Nov 15, 2023 Environmental Commission

[00:00:02]

SIX OH ONE.

[CALL TO ORDER]

IT'S NOVEMBER 15TH, 6:00 PM WE'RE UP AT 63 10.

WIL HEINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 5 2.

UM, LET'S DO ROLL CALL.

WE'LL START REMOTE NICHOLS.

YOU'RE, UH, ABOVE, UH, SHIRA.

YOU GET TO GO FIRST.

NICHOLS HERE.

SHERA? HERE.

EINHORN.

HERE.

BERG HERE.

BRISTOL.

HERE.

COFER? HERE.

SULLIVAN? HERE.

PRIMER HERE.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU GUYS.

UM, WE'VE GOT

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.

UH, MR. SANTIAGO, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES, SIR.

UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GET THE, WHEN YOU GET UP AND ROLLING, WE'LL START THE CLOCK AND MAKE SURE, UM, YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TURN YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE.

THE MIC SHOULD HAVE A BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM.

YEP.

AND YOU SHOULD SEE A RED LIGHT UP BY THE MIC WHEN IT'S HOT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE HERE.

UM, UH, THIS IS GONNA PROBABLY BE PRETTY BRIEF AND PRETTY ERRATIC.

UH, I'LL PROBABLY TRY TO BE BACK HERE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS OR SO.

UM, SEE Y'ALL AGAIN.

I HAVE SHOWED UP HERE TODAY TO, UH, INTRODUCE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PERHAPS A WORKING GROUP FOR THIS COMMISSION.

UM, IN PARTICULAR REGARDING, UM, TEXTILES PROPOSAL FOR INTERSTATE 35, UM, THERE IS A PROPOSED OUTFALL, UH, ON THE COLORADO RIVER.

THEY HAVEN'T EXACTLY FIGURED OUT WHAT THE LOGISTICS OF IT ARE IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING.

UM, THERE'S IN PARTICULAR WHAT'S CALLED A SECTION 10, UM, AND THEN THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ALSO HAS A COUPLE REGIONAL PERMITS AND NATIONWIDE PERMITS, UH, WITH REGARDS TO, UH, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE LOGISTICALLY.

UM, I KNOW THAT WALLER CREEK IS, UH, CONSERVANCY IS CURRENTLY EXAMINING A SIMILAR, UH, PROPOSAL.

UM, AND IN TERMS OF IMPACTS, UH, I, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COMMISSION MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, WITH REGARDS TO, UH, SOME OVERSIGHT, UM, THIS PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BREAK GROUND IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.

AND, UM, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A LOT OF CLARITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS OF CITY LAWS.

WITH REGARDS TO, UH, A 16,000 PAGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED IN AUGUST.

UM, COUNSEL HAS MADE SOME, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS TO CAMPO TO, UH, DELAY FUNDING.

UM, AND, UH, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS IN THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN, IF THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, COMMISSIONS, UM, IF ANYONE CAN POINT ME TO ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, UH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND ENCOURAGING FOR ME AS A CITIZEN.

UM, YEAH.

UH, I'LL BRING SOME MORE JARGON, UH, IN TWO WEEKS IN TERMS OF THE MORE SPECIFICS OF THINGS THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN GLARING, UH, OVERSIGHT ISSUES.

UM, SECTION FOUR F IS ONE WITHIN, UM, THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION'S, UM, PROCEDURES WITH REGARDS TO, UH, IMPACTS.

UM, AND THEY'RE PRETTY SUSTAINABLE, INCLUDING DEMOLISHING THE ENTIRE BRIDGE OVER LADY BIRD LAKE, UM, AND IMPACTING AT LEAST THE 10TH OF AN ACRE.

UM, AND I KNOW THE STACK IT, UH, RULING, UH, REALLY CREATES A LOT, UM, UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHAT IS CONSIDERED A WETLAND, BUT EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND, UM, IS PRETTY ATROCIOUS.

UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME, SOME GUARANTEES IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.

UH, JUST FOR SCOPE, UM, THE NORTH, THE NORTH DOWNTOWN IS NEARLY 300 ACRES OF WA OF, UH, RUNOFF.

UM, THEY'RE PROPOSING A 21 FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL UNDERNEATH CAESAR CHAVEZ TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO PAST LONGHORN DAM.

THEY ORIGINALLY WERE TO GO INTO, UH, WETLAND, UM, THE, UH, ROY G. GUERRERO PARK, UM, RESERVE.

UM, AND LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WAS IN THERE.

UH, OH, YEAH, THE SOUTH, SOUTH AWESOME ONE IS THE ONE THAT IS REALLY, UH, THE ONE THAT THEY WANNA BREAK GROUND FIRST ON.

AND THEY'RE ALREADY STAGING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE AT TOWN LAKE.

UM, AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SEVERAL SITES, INCLUDING SECTION SIX F PARKS, UM, AND, UH, SEVERAL LIKE THE CONFLUENCE THAT IS ALL AROUND B BLEND CREEK AND, UM, WALLER AND A HISTORICAL, WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE WITHOUT GOING TO FALSE HISTORICISM CROSSING OF, UH, A LOW WATER CROSSING, UH, FIRST PEOPLES, UH, TOWARDS THE SACRED LANDS OF THE SPRINGS.

UM, SO YEAH, I DUNNO WHERE I'M AT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU,

[00:05:01]

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO, TO KAYLA AND STAFF.

UM, I'D RATHER JUST GET THEIRS AND, UM, FOLLOW UP.

OKAY? YEAH, PLEASE DO.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.

UH,

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

ANY, UH, COMMENTS ON, UH, THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? NOVEMBER ONE? I'LL SECOND THAT.

ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES? ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE EVERYBODY BUT NICHOLS, ALL THOSE RECUSING OR ABSTAINING, I GUESS.

ALRIGHT.

NICHOLS ABSTAINS.

SO, UH, PASSES, UH, AND WITH NICHOL'S ABSTENTION.

ALRIGHT.

UH, BEFORE THE STAFF BRIEFING, I THINK WE MIGHT SHUFFLE THINGS AROUND HERE A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO THE SECRETARY.

YEAH.

I'D LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO MOVE THE CHAMPIONS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, UM, WHICH IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR UP TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

SECONDED BY NICHOLS.

THANK YOU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MOVING, UH, THE AGENDA ITEM UP TO THE NEXT AND THE AGENDA, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR ME.

I WILL ABSTAIN AND I'M GONNA RECUSE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, SO I'LL COME BACK TO THE DICE WHEN IT'S DONE.

SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE A STAFF BRIEFING, IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA TAKE CHAMPIONS

[4. Make a recommendation regarding the request for Champion Commercial Development (Tract 4) Rezoning (C14-2023-0005) located at 6025 N Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, Texas 78737 (District 10). Presented by Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department]

OKAY, GREAT.

SO THEN TECHNICALLY THAT WOULD GO UP TO NUMBER TWO AND NOT NUMBER THREE.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

UM, SO WHO IS GOING TO PRESENT FIRST? LIZ? UM, THAT'S THE, THE WRONG, UH, PRESENTATION.

THE CHAMPIONS TRACKED ONE.

NOPE, THE NEXT ONE.

THE NEXT ONE.

.

WE'LL GET THERE.

THAT'S THE ONE.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, IT'S KIND OF GREENISH BLUE, SO .

YEAH, THAT ONE.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU, .

AWESOME.

GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME IS LESLIE LILLY.

I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND THIS EVENING I WILL BE PRESENTING A REZONING CASE FOR, UH, TRACK FOUR WITHIN THE CHAMPIONS, UH, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

UH, THE PROPERTY IS AT 6 0 2 5 NORTH CAPITAL OF TEXAS HIGHWAY, AND THE CASE NUMBER IS C 14 2 MILLION 23 5.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PIECE OF PROPERTY IS, IT IS, UH, IT HAS SOME SPECIAL VESTING RIGHTS ON THE PROPERTY THAT GIVE IT, UH, PERMISSION TO COMPLY WITH THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE.

NOW, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE FROM 1983 DOES NOT HAVE SEVERAL, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT CURRENT CODE CURRENTLY WOULD APPLY TO ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, INCLUDING, UM, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS CURRENTLY UNDER THE LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE THAT, UM, GRANTS THE PROPERTY 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER G UH, GROSS SITE AREA.

UH, THERE ARE NO, UH, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE OR CREEK PROTECTIONS PROVIDED FOR THIS PROPERTY.

AND THERE ARE SIMILAR TREE PROTECTIONS, BUT THERE IS NO HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION SPECIFICALLY.

AND LASTLY,

[00:10:01]

SO THESE, UH, VESTED RIGHTS ARE A PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS, UH, ESTABLISHED IN 1996.

UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON WITH THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY THOUGH, IS A ZONING CASE, A ZONING, UH, A ZONING ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO CHANGE AN ENTITLEMENT.

AND THAT PARTICULAR ENTITLEMENT WILL GRANT THE PROPERTY OWNERS THE ABILITY TO, UM, HAVE MORE, UH, BUILDING, BUILDING SPACE ON, UH, THE SITE PLAN THAT IS CURRENTLY IN REVIEW.

AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, WE HAVE NEGOTIATED AND DISCUSSED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AS IT RELATES TO THESE AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.

BUT I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE CONDITION AS IT EXISTS TODAY.

THE, THE PROPERTY IS VESTED TO THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO WHERE IS THIS PROPERTY? IT IS RIGHT NORTH OF THE CONFLUENCE OF BULL CREEK AND LAKE AUSTIN.

SO IT'S TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE LAKE AUSTIN, UH, WATERSHED, BUT IT'S RIGHT IN BULL CREEK.

UH, IT IS IN THE FULL PURPOSE, UH, ZONING JURISDICTION.

IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE ARROW IS POINTING TO.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, RIGHT, RIGHT UP THERE IN NORTH AUSTIN.

OKAY.

SO NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS SHOWS THE, UH, THE SITE AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SITE.

SO JUST BORDERING THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION TRACK FOUR IS 2222, AND THEN TO THE WEST IS, UH, HIGHWAY 360.

UH, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S IN THE FULL PURPOSE ZONING JURISDICTION.

THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS, UH, ALMOST NINE ACRES, AND IT'S SEPARATED INTO THESE TWO PARCELS, UH, WHICH ARE CALLED TRACK ONE AND TRACK TWO WITHIN TRACK FOUR.

SO TRACK ONE IS ZONED, UH, RURAL RESIDENTIAL CURRENTLY, AND TRACK TWO IS ZONED COMMERCIAL.

UM, THERE ARE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE UPDATED AS A PART OF THE ZONING, UH, ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT IS A PART OF THE, THE, UH, THE, THE STAFF REPORT.

AND THAT CHANGE IS ALLOWING FOR BOTH PARCELS OF LAND TO COME UNDER THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

UM, SO THAT'S ONE PART OF THE ZONING AMENDMENT.

IT DOES NOT CONFER ANY CHANGES IN ENTITLEMENTS FOR THE PROPERTIES, BUT RATHER PROVIDES, UH, PROTECTIONS FOR BOTH PARCELS EQUALLY.

UM, OKAY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS THE EXISTING CONDITIONS TODAY IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, RIGHT? SO IT'S PRETTY UNDEVELOPED.

UH, THERE IS SOME SLOPES, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE CONTOURS AND TO THE EAST EDGE OF THE PROPERTY IS BULL CREEK, BUT TECHNICALLY THIS IS RIGHT NORTH OF THE CONFLUENCE OF BULL CREEK AND LAKE AUSTIN.

AND THE WAY THAT THE REGULATORY CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IS FOR THIS WATERWAY IS THIS IS, UH, LAKE AUSTIN, RIGHT AT ITS NORTHERN BORDER WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH BULL CREEK.

WHAT I HAVE ON THE MAP HERE IS THE A HUNDRED FOOT SETBACK THAT IS CURRENTLY THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE WITH CURRENT CODE, AS I MENTIONED THERE AS A PART OF THE 1983 LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE.

THERE ARE NO CREEK PROTECTIONS, THERE'S NO SETBACKS, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NOTHING REGULATORY ABOUT PROTECTING THE CREEK.

SO THAT'S, SO THERE'S NO PROTECTIONS CURRENTLY REQUIRED ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

UM, THERE ARE, SO THE PROPERTY IS ALSO IN THE WATER SUPPLY SUBURBAN WATERSHED.

IT'S NOT IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE OR CONTRIBUTING ZONE.

IT HAS THIS CRITICAL, AND IT ALSO HAS A WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE.

AND THERE IS ALSO FLOODPLAIN, UM, ON THE MAJORITY OF THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE SITE.

AND THERE IS A FRINGE CRITICAL ENVIR WETLAND CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE WITHIN BULL CREEK.

SO, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE CURRENT PROJECT, UM, THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS A PART OF A SITE PLAN THAT'S CURRENTLY IN REVIEW CONCURRENT TO THIS ZONING ORDINANCE, UH, AMENDMENT.

AND THIS, THIS SHOWS WHAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE.

IT INCLUDES A, A HOTEL IN THE AMENITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOTEL AND PARKING.

UM, THIS, I, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SEE WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE, THAT IT'S A PART OF THE ENTITLEMENTS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT WITH THE S SONY ORDINANCE.

AND WHAT YOU CAN ALSO SEE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW IS THE FRINGE WETLAND, CEF THAT, UH, EXISTS WITHIN THE, LIKE

[00:15:01]

UM, SO IT'S MODIFIED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IS 150 FEET FROM THE THE CEF.

UH, ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS IS THERE'S A LOT OF HATCHING IN HERE.

THERE'S, UM, THERE'S SOME THINGS SYMBOLIZED IN HERE THAT REPRESENT THE AREAS OF THIS PROJECT THAT ARE BEING RESTORED AND REMAIN IN AN UNDISTURBED CONDITION, UH, JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF LIKE THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF ONE OF THE STAFF CONDITIONS OF THE, UH, CONDITIONAL OVER WITH, OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGE IS THE AREAS THAT ARE REMAINING UNDISTURBED IN THE AREAS THAT WILL BE RESTORED.

UH, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PROJECT, UM, IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE LAID OUT ON THE PROPERTY.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UH, THIS IS JUST, UM, A QUICK, UH, SHEET FROM THE SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS WHERE THE FLOOD PLAIN IS.

SO YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD SENSE THAT THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF FLOODPLAIN ON THIS SITE.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS ON THE SITE, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER HOW TO BEST PROTECT THE OTHERWISE UNPROTECTED, UH, SECTIONS OF THIS PROPERTY.

UM, OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.

SO THE REZONING CASE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS AN AMENDMENT TO THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT'S SPECIFIC FOR TRACK FOUR.

AND WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE ZONING OVERLAY SAY IS THAT TRACK FOUR IS ABLE TO HAVE 70,000 SQUARE FEET OF A BUILDING FOOTPRINT.

THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE, JUST THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.

AND THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN INCREASE IN THAT ENTITLEMENT TO 95,000 SQUARE FEET FOR THE HOTEL.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT INCREASE IN BUILDING SIZE AND BUILDING FOOTPRINT.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED WITH THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY ARE EIGHT AS LISTED HERE.

THAT IS 40% IMPERVIOUS COVER GROSS SITE AREA.

SO THAT 25% REDUCTION IN, UH, AND IMPERVIOUS COVER, UH, MAXIMUM FOR THE COMMERCIAL, UH, FOR THE COMMERCIAL SITE, THAT'S, UH, 150 FOOT, UH, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

SO THAT'S 50 FEET, UH, FURTHER FROM WHAT IS CURRENTLY REQUIRED BY CODE.

AND IT'S ALSO INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OF ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE EXISTING, FROM THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, AND THEN A RESTRICTION ON ANY IMPERVIOUS COVER EVER BEING ALLOWED ON THE IMPERVIOUS ON THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

FOR THIS PROPERTY.

THE PROJECT IS ALSO AGREEING TO COMPLY WITH WATER QUALITY TREATMENT FOR THE SITE.

UH, IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, IT'S ADOPTING HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE, IT'S COMMITTING TO WETLAND CEF PROTECTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE.

IT IS ALSO COMMITTING TO KEEPING 40% OF THE PROPERTY, UH, IN A CONDITION LIKE THAT'S COM, LIKE THAT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE UNDEVELOPED CONDITION, SO UNDISTURBED OR RESTORED.

UH, AND THERE'S ALSO A RESTRICTION ON ANY WATERCRAFT ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE.

SO NO RENTALS, NO KAYAK DISTRIBUTIONS, NO ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE WITH SMALL OR ANY SMALL OR LARGE WATERCRAFT, PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SO THAT THE CEF, THAT WETLAND CF ON THE SHORELINE IS NOT IMPACTED.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE COMMITMENT OF THE PROJECT IS THE SITE PLAN THAT IS CURRENTLY IN REVIEW THAT WILL BE, UM, APPROVED AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS.

UH, IF THIS CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IS APPROVED, THAT ONCE THAT PROJECT IS COMPLETED, THAT THE PROPERTY WILL RELINQUISH ITS VESTING RIGHTS.

SO ITS ABILITY TO, UH, KIND OF DEFER THAT 1983 LAKE LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED ORDINANCE WOULD NO LONGER BE IN PLACE, AND THAT IT WOULD THEN BE SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE.

UM, SO THOSE ARE THE CONDITIONS OF, UH, THAT STAFF HAS NEGOTIATED WITH, UH, THE APPLICANT AND THEN THE APPLICANT HAS, UH, COMMITTED TO DOING ON THIS PROJECT.

UM, SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO WITH THAT, UH, WATERSHED STAFF RECOMMENDS REZONING OF THE PROPERTY WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON, THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE.

THERE WILL BE REMOVAL OF IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, AND TOTAL IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE SITE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO 40% WITH 0% IN THE CRITICAL CURRENT CODE.

PROTECTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES, CREEKS AND HERITAGE TREES.

THE RESTRICTIONS TO THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS ON SHORELINE ACCESS AND RESTRICTIONS,

[00:20:01]

AND LASTLY, THE PROPERTY COMMITS TO THE REMOVAL OF FUTURE VESTED RIGHTS ON THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.

AND WITH THAT, THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.

UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HAS A, UH, SHORT PRESENTATION AND, UH, WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THAT YOU HAVE.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, COME ON UP.

PERFECT.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME IS APRIL ROMERO BROWN, REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.

UH, FIRST AS ALWAYS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LESLIE LILLY FOR HER THOROUGH PRESENTATION THAT MAKES MY JOB SO MUCH EASIER.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK SHERRY TIS, WHO'S ONLINE, UH, AND KAYLA CHAMPIN FOR HELPING US GET ALL THE UPDATED MATERIALS TO Y'ALL THIS EVENING.

UH, I WOULD NEXT LIKE TO GIVE US A SHOUT OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS, UM, SOME OF WHOM ARE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US FOR WORKING WITH US AND COLLABORATING ON THIS PROJECT.

UM, THEY MADE SURE WE HAD ALL OF OUR DUCKS IN A ROW AHEAD OF TONIGHT SO THINGS COULD GO SMOOTHLY.

UM, AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THEIR COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, UH, THIS IS THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THESE UPDATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS GOING IN, UM, WITH THIS PROJECT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO THIS JUST GIVES THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM MS. LILY, SO I WON'T, UH, WASTE YOUR TIME GOING BACK OVER THAT.

TRACK.

ONE IS ZONED RR, THAT'S THE LAKEFRONT TRACK.

TRACK TWO IS ZONED GRCO CURRENTLY, THAT'S THE INNERMOST TRACKED HERE AS PART OF TRACK FOUR.

UM, THE POINT I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE POINT OF OUR ZONING APPLICATION, OF COURSE, IS TO UPDATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ON THE SITE AND TO INCREASE THE BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE.

UH, THIS IS ALSO GOING TO BE CODIFIED VIA RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS TO DIFFERENT PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER IS, UH, EXECUTING WITH DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.

ONE OF THOSE IS IN YOUR BACKUP.

THE OTHER ONE WILL BE PUT INTO THE BACKUP FOR FUTURE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL HEARINGS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

I WANNA TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE AMENDMENT TO OUR REZONING APPLICATION.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME NEW MATERIALS COME THROUGH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

THAT IS BECAUSE AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, WE REALIZED THAT THE CO COMBINING DISTRICT DESIGNATION WAS NOT EVER ADDED TO TRACT ONE, THE RR TRACT.

SO BACK IN 1992, WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY REZONED FROM SSF TWO TO GR AND RR, THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, THE CO IS ONLY PUT ON THE GR TRACT.

SO IN ORDER TO, OF COURSE, HAVE THESE PROTECTIONS AND THESE RESTRICTIONS, AND AS WELL AS THE BUILDING AREA, ALL OF THIS GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.

WE HAVE TO ADD THE CO.

SO THAT IS WHY YOU SAW AN ADDITION OF A TRACK TO THE ZONING APPLICATION.

IT'S REALLY JUST GOING BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT WHERE THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY APPLIES.

UM, THE OTHER DETAIL THAT I WANNA POINT OUT TO YOU, AND THIS WAS, UH, ALSO BROUGHT UP BY SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS, IS THERE IS A SLIGHT DISCREPANCY IN THE ACREAGE OF THE PROPERTY, UH, FROM THE 1992 ORDINANCE TO THE APPLICATION THAT WE HAVE IN, UH, IN PROCESS TODAY.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE AFTER THE ORIGINAL ZONING, THERE WAS SOME PROPERTY ON THE NORTHEASTERN SIDE, UH, OF THE SITE THAT WAS DEEDED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TO TDOT FOR RIDE OF WAY.

SO THAT TOOK OUT ABOUT 0.2, 0.3 ACRES OF THE SITE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS IS THE SAME MAP THAT YOU JUST SAW.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT NORTHEASTERN CORNER RIGHT UNDER WHERE IT SAYS FM 2222, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE GRAY LINE, WHICH LAYS OUT THE THE TCAD BOUNDARIES, IS A LITTLE BIT BELOW WHERE YOU SEE THE REST OF THE LAND THAT IS ZONED GRCO AND RR.

THAT IS THE LAND I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS, UH, THAT SOLD TO TXDOT AND TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

UH, I, AGAIN, REALLY WANNA THANK THE STAFF AND THE NEIGHBORS FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROJECT.

UM, THIS HAS BEEN, THIS IS THE RESULT OF MANY YEARS OF WORK, UM, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT FROM DENISE.

AND THROUGH THIS WORK, UH, WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT PROUDLY WE CAN STAND UP HERE AND SAY, UH, IS SUPPORTED BY THE NEIGHBORS.

AND WE HAVE OUR TEAM WHO'S HERE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU.

HELLO.

UM, HI.

MY NAME IS DENISE HOGAN AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE COURTYARD NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, SHEPHERD MOUNTAIN MONTE VISTA, GLEN

[00:25:01]

SO, UH, IT'S, UH, A HUGE AMOUNT OF NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

UM, WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR FIVE YEARS, THIS CURRENT ITERATION OF THE PROJECT FOR FIVE YEARS.

AND I, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED VERY DEEPLY WITH IT.

AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENTS, UH, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

AND THE REASON THAT I'M, UH, WASTING YOUR TIME SPEAKING IN FAVOR IS BECAUSE I, I JUST FELT LIKE YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE SOME CONTEXT FOR WHY I THINK YOU SHOULD IMPROVE, UM, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS ZONING.

UH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD HOOD OWNS A, A LARGE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY ON BULL CREEK, WHICH IS IN THE PORTION BETWEEN THE, THE, UM, THE DEVELOPER'S PROPERTY AND THE MOUTH OF WHERE BULL CREEK DUMPS INTO LAKE AUSTIN.

AND SO WE, UM, AND, AND IT'S ALSO DIRECTLY BELOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO, UM, IT, IT ABUTS US AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF SURROUNDS THIS AREA.

AND, UM, IT'S CURRENTLY HEAVILY WOODED AND IT'S AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT 22, 22 AND 360.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, SPECIFICALLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THAT AREA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK, WE TAKE A REALLY DEEP DIVE AND A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT WAS GONNA BE BUILT THERE.

AND, UM, WE, WE BELIEVE WE HAVE CRAFTED CHANGES AND ADDED, UM, UH, SO MANY PROTECTIONS THAT REALLY ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US AND THAT WILL PROTECT BULL CREEK.

AND I'M, I'M A STAUNCH, YOU KNOW, A PROTECTOR OF BULL CREEK AND I, I'VE SPOKEN ON OTHER ISSUES, UH, THAT PROTECT THAT.

AND SO, UM, WE JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS, WE'VE, WE'VE LANDED ON A GOOD PROJECT AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TONIGHT.

AND I HOPE YOU APPROVE IT.

THANK YOU.

GREAT.

SO LET'S OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS AND UM, WE WILL GO WITH REMOTE PEOPLE FIRST.

UM, COMMISSIONER NICHOLS.

NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER, SHE NO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER EINHORN, NO QUESTIONS.

NOTHING OVER HERE, GOFER, I JUST HAVE CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS ON THE, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES ON THE MAP.

THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, 'CAUSE WE, I KNOW WE'VE GOT CRITICAL WATER QUALITY PROTECTION ZONE, OR SORRY, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES AND THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONES.

ARE THOSE BOTH SHOWN IN THAT BLUE HATCHED AREA? UM, LESLIE LILY WATERSHED PROTECTION, I DID NOT INCLUDE, UH, THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE ON THE SITE.

I ONLY INCLUDED WHAT WOULD BE THE CODE COMPLIANT CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

HELPFUL.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT OVERLAY.

UM, AND THEN THE WETLAND, CEF PROTECTIONS, ARE THOSE ALSO WITHIN THAT AREA OR IS IT SEPARATE ON THE PROPERTY? IT, IT IS, UH, IT IS WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

IT HAS SHOWN ALL OF THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE SINGLE MAP, BUT IT WAS HARD TO SEE ALL OF THE LINES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

SO I SEPARATED THEM OUT AND HIGHLIGHTED THE CEF ON THE, UH, SITE PLAN MAP.

UM, BUT IT IS, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPOSED 150 FOOT SETBACK THAT IS, THAT THE APPLICANT IS COMMITTING TO.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UH, AND THEN QUICK QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.

SORRY, UH, I HAD, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD, UH, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

AND THAT IS IT.

WHAT IS THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION FOR THIS BUILDING? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION IS GOING TO BE 45 FEET AND THREE STORIES, AND THAT IS BOTH IN, UH, A RESOLUTION THAT COUNSEL PASSED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR INDICATING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT, IF THAT WERE TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT.

UH, ENTITLEMENTS AND IS ALSO GOING TO BE, UH, IS IN THE PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH, UH, 2222 KONA THAT'LL BE FILED BEFORE WE GET TO COUNSEL.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

UM, YEAH, ONE, I GUESS A QUESTION FOR MS. LILY, THE, UM, REVOCATION OF THE EXISTING OR THE 1983 ENTITLEMENTS, IS THAT A COMMON THING THAT, THAT GOES INTO A, A, UH, CONDITIONAL OVERLAY? SO IT IS, UH, NOT SOMETHING THAT I SEE VERY OFTEN AND I THINK MAYBE SHERRY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TERMS OF ZONING CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS.

BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A VERY SPECIFIC CASE BECAUSE IT HAS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND SEVERAL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT HAVE ZONING ORDINANCES DON'T ADDITIONALLY HAVE THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

SO, UM, SHERRY, DO YOU WANNA TAKE THIS QUESTION SINCE

[00:30:01]

IT'S USUALLY RESTRICTED TO SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LIMITING USES ON A PROPERTY.

SO I BELIEVE THIS WAS DUE TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AT THE TIME AS TO WHY THOSE CONDITIONS WERE INCLUDED IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR THE PROPERTY.

SO IS CITY LEGAL THEN, UH, GIVEN THE THUMBS UP ON THIS? UM, SO THE CHANGES ARE TO AN EXISTING CONDITIONAL OVERLAY, SO YES.

AND THIS WAS A RESOLUTION FROM COUNSEL TO INITIATE THIS PROCESS.

SO YES.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU AND NICE TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND ALSO, JUST TO FURTHER CLARIFY, WE HAVE MET WITH CITY LEGAL ON SEVERAL OF THESE CONDITIONS IN ADVANCE OF THIS DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND THE ADDITIONAL, UM, ORDINANCES THAT ARE PART OF THIS.

AND, UH, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO INCORPORATE THAT PARTICULAR, UH, RELINQUISHING OF VESTING RIGHTS IN, UH, THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY.

AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT END UP IN THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OR COME IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT WE'VE MET WITH THEM AHEAD OF TIME TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE INTO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT SINCE IT IS A UNIQUE REQUEST.

OKAY.

AND IT IS PRESERVED IN THIS, THE VIDEO ARCHIVE OF THIS MEETING.

UM, ONE OTHER THING JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, BUT ON THE EAST SIDE THAT'S A FIRE STATION IN PUBLIC LAND, DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON THAT SIDE WITH REGARD TO BULL CREEK, UH, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE, UM, OF THIS, OF BULL CREEK? YEAH, SO THIS IS JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY.

SO, UM, I AM NOT SURE IF I'M FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS FOR THAT PART OF THE TRACT BECAUSE THE DIFFERENT TRACKS, 'CAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S FOR OF THEM AND THEY EACH HAVE SEPARATE ONES.

BUT ALL OF CHAMPIONS TRACKED, UNLESS MODIFIED BY CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS OR RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AMENDMENTS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT HAVE DIFFERENT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR THOSE TRACKS AND PARCELS WITHIN THE TRACKS.

RIGHT.

BUT AGAIN, ON THE EAST SIDE OF BULL CREEK, ON THE EAST SIDE OF BULL CREEK, IT ZONED P WHERE THERE'S A FIRE STATION.

YEAH, IT WOULD, DO WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THERE WITH CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE SETBACKS? RIGHT.

THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT, NOT NOT FOR THIS CASE, BUT JUST IN THE NATURE OF PROTECTING BULL CREEK, LIKE WITH CURRENT CODE COMPLIANCE.

YEAH.

YES, THERE WOULD BE CURRENT CODE WOULD PROTECT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK.

ALRIGHT.

YES, THANKS.

MM-HMM? MR. BRIER? YEAH, I HAVE NO QUESTION.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

AND KAYLA, DO I NEED TO CLOSE PUBLIC MEETING OR NO? OKAY, GOOD.

UM, I'M GONNA PUT ON MY OTHER HAT AND IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, UM, GO FORWARD.

SO, UH, THIS IS NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.

CHAMPIONS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TRACK FOUR REZONING C 14 DASH 2023 DASH ZERO FIVE.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING REZONING WITH CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR THE PROPERTY.

AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE BULL CREEK AND LAKE AUSTIN WATERSHED, AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE, UM, WITH, UH, THE FOLLOWING CON WITH CONDITIONS.

THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE, UM, VARIANCE REQUEST.

AND THE STAFF CONDITIONS ARE NUMBER ONE, IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE PROPERTY, BE LIMITED TO 40% GSA, THE PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE CEF PROTECTIONS COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE THREE.

THE PROPERTY WILL REMOVE ALL IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM THE CWQZ OF LAKE AUSTIN AS DEFINED BY THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.

FOUR.

THE PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE WATER QUALITY CONTROL CONTROLS COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE FIVE.

THE PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE SIX AT ALL TIMES.

40% OF THE PROPERTY WILL REMAIN UNDISTURBED OR RESTORED TO THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS.

SEVEN WATERCRAFT SALES RENTAL LEASE LENDING AND, UM, DISTRIBUTION IS PROHIBITED ON THE PROPERTY.

EIGHT.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT, ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE SUBJECT, SUBJECT TO CURRENT CITY CODE.

AND THERE'S A NOTE ON HERE TOO THAT SAYS ALL CONDITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO LEGAL REVIEW.

I'LL SECOND.

OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY ABSTAINING OR NICHOLS ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF OR ABSTAIN? ABSTAINING IN FAVOR.

SORRY.

GREAT.

OKAY, UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU.

AND I THINK WE'LL GET CHAIR

[00:35:01]

THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS AND THOROUGHNESS ON THIS PROJECT.

? NO.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, LET'S MOVE

[2. Staff briefing regarding equity efforts within the City of Austin—Kye Tavernier, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department]

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, JUST STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET UP THERE AND PUSH THE BUTTON UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNS RED.

HELLO? OH, HI.

HI.

MY NAME IS KAI BANIER.

I'M THE EQUITY INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, I FIRST WANNA THANK YOU FOR, FOR HAVING ME.

UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THIS, THIS PRESENTATION IN THIS BODY OF WORK, UM, AS A MESSENGER.

THERE'S A, A VERY, VERY LARGE AND ROBUST, UM, AMOUNT OF EQUITY WORK GOING ON IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

AND I, I, I TREATED THIS VERY MUCH LIKE A RESEARCH PROJECT, SO I WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO MY COLLEAGUES AND A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CITY THAT ARE DOING THIS AMAZING WORK, UM, AND COME FORWARD TO KIND OF BRING A HIGH LEVEL REPORT OUT OF JUST ALL, UM, SOME OF THE GREAT OPERATIONS AND, AND, AND GREAT EFFORTS THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD.

UM, SO YES, BEFORE I START, I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE EQUITY OFFICE, HOUSING PLANNING, RESILIENCE, SUSTAINABILITY, WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND JUST ALL THE FOLKS ALONG THE WAY THAT HELPED ME PREPARE FOR TODAY.

UH, SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

UM, SO THIS IS KIND OF A OVERVIEW OF KIND OF WHAT I PLAN TO, TO TOUCH ON TODAY.

UM, AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO START EVERY PRESENTATION WITH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

UH, SO MUCH ABOUT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS ABOUT BRINGING HUMANITY IN THIS SPACE.

SO I ALWAYS TRY TO START WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

UM, SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

UM, MY NAME IS KAI.

I'M THE EQUITY INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION.

I STARTED WITH WATERSHED AND ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO IN MARCH OF 2022, UH, I CAME FROM PUBLIC HEALTH.

I DID FIVE AND A HALF YEARS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION, SO WORKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.

UH, SO I LOVE ALL THINGS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY, SO THIS IS VERY, VERY TRUE AND ORGANIC TO ME.

UM, I LIKE TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE LENS OF WHY I DO THE WORK THAT I DO, AND IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THOSE FOLKS ON THE SCREEN.

I HAVE A 94 YEAR OLD GRANDFATHER AND, UH, OH, THEY'RE ALMOST FIVE, FIVE YEAR OLD NIECE AND NEPHEW.

UM, AND I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE HAD IN HIS LIFE UP TO NOW AND THE LIFE THAT I WANT THEM TO HAVE, AND I LET THAT DRIVE THE, THE KIND OF WORK THAT I DO.

UM, SO THEY ARE THE REASON I DO THE WORK THAT I DO.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM, SO I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LIKE TO START WITH IS THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING.

UM, THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS KIND OF BEEN A STANDALONE OFFICE FOR THE CITY FOR QUITE A WHILE.

UM, AND THEY ARE VERY SMALL BUT MIGHTY, AND WE LOVE THEM VERY DEARLY.

BUT OVER THE LAST TWO TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS, THEY'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT BUILDING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, SO PART OF THAT IS, UM, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS OVER THE LAST TWO TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS, UH, IT'S SOON TO BE 12 THAT WE HAVE, UH, FTES.

UH, SO WE HAVE EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGERS, OR PROGRAM COORDINATORS, COORDINATORS EMBEDDED IN OUR, IN OUR CITY.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF EQUITY WORK GROUPS.

WE HAVE THE AC CC GROUP THROUGH PARD, WHICH IS AMAZING, THE CONNECTING CHILDREN IN NATURE.

UM, AND THEN ALSO WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE EQUITY COORDINATION TEAMS, DEPARTMENTAL WORK GROUPS, UH, INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITIES OR IDEA GROUPS.

UM, AND THEY ARE BRINGING FORTH EFFORTS INTER INTERDEPARTMENTALLY TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.

AND THEN FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, THE EQUITY OFFICE HOSTS EQUITY ACTION TEAM MEETINGS EVERY MONTH, WHICH IS A GREAT SPACE WHERE COMMUNITY CAN COME IN AND WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, BREAK BREAD, THEY HAVE FOOD, AND WE TALK AND THEY BRING FORTH CONCERNS AND THEY HAVE PRESENTATIONS, UM, ABOUT DIFFERENT CONCERNS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO THAT'S AN AMAZING SPACE AS WELL.

UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, YES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I INCLUDED SOME, UH, AN ORG CHART FOR THE EQUITY OFFICE, UM, JUST TO KIND OF SHOW HOW THEIR STRUCTURE IS AND HOW THEY SUPPORT US, UM, AND THE, AND THE STAFF THAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH THE EQUITY OFFICE.

NEXT SLIDE.

I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 11, SOON TO BE 12 DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, UH, EQUITY PROGRAM MANAGERS OR PROGRAM COORDINATORS.

SO AUSTIN ENERGY POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC LIBRARY, UM, SOON TO BE AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY, AUSTIN WATER, UH, DSD, AUSTIN CODE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, PARKS AND REC, TRANSPORTATION, AND OF COURSE, WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UM, SO YES, THIS DOESN'T ALS THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THEIR FULL TEAM.

SOME HAVE TRAINING SPECIALISTS AS WELL AS, UM, HR ADVISORS.

SO REALLY LOOKING AT HIRING PRACTICES,

[00:40:01]

SO I DEFINITELY THINK THOSE ARE, UH, AMAZING.

YOU KNOW, AN AMAZING POINT TO IDENTIFY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WHAT IS EQUITY? SO WE ALWAYS, WE HEAR THAT WORD, AND A BIG PART OF IT IS, UH, IN ITS MOST BASIC FRAMEWORK, UH, EQUITY IS THE DESIRE TO ACHIEVE FAIRNESS AND OUTCOMES.

AND WE SEE DIFFERENT VISUALS OF THIS TYPE.

UM, AND, AND THEY KIND OF GUIDE WHAT WE DO.

UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE EQUITY OFFICE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY, UM, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOUR RACE OR THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, UH, DOESN'T PREDICT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES.

UM, WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL PRESENCE AND THE STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES WHEN IN, IN MOST, MOST IRONICALLY OR MOST ORGANIC TO AUSTIN.

WE TALK ABOUT THE 1928 MASTER PLAN, AND WE TALK ABOUT BEING IN THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT MASTER PLAN EVEN TODAY IN SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT WE, THAT WE ARE IN, UM, AND THE INTENTION AND ATTENTION THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY, THERE'S THE MOMENT WHERE WE SAY WE'RE RACE EXPLICIT, BUT NOT RACE EXCLUSIVE.

SO THAT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INTERSECTIONALITY IN, IN HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THIS WORLD, AND HOW DO WE BEGIN TO, TO BREAK THOSE APART.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT DISPARITY AND YOU BREAK IT OUT, OR DISAGGREGATED BY RACE, YOU SEE OVERREPRESENTATION OR, UH, YOU KNOW, OVERREPRESENTATION OR DISPARATE OUTCOMES IN OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR OR BLACK COMMUNITIES.

SO THEY START WITH THAT.

UM, AND SO I ALWAYS LIKE TRY TO GO HEAD ON WITH THE QUESTION.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WHY LEAVE WITH RACE? UH, RACE IS THE NUMBER ONE PREDICTOR OF QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES.

SO FOR ME, THIS IS HOW YOU LIVE, HOW LONG YOU LIVE, UM, AND HOW YOU MAY DIE.

UM, HISTORICALLY, IT'S ALSO DETERMINED WHERE YOU CAN LIVE, WHERE YOU CAN WORK, UH, YOUR ACCESS TO EDUCATION, AND WHERE YOU CAN RECREATE, HOW YOU CAN PLAY.

UM, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN EFFORT AND INTENTION IS PUT IN INVESTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE OUTCOMES FOR ALL IMPROVE, I ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND, AND KIND OF HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE PIONEERS, JOYCE JAMES.

SHE CAME OUT OF CHILD WELFARE AND SHE DID AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK, UM, IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR BLACK CHILDREN AND CHILD WELFARE.

UM, AND THIS WAS AUTHORIZED THROUGH A SENATE, UH, TEXAS STATE BILL SIX, MANY YEARS AGO.

AND THEY PUT PROGRAMS THAT CENTERED AROUND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR BLACK CHILDREN.

AND WHAT THEY FOUND THAT AFTER THEY DID THIS WORK, AND THEY LOOKED AT THE DATA, THEY SAW THAT OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN GOT BETTER.

SO THEN THEY KIND OF BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIGH TIDE RAISES ALL BOATS.

SO IF WE, IF WE POUR INTO OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THEN WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE, BECAUSE OUTCOMES FOR EVERYONE IMPROVE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO HOW WE DO THE WORK THAT WE DO, THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT THEY USE, UM, AND IT'S NORMALIZED, ORGANIZED, OPERATIONALIZED, SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST.

UM, SO NORMALIZE IS ABOUT HAVING THAT SHARED ANA ANALYSIS AND DEFINITION, UM, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WHERE WE ARE, UM, HAVING SHARED DEFINITIONS, AND WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION REGULARLY.

IT ALSO NAMES THE HISTORY OF THE EXPERIENCE, AND IT, IT, IT KIND OF PRIORITIZES URGENCY, UM, AND KIND OF IDENTIFIES IT.

ORGANIZING IS OUR DEDICATION TO TRANSFORMATION, TRANSFORMATION.

IT'S OUR ABILITY TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS VERSUS, UH, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.

AND THEN OPERATIONALIZING ARE THE TOOLS THAT WE USE, THE DATA WE DEVELOP IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE IMPLEMENT.

AND I'M GONNA CIRCLE BACK TO THIS WHEN I TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT EFFORTS TO KIND OF SHOW THAT IN ACTION.

UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND SO, I THINK ABOUT KIND OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, OF WHAT ARE THE, JUST KIND OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT CRITICAL LOVE AND PRACTICE.

SO THIS IS, UM, BEING CRITICAL LOVERS OF OUR SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS, BEING ABLE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE DO THE WORK THAT WE DO.

UM, KEEPING HISTORY IN THE FOREFRONT.

UM, I PUT A LINK TO THE, THE GEAR MODEL GARRIS, THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE EQUITY.

AND THEY HAVE A TOOLKIT WHERE THEY HAVE STEPS ABOUT IF YOU HAVE PROGRAMS, PROCESS, PROCEDURES, IF YOU WANT TO BEGIN TO EXPLORE RACIAL EQUITY.

IN THAT, IN THAT CONCEPT, IT'S START, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IS NAMING THE HISTORY.

SO TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD, UH, THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR PROGRAM HAS HAD, IS THERE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY AND, AND THE PEOPLE THAT IT AFFECTS TO CONSIDER, UM, ACCESS IN OUR DECISION MAKING.

THIS IS A HUGE THING THAT I ALWAYS TRY TO ASK WHEN WE'RE WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT EQUITY ASSESSMENTS, IS, WHO'S OUR CUSTOMER? OR WHO IS THE UN WHO CARRIES THE UNINTENDED BENEFIT OR BURDEN OF OUR ACTIONS? AND SOMETIMES JUST THAT SIMPLE QUESTION CAN GIVE US A PAUSE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING? AND THEN I'LL BRING THIS UP AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC TOOL, NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS ABOUT HAVING FOLKS AT THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MEANINGFUL IMPACT.

UM, I MEAN, MEANINGFUL INPUT ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON, ON HOW THEY LIVE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO AS I KIND OF JUMP INTO TO TALKING ABOUT

[00:45:01]

BUT I WANTED TO START WITH COMMUNITY BECAUSE COMMUNITY'S AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO IN THIS SPACE AND OF THE HEART OF WHAT THE EQUITY OFFICE SEEKS TO, TO ACHIEVE.

UM, AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HIGHLIGHTED THAT THESE, THIS WAS CONSULTATION THAT WAS DONE IN COMMUNITY, I DIDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

YES, I HAD, DID HAVE TOOK SOME TIME TO DEFINITELY SPOKE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM THEM AS WELL.

UM, SO UNDERSTANDING HISTORY, AGAIN, HISTORIES OF NEIGHBORHOODS, HISTORIES OF, OF, OF COMMUNITIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR, OUR CITY, WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, WITH ME WEARING THIS SEAL AND BADGE THAT I LOVE VERY MUCH, UM, THE COMMUNICATION, HOW WE COMMUNICATE ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES TO IDENTIFIED CONCERNS, HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE OUT DURING DISASTER AND RESPONSE ACCURACY AND SCHEDULING.

IF WE ARE GONNA SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT, UM, ENGAGING COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, DOING IT PROACTIVELY AND NOT REACTIVELY OR FOR, LIKE WE SAID, TO CHECK A BOX AND SAY THAT WE DID IT.

UM, BUT MEANINGFULLY BRINGING THEM TO THE TABLE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT IS CRITICAL FOR THEM AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

UM, JUST GENERAL CONCERNS AROUND GENTRIFICATION, DEVELOPMENT, DISPLACEMENT.

UM, HOW DO WE INCREASE PERMANENCE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE WE GIVING SPACE TO THAT? UM, ACCOUNTABILITY OF LEADERSHIP.

UH, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF HISTORIES, PARTICULARLY AROUND CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND POLLUTION AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THAT AND HOW WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND, AND HOW, WHERE DO WE MAKE THOSE CHANGES? AND BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING THEM OUT OF THE DISCUSSION AGAIN.