[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
WE ARE AT, UH, 63 10 WIL WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE.
UM, WE'LL CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UM, WE'LL START WITH ROLL CALL, UM, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ARO REMOTE, LET'S JUST START HERE ON THE RIGHT AND COME AROUND THE HORN.
THE, THE, THERE'LL BE A RED LIGHT ON.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
COMMUNICATIONS? YES.LET'S, FIRST UP WE HAVE DIANA CHER, AND, UH, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
THERE'LL BE A RED LIGHT UP HERE.
YES, IT IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BARTON CREEK BANKS AND ZILKER PARK ARE IN A DESPERATE STATE.
YOU MAY REFER TO THE SIGLO GROUP NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY REPORT OF 2021 FOR DETAILS AND ACTUAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF L NEFF POINT.
I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO IN THE CITY.
PERHAPS YOU COULD DRAFT A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO BEGIN A REMEDIATION EFFORT FOR THE BARTON CREEK BANKS IN ZUCKER PARK, OR TO FENCE LOU NEFF.
IMAGINE AUSTIN WAS ADOPTED BY OUR CITY IN 2012.
THE COMMITMENT TO BARTON CREEK COULDN'T BE MORE CLEAR FROM THE IMAGINE AUSTIN WEBSITE.
THIS IMAGE IS USED TO REPRESENT OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE BARTON CREEK RECREATIONAL AREA IN ZILKER PARK.
IT IS LITERALLY THE POSTER CHILD FOR BEAUTIFUL AUSTIN.
NEXT ZUCKER PARKS CREEK BANKS ARE A PRIME DESTINATION FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS.
IN SUMMERTIME, FAMILY PICNICS HERE ARE POPULAR.
NEXT, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOSE TREES ON THE BANKS.
THIS IS A CURRENT RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BARTON CREEK OUTSIDE OF THE PARK.
PREVENTION MUST BE EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE THAN REPAIR.
I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TREES HERE IN SOER PARK ARE HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE.
WHAT WILL CREEK COLLAPSE ON THIS SIDE OF BARTON CREEK MEAN FOR NEXT SUMMER'S PARK VISITORS? AND THE NEXT SLIDES PLEASE.
I TOOK THESE PHOTOS IN ZILKER PARK THIS MORNING.
THESE TREES ARE JUST HANGING ON THE EDGE.
I'M TOLD BY PEOPLE MORE EXPERT THAN MYSELF THAT THEY ARE SOON GOING TO DIE.
SOME OF THEM, OOPS, MORE SLIDES.
JACKSON, WE LOSE THEM? NO, THERE'S STILL NEW BROADCASTS.
CAN WE GO TO THE LAST SLIDE PERHAPS SO I DON'T RUN OUT OF TIME? OH, THERE'S SOME MORE.
THIS IS A VERY LARGE TREE AND THAT'S LU NEEF POINT.
AGAIN, EVEN A SMALL EFFORT ON YOUR PART SUCH AS RECOMMENDING THAT FENCING BE ADDED TO PROTECT LU NEEF POINT TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANKS FOR COMING AND PROVIDING THE SLIDES.
IF YOU HAVEN'T, WOULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THOSE TO KAYLA, UM, SO WE CAN DEEM DISSEMINATE THEM AMONG
[00:05:01]
THE COMMISSION? THANKS.WHAT DO YOU GOT? UH, I WAS JUST SAYING.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ON THE AGENDA IS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ON OCTOBER 18TH.AND I WOULD, I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES WITH ONE CORRECTION ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY EINHORN, SECONDED BY TOPHER, I BELIEVE SHOULD BE SHOWN FAILING BY A VOTE OF FIVE FOUR AS OPPOSED TO FIVE ZERO.
BUT WITH THAT, I'D MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO SECOND, SECOND, SECOND, UH, MO MOTION BY EINHORN, SECOND BY SULLIVAN ON ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND.
EVERYBODY PRESENT EXCEPT FOR ME AND BRISTOL.
WE BOTH ABSTAIN ME AND BRISTOL.
UM, ALRIGHT, UH, MOVING ON TO, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
AND I'M ACTUALLY GONNA STEP OFF THE DIA FOR THIS ONE.
SO I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
UH, KAYLA LER WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UH, COULD WE TAKE ACTION ON, UH, THE POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
[4. Make a recommendation regarding the request for 311-315 South Congress Planned Unit Development (PUD) (C814-2023-0027) located at 311, 313, 315 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704 (District 9). Presented by Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department and Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department. ]
UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE THREE 11 TO THREE 15 SOUTH CONGRESS PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT, UM, HAS REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.SO, UH, I MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THAT TO A FUTURE DATE TO BE DETERMINED WHEN STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE READY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DASH.
AND THEN I'LL STEP OFF AT YOUR SPARE.
DO YOU HAVE MY SLIDE AT I COME THE SLIDES? OKAY.
[2. Make a recommendation regarding the following requests to vary from the Land Development Code. Name: Blueridge Multifamily at Wildhorse Ranch (SP-2022-0426C.SH) ]
UH, FIRST UP WE HAVE, UM, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER TWO, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING REQUESTS TO VARY FROM THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.UM, BLUE RIDGE MULTIFAMILY AT WILDHORSE RANCH SP DASH 2022 DASH 0 4 2 6 C SH, APPLICANT ALLISON LEHMAN AND KIM, UH, KIMLEY HORN, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER IS PAMELA AB TOLEY ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR BLUE RIDGE MULTIFAMILY AT WILDHORSE RANCH, 98 25 WILDHORSE RANCH TRAIL CASE NUMBER SP 20 22 0 4 2 6 C SH.
IF YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE RED BOX ON THE TOP RIGHT THERE, NORTH OF DECKER LAKE, UM, THIS IS, UH, WHERE THE, THE SITE IS IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF TOWN, JUST INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS UP THERE.
UM, IT'S NOT AS VISIBLE AS I'D HOPED IT WOULD BE.
UH, ANYWAY, SO THE, THE PROPERTY IS IN THE GILLILAND CREEK WATERSHED, UH, WHICH IS A SUBURBAN CLASSIFIED WATERSHED.
UM, IT'S IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
AUSTIN FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION HAS ONE WETLAND CRITICAL ENVI ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE, AND IT'S IN COUNCIL DISTRICT.
SO THE PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 27 ACRES.
AND THE KIND OF MUSTARDY YELLOW ON HERE, UH, THOSE ARE SLOPES OVER 15%.
SO ROUGHLY 50% OF THE, OF THE SITE IS COVERED BY SLOPES, UM, OVER 15%.
IT'S A MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND THE LAYOUT, AS YOU CAN SEE, WELL ANYWAY, IT CONCENTRATES THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN THE LESS, UM, IN, IN THE AREAS OF, OF LESS STEEPNESS, UM, IN THE FLATTEST AREAS POSSIBLE.
SO THE INITIAL DESIGN ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY GRADING OVER EIGHT FEET.
UH, AND GRADING UP TO EIGHT FEET IS ALLOWED BY, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO COME TO YOU GUYS.
SO, UM, BUT THE REVISED PLAN, THEY BECAME SMART
[00:10:01]
HOUSING AT ONE POINT, AND THEN THE REVISED PLAN NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH ADA REGULATIONS AND, UH, ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE SOME GRADING OVER EIGHT FEET.UM, NOW THE PART ON THE LEFT IS WHAT I JUST SAID.
AND THEN, SO THE TWO VARIANCES ARE VARIANCE TO 25 8, 3 41 CUT REQUIREMENTS.
AND, UH, THE VARIANCE REQUEST IS TO CUT OVER FOUR FEET TO, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S 12, BUT IT DISAPPEARED.
AND, UM, UH, FILL VARIANCE FOR, UH, VARIANCE AT 25 8, 3 42 FILL REQUIREMENTS TO FILL OVER FOUR FEET TO 10 FEET.
UM, THE, UH, SO THE VARIANCE IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, UM, UH, BECAUSE WE FEEL THE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN MET, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PROJECTS WITH SIMILAR, UH, SITE CONSTRAINTS, SPECIFICALLY, UH, THE TOPOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU SEE IN THIS, UH, IN THIS SITE.
AND, UM, ESPECIALLY HAVING TO MEET ADA STANDARDS, UH, THE VARIANCE IS NECESSITATED BY TOPIC.
GRAPHIC FEATURES, NOT DESIGN CHOICE.
IT'S THE MINIMUM DEVIATION FROM THE CODE AND IS UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES.
FINALLY, WATER QUALITY WILL BE EQUAL TO THE WATER QUALITY WITHOUT THE VARIANCE.
SO, AS I SAID, STEPH DOES RECOMMEND THE VARIANCE ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
UM, WATER QUALITY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH BIOFILTRATION PODS INSTEAD OF THE STANDARD, UH, SANDED PONDS.
AND I KNOW THAT'S NOW THE STANDARD REGULATION, BUT THIS, UM, THIS PLAN WAS SUBMITTED BEFORE THAT BECAME THE REGULATION, AND THEREFORE IT'S NOT REQUIRED OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT ANYWAY.
AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, WELL, UH, B CONTAINMENT OF FILL WITH, UM, WALLS OR TERRACING, IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE WALLS, UH, AND, UM, REVEGETATION WITH NATIVE SEEDING AND PLANTING FOR THE AREAS OF CUT.
UH, DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE FOR A PRESENTATION? PRESENTATION OR JUST, OR SPEAKING? UH, DWAYNE CHOPPA WITH KIMLEY HORN, THE APPLICANT, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION, UH, PAMELA COVERED EVERYTHING, AND SO WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, IF THERE ARE ANY.
AND KAYLA, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
SO LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR, UH, QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS.
WELL, I WAS PLANNING TO MAKE A BIG STINK ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SMART HOUSING IS? SAFE MIXED INCOME, ACCESSIBLE, REASONABLY PRICED AND TRANSIT ORIENTED.
THERE'S NO TRANSIT AT THIS LOCATION.
THE CLOSEST BUS STOP IS MILES AWAY.
UM, BUT I DID HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE APPLICANT AND THEY DID SHOW ME THAT, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAPITAL METRO ABOUT, UH, THE FUTURE GREEN LINE, WHICH WOULD USE THE RAIL THAT RUNS RIGHT BY THIS.
UM, IT'S WOULD BE IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE GREEN LINE.
UH, SO IT COULD BE 10 TO 12 YEARS OR LATER OUT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BUT I DON'T WANNA MAKE A BIG ISSUE ABOUT IT.
UM, I WAS GONNA SAY, WE CAN'T CALL IT SMART HOUSING.
WE HAVE TO CALL IT SMAR HOUSING.
UM, BUT I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP THE PROJECT, SO THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SMART HOUSING, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE TRANSIT ACCESS, BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT WE'LL HAVE IT IN THE FUTURE.
COMMISSIONER BRIER? NO, COFER, JUST SORT OF TO MAKE SURE I'M READING THE MAP CORRECTLY.
UM, SO ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCES UP TO 8% FOR, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION TO.
UH, CAN YOU TELL ME SORT OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TRACT WOULD HAVE CUT OVER EIGHT FEET? THE EIGHT TO 12? I DIDN'T SEE A PERCENTAGE.
[00:15:01]
COMMISSIONER SHIRA, COMMISSIONER QURESHI, NO QUESTIONS.COMMISSIONER EINHORN, SECRETARY BRISTOL.
YEAH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO THE AREA THAT IS SET ASIDE HERE, LIKE HOW MANY ACRES DOES THAT COVER SET ASIDE? THAT WON'T BE DEVELOPED, THAT'LL BE UNDEVELOPED.
CAN YOU STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE? I, I THINK THE QUESTION WAS RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF THE, SO OF THE SITE, ROUGHLY, ROUGHLY 47.9% OF THE SITE IS ON STEEP SLOPES.
SO, UH, OUR PROPOSED IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE IS LESS THAN 60%.
SO 40, UH, OVER 40% OF THE SITE WILL BE PRESERVED IN KIND OF NATURAL STATE.
AND IS THERE, UM, ANY PLANS FOR DEVELOPING ANY OF THAT AS FAR AS TRAILS OR PARKLAND? OR WILL IT JUST BE LEFT NATURAL? UH, LEFT NATURAL FOR THE MOST PART.
I MEAN THERE, I THINK WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING A LANDSCAPE PLAN, SO THERE MAY BE SOME TRAILS INCORPORATED IN THERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'LL ALL BE LEFT OFF NATURAL BECAUSE OF THE SLOPES.
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN REALLY DO DO ON IT, SO, MM-HMM.
AND IS THAT TRUE ALSO ON THE SIDE WHERE THERE'S THE, THE POND, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A POND AND KIND OF A CRITICAL FEATURE OVER THERE? UM, THERE IS A, I GUESS A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE TO THE WEST OF THE SITE, I GUESS, UM, YEAH.
AND OVER THERE THAT, THAT AREA WITHIN THE SETBACK OF THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE WILL LEFT BE UNTOUCHED.
YEAH, THERE'S A SETBACK THAT'S ACTUALLY PLATTERED ON THAT, SO WE'LL STAY OUTTA THAT.
AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE, IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS CORRECTLY, UM, THE ROAD THAT KIND OF LINKS THE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT, UM, THESE ARE APARTMENTS, RIGHT? MULTIFAMILY? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, IS THERE, UM, SO THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S PART OF THE RAISED ELEVATED AREA.
IS THERE WATER FEATURE OR ANYTHING THAT COMES THROUGH THAT, OR IS THAT JUST RAISED A LITTLE BIT? UM, SO THAT IS RAISED, AND SO WHEN, AS WE WERE, UM, DEVELOPING THE SITE, OUR INITIAL SITE PLAN ACTUALLY DID NOT HAVE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THERE THEY WERE, WE WERE GONNA LEAVE THEM INDEPENDENT.
UM, BUT THROUGH, UM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT ACCESS IS REQUIRED TO, TO CONNECT THE TWO PROPERTIES, PROVIDE TWO POINTS OF ACCESS THROUGH THERE.
UM, AND SO THAT AREA, IT KIND OF BRIDGES ACROSS THE BACK.
IT IT, OR IT'S FILLED IN THE BACK, UM, TO CONNECT THOSE TWO SO IT'S ELEVATED, UM, AND THE PONDS WILL DRAIN UNDERNEATH IT, UNDERNEATH THAT ROAD.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
I WILL ECHO, UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, SULLIVAN'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENTIRE WILD HORSE, UM, RANCH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING TRANSIT THERE, AND ARE WE BEST SERVING THE POPULATION THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CHOOSING TO LIVE THERE AND IS ABLE TO LIVE THERE, UH, WITHOUT HAVING ANY KIND OF TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM? MM-HMM.
SO, AND IT IS PART OF THE, THE, THE ORIGINAL ZONING IN THIS TO, TO, UM, TO PROVIDE ACCESS OUT TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, SO.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONERS? UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN? I HAVE ONE MORE.
UM, I KNOW I DID GOOGLE EARTH.
LOOK AT THE, UM, THE LITTLE STREET THERE.
ARE THERE PLANS TO IMPROVE THAT? SO ON THE VERY FAR, UH, RIGHT THERE THERE'S A BLUE BLUFF AND IT'S A ONE, BASICALLY IT'S A ONE LANE COUNTRY ROAD AND THERE'S ACTUALLY DUMPING ALONG.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON GOOGLE EARTH MM-HMM,
BUT, UM, ARE THERE PLANS TO IMPROVE THAT, DO YOU KNOW? VERY GOOD QUESTION.
AND UM, THERE ACTUALLY THERE ARE PLANS TO IMPROVE THAT.
SO THOSE PLANS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND, UM, THAT CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE STARTING, I WOULD SAY, IN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS.
IS THAT A CITY OF AUSTIN, CIP OR?
[00:20:01]
IT IS NOT.IT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTER DEVELOPERS.
UM, I IMPROVING THAT, UH, ROAD FOR THE P THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PUD.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? I SO MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE ITEM? WE DO, GIMME ONE SECOND.
NOVEMBER 1ST, UH, BLUE RIDGE MULTIFAMILY AT WILDHORSE RANCH, SP DASH 2022 DASH 0 4 26 C DASH, UH, POINT SH AND THAT'S LOCATED AT 9 8 2 5 WILDHORSE RANCH TRAIL IN MAINOR, TEXAS.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO VARY FROM LDC TWO FIVE DASH EIGHT DASH 3 4 1 TO ALLOW CUT TO 12 FEET AND VARY FROM LDC TWO FIVE DASH EIGHT DASH 3 42 TO ALLOW FILL TO 10 FEET.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE, THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE GILLIAN CREEK WATERSHED SUBURBAN CLASSIFICATION DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE.
BECAUSE THE FINDINGS OF FACTS HAVE BEEN MET WITH THE FOLLOWING STAFF CONDITION, ONE WATER QUALITY POND WILL BE, UH, A BIO FILTRATION POND FILL OVER EIGHT FEET WILL BE CONTAINED WITH ENGINEERED WALLS SLOPES CREATED BY CUT OVER EIGHT FEET WILL BE, UH, RE-VEGETATED WITH NATIVE SEEDING AND PLANTING PER THE STANDARD SPEC SPECIFICATIONS MANUAL, 6 0 9 S 0.5.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.
THEREFORE, THE REC, THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REC RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE REQUEST.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND, KAYLA.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING.
UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM, UH, LEGAL ON, UM, FOR JUST FOR CLARITY, ONCE IT GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION, IF YOU ARE ADOPTING RECOMMENDATION WITH, UM, STAFF'S CONDITIONS, THAT SHOULD GO DOWN IN THE THEREFORE SECTION, NOT THE WHEREAS CLAUSE THAT I'VE, FOR SOME REASON I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE REVERSE OF THAT, SO I REVERSE MY
SO I SHOULD SAY, THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE REQUEST OF VARIANCES.
I'LL JUST SPLIT IT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND THEN PUT THE STAFF CONDITIONS THERE IF THAT IS WHAT THE COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDING.
AND THEN IF, IF YOU WERE TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITIONS, THEN THEY, THOSE WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED AND THEREFORE, YEAH.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT DIFFERENTLY ON OUR MEETING, SO I FLIPPED IT BACK AROUND.
I NEED TO REREAD THAT OR CAN I JUST ADD IT IN THERE? I THINK AS LONG AS EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IS CLEAR ON WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING WITH STAFF CONDITIONS, THEN WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE EVERYONE CLEAR ON THE, ON THAT? OKAY.
SO, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THE VOTE AGAIN.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HANDS AND IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DAAS.
MOTION PASSES AND LET'S SEE IF WE COULD GET COMM, UH, CHAIR BERG BACK.
[00:25:16]
DO WE ASSUME HE'S WATCHING SOMEPLACE ELSE AND WOULD KNOW? OH, OKAY.[3. Make a recommendation regarding the following requests to vary from the Land Development Code. Name: Old Lampasas Dam #3 Dam Modernization Project (SP-2022-0558D)]
UP IS THE JOHN.UH, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING REQUEST TO VARY FROM LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THE OLD LAND PASSES DAM NUMBER THREE, SP 2022 DASH OH 5 58 D.
UM, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, SIR.
CAN WE BRING UP, UH OH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON THE WAY.
SO, UH, MY NAME IS MIKE MCDOUGALL, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PROGRAM MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND YES, THIS IS THE OLD DAM, OLD LAND PASSES NUMBER THREE DAM MODERNIZATION PROJECT 90 90 18 AND A HALF OLD LAMP PE TRAIL.
SO THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED A LITTLE BIT WEST OF 180 3 ON, UH, SP SPRINGS ROAD.
WELL JUST OFFICE BY SWITCHINGS ROAD.
AND THE PROJECT IS IN THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS A WATER SUPPLY SUBURBAN WATERSHED.
IT'S IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE.
IT IS NOT LOCATED O OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE.
IT'S IN DISTRICT SIX, PARTIALLY AND PARTIALLY IN THE ETJ.
AND SO THE SYNOPSIS, THERE'S AN EXISTING DAM THERE PRESENT, UH, RATHER AN EXISTING DAM THERE.
CURRENTLY IT WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1980S AND THE DAM IS CLASSIFIED BY THE TCQ AS INTERMEDIATE SIZE AND HAS, UH,
IT HAS A PICTURE OVER MY TEXT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THERE.
AND, AND, AND, OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE DAM IS, IS CLASSIFIED BY THE TCQ IS INTERMEDIATE SIZED AND HIGH HAZARD DUE TO THE DOWNSTREAM INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, THAT'S HOUSING, ROADS, UH, RESIDENCE AS THINGS LIKE THAT DOWNSTREAM.
AND THE DAM WAS DAMAGED DURING TROPICAL STORM HERMINE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, AND REPAIRS ARE NECESSARY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE AND CONTINUE WITH THE SYNOPSIS.
THE EXISTING 16 INCH CORRUGATED METAL PIPE PRINCIPLE SPILLWAY HAS FAILED AND WATER'S CURRENTLY PASSING UNDER THE PIPE.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE OLD LANE PASSES DAM ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SAFETY OF THE DAM TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND MITIGATE POTENTIAL FUTURE IMPACTS.
AND THE DAM IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED BY BOTH THE CITY AND THE TCEQ TO COMPLY WITH CITY AND STATE DAM SAFETY CRITERIA.
AND SO THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE REMOVAL OF EXISTING TREES AND BOULDERS ALONG A DAM FOOTPRINT.
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, TREE ROOTS, UM, ARE, AND, AND THE DAM ARE NOT A GOOD COMBINATION.
UH, APPARENTLY THE TRUE ROOTS CAN UNDERMINE AND WEAKEN THE, THE DAM, UH, REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING 60 INCH CMP PRINCIPLE SPILLWAY WITH A NEW 42 INCH DIAMETER REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPES, SPILLWAY AND CRADLE INSULATION OF A NEW INTAKE STRUCTURE AND LOW FLOW RISER UPSTREAM OF THE DAM TO CONTROL WATER LEVEL WITHIN THE POND AND PROVIDE EXTENDED DETENTION FOR WATER QUALITY BENEFITS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING WASTEWATER LINE THROUGH THE EMBANKMENT OF THE DAM WITH A NEW LINE PARALLEL TO THE 42 INCH RCP.
AND SO, UM, ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING WASTEWATER LINE UPSTREAM OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE DAM GRADING AND RESURFACING OF THE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM EMBANKMENT SLOPES PROVIDE INCREASED STABILITY, RAISING THE TOP OF THE DAM AND AUXILIARY SPILLWAY ELEVATIONS TO MEET CITY AND STATE DAM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
INSTALLATION OF A NEW AUXILIARY SPILLWAY, INSTALLATION OF NEW CONCRETE HEAD WALL FOR PRINCIPAL SPILLWAY AND DOWNSTREAM ARMORY OF THE EXISTING PLUNGE POOL, INSTALLATION OF A NEW PERMANENT MAINTENANCE DRIVE TO ALLOW, UH, WPD FIELD OPERATIONS TO ACCESS AND MAINTAIN THE STRUCTURE AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.
AND SO THIS IS, UH, THE PROPOSED WORK, AND SO I'LL, I'LL SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON THIS SLIDE.
SO, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE TO WORK ON A DAM, THERE'S GONNA BE A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A CREEK THERE.
AND SO THERE WILL BE CUT IN THE CRITICAL AND IN THE TRANSITION ZONE, UH, THERE WILL BE CUT OVER EIGHT FEET.
UM, AND SO TO GO IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, CUT FROM FOUR TO EIGHT FEET WOULD BE ABOUT 9,600 SQUARE FEET OF THAT AND CUT OVER EIGHT FEET, ABOUT 6,200 SQUARE FEET OF THAT.
UM, SO THE, UH, THE HOT PINK IS THE CUT OVER EIGHT FEET AND THANK YOU.
[00:30:01]
AND THE, UH, THE LADDER PINK IS THE CUT FROM FOUR TO EIGHT FEET.THE GREEN IS THE PROPOSED ACCESS DRIVE GOING ACROSS THE DAM.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE THAT'S THE INNER BLUE AREAS AND A WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE THAT IS THE OUTER BLUE AREAS.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ALSO PROPOSED TO BE FILL FROM FOUR TO EIGHT FEET AND FILL OVER EIGHT FEET.
UH, THERE'D BE ABOUT 11,900, EXCUSE ME, 10,900 SQUARE FEET OF FILL OVER EIGHT FEET, AND ABOUT 3,100, UH, SQUARE FEET OF FILL FROM FOUR TO EIGHT FEET.
UH, THERE'D BE FILL ALONG THE DAM AND UNDERNEATH A PROPOSED DRIVE, AND THEN SOME FILL OF, UH, TO THE, UH, THE WEST OF THE DAM AS WELL.
AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE IS A PROPOSED DRIVE WOULD BE BUILT ON THE DAM.
THE DRIVE WOULD BE ON SLOPES OVER 15%.
THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REGULATES SLOPES OVER 15%, UH, REGULAR, EXCUSE ME, REGULATES CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES OVER 15%.
DRIVEWAYS ARE GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED ON SLOPES OVER 15%.
SO THIS PROPOSED DRIVEWAY WOULD NEED A VARIANCE AS WELL.
AND SO THIS IS THE VIEW OF THE DAM FROM ABOVE.
UM, THIS WAS TAKEN ABOUT A WEEK, WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
UM, THERE ISN'T REALLY ANY ACCESS.
UM, I COULDN'T GET TO THE DAM ON FOOT VERY EASILY TO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT.
UM, THE UPSTREAM VIEW, UM, THAT PIPE IS THE ACTUAL SPILLWAY.
UH, SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE, UH, ACTUAL FAILED SPILLWAY PIPE.
THIS IS THE DOWNSTREAM VIEW OF THAT SAME PIPE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S FAILED.
UH, IT'S, THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL EROSION.
THAT IS ALL SUPPOSED TO BE SOIL RIGHT THERE.
THAT CONCRETE APRON IS NOT SUPPOSED TO JUST BE A STANDALONE STRUCTURE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AGAINST SOIL.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH WASHOUT THERE'S BEEN SINCE THIS WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE EARLY 1980S.
THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL EROSION.
AND WE'LL SEE THE NEXT PICTURE.
AND THAT'S JUST, UH, KIND OF POINTING TO WHERE THE WASHOUT IS.
ALL THAT SHOULD BE SOIL, NOT JUST OPEN SPACE.
YOU CAN KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THE, UH, WITH, WITH A PERSON FOR SCALE, WHAT THE ACTUAL, UM, AMOUNT OF, UH, WASHOUT IS THE EROSION.
AGAIN, THIS SHOULD ALL BE SOIL.
UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IN THIS PHOTO, THERE'S A GULLY THERE IN THE BACKGROUND.
THERE ARE VOIDS AND, UM, THE GULLY SHOULD BE THE DAM EMBANKMENT.
SO THAT WHOLE AREA SHOULD BE, UH, STABILIZED SOIL, STABILIZED WITH VEGETATION AND NOT AN ACTUAL GULLY.
THIS GULLY IS, IS THE, IS THE, IS IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE WASHOUT AND THE OVERFLOW OF THE DAM.
AGAIN, THIS IS THAT SAME DOWNSTREAM IMAGE.
THERE'S A GULLY, THERE'S VOIDS.
YOU CAN KIND OF GET AN IDEA, UM, BASED ON THE EL, THE HEIGHT OF THE ELEVATION, OR EXCUSE ME, THE HEIGHT OF VEGETATION ABOVE THAT, THAT PIPE.
UM, THERE ISN'T ANY, ANY SOIL THERE, THERE SHOULD BE.
THERE ARE TREES GROWING IN THE DAM.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE DAM.
THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE, UH, STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE DAM.
AND SO THERE ARE FOUR VARIANCES REQUESTED FOR THIS DAM PROJECT.
UH, REQUEST TO VARY FROM LDC 25 8 2 61 TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
REQUEST TO VARY FROM 25 8 3 41 TO ALLOW CUT UP TO 10 FEET.
REQUEST TO VARY FROM LDC 25 8 3 42 TO ALLOW FILL UP TO NINE FEET AND REQUEST TO VARY FROM 25 8 3 0 1 TO ALLOW DRIVABLE CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES OVER 15%.
SO FOUR VARIANCES, CUT, FILL CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES AND CONSTRUCTION IN THE CRITICAL NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE LEASE.
AND SO STAFF RECOMMENDS VARIANCES, HAVING DETERMINED THAT THE REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACT HAVE BEEN MET.
STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING VARIANCE CONDITION 6 0 9 S NATIVE SEEDING AND PLANTING, EXCEPT FOR PROHIBITED DUE TO DAM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
AND I MENTIONED EXCEPT FOR PROHIBITED, BECAUSE 6 0 9 S CAN REQUIRE, UH, THE PLANTING OF WOODY VEGETATION, TREES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT CAN BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE DAM.
SO STAFF IS ASKING FOR 6 0 9 AND THREE VEGETATION WHERE IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH DAM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO I REMEMBER PREVIOUSLY THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS 6 0 9 S.
SO IN SUMMARY, THE 6 0 9 SPECIFICATION DESCRIBES SEED BED PREPARATION, SEED PLANTING, PLANTING OF ROOTED VEGETATION, WATERING, HYDRO MULCH, COMPOST, AND SPECIES SELECTION.
CONTINUING ON WITH THAT, UM, APPROVED SPECIES ARE BASED ON MOISTURE.
THAT'S GENERALLY THE PROXIMITY TO A WATERWAY AND SUNLIGHT.
FOR EXAMPLE, SIX NINE S WILL SAY IN THE UPLANDS AND SUN DABBLED AREAS, EXCUSE ME, SUN DAPPLED AREAS, INLAND SEA OATS IS AN APPROVED PLANT IN THE UPLANDS FULL SUN.
MEXICAN HAT IS AN APPROVED PLANT IN MODERATE TO HIGH
[00:35:01]
MOISTURE AREAS.BIG BLUE STEM IS AN APPROVED PLANT.
SO IT BASICALLY HAS LISTS OF, OKAY, IF THERE'S A LOT OF SUN, THESE ARE THE PLANTS WE, WE WOULD APPROVE IN THIS AREA IF THERE'S SOME SUN, IF THERE'S MOISTURE.
SO BASICALLY IT RECOMMENDS CERTAIN PLANTS BASED ON WHERE, BASED ON THE CONDITIONS WHERE THE SEEDS WOULD BE PLACED.
AND IT ALSO, UH, THIS SPECIFICATION ALSO INCLUDES MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
UM, SO MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INCLUDE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH HERBICIDE AND FERTILIZER MAY NOT BE APPLIED.
FOR EXAMPLE, HERBICIDES SHALL NOT BE APPLIED WHEN THE WIND IS GREATER THAN EIGHT MILES AN HOUR.
HERBICIDES SHALL NOT BE APPLIED WHEN RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS, AND FERTILIZER SHALL NOT BE APPLIED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF A POTENTIAL RAIN EVENT.
SO IT INCLUDES MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AS WITH THESE, UH, IN THIS SPECIFICATION.
AND SO, UM, IT ALSO HAS A RE-VEGETATION REQUIREMENT AND WHAT CONSTITUTES RE-VEGETATION IS SPECIFIED.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS SPECIFICATION SAYS THAT A SUCCESSFUL STAND OF GRASSES AND FORBES SHOULD HAVE UNIFORM DENSITY MINIMUM OF 95% COVER, NO PATCHES OF EXPOSED SOIL GREATER THAN 10 SQUARE FEET AND AERIAL EXTENT.
AND THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY IRRIGATION IS REQUIRED TYPICALLY UNTIL THE VEGETATION IS ESTABLISHED.
IRRIGATION FREQUENCY AND VOLUMES VARY WITH PLANT SPECIES.
THESE INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PLANTS SUCH AS RAGWEED, JOHNSON GRASS, CHINA BERRY, NUISANCE SPECIES MUST BE CONTROLLED UNTIL THE VEGETATION IS REESTABLISHED.
AND THAT'S IN THIS SPECIFICATION AS WELL.
AND SO THE TAKEAWAY SIX NINE S IS A 14 PAGE SPECIFICATION, AND I'VE GOT A PRINTOUT SO I CAN READ AS MUCH FROM IT OR AS LITTLE AS YOU WANT TO KNOW.
BUT IT'S A 14 PAGE SPECIFICATION THAT IDENTIFIES ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE PLANTS AND TREES, VEGETATION PLANTING REQUIREMENTS, MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO VEGETATION ESTABLISHMENT, AND THE CONDITIONS THAT INDICATE SUCCESSFUL VEGETATION ESTABLISHMENT.
AND I HAVE, UH, THE APPLICANT IS HERE WITH A PRESENTATION AS WELL.
OH, CAN WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION PLEASE? AND NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO I'D LIKE TO START WITH A QUICK INTRODUCTIONS.
WE HAVE OUR PROJECT MANAGER TONIGHT, MENEZ ARMO WITH US, UH, OUR PROJECT CONSULTANT FROM PRI NICHOLS.
UH, MY NAME IS MARY LANCASTER.
HENRY PRICE IS ALSO PART OF THE PROJECT TEAM.
UH, OLDLAND PASSES NAME IS A WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, PROJECT.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT LIVES, PROPERTY AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE IMPACT OF FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER POLLUTION.
THE DAM WAS BUILT IN 1984, UH, NEXT AS PARKLAND IN 1997.
AND IN SEPTEMBER OF 20 2010, UH, TROPICAL STORM HERMAN HIT AUSTIN PRETTY HARD.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED WITH OVER 10 INCHES OF RAIN FALL IN 24 HOURS, WHICH IS ABOUT A HUNDRED YEAR STORM.
IT DAMAGED THE SURFACE SPILLWAY AS YOU SAW FROM THE PREVIOUS PHOTOS AND THE EMBANKMENTS.
UH, SO ONCE THE DAMAGES WERE ASSESSED, UH, THE PROJECT STARTED IN SUMMER OF 2011.
THE FEASIBILITY WAS DONE, AND THEN IN THE SPRING OF 2013, THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING PHASE STARTED WHERE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES ARE, UM, ANALYZED.
BUT THE PROJECT CAME TO A HALT.
WE HAD TO DO SOME COORDINATION WITH PARD, THE US ARMY CORPS AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES BECAUSE WE FOUND JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDERS UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM.
THE AREA IS ALSO A HABITAT FOR THE GOLDEN CHEEK WOBBLERS, WHICH IS ENDANGERED SPECIES.
SO AFTER COORDINATION THE PROJECT, WE STARTED IN THE SPRING OF 2018, WE ENTERED A DESIGN PHASE, AND THEN IN THE FALL OF 2022, WE SUBMITTED FOR, UH, SITE PLAN PERMITTING.
AND THE FALL OF 2024, UH, CONSTRUCTION SHOULD START AND LAST APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS.
SO LITTLE ZOOM IN ON THE CURRENT PHASE THAT WE ARE IN.
SO LAST YEAR, UH, EARLY 2022, WE DID RECEIVE A FEDERAL PERMIT FOR THE JOLLY BILL SALAMANDER.
THEN IN THE FALL OF 2022, WE SUBMITTED FOR OUR SITE PLAN, AND, UH, WE'RE STILL IN 90% DESIGN, WRAPPING UP OUR STAGING AREAS AND, UM, PRESENTING OUR VARIANCES TONIGHT.
THEN IN EARLY 2024, WE'LL GO FOR BID.
AND THEN AGAIN, UH, STARTING CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALL OF 2024.
WE CAN'T START BEFORE AUGUST, UH, BECAUSE THE NESTING AREA FOR THE GOLDEN SHEES BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO START AFTER THE NESTING AREA.
SO KEN, WHILE WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, WE, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE THE DAM TO MEET CITY AND, UH, STATE
[00:40:01]
CRITERIA.SO, UH, TCQ HAS A DAM SAFETY PROGRAM, WHICH REGULATES AND MONITORS BOTH PRIVATE AND, UH, PUBLIC DAMS. THEY OFTEN DO, UM, INSPECTIONS AND MODERN AND GIVE RECOMMENDATION TO DAM OWNERS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITY SAFELY.
THE LAST TCQ INSPECTION THAT OLDLAND PASSES WENT THROUGH, UM, WAS FOUND IN POOR CONDITION, AND OLDLAND PASSES IS A HIGH HAZARD DAM.
SO AS WE SAW FROM THE PREVIOUS PHOTOS, AND HERE WE HAD SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE SERVICE SPILLWAY, SOME HOLES ON THE SLOPE, UH, OVERGROWN TREES AND VEGETATION ON THE EMBANKMENT.
AND ALSO THIS DAM DOES NOT SAFELY PASS 75% OF THE PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD, WHICH IS LIKE YOUR WORST CASE SCENARIO.
SO HERE'S A MAP OF THE INUNDATION.
IF THIS DAM WERE TO BREACH, YOU HAVE OVER 30, UH, UH, HABITABLE STRUCTURES AT A RISK OF FLOODING IF THE DAM WERE TO UH, FAIL.
WE ALSO HAVE TWO ROADS, INCLUDING SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD, WHICH IS A MAIN COLLECTOR ACCORDING TO TEXT DOTS.
AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE SIX LOW WATER CROSSINGS AT RISK OF FLOODING IF THE DAM WERE TO FAIL.
SO JUST A QUICK, UH, PROJECT RECAP.
UH, WE ARE HERE TO FIX THE SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE, OF THE DAM MEETING, CITY AND STATE, UH, DAM SAFETY CRITERIA.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO ADD, UM, ADD SOME ADDITIONAL WATER QUALITY AND ENHANCE BOTH THREATEN AND ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT.
UH, WE'VE DONE SOME THOROUGH COORDINATION WITH OUR DSD ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWER AS, AS WELL AS OUR OWN ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, TEAM IN WATERSHED AND TRY TO THROUGH THE DESIGN, UM, MEET AS MUCH AS WE COULD OF THE REGULATION.
BUT THESE LAST FOUR VARIANCES ARE THE, ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET, UM, THROUGH THE DESIGN.
SO THIS EVENING, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, WE HAVE KIM THAT CAN ANSWER ANY KIND OF OUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, MINDA FOR THE PROJECT DELIVERY, OR MYSELF AND HENRY FOR THE DEPARTMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
UM, YEAH, LET'S, LET'S GO AROUND THE, THE HORN HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER QURESHI, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, NO QUESTIONS.
APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION SEEMS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THE DAM SEEMS PRETTY DEGRADED.
HOW MUCH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS IT RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS? HOW DID IT, HOW DID IT GET INTO THIS STATE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S PRETTY DETERIORATED.
SO NO, SO HENRY PRICE WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UM, AS WE SAW ON THE TIMELINE, UH, SLIDE FOR THE DM, IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED, UM, IN THE COUNTY AND THEN ANNEXED.
AND SO WHEN IT WAS ANNEXED THE INFRASTRUCTURE SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY WITH DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S NOT REALLY VERY WELL, UH, TRANSFERRED AND, AND THE NEED THAT THE CITY TAKES ON IS VERY WELL EVALUATED.
SO THAT'S KIND OF LED TO, IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE WHEN THE CITY RECEIVED IT, AND THEN IT WAS ON PARK LAND.
AND ONE OF THE VARIANCES THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THE DRIVEWAY MAINTENANCE.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, DUE TO THE LACK OF ACCESS, UM, IT'S, IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR US TO MAINTAIN IT.
AND THEN AWARENESS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE KIND OF LED TO US, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALREADY A REALLY BIG ISSUE, UH, BEFORE IT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DURING THE TROPICAL STORM AND THAT JUST KIND OF SNOWBALLED.
AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO IT.
GETTING INTO THAT STATE WAS JUST KIND OF STARTED OFF THE CITY, GOT THE ASSET WHEN IT WAS IN BAD CONDITION.
UH, IT WASN'T REALLY SET UP TO DO THAT MAINTENANCE WORK WITHOUT A BIG PROJECT LIKE THIS.
AND JUST DUE TO THE BUDGET NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT MAINTENANCE WAS DE DID THE COUNTY ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCT THIS OR WAS IT ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED BY A PREVIOUS LANDOWNER? I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, CONSTRUCTED WITH THE SUBDIVISION, UH, SURROUNDING THE, UH, THE DAM.
SO IT WAS PRIVATE, BUT THEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT BECAME THE COUNTY'S PROPERTY AND THEN THE CITY'S AFTER IT WAS ANNEXED.
IS THE ADJACENT LAR HABITAT COUNTED TOWARDS THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE BCCP OR IS IT JUST ANCILLARY HABITAT? IS IS IT PART OF THE BALCON CANYONLAND CONSERVATION PLAN PLAN? I, SO I, I THINK KIM, KIM HERES CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I, I HOPE, OR IF NOT, WE CAN GET AN ANSWER FOR THAT.
UH, WATERSHED IS PAYING THROUGH THE BCCP UH, MITIGATION FUND FOR THE PROJECT.
SO I AM CURIOUS WHAT OTHER, UM, RE CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS ARE REQUIRED DUE TO THE SALAMANDERS AND GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLERS? UM, SO LIKE I MENTIONED, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO START CONSTRUCTION OR THE CLEARING OPERATIONS
[00:45:01]
UNTIL AFTER THE NESTING SEASON.SO WE CAN'T DO ANY CLEARING FROM MARCH 1ST THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST.
AND SO WE CAN START CLEARING OPERATIONS SEPTEMBER ONE.
AND SO THAT'S, WE'LL, UM, CONTROL THE SCHEDULE FOR THE PROJECT.
AND THEN AS FAR AS, AND THAT'S DUE TO THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER.
UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS THE SALAMANDER HABITAT, UM, WE'VE GOT A LETTER OF PERMISSION FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
THERE ARE FOUR FOUR PERMIT AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING US TO DO ANY CONSTRUCTION WHEN THERE IS ANY, UM, OBVIOUS SIGNS OF WATER, NOT ONLY IN THE STREAM BED BUT ALSO IN THE GROUNDWATER TABLE.
SO WATERSHED INSTALLED A WET WELL OUT THERE TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE LEVELS OUT THERE, AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO MONITOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO SALAMANDERS AND ACTIVE HABITAT IN THE EXCAVATION OPERATIONS.
SO WE HAVE KIND OF CONTINGENCY SET ASIDE FOR EXTRA TIME TO BE ABLE TO SET, UM, CONSTRUCTION ASIDE DURING WET PERIODS.
MM-HMM,
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE EVERYBODY THINK ABOUT THAT.
UH, THIS IS ALL GONNA BE AN EARTH AND DAM, CORRECT? UH, SEEMS TO ME, UH, WHAT'S THE CAPACITY OF THE DAM RELATIVE TO, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, THIS WAS DAMAGED TO A HUNDRED YEAR STORM AND SO WHAT'S THE CAPACITY OF THE DAM RELATIVE TO THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEAR STORM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE COMING MORE FREQUENTLY THAN 100 YEARS? YEAH, SURE.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY MODERNIZING THE AM TO WHAT'S CALLED A HUNDRED PERCENT PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD.
UM, SO THAT IS ABOUT 44 INCHES OF RAIN IN 24 HOURS AS COMPARED TO A A HUNDRED YEAR STORM IN 24 HOURS IS AROUND I THINK 12 INCHES.
SO ABOUT FOUR TIMES THAT SIZE.
IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, THE, THE REASON I'M ASKING IS THAT, UH, THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR DAM FAILURE OF AN EARTH AND DAM IS EITHER OVER TOPPING OR AN INADEQUATE SPILLWAY.
WHICH CAUSES EROSION TO THE BASE OF THE DAM ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH CAUSES A BREACH.
SO I'M ASSUMING THAT, UH, THE DAM YOU'RE CONSTRUCTING IS GONNA BE TALL ENOUGH THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THIS UNDER YOUR FLOOD EVENT, IT'S NOT GONNA OVERTOP, CORRECT? YES.
AND CAUSE EROSION AT THE BASE, WHICH IS GONNA CAUSE THE WHOLE THING TO LIQUEFY AND THAT'S RIGHT.
GO TO THE GULF OF MEXICO, RIGHT? YEAH.
PART OF THE REASON FOR THE VARIANCE REQUEST IS WE'VE GOT TO, UM, HEIGHT, UH, INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF THE EMBANKMENT, SO WE'VE GOTTA GO MUCH HIGHER TO BE ABLE TO CONTAIN THAT STORM.
AND WHERE'S THE SPILLWAY GONNA GO? IT'S ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE DAM.
THERE'S AN EXISTING AUXILIARY SPILLWAY ALREADY THERE.
THAT'S ALL EARTHEN MADE OUT OF THE NATIVE MATERIALS FROM THE EMBANKMENT.
UM, BUT WE ARE, UM, PUTTING THAT MORE IN A MORE FORMAL SPILLWAY SHAPE.
SO WE'VE GOT, UM, A CONCRETE SPILLWAY COMING IN, UM, TO GO ACROSS THE DAM AND THEN THERE'S ENERGY DISSIPATION BLOCKS ALL THROUGH THERE TO DISSIPATE THE ENERGY TO REDUCE EROSION IN, UM, THE TRIBUTARY BULL CREEK.
ARE YOU REMOVING THE UH, THE CORRUGATED STEEL? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE REPLACING WITH A CONCRETE PIPE.
NOW, UH, ANOTHER CAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE DAMS IS GROWTH OF TREES.
IS THERE GONNA BE AN AFFIRMATIVE STRATEGY FOR REMOVING THE TREE GROWTH THERE, UH, GOING FORWARD? YEAH, WE'RE HAVING TO REMOVE ALL THE TREES.
THERE'S ABOUT 1500 TREES AND, UH, SO WE PAID INTO TREE FUND, WHICH WENT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF SOME PARD PROPERTY ON OLD SPICE AND SPRINGS ROAD.
AND, UH, WE CAN'T PUT ANY TREES BACK ON THE DAM EMBANKMENT BY CITY AND STATE REGULATIONS.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW ARE YOU GONNA PREVENT MORE TREES FROM GROWING? OH, SIR.
YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK TO THAT? SO, PART OF THE REQUEST, SO THE DRIVEWAY THAT WE'RE ASKING A VARIANCE FOR WILL FACILITATE MAINTENANCE.
UH, SO WE DON'T END UP IN THE SAME STATE THAT THE CU DAMS CURRENTLY END.
AND SO WE DO HAVE PROGRAMMED DAMM SAFETY INSPECTIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE STATE AND MAINTENANCE CREWS TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM WORK AND HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, ROUTINE PROGRAM MAINTENANCE OF THE DAMS, UM, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY MOWING OF THE, THE DAM FACES AFTER IT'S CONSTRUCTED ON A ROUTINE BASIS.
SO YOU'RE GONNA REGULARLY MOW THE, THE DAMS, SO TO KEEP THE YES, SIR.
HEIGHT OF THE BRUSH OR WHATEVER IT IS DOWN TO? YES.
AND PROBABLY THE MAIN GOAL THERE WOULD BE THE MOWING SCHEDULE TO JUST KIND OF THAT GOLDILOCKS TYPE MOWING SCHEDULE WHERE WE ALLOW VEGETATION TO ESTABLISH AND, AND THRIVE AND NOT CONSTANTLY CLEAR CUT IT, BUT THEN ALSO MOW IT FREQUENTLY ENOUGH SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT WOODY VEGETATION ESTABLISHED AGAIN.
UH, NOW I MAY HAVE, I, I LOSE TRACK SOMETIMES OF WHAT I, WHAT I'VE ASKED, BUT THE, THE, THE SPILLWAY IS GONNA BE CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY TO PREVENT EROSION FROM AROUND THE SPILLWAY.
'CAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER CAUSE OF THE DAM OF DAM FAILURES IN A BROAD SENSE, WHETHER
[00:50:01]
THEY'RE EARTHING OR CONCRETE OR SO.SO IF IT'D BE HELPFUL, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE BACKUP SLIDES BEHIND THE PRESENTATION.
IF WE CAN PULL UP THE PRESENTATION, UM, KIND OF THERE THAT SHOWS THE LAYOUT, THE PLAN VIEW OF THE DAM, UM, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDE DECK AGAIN, SIR? UM, THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION, AND THEN IF YOU CAN GO TO THE QUESTION SLIDE.
THERE'S A COUPLE SLIDES AFTER THAT AND ONE OF THEM HAS THE, UM, THE LAYOUT, THEY'RE NOT, SO THAT WAS THE ONE ON THE FLASH DRIVE? YEAH.
SO, UH, ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE THE PRIMARY SPILLWAY, WHICH IS THE SMALLER ONE THAT MOST OF THE FLOW WILL GO THROUGH IN, IN NORMAL EVENTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE KIND OF THAT CLASSIC SPILLWAY WHERE IT'S A, A REINFORCED WITH, WITH CONCRETE AND ENERGY DISSIPATERS THAT WILL ALLOW WATER TO BE FUNNELED OVER KIND OF THE TOP OF THE DAM EFFECTIVELY.
AND THAT ALL GOES INTO A PLUNGE POOL THAT ALLOWS THE ENERGY IN THE WATER TO DISSIPATE BEFORE IT GOES DOWNSTREAM TO HELP WITH THAT EROSION PROTECTION THAT YOU WERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
ARE YOU GONNA BE REBUILDING THE ENTIRE DAM OR, YES.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE, THE ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S IN THE DAM AND SO PART OF IT IS WE WILL BE EXCAVATING, UH, A MAIN PORTION OF THE CURRENT DAM AND REPLACING IT, UM, WITH, WITH NEW MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE CONTROL OVER, UM, AND ARE ABLE TO VERIFY IT'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
ANOTHER CAUSE OF FAILURE IS SUBSTANCE.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE THING SUBSIDES AND I, I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAMP IT DOWN ENOUGH THAT IT ISN'T GONNA SETTLE DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME FORM CRACKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS, AS PART OF, UH, THE CITY FILLING IN OUR EXPERTISE, YOU KNOW, KIM AND HER TEAM HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH, WITH THE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS.
AND SINCE IT IS ACIP PROJECT, WE'LL HAVE A CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR OVERSEEING THE CONSTRUCTION.
AND, UM, ALSO WE ARE LOOKING INTO HAVING OUR CONSULTANT SUPPLEMENT IN SOME OF THE MORE SPECIALIZED OVERSEEING OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO HAVE SPECIFIED AND HAVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE SPECIFICATIONS ARE FOLLOWED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT MATERIAL ARE YOU GONNA BE USING FOR THE DAM AND WHAT'S THE PRIMARY MATERIAL? UH, I THINK KIM COULD PROBABLY SPEAK ON THAT THE BEST, BUT IT'S JUST SELECT FILL.
WE DON'T HAVE A CLAY CORE NECESSARY FOR THIS, BUT WE DO HAVE A GEOSYNTHETIC FABRIC ON THE UPSTREAM TOW.
I MEAN AN UPSTREAM FACE OF THE DAM, A FABRIC.
AND I DID WANNA ADD WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE SUBSTANCE OVER TIME.
SO WE DO, SINCE WE ARE DOING SO MUCH BILL WITHIN THE EMBANKMENT, WE DO HAVE A 5% OVERBUILD INCLUDED IN OUR DESIGN AS WELL, KNOWING THAT IT WILL SETTLE IN TIME.
UM, FIRST OFF, THANKS, UH, SO MUCH FOR, UM, YOUR GREAT PRESENTATION AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A FUN PLACE TO GO.
SKATEBOARDING,
AND, UM, SO I, I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT.
I, I'M GLAD THAT YOU SHOWED US THESE SLIDES, UM, TO KIND OF SHOW WHAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE AND, AND HOW PEOPLE BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH IT AS WELL.
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT LIKE, UH, SOME OF THE CONTROL, UM, LIKE CONTROLLING THE INVASIVE, INVASIVE SPECIES, UM, PROTOCOL.
LIKE, UM, I, I, I WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE LOOKING UP SOME STUFF IN LIKE HOW TO CONTROL RAGWEED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW WAS, UM, ROUNDUP.
AND SO I WAS JUST KIND OF WONDERING IF THERE WERE, IF Y'ALL ALREADY HAD A PLAN AND HOW TO CONTROL THE INVASIVE SPECIES, LIKE, UH, CONTROLLING THE CHEMICALS, UM, APPLICATIONS TO THE, THE VEGETATION THAT'S INVASIVE, LIKE THE, KIND OF PREVENT IT FROM AFFECTING ANY OTHER SENSITIVE ANIMAL SPECIES OR SO, UH, TYPICALLY OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, SHIES AWAY FROM USING HERBICIDES, UH, TO CONTROL, UH, INVASIVE SPECIES.
THERE ARE SOME APPLICATIONS WHERE IT MAKES SENSE USUALLY WITH ARUNDO GIANT CANE, THAT WE DO HAVE TO DO SOME TREATMENTS OF
[00:55:01]
THAT OVER MULTIPLE GROWING SEASONS TO HELP CONTROL IT.I THINK IT, UH, THE CASE HERE WOULD BE THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE, HOW OFTEN WE MOW IT WILL HELP US TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF MINIMIZING THOSE, UM, INVASIVE SPECIES, UM, YOU KNOW, COLONIZING THE AREA AND, AND, UH, STAYING THERE.
SO STAYING ON TOP OF THE MAINTENANCE AND, AND PROGRAMMING THAT EFFECTIVELY TO HELP PREVENT, UH, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THOSE INVASIVE SPECIES.
UM, YEAH, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS, UM, RELATED TO, TO, WELL, I GUESS KIND OF RELATED TO HERBICIDES, BUT IS THERE AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT YOU GUYS USE KIND OF FOR THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES OR FOR THIS FACILITY IN PARTICULAR? YEAH, IT'S JUST THE, THE GENERAL ONE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A SPECIFIC ONE FOR THE DAM OTHER THAN, UM, WE'LL BE SETTING THAT UP WITH OUR MAINTENANCE CREWS AFTER CONSTRUCTION OF THE FREQUENCY OF, OF MAINTENANCE, UH, ON THE DAM, WHICH WILL BE MA MOWING MOST YEARS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SPOT CHECKS AND REPAIRS AS NEEDED.
YEAH, I MEAN, I, I THINK PROBABLY PERRY, BUT DEFINITELY MY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ARE ROOTED IN THE JOLLYVILLE PLATEAU SALAMANDER POTENTIAL IN THE AREA.
UM, AND, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WATERSHED HAS LIKE A BULL CREEK KIND OF WATERSHED VERSION OF, OF HOW THEY DO MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES.
I, I CAN'T OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THINK OF ANOTHER ONE YOU GUYS MAY MANAGE WITHIN THE BULL CREEK AREA, BUT, UM, YEAH, I MEAN, IF THERE'S A WAY THAT YOU COULD IMPLEMENT SOME KIND OF AN IPM OR USING AISE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT, I MEAN THE MINIMUM EXTENT PRACTICAL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A, A CONCERN FOR DOWNSTREAM FLOWS.
UH, BUT ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? UM, WE, WE NOTE YOUR CONCERN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE DO HAVE THE STAFF THAT MONITORS A LOT OF THE SALAMANDER HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BOTH AT, YOU KNOW, BARTON SPRINGS AND, AND JOLLYVILLE AS WELL.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE OUT OF MY PERSONAL WHEELHOUSE, BUT WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, GET WITH OUR, UH, EXPERTS IN THE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO DEVELOP THAT PLAN, UH, SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BE AS CONSCIOUS AND AWARE AND, UH, PROACTIVE IN OUR MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND NOT SERVE THE SALAMANDERS AT THE SAME TIME.
I'M JUST NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, COMMISSIONER.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER KIND OF, UH, QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT, I SEE, AND THIS EXHIBIT, ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY IMPROVED PARKS ACCESS FOR, FOR PEDESTRIANS OR, UM, IS THE MAINTENANCE ROAD JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, MAINTENANCE OF THE, OF THE, UH, SO, SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WENT OUT TO THE SITE, THERE ARE SOME TRAILS THAT GO OVER THE TOP OF THE EXISTING DAM STRUCTURE.
UM, WE WILL, YOU KNOW, BE REPLACING THAT WITH A MAINTENANCE, HARDENED MAINTENANCE DRIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN BE USED IN A SIMILAR FASHION.
SO WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY ADDING TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING BACK, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ACCESSIBILITY, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT WILL BE MORE ACCESSIBLE DURING MORE TIME SINCE IT WILL BE A HARDER STRUCTURE THAN'S OUT THERE CURRENTLY.
UM, HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
AND THEN KIND OF TO, TO DOVETAIL OFF OF WHAT SULLIVAN WAS SAYING, UM, THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT KIND OF SPOKE TO THE NUMBER OF DOWNSTREAM STRUCTURES THAT WERE MAYBE AT RISK, BUT D DOES THIS, I'M ASSUMING THIS IMPROVEMENT WILL HOLD BACK KIND OF CUES TO A POINT, BUT IS THERE ANY KNOWN EXACT BENEFIT? LIKE FOUR HOUSES WILL BE LESS, I MEAN, UH, REMOVED? SO THE, WELL, THE, THE RISK WILL REMAIN LIKE, UM, IT'S FROM THE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN THAT THE STATE REQUIRES US TO HAVE ON FILE FOR THESE TYPE OF STRUCTURES.
IN THE EVENT THAT IT DOES FAIL, HOWEVER, THE LIKELIHOOD OF FAILURE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES AS WE ADDRESS THE CONCERNS WITH THE DAM.
WHEREAS NOW THE DAM'S IN VERY POOR CONDITION.
THE LIKELIHOOD OF US HAVING AN EVENT THAT CAUSES THE DAM FAILURE THAT WOULD SUBJECT THOSE HOMES AND ROADS TO RISK IS MUCH HIGHER AFTER THE PROJECTS COMPLETED.
THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT HAPPENING WOULD DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.
HOWEVER, THAT RISK STILL WOULD REMAIN.
IT JUST WOULD BE A LOT MORE MANAGEABLE, A LOT LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS? ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION, MA'AM? I, TODAY IS NOT FEBRUARY 15TH, LEMME CHANGE THAT.
UM, THIS IS THE BULL CREEK OLD DAM PASSES NUMBER THREE DAM MODERNIZATION.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO VARY FROM LDC
[01:00:01]
TWO FIVE DASH EIGHT DASH 2 61 TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND REQUEST TO VARY FROM LDC TWO FIVE DASH EIGHT DASH 3 41 TO ALLOW CUT UP TO 10 FEET AND REQUEST TO VARY FROM LDC TWO FIVE DASH EIGHT DASH 3 42 TO ALLOW FILL UP TO NINE FEET AND REQUEST TO VARY FROM LDC TWO FIVE DASH EIGHT DASH 3 0 1 TO ALLOW DRIVEWAY CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES OVER 15%.AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE PROPERTY, UH, WITH THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED AND WATER SUPPLY SUBURBAN DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE BECAUSE THE FINDINGS OF FACTS HAVE BEEN MET.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
AND THE STAFF CONDITIONS ARE THAT THE, UM, 6 0 9 S NATIVE SEED AND PLANTING, UH, PLANTING, EXCEPT WE'RE PROHIBITED, UH, DUE TO THE DAM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND THERE ARE NO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITIONS.
UM, I WOULD MAYBE ADD AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION CONDITION THAT WATERSHED PROTECTION WORK WITH THEIR OWN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ABOUT, WITH RELATED TO THE VILLE PLATEAU PLATEAU SALAMANDER, UM, TO IMPLEMENT, UH, AN HERBICIDE APPLICATION USE THAT MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF SALAM POTENTIAL IMPACT TO SALAMANDERS.
ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT AMENDMENT OR THAT ADDITION.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? SHOULD WE ADD SOMETHING FOR THE GOLDEN CHEEK WAR WARBLER? IS THERE ANY KIND OF PESTICIDES OR PRACTICES THAT WOULD LIKE ENDANGER ENDANGER THEM OR ARE THEY TOO HIGH UP TO BE AFFECTED BY THAT? I, I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THE ONLY THING, I MEAN, Y'ALL ARE NOT GONNA BE DOING CONSTRUCTION DURING, WHEN THEY'RE THERE DURING, UM, NESTING SEASON OR AT ALL, WHICH IS GOOD.
HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, IN LOOKING AT THE TREE SURVEY, THERE'S VERY FEW, UM, LIVE OAK TREES.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ASH JUNIPER, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THEM, BUT THE CATERPILLARS USUALLY ARE ON THE LIVE OAK TREES.
AND I'M SURPRISED AT HOW FEW LIVE OAK TREES ARE ACTUALLY ARE IN THAT SURVEY.
AND THAT COULD BE TO THE, IT'S A NEWER AREA, RIGHT? SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT HASN'T, IT'S NOT AN OLD GROWTH, YOU KNOW, WOODLAND, RIGHT? IT'S A LOT OF THOSE TREES WERE ESTABLISHED SINCE THE DAM WAS CONSTRUCTED IN, IN THE NINETIES, SO SORRY, THE EIGHTIES.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS WRITTEN APPEARS TO BE UNANIMOUS.
THANK JUDGE, THANK YOU STAFF, UH, ON ALL FRONTS.
UM, ALRIGHT, UM, WE POSTPONED, UH, NUMBER FOUR, UH, TO A FURTHER, UH, LATER DATE.
[WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES]
INTO WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE UPDATES.UM, DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES FROM, FROM ANYBODY? WHAT'S THAT? YEAH, GO FOR IT.
UM, SO I, UH, MET WITH KIMBERLY HARVEY, UH, TODAY ON THE BA'S CANYON LANDS AND, UM, GOT A GREAT UPDATE FROM HER, UM, THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY, UM, WHO JOINTLY MANAGE, UH, THE PRESERVE LANDS, UM, THAT PROTECT THE SEVEN ENDANGERED SPECIES, UH, WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE VOTED TO AUTHORIZE A 15 YEAR EXTENSION OF THE PERMIT.
UM, AND SO THEY'RE WORKING ON ALL THE DETAILS THAT THEY NEED TO, UM, DO TO GET THAT APPLICATION IN TO US FISH AND WILDLIFE.
AND IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, UM, THEY'VE REALLY BEEN LOOKING AT, AT THEIR SYSTEMS, THEIR LANGUAGES, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WITHIN IT TO UPDATE THOSE, CLEAN IT UP, UM, AND FIGURE OUT A COUPLE OF, OF ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN HANGUPS IN THE PAST AND, AND MAKE THOSE BETTER.
FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE SHARING DATA
[01:05:01]
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AS WELL AS US FISH AND WILDLIFE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT, UM, ENTITIES THERE.SO THAT, THAT FELT REALLY BIG.
UM, I MEAN, TO, TO REAPPLY FOR THE PERMIT FOR A 15 YEAR EXTENSION IS REALLY A BIG, THE BIG DEAL.
UM, THEY, AND THE ONLY REASON THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT IS THAT THEY STILL HAVE SOME TAKE AUTHORITY.
UM, THEY'VE USED TWO THIRDS OF IT, SO THEY STILL HAVE, UM, SOME MORE TO GO AND, UM, WHICH IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERING WE'RE 30 YEARS INTO THIS.
UM, THEY HAVE THE 32,000 ACRE BASE THAT THEY NEEDED AND NOW THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THOSE PERIMETER PROPERTIES TO HELP CREATE BETTER BUFFERS.
UM, UH, TRYING TO GET A COUPLE OF THE MORE KIND OF CRITICAL AREAS.
UM, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN THAT THEY HAVE 62 OF THE KARST SPEED, UM, FEATURES.
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET AS MANY AS THEY NEEDED BECAUSE, UM, SOME OF THOSE WERE ALREADY ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES, BUT AS THOSE PROPERTIES COME UP FOR SALE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED 'EM, THEY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND IF ANYTHING COMES UP FOR SALE, YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO, TRY TO GET THAT.
UM, I ASK HER, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO? UM, AND SHE SAID, OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION IS ALWAYS GREAT, UM, AS WE'RE ASKING, YOU KNOW, UM, DIFFERENT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, APPLICANTS, UM, TO COME FORWARD, THE DARK SKIES, YOU KNOW, LIMITING, UM, JUST LIKE WE HAD HERE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO LIMIT CONSTRUCTION EVEN DURING, WHEN THE GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLERS ESPECIALLY ARE THERE, UM, UH, NOISE REDUCTION.
AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HAVING, UM, A FIELD TRIP, UM, POSSIBLY IN LATE MARCH WHEN THE WARBLERS ARE IN RESIDENCE.
UM, THE MALES COME BACK, YOU CAN REALLY HEAR THEM CALLING AT THAT TIME.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE KIND OF COOL TO GET OUT AND, AND DO SOMETHING.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE MEETING IN MARCH, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? SO WE COULD HAVE, WE HAVE TWO, I'M SAYING TWO OVER HERE FROM KAYLA.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, IF WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AND THAT WOULD FALL REALLY INTO THEIR EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD EVEN GET MAYBE ONE OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONS, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO COME OUT AND, AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE AS WE SORT OF THINK ABOUT HOW NOW THESE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL THESE, THE ACREAGE, BUT YOU HAVE ALL THE CONSTRUCT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THE DEVELOPMENT COMING RIGHT UP TO THE EDGES AND WHICH CREATES THE EDGE OFFI, WHICH COMPRESSES THIS SPECIES HARDER INTO THE CORE OF THE LANDS.
SO THINKING ABOUT, WELL, HOW DO WE CONSTRUCT THINGS BEST AS POSSIBLE ON THOSE, UM, PERIMETERS.
SO, UH, TODAY WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.
UM, AND I WAS, I WAS REALLY HAPPY AND PLEASED WITH, UM, WITH WHERE THEY'RE AT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A, IT SEEMS LIKE A, A, A MONUMENTAL THING TO, TO GO AFTER.
I ASK HER WHAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT, UM, HAPPENS WHEN AND IF, UM, THAT PERMIT EVER DOES GO AWAY AND THE PERMIT COULD GO AWAY, BUT THE LANDS WOULD ALL STILL BE THERE.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD.
THE PERMIT JUST ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO HAVE THE TAX INCREMENT SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE, THE PURCHASE LANDS IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THEN ALSO, UM, HAVE THE MITIGATION PROPERTIES IN OTHER PLACES.
SO WITHIN, WITHIN, UNDER THE TAKE, UM, GUIDELINES.
SO YEAH, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
I MEAN, 15 YEARS, I DON'T THINK WE'LL ALL BE SITTING IN THIS ROOM, BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY ELSE WILL BE.
AND TO CLARIFY THE, WHEN THE PERMIT, IF AND WHEN THE PERMIT GOES AWAY, THE LAND REMAINS AND THE OBLIGATION FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN THE HABITAT, RIGHT? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, YES.
YEAH, I THINK, UH, UM, UH, A SITE VISIT, UM, AND OR THEM COMING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THINGS WOULD BE GREAT.
AND, UM, SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD SEND THAT TO STAFF, UM, TO SEE ABOUT SOME TIME AND SOME DATES SO WE COULD GO AHEAD AND GET IT ON THE BOOK.
'CAUSE MARCH IS A BUSY TIME FOR THEIR BIOLOGISTS AND STAFF, OBVIOUSLY.
ANY OTHER COMMITTEES SUBCOMMITTEES? ANYONE? ALL RIGHT.
ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? ALL RIGHT.
SEVEN 11, UH, TO BE ADJOURNED.