISSION TO DENY THEM TO BASICALLY SAY, WE DON'T WANT THAT MUCH DENSITY, SO LET'S USE THIS TOOL.

THAT, IN MY OPINION, WAS KIND OF USED AS A LOOPHOLE WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE OTHER REGULATORY MECHANISMS FOR RESTRICTING DENSITY.

UH, BUT DENYING AN EXTENSION OF SERVICE WHEN WE KNOW THAT THAT WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN A SYSTEM THAT POTENTIALLY HAS GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SEPTIC, UH, THAT WAS, THAT NEVER SAT RIGHT WITH ME.

IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT TOOL TO DENY DENSITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN DENSITY IS NECESSARY TO GET MORE UNITS ON THE GROUND IN THIS CITY.

SO, SO JUST WRONG, WRONG TOOL IN MY OPINION, FOR, FOR US TO BE PURSUING THAT OUTCOME.

AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT DENSITY, AGAIN, THAT'S AGNOSTIC OF ARE WE BUILDING OUT OR UP, WHICH IS WHY FLOOR AREA RATIO IS SOMETHING THAT I, I JUST, I, I CAN'T SEE THE NEXUS, WHICH IS WHY I'M TRYING TO REIN YOU IN ON THAT.

IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IMPERVIOUS COVER, IT'S A SEPARATE THING ALTOGETHER.

I WILL NEVER REIGN YOU IN ON THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENT.

WHAT'S UP? YEAH, CARRISA, WHAT DO YOU GOT? YEAH, UM, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I THINK F A R IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE THERE'S NO MASS TRANSIT NEARBY, ACTUALLY DOES MAKE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BECAUSE THAT MEANS MORE CARS ON THE ROAD, RIGHT? WE JUST HEARD ABOUT SHREDDED TIRES BEING ABOUT, UH, ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE WATER, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK ALONG WITH THE AFFORDABILITY ASPECT, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ABOUT THIS IS JUST LIKE, CAUSE AGAIN, I GREW UP HERE.

I KNOW NOBODY RIDES BIKES THERE, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT A BUS LINE THAT GOES THERE.

IT'S REALLY JUST GONNA BE PEOPLE DRIVING THEIR CARS AND IT'S JUST LIKE, ARE WE REALLY JUST GONNA BUILD A TOWER IN A TREE AREA SO THAT RICH OUT-OF-TOWNERS CAN PAY 2,500 FOR A ONE BEDROOM? YOU KNOW? I'M JUST GONNA ASK THAT QUESTION.

THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION THOUGH.

HEARD.

UM, ALRIGHT, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S PIVOT BACK TO THE RCA A LITTLE.

OH, YEAH.

LET, LET ME, LET ME JUST GET BACK.

I, IN CONCEPT, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF TALK MORE ABOUT THE RCA AND QUESTION.

THEN IF WE LET'S DO THAT.

THAT'S FINE.

NO, IF GO, GO FOR IT.

ARE NOT, WE AS A CITY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT EXCEPT FOR UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.

KATIE, WITH REGARD TO YOUR THING ABOUT THE S E R, UH, I UNDERSTAND YOUR, YOUR ISSUE ABOUT USING, UH, THE S E R TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT, UH, BUT ALSO GRANNY, S E R ARE, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT AN S E R, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO ALLOW CITY SERVICES TO BE EXTENDED PAST THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE CITY.

AND THAT'S A JUDGMENT THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NOW, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT HOW BIG A BUILDING THEY'RE GONNA MAKE OR HOW MANY UNITS THAT'S IL MAY BE IRRELEVANT, BUT WHAT IS RELEVANT HERE IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO EXTEND SERVICES PAST THE CITY LIMITS TO SERVICE SOMETHING.

MY PERSONAL OPINION IS, IN THE PAST, HISTORICALLY, IT MADE SENSE TO DO THAT BECAUSE, WELL, WE WERE GOING TO ANNEX THAT PROPERTY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, AND THERE WAS A LOGICAL REASON TO DO THAT, TO EXTEND SERVICES BECAUSE MAYBE FIVE OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WE WERE GONNA DO THAT.

AND IT MADE SENSE TO EXTEND INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

NOWADAYS THE RULES HAVE CHANGED, AND SO WE

[02:15:01]

SO, AS A COMMISSIONER, I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS UNDER THE CHANGED RULES AND THE CHANGED RULES I LOOK AT IS, DO WE WANT TO EXTEND CITY SERVICES TO A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT DOESN'T PAY CITY TAXES? WE'LL NEVER PAY CITY TAXES AND DO THAT SORT OF THING.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE I HAVE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY UNITS THEY BUILD, HOW TALL THEY ARE, HOW CHEAP THEY ARE, WHO THEY SERVICE, THAT SORT OF THING.

SO THE RULES HAVE CHANGED FOR THE CITY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE I BRING TO IT, IS WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE CITY TO DO THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEVELOPER IS GONNA PAY THE FREIGHT TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CONNECTION EVERYTHING, BUT NEVERTHELESS, IN THE END, THE, THE SEWAGE AND THE WATER AND ALL THAT STUFF IS GONNA BE HANDLED BY THE CITY AND THE CITY'S GONNA PICK UP THE COST OF PROCESSING THE SEWAGE AND ALL THAT.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE A, A CITY EXPENSE GOING FORWARD.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

I CERTAINLY HEAR YOU.

AND IF, IF I CAN RESPOND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I DEFINITELY HEAR YOU.

WE HAVE CHANGED IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE MAY ANNEX OR CAN ANNEX IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S NOT REALLY OUR MODE OF, OF OPERATION.

UM, AND THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE.

UM, ULTIMATELY THOUGH, THEY WILL STILL BE RATE PAYERS IF THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THAT SYSTEM.

AND SO CONTRIBUTING TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM, AND I THINK WE INCREASINGLY ARE SCALING BACK OUR ABILITY TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WAY DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS ON, ON OUR FRINGE.

UH, AND SO IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A SUPERIOR INFRASTRUCTURE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO SOMEONE ON OUR FRINGE, UM, THEN IN MY MIND, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THAT IS ACTUALLY THE REASON TO ALLOW FOR IT, EVEN IF IT'S NEVER GONNA BE IN THE CITY LIMITS, BECAUSE OUR WATERSHED BOUNDARIES ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE CITY BOUNDARY.

ONE OTHER, UM, ELEMENT THAT I DON'T THINK WE TALK ABOUT QUITE OFTEN ENOUGH, AND MAYBE OUR COLLEAGUES IN AUSTIN WATER CAN HELP IS, UM, OUR CCNS, UM, WE HAVE, AUSTIN WATER DOES HAVE SERVICE AGREEMENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT THEY CAN SOMETIMES BE LEGALLY DIFFICULT TO, UM, IF WE, WE MAY SOMETIMES BE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE, UM, SERVICE.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES, BUT THEY, SOMETIMES THAT DOES COME UP.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, WELL TELL US ALL WHAT CCN IS, JUST IN CASE SOME OF US DON'T.

I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY ASK, UM, ONE OF OUR AUSTIN WATER COLLEAGUES TO COME UP TO HELP EXPLAIN THAT.

THANKS.

COLLEEN KIRK WITH AUSTIN WATER, SORRY, COLLEEN KIRK WITH AUSTIN WATER.

SO AS C C N IS A CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY, IT GIVES, UM, THE ENTITY, THE LEGAL RIGHT TO BE THE SOLE PROVIDER OF THAT SERVICE FOR EITHER WATER OR WASTEWATER.

SO, SO LIZ, TO YOUR COMMENT, THERE MAY BE A, I DON'T WANNA GO INTO THIS RABBIT HOLE TOO FAR, BUT, UH, THERE MAY BE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR PROVIDING THAT SERVICE IF THERE IS, IF IT OCCURS WITHIN ASN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS SITE IS IN OUR WATER CCM.

WE DO NOT HAVE A WASTEWATER CC ON THIS SITE.

LET'S PIVOT BACK TO THE RCA, UH, UM, CHAIR.

JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION.

THERE IS A CAPITAL METRO BUS STOP FOR THE OAK HILL FLYER WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF, UM, THIS PROPERTY.

PERFECT.

GOT QUESTIONS FOR, FOR STAFF OR THE APPLICANT.

SO AS LESLIE, IT'S WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S NOT ON US TWO 90, SO IT'S WALKABLE AS, AS LESLIE HAD INTRODUCED.

UM, THESE ARE KIND OF INTERRELATED ITEMS. UM, IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE, UH, MAKE A MOTION AND, AND, AND VOTE ON THEM, WE HAVE TO DO THEM AS TWO SEPARATE ASPECTS.

UM, SO I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT ONE FIRST, BECAUSE THAT ONE HAS ELEMENTS WHERE WE CAN PUT CONDITIONS ON IT AS OPPOSED TO THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST, WHICH IS JUST SIMPLY AN UP DOWN VOTE.

UM, ARE WE GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC MEETING? NOT, NOT YET IN CASE WE'VE

[02:20:01]

UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.

I WAS BEEN BAD.

I'VE BEEN BAD.

I'VE BEEN BAD WITHOUT YOU.

UM, SO, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR THE APPLICANT RELATED REALLY ABOUT THE RCA? UM, AND THEN, AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS MAYBE A MOTION AFTER THAT.

I'M TRYING TO FIND ON MY COMPUTER WHERE, UM, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED.

I KNOW I, OR THE CONDITIONS, EXCUSE ME, I DON'T, I KNOW I DID SEE THEM.

UM, BUT I'M CURIOUS, AS I AM NEW, IF SOMEONE COULD PLEASE LIKE, DELINEATE WHAT IS WITHIN OUR PURVIEW TO ASSIGN AS CONDITIONS TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I THINK THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK AND ALL THAT STUFF SAY THIS BETTER THAN ME IS TO KIND OF STAY WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS OF, OF THE ASK.

UM, AND, UH, AND AS I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE, THE RCA AMENDMENT, IT'S, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT TO HAVE 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THAT AREA, BUT THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN THAT WATER TO SOS LEVELS, UM, TO MORE OR LESS NON, UH, DEGRADATION LEVELS.

UH, AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE 110% TREE MITIGATION, UH, AND COMPLY WITH DARK SKY.

IS THAT PRETTY ACCURATE? THOSE ARE THE SARY OF OUR, UM, PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE STAFF CONDITIONS, FOR STAFF CONDITIONS.

SO, O OTHER THAN THAT, WE CAN, WE CAN WANDER, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED, I MEAN, IN CONCEPT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TIED TO THE ELEMENTS OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THEY'RE GIVEN AND, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF, OF THAT.

AND I GUESS ANY OF THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE VER VERSUS IN, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MY OPINION VERSUS WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT.

UM, I GUESS IN PARTICULAR, I'M THINKING ABOUT CAN WE CREATE A CONDITION THAT SPECIFIES THAT IT NEEDS TO BE NATIVE PLANTS OR NATIVE TREES? YES.

I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE IN NEAR PURVIEW.

CHAIR.

UM, ONE POINT TOO IS THAT 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER IS THE STANDARD LIMIT FOR MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

SO THAT'S NOT LIKE AN, THERE'S NO IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT YOU WOULD USUALLY BE ALLOWED FOR MULTI-FAMILY, EVEN IN THE BARTON SPRING ZONE, NOT IN THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE.

YEAH, RIGHT.

FOR ZONING AND PERVIOUS COVER.

BUT THE NORMAL STANDARD FOR MF THREE ZONING IS 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER.

SO TO FOLLOW THAT LOGIC, IF THIS, UH, IF, IF THIS EIGHT, 8.6 ACRES OR SO WERE DEVELOPED, IT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE 65% IN PERVIOUS COVER AND NO WATER QUALITY ATTENUATION.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME STATE REQUIREMENTS, BUT YEAH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS WATER QUALITY TREATMENT STANDARDS AT THE TIME.

WE'D HAVE TO LOOK, BUT, UM, THERE DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE THE SOS UH, LEVEL WATER QUALITY.

THAT'S A VALID POINT.

I MEAN, NOTEWORTHY.

UM, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, UM, IN THE, UM, IS A HALF INCH CAPTURE VOLUME FOR THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, BUT NOT ALL OF THE DEVELOPED SITES.

SO SOS REQUIRES AS, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN, UH, BROUGHT UP THAT ALL DEVELOPMENT, UM, UM, LANDSCAPED AREAS, PLACES WITH FERTILIZER, IMPERVIOUS PATHS, THAT ALL HAS TO BE TREATED TO SOS STANDARDS.

AND WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED WITHOUT THE, UM, WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT IS, UH, HALF INCH CAPTURE OF RUNOFF OFF OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACES, BUT NO DESIGNATION OF WATER QUALITY, ATTEN PERCENT ATTENUATION, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THE SOUTHERN TRAIL AT THE ALONG TWO 90, THAT IS HIM BEING PART OF TEXT DODGE'S RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RCA? I WANT, I CAN PROMISE I'LL BE REALLY QUICK.

YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD.

SORRY.

UH, COFER, IT DID MENTION IN THE BACKUP A PROPOSED URBAN TRAIL ON THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY, I ASSUME ALONG TWO 90.

IS THE EASEMENT FOR THAT TRAIL WITHIN THIS PROPERTY, OR IS IT JUST ADJACENT? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? MAYBE THE APPLICANT KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT.

AND, AND MAYBE WHERE IN THE, THE BACKUP, UM, UH, PAGE FOUR OF 28 IN THE UPDATED BACKUP, OR SORRY, STAFF REPORT IN THE OH OH FOUR,

[02:25:05]

WAY OR IN MAY THAT, SORRY.

YOU'RE MY, YEAH.

BETTER.

UM, SO TEXT DOT, THE URBAN TRAIL WILL BE ALONG TWO 90 OR PARALLEL TO IT, AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT THEY'VE TAKEN AS IMMINENT DOMAIN OR WILL BE IN THERE RIGHT OF WAY.

UM, SO THOSE SHOULD BE IN THE TECHO PLANS FOR KIND OF WORK THAT'S ONGOING RIGHT NOW.

I UNDERSTAND UNDERSTANDING THAT.

GO FOR IT, SCOTT.

UM, REGARDING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, IS THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS OR, YEAH.

UM, THE, I GUESS I'D RATHER SEE, UM, MORE, UM, GREEN AND LESS, UM, RESTRICTION OF, UM, LESS, YOU KNOW, I'D, I'D RATHER SEE THEM GO UP ANOTHER STORY THAN, THAN GO OUT AND INC AND INCREASE THE PERVIOUS COVER TO 65%.

I MEAN, I'D RATHER SEE SOMETHING, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF 25% IS WHAT WE THINK IS GOOD, UM, WHY I DON'T UNDERST I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, UH, WE'RE STRAINED SO FAR A FIELD EXCEPT IT, I GUESS I NEED, I'M, I MAY NEED TO EXPLAIN TO ME A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

UM, IS, IS, UH, IF WE, IF WE WERE TO TURN THIS DOWN, COULD THEY JUST, UH, DEVELOP THIS ANYWAY WITHOUT, WITHOUT THE, UH, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT, YEAH, THIS IS WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION TO, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WOULD ALSO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.

SO ULTIMATELY CITY COUNCIL WILL DECIDE, UM, WHETHER THIS IS APPROVED OR NOT.

UM, I'M JUST LOOKING AT OUR RESPONSIBILITY, UM, WHY ARE WE, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE, UM, INCENTIVE FOR US TO GO AGAINST WHAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IS A, IS A BETTER, UH, POLICY FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER WHEN STAFF LOOKS AT THESE TYPES OF CASES.

WE LOOK AT BALANCING ALL THE GOALS AND TRY TO BE REASONABLE IN WORKING WITH BOTH THE APPLICANT AND WHAT THOSE GOALS ARE.

UH, AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING ENHANCED WATER QUALITY, ENHANCED TREE MITIGATION, UH, AND, AND OTHER BENEFITS FROM THIS, AS WE'VE OUTLINED IN AT LEAST THE STAFF CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

IT IS CERTAINLY WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO EXPLORE OR RECOMMEND EXPLORING, UM, REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVER.

I THINK GOING BACK TO THE F A R DISCUSSION, THAT IS NOT A PART OF YOUR PURVIEW, BUT INCREASING F A R AND REDUCING IMPERVIOUS COVERS A WAY YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS.

WELL, MY, MY CONCERN IS, I, I'M NOT ANTI-DEVELOPMENT, I'M JUST MM-HMM.

, I'M JUST, AND, AND I, I REALIZE THAT, UM, THE, UH, APPLICANTS HERE HAVE PUT IN, UH, A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND, AND, AND THEY'VE BOUGHT LAND WITH, WITH PLANS TO DEVELOP IT.

AND WE KNOW THAT, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHO ARE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR, UH, SOMEPLACE TO LIVE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE PRESSURES THAT, TO, THAT WE HAVE TO WEIGH.

BUT AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT OF IT, UM, NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO, UM, CARE AS MUCH ABOUT, UM, THE OVERALL IMPACT IN, IN TERMS OF LESS, YOU KNOW, MORE DEVELOPMENT AND LESS ROOM FOR, UM, WILDLIFE, EVEN IF IT'S ON A, UH, A MICRO SCALE.

I MEAN, I GREW UP IN A SUBURB IN KANSAS CITY, AND AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE, THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR WILDLIFE.

AND, UM, I, I THOUGHT EVEN AS A CHILD THAT THAT WAS PREPOSTEROUS AND WRONG.

AND I, I HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT IN THE, IN THE LAST, UM, 60 YEARS OR SO.

I, I, I STILL AG UH, I STILL HAVE THE SAME FEELING AS THAT.

I WANNA, I WANNA PRESERVE AS MUCH SPACE FOR, UM, UM, I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE LOST HALF OF THE WORLD'S BIRDS.

UH, DO WE WANNA KEEP GOING DOWN THIS PATH? UM, CAN THE DEVELOPERS COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WILL GIVE US SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE PALATABLE, MAYBE 50%

[02:30:01]

IMPERVIOUS COVER INSTEAD OF 65, FOR EXAMPLE? I MEAN, I DO SEE THE BENEFITS OF THE, OF THE, IM IMPROVED WATER QUALITY.

I, UM, BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE, LIKE, LIKE THIS COMMISSION SHOULD BE A, THE COMMISSION TO, TO, UH, ADVOCATE FOR, UH, KEEPING AS MUCH OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PLANET, KEEP IT FUNCTIONING.

UM, I MEAN, I, I SERIOUSLY, I SERIOUSLY SEE, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE AS SOMETHING THAT WE EITHER CON CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING OR CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING WORSE.

AND I DON'T SEE THIS AS MAKING THINGS BETTER.

I THI I SEE IT AS MAKING THINGS WORSE FROM A CLIMATE POINT OF VIEW.

I SEE ALL THE OTHER THINGS AS, AS POSITIVES, BUT I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WHERE, WHERE I'M KINDA COMING DOWN.

I, I'D LIKE TO HEAR IF THE, IF THE APPLICANTS HAVE ANY, ANY, UH, FALLBACK POSITION OR PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE THE LITTLE GREEN LIGHT'S ON.

NICK WHITAKER WITH GRAY STAR COUNCIL MEMBER, OR, UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, THEY'RE BALANCING ACTS IN THIS, AND, AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH GOING TALLER RATHER THAN GOING WIDER, IS THAT THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS AS WELL.

ONE IS ZONING AND THE OTHER IS IMPACTS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, WE'VE SPENT TWO YEARS NOW MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THIS PROJECT AND, AND TRYING TO DESIGN A PROJECT IN A WAY THAT ACCOMMODATES, UM, AND FITS WITHIN THE SCALE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THE HEIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE DESIGNED TODAY HAS REALLY PUSHED THE BOUNDARY OF WHAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH FITTING WITHIN THE SCALE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

IF WE WERE TO TRY TO GO BACK AND PROPOSE A FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN PROJECT TO REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT, I THINK THE NEIGHBORS, UM, WOULD BE VERY OPPOSED.

AND THEIR OPINION WOULD BE THAT JUST DOESN'T FIT THE SCALE OF THIS COMMUNITY, UM, OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND I THINK IT'S, WE'RE BALANCING PRIORITIES.

UM, YOU GUYS ARE FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THEIR PRIORITIES, AND AS THE DEVELOPER, WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES, BUT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO SORT OF, SORT OF MEET A LOT OF DIFFERENT GOALS.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO HEIGHT AND DENSITY, I THINK THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW HAS PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF HEIGHT AS FAR AS THIS PROJECT CAN PUSH IT, UM, AND ANYTHING BEYOND THAT.

AND I THINK WE WOULD GET OPPOSITION FROM BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THAT.

WHAT'S THE, UM, UM, WHAT'S THE LAND LIKE THERE? IS, UM, THERE ACHI SOIL OR, OR CAN YOU GO DOWN THE STORY? SO WITH RESIDENTIAL IN TEXAS, IT'S NOT PRACTICAL TO GO SUBGRADE.

UM MM-HMM.

HERE WE HAVE MOSTLY LIMESTONE WITHIN MM-HMM.

, A, A, A COUPLE FEET OF THE SURFACE.

AND SO A BASEMENT FLOOR OF RESIDENTIAL, UM, W WOULDN'T BE EFFECTIVE HERE.

I WAS AFRAID OF THAT.

UM, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT PUTTING, UM, UM, LANDSCAPING, PLANTING, UM, UH, BUSHES AND WHATNOT ON, ON, UH, THE, UM, THE, UH, UM, TOPS OF BUILDINGS? IS THAT A, IS THAT AN OPTION? I THINK, UH, IT'S SOMETHING WE'D BE HAPPY TO EXPLORE.

I'D SAY THAT HERE WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO BE WOOD FRAMED BUILDINGS, AND GENERALLY WOOD FRAMED BUILDINGS WITH LANDSCAPING ON TOP OF THEM ISN'T, UM, ISN'T TYPICALLY AN EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION TYPE.

YOU HAVE WATER INTRUSION ISSUES.

UM, IT WORKS BETTER ON CONCRETE BUILDINGS, BUT CONCRETE BUILDINGS MAKE MORE SENSE IN DENSER ENVIRONMENTS WHERE YOU'RE, YOU'RE BUILDING TALLER.

SO, UM, THAT'S NOT TO SAY NO, WE'D BE HAPPY TO EXPLORE IT, BUT IT'S NOT A CONSTRUCTION METHOD I'VE SEEN IN THIS BUILDING TYPE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

NO, I CAN SEE THAT.

LANDSCAPED AND, UM, UH, SIGNIFICANT PERVIOUS COVER INSIDE OF THE COURTYARD.

UM, DO, DO YOU CONCEIVE OF THIS, UM, PART OF THE BUILDING WHERE, WHERE IT'S APARTMENTS IS HAVING A, A COURTYARD OR CENTRAL AREA? YEAH.

UM, I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PULL THE, THE MAP BACK UP, BUT, UM, THERE'S A CENTRAL COURTYARD INTERIOR TO THE, WHAT WE CALL THE, UH, CONVENTIONAL APARTMENT BUILDING.

SO THERE, THERE'S A STANDARD SORT OF APARTMENT BUILDING ON ONE PORTION OF THE SITE THAT WOULD HAVE A, A VERY LARGE

[02:35:01]

UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE SITE PLAN FULLY REFLECTS THAT WHEN YOU'RE SEEING IT IN BLACK AND WHITE, BUT A B A BIG PORTION OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE BUILDING IS ACTUALLY PERVIOUS COVER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY NOTEWORTHY IS THAT THERE, THE BALANCE OF THIS 35 ACRE SITE DOES HAVE A LOT OF OPEN SPACE.

SO YOU, YOU MENTIONED IN KANSAS CITY THAT YOU, YOU DON'T SEE, UM, MUCH OPEN SPACE HERE ON THIS SITE BECAUSE PERVIOUS COVER ON THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE SITE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE LARGE EXPANSES OF OPEN SPACE.

UM, AS YOU PULL INTO THE PROPERTY, THERE ARE FOUR AND A HALF ACRES OF UNDISTURBED OPEN SPACE IMMEDIATELY AS YOU COME INTO THE PROJECT.

WE COULD SHOW IT ON THE, THE SITE PLAN HERE, AND THEN ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE SITE.

UM, SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT WE HAVE WHAT THEY CALL A BUFFER SPACE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROJECT.

SO IF YOU NOTICE, THE PROJECT PULLS TOWARDS TWO 90 AND CREATES A BUFFER SPACE.

THAT'S EIGHT ACRES THAT, UH, OF UNDISTURBED, UM, UNDEVELOPED LAND ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY.

UM, SO WE HAVE, WE'VE CLUSTERED THE OPEN SPACE AND WE'VE CLUSTERED THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT OPEN SPACE IN THIS.

SO THAT AREA COULD BE, YOU COULD HAVE TREES IN THAT AREA.

YEAH, YOU COULD.

AND YOU WILL HAVE TREES, YOU'LL HAVE TRAILS.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF BOSTON TO MAKE THAT A, UM, A DESIGNATED PARK, UH, ON THE BACKSIDE PUBLIC ACCESS.

UM, UH, AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT BY CLUSTERING THESE AREAS OF OPEN SPACE, YOU'RE ALSO CREATING POTENTIAL HABITAT, UH, HABITATS FOR WILDLIFE AS WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT OR STAFF BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT.

I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AM I CLOSING IT FOR BOTH ITEMS OR JUST THE RCA? LET'S, LET'S DO IT FOR THE RCA, UM, AND THEN WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

SO, I, I, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RCA SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR LOOKS TO BE UNANIMOUS.

UM, AND NICHOLS IS, UH, RECUSING.

UM, I HAVE A DRAFT MOTION AS WE PREPARE BEFORE THESE MEETINGS.

UM, I'M GONNA READ IT, UM, SEE IF WE GET A SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

IF THERE'S ANY THOUGHTS ON, UH, COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS OR CONDITIONS.

UH, HOW'S THAT SOUND? ALL RIGHT.

UM, I DRAFTED IT CUZ THE SECRETARY'S OUT TODAY.

ON, UH, THE SUBJECT GRAYSTAR TWO 90 C 14 DASH 8 5 2 8 8 0.79.

[4. Name: Greystar 290 C14-85-288.79 (Restrictive Covenant Amendment) ( Part 2 of 2 )]

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES, RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT WISHES TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK APPROVAL OF A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT TO 8.2 ACRE PROPERTY WITHIN THE LIMITED PURPOSES, LIMITED PURPOSES JURISDICTION, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS WITHIN THE WILLIAMSON CREEK WATERSHED, BARTON SPRING ZONE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION OR PROTECTION ZONE, AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT WITH CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENT PROVIDES GREATER OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ACHIEVES, ACHIEVES A HIGHER DEGREE OF OVERALL COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT REGULATIONS THAN WOULD WOULD OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS GRANTING THE AMENDMENT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ON THE PROPERTY NOTED ABOVE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, STAFF CONDITIONS.

UM, ONE, THE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH C 14 DASH 85 DASH 2 88 DASH 79 RCA, THE SITE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS.

ONE, BRING THE SITE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SOS NON DEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER.

TWO, PROVIDE 110% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION AND THREE, COMPLY WITH DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHT WARMTH SHIELDING AND LIGHT TRESPASS CHAIR.

YES, IT WAS THAT STATEMENT ABOUT NONDEGRADATION FOR IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT I WAS TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO BEFORE BRING THE SITE INTO COMPLIANCE FOR SOS NON DEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER.

UH, SO STRIKE IMPERVIOUS COVER ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR ALL.

NO.

YEAH, JUST STRIKE THE ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER.

[02:40:01]

JUST ALL DEVELOPMENT.

UH, NONDEGRADATION STATUS FOR ALL DEVELOPMENT, ALL DEVELOPED AREAS, JUST, UH, ACHIEVES SOS NONDEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT STANDARDS.

LET ME READ THAT AGAIN.

UH, ONE, BRING THE SITE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SOS NONDEGRADATION WATER QUALITY TREATMENT STANDARDS.

TWO, PROVIDE 110% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION AND THREE COMPLY WITH DARK SKY REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHT, WARMTH SH SHIELDING AND LIGHT TRESPASS.

I'LL SECOND.

THEY'RE ALL ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED.

WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM SULLIVAN.

LET'S DISCUSS ANY THOUGHTS ON THE MOTION OR CONDITIONS? UM, KRUEGER? YES.

HOW ABOUT AN AMENDMENT TO RESTRICT IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 50%? OKAY.

CHAIR, UH, I HANDED SOME THINGS OUT TO, UH, ELIZABETH, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SHE'S GONNA PASS AROUND.

I PULLED THESE FROM PREVIOUS, UH, SENSITIVE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE, LIKE THE, UH, BRODY PUD, THE, UH, BULL CREEK PUD, THE, UH, EAST RIVERSIDE DEVELOPMENT.

UH, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

IF YOU LOOK AT EACH ONE, I'VE NOTATED OUT TO THE SIDE THE SPECIFIC DECISION WHERE IT'S REFERENCED.

IT'S ALSO GOES ONTO THE BACK FEW, UH, AND ALSO THE, THE ONE THAT, UH, STAFF ALLUDED TO BACK IN APRIL OVER ON, UH, HIGHWAY 71.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THOSE AS, UH, PROSPECTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE.

UH, WE CAN DISCUSS THEM INDIVIDUALLY OR I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THEM OR WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT IN AS MUCH AS THEY WERE CONSIDERED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN THESE PREVIOUS RADIUS SITUATIONS, I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY ORIENTED AND THEY COVER A LOT OF TERRITORY, INCLUDING THE, UH, DECREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER.

THEY, UH, ARE MORE SPECIFIC.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE DARK SKIES, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED IN HOW THE DARKS GUYS ARE HANDLED.

IT TALKS ABOUT THINGS LIKE, UH, BIRD STRIKE, UH, AND HOW THAT STUFF IS HANDLED.

UH, YOU KNOW, AND BUTTERFLY GARDENS, I MEAN, YOU CAN READ THROUGH THE LIST AND SEE WHAT IT IS.

LET'S, LET'S, UH, SO THE FIRST ONE, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN SPEAKS TO 56% IMPERVIOUS COVER, UM, THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE, UH, BRODY PUD.

RIGHT? THE, THE ONE ON, UH, 71.

THEY WENT FROM 65 TO 56% COVER.

SO THAT'S WHY I PICKED THAT CUZ IT'S IN A SIMILAR, IT'S IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA AND OF THE SAME RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT THIS ONE IS IN TOO.

SO IT MAKES SENSE TO ADOPT A SIMILAR IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH 50%, BUT WELL, AS A MATTER OF CONSISTENCY, THAT'S WHY I SELECTED 50 CENT PERCENT.

I MEAN, IF, IF THERE, IF THERE IS A PRECEDENT, THEN THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WAY TO GO.

PLUS I THINK THE HEIGHT CONSIDERATIONS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M FROM THAT AREA.

I KNOW HOW P****D THE NEIGHBORS ARE GONNA BE IF WE BUILD OR IF THEY BUILD A SKYSCRAPER.

I'M DEFINITELY NOT BUILDING ONE.

BUT, UH, YEAH.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, I CAN SEE HOW 56% WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEN.

UH, ALL RIGHT.

SO WALK ME THROUGH HOW WE DO THIS IF WE'RE, UH, ELIZABETH, BUT WE, I MEAN, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO ADDING THAT AS A CONDITION, THEN IT GETS ADDED.

IF THERE IS AN OBJECT OBJECTION, THEN WE VOTE.

IF YOU WOULDN'T TURN, TURN YOUR MIC ON.

COMMISSIONER SCOTT.

IT'S AMENDMENT SUGGEST IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.

IT'S NOT A REPLACEMENT, UH, MOTION.

NO.

UNLESS IT SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGES THE THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND IF NOBODY ON THE DIAS OBJECTS, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE IF ONE PERSON DOES THAN YOU DO.

AND THAT IT WE'RE REFERRING TO RIGHT NOW IS 56% IMPERVIOUS COVER, CORRECT.

ON, ON THE, THE, THE SMALLER OF THE SITES.

SO THE, THE 8.62 ACRE I THINK WAS THE SITE, BUT I'LL SECOND ANY OBJECTIONS TO

[02:45:01]

THAT? 56%.

NOW THE SECOND ONE IS THE, THE FAR, UH, THAT WAS THE SAME FAR, THAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE, UH, HIGHWAY 71 VOTE.

KEEP GOING.

I'M GONNA TYPE WHILE WE'RE GOING, SO, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.

I WON'T, I, I, IF YOU WANT ME TO PAUSE, GO AHEAD.

UM, NO, NO.

IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE VOTED IN THIS SAME, UH, RESTRICTED COVENANT AREA, UH, THEY, UH, ADOPTED A FAR OF ONE TO 1.3.

SO ADOPTING THIS AS THE FAR IS BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE FAR THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS ADOPTED THERE IN THIS PARTICULAR THING HERE, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, DOING AWAY WITH IT COMPLETELY AND NOT SPECIFYING A REPLACEMENT, DEFERRING THAT TO A LATER TIME.

WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE, FOR CONSISTENCY SAKE, ADOPT THE FAR THAT WAS IN THE ONE THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDED, UH, FOR THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY ON HIGHWAY 71.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.

IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT CONSISTENT WITH THE SAME RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

I SEE.

SO I DON'T RECALL WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE RECOMMENDED OR STAFF RECOMMENDED, BUT IT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE VOTED ON IN PASSED.

UM, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN WHAT THE APPLICANT WAS REQUESTING.

SO, AND WATERSHED STAFF DIDN'T COMMENT ON IT.

WELL, WHATEVER.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AGREED TO AND FELT WAS APPROPRIATE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, THIS WAS THE SAME RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AREA.

SO IT'S APPROPRIATE TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENCY IN THE SUSTAINED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

I, I WOULD SAY, HAVING KIND OF HEARD WHAT STAFF HAS SAID AND, AND THE APPLICANT TOO ABOUT TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE, I WOULD SAY, UM, I WOULD OBJECT TO THAT ONE AND WE SHOULD VOTE YEAH.

AND, AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

I'M FINE WITH THAT.

AND, AND JUST TO KIND OF BASED ON THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN, I'M SORRY.

NOT A PROBLEM.

WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE APPLICANT ASKING FOR IN THE FAR, I DON'T BELIEVE IT SPEAKS TO IT.

WELL, ACTUALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THE EXISTING CON, THE EXISTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANT HAS A FAR OF 0.25.

WHAT THEY'RE ADVOCATING IS REMOVING THAT TO MAKING IT ESSENTIALLY OPEN.

THEY CAN MAKE IT WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO.

AND SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS LET'S SET THIS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH GO AHEAD.

POINT TWO FIVE IS LESS THAN THIS IF YOU'RE TRYING TO RESTRICT FLORIDA AREA RATIO.

WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, LET'S, NO, THIS IS A RELAXATION ZERO.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE REMOVING 0.25 OUT OF THERE.

SO EFFECTIVELY THEY'RE NOT SETTING UP FAR AT ALL.

THEY'RE PROPOSING REMOVING 0.25.

SO I'M SAYING LET'S SET IT TO THIS.

WHY SET ANY FLOOR TO AREA RATIO? LET'S JUST SET ONE.

NO, I AM ASKING WHY SHOULD WE, FOR CONS, I WANNA BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS DONE BEFORE.

I'M TRYING TO SET A CONSISTENT AMOUNT.

IF YOU WANNA SET IT TO 0.25, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

NO, WHAT, WHAT STAFF TOLD US WAS THAT WAS WHAT THE APPLICANT PROPOSED.

THE APPLICANT ISN'T PROPOSING ANYTHING.

I THINK WE SHOULD VOTE ON IT.

THAT'S OKAY.

I I SAID THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

SO THE AMENDMENT IS TO, TO, TO ADD AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UH, CONDITION THAT THE FAR BE AT ONE TO 1.3.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THAT TO THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SORRY, ELIZABETH BRAMER VOTED FOR, UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE, UH, ABSTAINING.

SO E EVERYONE ELSE WAS OPPOSED EXCEPT FOR WHO? ABSTAINED.

SO THAT ONE, THAT ONE DOESN'T MAKE IT ONTO THE LIST.

UM, EIGHT FOOT CUT FILL LIMITATIONS.

UM, THIS IS TO ADD, UH, EIGHT FOOT CUT FILL LIMITATION TO THE SITE, OR THAT IT WOULD NEED TO GET A VARIANCE IF IT WERE AN EX MORE THAN EIGHT FOOT CUT FILL, YEAH.

VARIANCE.

THOUGHTS? ANYONE? UM, CAN, CAN I MAKE A QUICK CLARIFICATION? IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO, THAT'D BE GREAT.

UH, WE CAN'T ASK STAFF A QUESTION.

UH, UM,

[02:50:01]

UM, SO THAT EIGHT FOOT CUT FILL LIMITATION FROM THE, UM, RCA WAS A REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT AND CURRENT CODE.

THIS ACTUALLY IS MORE PERMISSIVE TO MORE EXTREME CUT FILL THAN WHAT WOULD BE ALLOWED BY CURRENT CODE.

AND CURRENT CODE WOULD BE FOUR FEET.

THEY'D NEED TO GET A THAT'S CORRECT.

THE, THE APPLICANT IS NOT REQUESTING TO VERY CUT FILL, BUT IS OFFERING TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE.

IF THEY'RE GONNA COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT CODE, THAT'S OKAY.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS TREE MITIGATION AT 125% OF CURRENT REQUIREMENTS AND LOCATION SUBJECT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY ARBORIST.

I BELIEVE THE, WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IS TO PUT THE TREES AT THE LOCATION, YOU KNOW, THE MITIGATION OF THE LOCATION.

I'M SUGGESTING THE CITY ARBORIST BE PART OF THAT DECISION.

AND I BELIEVE THE CITY ARBORIST WILL BE PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW OF WHERE MITIGATION TREES ARE PLANTED.

IS THAT CORRECT, LESLIE? THAT IS CORRECT.

THE CITY ARBORIST WILL REVIEW AND APPROVE, UM, THE MITIGATION AND ANY REQUIRED, UH, OR ANY PROPOSED REMOVALS IN THE MITIGATION FOR THEM.

SO WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO JUST INCREASING THE TREE MITIGATION TO 125%? SURE.

ANYBODY OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE TREE MITIGATION TO 125%? YOU'RE, YOUR MIC WASN'T ON UNFORTUNATELY FOR THAT.

I, I LIKE THAT IDEA.

I'M JUST CURIOUS KIND OF TO COMMISSIONER SCOTT'S EARLIER POINT WHEN LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN, LIKE, IS 125% ACTUALLY POSSIBLE WITHIN THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT WE HAVE? I, I BELIEVE, AS LESLIE HAD STATED EARLIER, IF THEY CAN'T DO IT ONSITE, THEN THERE'S A AVENUE FOR OFFSITE MITIGATION.

AND IS THAT AUTOMATIC THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REACH THE 125%? YES.

THERE, UH, THERE IS SEVERAL WAYS TO COMPLY WITH MITIGATION.

UM, AND IT CAN BE BOTH OFFSITE PAYING INTO FUND, UM, IMPLANTING ONSITE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY I PUT IN THERE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ARBORIST.

SO IF YOU COULDN'T PLANT 125% OF THE MITIGATION ON THE PROPERTY, THEN THE ARBORIST COULD SAY, OKAY, PLANT IT, YOU KNOW, SOMEPLACE ELSE OR DONATE MONEY, OR WHATEVER THE ALTERNATIVE IS.

SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO ON THE PROPERTY, IT JUST HAS TO YEAH, HAS TO.

AND, AND, AND AS I'VE, I'VE WRITTEN IT SIMILAR TO WHAT THE STAFF'S DOCUMENT OR THE RECOMMENDATION CONDITION WAS, WHICH IS PROVIDE 125% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION.

EXCUSE ME.

WOULD, WOULD DO, UM, AND, UH, AND, AND WE CAN MAYBE GET A PRESENTATION LATER AT SOME FUTURE DATE ABOUT WHERE THE TREE MONEY GOES AND, AND HOW THAT, WHERE IT'S USED AND, AND WHERE AND THAT KIND OF THING.

ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS I'VE, I'VE READ ABOUT PLANS WHERE PEOPLE, UM, OR I DON'T KNOW, VARIOUS COMPANIES OR WHATEVER, SAY, EVERY TIME YOU DONATE, WE ARE GONNA PLANT A TREE.

AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, OKAY, SO THIS IS A TREE SOMEWHERE IN THE AMAZON, WHICH IS PLANTED AND THEN DIES, UM, YOU KNOW, 15 DAYS LATER BECAUSE, UH, IT WAS TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL AND NOBODY FOLLOWED UP ON IT AND SO FORTH.

SO I LIKE THAT PART ABOUT THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY ARBORIST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM ADDING MONEY TO SOME FUND THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF IT'S GONNA BE ACTUALLY ACHIEVING WHAT IT SAYS IT'S GONNA ACHIEVE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE REAL TREES PLANTED AND TAKEN CARE OF IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET A 50% TREE CANOPY COVER.

AND I'VE SEEN THE CITY GO OUT AND IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND PLANT, UM, EXPENSIVE, UH, PLANTS IN A, IN A NEW ROUNDABOUT, AND THEY'RE ALL DEAD.

I MEAN, NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION.

LET'S JUST GO PLANT 'EM AND THEN LEAVE 'EM AND SEE IF THEY SURVIVE.

AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

I WOULD SAY, UH, OR MY THOUGHT FOR USING THE SIMILAR LANGUAGE FROM STAFF IS BECAUSE THE, THE SITE PLAN WILL HAVE TO BE REVIEWED BY, BY THE, THE CITY ARBORIST.

I, I WOULD, I WOULD PREFER FOR IT TO BE, I MEAN, IF WE WANTED TO USE LANGUAGE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, UM, WHICH IS WHAT THE CITY ARBORIST

[02:55:01]

BUT, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, UM, PROVIDE 125% OF REQUIRED TREE MITIGATION IN, UH, CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT CODE.

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? MM-HMM.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE, THE POINT AND HAVE PEOPLE KEEP THAT IN THEIR, IN MIND.

LET'S KEEP GOING.

BREENER.

THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, ANY NEW TREES WILL BE SOURCED FROM NURSES WITHIN 300 MILES OF THE SITE.

CONSIDERED, UH, I FORGOT TO PUT THE NOTATION ON THERE, BUT THAT COMES FROM THE, UH, BULL CREEK PUD, AND THEY WERE GONNA PLANT A WHOLE BUNCH OF, YOU KNOW, NEW, NEW VEGETATION OUT THERE, UH, IN ORDER TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THEY HAD THERE.

AND SO THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THE TREES THAT WERE PLANTED WERE NATIVE SPECIES THAT WERE, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD FLOURISH IN THIS HABITAT AND KEEP THEM FROM PLANTING, YOU KNOW, FAST GROWING NON-NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE COMMONLY DONE FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSES OF JUST GETTING GREENERY TO GROW RAPIDLY.

ANY THOUGHTS, DISCUSSION ON THAT? I LOVE THAT IDEA.

KRUEGER'S GONNA VOTE FOR IT.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

ANY, AND GO, GO SHARE.

WHAT DO YOU GOT? WELL, MY ONLY CONCERN IS JUST IF THIS IS PRECEDENT, ARE THERE THAT MANY TREES AVAILABLE IN A DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AVAILABLE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT AT, AT ONE TIME? AND ARE WE CREATING INHIBITORS AS FAR AS PLANTING JUST NATIVE TREES? I MEAN, SHOULD WE JUST BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE NATIVE TREES AS OPPOSED TO WHERE THEY COME FROM? THOUGHTS? WELL, I'M WILLING TO YIELD AND SAY, OKAY, NATIVE TREES THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT THE POINT IS THEY NEED TO BE NATIVE TREES, WHETHER THEY'RE SOURCED, UH, YOU KNOW, I PICKED THIS FROM THE BULL CREEK, PUT LITERALLY THE SAME LANGUAGE, CUT AND PASTE FROM THE SAME LANGUAGE FROM THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE AND SAY, OKAY, IF IT'S A NATIVE TREE AND IT WAS GROWN 350 MILES FROM HERE, OKAY, I DON'T CARE.

BUT IT HAS TO BE A NATIVE TREE.

IT CANNOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NATIVE TO CENTRAL TEXAS, I GUESS IS THE POINT.

GO FOR IT, LIZ.

UM, YEAH, JUST THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE BULL CREEK POD.

JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT EXTENSIVE PLANTING PLAN.

I DID NOT HEAR FEEDBACK.

I WAS THE REVIEWER ON THAT AT THE TIME.

I DON'T, DIDN'T HEAR FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAD ISSUES FINDING LO UM, LOCALLY SOURCED, UH, TREE STOCK.

SO, FOR WHAT? FOR THE RECORD.

ANYONE OPPOSED TO THE LANGUAGE AS IT'S WRITTEN ON THIS, UH, THAT HE'S, THAT, THAT I GUESS I SHOULD, YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD PUT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN CASE THEY'RE SHORT STOCKED OR SOMETHING.

SO, UM, HOW ABOUT ANY NEW TREE WILL BE SOURCED FROM NURSERIES WITHIN 300 MILES OF THE SITE, CONSIDERED NATIVE TO THE EDWARDS PLATEAU OR SURROUNDING ECO REGIONS, AND WILL BE SELECTED FROM ECM APPENDIX AND, AND GROW, AND THE GROW GREEN NATIVE ADOPTED LANDSCAPE PLANS GUIDE TO THE MAXIMA EXTENT.

PRACTICABLE, SORRY.

UM, THINKING ABOUT THE NURSERIES WITHIN 300 MILES OF THE SITE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN THE CASE THEY RUN OUT OF TREES.

GOT IT.

I CAN PUT THAT PARENTHETICAL PHRASE AFTER WITHIN 300 MILES OF THE SITE.

ANYBODY OPPOSED TO THAT LANGUAGE? ALL RIGHT.

THAT ONE GOES IN.

OF DETAIL IN ORDER TO MEET ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS.

NOW, SEVERAL, UH, SEVERAL THINGS WE VOTED ON, UH, ENCOURAGE THE, UH, REQUIRED THE COMPLIANCE WITH AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING THREE STAR RATING.

JUST YEAH, KEEP GOING.

I'M, I'M, I'M, OKAY.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE NEXT ONE.

SO TELL US ABOUT THAT ONE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREEN STAR BUILDING IS SOMETHING THAT'S FAIRLY COMMON NOW REQUIRED BY, YOU KNOW, MANY DEVELOPMENTS AND, UH, I GUESS MAYBE, UH, WATERSHED STAFF CAN ELABORATE MORE ON THE DETAILS OF THAT, BUT IT'S A COMMON REQUIREMENT OF, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF THINGS THAT WE'VE REVIEWED, THE, UM, BULL CREEK PUT EAST RIVERSIDE PUT, AND THE BRODY OAKS PUT ALL COMMITTED TO BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY TO THAT LEVEL

[03:00:01]

UM, UM, YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT, UM, GREEN BUILDING IS, UH, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT IS, UH, LIKE A STANDARD REQUIREMENT FOR PUT PUTS TO DEMONSTRATE ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY.

SO YOU ALL OFTEN SEE THAT ASSOCIATED WITH PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS.

AND, AND, AND TO THAT POINT, I MEAN THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE PUD PROCESS TOO, IS, IS THEY'RE ASKING FOR A KIND OF A SITE SPECIFIC RULES FOR THEIR PROPERTY AND, AND, AND IN THAT IT HAS TO BE BETTER THAN CODE, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTALLY BETTER THAN CODE.

UM, SO BASED ON THAT, I WOULD SAY LET'S, LET'S VOTE THIS ONE.

UM, ONE NOTE BEFORE YOU DO THAT, THIS IS A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

WHILE IT IS NOT A PUD IT IS ANALOGOUS IN SOME WAYS TO A PU IT'S NOT A ONE-TO-ONE CORRELATION, BUT THERE ARE SIMILARITIES TO IT.

SO I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO SAY THIS IS A PU BUT THERE'S SOME ANALOGOUS THINGS TO IT.

THAT'S WHY I PUT IT IN THERE.

UM, I'D SAY, LET, LET'S VOTE ON THIS ONE, UH, WHICH IS TO COM THAT THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE 8.62 ACRES, WILL COMPLY WITH AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING THREE STAR RATING.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

UM, KREK, SCOTT KRUEGER, SHERA, COFER, NO, UH, COFER, SULLIVAN AND BRIER.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, UH, PER I ABSTAINED.

UM, THAT ONE PASSES, CORRECT, ELIZABETH, THAT ONE'S IN.

HOWEVER, THIS IS ON SENSITIVE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS AQUIFER LAND.

RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION OF NOT LESS THAN 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA.

SEVERAL PUDS HAVE DONE THAT FAIRLY ROUTINE THING, NOT, NOT TERRIBLY COMPLICATED.

SO IN THIS, YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO COLLECT RAINWATER FROM RUNOFF, FROM ROOF ROOFS AND FROM ROOFS AND UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND THEN THEY USE THAT FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES AND TO IRRIGATE AT LEAST 50%, AT LEAST 50% OF THE LANDSCAPING? YES.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW FEASIBLE THAT IS.

UH, DOES STOP JUST LOOKING AT ME? UM, I, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG OF AN ASK THAT IS, TO BE HONEST.

UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S DIFFICULT TO, I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO COLLECT THE RAINWATER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO, IF THEY HAVE IMPERVIOUS COVER OR IF THEY HAVE LANDSCAPE AREAS THAT, WELL, WE CAN ALTER IT.

WE CAN SIT, WE CAN SAY 40% OR 30%, OR WE CAN SAY IF FEASIBLE.

SO CAN I, CAN I MAKE A, A COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION? UM, A LOT OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE, UM, CONDITIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, AND THEY ARE MADE ALONGSIDE, UM, CODE MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

AND, UM, THE WAY THAT THOSE GET ASSESSED IS LIKE A COMMENSURATE OR RATHER A BALANCED APPROACH OF LIKE ONE MODIFICATION TO EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CODE IS MATCHED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY.

AND, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE REQUESTS FOR ANY VARIANCE FROM CURRENT CODE AS IT RELATES TO THE AMOUNT OF CONDITIONS BEING REQUESTED.

UM, AND IN A POD THERE TENDS TO BE SEVERAL CODE MODIFICATIONS REQUESTED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION.

AND THEREFORE THERE ARE SEVERAL CONDITIONS, UM, AND SOMETIMES MANY MORE TO ESTABLISH SUPERIORITY.

UH, JUST I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT IS VARYING FROM CURRENT CODE RELATIVE TO THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

AND IS, IS THERE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE, THE CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT BE REQUESTED FOR THE, UM, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT? WELL, I WOULD, MY, MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE THIS, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS RESTRICTED COVENANT AND THAT THEY ARE UNDER THE OBLIGATION TO ADHERE TO CODE THAT WAS IN EFFECT IN 1984 OR WHATEVER YEAR THAT WAS.

[03:05:01]

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO BUILD IN A WAY THAT CONSUMES A LOT MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER THAN WOULD BE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IF THIS WERE BUILT UNDER CURRENT TODAY CODE, THEN WE SHOULD REQUEST THAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS BE MADE IN ORDER TO MITIGATE DAMAGE TO THAT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIG ASK TO MAKE SMALL CHANGES IN IT IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF IT.

SO THE TRADE OFF I WOULD SEE THAT WE'RE MAKING IS WE'RE, WE'RE REQUESTING SMALL INCREMENTAL CHANGES IN ORDER TO ALLOW THEM TO, IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR REQUEST TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, GREATER IMPERVIOUS COVER THAN WOULD BE ALLOWED TODAY.

AND WE'D STILL BE ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD A DENSER AREA THAN, THAN ANYONE ELSE WOULD BE ALLOWED, LIKE IN THAT ADJ LARGER ADJACENT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SO THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BUILD THIS DEVELOPMENT PERHAPS IN THAT ADJACENT PROPERTY CUZ THEY WOULD BE UNDER CURRENT CITY CODES.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THEM HALFWAY BY SAYING, SURE, GO AHEAD AND BUILD YOUR DENSER DEVELOPMENT, BUT DO THESE SMALL THINGS CUZ THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE THAT'S REALLY PARTICULARLY HARD, YOU KNOW, BUILDING, UH, YOU KNOW, CAPTURING RAINWATER HAV HARVESTING FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION IS NOT A TERRIBLY, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT THING.

I, I THINK, I THINK PART OF THIS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS I KNOW THAT THE PUD PROCESS, THE APPLICANT AND STAFF GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND, AND KIND OF HASH OUT A LOT OF THOSE CONDITIONS AND, AND THE APPLICANT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT ARE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I THINK BROAD EAST'S PROBABLY A, A MORE APPLICABLE ONE THAN THE BULL CREEK ONE BECAUSE BULL CREEK WAS, WAS, WAS UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS, BUT RIGHT.

BUT WAS A, A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PUD MORE OR LESS, RIGHT.

UM, BUT, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE DIFFICULTY BY US, OR NOT DIFFICULTY, BUT SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS THAT WE CAN ADD TO THE PROCESS IN, IN, IN GOOD INTENTION COMPLICATE THINGS AND MAYBE MAKE, MAKE CONCESSIONS THAT ACTUALLY ARE LESS ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTIVE.

LIKE, LIKE THE FLORIDA AREA RATIO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE OR, OR OTHERWISE.

SO I, MY, A LOT OF MY HESITATIONS ON THESE AREN'T, UM, I'M NOT AGAINST THEM ON IN CONCEPT, JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PRACTICAL TO IMPLEMENT.

LIKE I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LANDSCAPED AREA THEY'RE GONNA HAVE.

MAYBE THEY'RE GONNA DO A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPED AREA.

UM, MAYBE THEY'RE, MAYBE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE MORE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THE WELL, AND THAT'S WHY WE VOTE ON THIS, IS TO DO IT AND, AND IF THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SAY NO, THEN DON'T, THEN THAT'S OKAY.

I'M, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO THROUGH ALL THIS, I LOOK AT IT AND I LOOK AT THE ASK THEY'RE MAKING ON THE EDWARD FOR RECHARGE ZONE AND, AND ALL THIS SORT OF THING, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO.

I'M SAYING, WELL, OKAY, WHAT IS A FAIR TRADEOFF IN THIS? AND I SAY, THESE ARE SMALL INCREMENTAL, FAIR TRADEOFFS THAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IN ORDER FOR A LARGE TRADEOFF, WHICH IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER ON AN AREA THAT IF IT WERE BUILT UNDER TODAY'S CODE BE 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER.

SO YES, BUT SO I, AND SO I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I'M PROPOSING EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY AND SAYING, OKAY, IF, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ONE, I'M OKAY.

YOU'RE NOT HURTING MY FEELINGS.

I'M YOU, I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING.

AND SO THAT'S KINDA THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

I, I JUST THINK IT'S, UM, I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I LEAN ON STAFF TO COME WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COMMENSURATE TO THE ASK AND, AND ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTIVE AND, AND STAFF SOMETIMES BRING PROJECTS TO US THAT DON'T HAVE THAT RECOMMENDATION.

UM, BUT IF IT COMES WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOME CONDITIONS, THEN I LOOK, I LOOK TO THAT TO BE THE, THE LEVEL OF, UM, OF THAT BALANCE.

UM, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO, TO, TO, TO WALK THROUGH THESE, BUT SINCE MOST OF THEM ARE RELATED TO PUDS, UM, I THINK IT DOES, IT DOES SET A, UH, A COMPLICATION FOR PROJECTS COMING BEFORE US AND, AND NOT NECESSARILY NEGOTIATING WITH STAFF

[03:10:01]

TO THE COMPLETE EXTENT THAT THEY FEEL IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CO COMMISSION OR OR OTHER COMMISSIONS WILL, WILL, WILL ADD A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAN MANAGE.

WELL, THE REASON I MEANT THE RE OKAY, YES, THEY'RE PUTS, BUT THE REASON I DOCUMENTED THEM WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THESE ASS ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT ARE UNIQUE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE VOTED FOR IN THE PAST.

THEY'RE NOT UNUSUAL, THEY'RE NOT OUT OF SYNC, OUT OF LINE WITH ANYTHING WE'VE EVER DONE BEFORE WITH OTHER LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS, WHICH IS THIS.

NOW THEY HAPPEN TO BE PUTS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GO BACK AND SAY, WELL, I WISH THIS WEREN'T A PUT OR THIS WASN'T A PUT AND I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO BACK THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE VOTED ON SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION OR EVEN PRIOR TO THAT TO DO THAT, I HAVE TO PICK THESE BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO RECALL THEM IN MY MIND AS THINGS THAT WE HAD DONE BEFORE.

SO I'VE PULLED THEM UP IN ORDER TO SUFFICIENTLY ANNOTATE EACH ONE OF THESE THINGS TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE DONE THESE BEFORE AND THAT THESE ARE NOT UNIQUE AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, TREATING ONE APPLICANT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE OTHER APPLICANTS BEFORE.

THIS IS CONSISTENT THE WAY THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS BEHAVED IN THE PAST AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN A CONSISTENT MANNER.

NOW, IF YOU, IF IT'S THE DETERMINATION OF THE CHAIR THAT THE FACT THAT IT WAS A PUD DISQUALIFIES IT BECAUSE THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT ANIMALS HERE, THEN THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S THE DECISION AND I'LL, I'LL LIVE WITH THAT.

BUT THE POINT IS, MY POINT IS THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DECIDED AS A COMMISSION IN THE PAST, IN THE RECENT PAST, THAT WE FEEL ARE NECESSARY FOR APPLICANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHATEVER IT IS THEY HAPPEN TO BE DOING.

AND SOME OF THESE, LIKE BRODY OAKS ARE QUITE SIMILAR AS FAR AS THEIR IMPACT ON THE, ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY, UH, THE, THE BULL CREEK PUT IS SOMEWHAT CENTRAL TO, BECAUSE IT'S A PROXIMITY TOWN LAKE AND BULL CREEK, UH, YOU KNOW, EAST RIVERSIDE.

I ALSO REFERENCE THE ONE THAT'S IN THE SAME RESTRICTED COVENANT AREA OFF OF 71.

SO ALL OF THESE HAVE SOME OVERLAP WITH THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY IN SOME MANNER.

SO THESE ARE CONSISTENT AND THAT'S MY THING.

NOW, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU FEEL THAT I'M TOO FAR AFIELD AND THAT'S, THAT'S OKAY.

UH, I I'D BE GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD SULLIVAN.

THERE, THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER PATH FORWARD AND THAT WOULD BE TO SIMPLY, UM, VOTE ON THE, IS VOTE ON THE, UH, AMEND, UH, THE MOTION THAT WAS ALREADY ON THE TABLE BEFORE MY COLLEAGUE BROUGHT FORTH THIS LIST, BUT THEN ALSO ASK THAT THIS LIST GO FORWARD AS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE UP AND DOWN, WHETHER THIS IS GONNA GO FORWARD OR NOT, THE FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

SO IF, IF WE FORWARDED THIS LIST AND SAID THIS MIGHT, THESE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED, THEN THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT ALSO, AND MAYBE VOLUNTEER TO ADD SOME OF THESE THINGS, OR THE CITY COUNCIL MIGHT WANT TO PICK OUT SOME AND THEN ADD THEM.

I, I'M, I'M, SO, I'M, I'M, YEAH, NO, THAT'S, I'M TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE PASSIVE THAN INCLUDING THESE IN THE, IN THE MOTION.

BUT SAY THAT, WELL, I'M, THIS WOULD GO FORWARD.

IT'S ELIZABETH FUNK WATERSHED.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE PROPOSING A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, IS WHAT THAT SAYS, OR I WOULD SAY, I, I WOULD SAY IT'S, IT'S A MOTION.

WE, WE, WE, WE'VE GOT THE, OR LET ME, LET ME TELL ME IF, TELL ME IF THIS YEAH.

DOING WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THE MOTION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN READ AND SEC FORWARDED AND SECONDED AND THE INCLUDE, INCLUDE AS AN ARTIFACT THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED BY FUTURE BOARDS, THIS TWO-SIDED, UM, LIST OF, UM, THINGS THAT WENT FORWARD EARLIER.

INSTEAD OF MAY WILL, WILL BE CONSIDERED.

OR, OR, CORRECT.

CONSIDERING THESE MAY CONSIDERED, CONSIDER THESE, THESE ELEMENTS OF, OF OTHER, UH, CONDITIONS OF THIS COMMISSION.

TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL.

AND IF I MAY, IF THERE ARE CONDITIONS ON HERE THAT YOU ARE MORE, UM, THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT, THAT RISE TO THE TOP OF RELEVANCE, UM, THAT EVERYONE CAN LIKE 56% IMPROVE.

CORRECT.

THOSE, I MEAN THERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HIGHLIGHT THE ONE THAT IS THE MORE IMPACTFUL, IS MY SUGGESTION.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'M, IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THIS, I DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SUGGEST AT ALL FOR EXACTLY THE REASON THAT YOU STATE, IT'S THE JOB, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

[03:15:01]

THEY ARE FREE TO TOSS 'EM IN THE TRASH.

SO WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN THEY EITHER GO BY THEM OR THEY DON'T.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS PASSIVE STUFF.

THAT'S LIKE NOT THE NAME OF THE GAME HERE.

I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO LIKE, WAIVE THIS AT THE COUNCIL AND SAY, DO THIS IF YOU THINK YOU SHOULD.

AND THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT.

SO MY FEELING IS THAT WE MAKE AN AFFIRMATIVE ASSERTION OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, AND THE COUNCIL EITHER ACCEPTS THAT AS THE RECOMMENDATION OR THEY DON'T.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

NOW, BUILDING ON THAT, I'M WILLING TO, I I WILL, WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THIS THAT I WILL GO WITH KIND OF WHAT YOU SAID OR WITH WHAT, UH, LIZ SAID, I GUESS I, I FORGET .

WHO WOULD SOMEONE UP THERE? UH, I WILL DO THIS.

I WILL DEFER TO CHAIR OKAY.

AFTER THE ONES WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO.

I WILL DEFER TO YOU TO GO DOWN THE LIST OF THE ONES THAT YOU PERCEIVE TO BE MORE APPLICABLE TO THE ITEM, YOU KNOW, TO THE MATTER AT HAND.

AND THEN READ THOSE OFF.

AND THEN WE VOTE ON THOSE.

SO I'LL DEFER TO YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION ON THE REMAINING ONES.

AND THEN WE VOTE ON THE OR AS EITHER, YOU KNOW, BY ACCLIMATION OR, I DUNNO, WHATEVER THE TERM IS, UH, TO DO THAT.

IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

SO I DEFER TO YOU TO GO THROUGH THE RAINY LIST.

UH, AFTER WE, WE DID THE GREENS, WE DID THE, THE COMPLY WITH THE BUILDING GREEN STAR THING.

WELL, THAT WAS THE LAST ONE WE, WE ADDRESSED AS A BODY.

SO AFTER THAT, YOU GO THROUGH THE ONES THAT YOU FEEL ARE APPROPRIATE TO THIS SITUATION, AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL DO THOSE.

DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE? THAT SOUNDS, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

GIMME, GIMME 20 SECONDS HERE.

UH, TAKE 40.

I, I WANT YOU TO BE DELI ONE.

I THINK ESPECIALLY AS COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN POINTED OUT, IT IS ON BUS LINE.

I'M WRONG ABOUT THAT.

I'M USED TO IT BEING OFF OF, UH, TWO 90 RIGHT BEFORE WILLIAM CANNON.

SO I THINK IF WE CAN PUT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON TRANSIT LINES, IT'S DEFINITELY A SMART THING TO DO.

LET'S, LET'S, LET'S VOTE ON THAT ONE.

UH, THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING INCORPORATED AT 5%, WHICH IS, UH, ON, NOW AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IS THE 8.62 ACRE SITE.

CORRECT.

SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK OUT MATH WISE, BUT, UM, LET'S, LET'S VOTE ON THAT ONE.

CAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE TO THIS BODY.

SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THAT AS A CONDITION, RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S WITHIN OUR AUSPICES.

UH, SO THAT ONE, I, I'M, I'M UP ON THAT ONE TOO.

UM, THAT ONE'S IN.

UM, UH, I WOULD SAY, UH, INCLUDING POLLINATOR GARDENS AND PLANTS TO SUPPORT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER POLLINATORS, UM, INCLUDING DOG WASTE STATIONS AND RECOMMEND AC CONDENSATION CATCHMENT SYSTEMS TO BE USED FOR LANDSCAPING.

UH, I, I'M, I SAY WE ADD THOSE AS ENVIRONMENTAL CON COMMISSION CONDITIONS AND, UH, AND THEN VOTE UP DOWN WHAT, UH, CHAIR.

ONE SECOND.

SCOTT HAD SOMETHING.

WHAT DO YOU GOT? UM, THE, UH, BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS, UH, BEST PRACTICES WAS REFLECTIVITY OF 15% OR LESS.

AND, UM, I DID WANNA SAY ABOUT THE RAINWATER HARVESTING.

UM, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO DO THAT ANYWAY IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE, UM, ALL THOSE TREES ALIVE.

WELL, UM, YEAH, WE, LET'S DO, UH, REFLECTIVE GLASS ALSO.

UH, CHAIR ONE.

MINOR POINT.

THE, UH, DARK SKIES, UH, THEY HAVE THE DARK SKIES IN THERE.

WHAT I'VE WRITTEN IS PULLED FROM ANOTHER POD, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED, SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT INCLUDED AS WELL, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE, THE AMOUNT OF DETAILED IN THERE.

RECOMMEND AC CONDENSATION CATCHMENT SYSTEMS TO BE USED FOR LANDSCAPING.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

DARK.

SO, THE, LET ME, LET ME READ THESE OFF.

SO WE WOULD BE ADDING, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION COMMISSION CONDITIONS FOR REQUIRING ALL BUILDINGS TO, TO UTILIZE BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS IN BUILDINGS.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH RE REFLECTIVITY, UH, OF 15% OR LESS INCLUDE POLLINATOR GARDENS AND PLANTS TO SUPPORT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

AND OTHER POLLINATORS INCLUDE DOG WASTE STATIONS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF 5%, AND, UH,

[03:20:01]

AND THE DARK SKIES, SORRY.

AND THE DARK SKIES, AND I'LL READ THIS INTO THE RECORD.

UH, THE DARK SKIES OF 3000 K KILO LUMENS, UM, OR LESS MAXIMUM 25,000 LUMENS.

UM, NET AREA, NET PER ACRE FOR RESIDENTIAL, A HUNDRED THOUSAND LUMENS PER NET AREA ACRE PER NON-RESIDENTIAL, AND FOCUS LIGHT ON ACTIVITY AND USE ACTIVITIES FOR A USED ACTIVITY, APPROPRIATE LIGHTING.

I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THE POROUS PAVEMENT.

I'M, YEAH, I'M GONNA, THAT, I TRIED THAT FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS I WAS HERE, AND IT, IT, IT, IT'S NOT APPLICABLE IN MANY PLACES, AND THAT NIDA DOESN'T HOLD UP, SO, OKAY.

UH, EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET THE CITY TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN STUFF, THEY TELL ME NO, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T PICK THAT ONE.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME WE'RE LEAVING OUT THE 2000 SQUARE FOOT VERTICAL GREEN WALL.

I'M HURT, I'M HURT.

WHERE? YES.

I'M, I GUESS I'M TELLING YOU THAT PASSIVELY.

UH, ALL RIGHT, LET'S VOTE.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EVERYTHING THAT I READ OFF, INCLUDING THE 56 IMPER PERCENT IMPERVIOUS COVER, PROVIDE 125% REQUIRED, AND ANY NEW TREES WITHIN 300 MILES TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT, PRACTICAL.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

SHE PASSES.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON.

UM, WE ARE ON, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE SERVICE BROOK MULTIFAMILY WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST 5 1 72.

LET'S ACTUALLY TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK HERE, UM, AND COME BACK AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SERVICE EXTENSION.

REQUEST FIVE, BELIEVE ME.

LET'S, UH, WANDER BACK TO CHAIRS AND PLACES YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE TOMORROW.

UM, WHAT'S TOMORROW? ALL RIGHT.

9 37.

LET'S RECONVENE THIS REGULAR MEETING, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

[5. Name: Scenic Brook Multifamily Wastewater Service Extension Request #5172 ( Part 2 of 2 )]

WE'VE HEARD STAFF PRESENTATION.

UM, WE HA DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, UM, RELATED TO THIS SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST? UM, THE MO THE MAIN THING THAT I HEARD THAT WAS THAT, THAT MAYBE SOUNDED DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUESTS, KNOWING THAT THERE WILL BE A SITE PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IN THE FUTURE, THAT PRESUMABLY WOULD HAVE A VARIANCE ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND MAYBE A LAND USE VARIANCE AND MAYBE COMING BACK TO US AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN THE FUTURE IF THE

[03:25:01]

SURFACE EXTENSION REQUEST IS GRANTED BY US AND OTHERS UPSTREAM OF US.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

THE ALIGNMENT THAT IS PROPOSED, THAT IS, UM, WE DEEM TO BE LEAST ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPACTFUL, DOES TRAVEL ALONG A ROADWAY, HOWEVER, THAT ROADWAY IS EXISTING AND IN, UM, WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE TO A CREEK.

AND SO BECAUSE IT'S RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE CREEK, UM, THAT WOULD BE A, UH, LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE.

ANY THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? AND ALSO WE CAN'T ADD ON A RECOMMENDATION CORRECT.

CONDITIONS, RIGHT? YEAH.

SO THIS IS AN UP DOWN VOTE ON THE EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE WASTEWATER SERVICE.

UM, BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, DO WE WANNA ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT.

I MOVE TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, EVERYBODY BUT PRIMER'S ABSENT.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE WASTEWATER SURFACE EXTENSION REQUEST.

I HAVE A MOTION, UH, SUBJECT SCENIC BROOK MULTI-FAMILY WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST 5 1 72.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION FOR THE SITE NOTED ABOVE.

UH, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE WILLIAMSON CREEK WATERSHED, BARTON SPRING ZONE, EDWARDS AQUIFER CONTRIBUTING ZONE AND DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE WASTEWATER SURFACE EXTENSION REQUEST.

I GOT A SECOND BY SCOTT.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? WELL, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I DID VOTE AGAINST THE SERVICE EX EXTENSION REQUEST FOR WATER LAST TIME, BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT'S MUCH WORSE OFF THEM DOING, YOU KNOW, IRRIGATING OR HAVING SEPTIC TANKS.

SO I'LL SUPPORT THIS.

IT'S WORSE OFF WITH, WITHOUT THE WASTEWATER EXTENSION? CORRECT.

YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY OF OF SIMILAR NOTE, NOT NOT PROVIDING THE WASTEWATER THAN, THAN THEY WOULD, I THINK LIZ HAD SAID, UH, OR KAYLA, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

UM, IT WAS EITHER PROBABLY, UH, ONSITE, SOME KIND OF ONSITE, UM, WHICH THE CITY REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE MUCH PURVIEW OVER.

IT WOULD BE A T C Q PROCESS.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, OF, UH, GRANTING THE SERVICE WASTEWATER SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST AS NOTED IN THE MOTION.

RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE UP, UH, DISCUSSION, UH, NUMBER SEVEN CUZ WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE, UM, HANGING OUT AND HAVE BEEN PATIENT.

UH, IT IS ALL FOUR, UH, BRIER, ABSTAINS AND NICHOLS RECUSES.

WE'RE, I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.

UM, YOU'RE VERY IMPORTANT.

SO WE'RE SAVING YOU FOR THE END CUZ YOU'RE DESSERT.

UM, UH, AND

[7. Discussion and possible action recommending an environmental study on the environmental impact of rescinding work-from-home telework and having City of Austin employees commute to a city-owned office – Requested and presented by Environmental Commission member Haris Qureshi (15 minutes)]

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY TAKE ACTION RECOMMENDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RESCINDING WORK FROM HOME TELEWORK AND HAVING THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES COMMUTE TO A CITY OWNED OFFICE.

UM, HOW DO WE WANT TO TEE THIS UP? KHI, DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE ANYTHING OR WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO HERE? I WILL HAPPILY LET, UM, OUR PUBLIC CITIZENS EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO COMMUNICATION.

THAT'S EXERCISING.

WE'VE GOT SEVEN PEOPLE HERE, OR ARE WE ALL TALKING OR ARE WE IN A GRANT TIME OR IS THERE, OKAY, SO CYNTHIA'S NOT HERE.

OR IF ANYONE WANT TO GO FIRST? YOU GOT THREE MINUTES.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN I'LL MARK YOU OFF THE LIST.

AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO GRANT MINUTES TO SOMEONE ELSE, YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND, UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UM, THANK THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOR TAKING UP THIS ITEM.

I'M GREEN.

HI, MY NAME IS TRISH.

NICE WONDER.

UM, I'M A CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE.

I CURRENTLY WORK FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH NEWLY CREATED DEPARTMENT.

UM, I AM ALSO, I'M HERE REALLY IN MY CAPACITY AS, UH, A MEMBER OF AFSCME 1624 AND, UH, A BOARD MEMBER OF AFSCME.

[03:30:02]

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TELEWORK AND THE COST SAVINGS AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT, UH, NOT HAVING FOLKS COMMUTE TO THE OFFICE MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK CAN HAVE ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WE'VE ALREADY HEARD TODAY ABOUT TIRE PARTICULATE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS, UM, WHO ARE GONNA GIVE A LOT OF GOOD DETAILS ON, UM, A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

BUT I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE DEDICATION AND THE PASSION AND THE CREATIVITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WORKFORCE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT SUPPORTING Y'ALL IN THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU DO.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT TELEWORK CREATES NOT ONLY A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR WORKERS.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA KEEP IT BRIEF CUZ IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG EVENING AND ONCE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND WHO'S UP THERE, WHITNEY? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

HI Y'ALL.

THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.

IT'S BEEN ILLUMINATING TO SEE, UH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN ACTION.

MY NAME IS WHITNEY HOLT.

I WORK AS A HEALTH EQUITY FUNDING SPECIALIST WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

UM, I AM GOING TO READ THIS CUZ I WAS WORRIED ABOUT TAKING TOO LONG, WHICH NOW FEELS KIND OF IRONIC, BUT, UM, , THAT'S OKAY.

YOU'RE JUST WASTING YOUR OWN TIME.

THAT'S .

I HAD MY FIRST ENVIRONMENT RELATED PANIC ATTACK WHEN I WAS IN FIFTH GRADE.

BACK THEN, THE PHRASE GLOBAL WARMING WAS JUST ENTERING THE MAINSTREAM.

AND EVEN 10 YEAR OLD ME COULD TELL THAT NO ONE IN CHARGE SEEMED TO BE BRINGING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF DETERMINATION OR INNOVATION NEEDED FOR SOLVING THIS CRISIS.

INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA'S RECENT DECISION TO REPEAL TELEWORK SHOWS US THAT 30 YEARS LATER, THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY STILL TRUE IN MANY CASES, THERE'S A WIDE CONTINGENT OF CITY LEADERSHIP WHO HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO COMPLETELY IGNORE ALL PRODUCTIVITY PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT DATA, AND INSTEAD MAKE DECISIONS BASED SOLELY ON PERSONAL PREFERENCES.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'VE BEEN FORCED TO COMMUTE IN ONCE A WEEK, A YEAR OF WHICH WAS TWO HOURS, ONE WAY WITHOUT TRAFFIC JUST TO SHOW UP TO A MOSTLY EMPTY SET OF CUBICLES WHERE I WOULD LOG IN AND ATTEND ALL OF MY VIRTUAL TEAMS MEETINGS.

NOW I LIVE CLOSER TO THE OFFICE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF MY COWORKERS HAVE, BECAUSE OF OUR UNTENABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND CITY SALARIES COMING NOWHERE NEAR KEEPING PACE BEEN PUSHED OUT TO THE SUBURBS.

THIS MEANS INSTEAD OF JUST SPENDING THREE TO FOUR HOURS A WEEK IDLING THEIR WAY THROUGH OUR CITY AND THEIR GAS GUZZLING VEHICLES, L O L LIKE WE COULD AFFORD ELECTRIC, THEY'LL NOW BE SPENDING AN EXTRA FIVE TO SIX HOURS ON THE ROAD EACH WEEK.

EXCEPT FOR THE ONES WHO LIVE IN BUTERA, GEORGETOWN, THANKS TO THE COMING I 35 PROJECT, THEY CAN EXPECT IT TO BE CLOSER TO AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN TO EIGHT HOURS EACH WEEK.

THE CITY EITHER DOESN'T HAVE OR WON'T RELEASE DATA ON HOW FAR THE AVERAGE WORKER IS COMMUTING, BUT VERY CONSERVATIVELY MULTIPLY THIS IMPACT BY 4,000 AND YOU'LL GET AN IDEA OF HOW DAMAGING REPEALING TELEWORK WILL BE.

I REMEMBER 10 YEAR OLD ME FINDING COMFORT IN THE ONE PLAN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE OUR PLANET.

WE WOULD REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.

THERE'S A REASON.

REDUCE IS THE FIRST STRATEGY.

THIS IS WHY I WAS SO INCREDIBLY HEARTENED THAT IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, Y'ALL SPECIFICALLY ADDED OR AVOIDED ALTOGETHER BY WORKING FROM HOME.

THERE'S NO ELECTRIC VEHICLE, NO PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, NO NEW GREEN SOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN NOT HAVING A COMMUTE AT ALL.

THERE WAS A NEW STUDY THIS SPRING THAT FOUND THAT MORE THAN 50% OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS ARE ACTUALLY FROM OUR BRAKES AND TIRES, SHEDDING MICROPLASTICS THAT END UP IN OUR WATER, WHICH WE'VE HEARD ABOUT NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME TONIGHT.

EVEN IF WE IGNORE ALL OF THE LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL HURDLES AND SOMEHOW ELECTRIFIED EVERY VEHICLE IN THE WORLD OVERNIGHT, WE WOULD STILL BE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION BY FORCING CARS ONTO THE ROAD FOR WORK THAT COULD BE DONE JUST AS WELL FROM OUR HOMES.

JUST LAST MONTH, MONTH, TRAVIS COUNTY WON A NATIONAL AWARD FOR HOW THEIR TELEWORK AS DEFAULT POLICY HAS REDUCED THEIR EMISSIONS BY 20% AS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN AUSTIN.

AND AS THE FORCE BEHIND OUR CLIMATE EQUITY GOALS, THE CITY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER EMPLOYERS IN OUR AREA AND DO THE SAME.

TO, UH, UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR A CITY OF AUSTIN TO DO A, UH, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.

IT'S PERFECTLY TIMED BY THE WAY.

I SPEAK A LITTLE MORE EXTEMPORANEOUSLY.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S BEN SUBBY.

UH, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME LOCAL 1624.

IT'S THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES UNION THAT REPRESENTS CITY WORKERS AND COUNTY WORKERS.

UM, AND, UH, ON ITEM SEVEN, I REALLY WANT

[03:35:01]

LOOK AT THE DATA, UM, BECAUSE SOMETHING COMPREHENSIVE LIKE THAT CAN SOMETIMES ILLUMINATE ANGLES OR PERSPECTIVES THAT WE HAVEN'T, UH, THAT WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED OR THAT DON'T NORMALLY COME UP WHEN THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE TELEWORK.

UM, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT BUILDINGS, UH, AT THE OUTSET.

I WANNA SAY I'M PRO BUILDINGS.

UH, MOST OF THE TIMES YOU'LL HEAR ME TALKING ABOUT BUILDINGS IN THE CONTEXT OF HOUSING, MORE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

UM, I'M, I'M FOR IT, UH, LONGTIME, YOU KNOW, EAST AUSTIN RESIDENT, UH, OVER BY THE TANA HILL BRANCH OF BOGGY CREEK.

UM, BUT, UH, NOW MORE RECENTLY OVER HERE BY BUTTERMILK, RIGHT? RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS HIGHWAY.

BUT I GREW UP IN, UH, ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS WEST OF HERE OUT IN THE HILL COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, THE STONES THROW FROM THE GUADALUPE RIVER.

MY FOLKS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

AND WHEN I DRIVE OUT THERE, WHEN I GO OUT TO VISIT ON THE RARE PRIVILEGED EDUCATIONS THAT I GO OUT THERE, UH, I'M SEEING AUSTIN SPRAWLING OUT EATING UP THE HILL COUNTRY.

UH, AND I SEE THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT THE CITY HAS TO SHOW OTHER, YOU KNOW, SHOW THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS A LARGE EMPLOYER, WHAT AN EFFICIENT USE OF THEIR BUILDINGS LOOKS LIKE.

THAT LOOKS LIKE NOT FORCING PEOPLE TO GO, UH, AS, AS WAS MENTIONED, INTO MOSTLY EMPTY BUILDINGS, TO SIT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND DO A VIDEO CONFERENCE OF A MEETING ONLINE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE FROM THE HOME THAT THEY ALREADY, UH, ALREADY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR APARTMENT, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.

UM, AND THE REALITY IS, LIKE IN THE SUMMER, PEOPLE ARE NOT TURNING OFF THEIR ACS WHEN THEY GO TO WORK.

UH, EVEN IF IT IS JUST ONCE, ONCE A WEEK, WE'RE HEATING AND COOLING THESE BUILDINGS THAT ALREADY EXIST.

AND HAVING THE CITY, UH, FORCE PEOPLE INTO THESE BUILDINGS UNNECESSARILY INCREASES THEIR NEED FOR BUILDINGS.

THE FOOTPRINT, THE, THE HEATING AND COOLING OF IT.

UH, MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE, ARE AGING AND HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT WE ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT TO REDUCE OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ASPECT OF IT, UH, I THINK REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED, LOOKED AT CLOSELY, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, LIMITED ON HOW MUCH SPACE WE HAVE AND HOW MUCH IMPERVIOUS COVER WE WANT TO HAVE.

AND REALLY, WE SHOULDN'T BE USING THAT UNNECESSARILY AND FORCING, UH, PEOPLE INTO BUILDINGS TO USE IT OR US MAINTAIN IT, UH, UNNECESSARILY.

UM, SOME, SOME OF IT IS NECESSARY AND THAT SHOULD BE SUPER EFFICIENT.

UM, AND THE, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY, JUST TO WRAP UP IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THESE CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, OF THE CEMENT THAT GOES INTO BUILDINGS AND ALL THAT, UH, WE SHOULD BE USING OUR, OUR, UH, OUR SPACE AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN.

UM, NOTHING'S GONNA BE AS GREEN AS POSSIBLE, UH, AS, AS NOT CREATING THAT NEED.

AND, UM, THE, THE IMPACT ON THAT, UM, WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.

THIS COUNTY HAS SET A GOOD EXAMPLE.

UH, THEY SAVED $1.3 MILLION IN 2020 TO 2021 BY ALLOWING REMOTE WORK.

I THINK THIS CITY COULD ALSO DO THAT AND, UH, JUST DO A STUDY TO, TO LOOK AT THE BENEFITS THAT COULD BE, UM, THAT COULD BE GAINED BY KEEPING AN, IN FACT, INCREASING TELEWORK.

WORKERS TO PICK UP THE BURDEN OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BEHAVIORS WHEN EMPLOYERS DOUBLE DOWN ON ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING DECISIONS LIKE REPEALING TELEWORK.

UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS JULIE DICKENS AND I'M A PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

SO I LIVE IN LEANDER AND MY OFFICE IS AT ONE TEXAS CENTER.

SO I DO STRIVE TO REDUCE FUEL USAGE AND VEHICLE WEAR BY USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHENEVER POSSIBLE WHEN I COMMUTE DOWNTOWN.

BUT DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, THE MAIN COMMUTER ROUTE FOR ME WAS ELIMINATED BY CAT METRO.

SO DESPITE THOSE EFFORTS THAT I'VE MADE TO ASK THEM TO REINSTATE IT, THEY HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO ME.

SO WHEN I USE THE REMAINING ROUTE, MY COMMUTE TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF EACH WAY.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE TO EITHER TAKE A CONNECTING ROUTE OR WALK A MILE FROM THE STOPS TO MY OFFICE.

UM, WHEN I DRIVE MY OWN VEHICLE, THE COMMUTE TAKES ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO ONE AND A HALF HOURS EACH WAY.

SO AS I CONTEMPLATE WHAT A THREE DAY IN OFFICE WORK WEEK WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR ME, I'M WASTED TIME AND THE RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THAT DAILY COMMUTE.

SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I'M TRYING, I'M TRYING TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY IN MY DECISION, BUT OUR CITY ISN'T THERE YET.

SO WE CAN'T EXPECT

[03:40:01]

SO RECENTLY, INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA EXPRESSED HIS DESIRE FOR PEOPLE TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON WORK, TO ENHANCE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION AS A CONSULTANT.

COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION ARE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF MY ROLE, AND I'VE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTING THESE ACTIVITIES VIRTUALLY USING TEAMS FOR THREE YEARS.

THE DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS I WORK WITH ARE SPREAD ACROSS THE CITY.

SO IF FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS ARE THE EXPECTATION I WOULD NEED TO DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH NEGATES THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTION.

AND THEN THIS ALSO REDUCES MY PRODUCTIVITY BECAUSE I'M COMMUTING BETWEEN THESE OFFICES.

UM, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE'RE EXPECTED TO JUST CONTINUE USING TEAMS FOR THE MEETING WITH STAFF THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR OFFICE, I QUESTION WHY DO WE NEED TO GO INTO THE OFFICE? SO THE CITY HAS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO UPHOLD THE NUMEROUS STRATEGIC PLANS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, MINIMIZE POLLUTION, AND PREVENT ACCIDENTS.

SO THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY IMPLEMENTING A TELEWORK POLICY THAT HARNESSES MODERN TECHNOLOGY, ALLOWS US TO BE AGILE, RESPONSIVE, AND COLLABORATIVE, WHILE ENSURING A HEALTHY WORK LIFE BALANCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

SO, AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, WE SHOULD, AND WE CAN SET AN EXAMPLE FOR COUNTERPARTS IN OUR PRIVATE SECTOR.

SO THE QUESTION REMAINS, WILL THE CITY BE A FRONT RUNNER FOR CHANGE? OR WILL OUR AMBITIONS MERELY BE REFLECTED IN EMPTY WORDS ON BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENTS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TOGETHER, I THINK WE CAN WORK TOWARDS A FUTURE THAT EMBRACES PROGRESS, EFFICIENCY AND WELLBEING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

REAL QUICK, BEFORE THE NEXT CALLER, UM, I'LL MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE MEETING TO, UH, 10 15 SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? NICHOLS IS IN TOO UNANIMOUS.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, WE, THE NEXT ONE IS, OH YEAH, MAYBE ROY, AND THEN WE HAVE SOMEBODY CALLING IN TOO.

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU FOR, FOR STICKING AROUND.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

UH, NOW WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU THREE MORE MINUTES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ROY WHALEY WALK AWAY FROM MY MICROPHONE.

, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY.

I AM THE CONSERVATION CHAIR FOR THE LOCAL GROUP.

THE SIERRA CLUB.

SIERRA CLUB IS THE OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD ESTABLISHED BY JOHN MUIR IN NINE, IN 1893.

AND SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTS WORKERS AS WE SUPPORT OUR ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

FEWER CARS ON THE ROAD MEANS CLEANER AIR, CLEANER WATER AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE STUDY SHOWED THAT OUR AIR QUALITY WENT UP HERE IN AUSTIN.

THE FEWER CARS THERE ARE THE LEFT WE'RE POOTING OUT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THAT TELECOMMUTING WORKS.

AM I RIGHT? SIR? YOU ARE HERE AT THIS MEETING NOW.

LAST WEEK WE HAD AT LEAST TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE COMMUTING TO WORK.

I THINK THAT THEY WERE JUST AS EFFECTIVE FROM HOME AS THEY WOULD'VE BEEN.

AND I KNOW THAT THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THAT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT IN THEIR JOBS FROM WORKING FROM HOME AS THEY ARE HAVING TO GO INTO AN OFFICE AFTER HAVING TO FIGHT TRAFFIC AND THEN KNOW THEY'RE FIGHTING IT ON THE WAY HOME FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAMILIES.

IT'S BETTER FOR THE FAMILIES.

YOU HAVE HAPPIER FAMILIES, YOU HAVE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH, YOU HAVE BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

PLEASE DO THIS STUDY AND ENCOURAGE TELECOMMUTING IF THAT IS THE PERSON'S CHOICE.

IF THEY ARE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WORKING FROM HOME.

LET'S KEEP 'EM THERE.

UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FAM THE FAMILY BENEFITS.

IT BENEFITS THE KIDS TO HAVE THEIR PARENTS THERE.

IT'S A SAVINGS IN CHILDCARE.

THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THEIR WORK AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT IN THE FUTURE FOR THESE CHILDREN AS OUR SOCIETY GOES FORWARD.

AND THANK ALL OF Y'ALL TOO.

GOOD LUCK.

ELIZABETH, DO WE HAVE SOMEONE CALLING IN ALSO? ALL

[03:45:01]

WELL, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

CHRISTY O'BRIEN.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

I'M HERE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.

CAN YOU ALL? OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, MY NAME'S CHRISTY O'BRIEN.

I AM STAFF FOR THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF, UH, STATE COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LOCAL 60 24, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.

WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM SEVEN, AS WE BELIEVE THE PRO PROPOSED STUDY LAID OUT.

AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DELIVERING A DATA-DRIVEN COMPREHENSIVE TELEWORK POLICY FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSAL, WHICH FORCES EMPLOYEES TO RETURN TO IN-OFFICE WORK THREE DAYS A WEEK AT MINIMUM, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO TELEWORK, HINDERS US FROM MEETING MOBILITY AND CLIMATE PROTECTION GOALS.

I LEARNED TODAY THAT NUMBERS FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES ON BUILDING UTILITY REDUCTION SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC GENERALLY SHOW A 20% REDUCTION ACROSS THE BOARD IN CITY BUILDINGS.

THE TELEWORK PROPOSAL RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BY INTERIM CITY MANAGER, GARZA SEEKS TO MINIMIZE REMOTE WORK OPTIONS, WHEREAS TRAVIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS PASSED A PROPOSAL THAT SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE THEM.

THIS WILL MOST CERTAINLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT SKILLED WORKERS WHERE WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH WAGES OFFERED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE CAN OFFER REMOTE WORK SCHEDULES AS A PERK.

IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

EMPLOYEES WERE HIRED WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, OR HAVE BEEN TOLD THEIR SCHEDULES WOULD REMAIN REMOTE POST PANDEMIC, AND THEY HAVE REARRANGED THEIR LIVES.

AS A RESULT, THEY'VE MOVED FARTHER OUT, FOR INSTANCE, TO FIND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ON MEETING MOBILITY AND CLIMATE GOALS, PROMOTING WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND FILLING VACANCIES SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, NOT DRASTICALLY REVERSED.

BASED ON THE THOUGHT THAT EMPLOYEES MUST CLOCK HOURS IN A CITY OWNED SPACE TO GET THE JOB DONE.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN THE AREA CAN AND MUST DO BETTER.

WE SUPPORT REQUESTS FOR MORE DATA ON THE VARIOUS REMOTE, REMOTE WORK SCHEDULES CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED TO CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE I IMPACT REMOTE WORK HAS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, MOBILITY AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE THAT DATA WILL SUPPORT THE APPROACH THAT TRAVIS COUNTY HAS TAKEN, WHICH EMBRACES, WHICH EMBRACES TELEWORK AS A SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS. I CALLED ATTENTION HERE TONIGHT.

DATA COLLECTED FROM THE CONSULTANTS, THE TRAVIS COUNTY HIRE TO DEVELOP THEIR POLICY SHOWS THAT BOTH EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY AND MORALE ARE UP.

WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER OUR CLIMATE AND MOBILITY GOALS, THE WELLBEING OF OUR HARDWORKING CITY EMPLOYEES AND PAST ITEM SEVEN.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONS, CONSIDERATION ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT CONSISTENT ALSO WITH WHAT THE RECENT, UM, MAYORAL TEAM HAS DONE.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE REMOTE? UH, OKAY.

AND THAT'S EVERYBODY HERE, RIGHT? OKAY.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR, FOR STICKING AROUND AND TALKING.

UM, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, KHI.

IF YOU WANT TO, THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, GO FOR IT.

UH, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M FEELING VERY, UH, EMINEM.

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE RIGHT NOW.

I'LL DO IT.

WHY NOT? GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY FELLOW AMERICANS, I MEAN COMMISSIONERS.

UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK CITY STAFF.

UH, SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION WAS, UH, AND SEEING THE WORD THAT THEY PUT IN, UH, NOT ONLY WEEKLY BUT DAILY, UH, WAS A BIG REASON, UM, BEHIND ME SORT OF, UH, SERVICING THIS RECOMMENDATION.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, UH, I GUESS I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF.

MY NAME'S HARRIS COHI, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER AS APPOINTED BY DISTRICT ONE CITY COUNCIL.

I ALSO SERVE WITH THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN MY WORK WITH THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.

WE TALK ABOUT THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IN THIS COMMISSION WE DEAL A LOT MORE WITH LAND USE, WATER QUALITY, UM, YOU KNOW, HERITAGE TREES.

UM, BUT IN MY WORK WITH THE JSC, YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

UM, AND SO WHEN THIS RECENT, UH, PROPOSAL FROM THE INTERIM SANDY MANAGER CAME UP, UH, I WAS FRANKLY A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED BECAUSE IT KIND OF GOES AGAINST A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS THAT WE, UH, AS A CITY SEEM TO PREACH.

AND, UM, I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS VERY CONFUSING.

BUT I THINK, AND THIS IS JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION, I THINK

[03:50:01]

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DEPLOYING TP, UH, DPS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PRIMARILY, YOU KNOW, HISPANIC OR BLACK, UM, RIGHTS.

SO WHERE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS PRIMARILY FELT AS A RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC TICKETS AND WARRANTS AND STUFF BEING GIVEN OUT.

AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, RIGHT? AND REALLY FOR THIS KIND OF, UH, WORK FROM HOME, RESCINDING THE MAIN POPULATION OR DEMOGRAPHIC THAT'S GONNA BE IMPACTED WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY LOWER WAGE, UH, EMPLOYEES AND SALARIED WORKERS.

AND THE PEOPLE UP TOP WILL PROBABLY JUST CONTINUE THEIR WAY OF LIFE, RIGHT? AND NOT BE AS, UH, ECONOMICALLY IMPACTED.

UH, SO I DRAFTED THIS RESOLUTION LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE JSC, UH, THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, PERTAINING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AS WELL.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT AT THE END IT SAYS, UH, ENVIRONMENT, FUNK, MENTAL, UH, COMMISSION.

I THINK IT'S A DOPE NAME FOR A BAND.

UM, SO I'LL JUST, UH, CORRECT THAT VERBALLY AND JUST READ THIS OUT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S PRETTY CUT AND DRY.

SO, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN AIMS TO DECREASE EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES BY ENCOURAGING TELEWORK AND WORK FROM HOME INITIATIVES AND OR ASK, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S VISION FOR NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2040 PRIORITIZES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION AND CALLS FOR 50% OF TRIPS TO BE MADE BY USING PUBLIC TRANSIT, BIKING, WALKING, CARPOOLING, OR AVOIDED ALTOGETHER BY WORKING FROM HOME AND OR ASK.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN STATES THAT CLIMATE IMPACTS ARE NOT FELT EQUALLY ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S INTERIM CITY MANAGERS RECENT ORDERS TO REVOKE WORK FROM HOME WILL PRIMARILY IMPACT EMPLOYEES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TRANSPORTATION COSTS, CHILDCARE AND OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO COMMUTING.

WHILE INFLATION AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES CONTINUE TO BE OF CONCERN WHEN RECRUITING AND RETAIN CITY STAFF.

AND WERE ASKED, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE INTERIM CITY MANAGERS RECENT ORDERS ARE PARTIALLY MEANT TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS CURRENTLY UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL SPACES.

AND THAT ALLOWING LOCAL STARTUPS AND CREATIVE CLASSES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNDERUTILIZED CITY OFFICE SPACES, INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS FOR THEIR BUSINESSES MAY PROVIDE MORE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAN HAVING CRANKY, CRANKY PUBLIC WORKERS AND CITY STAFF DRIVE INTO AN OFFICE FOR THEIR NINE TO FIVE.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER RECOMMENDS THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DIRECT THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE AND HOLISTIC STUDY BEFORE RESCINDING WORK FROM HOME TELEWORK AND HAVING EMPLOYEES COMMUTE TO A CITY OWNED OFFICE.

AND THAT THE STUDY SHOULD EXAMINE THE FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BETWEEN THE CURRENT POLICY, THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED POLICY AND A HUNDRED PERCENT TELEWORK AS DEFAULT POLICY.

CONSIDER POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGES.

THEY EXPAND OR IMPROVE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO OFFER ITS EMPLOYEES SAFE, EFFECTIVE, AND EFFICIENT REMOTE WORK FROM HOME OPTIONS AND EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACES OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND BOOST A LOCAL ECONOMY.

UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

I THINK, UH, I WILL SAY SORT OF THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE AS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY CREATIVE, WHATEVER MUSICIAN, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN, UM, THE MUSIC LAB CLOSED DOWN AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IN IT'S NEAR ST.

ELMOS AND WAS TURNED TO A TESLA SHOWROOM, I THINK, UH, A LOT OF MUSICIANS WERE HURT BY THAT.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECENTLY DURING COVID O UM, AND NOW IT'S LIKE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, GIVE MONEY TO 5 0 1 AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRIED TO HAVE CREATIVE SPACES, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CREATIVE CLASS, WHETHER IT WAS MUSIC, THEATER, YOU KNOW, ART, WHATEVER.

UM, AND SO I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, IF WE HAVE ALL THIS UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT WE'RE USING FOR OFFICES AND TRYING TO HAVE PEOPLE FILL UP, WHY NOT POSSIBLY TRY TO USE THAT, UH, OFFICE SPACE, STUDIO SPACE, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, IN A MORE CREATIVE WAY THAT, UH, ULTIMATELY BRINGS MORE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY THAN JUST AN OFFICE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO DO TEAM CALLS.

UM, BUT THAT'S ALL UP FOR INTERPRETATION.

I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.

UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

YOU GOT MULTIPLE SECONDS.

WE CAN, WE CAN DISCUSS TOO.

BUT STILL, I JUST WANTED TO REMOVE THAT.

I, WELL, LET'S, LET, LET SHE SHERRA'S GOT SOME QUESTIONS FIRST.

WELL, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR WORK AND JUST, AND BRINGING THIS FORTH.

I JUST REALLY APPRECIATED.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO ACTUALLY REMOVE THE CRANKY, THE WORDING CRANKY, UM, JUST CUZ THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT MY PERCEPTION.

UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE CRANKY IF THEY HAVE TO DRIVE IN.

I'M TELLING YOU THAT.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

[03:55:01]

AND, UM, AND WAS THE, WAS THIS A, A TYPO TOO, THAT ENVIRONMENT? IT WAS, IT WAS A PLANT TO SEE IF YOU WERE GONNA READ IT.

IS THAT, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING.

ARE ANYONE OPPOSED TO REMOVING CRANKY AND THEN JUST READING, THEN HAVING PUBLIC WORKERS AND CITY STAFF DRIVE INTO THE OFFICE? I'M UNPOSED EARLIER THIS EVENING.

I, UH, DEFERRED CHAIR.

AND HIS WISDOM IN, UH, EDITING MY RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I WILL DEFER TO CHAIR.

WHAT DID THEY SAY IN STEPBROTHERS? IT'S EVOCATIVE .

I FORGET WHAT MOVIE IT'S FROM.

IT'S OUT.

THERE'S ALSO JUST A SMALL TYPO IN THAT SENTENCE.

IT'S VAN WITH AN A.

KATIE COHEN, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

THAT'S WHY YOU NEVER SHOW 'EM YOUR MOTIONS BEFOREHAND.

CRASH YOU BY THE WAY.

UH, IS THAT LIKE, NOT SHOWING YOUR HAND BEFORE? IT'S A GOOD THING.

BRISTOL'S NOT HERE.

SHE ALL KIND OF CRITICISMS. UM, ALRIGHT.

ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE MOTION AND SECOND, UH, WITH MINOR EDITORIAL CHANGES? UM, YES, SCOTT, I JUST THINK IT'S A, I THINK IT'S A, UH, AN AMAZING, UM, MOTION.

AND, UH, I, UM, I THINK YOU KIND OF SAID IT ALL AND, UH, I AGREE WITH IT.

I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

UM, FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY, IS THERE LIKE A, LIKE A TIMEFRAME THAT NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED? BECAUSE LIKE, THEY COULD COME BACK, OH, WE DID IT NEXT WEEK AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

WELL, OH MY BAD.

DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.

YOU'RE GOOD .

UM, YEAH, SO AT FIRST, SO IT'S ACTUALLY INTERESTING YOU SAID, I ACTUALLY MEANT TO, UH, TO TOUCH ON THIS AND I DIDN'T BECAUSE, UH, LIKE MY FRIEND OVER THERE, I PREFERRED THE MORE EXTEMPORANEOUS STYLE OF SPEAKING, WHICH COMES WITH DRAWBACKS AT TIMES.

BUT, UH, YEAH, SO AT FIRST, IN THE FIRST VERSION OF THE RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT, I JUST SAID WE SHOULD JUST DO A STUDY, RIGHT? I WAS LIKE, WHAT'S LIKE THE MOST MILK TOAST? LIKE NON YOU, LIKE THE THING THAT YOU, NO ONE WOULD BE LIKE, NO, WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS, RIGHT? SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY, JUST SAY, WE'LL DO A STUDY BUT DON'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING.

CAUSE I'M LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO.

RIGHT? UM, AND THEN I THINK WE POSTED, UH, WE HAD IT POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, AND I POSTED ON A REDDIT TOO, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET ARE RUTHLESS, SO THEY'LL ALWAYS GIVE YOU AN OPINION, UH, WHETHER YOU ASKED FOR IT OR NOT.

AND, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE JUST LIKE, AND I SHARED THEIR, THEIR SKEPTICISM, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, OH, THEY'RE JUST GONNA PAY FOR A FREAKING $300,000 STUDY TO SOME CONSULTANT.

50,000 WILL BE SPENT ON FLIGHTS.

NOTHING WILL BE DONE.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN STOPPING ANYTHING.

RIGHT? SO I WAS LIKE, OKAY.

I MEAN, YEAH, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD POINT.

I'M NOT, I'M NOT MAD AT THAT.

SO I THINK, UH, SO I CHANGED THE WORDING A LITTLE BIT TO SAY THAT, UM, WE CONDUCT THE COMPREHENSIVE AND HOLISTIC STUDY BEFORE RESCINDING THE WORK FROM HOME POLICY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT PUTS A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURE TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE STUDY DONE.

WHEREAS IF WE, IF WE RESCIND THE WORK FROM HOME POLICY, BUT THEN DO A STUDY AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S NO REAL, THERE'S NOT LIKE ANY SENSE OF URGENCY.

SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY I CHANGED UP THE WORDING A LITTLE BIT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

WHEN IS THE WORK FROM HOME POLICY SUPPOSED TO, TO TAKE EFFECT? UH, I WILL DEFER TO CITY STAFF ON THIS, BUT I THINK LIKE OCTOBER, JUNE, JULY, IF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND FIND, FIND A MICROPHONE AND THEN INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

YOU HAD A GOT IT.

WHITNEY HOLT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, THEY TOOK IT FROM DIRECTORS EFFECTIVE, I THINK IT WAS MONDAY OF THIS WEEK.

UH, BUT FOR REGULAR STAFF IT WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST IS WHEN IT'S SET TO GO INTO EFFECT.

JUST TO CLARIFY, ANY EXECUTIVE STAFF, NOT JUST DIRECTORS.

OH, THANK YOU.

THE CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE HOLISTIC STUDY BEFORE FURTHER RESCINDING WORK FROM HOME TELEWORK AND HAVING EMPLOYEES COMMUTE.

YEAH, THAT WAS MY, MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.

SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE, GIVEN THAT SOME OF IT HAS ALREADY GONE INTO EFFECT.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT WE CANNOT DIRECT CITY COUNCIL DO ANYTHING.

WE CAN ONLY GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT? NO, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THE LINE WHERE YOU SAY, HERE, YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE DO IT BEFORE HAVING THE POLICY TAKE EFFECT.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT ALREADY HAS STARTED.

HOW ABOUT WE SAY OCTOBER 1ST SINCE THAT'S WHEN THE BULK OF CITY STAFF WILL BE IMPACTED, OR, OR I WOULD MAYBE SUGGEST JUST OR SEPTEMBER 15TH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OR WE COULD JUST SAY BEFORE FURTHER RESCINDING, OH, I WILL DEFER TO THE BODY ON THIS.

I WOULD SUGGEST WE JUST PUT IN THAT SENTENCE,

[04:00:01]

IS THAT GOOD? AND THAT'S FURTHER NOT FARTHER CORRECT.

KRUEGER, WE CAN GO FARTHER IF YOU WANT.

UH, CHAIR, I HAVE ONE, WHEREAS PUT IN THERE, AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE THING SAYS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A, WHEREAS TRAVIS COUNTY HAS IMPLEMENTED A WORK FROM HOME POLICY , WHERE I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS 70% OF THEIR PERSONNEL HAVE WORKED, ARE WORKING FROM HOME PERIOD.

AND, UH, AND, AND THE POINT OF ADDING THAT IS IT'S A DATA POINT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE.

AND WHEN WE'RE SENDING THIS OVER THERE, IT WILL BE A DATA POINT THEY WILL SEE IN THE RECOMMENDATION.

SO THIS WON'T, YOU KNOW, WON'T BE JUST A PIECE OF STUFF WE PULLED OUT OF OUR SOMETHING.

IT'S 10 15.

IT'S 10 14.

UH, I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND FOR AT LEAST, UH, 15 MORE MINUTES.

SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WE'RE ALL IN.

THANK YOU KATIE.

UM, THE OFFICIAL CLOCKS ALWAYS ON TIME.

UM, OH, WAIT.

SO, SO RISHI, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THAT? THE CONCEPT OF A YEAH, WELL, UM, AWARENESS.

SO THIS WAS WRITTEN DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER WHEN I WALKED IN, BUT IT WAS A GREAT CONTEXT.

SO THE COUNCIL IN JUNE, 2022, RIGHT? 2022.

MY BAD, I'M, I'M JUST READING HERE.

UH, INITIATED IMPACT STUDY OF MOVING TO FULL TELEWORK AND SIDE OF THE CITY'S CLIMATE GOALS AS A REASON TO DO THE STUDY.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FURTHER MOVEMENT ON THAT SINCE RESULTS WERE DUE DECEMBER 20TH, 2022 NEVER HAPPENED.

SO THIS IS COUNCIL'S DOMAIN.

SO I MEAN, WE COULD, WE COULD PUT THAT SOMEWHERE IN THERE TOO, THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A, A STUDY DONE AND THAT THERE WAS NEVER DONE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY JUST TRYING TO GUILT TRIP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GREAT BY ME.

I MEAN, YOU, WE CAN GUILT TREAT THESE PEOPLE.

ALL THEY ALL WE WANT.

I'M NOT MAD AT THAT, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW.

I FELT LIKE IT WAS JUST GOOD CONTEXT TO SAY SINCE THE CONTEXT WAS GIVEN TO ME.

WELL, I WOULD SAY FIR FIRST ABOUT THE TRAVIS COUNTY, WHEREAS TRAVIS COUNTY HAS IMPLEMENTED A WORK FROM HOME POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES, 70% OF THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR 70% OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

IS THAT ANYBODY OPPOSED TO ADDING THAT TO THE ALL RIGHT.

IS THAT I'M DEFERRING TO THE BODY ON THIS ONE.

I'LL JUST PUT THE STUFF OUT THERE NOW.

ALRIGHT.

AND THAT'S, THEN THAT'S IN THERE, THE WAREHOUSE CLAUSE FOR THAT ELIZABETH.

UM, AND THEN SPEAKING TO THE WAREHOUSE PREVIOUSLY IN JUNE OF 2022, COUNCIL TOOK UP DAVE, WHAT DID THEY DO? INITIATED AN IMPACT STUDY OF MOVING TO FULL TELEWORK, CITING THE CITY'S CLIMATE GOALS, AND THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER MOVEMENT ON THAT AS RESULTS WERE DUE DECEMBER, 2022.

AND WERE NEVER, UM, RETURNED OR SPOKEN ABOUT OR PRESENTED, I GUESS PRESENTED WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE RIGHT WORD FOR IT.

CHAIR, UH, KAYLA CHIP WATERSHED PROTECTION.

I, I BELIEVE THAT A CLARIFICATION NEEDS TO BE MADE ABOUT THE TRAVIS COUNTY'S POLICY, IF THAT'S YEAH.

BRING, BRING ME CLARITY.

HI, BENTON SOTHEBY, UH, PRESIDENT OF AFME 1624.

UM, TRAVIS COUNTY'S POLICY IS 75% OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES, SO IT'S ACTUALLY HIGHER.

DO YOU GOT THAT? AND THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE REMOTE OR HAVE THE OPTION OF BEING REMOTE? SO JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, I'M ONE OF THOSE, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT REMOTE UN UNTIL BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS NEEDS REQUIRE ME BEING ONSITE AND THEN I KNOCK IT OUT AND THEN BACK TO, YOU KNOW, REMOTE.

I, I, I, I MEAN, UH, THANK YOU BEN.

I, I THINK WE JUST KIND OF TO, TO BROM'S POINT, I THINK WE JUST KIND OF SAY IT AS A WHEREAS AND NOT, NOT GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST TO, TO MAKE A POINT THAT MM-HMM.

, THERE IS ANOTHER ENTITY RIGHT AROUND US THAT'S DOING THIS.

, UH, AND IT'S A GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

IT'S NOT DELL OR YEAH.

ORACLE OR SOMEONE.

THEN THE SECOND PART WAS, UH, WHEREAS COUNSEL INITIATED A SIMILAR STUDY IN JUNE OF 2022.

MAYBE JUST, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, RESULTS WERE DUE DECEMBER, 2022 AND WERE NEVER PRESENTED SO CLEARLY.

[04:05:02]

UM, SO YEAH, THE POINT THAT WAS MADE WAS THAT THIS WAS COUNCIL, THIS HAS BEEN COUNCIL'S DOMAIN.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO SPEAK ON THIS.

THEY'VE ASKED FOR A STUDY AND IT WAS NOT PRESENTED PROBABLY BECAUSE IT WOULD ADVOCATE FOR MORE REMOTE TELEWORK.

SO, BUT I MEAN, HEY, THAT'S JUST ME PERSONALLY GUESSING THAT.

UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S GOOD CONTEXT TO HAVE BECAUSE THIS STUDY SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED.

SO WHAT IS THE HOLDUP ILLUMINATI? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO ADDING THAT? WHEREAS CLAUSE, WHEREAS COUNCIL INITIATED THE SIMILAR STUDY IN JUNE OF 2022, THAT WAS DUE IN DECEMBER OF 2022, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

ALTHOUGH I WOULD TRUNCATE IT RIGHT THERE AND NOT ADD THE YEAH, THAT'S FINE.

LET ME, I KNOW THAT'S COUNTER THE WAY I DO THINGS, BUT SHORT AND SWEET, LET'S GO HEMINGWAY WITH IT.

I'M NOT MAD.

WE, WE'VE GOT A VERY IMPORTANT AIR PRESENTATION COMING UP, UH, IN, IN THE NEXT 11 MINUTES.

SO, UM, ALRIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE, UH, ABSTAINING.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY FOR, UH, AND NICHOLS ABSTAINS.

IT PASSES.

APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME.

APPRECIATE THE CITIZENS COMING OUT.

APPRECIATE THE CITY STAFF YOU.

YES, THANK YOU GUYS.

AND NOW ON, APPRECIATE Y'ALL HUMORING ME TO DESSERT, UH,

[6. Presentation and possible action on the changing EPA air quality standards – Requested and Presented by Environmental Commission Member David Sullivan (15 minutes)]

ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.

NUMBER SIX, PRESENTATION, POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE CHANGING EPA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS.

UH, YES, AIR, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A LATE NIGHT, UH, AIR QUALITY, THE MORE IMPORTANT QUALITY .

THANK YOU FOR, FOR GOING LAST.

IT'S FINE.

UM, AND IF WE NEED MORE TIME, WE CAN GET MORE TIME.

SO DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE RUSHED.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WANT TO HEAR ABOUT AND I'M PARTICULARLY INTRIGUED ON.

AND LET ME JUST SAY TOO, THAT THERE'S NO, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ACTION WE CAN TAKE SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.

UH, THIS IS GONNA HIT THE PRESS AT SOME POINT AND WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

SO, UM, SO ANYWAY, CAN I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? UM, THE POINT IS THAT E P A HAS, UH, RULES ABOUT AIR QUALITY.

THEY, UH, THEY'RE CALLED THE NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS.

YOU'LL SOMETIMES HEAR THE TERM NAX THROWN AROUND OZONE.

I RE REFER TO THAT AS THE CELEBRITY POLLUTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS.

BY THE WAY, WE DID HAVE AN OZONE EXCEEDENCE TODAY, BY THE WAY.

UM, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THIS YEAR.

UH, NITROGEN DIOXIDE HAS BEEN, HASN'T BEEN A BIG PROBLEM.

SULFUR DIOXIDE HASN'T BEEN A BIG PROBLEM.

CARBON MONOXIDE HASN'T BEEN A BIG PROBLEM.

LEAD HASN'T BEEN A BIG PROBLEM.

PARTICULATE MATTER IS A PROBLEM AND IT'S GOING TO ACCELERATE.

ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE, UM, 2.5 MICRONS IN DIAMETER.

UM, SO THE POINT IS THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF PART PARTICULATE MATTER.

I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THIS STUFF, BUT THE POINT IS THAT, UM, TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICLES IS ANYTHING THAT BLOWS AROUND IN THE AIR.

ALL RIGHT? THERE'S A LITTLE COMEDY THING ABOUT YOU.

IF YOU GOOGLE THIS, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A PHOTO OF A TORNADO THAT HAS A COW AND A TRUCK CAUGHT IN A TORNADO.

AND THOSE, THOSE, THAT'S STILL, THAT'S TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICLES.

UM, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THINGS LIKE LEAD DON'T HAVE TO BE INHALED.

IF LEAD PARTICLES ARE IN THE AIR AND IT GETS ON YOUR SKIN, IT CAN BE ABSORBED INTO YOUR SKIN.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT PM 10, UH, CAN BE INHALED.

UM, BUT PM 2.5 IS MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE NOT ONLY CAN IT BE INHALED, BUT IT CAN PENETRATE DEEPLY INTO YOUR LUNGS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS.

UM, THERE'S, UH, DIFFERENT WAYS TO MEASURE IT.

UH, THERE'S A, IF YOU, WHAT THE, BASICALLY YOU DRAW AIR IN, YOU CATCH IT ON A FILTER, AND THEN YOU TAKE THE FILTER AND YOU WEIGH IT IN A LAB.

AND THAT'S DONE GENERALLY ON AN EVERY SIXTH DAY PERIOD.

SO YOU GET A SAMPLING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

UH, THERE ARE QUICKER WAYS TO DO IT ALSO.

UM, AND THEN LASTLY ON THIS SLIDE, THE, UM, UH, WHEN YOU'RE MEASURING IT, WELL, I, I, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DATA THERE ABOUT HOW YOU MEASURE IT.

IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT.

SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO HOW SMALL IS PARTICULATE MATTER? THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION THAT'S OFTEN USED BY COMPARING IT TO A STRAND OF HAIR.

SO WE'RE TALKING

[04:10:01]

THAT'S A MILLIONTH OF A METER THAT'S VERY SMALL.

SO YOU CAN FIT THE PM 10, YOU CAN FIT LIKE FIVE OF THEM ACROSS ONE PIECE OF HAIR.

AND THEN YOU CAN FIT FOUR OF THOSE PM 2.5 S ACROSS ONE OF THOSE PM 10 S.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VERY SMALL PARTICLES, BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM GASES.

GASES ARE ON THE MOLECULAR SIZE.

UM, BUT THESE ARE PARTICLES.

UM, AND WE CAN SKIP PAST THIS.

THIS JUST SHOWS HOW THE T C Q, UH, YOU KNOW, DIVIDES UP THE STATE.

AND WE'RE DISTRICT 11.

ALL RIGHT, SO THE, RIGHT NOW THE STANDARD IS FOR 12 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER.

I PUT THE, THE LITTLE MICROGRAMS PER M THREE IN RED THERE, SO I COULD EXPLAIN HOW THAT'S MEASURED.

IT'S THE CONCENTRATION OF THE NUMBER OF PARTICLES BY MASS WITHIN A CUBIC METER.

AND, UM, THE STANDARD RIGHT NOW IS FOR 12, UH, MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER AS BEING THE ANNUAL AVERAGE.

AND THEN YOU DO THAT OVER A WHOLE YEAR, AND THEN YOU AVERAGE THREE YEARS TOGETHER, AND THAT SHOULD BE LESS THAN 12 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SECONDARY STANDARD, WHICH IS BASICALLY CONSIDERED TO BE A WELFARE STANDARD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE BOUGHT, SOME PEOPLE WILL BE BOTHERED BY IT WITHOUT IT NECESSARILY BEING A BIG HEALTH PROBLEM.

THEN THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER STANDARD FOR HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAN HAVE A HIGH CONCENTRATION PER YEAR, NOT JUST THE AVERAGE, BUT HOW OFTEN CAN YOU GET A VALUE ABOVE 35 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER.

AND THEN THERE'S A PM 10 STANDARD, WHICH IS AT 150 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER, WHICH REALLY HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH UNDER CONTROL.

AND THIS IS WHERE, THIS IS JUST AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHERE WE DO THESE MEASUREMENTS.

THIS TRAILER, YOU, IF YOU'RE DRIVING ON I 35 UP BY RUNDBERG LANE, AND YOU LOOK OFF TO YOUR LEFT, IF YOU'RE DRIVING NORTH OR YOU LOOK OFF TO YOUR RIGHT, IF YOU'RE DRIVING SOUTH, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SPOT THIS TRAILER.

IT'S RIGHT BY THE SIDE OF IH 35, TAKING MEASUREMENTS.

AND, UM, THAT'S, UH, 15 BY 15 BY BY EIGHT, BY 10, UH, EIGHT FEET HIGH TRAILER WITH A 10 METER TOWER THAT MEASURES THE WIND SPEED AND WIND DIRECTION.

BUT IT DRAWS AIR IN AND INSIDE THERE ARE INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE TAKING MEASUREMENTS FOR OZONE AND HYDRO, UM, SULFUR DIOXIDE AND NITROGEN OXIDE AND OTHER THINGS.

AND RIGHT OUTSIDE SITTING ON THE GROUND, THERE IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT'S MEASURING THE PARTICULATE MATTER.

SO, UH, WHAT I'VE DONE IS, UH, THIS IS WHAT I DO IN MY DAY JOB.

UM, I DON'T JUST GO OUT AND LISTEN TO ROCK AND ROLL ALL THE TIME.

I DO THAT AT NIGHT WHEN I'M NOT AT MEETINGS LIKE THIS.

UH, BUT IN MY DAY JOB, I DOWNLOADED ALL THE RAW DATA FROM EPA, I CRUNCHED THE DATA AND I CALCULATED WHAT THE, UM, WHAT THE, UH, DESIGN VALUES ARE.

THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THE NUMBERS WHEN YOU ROLL THEM UP AND THEN COMPARE THEM TO THE KNACKS FOR ALL OF THE MONITORS IN THE STATE.

AND I WILL SHOW YOU THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THIS, I'M SORRY IT'S SO SMALL, BUT I'M LISTING, UM, THE, UM, PLACES THE, FOR THE, IN THE MAJOR CITIES WHERE, UM, WE ARE, WHERE WE MEASURE PARTICULATE MATTER.

AND THEY'RE IN RED, YOU SEE TWO LINES, WHICH ARE THE TWO MONITORS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

ONE IS UP ON IH 35, THE OTHER ONE IS OVER ON WEK ROAD NEAR, UM, EAST SEVENTH STREET.

AND THEY HAVE VERY SIMILAR NUMBERS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S THE 98TH PERCENTILE, UH, HIGH VALUE, UH, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AT BOTH AROUND 22 AND VERY CLOSE IN TERMS OF THEIR ANNUAL, UM, AVERAGE 9.3 AND 9.2.

SO I TOLD YOU EARLIER THAT THE STANDARD IS 12.

UM, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE BUCKET FOR WHERE THEY'RE LO TALKING ABOUT LOWERING THE, THE, THE NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARD.

HOWEVER, AND THIS IS WHY I'M HERE, EPA EARLIER THIS YEAR ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REVISE THE HEALTH STANDARD FROM THE CURRENT LEVEL OF 12 TO SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF NINE TO 10 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER.

CAN I GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE? BINGO, REAL QUICK.

WE'RE QUICK, RIGHT? REAL, REAL QUICK.

I'M GONNA MOVE TO EXTEND FOR ANOTHER, ANOTHER 10 MINUTES.

SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? YEAH.

I'M GETTING TO THE END HERE, SO NO, I'M NOT GONNA KEEP YOU.

THERE'S GONNA BE QUESTIONS WE'RE, BUT THE POINT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A NUMBER, NUMBER OF SITES THAT ARE OVER 10, UM, IN HOUSTON AND BIG CITIES LIKE THAT.

AND WE'RE AT NINE.

AND,

[04:15:01]

SO NEXT SLIDE AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE.

BUT THE POINT IS THAT THERE'S A CLAUSE IN THE CLEAN AIR ACT, UH, SECTION 1 79 B, THAT ALLOWS YOU TO REMOVE SOME DATA FROM YOUR CALCULATIONS IF THE EMISSIONS EMANATED FROM OUTSIDE THE US.

AND THE REASON WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IN THE SUMMERTIME WE GET, WE GET, UH, WINDS PICKING UP DUST FROM NORTH AFRICA, LITERALLY BLOWING IT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THEN DEPOSITING IT ON THE EAST COAST.

AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE SATELLITE DATA TO SHOW IT, TO ILLUSTRATE IT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE, UH, EAST COAST LIGHT UP WITH PARTICULATE MATTER, UM, WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO CASES WHERE YOU GET, UM, BURNING FOR AGRICULTURAL FIRES IN SOUTHERN MEXICO, IN, UM, CENTRAL AMERICA IN THE SPRINGTIME.

AND WE'VE HAD THAT JUST RECENTLY HERE, AND THAT CAUSES SOME, UM, OUT OF THE US, UH, STUFF COMING IN HERE.

SO, NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS A TIME SERIES ILLUSTRATING THIS, AND AS EVIDENCE THAT WE CAN PREDICT IT, UM, THERE'S TWO POINTS THERE THAT, AND I, I STOLE THIS SLIDE FROM A PRESENTATION I GAVE DOWN ON CORPUS CHRISTI.

THIS IS DATA FROM CORPUS CHRISTI.

AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE THESE TWO, UH, POINTS UP THERE IN THE UPPER LEFT THAT, UM, WERE ON JUNE 26TH AND 27TH.

AND THE T C E Q HAD PREDICTED ON THE RIGHT THERE IS THE PREDICTION OR THE FORECAST THAT THE T C E Q DOES ABOUT.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY PREDICT A COUPLE OF DAYS IN ADVANCE WHAT THE POLLUTION LEVELS ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON METEOROLOGICAL, UH, FORECAST.

AND THEY HAD SEEN THAT THERE WOULD BE LARGE AMOUNTS OF AFRICAN DUST THAT WOULD BE ARRIVING ON THOSE DAYS AND IT COULD TRIGGER UNHEALTHY, UH, CONCENTRATIONS IN THE, IN SOUTH TEXAS.

UH, AUSTIN IS NOT LISTED ON THAT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT ON THOSE TWO DAYS WHERE THEY WERE SEEING CONCENTRATIONS UP AROUND 60 TO 70, UH, MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER IN CORPUS CHRISTI, WE SAW 30 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER ON THE 26TH, AND WE SAW 60 MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER ON THE 27TH.

AND BOTH OF THOSE WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR ANNUAL AVERAGE FOR 2020.

SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, AND THEN, AND THIS IS THE DATA FROM THOSE TWO DAYS.

AND ANYBODY CAN LOOK THIS UP.

IF YOU GO ON THE TC CUBES WEBSITE, LOOK, LOOK UNDER AIR, AND THEN JUST FISH AROUND AND YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY DAY, UM, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE OZONE LEVELS ARE, WHAT THE PARTICULATE MATTER LEVELS ARE, ET CETERA.

AND I JUST PUT THE THESE ON THE SLIDE JUST TO ILLUSTRATE THE HIGH VALUES WE GOT ON THOSE DAYS, AS DID EVERY OTHER MONITOR, UH, FROM BROWNSVILLE UP TO, UH, BEAUMONT, AND THEN GOING INLAND TO SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, TYLER, EVEN DALLAS.

SO, UM, I TALKED TO MY BUDDIES AT THE T C Q, IT'S ACTUALLY MY FORMER STAFF.

UH, I WAS A SECTION MANAGER THERE WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING ALL THIS, THE FORECAST AND EVERYTHING.

BUT I ASKED THEM ABOUT, WELL, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT THIS? AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HADN'T HAD TO DO IT YET BECAUSE IT, IT WASN'T A THREAT TO VIOLATE THE KNACKS, BUT NOW THAT, NOW THAT IT MIGHT, THEY'RE READY TO DO IT.

SO, UH, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO, BUT JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS WHEN PEOPLE ASK US ABOUT IT.

SO THAT'S ALL I GOT.

FUELS THAT WE USE AND WHAT CAN WE DO FOR MASS TRANSIT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UH, I, I'LL PRIME, PRIME THE, THE, THE PUMP HERE, BUT MY FROM, AND THIS MAY, YOU MAY NOT KNOW ALL OF THIS, BUT IF WE DON'T, IF, IF WE ARE, OUR LEVELS EXCEED THAT THEN, AND WE'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, WE'RE NOT IN ATTAINMENT, UM, THEN THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY AND A LOT OF FEDERAL THINGS THAT MORE OR LESS, UH, AFFECT THE WAY THAT THAT TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER THINGS ARE CONDUCTED IN THE TOWN.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT, BUT WHAT'S THE, WHAT YOU, WHAT I, WHAT YOU SAW FROM THE SLIDE I PUT UP THERE WHERE I HAD ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MONITORS, IF THEY DID LOWER IT TO NINE AND 9.5, AND WE MIGHT ESCAPE IT FOR, AT THAT POINT STILL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY OTHER BIG CITY IN TEXAS, AND NOT JUST TEXAS, BUT THIS IS ALL OVER AMERICA, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ENJOYING ATTAINMENT AT NINE AND A HALF OR 10 IS SUDDENLY GONNA BE THROWN INTO THAT BUCKET.

SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY DO, UM, IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WITH OZONE, OZONE IS CONTROLLABLE BY THE

[04:20:01]

BUT A LOT OF THIS IS, UM, ON A MUCH MORE REGIONAL LEVEL, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO CONTROL, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT, THAT WE WOULD FACE RISKS AND THAT EVERYBODY WOULD FACE RISKS ABOUT FEDERAL MONEY, UH, NEW PERMITS FOR NEW BUSINESSES, ET CETERA.

, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS NOT RELATED, BUT THERE'S A FOX RIGHT OUTSIDE THERE.

YEAH, YEAH.

RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT DOOR.

WE'VE BEEN HERE COMING AT, AT MY VERY FIRST MEETING WHEN I LEFT, THERE WAS A FOX RUNNING ACROSS THE STREET AND I GUY WAS WALKING HIS DOG AND I SAID, HEY, THERE WAS A FOX.

AND HE SAID, OH, YEAH, THAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOX.

DOES HE ADMIT OZONE? NO.

I MEAN, HEY, PARTICLE MATTER AFFECTS EVERYBODY.

YOU, IT'S PRETTY MUCH A SIGN THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE.

RIGHT? SORRY, I JUST, I GOT EXCITED.

, AIR, AIR QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS.

UM, I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT, RIGHT? UM, THERE'S NOT REALLY LIKE A GREAT WAY TO REMOVE PARTICLES FROM THE AIR, RIGHT? SO WHAT SORT OF RECOURSE DO WE HAVE OTHER THAN JUST MOVING THESE LITTLE ANTENNAS TO THE COUNTRY AND HOPING THAT WE CAN JUST FUDGE THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW? UH, WELL, I MEAN, THERE ARE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE LOCAL CONTROLS.

I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE COULD DO.

UH, IN FACT, WE'RE DOING IT NOW WITH, UH, BETTER FUELS AND WHATNOT AND, UM, CON CONTROLLING EMISSIONS FROM BARBECUES AND RESTAURANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

SAMPLING IN AUSTIN WAS IN 2013.

THE BARBECUE THING, I'M AGAINST , RIGHT? YEAH.

SO THE, BUT THE THING IS THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS NEW TERRITORY THAT WE'RE IN REALLY AS FAR AS HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I MEAN, I DID A, I DID A PROJECT FOR THE TCQ SOMETIME BACK WHERE I SHOWED THAT AIR QUALITY HAS IMPROVED REMARKABLY IN AMERICA, UM, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE CLEAN AIR ACT IN 1970, IN RENEWAL IN 1980 AND THEN 1990.

AND, UM, SO IT HASN'T BEEN THAT MUCH OF AN ISSUE.

AND WHAT EPA HAS BEEN DOING HAS BEEN RATCHETING MAKING THE STANDARDS STRICTER AND STRICTER.

ISN'T THAT GOING TO, ISN'T THE SUPREME COURT GOING TO TRY TO QUASH SOME OF THAT? UM, NO, BECAUSE THE CLE THE, WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DONE HAS BEEN TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT CONGRESS HAD AUTHORIZED THE EPA TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

THE CLEAN AIR ACT CLEARLY AUTHORIZES THE EPA TO ADJUST THE STANDARDS AND SET THE SET THE NATIONAL AM AM NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS.

WELL, THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

I MEAN THAT, UM, MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT, THAT, UM, POOR AIR QUALITY STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN, UH, RESULT IN, UH, UH, UM, MORE ASTHMA, UM, ENDS SO THAT, UM, POTENTIALLY SHORTENS THEIR LIVES AND, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE AND, UM, BECAUSE THEY CARRY THAT ON INTO ADULTHOOD AND, AND MAKE THEM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO OTHER DISEASES AS WELL.

AND, UM, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT AIR QUALITY IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON.

I CAME BACK FROM A THREE MONTH VACATION, AND, AND THE INSIDE OF MY HOUSE IS JUST COVERED WITH PARTICULATES, INCLUDING SAND.

I MEAN, THE SAHARA DESERTS APPARENTLY LANDED IN MY YARD.

SO IT'S IS SERIOUS STUFF, YOU KNOW.

UH, AND NOW THERE'S AN INCURSION OF ALL ACROSS THE NORTHEAST OF, OF THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES, AND SOMEBODY ON, UH, TWITTER, UH, A CANADIAN WAS APOLOGIZING FOR HER COUNTRY'S, UH, SMOKE , UH, DRIFTING OVER INTO THE UNITED STATES.

SO IT DOES SHOW THAT THE CANADIANS REALLY ARE NICE PEOPLE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY.

I MOVED TO EXTEND FIVE MORE MINUTES, JUST SO ELIZABETH WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE AND PUT HER HAND DOWN.

SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO 10 45.

SO I, I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, DAVID.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE OR NOT, BUT THE, THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, W AND WE, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT MICROPLASTICS AND SEVERAL THINGS TODAY, BUT WILL THAT IN GENERAL HELP WITH THE TRAJECTORY OF PM 2.5? YES.

I MEAN, ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HURTS OUR FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IS WE USED TO HAVE, UM, SPECIATION OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER, AND THEN EPA CUT BACK ON IT.

SO THE LAST TIME WE DID SPECIATION

[04:25:01]

BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM LOOKING AT IT, WELL, I JUST WAS LOOKING AT IT FOR THIS TALK I GAVE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, UM, MOTOR VEHICLES ARE, ARE, UM, THE SECOND OR THIRD MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR, UM, CRUSTAL MATERIAL, WHICH IS THAT WINDBLOWN DUST FROM NORTH AFRICA OR IN THE WESTERN US FROM THE DESERTS OR WHATEVER.

IT CAN COME FROM ANY PLACE, UH, IS GENERALLY THE LARGEST FACTOR, WINDBLOWN DUST.

AND THEN FIRES ARE PRETTY MUCH SECOND.

AND THEN IT'S ORGANIC CARBON, ELEMENTAL CARBON, UH, FROM, UH, MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST AND, UM, TIRE WEAR AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS THIRD.

SO YES, IF WE CAN IMPROVE MOTOR, IF WE CAN IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, THEN WE CAN REDUCE PARTICULATE MATTER.

UH, THANKS.

UH, JUST THE QUESTION ON THE REMOVING OF THE DATA OF THE DAYS MM-HMM.

THAT IT HAS, YOU KNOW, FROM, I HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.

I, YEAH.

AND I, I REALIZE THAT THAT WOULD BE A HARD, YOU KNOW, THING TO BALLPARK, BUT I MEAN, WOULD THEY DO THE ENTIRE DAY USING YES.

OR IT WOULD BE YES, IT IS THE DA THE DAYS ARE THEY, THE DATA, EVEN IF WE TAKE CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENTS MM-HMM.

, WE STILL TAKE A 24 HOUR AVERAGE FROM MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT.

AND SO THAT IS THE NUMBER THAT IS USED THAT WOULDN'T GO IN AND EXERCISE INDIVIDUAL HOURS, IN PART BECAUSE THE FILTER MEASUREMENTS THAT I MEASURED ARE REALLY BASED ON EXPOSING A FILTER FOR 24 CONTINUOUS HOURS.

AND THAT IS THE FEDERAL REFERENCE METHOD.

THESE OTHER METHODS ARE CALLED FEDERAL EQUIVALENT METHODS, AND THEY'RE, UM, SO THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T JUST, YOU HAVE TO USE A 24 HOUR VALUE, AND THAT'S THE WAY THE NAX IS BUILT.

UM, YOU, SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT THAT WHOLE DAY.

BUT IT'S PRETTY EASY IF THE, IF THE, IF THE METEOROLOGISTS ARE FORECASTING THAT IT'S GONNA BE HIGH PM BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE IT COMING FROM SATELLITE DATA, OR THEY CAN SEE IT, IT'S HIGH COMING IN FROM BOREAL FIRES IN CANADA, AND THEY CAN SEE IT IN MONTANA, AND THEY KNOW IT'S COMING THIS WAY, WELL THEN WE KNOW IT'S COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE US.

THERE ARE ALSO EXCLUSIONS FOR WHAT ARE CALLED EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS LIKE THE 4TH OF JULY.

I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THAT ON NEW YEAR'S DAY AND ON THE 4TH OF JULY, YOU'LL HAVE, UM, SOME OF THE FIRE FACTORS, UM, SHOW UP IN, UM, YOUR PARTICULATE MATTER THE NEXT DAY FOR CELEBRATORY EVENTS.

AND THO THOSE GET KICKED OUT AS BEING EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS.

WOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANIPULATION OF DATA IF IT BECOMES SORT OF MORE NO, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S HIGHLY REGULATED.

THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CANCERS AND SO FORTH, UH, THAT RESULT FROM SOME OF THIS STUFF? I MEAN, UH, UH, AS WE GET RID OF SOME OF THESE DIRTY INDUSTRIES, WE, YOU KNOW, WE GET A HEALTHIER POPULATION.

I MEAN, THEY'RE PRETTY SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

SO JUST FOR CLARITY, YOU HAVE NOT REMOVED ANY DATA NO.

YET.

OR JUST TO EVEN SEE HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THE PREVIOUS NO, I HAVEN'T, BECAUSE I'D HAVE TO GO LOOK AT ALL THE FORECASTS AND IT WOULDN'T BE THAT HARD.

I COULD DO IT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT MY JOB, .

UM, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE I WILL DO IT JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, BUT IT, THE, UM, THE EPA AUTHORIZES THE STATES TO DO IT, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE, MAINLY THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OZONE, AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT PM 2.5.

ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANYTHING? YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, SO YOU THINK, DO YOU THINK THAT THE CITY OR THE COUNTY OR WHATEVER WOULD LOOK DUMB AS HELL BUILDING SAY A GIANT AUTOMOTIVE PLANT, UH, NEAR THE CITY AND THEN LIKE A YEAR LATER, EPA TURNS OUT TO LOWER THE REG THE AMOUNT OF, UH, PARTICULATE MATTER, LESS THAN 10 MICRONS OR WHATEVER.

UM, AND THEN WE LOSE OUT ON FUNDING BECAUSE OF IT.

ALTHOUGH I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBERS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, A FOREIGN PARTICULAR MATTER THAT RIGHT.

IS EMITTED OUTSIDE OF UNITED STATES.

I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU THAT I, I, WHEN I WAS, LAST TIME I WAS DOWN IN CORPUS CHRISTI TO GIVE A TALK, THERE WAS A GUY THERE WHO WAS AN ECONOMIST FROM TEXAS A AND M KINGSVILLE, WHO TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE RISKS WERE FOR NON-ATTAINMENT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE EX EXPLICITLY CITED WAS THE LOSS OF A NEW INDUSTRY THAT MIGHT OPEN.

AND HE MONETIZED THAT.

HE SAID WHAT THAT WOULD COST THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOST TAX REVENUE AND WHATNOT.

SO, UM, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY LOOK AT IS, UH, A DROP IN LOCAL INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF NEW, THE LACK OF NEW INDUSTRY COMING IN AND A GROWING AREA.

SO LAST ONE HAS TO BE LESS THAN, HAS TO BE LESS THAN 45 SECONDS, SQUEEZE SHORT.

IT'S JUST, UM, YEAH.

BUT DO THEY MONETIZE THE,

[04:30:01]

SO, UM, AND THAT'S OFTEN NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

JUST, THAT'S JUST MY COMMENT.

BUT THANKS SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS IN.

THIS IS, IT IS REAL INTERESTING.

APPRECIATE IT.