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ARE YOU READY? GOOD MORNING.[CALL TO ORDER]
MY NAME IS ALISON AL ALTER.I'M CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IT IS TUESDAY, JULY 23RD AT NINE THIRTY FIVE.
UM, WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, UM, ON THE DIOCESE HERE WITH ME, UM, IN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, I HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES.
AND ONLINE WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL WILL NOT BE WITH US THIS MORNING.
UM, APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE START.
WE WERE, WE WERE TRYING TO, TO RESOLVE AN ISSUE BEFORE WE GOT STARTED, SO THE REST OF THE MEETING COULD GO MORE SMOOTHLY.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH
[Public Communication: General]
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, UM, GENERAL.UM, WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNED UP.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH.
UM, WE WILL THEN, UM, TAKE UP, UM, ITEM WHEN WE GET TO ITEM FOUR, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP FOR THAT AS WELL.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE MR. PENA IS SIGNED UP FOR ALL THREE FOR, FOR THOSE AND FOR THE MINUTES.
IS THAT ACCURATE? I DON'T EVEN SEE MR. PENA.
IS HE HERE? OKAY, THEN I WON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
UM, SO THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE IRBY FOSTER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS IRBY FOSTER DISTRICT THREE.
I WANTED TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
PRIORITIZING IN THE BUDGET THE LARGE NUMBER OF FREEWAY AND INTERSTATE STREETLIGHTS OUT THAT ARE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA OF AUSTIN ENERGY.
AND ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT ROADWAY SIGNAGE.
IT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT THERE ARE MILES OF FREEWAY STREET LIGHTS, HUNDREDS OF UNDERPASS LIGHTS, AND ON AND OFF RAMP LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT.
SECONDLY, CITIZENS CANNOT ACCURATELY REPORT THESE OUTAGES IN THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DOESN'T RECOGNIZE FREEWAY STREETLIGHT ADDRESSES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WITHOUT A STREETLIGHT MANAGER EMBEDDED IT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, NO ONE IS PRIORITIZING THE ISSUE.
THE MANAGER SITS AT AUSTIN ENERGY WHERE THEY LACK COUNCIL PRIORITIES.
AUSTIN ENERGY HAS BEGUN TO ACT ON MANY OF THESE OUTAGES, BUT ONLY AFTER I STARTED TO COMPLAIN TO MY COUNSELOR AND CITY STAFF.
SO THE PRIORITIES AT AUSTIN ENERGY ARE REACTIVE.
I'VE DRIVEN ALL THE NINE MAJOR FREEWAYS IN THE CITY.
NEARLY EVERY MAJOR FREEWAY THAT IS MAINTAINED THROUGH INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH TXDOT BY AUSTIN ENERGY HAS OUTAGES.
I'M NOT EXAGGERATING TO SAY THERE ARE EASILY HUNDREDS OF FREEWAY LIGHTS OUT, INCLUDING MANY DARK CITY CROSS STREETS FOR WHEN YOU EXPLORE FUNDING AND FISCAL 25 INITIATIVES.
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL AGREE THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY HAZARD, WHICH IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
BETWEEN 2020 AND 23 ROADWAY FATALITIES IN TRAVIS COUNTY, IN OUR STREETS INCREASED 15%.
AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY ROADWAY FATALITIES INCREASED 35% AND 50% OF THOSE ROADWAY FATALITIES WERE AT NIGHT.
I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO MAKE FREEWAY LIGHTING A BUDGET PRIORITY.
CURRENT LEVELS OF FUNDING ARE NOT ENOUGH.
I KNOW THAT IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, MR. BROAD ACTS TOOK SEVERAL STEPS WITH COUNSEL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
FIRST, THEY HELPED FUND A DESIGNATED STREETLIGHT MANAGER TO BETTER COORDINATE REPAIRS AND BRING COUNCIL PRIORITIES TO THE ISSUE.
SECOND, THEY FUNDED MORE MONEY FOR FREEWAY AND INTERSTATE STREET LIGHTING REPAIRS, NOT JUST THE SIDE STREETS.
AND THEN FINALLY, THEY IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RAPID FREEWAY CONVERSION TO LED LIGHTING, TO LED LIGHTING TO LOWER ENERGY USAGE, WHICH IS A GREEN INITIATIVE FI.
FREEWAY LIGHTING NEEDS TO HAVE MORE FUNDS BECAUSE OF THE COSTLY LANE CLOSURES, THE WIRE THEFT AND ELECT THE AGING OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
COUNCIL POLICE PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY, UH, SAFER ROADWAYS AND UNDERPASSES, AND REALLY A GREEN INITIATIVE WHICH WILL IMPROVE ROADWAY SAFETY DUE TO BETTER LED TECHNOLOGY AND OPTICS, AUSTINITES DESERVE DESPERATELY NEED, WELL NEED WELL-LIGHTED FREEWAYS.
AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO FIND MONEY FOR FREEWAY SIGNS WELCOMING MOTORISTS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALONG OUR FREEWAYS.
ROUND ROCK, GEORGETOWN, BUDDHA, THEY ALL HAVE BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE SIGNS AND THEY FUNDED THOSE, BUT WE HAVEN'T.
SO AGAIN, I WOULD ASK THAT TO BE A PRIORITY AS WELL.
MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU, MR. FOSTER, IF YOU COULD, UM, SEND A COPY OF YOUR REMARKS STATE TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE DAVIS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE ON THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, AND I REPRESENT THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ON THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
AND I'D LIKE TO FIRST EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION, UM, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT OF A CLIMATE BOND, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED, UH, TO MEET THE MOMENT.
THE IMPACTS OF A WARMING PLANET AND A WARMING AUSTIN ARE GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE NO MATTER WHAT.
UM, BUT WITH YOUR BOLD LEADERSHIP,
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I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THE MOST VULNERABLE, SAFE, MITIGATE SOME OF THE WORST EFFECTS, AND KEEP THE CITY THAT WE LOVE LIVABLE AND RESILIENT FOR MANY MORE YEARS.I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM FOUR, THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, UH, TO EXPAND THE BODY'S DUTIES TO INCLUDE ADVISING ON MATTERS RELATED TO NATURAL GAS RATES, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE, FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, AND GAS UTILITY PROGRESS ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CITY BOARD OR COMMISSION TODAY THAT REVIEWS GAS COMPANY RATES IN AUSTIN, UH, WHICH AS IS THE CASE WITH THE CITY OWNED UTILITIES.
UM, AND AUSTIN'S GAS UTILITIES HAVE REGRESSIVE RESIDENTIAL RATES THAT DISCOURAGE CONSERVATION, UH, AND TEND TO PENALIZE LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS.
AND THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED.
SO, DESPITE THE, THE MEMO THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED, THESE AMENDMENTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO MOVE THE RMC INTO A REGULATORY ROLE, BUT RATHER TO ALLOW FOR BETTER TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND RATE PAYERS.
SO I'D ASK YOU TO CONSIDER HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES EQUITABLY AND WITH TRANSPARENCY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND, UH, COUNCIL, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND AN APPOINTEE TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION BY COUNCILWOMAN KELLY FOR DISTRICT SIX.
I ALSO CHAIR THE COMMISSION AS WELL.
I'M HERE TODAY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE EMPLOYED BY THE TEXAS GAS AND NEGOTIATED BY TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION IN CITY OF AUSTIN IS REGRESSIVE.
AND THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM HIGHLY INEFFECTIVE.
THE INCENTIVES THEY HAVE IN PLACE HAVE LONG OR NOT HAVE A LONG OR NON-EXISTENT PAYBACK, WHICH BECOMES EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED FOR HIGHER ENERGY USERS WHO HAVE A LOWER MARGINAL COST PER THERM.
THE RATE STRUCTURE ALSO HITS THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HARDER ON A PER THE BASIS.
BY CONTRAST, OUR CITY OWNED UTILITIES USE PROGRESSIVE RATE STRUCTURES TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION.
THE STRUCTURE EMPLOYED WITH TEXAS GAS PUTS REGULATORS AT ODDS WITH RATE PAYERS AS THE RAILROAD COMMISSION GENERATES REVENUE FOR THE STATE TO ALLOW THE RAILROAD COMMISSION TO OVERSEE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS GOES COUNTER TO ITS OWN INTERESTS.
THE CURRENT REBATE PROGRAM BEARS THIS OUT AS ITS LARGELY INEFFECTIVE AND NOT COST EFFECT, COST EFFICIENT FOR RATE PAYERS TO FUND IT.
IT'S A HARBINGER OF WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE FROM FUTURE RRC MANAGED PROGRAMS. WE FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS BROKEN MODEL WOULD BE IMPROVED UPON BY TWO PARTIES WITH ALIGNED INTERESTS.
THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION HOPES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY SEEING THIS AMENDMENT PASSED.
OUR COMMISSION HAS TRIED IN GOOD FAITH TO WORK WITH TEXAS GAS ON CONSERVATION PROGRAM CHANGES THAT WOULD'VE REASONABLE PAYBACK PERIODS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.
AND THE COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT HB 2263 WAS PASSED AT THEIR BEHEST.
TO END THIS DISCUSSION, THEIR JOB IS TO SELL GAS.
IF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TRULY BELIEVES THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND IS CAUSED BY MAN AS ITS OWN, AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN SUGGESTS THEN THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY MUST BE SEIZED.
PLEASE VOTE YET ON THIS, YES, ON THIS AMENDMENT.
UM, SO FOR MR. ROBBINS AND MR. BRADEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW OR WHEN WE BRING UP THE ITEM? 'CAUSE I HAVE YOU LISTED AS SPEAKING, WHICH WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL TO YOU? UM, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE HELPFUL TO DO IT RIGHT WITH THE ITEM WE HAVE THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE THAT NEEDS TO MOVE ON, AND THEN IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO, UM, OUR CONVERSATION IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
IT SHOULD BE A PRETTY QUICK MEETING, BUT I SPEAK TO MY HALLWAY.
UM, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE, THE SPEAKERS, UM, THUS FAR.
UM, WE WILL NOW TAKE UP THE MINUTES.
[Approval of Minutes]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES WITH NO OBJECTION.WE WILL, UM, ADOPT THE MINUTES, UM, THAT ARE ON OUR AGENDA TO ADOPT, UM, FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
[2. Homelessness Assistance Follow-up Audit.]
UP THE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE FOLLOW UP AUDIT IF WE HAVE THE STAFF HERE FOR THAT.OH, I COULDN'T SEE DAVID
AND THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY KELSEY THOMPSON FROM THE OR.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, JUST TO REMIND FOLKS THAT, UM, AS A COMMITTEE, UM, AND WITH THE AUDITOR, UM, THE AUDITOR, YOU KNOW, REGULARLY DOES AUDITS.
AND THEN WE ALSO COME BACK AND WE LOOK AT THE AUDITS TO SEE WHETHER WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THE PIECES, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR IN THOSE AUDITS.
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WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY IS KIND OF ONE OF THOSE, UM, META AUDITS WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT OLD AUDITS TO SEE WHETHER WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE GOALS THAT WERE SET OUT FOR THE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.TODAY I'M PRESENTING THE HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE OUTCOMES FOLLOW UP.
I WAS THE LEAD AUDITOR OVER THIS PROJECT.
OUR OFFICE CONDUCTED FOUR AUDITS OF THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE EFFORTS BETWEEN 2017 AND 2019.
IN 2021, WE FOLLOWED UP ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED AS PART OF THESE AUDITS, AND CONCLUDED THAT THREE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED AND ONE RECOMMENDATION WAS NO LONGER APPLICABLE.
THE WORK FOR THIS PROJECT FOCUSED ON THE REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2018 ALLOCATION OF CITY RESOURCES AUDIT AND 2019 OUTCOMES OF CITY EFFORTS AUDIT.
WE REVIEWED EVIDENCE RELATED TO TWO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2018 ALLOCATION OF CITY RESOURCES AUDIT.
WE CONCLUDED THAT ONE RECOMMENDATION WAS IMPLEMENTED AND ONE RECOMMENDATION WAS IN PROGRESS.
RECOMMENDATION ONE FROM THIS AUDIT DIRECTED THE CITY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF DATA COLLECTED ABOUT THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
THE CITY HAS SHIFTED TO USING COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE SIZE OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY AND ECHO HAVE INCREASED RESOURCES DEDICATED TO CONDUCTING COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS.
AS SEEN IN THE GRAPHIC ON THIS SCREEN, THE NUMBER OF COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED HAS INCREASED FROM 2021 TO 2024.
DATA FROM COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS IS PUBLISHED IN ECHOS DASHBOARD.
ECHOS DASHBOARD IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ONLINE AND WAS RECENTLY REDESIGNED THIS YEAR.
RECOMMENDATION TWO FROM THIS AUDIT DIRECTED THE CITY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO MEET THE CURRENT NEED FOR HOUSING.
FOR THOSE TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
THE CITY HAS INCREASED THE SUPPLY OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AS OF MAY, 2024.
THERE ARE 237 OPERATING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.
THE CITY PROJECTS FUTURE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO 2027.
BY DECEMBER, 2027, THE CITY PROJECTS THERE WILL BE 1,345 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS.
ALTHOUGH MANY ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR AND UPDATED GOAL TO MEASURE EFFORTS AGAINST.
IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE CITY WILL NEED TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR AND UPDATED GOAL TO MEASURE EFFORTS AGAINST.
WE REVIEWED EVIDENCE RELATED TO FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2019 OUTCOMES OF CITY EFFORTS AUDIT.
WE CONCLUDE THAT ALL FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS.
RECOMMENDATION ONE FROM THIS AUDIT DIRECTED THE CITY TO REVIEW HOW THE CITY MEASURES THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS.
IN DECEMBER, 2023, THE CITY CREATED THE, THE, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
CURRENTLY THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE WORKING ON CREATING THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN STAFF FROM THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE STATE THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL INCLUDE GOALS TO MEASURE THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS.
IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE'S STRATEGIC PLAN WILL INCLUDE GOALS TO MEASURE THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF LESSNESS EFFORTS.
THE GOAL TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS SHOULD BE MEASURABLE.
ADDITIONALLY, APPROPRIATE TIMELINES SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
RECOMMENDATION TWO FROM THIS AUDIT DIRECTED THE CITY TO IMPROVE THEIR CONTRACTS BY ENSURING CONTRACTS INCLUDED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES, CLIENT PRIORITIZATION, CLIENT FEEDBACK, AND TO ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE RESOURCES WERE DEDICATED TO THESE EFFORTS.
WE REVIEWED A SAMPLE OF FIVE CONTRACTS AND FOUND THAT NOT ALL CONTRACTS INCLUDE THE ITEMS LISTED IN OUR RECOMMENDATION IN THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
ALTHOUGH NOT ALL ITEMS LISTED IN OUR RECOMMENDATION WERE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE, WE OBSERVED THAT SOME VENDORS ARE TAKING ACTIONS TOWARDS SOME OF THESE ITEMS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO PER THEIR CONTRACT.
IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE CITY WILL NEED TO REVISE THEIR CONTRACTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED ARE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
FROM THIS AUDIT DIRECTED THE CITY TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE MANAGES TWO HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE PLANS FOR THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE TO BRING ON ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE FALL.
THERE ARE PROGRAMS AIMED AT PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS THAT DO NOT LIVE WITHIN THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
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FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT MANAGES DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE STATES THAT THERE ARE PLANS TO CLEARLY DEFINE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION IN THE CITY TO GUIDE EFFORTS IN THE FUTURE.IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE WILL NEED TO CLEARLY DEFINE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION EFFORTS, REVISE AND ENHANCE THEIR CURRENT HOMELESS PROGRAMS, AND DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS. RECOMMENDATION FOUR FROM THIS AUDIT DIRECTED THE CITY TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION AMONG ENTITIES PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN AUSTIN, CURRENTLY THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE AND ECHO HOST PERIODIC MEETINGS WITH CASE MANAGEMENT ENTITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT ENTITIES WITH UPDATES ON SHELTER BED CAPACITY.
WE COLLECTED SURVEYS FROM FOUR CASE MANAGERS ACROSS THREE CASE MANAGEMENT ENTITIES IN AUSTIN.
CASE MANAGERS RATED COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION, AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT OUT OF 10 CASE MANAGERS NOTED THERE ARE SOME AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
FOUR EXAMPLE CASE MANAGERS STATED THERE COULD BE AN INCREASE IN MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION FROM ALL CASE MANAGEMENT ENTITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, CASE MANAGERS NOTED THERE COULD ALSO BE AN INCREASE IN RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR CASE MANAGERS TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER.
IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT FURTHER CHANGES TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION AMONG ENTITIES PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
UM, BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS, I THINK WE'LL INVITE THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER, MR. GRAY, TO RESPOND.
UM, JUST A BRIEF COMMENT THAT, UH, I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AND IN PARTICULAR, UH, ASHLEY AND KELSEY.
THEY CONDUCTED THIS AUDIT WITH THE UTMOST LEVEL OF RESPECT AND PROFESSIONALISM.
UM, THEY KEPT OUR OFFICE ENGAGED ALONG THE WAY.
THEY ALSO HELD US ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME THINGS, WHICH IS GREAT.
UH, ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES AS A NEW OFFICE WAS TO DO AN AUDIT OF OUR CONTRACTING.
UH, AND SO HAVING THE INDEPENDENT CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE COME IN AND DO THIS REFRESH AUDIT WAS, WAS REALLY HELPFUL FOR, FOR ME AND MY STAFF TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE AND CHART OUT SOME WAYS FOR US TO CONTINUE THE, THE WORLD FORWARD, THE WORK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UH, AGAIN, JUST WANNA THANK THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
WE, WE AGREE WITH ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU OR THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UM, COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S INFORMATION.
UM, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION AMONGST CASE MANAGEMENT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET IS FOR COUNCIL TO INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN CASE MANAGEMENT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR US IF WE WERE TO IDENTIFY FUNDING TO IMPROVE THIS LEVEL OF COORDINATION AND SERVICE? UM, YOU KNOW, ANY INSIGHT OR CONTEXT ON IT? YES, MA'AM.
THIS, THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE FELT LIKE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE CONTRACTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER OUR CARE.
UH, AS OUR CONTRACTS HAVE COME UP FOR RENEWALS, WE'VE TAKEN THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT SOME OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND WORK STATEMENTS WITHIN THOSE CONTRACTS.
AND SO, WHEN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TALKS ABOUT THIS WORK BEING IN PROGRESS, ONE THING WE REFLECTED WITH THEM IS AS WE'RE RENEWING THE CONTRACTS, WE'RE NOW BUILDING IN THE COLLABORATION AND THE COORDINATION AS A CONTRACT DELIVERABLE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM, WE, WE FIND A NUMBER OF ENTITIES TO DO CASE MANAGEMENT AS PART OF STREET OUTREACH.
NOW, THOSE ENTITIES ARE GETTING TOGETHER ONCE A WEEK, EVERY TUESDAY, TO EXCHANGE CASE NOTES, TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE FIELD, ANY TRENDS THAT THEY'RE NOTICING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S THE GROWTH OF AN ENCAMPMENT OR THE MIGRATION OF PEOPLE TO ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY.
AND THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF EXCHANGES, NOT ONLY IS THE CITY ABLE TO GET BETTER INSIGHTS INTO THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENTS WHO WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE, BUT THE PARTNERS ARE ALSO GETTING BETTER INSIGHTS INTO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE MOVING INTO THEIR PART OF TOWN AND MIGHT BE TAPPING INTO TO THOSE RESOURCES.
NOW, WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT.
UH, I WILL SAY CASE MANAGER JOB IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST JOB IN OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
UH, OUR CASE MANAGERS SHOULD HAVE CASELOADS OF NO MORE THAN 15 CLIENTS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE UPWARDS OF 25 TO 30 CLIENTS.
UH, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD IN WAYS FOR, UH, OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS AND OUR CURRENT VENDORS TO BE MUCH MORE, UH, EFFECTIVE AT DOING THE COORDINATION BY MAKING IT PART OF OUR, OUR CONTRACTING.
SO RIGHT NOW OUR APPROACH IS JUST STRENGTHENING THROUGH OUR OWN CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS, THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE ENTITIES, ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH.
UM, BUT I GUESS, IS THERE ANY NEED WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO HELP FACILITATE THAT CASE MANAGEMENT COORDINATION OR IS IT JUST THROUGH, YOU KNOW, AS A CONTRACT REQUIREMENT? WHAT WE FOUND IS, IS EFFECTIVE
[00:20:01]
FOR OUR VENDORS THAT HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY IS BY BUILDING IT IN AS A CONTRACT REQUIREMENT.WE SET THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS AS, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY NOW, WE HAVE ALSO ADJUSTED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THOSE CONTRACTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT TIME AND, AND PAYING FOR THAT COORDINATION, ENSURING THAT OUR VENDORS HAVE THE, THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT LEVEL OF WORK AND CARE.
WE TURN TO ECHO AS OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE LEAD AGENCY TO REALLY OWN THAT SPACE.
UM, SO ECHO IS, IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR A CONTINUUM.
PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO COORDINATE ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDERS WITHIN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, AND SO FOR ANYBODY WHO'S NOT A CITY VENDOR, WE'LL WE'LL USUALLY LOOK TO ECHO TO CONVENE THOSE TABLES.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN, WHERE ARE WE IN THE PERFORMANCE BASED CONTRACTING? I KNOW WE DID A PILOT FOR, AND, AND THAT WAS MORE ON THE KIND OF AS AN INCENT AN AN ADDED INCENTIVE, RIGHT? YOU HAD YOUR CONTRACT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GIVE SOME PERFORMANCE BASED, UH, BONUSES.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT THINKING IN EITHER APPLYING THAT MODEL TO OUR OTHER CONTRACTS OR KIND OF TAKING IT THAT NEXT STEP OF ACTUALLY TYING A PIECE OF THE UNDERLYING CONTRACT, NOT OF OF THE BONUS, BUT THE ACTUAL CONTRACT ITSELF TO PERFORMANCE METRICS? SURE.
SO ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS HAVE PERFORMANCE METRICS IN THEM RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND AS I MENTIONED, AS WE'RE TAKING CONTRACTS THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS, WE'RE REVISITING SOME OF THOSE PERFORMANCE METRICS.
UH, PART OF THE CHALLENGES, SOME CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE INHERITING HAVE PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT MIGHT NOT BE MEASURING THE, THE RIGHT THING.
MAYBE WHAT WAS A, A GOOD OUTCOME FIVE YEARS AGO IS NOT A REALLY STRONG OUTCOME TODAY.
SO THAT'S BEEN OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESSES.
ARE WE EVEN JUDGING PERFORMANCE CORRECTLY, OR DO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME TWEAKS AND CHANGES? NOW AS WE'RE DOING THAT, WE'RE ALSO SETTING THE EXPECTATION WITH OUR VENDORS THAT WE ARE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PERFORMANCE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE REPORTING THINGS TO THE CITY CORRECTLY.
WE'RE GONNA COME AND DO SPOT REVIEWS.
WE'RE GONNA COME OUT WITH YOU IN THE FIELD.
UH, WE'RE REALLY GONNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THERE'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE THERE FOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COLLECTING QUALITY DATA AS PART OF PERFORMANCE, AND THEN WE PAY THE INVOICE.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING IT IN.
UH, WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IS SAY, YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU HIT 80% OF THIS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE, THEN YOU QUALIFY FOR A BONUS PAYMENT.
OR IF YOU HIT 70%, THEN YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU QUALIFY FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT PAYMENT AS OPPOSED TO 90.
AND, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION YET.
THE WORK THAT WE PILOTED JUST TO, TO THAT POINT WAS AROUND A, A RAPID REHOUSING KIND OF CONTRACT.
WE'VE NOW TURNED TO ECHO TO TAKE ON AND, AND CONTINUE THAT WORK.
AND SO AS PART OF ECHO'S COLLABORATIVE APPLICATION, UH, THERE IS SOME WEIGHING THAT'S DONE BASED OFF OF VENDOR PERFORMANCE.
AND SO YOU, YOU KIND OF SEE IT HITTING THERE.
WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET IN OUR CONTRACTS.
WELL, ONE THING I THINK WOULD BE INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE DATA AND WE TALK ABOUT OUR GOALS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE BUDGET.
WE ARE NOW SEEING, UM, SOME OF OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND, AND WHAT GOALS WE WANT.
AND I THINK IT'D BE A REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATION TO HAVE AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE OF JUST KIND OF GOING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE GOALS AND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE REACH THAT NUMBER, WHERE WE STAND TODAY, IS THAT GOAL AMBITIOUS ENOUGH? YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO REACH THAT GOAL? YOU KNOW, ALL THE, THE ELEMENTS TO THAT SO THAT WE CAN REALLY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
AND, AND HOPEFULLY I, I'D HOPED WE'D HAVE IT BY NOW, BUT WE HAVE THAT, THE ECHO DATA OF KIND OF THE SYSTEMATIC NEED, RIGHT? SO THAT WE CAN WEIGH THAT NEED AGAINST OUR GOALS AND SEE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE MAKING THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS IN THE RIGHT PLACES AT THE RIGHT TIME? SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND I, I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE LOTS MORE CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE.
UM, I WAS WONDERING FOR THE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, IF YOU COULD SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE CURRENT STATUS OF, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE CONTINUING OUR EXISTING GIVEN THE FUNDING.
SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY, UH, FORTUNATE THAT IN THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, COUNCIL APPROPRIATED SOME DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY FOR HOMELESS PREVENTION.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME WORK WITH OUR VENDORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW DO WE BEST UTILIZE THOSE DOLLARS.
WE'RE ALSO TALKING WITH SOME RESEARCHERS TO HELP US NOT JUST THINK ABOUT HOW WE UTILIZE THOSE DOLLARS, BUT HOW DO WE DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE PREVENTION PILOTS.
WE DO HAVE SOME ARPA FUNDED CONTRACTS THAT HAVE PREVENTION SERVICES BUILT IN.
[00:25:01]
AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND THEY CONTACT OUR OFFICE, LET'S SAY THEY'RE ABOUT TO BE EVICTED BECAUSE OF PAST DUE RENT, OR THEY'RE ABOUT TO HAVE THEIR UTILITIES CUT OFF AND THEY'RE GONNA, I DUNNO, LOSE THEIR HOME BECAUSE OF THAT, UH, WE CAN INTERVENE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS IN IN THOSE SCENARIOS.UH, WHAT WE WANT TO DO THOUGH IS KIND OF TAKE THE LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THOSE ARPA PROGRAMS, COUPLED WITH BEST RESEARCH AROUND THE UPSTREAM FACTORS THAT CAUSE HOMELESSNESS AND REALLY TARGET THAT.
OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO SOLICIT THOSE PREVENTION, DO DOLLARS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, AND THEN HAVE A, ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING TO COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH A SELECTED VENDOR FOR HOMELESS PREVENTION.
SO WE'VE ALREADY SOLICITED THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THAT, THAT REVIEW PROCESS.
AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU GUYS SOON, UH, WITH, UH, SEEKING AUTHORIZATIONS TO ENTER INTO A NEW CONTRACT AROUND HOMELESS PREVENTION.
AND HOW MUCH WAS THAT AMOUNT THAT WE GAVE YOU LAST YEAR? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
IT, IT WAS, YOU CAN FOLLOW UP IF YOU, I I'M, MIGHT HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON, SO I HAVE A LOT OF NUMBERS FLOATING IN MY HEAD.
I'M MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP, UNDERSTAND WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.
UM, COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS, UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS AUDIT FORWARD.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE HSO, UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE AUDITORS.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE'RE GONNA
[4. Proposed bylaw amendments for the Resource Management Commission and the Joint Inclusion Committee.]
TAKE UP, UM, IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH ARE THE PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS FOR THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AND THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE.UM, WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS HERE, ASSUMING GUS PENA'S NOT HERE YET.
UM, SO MR. ROBBINS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
AND THEN MR. BRADEN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, I AM VICE CHAIR OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE.
UM, I'M ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE ITEM FOUR, THE REVIEW OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION'S REQUEST TO COUNCIL TO BROADEN OUR COMMISSION'S PURVIEW TO LOOK AT MATTERS CONCERNING NATURAL GAS UTILITIES.
UH, I'D LIKE YOU TO POSTPONE IT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, COULD YOU, UH, CUE THIS SLIDE? UH, IN MY OPINION, TEXAS GAS SERVICE HAS OPERATED IN AN OUTRAGEOUS MANNER.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THAT THERE'S BEEN A 58% RESIDENTIAL RATE INCREASE IN ONLY THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
COMPARE THAT TO AUSTIN ENERGY.
WITH A 21% INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS AND AUSTIN WATER WITH A 3% INCREASE.
THE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THE GAS COMPANY RUNS ARE LARGELY A GLORIFIED MARKETING EFFORT FUNDED WITH RATE PAYER MONEY.
THE COMPANY HAS IGNORED VALID PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES TO ASSIST LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS.
SINCE CITY MANAGEMENT HAS NO POLICY TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS, OUR COMMISSION SOUGHT TO ADVISE YOU ONLY LAST NIGHT, I WAS MADE AWARE OF A MEMO SENT BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN MANAGER STAFF ATTACKING OUR REQUEST.
GIVEN THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS MEMO UNTIL LAST NIGHT, THE UTTER LACK OF TRANSPARENCY DOES NOT ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR DISCUSSION ON THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSAL.
THE MEMO COMPLETELY MISCHARACTERIZES WHAT WE PROPOSED.
MY OWN MOTIVATION FOR THIS PROPOSAL IS TO OFFER OUR COMMISSION'S ADVICE TO COUNCIL ON GAS UTILITIES.
WE HAVE SOME SMART AND TALENTED PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR WHATEVER REASONS.
YOUR CITY MANAGEMENT WILL NOT STAND UP FOR GAS UTILITY RATE PAYERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR PROPOSAL CHALLENGES THEM TO DO BETTER.
SO PLEASE REFER, UH, PLEASE DEFER THIS TO YOUR NEXT MEETING.
PLEASE FIND THE TIME, UH, TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
AND PLEASE ASK YOUR CITY MANAGEMENT THIS QUESTION.
IF THEY DO NOT LIKE OUR COMMISSION'S, PROPOSALS, WHICH ONLY SEEK TO ADVISE COUNSEL ON BETTER CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY REGARDING GAS UTILITIES, THEN WHY DON'T THEY COME UP WITH BETTER REGULATION? THANK YOU.
[00:30:12]
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.I'M AL BRADEN FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
UH, WE HAVE WORK TO DO IN PREPARING TO RENEGOTIATE A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE.
THE COMPANY SUPPLIES NATURAL GAS TO OVER 228,000 AUSTINITES WHO RELY ON IT FOR HEATING AND COOKING.
I WANNA READ THE LANGUAGE OF THEIR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WRITTEN NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO THAT EXPIRES IN 2026 ON CONSERVATION.
IT ALREADY COVERS THE RMC PURVIEW.
THE COMPANY TO QUOTE THE COMPANY SHALL ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL GAS BY DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING, MONITORING, AND EVALUATING CENTRAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. THE EXTENT OF THE COMPANY'S SPECIFIC PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL GAS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY ORDINANCES THAT THE COUNCIL MAY ADOPT FROM TIME TO TIME.
DURING THE TERM OF THIS FRANCHISE, THE COMPANY SHALL WORK WITH THE CITY TO COORDINATE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN A MANNER WHICH WILL AVOID UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION AND WILL ENHANCE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
IN WORKING WITH THE CITY, THE COMPANY SHALL ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OR SUCCESSOR BOARDS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY CALENDAR QUARTER.
THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION IS REQUESTING TWO AMENDMENTS TO CLARIFY THESE RESPONSIBILITIES.
THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN TO STRENGTHEN THE FRANCHISE TO REFLECT THE CURRENT VALUES OF OUR CITY.
AND THE RMC IS REQUESTING THE PERMISSION TO FORM A WORKING GROUP TO ADVISE COUNCIL.
THE RMC IS NOT LOOKING TO REGULATE THE GAS UTILITY.
THEY'RE SEEKING TO FORM VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN BRING TO COUNCIL SO THAT COUNCIL CAN ACTIVELY REGULATE THE UTILITY.
THE WORKING GROUP SHOULD PRIORITIZE THE MEASURING AND FIXING OF METHANE LEAKS.
THIS IS OUR NUMBER ONE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM WITH NATURAL GAS.
THEY SHOULD ALSO WORK TO CREATE A FAIR AND CON PROGRESSIVE RATE STRUCTURE WITH LOWER MONTHLY BASE FEES AND PROGRESSIVE PRICING TIERS THAT BENEFIT LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS LIKE AUSTIN ENERGY'S PLAN, THEY SHOULD CREATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT INSTEAD OF SUBSIDIZING EXPANSION OF NATIONAL GAS SERVICE AND THEY ELIMINATE REBATES FOR NEW CONNECTION FEES.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD DEMAND AND NEGOTIATE A FAIR RATE OF RETURN TO THE CITY FOR THE USE AND DISTURBANCE OF ALL RIGHTS OF WAY.
THE PRESENT FEE OF 5% IS MUCH LESS THAN AUSTIN ENERGY RETURNS TO THE CITY.
SO THERE'S MUCH TO DO IN A SHORT TIME.
COUNCIL SHOULD DIG INTO AND MANAGE THIS PROCESS.
THE RMC SHOULD BE TASKED TO GET TO WORK AND BRING ADVICE TO COUNSEL FOR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
ALSO, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO RMC VICE CHAIR PAUL ROBBINS FOR BRINGING THIS DEADLINE TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, IF STAFF WANNA PRESENT THE TWO BYLAW CHANGES AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
GOOD MORNING, STEPHANIE HALL, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT TWO DIFFERENT BYLAW AMENDMENTS FROM TWO DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS.
THE FIRST IS THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
THEY ARE PROPOSING TO AMEND TWO SECTIONS OF THEIR BYLAWS.
UH, ARTICLE 2D, THE PURPOSE AND DUTIES TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PURPOSE TO REVIEW AND ANALYZE ISSUES CONCERNING NATURAL GAS UTILITIES IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING FAIR AND EQUITABLE RATES AND BILLS, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE UTILITY SYSTEM OPERATION, ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS, PROGRESS ON NATURAL GAS RELATED COMMISSIONS, EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOALS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND FRANCHISE NEGOTIATIONS.
AND SIMILARLY IN ARTICLE TWO E FOR PURPOSES AND DUTIES TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL DUTY TO ADVISE COUNSEL ON NATIONAL GAS UTILITY MATTERS, INCLUDING FAIR AND EQUITABLE RATES AND BILLS THAT MINIMIZE CUSTOMER COSTS.
COST EFFECTIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, COST EFFECTIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE THE BURDEN ON LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, GAS UTILITY PROGRAMS ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND RENEWAL FRANCHISES WITH NATURAL GAS UTILITIES THAT IMPROVE THE CITY FINANCIAL POSITION IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S COMMUNITY VALUES.
THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
[00:35:01]
REQUESTS THE COUNCIL EXPAND ITS PURVIEW TO INCLUDE THESE ISSUES.UH, THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT ISSUE WITH THIS, BUT WE WOULD DEFER TO AUSTIN ENERGY OR IMPACTED DEPARTMENTS.
THERE IS A MEMO IN THE BACKUP IS IN RESPONSE FROM STAFF REGARDING THIS.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, IF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, IT WOULD REQUIRE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 2 1 1 68.
THE SECOND COMMISSION THAT IS PROPOSED BYLAWS FOR THIS, UH, COMMITTEE TO REVIEW IS THE JOINT INCLUSION.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO EDIT BYLAWS, ARTICLE THREE, A MEMBERSHIP, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS.
UH, THEIR JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS IS THAT THEY BELIEVE THE FULL INTERPRETATION OF THEIR PURPOSE SHOULD INCLUDE VETERANS AS THERE ARE ISSUES UNIQUE TO THAT DEMOGRAPHIC.
THE JIC HAS ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS WHO ARE HAPPY TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS.
THE STAFF HAS NO CONCERNS WITH THIS.
BUT ANOTHER NOTE THERE, IF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, WE WOULD NEED TO BRING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE 2 1 2 0 4.
UM, I LIKE TO SPLIT THIS UP INTO TWO PARTS.
I THINK WE CAN, UM, VERY QUICKLY ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE JOINT INCLUSION, UM, COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL FOR ING THE COMMISSION OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN TER MOVES TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, DO YOU SECOND THAT? I SECOND.
WE'LL ADOPT, UM, A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO APPROVE THOSE CHANGES FOR THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION.
IT'S, UM, AND, UH, IT'S COMMITTEE, UM, FOR, UM, THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
UM, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ARE AT THIS POINT TODAY AND THAT WE ARE HEARING THAT THERE ARE LEGAL CONCERNS ABOUT DOING THIS, THOUGH.
THIS HAS BEEN ON, UM, THE AGENDA OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION'S AGENDA FOR, UM, SEVERAL MONTHS AND HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, ADOPTED, UM, THAT WE'RE ONLY HEARING ABOUT THIS NOW, I THINK IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO FIRST OF ALL TELL US, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE 90 DAY PERIOD FOR WHICH DECISION AND WHEN DOES THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT COME UP? SO CURRENTLY ON THE JULY THIR, UH, 18TH AGENDA COUNCIL ADOPTED, UH, THE, AN ITEM TO PUT US IN THE 90 DAY, UH, PERIOD FOR THE RATE CASE.
SO WE POSTPONED THE EXISTING RATE CASE THAT HAS COME BEFORE US, UH, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW RATES FOR 90 DAYS AND THAT THAT STARTED ON JULY 18TH.
UM, SO WE'RE IN THAT KIND OF TIME WINDOW FOR THIS FIVE YEAR PERIOD, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A FIVE YEAR PERIOD FOR TEXAS GAS SERVICE RATES.
AND WHEN IS THE FRANCHISE COMING UP? 2026.
UM, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FRANKLY FROM MR. ROBBINS AND OTHERS OVER THE YEARS IS THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT RATES AND WHETHER THE RATE LEVELS ARE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.
AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON AUSTIN ENERGY.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON AUSTIN WATER.
THERE ARE CONCERNS OVER THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ISSUES AND THEIR, THEIR CONCERNS OVER THE METHANE LEAKS.
UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM STAFF IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS? UM, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST NECESSARILY THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO WEIGH IN AND, AND HELP US NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS.
AND I THINK IN THE PAST, AND, AND, AND CONTINUING HERE WITH THIS, WITH THIS RATE CASE, THE CITY JOINED A COALITION OF CITIES.
UH, THE TEXAS GAS RATE CASE DOESN'T JUST AFFECT CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT ALSO AFFECTS OTHERS, UH, WITHIN THEIR RATE JURISDICTION.
AND SO THE COALITION OF CITIES, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE AGREE OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ITEM ON THE 18TH, WAS FOR US TO JOIN THE COALITION OF CITIES TO NEGOTIATE THOSE RATES AND TO WORK ON THAT AND REVIEW THE RATE CASE, UM, AS A COALITION AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN STANDING ON ITS OWN.
I THINK I AM, I'LL BE HONEST, I AM NEW TO THAT PROCESS AND I'M LEARNING HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT'S A PART OF THAT, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION.
YOU KNOW, PART OF THE REASON THIS CAME UP SO LATE WAS THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES THAT THIS ITEM HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AT RMC AND THIS ITEM HAD BEEN PROPOSED UNTIL IT SHOWED UP ON THIS AGENDA.
AND SO WHEN WE GOT THE DRAFT OF THIS AGENDA THAT STARTED THE CONVERSATIONS AND RESULTED IN THE MEMO THAT WAS ATTACHED IN BACKUP.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING, UM, STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT THAT.
DO WE KNOW WHEN THE NEXT RMC MEETING IS? WE MEET ON THE THIRD
[00:40:01]
TUESDAY OF MONTH, WHATEVER THAT IS FOR AUGUST.DO YOU MEET TONIGHT THEN? IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU MEET TONIGHT 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
SO I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS 90 DAY WINDOW.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRANCHISE.
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A SOLUTION.
UM, SURELY WE CAN COME UP WITH A PROCESS SO THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING THE FRANCHISE, THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT'S PROVIDING ADVICE TO COUNCIL.
WHETHER IT IS THE RMC OR SOMETHING ELSE, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, HOW, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, WE GIVE YOU DIRECTION THAT SAYS YOU COME BACK WITH A PROCESS WITHIN A WEEK THAT SAYS HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT AND THE COMMITTEE CAN WEIGH IN OR, AND THAT FOR THE, FOR THE RAPE CASE.
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO KIND OF KEEP WAITING OR WE CAN ASK THE RMC TO COME UP WITH A WORK GROUP THAT'S REPORTING, YOU KNOW, COME UP AND THEN THEY REPORT TO US.
AND IT REALLY DOESN'T GO THROUGH THE RMC.
I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER TER OR COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS HERE.
YEAH, I DO HAVE ONE THOUGHT AND IT KIND OF PARALLELS THE AUSTIN ENERGY WORKING GROUP FOR THE, UM, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE GENERATION PLAN, YOU KNOW, IS THERE KINDA LIKE CHAIR TER MENTIONED, IS THERE MAYBE SOME WORLD WHERE A SUBSET OF THE RMC CAN HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS AND, AND WITH YOUR OFFICE AND, AND WHOEVER ELSE, UH, BEYOND THE RMC, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WORKING GROUP FOR THAT.
THE OTHER PROCESS WASN'T JUST MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, RIGHT? IT HAD NON-MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.
SO COULD, COULD THEY POTENTIALLY DO SOME KIND OF PROCESS THERE WHERE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF PUBLIC ANALYSIS FEEDBACK, JUST HAVE THAT PIECE OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS, UM, AVAILABLE, BUT THEN GIVE IT TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TO TO SHOW.
'CAUSE ULTIMATELY WE'RE, IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO US.
AND I, I DO WANNA GET ONE CLARIFICATION ON THE 90 DAY ISSUE.
SO THAT WHEN JULY 18TH STARTED 90 DAYS, BUT THEN WE POSTPONE 90 DAYS.
SO WAS IT REALLY 180 DAYS OR, UH, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE, THE POSTPONEMENT WAS TO, SO WHEN, WHEN A UTILITY FILES THEIR RATE CASE WITH THE CITY, THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT RAY CASE AND, AND MAKE A DETERMINATION.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE TYPICALLY DO TO GIVE US THAT TIME TO REVIEW AND ALSO TO, UM, DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RATES IS WE, WE, UH, ASSERT OUR RIGHT TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RATE CASE BY THE 90 DAYS.
SO IF COUNSEL EITHER TAKES ACTION TO ACCEPT, MODIFY, OR DENY THE RATE, THE RATE CASE, WE NEGOTIATE SOMETHING OR WE DON'T NEGOTIATE SOMETHING, THEN WE HAVE THOSE 90 DAYS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION AS A CITY, THEN THE RATES AUTOMATICALLY TAKE EFFECT.
SO WITHIN THE 90 DAYS, WE COULD SAY WE NEED ANOTHER 60 DAYS OR SO.
I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO NEGOTIATE THAT WITH TEXAS GAS.
UM, THAT IS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HA HAVE TO DO
UM, AND IF THEY TAKE ACTION, AND LIKE I SAID, IF, IF IF THE CITY WERE TO DENY FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEN IT GOES TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION RIGHT.
DID YOUR STAFF WANNA SAY SOMETHING? UH, GOOD MORNING.
UM, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY CLARK CORNWELL, UH, THE 90 DAYS SUSPENDS THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE RATE THAT WAS PROPOSED.
UM, IT SUSPENDS IT'S FROM THE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE.
I'M NOT CERTAIN ON THAT, BUT, UM, ULTIMATELY THIS WILL BE KICKED OVER TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
IT HAS A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
SO EVEN IF THE CITY DOES NOT ACT WITHIN THE 90 DAYS, THERE WILL BE A PROCEEDING AFFECTING THIS EXACT RATE IN FRONT OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
SO WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS IF WHEN THE CITY ACTS, WHEN THE CITIES ACT, I THINK GALVESTON AND OTHER CITIES ARE IN THE SAME COALITION, UM, WHEN ALL OF THEM ACT, THE TYPICAL ROUTE IS THOSE ACTIONS WILL BE APPEALED SO THAT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION THEN HAS JURISDICTION OVER ALL THE ENTIRE RATE CASE, WHICH INFECTS PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITIES AND INSIDE THE CITIES, SAME
[00:45:01]
RATE.UM, SO THIS CASE WILL NOT END IN 90 DAYS.
IT WILL PROCEED IN FRONT OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THROUGH ACTION ON THE 18TH, HAS AUTHORIZED, UH, THE CITY TO INTERVENE IN THE STATE'S ACTION SO THAT WHEN THE, WHEN THE CITY TAKES ACTION, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED WHEN THE CITY TAKES ACTION AND THAT THAT ACTION IS APPEALED.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH THE OTHER CITIES, WILL NOW BE INTERVENERS IN THAT RAILROAD COMMISSION MATTER WHO WILL, WHICH WILL DEF DECIDE THE RATE CASE.
ULTIMATELY, THEY HAVE A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, THEY HAVE 150 DAYS, IT'LL BE LITIGATED IN ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.
UM, I COULDN'T GUESS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO COME UP WITH A FINAL RATE.
UM, I'M GUESSING AND MAYBE, UH, TEXAS GAS COULD TELL US, BUT SEVERAL MONTHS IT WILL BE PROBABLY NOT BEFORE OCTOBER, BEFORE IT'S FINAL FINALIZED.
MR. GRAHAM, WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEEDED TO ADD? I, UM, GOOD MORNING.
LARRY GRAHAM WITH TEXAS GAS SERVICE.
WE ACTUALLY FILED THE CASE IN MAY.
AND I GUESS JUST ONE POINT I WANNA MAKE IS THAT THE CITY DID JOIN THE COALITION, THE CITY DID HIRE ATTORNEYS AND CONSULTANTS TO REPRESENT THEM.
I THINK TO DATE THEY'VE GIVEN US 200 ODD DATA REQUESTS.
SO THESE FOLKS, I GUESS, ARE REPRESENTING THE CITY AND IF THE CITY SO CHOSE, THEY COULD CONNECT THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONER OR SOMEBODY ELSE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE ATTORNEYS AND THE CONSULTANTS.
THE CITY IS HIRED TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS SEPARATE FROM THAT, HAVING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WHILE THE RIGHT CASE IS GOING ON TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OR SOMEBODY ELSE.
WHEN OUR TIME AND ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THIS, AND AS CLARK SAID, THE WHOLE RULES ARE BOUND IN STATE LAW.
THE TIMELINE WE ACTUALLY FILED THIS, THE WAY IT WORKS FOR CITIES IS WE FILE IT, THERE'S 35 DAYS THE CITY CAN SUSPEND FOR ANOTHER 90.
WE ACTUALLY GAVE THIS CITY EXTRA TIME BECAUSE, UM, THERE WAS NOT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITHIN SCHEDULED WITHIN THE 35 DAYS.
SO ANYWAY, THE POINT IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY EXPERTS, PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THIS, AND IF THE CITY CHOOSES, THEY CAN CIRCLE THE, THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OR ANYBODY ELSE INTO THAT PROCESS.
BUT IT'S GOING ON AS WE SPEAK.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE ELEMENT FOR A MINUTE.
WHEN, WHAT IS THE DEADLINE AS WE STAND? WHAT, WHEN DOES SOMETHING HAVE TO HAPPEN? WELL, UH, CLARK IS CORRECT.
THE CITY HAS INTERVENED IN THE CASE AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
THERE'S A LONGER DEADLINE, BUT I THINK, I THINK THE FIRST SE SETTLEMENT MEETING IS NEXT WEEK.
I'M, I, I THINK COMING UP SOON.
I THINK IT'S VERY PROBABLE THAT AN AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED WITH ALL THE PARTIES.
I THINK THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING CITIES AND THE RAILROAD COMMISSION STAFF.
AND WHAT WE HOPE WILL HAPPEN IS THEY'LL REACH A SETTLEMENT AND THEN THE SETTLEMENT WILL COME BACK TO THE CITIES AND TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
BUT I I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF IT HAPPENS BEFORE OCTOBER, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DEADLINE ON THE CITY ACTION RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE TAKEN, WE'VE MET THE DEADLINE TO SUSPEND YEAH.
UH, LAST WEEK SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION IN THE SETTLEMENT THAT'S GOING ON THE ROAD COMMISSION.
AND SO DO ANY OTHER CITIES HAVE ANY ADVISORY ELEMENT THAT OUTSIDE OF THEIR ATTORNEY REPRESENT? NO.
IN OUR SERVICE AREA FOR THIS RATE CASE, AUSTIN HAS FAR AND AWAY THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS.
UM, THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THOSE GUYS ACTUALLY HIRED A, THEIR OWN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THEM, BUT THEY'RE STILL A LOT SMALLER.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO.
AND IF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, COMMIS COMMITTEE COMMISSION, I ALSO CAN'T KEEP THEM EVER STRAIGHT.
UM, I'LL SAY THE RMC, IF THEY WERE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OR LIKE THREE OR YOU KNOW, A, A SUBGROUP THAT HAD SOME DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, WHETHER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ALONGSIDE THE ATTORNEYS ASKING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS OR JUST HAVING THAT FUNNEL STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ATTORNEYS.
I MEAN, I KIND OF FEEL SIX TO ONE HALF DOZEN THE OTHER.
BUT IS THE, IS IS THERE A PERCEIVED ISSUE IN YOUR MIND OF HAVING THEM JUST BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY COLLECT SOME INFORMATION,
[00:50:01]
BUT ALSO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC RE AT LARGE? YOU KNOW, WHILE, WHILE OUR ATTORNEYS REPRESENT THE CITY, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN REPRESENTING THE CITY, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL INTEREST VERSUS THE PUBLIC'S? UH, WELL, I, I MAY TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.I MEAN, I, I THINK THE ATTORNEYS THAT THE CITY HAS HIRED, I MEAN, THEY'RE REPRESENTING THE CUSTOMERS NOW.
THEY MAY NOT IDENTIFY ISSUES THE SAME WAY THAT MR. ROBBINS DOES, BUT I THINK THEIR GOAL IS TO GET THE LOWEST RATES THAT THEY CAN FOR THE CUSTOMERS.
AND I, I MEAN, THE CITY AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S THE ONE THAT HIRES THOMAS BRITO.
SO I THINK OUR POINT IS NOT THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IT, IT'S SOMETHING THE CITY COULD EXPLORE.
AND I DON'T WANNA SAY THAT THOMAS IS, WE CAN'T GIVE THE CITY LEGAL ADVICE, BUT WE, WE CAN'T SAY, OH, HE'D BE FINE WITH IT.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT, THAT RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS RATE CASE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY AND THE 230,000 CUSTOMERS WE HAVE IN THE CITY.
I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION, WE CAN CERTAINLY, THERE'S A LOT OF MORE ELEMENTS TO THIS, BUT GIVEN THAT IT'S GOING TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, IT SEEMS LIKE NO MATTER WHAT, RIGHT, IF THAT, THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS UP.
WHAT IS REALLY OUR ROLE IN APPROVAL OR DENIAL IF, IF WE, IF WE APPROVE OR DENY, AND IT, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT ENDS UP AT THE ROAD COMMISSION.
I'M STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE REALLY FIT INTO THIS.
IT WILL END UP AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY FOR TEXAS GAS TO APPEAL THE LOCAL DECISION.
THEY OUT OF ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY AND JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY.
THE, THE PARTIES IN, IN ALL THESE RAID CASES, WE DON'T, WE DON'T LITIGATE AT EVERY SINGLE CITY AND THEN ALSO AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, UM, BECAUSE IT WOULD COST A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE CASES AT EACH CITY AND THEN ALSO THE COMMISSION.
SO THE WAY THE STATUTE'S SET UP, IT ALLOWS THESE TO BE APPEALED AND THEN CONSOLIDATED AT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
UM, BECAUSE EVERY DIME SPENT ON CONSULTANTS AND ATTORNEYS IS SOMETHING THAT'S PASSED THROUGH TO THE CUSTOMERS.
AND THE, THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS IS TO GET THE RATES AS, AS LEAN AND CLEAN AND RIGHT AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO THAT, THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO TAKE EXERCISE.
THAT'S WHY THE CITY HAS EXERCISED THEIR JURISDICTION, EITHER APPROVED, DENY, OR MODIFY, AND THEN IT'S APPEALED SO THEY'RE CAN BE CONSOLIDATED IN ONE LITIGATED CASE AT THE COMMISSION.
UM, I DO THINK THAT IT DOES CREATE PROBLEMS FOR THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE TO HAVE CITIZENS, UH, INTERACTING WITH ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE CITIES.
UM, SO TO THAT PROPOSAL, I THINK THAT IF WE HAD SOMEONE OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE ADVISING OR PRESENTING IDEAS TO THE CITY TO PUT THROUGH, IT WOULD BE THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE NOW AS THE TELECOMMUNICATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS OFFICE RECEIVES.
IT, IT'S A, IT'S A, THE OFFICE WITHIN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES, THEY RECEIVE COMMENTS AND PASS THOSE THROUGH TO THE CONSULTANTS AND ATTORNEYS WORKING THE CASE.
UM, AND THEY BECOME PART OF THE, THE RFIS OR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION THAT COME INTO THE LITIGATION.
THAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE AND IS ALWAYS, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S ALWAYS THERE.
UM, IF THERE WAS SOME WAY TO ADD MEMBERS TO THAT PROCESS, I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT I DO THINK THAT HAVING A, A CIRCLE OR A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR ATTORNEYS, UH, CITIZENS AND OTHERS, CREATES AN ISSUE FOR ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE THAT WE WANT TO, AS, AS AN ATTORNEY, I WOULD WANT TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE AT LEAST.
SO I WANNA TAKE ISSUE WITH THE PREMISE HERE THAT I'M HEARING THAT THE ONLY CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS THE LOWER RATES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH GAS AND IF THEY'RE METHANE LEAKS AND IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP AN EFFICIENCY PROGRAM THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY EFFICIENT, LIKE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I CARE ABOUT THOSE THINGS TOO.
AND SO IF WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM THAT OUR LAWYERS ARE GOING IN THERE AND THEY'RE ONLY LOOKING AT IT AT LOWER RATES, THEN WE HAVE AN, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH.
WHAT I'M GONNA PROPOSE IS THAT I THINK THAT, UM, WHAT, WHAT I LIKE TO ASK IS ASK OUR STAFF TO COME UP WITH A PROCESS WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF THE RMC, OR YOU CAN CALL THEM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, HAVE A CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE, UM, AT MINIMUM TO STAFF, YOU KNOW, PARTICULAR CONCERNS.
UM, AND THEN THOSE CAN BE CONVEYED TO OUR LAWYER TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY MECHANISMS WHERE WE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THOSE.
[00:55:01]
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET OBJECTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE WANT THEM TO ADDRESS METHANE LEAKS.I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT TEXAS GAS WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I'M NOT TOTALLY SURE OF HOW THIS GOES IN THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EFFICIENCY AND CERTAINLY AS YOU'RE ALREADY DOING TO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE RATES ARE TOO HIGH, BUT THEY LOOK MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT WE ARE, UM, SEEING FOR OUR OWN CASES.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU COME UP WITH THAT PROCESS, UM, AND THAT YOU PRESENT THAT PROCESS AT THE NEXT RMC MEETING TO THEM, WHETHER IT REQUIRES A BYLAW CHANGE OR NOT, WE CAN ADDRESS THE NEED FOR A BYLAW CHANGE.
I THINK THAT THE, THE ISSUE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME CITIZEN INPUT.
UM, AND THEN AS A SECOND STEP, I THINK WE NEED TO, UM, LAY OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMISSION, WHAT PROCESS IS ADVISING US AS WE GO INTO THE FRANCHISE NEGOTIATION SO THAT WE ARE AWARE AND, AND CAN TAKE SOME OF THESE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION.
UM, MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AUSTIN ENERGY OR AUSTIN WATER ON THESE THINGS IS THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE ALSO OFTEN VERY CREATIVE.
THEY REPRESENT VALUES, UM, THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS GET ELEVATED, BUT OFTEN OUR STAFF DON'T DISAGREE WITH AND THEY'RE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THOSE THOUGHTS AND WE WOULD WANT THEM TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS.
AND I WOULD HATE FOR THAT TO GET TO BE A 90 DAYS BEFORE THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT MOTION I MAKE TO DO THAT IF I HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION OR, OR IF, IF, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S ON THERE.
DID YOU WANNA WEIGH IN? I JUST, I JUST THINK, I THINK YOU'RE HEARING WHAT WE'RE CONCERNS ARE, AND I'M SURE THERE'S A WAY WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAT FIGURE THAT OUT HERE ON BROADCAST IN THIS ROOM.
BUT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE VERY REAL, UM, CONCERNS THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE BRINGING AND, AND CONCERNS THAT I, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER I KNOW WOULD HAVE ABOUT THESE PIECES.
UH, UH, VAN, YOU KNOW, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND, UH, YOUR DIRECTION'S CLEAR COUNCIL MEMBER, I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT DIRECTION, WORK ON SUCH A PROCESS AND COMMUNICATE BACK TO THE RMC NO LATER THAN THEIR NEXT MEETING.
WE'LL DO IT EARLIER, UM, IF WE CAN GET IT IN PLACE EARLIER.
'CAUSE WE KNOW TIME IS, IS OF THE ESSENCE.
SO ABSOLUTELY HEAR YOUR DIRECTION IN REGARDS TO HAVING SOME COMMUNITY PROCESS FOR PROVIDING INPUT TO THIS RATES RATE SETTING, UM, UM, PERIOD.
AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT DIRECTION, GET IT, GET IT DONE.
ANY OTHER GOALS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED? AND IF YOU CAN ALSO HAVE IT COME BACK, TODD AND FINANCE, UM, MR. ROBBINS, IF YOU WANNA TAKE ONE MINUTE, IF YOU HAVE, UH, ANYTHING TO ADD.
I LET, UM, MR. GRAHAM COME IN, SO WE SHOULD LET THE COMMISSION, I WILL BE GLAD TO, UH, WORK WITH WHOEVER I NEED TO WORK WITH TO GET THIS GOING.
BUT I STAND REALLY CONFUSED BECAUSE OUR PURVIEW DOES NOT TECHNICALLY ALLOW US TO DEAL WITH ANY PART OF THE RATE EXCEPT FOR WE COULD SAY WE WANT PROGRESSIVE RATES INSTEAD OF REGRESSIVE RATES, BUT WE CAN'T SAY WHAT THOSE RATES SHOULD BE.
WE, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT LOW INCOME, UH, UH, ASSISTANCE.
I MEAN, WE CAN AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE CAN'T AS A BODY, RIGHT? SO WE WILL POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO IF WE NEED TO ADJUST IT AS PART OF THEIR PLAN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THEY WILL COME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL.
AND IF, IF WE DO NOT WANNA TAKE THAT UP, UM, AND WE WILL.
SO I, I WILL COMMUNICATE WITH STAFF AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GIVE ME MORE THAN ONE NIGHT'S NOTICE.
MR. VAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
AND JUST TO THAT POINT, I DO WANNA APOLOGIZE TO MR. ROBIN.
DIANA IS CORRECT THAT THIS DIDN'T FLOAT UP TO OUR ATTENTION UNTIL IT WAS POSTED TO THIS AGENDA, BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE ON THE STAFF SIDE.
SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, AND WE'LL GET THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT.
AND, AND I'M NOT HEARING FROM OUR STAFF THAT THEY DON'T WANNA ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
I JUST THINK WE WE'RE ALL COMING AT THIS WITH SORT OF A LAST MINUTE AND, AND WE NEED TO KIND OF PUT OUR THINKING CAPS ON OUTSIDE OF THIS FORUM TO MOVE FORWARD.
[7. Discussion and possible action regarding a comprehensive climate implementation program and comprehensive bond package program for a general obligation bond election to occur no later than November 2026, including direction regarding the formation of a Bond Election Advisory Task Force.]
UM, TO THE NEXT ITEM, UM, WHICH IS, UH, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM AND COMPREHENSIVE BOND PACKAGE.UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER AND I, UM, PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA ORIGINALLY, ASSUMING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE WAS GOING TO HAVE HER RESOLUTION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AS SHE HAD INDICATED, UM, IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT AND IN HER ABSENCE.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT WHAT WE WE'D LIKE TO DO FOR A FEW MINUTES HERE IS TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK THE ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE, THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND PERHAPS OTHER COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL OUGHT TO BE IN THE BOND PROCESS.
UM, AND BRAINSTORM A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT.
UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER RESER, I WILL TURN IT OVER
[01:00:01]
TO YOU AND THEN TO COUNCIL MEMBER.AND, UH, I SEE WE HAVE DIRECTOR SNOW HERE.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF PROCESS AND TIMELINE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND AS, UH, CHAIR TER MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, JUST THE TOUCH POINTS OF COUNCIL, WHETHER IT'S THE COMMITTEE, UH, AS A WHOLE BODY, THE WORK SESSION, UH, VARIOUS OTHER COMMITTEES.
YOU KNOW, I COULD THINK THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE IS GONNA PROBABLY HAVE SOME INTEREST IN SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE GENERATING.
SO, UM, I GUESS STARTING ON KIND OF THAT, THE TIMELINE QUESTION, WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS? I REMEMBER YOU LAID OUT FOR US THAT TIMELINE OF ALL THE, THE VARIOUS THINGS Y'ALL GONNA DO, YOU KNOW, KINDA THE PRIORITIZATION, THE MATRIX, UH, CAN YOU JUST KINDA TELL US WHERE WE ARE IN THAT? UH, GOOD MORNING.
JAMES SNOW DIRECTOR FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES.
UH, SINCE THE MAY 14TH BRIEFING THAT WE GAVE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH IS THE ASSET OWNERS AND ALSO SOME OF THE POLICY OFFICES TO WORK FOR US.
STARTED LOOKING, STARTING TO WORK TOWARDS A BOND, ESPECIALLY AS FAR AS CALL FOR PROJECTS, LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE, AND WE'RE MEETING EVERY TWO WEEKS WITH 'EM.
JUST TRYING TO PUT THAT ALL TOGETHER.
AND DO WE HAVE AN ANTICIPATED KIND OF END DATE OF THAT CALL FOR PROJECTS OF WHEN WE THINK EVERYTHING WILL, WILL BE ON THE TABLE? WELL, CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO IS TRYING TO GET THAT, UH, SORTED BY JANUARY.
THE OTHER, SOME THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IS THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, THE CRITERIA FOR THE DECISION TREE, WHAT WE'D RECOMMEND ON THAT.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE CITY HAS A LOT OF NEEDS, BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND PUT TOGETHER PRIORITIZATION TO SAY, THIS IS HOW WE WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS AND HOW WE WOULD RECOMMEND CERTAIN PROJECTS.
SO WOULD IT BE HELPFUL, AND, AND, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS BEFORE, WHICH IS, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, KIND OF THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION TODAY.
JUST SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVEN'T BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF WE PUT THE TASK FORCE IN PLACE, LET'S SAY THEY MET, YOU KNOW, IN OCTOBER NOVEMBER, THEIR ROLE IN BRINGING PROJECTS TO THE TABLE SEPARATE FROM STAFF, WOULD, IS THAT AN ENVISIONED, UH, PIECE OF THEIR ROLE OR WOULD THAT BE A USEFUL PIECE OF THEIR ROLE? JUST HOW DOES THAT FIT IN? USUALLY THE STAFF BRINGS THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT, BUT THE BTF ALSO LISTENS TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
AS FAR AS TALKING ABOUT WHAT, WHAT'S THE SCOPE AND SCHEDULE AND THINGS OF THOSE PROJECTS, I MEAN, THEIR, THEIR ROLE IS NOT ALWAYS TO BRING THE PROJECTS, BUT RATHER IT'S TO LISTEN AND HELP OUT WITH THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
I I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK LIKE IF THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING PARKS RELATED AND, AND THAT'S NOT ON THE CURRENT DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, THEY, THE EARLIER THEY BRING THAT TO YOU, IT'D FEEL LIKE THE BETTER SO Y'ALL CAN REALLY, UH, FLESH THAT OUT.
AND THEN ONCE YOU START SCOPING AND, AND REFINING THE IDEAS, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FROM A A TIME PERSPECTIVE? ARE, ARE SOME OF THESE THINGS, THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND SO THEY'RE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH FULLY BAKED? OR ARE THESE ALL GONNA BE NEWER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE GONNA TAKE QUITE SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH THE ENGINEERING REVIEW AND COUNCIL MEMBERS SPECTRUM? UH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO LEVERAGE ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND A LOT OF THE PLANS THAT YOU'VE LISTED IN THE RCA IS B, EITHER THE LONG RANGE PLAN FOR PAR, LONG RANGE PLAN FOR LIBRARIES, UH, THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE'RE TRYING TO COALESCE ALL THAT GREAT INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AND START WITH THAT LIST.
BUT ALSO THERE'LL BE A SPECTRUM.
MOST OF THE, UH, MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THE ASSET OWNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND THROUGH ENGAGEMENTS, THROUGH LONG RANGE PLANS.
SO THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF IT, BUT THROUGH SOME OF THEM MIGHT NOT BE AS WELL DEFINED AND THAT WE'LL WORK WITH THEM TO DEFINE THEM BETTER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN EXECUTE IT IN THE SIX YEAR, UH, CYCLE FOR THE BOND.
AND WHERE DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR DECISION TREE FALLS INTO THE PROCESS? IS IT ONCE EVERYTHING IS KIND OF FULLY SCOPED OUT, THEN IT GOES THROUGH THE PRIORITIZATION? OR IS IT MORE ON HERE'S OUR, OUR I PROJECT IDEAS.
WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE, YOU KNOW, THE COST, BUT WE'RE GOING TO RUN THEM THROUGH THIS PRIORITIZATION SO THAT WE FOCUS ON THE ONES THAT WE THINK RISE TO THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
THE PRIORITIZATION MATRIX WILL HELP US RISE THEM.
UH, COST IS A COMPONENT OF IT.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE, YOU KNOW, COST IS A CONSTRAINT THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALWAYS.
BUT, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ASSET OWNERS AND WE'RE CREATING PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA OR
OBVIOUSLY, UH, THERE ARE SOME SIMILAR THINGS AS FAR AS LENSES THAT WE LOOK AT, BUT THEN CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT YOU LOOK AT PARKS PROJECTS COMPARED TO MOBILITY PROJECTS COMPARED TO LIBRARY PROJECTS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH AND PART OF THE PROCESS, WE'LL HAVE THE ASSET OWNERS COME AND PRESENT THE CRITERIA SELECTION CRITERIA AND HOW WE DID THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE DECISION TREE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE.
AND SO WHAT DO YOU ENVISION AS REPORTING TO COUNCIL? DO YOU INTEND TO TALK TO THE VARIOUS
[01:05:01]
COMMITTEES? ARE YOU WANTING TO WORK THROUGH THE WORK SESSION AND THE AUDIT AND FINANCE? I, WE HAVE SOME INTEREST AS WELL.SO, UH, USUALLY WE, WE DO UPDATES TO COUNSEL AS FAR AS THE WORK SESSIONS.
THE BIFF IN ITSELF, UH, IS, IS, UH, UH, APPOINTED BY COUNSEL, SO THAT ALLOWS THE CONNECTION TO COUNCIL AND THEN WE'LL BE TALKING, UH, ONE-ON-ONE TO COUNCIL OFFICES AS FAR AS GOING FORWARD, JUST LETTING 'EM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, WELL, I GUESS I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE CONVERSATION, I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK, UM, WOULD LIKE TO REALLY HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT, WHAT THE PATH IS TOWARDS US BEING ABLE TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT KIND OF MID NEXT YEAR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT.
WE, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE LAND ACQUISITION ELEMENT, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A, AN ENGINEERING SCOPING, RIGHT? THERE IS GONNA HAVE TO BE A PRIORITIZATION OF, OF WHAT WOULD WE WANT TO DO THIS VERSUS THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY THAT HAS BEEN, THAT CONVERSATION'S BEEN HAD AND KIND OF READY BY, UH, NEXT YEAR.
SO WE CAN DECIDE WHERE WE ARE, IF IT'S ONE VERY LARGE BOND PACKAGE, UH, IN 26, OR IF IT'S A PIECE IN 25, A PIECE IN 26, OR IF BY SOME MIRACLE YOU DO EVERYTHING
HOPEFULLY AT THAT POINT WE KNOW THE FULL MENU OR SCOPE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE PIECES ARE.
BUT, UH, I THINK AS IT RELATES TO THIS COMMITTEE, UH, AND I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO THE CHAIR.
SHE'S BEEN HERE LONGER THAN I HAVE AND, AND KNOWS, BUT HOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AS WELL THAT MIGHT BE UNIQUE AND, AND WORK SESSIONS CAN GET LOADED UP AND, UM, SO JUST, JUST WHERE THAT PROPER CHECK IN IS AS WELL.
BUT WE'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO, TO HAVE THAT TOUCH POINT GOING FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY, DID YOU WANNA WEIGH IN BEFORE I SPEAK? SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WON'T BE HERE COME JANUARY, BUT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE A QUARTERLY CHECK ON ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UM, I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL SINCE WE STARTED TO HAVE THE BOND STUFF TO COME HERE AS WELL.
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, UM, AND YOU KNOW, PRESUMABLY AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER, AND I THINK ALL OF THE COMMITTEES SHOULD BE, UM, TAKING UP THIS PROCESS SO IT'S NOT STRICTLY THE BOND ADVISORY PROCESS, BUT THAT THERE'S ANOTHER SPACE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON THOSE ISSUES, THINK ABOUT IT GOING TO THOSE COMMITTEES AND THAT THERE IS A, A PARALLEL COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT'S GOING ON SO THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN WEIGH IN OR GET FEEDBACK OR, YOU KNOW, DO IT AT AN EARLIER STAGE THAN WHEN IT COMES UP THERE.
UM, YOU HAVE TO THEN HAVE ALL YOUR STAFF FOLLOWING ALL THESE ADDITIONAL KINDS OF THINGS.
BUT, BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY VALUABLE, UM, MR. SNOW, HAVING YOU COME AND TALK ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR BOND, I, I DISAGREED WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT WE SHOULD WAIT FOR EVERYTHING, UM, THAT, THAT OTHERS MADE, IN PART BECAUSE I SAW SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND FELT LIKE THERE WERE PIECES THAT SHOULD, SHOULD BE THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, OH, THIS IS GONNA GO TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL'S GONNA HAVE THIS WORK SESSION PROCESS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, UM, GIVEN HOW WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING OUR, OUR WORK SESSIONS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
SO I DO THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE CHECK-INS AND THOSE, THOSE CONVERSATIONS HERE AND, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER COMMITTEES FOR THEIR SPECIFIC PIECES.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO, SO PERHAPS WE, WE PLAN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, A CHECK-IN AND AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHETHER IT'S OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, OR DECEMBER MEETING FOR US, UM, YOU KNOW, ON THAT PROCESS.
AND THERE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE PIECES THERE.
I THINK THE LAND ACQUISITION CONVERSATION IS ONE WHERE, YOU KNOW, I THINK REALLY WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE OUR CRITERIA FOR, YOU KNOW, PURCHASING LAND BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT LAND IS AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, IN ADVANCE, AND YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF PROCESS AND MATRIX AND CAN GET MOVING ON THOSE PIECES.
THAT MIGHT BE ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, IF WE'RE GONNA RELY ON COMMITTEES TO DO WORK FOR COUNCIL, THEN, UM, WE ALL, WE, WE, WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT IN THAT PROCESS.
UM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BOND ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS A ROLE TO REVIEW PROPOSALS FROM DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW, BUT THEY ALSO,
[01:10:01]
UM, DO A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT THAT THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR THE COUNCIL FOR THEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT AND DOING THAT ENGAGEMENT ON OUR BEHALF AND HELPING DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.UM, SO I THINK WE DEFINITELY, UM, NEED THOSE, NEED THOSE CHECK-INS, UM, WITH US, AS WELL AS CONTINUED WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXISTING BOND PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, ARE ON TRACK.
UM, AND SO WE CAN WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS FALL, WHAT THAT IS.
AND THEN WITH THE NEW CHAIR KIND OF MOVING FORWARD, UM, HOW TO DO THAT.
UM, I DO WANNA JUST, UM, ASK MAYBE IF, UM, ZACH BAUMER COULD COME UP.
'CAUSE THERE'S A PIECE OF THIS CLIMATE BOND, UM, PROCESS THAT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT.
UM, AND THAT IS THE, THE UT CLIMATE COLAB, UH, WHICH IS CURRENTLY NOT FUNDED IN THE BUDGET.
UM, AND AS, AS WE GO FORWARD AND WE TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A CLIMATE BOND OR WE TRY TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, I KNOW THIS WAS ONE OF THE UNMET NEEDS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD.
AND I, AND I MAY ASK YOU TO SPEAK AT ANOTHER TIME AS WELL, BUT I, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO JUST SPEAK TO WHY IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THE CLIMATE COLLAB, UM, AS WE'RE MAKING THESE BIG INVESTMENTS AND TO INFORM THEM.
UH, I'M ZACH BAUMER, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER.
UM, SO WE GOT FUNDING LAST YEAR TO START UP THE UT CITY CLIMATE COLAB.
UM, AND THE COLAB IS NOW OFF THE GROUND.
IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN, UH, PROFESSORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FROM THE JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES, THE OB J SCHOOL, AND I THINK, UH, ENGINEERING SCHOOL, UM, IN COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF, SO OFFICE OF RESILIENCE, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, UH, AND THEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
UM, SO WE, UH, THE COLAB IS ESSENTIALLY, UM, A COLLABORATION SPACE AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, UH, TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AS WELL AS PREPARE FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE.
PREPARING FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE IS REALLY THE CORE OF IT.
UM, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A CHANGING CLIMATE, UM, THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IS THE CLIMATE GONNA CHANGE? HOW IS IT GONNA CHANGE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION? ALL ALL OF THESE BIG QUESTIONS RELATED TO WEATHER.
UM, AND WEATHER THEN HAS AN EFFECT ON CITY OPERATIONS, ON OUR PLANNING ON HOW WE, HOW WE DO BUSINESS, HOW WE PLAN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, EVERYTHING FROM ENERGY TO TRANSPORTATION TO DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILDINGS.
UM, IT JUST, IT HAS FAR REACHING IMPACTS.
UM, SO, UH, THE COLAB, UH, WE'VE BEEN ESSENTIALLY THE COLAB MEETS EVERY OTHER WEEK.
UM, WE'RE, WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY THAT ARE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN PROFESSORS AND, UH, CITY STAFF.
THERE ARE TWO STAFF MEMBERS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED WITH THE FUNDING FOR THE COLAB ONE STAFF MEMBER.
BOTH OF THE STAFF MEMBERS ARE UT STAFF.
UM, BUT ONE OF 'EM WORKS MOST OF THE TIME WITH THE CITY, WITH OUR OFFICE.
UM, ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER WORKS, UM, UH, IS BEING HIRED RIGHT NOW AND IS MOSTLY DOES WORK WITH, UH, UT THE UT SIDE.
AND, UH, THE WORK THAT THE COLAB DOES AND WILL BE DOING INTO THE FUTURE IS ASKING QUESTIONS, DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS, UNDERSTANDING REALLY WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE CLIMATE'S CHANGING AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR WORK AT THE CITY.
AND THEN, UH, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSORS WHO RUN THE MODELS WHO DO THIS ANALYSIS, WHO CAN REALLY COME UP WITH, UM, ANSWERS TO, TO THOSE HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK 50 YEARS OUT INTO THE FUTURE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR PRECIPITATION IN CENTRAL TEXAS? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR TEMPERATURE? UM, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THAT WORK, UM, THAT'S DONE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE INTEGRATES INTO OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT'S PLANNING AND OUR DEPARTMENT'S DECISION MAKING AND ENDS UP, UM, BUILDING A MORE RESILIENT AUSTIN AND A MORE ROBUST INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SO, UM, AS LONG AS THE, THE COLAB CONTINUES TO HAVE FUNDING, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER AND WORK AND, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT, UH, IN THE LONG TERM WE WILL HAVE BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ABOUT, UM, AND ABOUT HOW WE'RE PREPARED AS A COMMUNITY FOR, FOR DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY WE'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION THROUGH, UM, THE BUDGET AND MR. VINO, MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT, UM, AS WELL.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THERE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION WHEN WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA LATER THIS FALL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, BOTH OF YOU.
[Items 3 & 5]
[01:15:01]
MOVE TO, UM, ITEMS THREE AND FIVE.UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AFTER WHICH I WILL COME OUT TO THE DAAS TO CLOSE US OUT.
UM, I THINK WE CAN SKIP FUTURE ITEM DISCUSSION FOR NOW, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
UM, SO THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5 51 0.076 AND 5 5 1 0 8 9 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS SECURITY AUDIT MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM FIVE, DISCUSS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN AUDIT OF THE CITY'S HANDLING OF SENSITIVE DATA.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, UM, I DON'T HEAR ANY.
SO WE'RE GONNA NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE ARE GONNA DO THAT IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM, UM, FOR ANYONE WHO HERE, WHO HAS TO GO THERE.
SO I AM ALISON ALTER, I AM CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION ENC CLOSED SESSION.
WE TOOK UP AND DISCUSSED SECURITY AUDIT MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM FIVE.
UM, WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THE COMMITTEE, SO IT IS 1131 ON JULY 23RD IN THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS ROOM.
AND I ADJOURN THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR TODAY.
I'LL TAKE MY PRIDE AND TOSS IT ASIDE AND I WON'T BE ASHAMED WHEN I CRY.
THIS PAIN I FEEL MAKES REAL, AND I KNOW CHEESE, IT JUST.