[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING STARTED.
IT'S THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, AUGUST 21ST, 2024.
AND, UH, IT'S AT THE PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER EVENT CENTER ROOM 1 4 0 5 6 3 1 0.
WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 5 2.
SO LET'S START WITH A ROLL CALL REAL QUICK.
OH, CAN YOU SAY IT AGAIN? I DON'T, I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR YOU HERE.
AND COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN HERE.
UM, LET'S, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC, NO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION FOR THE GENERAL.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
LET'S GO TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.HAVE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE MINUTES? UM, I'LL MOVE APPROVAL MOTION BY SULLIVAN.
I I HAVE ONE, ONE COMMENT TO MAKE TOO.
UM, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME BY A COUNTY OFFICIAL THAT WE WERE KICKING AROUND THE WORDS AND DIS ANNEXATION AND REMOVAL FROM THE ETJ AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I EMAILED ELIZABETH ABOUT THAT AND SO I SAID I WOULD MAKE SOME STATEMENT ABOUT THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE MINUTES, BUT WE, YOU, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
DIS ANNEXATION MEANS YOU'RE REMOVED FROM THE CITY, RELEASED FROM THE ETJ MEANS YOU'RE RELEASED FROM THE ETJ AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THAT WAS ABOUT ITEM NUMBER, WHATEVER IT WAS ABOUT THE, UH, E-I-E-I-I, ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, INDICATOR INDEX, WHATEVER THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO ANYWAY, THAT'S A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY SULLIVAN SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HANDS.
UM, WE HAVE BRIMER, FER, KRUEGER, SHERA, BEDFORD, AND SULLIVAN.
[2. Presentation, discussion, and recommendation on the Umlauf Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan – Kim McKnight, Parks and Recreation]
WE HAVE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER TWO OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE MOF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN.AND DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? WE DO.
MY NAME IS KIM MCKNIGHT AND MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER.
I SERVE AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND TOURISM, UH, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT IS EXCITED TO JOIN OUR PARTNERS AT THE UMLA SCULPTURE GARDEN AND MUSEUM FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE VISION PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS PLAN GUIDES THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION, AND UNIFICATION OF THIS LONG TIME BELOVED AUSTIN ARTS FACILITY, THE GIFT OF THE HOME AND STUDIO, ALONG WITH THE ART COLLECTION DATES TO 1985, NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO.
THE MUSEUM WAS OPENED IN 1991 AND FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOF SERVES AN I IMPORTANT PUBLIC PURPOSE AND PROVIDES OUR CITY WITH ACCESSIBLE ARTS, PROGRAMMING, ARTS, EDUCATION, AND EXHIBITS FOR RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS.
THIS FACILITY IS ONE OF SEVERAL TREASURED CITY FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HISTORY PROGRAMMING.
IT INCLUDES OUR HISTORIC MUSEUMS LIKE THE OAKWOOD CHAPEL VISITORS CENTER, ELIZABETH NAME, MUSEUM, BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS, THE OLD BAKERY, AS WELL AS OUR CULTURAL CENTERS.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THIS PLAN AND GREATLY APPRECIATES THE EFFORTS OF OUR PARTNERS AND DESIGN TEAM FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT AND DEVELOPING THIS PLAN.
AS YOU WILL HEAR THIS EVENING, THIS PLAN PROVIDES A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY.
WE ARE SEEKING THE SUPPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BOARD COMMISSION AND COUNCIL PROCESS FOR VISION PLAN ADOPTION.
I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE KATIE ROBINSON EDWARDS, WHO IS THE CURATOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AMANDA RACK, WHO OVERSEES OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION.
AND WE ALSO ARE JOINED BY OUR PARTNERS AT PAIGE, UH, WHO KATIE, UH, WILL INTRODUCE.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION AND TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE.
WE ALSO CAME WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM PAIGE, TUSA BERU, AND MELISSA GUTIERREZ SOTA, WHO WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
THE UMOFF HISTORIC PRESERVATION EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN WAS CREATED BY PAIGE ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND THE UMOFF WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE FULL PLAN IS AVAILABLE IN OUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO YOU.
UH, THE UMOFF IS NESTLED WITHIN AUSTIN CENTRAL GREEN NETWORK, ALONGSIDE BARTON SPRINGS.
ACTUALLY, IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO, JUST TO THE OVERVIEW, I'M SORRY.
WE'RE NESTLED WITHIN THE CENTRAL GREEN NETWORK ALONGSIDE BARTON SPRINGS, ZILKER PARK, AND LADY BIRD LAKE.
[00:05:01]
ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, AND WE ARE A BELOVED 33-YEAR-OLD GARDEN AND MUSEUM WITH A MISSION TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY CURIOSITY AND CONNECTION THROUGH NATURE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THE WORK OF CHARLES MOF.WE WELCOME OVER 35,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR, AND WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.
CHARLES MOF HIMSELF LIVED FROM 1910 TO 1994.
HE STUDIED AND MADE HIS CAREER IN CHICAGO WHERE HE MARRIED A FELLOW ARTIST, ANGIE ALLEN.
FOR 40 YEARS, HE WAS A LIFE DRAWING AND SCULPTURE PROFESSOR AT UT.
HE HAS MORE SCULPTURE ON PUBLIC VIEW IN TEXAS THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST AND IS IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS, UH, IN CHICAGO.
THE MET THE SMITHSONIAN, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON, AND VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER MAJOR MUSEUM IN TEXAS.
IN 1985, CHARLES AND ANGIE MADE A MAJOR GIFT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND IT INCLUDED THEIR HOME, HIS STUDIO, THEIR PROPERTY, AND HUNDREDS OF SCULPTURES.
THE YELLOW SECTION ON THE MAP SHOWS WHERE THE MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDENS SIT.
TODAY, THE CITY OWNED LAND AND THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED BY THE YU LAW FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS THROUGH A COUNCIL SUPPORTED AGREEMENT.
HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL GIFT OF THE HISTORIC HOME AND STUDIO SEEN IN THE BROWN SECTION AT THE UPPER RIGHT IS NOT YET OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO INACCESSIBILITY CODE, COMPLIANCE AND NECESSARY RESTORATION.
THE HISTORIC SITE IN BROWN SITS 45 FEET ABOVE THE GARDEN, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE CURRENT GROUNDS FROM THE HOMESTEAD AND VICE VERSA.
THE GREEN SECTION SHOWS THE TWO ACRES OF GREEN SPACE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS NOT AT ALL ACCESSIBLE.
PARDON ME? YOU'RE WORKING ON GETTING THE PRESENTATION BACK ON THE SITE GETTING MOMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR,
SO, UM, JUST TO REPEAT, THANK YOU.
THE GREEN, UH, THE GREEN SECTION THAT WAS ON THE LAST SLIDE SHOWS TWO ACRES OF GREEN SPACE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS NOT AT ALL ACCESSIBLE.
AS A HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION OR HPEU PLAN, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PIECES IN REFERENCE TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC UMOFF HOME AND STUDIO SEEN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
THIS YEAR, THE HOME AND STUDIO RECEIVED A NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DESIGNATION.
IT'S INCREDIBLY RARE TO HAVE AN ARTIST STUDIO, HOME AND MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THEIR WORK ON A SINGLE SITE, BUT WE ARE COMPETING WITH OURSELVES FOR PROGRAMMING, EXHIBITION AND RENTAL SPACE.
THE EXPANSION PIECE OF THE PLAN IS IN REFERENCE TO BOTH THE NEED FOR MORE PHYSICAL SPACE AND THE EXPANSION OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER TO THE PUBLIC.
IN ADDITION TO CHARLES, OOF, WE ALSO EXHIBIT WORK THANK YOU, FROM CONTEMPORARY AND EMERGING ARTISTS I SEEN IN THIS SLIDE.
[00:10:01]
HAS NUMEROUS UMOFF ART OBJECTS IN STORAGE AND PAID FOR BY THE CITY.BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE SPACE TO DISPLAY THEM.
WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE MOF, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE MORE OF MLA'S WORK WHILE ALSO CONTINUING TO EXHIBIT OTHER ARTISTS.
WE'VE MENTIONED PRESERVATION AND EXPANSION, AND THE OTHER MAJOR ENDEAVOR IS UNIFICATION.
THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES WHAT A FULLY UNIFIED AND EXPANDED UMF COULD LOOK LIKE.
THE HPEU PLAN CONNECTS THE CURRENT UNREACHABLE AREAS FOR A SEAMLESS AND ACCESSIBLE SITE-WIDE USER EXPERIENCE.
BY RESPECTING EXISTING STRUCTURES AND ECOSYSTEMS, NEW BUILDINGS WILL AIM TO COEXIST WITH THE SITE, ENSURING A HARMONIOUS INTEGRATION WHILE MAINTAINING THE, UM, L'S UNIQUE LEGACY AND SENSE OF EXPLORATION.
THE UMOFF AND PAGE COMPLETED A THOROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED SIX CATEGORIES OF PRIORITIES LISTED HERE THAT GUIDED THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THE PLAN.
IN ADDITION, THESE THREE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES ALSO DETERMINE THE SHAPE OF THE PLAN.
SINCE THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, WE WILL FOCUS MOST OF OUR ATTENTION TODAY ON THE ROBUST SUSTAINABILITY SECTION OF OUR HPEU PLAN.
BUT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THAT, WE WANT TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW SEEN HERE OF THE FOUR ZONES THAT MAKE UP THE UMOFF PROPERTY.
THE FIRST, UH, UH, AT THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP IS THE NATURAL ZONE COMPRISED OF TWO ACRES OF LAND.
AND THIS LAND IS CURRENTLY OVERGROWN AND NOT ACCESSIBLE AT ALL.
THE STRATEGIES FOR THIS ZONE WILL INCLUDE INCREASING PLANT DIVERSITY TO OPTIMIZE THE LANDSCAPE'S PERFORMANCE AND WATER MANAGEMENT HABITAT PROVISION, AND, UH, WILDLIFE FOOD SOURCES, CAPTURING AND REDUCING WATER RUNOFF, AND TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH NATURAL SPACE.
THAT WOULD, WOULD INCLUDE A TRAIL AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION.
THIS AREA WOULD BE FREE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS NO MUSEUM ADMISSION REQUIRED AND GIVE TWO ACRES OF NATURAL PARKLAND BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN SEE IMAGES OF WHAT THE NATURAL ZONE CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE HERE AND MOVING NORTH.
THE SECOND ZONE IS THE WELCOME ZONE WHERE VISITORS ENTER THE PROPERTY.
IMPROVEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE UPDATES AND RELOCATION OF THE CROSSWALK TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND SAFETY.
REDESIGNING THE PARKING LOT TO ENSURE A DA ACCESSIBILITY AND THE ADDITION OF NEW BUILDING CALLED THE GATEWAY, WHICH IS SEEN HERE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
THE UPCOMING SLIDES WILL SHOW CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE GATEWAY COULD LOOK LIKE, RECOMMENDING THE BEST LOCATION, DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES AND ADDRESSING REQUIRED PROGRAM CAPACITY.
CURRENTLY, MUSEUM ADMISSION AND THE GIFT SHOP ARE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR ONLY ART GALLERY.
NEXT TO OUR OFFICES, THE GATEWAY WOULD PROVIDE A PROPER AND SAFE WELCOME ZONE, ALLOWING VISITORS TO PURCHASE ADMISSION, PERUSE THE GIFT SHOP, AND ENGAGE WITH STAFF.
WHILE THE EXISTING GALLERY COULD BE FULLY UTILIZED FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY EXHIBITIONS WITHOUT DISTRACTION, THE GATEWAY WOULD INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. CURRENTLY, THE MUSEUM HAS ONE SMALL ROOM THAT IS USED FOR PROGRAMS, MEETINGS, AND PRIVATE RENTALS.
THIS WOULD ALLOW THE MUSEUM TO NOT COMPETE WITH ITSELF.
FOR SPACE, THE CLASSROOMS WOULD OVERLOOK THE OLAF'S WATERFALL AND STREAM WITH VIEWS OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE ALONG THE HILLSIDE, PROVIDING AN ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING AND INSPIRATION.
IS THE CURRENT GARDEN AND MUSEUM IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY, WATER MANAGEMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY.
AND STEEP SLOPES SURROUND THE GARDEN, CREATING A DRAMATIC, BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP FOR UMLA SCULPTURES.
RAINFALL IS INTERCEPTED BY EXTENSIVE TREE CANOPY, BUT LIMITED GROUND PLANTINGS IN THE SHEER VOLUME OF WATER FLOWING ONTO THE SITE.
ERODES SOILS, DAMAGES EXISTING WALKWAYS IN THE GARDEN AND FLOODS THE SCULPTURES.
AND THEN IF YOU COULD PLAY THE VIDEO.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RUNOFF WE RECEIVE IS MOSTLY FLOWING DOWN FROM BARTON BOULEVARD, WHICH IS THE ROAD THAT RUNS ALONG THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE UM, PROPERTY.
THIS VIDEO SHOWS ABOUT ONE OF FOUR OR FIVE OF THESE STREAMS THAT OCCUR EVERY TIME IT RAINS, AND ITS DOWN FROM BARTON BOULEVARD DOWN THE HILLSIDE AND STRAIGHT INTO THE, UM, HERE YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THAT STORM.
WATER THAT DOESN'T SEEP INTO THE GROUND HERE IN THE GARDEN CONTINUES INTO BARTON CREEK.
SEVERAL STRATEGIES ARE RECOMMENDED TO ADDRESS EXCESS WATER RUNNING INTO AND THROUGH THE SITE, INCLUDING DETENTION PONDS
[00:15:01]
AT THE TOP OF THE SLOPES, GREEN MULCH OR MULTI-LAYERED PLANTING ON SLOPES, SWALES, AND RAIN GARDENS AT THE BOTTOM OF SLOPES TO DIRECT WATER TO KEY LOCATIONS, AND CONVERTING THE EXISTING POND TO A SERIES OF STEPPED RAIN GARDENS TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH DRY AND STORMY SEASONS.ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO CURB AND GUTTER BARTON BOULEVARD IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND BIODIVERSITY OF THE AREA, THE LANDSCAPE EFFORTS ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THREE OBJECTIVES.
REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES, REVITALIZING MID-LEVEL VEGETATION AND ENHANCING PLANT DIVERSITY.
THE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER OF THE UMLA IS TIGHTLY LINKED TO A CANOPY OF MATURE TREES, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES TO VISITORS IN THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF SPECIES.
YEAR ROUND, HOWEVER, THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE, SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL HIERARCHY.
INTRODUCING MID-LEVEL PLANTING WOULD ADD TEXTURE AND COLOR AT EYE LEVEL AND PROVIDE BACKGROUNDS FOR SCULPTURES.
THESE PLANTS ALSO CAPTURE WATER AND PROVIDE SHELTER AND FOOD FOR WILDLIFE.
NEW GROUND COVER WOULD CREATE A GREEN MULCH THAT PROTECTS ROOTS THROUGH EXTREME TEMPERATURES, INTERCEPTS OR SLOWS RAIN FROM FALLING ON.
SOIL, CAPTURES WATER IN THE ROOT SYSTEM TO BE RELEASED THROUGH EVAPOTRANSPIRATION FILTERS, NUTRIENTS AND TOXINS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AND ALSO PROVIDES FOOD AND NESTING MATERIALS FOR WILDLIFE.
AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE EXISTING GARDEN NEAR THE BACK, YOU WOULD COME ACROSS AN ENTRYWAY NESTLED IN THE TREES, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE FOURTH AND FINAL ZONE OF THE SITE.
THIS BUILDING NICKNAMED THE TREE HOUSE, WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF GETTING UP THE HILL TO THE HISTORICAL HOMESTEAD AND IS KEY TO THE UNIFICATION PIECE OF THE PLAN.
IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS OF WHAT A POTENTIAL TREE HOUSE COULD LOOK LIKE.
THE ENTRYWAY WOULD BE MODEST IN FEATURE, ADDITIONAL EXHIBITION SPACE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE OF THE UMLA COLLECTION TO BE TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE AND MADE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE.
THE MID-LEVEL WOULD INCLUDE INDOOR EVENT SPACE TO BE USED FOR COMMUNITY GATHERING, AS WELL AS A REVENUE GENERATOR.
TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND PROGRAMMING BUDGET.
THE BUILDING WOULD BE FULLY SHADED, HAVE A DEEP OVERHANG AND A SMALL FOOTPRINT.
HERE YOU CAN SEE A VIEW OF THE TOP LEVEL THAT WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE HISTORIC HOMESTEAD.
THIS FLOOR WOULD SERVE AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES SITE.
THE TREE HOUSE WOULD SIT QUIETLY IN THE TREES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE UMLA AND TO PAIGE TO BE CONSIDERATE OF FITTING THE BUILDINGS INTO THE NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY AND TREE CANOPY, PROVIDING MINIMAL DISRUPTION TO THE LANDSCAPE.
ANY NEW BUILDINGS WOULD ENHANCE THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE AND RESPOND TO THE SITE IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THE RENDERINGS SHOW HOW THESE BUILDINGS COULD LOOK.
THE HPU PLAN RECOMMENDS FURTHER DESIGN EXPLORATIONS AND ADDITIONAL STUDIES THAT COULD CHANGE THE BUILDING'S APPEARANCE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S GOALS AND CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
THE HBU PLAN ENCOMPASSES SIX PRIMARY IMPACT CATEGORIES TO ENSURE THAT SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE STRATEGIES ARE APPROACHED COMPREHENSIVELY, ADDRESSING KEY ASPECTS CRUCIAL FOR THE UMF TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AT THE HEART OF THE UMM L'S DESIGN ETHOS IS A COMMITMENT TO PLACE AND PEOPLE.
HUMAN-CENTRIC DESIGN NECESSITATES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY'S DEMOGRAPHICS AND THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
THE HEALTH IMPACT CATEGORY SHIFTS FOCUS TO HUMAN HEALTH AND WELLBEING WITHIN THE SPACE, PARTICULARLY EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF LIGHT, HEAT, AND AIR QUALITY.
THE AIM OF THE PLAN IS TO ESTABLISH A SPACE THAT IS WELCOMING AND PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND TRANSPORTATION MODES, INCLUSIVE OF ALL GENDERS, AND PROMOTES HEALTHY PRACTICES FOR EVERY VISITOR.
THIS INVOLVES INCORPORATING PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN GUIDELINES AND STRATEGIES FROM THE WELL CERTIFICATION SPECIFIC MEASURES, SUCH AS INSTALLING ADDITIONAL WATER AND BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS, BIKE RACKS, ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING SPOTS, LACTATION ROOM CHANGING STATIONS, MULTILINGUAL SIGNAGE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FO FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT ON SITE.
ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES INCLUDE ENSURING OPTIMAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND DESIGNING AND MAINTAINING SPACES THAT PRIORITIZE THERMAL AND VISUAL COMFORT.
THE OLAF'S PRIMARY ENERGY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO ANNUAL SITE ENERGY.
STRATEGIES FOR THIS INCLUDE AN ALL ELECTRIC SITE RENEWABLES ON EACH AVAILABLE STRUCTURE AND PROVISIONS FOR A SOLAR READY ROOF ON ALL OTHER STRUCTURES, HEATING AND COOLING NEW BUILDINGS WITH GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS, RETROFITTING EXISTING BUILDINGS WITH GROUND OR AIR SOURCE
[00:20:01]
HEAT PUMPS, REDUCING EXISTING BUILDINGS ENERGY USAGE BY 25%, AND BRINGING NEW BUILDING ENERGY USE 40% BELOW CODE MINIMUM AND TARGETING A 30% WINDOW TO WALL RATIO.THE PROJECT IS ADDRESSING SEVERAL FORMS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
THE PLAN OUTLINES A GOAL TO REDUCE EMBODIED CARBON EMISSIONS BY 50%.
ANOTHER IS OPERATIONAL CAR CARBON.
BY ADDING RENEWABLES AND REACHING NET ZERO ENERGY, THE ANNUAL ENERGY CARBON EMISSIONS WOULD BE ZERO.
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION HAPPENS ON THE SITE ALSO DUE TO TREES WITH WATER USE IN MANAGEMENT BEING A MAIN CONCERN FOR THE UMLA.
THE PLAN TARGETS 100% OF IRRIGATION AND THE WATER FEATURE TO BE SUPPLIED BY NON-POTABLE SOURCES.
AND TO REDUCE SITE WATER USAGE BY 80%, REDUCE NEW BUILDING WATER USAGE BY 25% FROM AN EQUIVALENT BASELINE CODE COMPLIANT BUILDING.
COLLECT ALL POSSIBLE RAINWATER OFF ROOFS, COLLECT ALL POSSIBLE GRAY WATER FOR IRRIGATION, USE GREEN AND USE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE HIGH PERFORMANCE LANDSCAPES THAT MANAGE STORM WATER.
WITH A 45% REDUCTION IN POND CONSUMPTION AND A 75% DECREASE IN LANDSCAPE USAGE, THE OUTDOOR WATER DEMANDS AT THE SITE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINE.
INSTEAD OF RELYING ON POTABLE WATER AS THE UMOK DOES TODAY, THE PLAN RECOMMENDS PRIORITIZING SUSTAINABILITY BY USING STORM WATER, CAPTURING RAINWATER AND USING GRAY WATER FOR IRRIGATION.
THE RESILIENCE IMPACT CATEGORY AIMS TO PRESERVE THE SITE THROUGH A 500 YEAR FLOOD AND REGULAR RAIN EVENTS BY PLANNING FOR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.
HERE YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE OF FLOODING THE GARDEN EXPERIENCED IN OCTOBER, 2015, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE HOW THESE SIX IMPACT CATEGORIES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A SITE THAT GIVES BACK JUST AS MUCH AS IT USES.
THE UMOFF IS COMMITTED TO MEETING THE CITY'S MINIMUM THREE STAR A EGB OR LEAD SILVER RATING, ENSURING ADHERENCE TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE.
IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, THE UMOFF WOULD BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS WITH A GOAL SETTING EXERCISE TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM SUSTAINABILITY AND CARBON GOALS WHILE ALIGNING WITH CITY POLICY AND OUR BUDGET.
THE PLAN OUTLINES THREE MAIN PHASES FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE FIRST PHASE, UH, WITH THE FIRST PHASE TO BE ADDRESSING EXISTING FACILITY PROJECTS.
PHASE TWO, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PHASE THREE EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE UMOFF STAFF BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SHARE THIS PLAN AND WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, WE DO HAVE, AS KATIE MENTIONED, A COUPLE MEMBERS FROM PAGE HERE AS WELL.
AND WE ARE SEEKING ACTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UM, SO WE DO WELCOME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
SO LET'S START WITH THE REMOTE COMMISSIONERS FIRST.
ELIZABETH QUASHED, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGN UP.
UH, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER, RICHARD WEISS.
AND YOU'LL HAVE, UH, THREE MINUTES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M, UH, RICHARD WEISS AND I'M THE, UH, UH, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE UMLA, UH, AS A, UH, FORMER COMMISSION MEMBER FOR OVER 11 YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND SAY WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS TO WORK, UH, WITH THE PAGE TEAM AND WITH THE UMLA TEAM AND WITH THE CITY TO CREATE A PLAN, UH, THAT FROM, UH, WE'RE HITTING, UH, FIVE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS AND, UH, FROM ARTS TO DESIGN TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, TO THE, TO THIS BOARD.
AND, UH, THEY REALLY TRIED TO EMPHASIZE, UH, THE GOALS OF EACH, UH, BOARD AND, AND THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CITY IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE DESIGN.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO YOU AND, UH, AND THANK YOU TO YOU.
I, I, UH, UH, HOPE YOU, UH, APPRECIATE THE PLAN.
UH, LET'S OPEN IT UP TO COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS.
LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER BRIMER.
I APPRECIATE THE, UH, TIME YOU TOOK TO PREPARE THAT.
I, UH, READ THE 250 OR SO PAGE DOCUMENTS.
UH, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO START KIND OF AT THE BEGINNING, UH, WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS GIFTED, UH, TO THE CITY ORIGINALLY.
WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF THE, UM, LAOS WHEN THEY GIFTED THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY? WHAT A WONDERFUL QUESTION.
THIS WAS THEIR INTENTION, AND WE ACTUALLY FOUND A DOCUMENT FROM 1978
[00:25:01]
THAT I, I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S ON MY WEBSITE ACTUALLY.WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO READ IT TO YOU, BUT WE DISCOVERED IT AFTER WE'D STARTED WORKING ON THE PLAN, AND THEY INTENDED TO OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC AS A MUSEUM, AND THEY WANTED ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE.
THEY ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS ROOM FOR MORE BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY ON THE SOUTHERN SLOPE.
AND PAIGE HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WROTE THAT.
THEY MADE THE GIFT IN 19, THEY WROTE THAT IN 1978.
THE GIFT OFFICIALLY HAPPENED IN 1985, BUT NOTHING COULD HAPPEN UNTIL BOTH CHARLES AND ANGIE HAD PASSED, WHICH OCCURRED IN 2012.
AND, UH, WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL OTHER, UH, ART MUSEUMS WITHIN, IN, IN TOWN.
UH, THE ONES YOU MENTIONED ARE, UH, CITY FACILITIES, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE BLANTON, WHICH IS, UH, OF COURSE OPERATED BY UT.
UH, HOW DO YOU COORDINATE ACTIVITIES, UH, BETWEEN ALL THESE OTHER, UH, OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, THESE OTHER FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, DISPLAY SPACE, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, YOU KNOW, SPACE FOR ACTIVITIES AND THIS SORT OF THING AS WELL.
YOU OPERATE IT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU'RE KIND OF, UH, OPERATING, UH, INDEPENDENTLY OF THEM.
WE CONSIDER THEM PARTNERS AND COLLABORATE COLLABORATORS.
WE'RE COLLABORATING ON AN UPCOMING EXHIBITION OF FARRAH FAUCET'S, WORK WITH THE BLANTON MUSEUM.
UM, VERY DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THEM.
WE HAVE A, A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'VE WORKED WITH ON, WITH THE CONTEMPORARY OVER TIME.
SO WE, WE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE, AND ALL THE CITY MUSEUMS, YES, WE COULD ALWAYS DO MORE TO ENHANCE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND STRENGTHEN ARTS ACROSS AUSTIN, WHICH IS SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE WORKING ON.
BUT WE DO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ALL, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF OURS AND COLLEAGUES.
AND WE'RE ALL, UH, AUSTIN MUSEUM DAY IS COMING UP, UH, THIS MONTH AND WE'RE ALL PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
UH, HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL, UH, IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE ARE YOU GONNA BE ADDING TO THE PROPERTY? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, WE HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT HERE.
I THINK WE'RE ELIGIBLE TO USE UP TO 45% OF THE SPACE CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE WE ARE ONLY USING, UH, 19% AND AFTER THE PLAN IT WOULD BE 25% OUT OF AN ALLOWABLE, 45%.
NOW, THE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SHOWN IN THE PICTURE ARE, ARE ARTISTS RENDERINGS.
THEY'RE NOT, UM, THEY'RE NOT REALLY THE EXACT THING THAT YOU'RE GOING FOR, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO BASICALLY YOU'RE REVIEWING, REVIEWING WITH US, UH, BASICALLY WHAT YOU ALL SAT DOWN AND THOUGHT LOOKED, LOOKED GOOD, BUT THE FINAL RESULT MAY BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE OBSERVING TODAY.
THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE, UH, A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE TO SEE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND THEN ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN.
AND WE DON'T INTEND IT TO BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT.
WE ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PLAN.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOT POSITIVE WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH US ON THE FUTURE.
UM, I GUESS, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, DISPLAY SPACE FOR THE VARIOUS WORKS OF THE, UM, LA AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FROM OTHER ARTISTS THERE, BUT A LOT OF THE, UH, THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE EVENT SPACE.
AND I NOTICED IN YOUR TAX FILINGS AND OTHER SOURCES THAT A LOT OF THE REVENUE YOU GATHER IS FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC EVENTS.
AND, UH, I'M KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS INTO THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE, UH, OF THE GIFT OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FACILITY BY THE LAUS.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MEANT TO BE, UH, USED AS A, UH, YOU KNOW, A MUSEUM AND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TYPE OF THING AND AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR PEOPLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE BIT CURIOUS HOW ADDING OF THIS EXTRA FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, WRAPS INTO THIS WHOLE THING.
SO THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE HOW YOU ARE READING AND PAYING ATTENTION CLOSELY.
FOR ONE, JUST TO, I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO AMANDA IN A MINUTE ABOUT OUR, OUR FUTURE BUSINESS WISE.
BUT I WILL SAY WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE AS FAR AS PUBLIC MUSEUMS GO TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RENT OUR FACILITY OUT TO WEDDINGS AND PRIVATE EVENTS THAT ALL OF THAT GOES TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING.
SO THAT WILL BE A FUTURE PART OF OUR BUSINESS PLAN.
WELL, I ALSO NOTICE THAT YOU, UH, RENT OUT SOME OF THE, UH, SCULPTURES TO PEOPLE OR LEASE THEM AT WHATEVER THE PROPER TERM IS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IS ALSO
[00:30:01]
PART OF YOUR FUNDRAISING STRATEGY.UH, WE, WE DO, AND THANK YOU FOR NOTICING THAT.
IT DOESN'T BRING IN MUCH MONEY AT ALL, BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY SO THAT THE MOST OF OUR COLLECTION IS HIDDEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SPACE FOR IT TO BE ON VIEW.
AND SO THAT ALLOWS IT TO AT LEAST BE EITHER AT A, A LAW OFFICE OR A BANK OR SOMEBODY'S HOME FOR SIX MONTHS AT A TIME.
AND HONESTLY, IT COSTS US ALMOST AS MUCH TO DO THAT PROGRAM AS IT DOES TO RUN IT.
BUT WE'RE REALLY HONORED TO SHARE THE SCULPTURES WITH MORE PEOPLE.
WHAT THE ANTICIPATED COST OF THIS ENTIRE THING WHEN YOU, I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GIVE A HARD FIGURE ON THIS WITH INFLATION AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT WHAT'S YOUR, UH, BUDGETED COST FOR THIS AT THIS TIME? WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE PLANS ENOUGH.
AND AS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS SAYS GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT.
SO THE MORE THE, THE, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT GARBAGE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE NUMBERS TO PUT TO IT YET, SO WE'RE NOT SURE AND WE WILL ALSO BE PHASING IT.
SO NOW YOU MENTIONED, UH, CAPITAL FUNDING, UH, UH, EFFORT THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING THROUGH BEFORE LONG.
UM, BUT IT ALSO SAID THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU RECEIVED, I BELIEVE 17% OF YOUR FUNDING, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR, UH, PERHAPS CAME FROM THE CITY.
UH, IS THAT A, IS THAT A SEPARATE LINE ITEM FROM THE CITY FOR FUNDING FOR THIS SORT OF THING? OR HAS THIS COME OUT OF A PAR BUDGET? YES, A, ACCORDING TO OUR MANAGEMENT OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED IN 2014, THE CITY GIVES US $200,000 A YEAR FOR AS LONG AS THE, FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.
AND SO THAT IS A LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET.
BUT IS IT A LINE ITEM OUT OF THE PARD BUDGET OR OUT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND? THE PARD BUDGET.
SO NO, TO BE, YEAH, TO BE CLEAR, THAT COUNCIL, AND THIS WAS A COUNCIL SUPPORTED AGREEMENT, UM, THE UMOFF IS ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT THE CITY HAS, UM, FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
UM, SO THIS IS, UM, IT DOES COME INTO THE PARD BUDGET, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE UMOFF, IT'S BEEN SPEC SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE'S BEEN PRETTY TOUGH ON THE CITY, AND, UH, SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS GONNA IMPACT HARD AND, AND YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE CITY ON FUNDING STUFF.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THIS IS GONNA BE DISTRIBUTED, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE VARIOUS BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, WATERSHED AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS HOW THIS IS GONNA BE COMING ACROSS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE FOUGHT TO HAVE, UH, OR VARIOUS CITIZENS FOUGHT TO HAVE 16 MAINTENANCE PEOPLE ADDED TO THE PARD BUDGET.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS BEING SHOULDERED BY PARD, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS AS TO, YOU KNOW, HOW THE BUDGET FUNDING FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
IS IT GONNA BE A SEPARATE ITEM? IS THIS GONNA BE, UH, OUT OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, YOU KNOW, THIS SORT OF THING.
SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS WHAT THE ANTICIPATED STRATEGY IS FOR FUNDING ALL OF THIS, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, YOU KNOW, ARE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF IT, WHICH YOU'VE EMPHASIZED VERY CAREFULLY, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU, UH, FOCUSING ON THAT ASPECT OF IT.
UH, YOU KNOW, IN THIS PRESENTATION, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE THOSE GOING TO BE, UH, PRIORITY, UH, ITEMS AS FAR AS, UH, WORKING ON THOSE FIRST? ARE, ARE, ARE THOSE GONNA BE, UH, WORKED ON IN PARALLEL TO THE REST OF THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS? OKAY.
LEMME I'LL ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION AS FAR AS FUNDING, AND THEN I'LL LET AMANDA ASK, UH, ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION.
IN TERMS OF THE, HOW, WHERE THE FUNDING'S GONNA COME FROM, IT'S GONNA BE, UH, WE DO HAVE PARTNERS THAT ARE INTENDING TO LAUNCH A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, WHICH MEANS THAT A LARGE PORTION OF THE FUNDING IS GONNA COME FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC, UM, SECTOR.
UM, AND GRANT MAKING, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, UM, THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITIES TO TAP INTO OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING, UM, THAT MAY, UH, CITY GRANT PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE, UM, ITEMS ON THE BOND, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOES THROUGH A VERY CAREFUL PROCESS THAT IS PRIORITIZED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED AND IT INVOLVES, UM, OUR CITY BUDGET OFFICE.
AND SO, UM, AND THERE'S A GREAT DEGREE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND, UH, AS PART OF THAT BOND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE OR COMMITMENTS THAT, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE VISION PLAN APPROVED.
AND AS THESE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD, WHICH COULD TAKE, YOU KNOW, A DECADE OR MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO KIND OF CHECK IN AND SEE WHAT THE FISCAL CLIMATE IS AT THAT TIME.
UM, AND NOW YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT, UM, YOU SHOWED A VERY INTERESTING PICTURE OF SOME OF THE, UH, DRAINAGE
[00:35:01]
PROBLEMS YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING, UH, WITH RUNOFF FROM, UH, UH, ROAD THAT, UH, HAS WATER FLOWING THROUGH THE, UH, PROPERTY AND SO FORTH, AND YOU INTEND TO USE, UH, DETENTION PONDS AND OTHER, UH, STRATEGIES IN ORDER TO, UH, CAPTURE THE WATER AND DISPERSE IT.AM I CORRECT IN THAT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
AND TO ANSWER THE END OF THE LAST QUESTION YOU HAD, UM, THE EXISTING FACILITY PROJECTS WOULD BE IN PHASE ONE OF, AS KIM MENTIONED, THIS POTENTIALLY DECADE LONG PROCESS.
UM, THAT INCLUDES DEALING WITH THE STORM WATER RUNOFF THAT'S COMING DOWN THE HILLSIDE, UM, AS WELL AS THE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ALREADY EXISTING GARDEN WITH WATER MANAGEMENT AND OUR WATER FEATURE IN THE POND, ALL OF THAT.
NOW, THE WATER THAT'S DRAINING, THAT'S, THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, DO YOU KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE WATER? I MEAN, DOES THAT, UH, CONTAIN A LOT OF URBAN, UH, POLLUTANTS OR THAT SORT OF THING? OR YOU, HAVE YOU TESTED THE WATER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WE, WE HAVEN'T TESTED THE WATER, BUT IT'S COMING DOWN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO IT'S AN URBAN RUNOFF QUALITY.
SO IT'S NOT, UH, NOT DRINKABLE, AUDIBLE, NO.
AND WE HAVE TRIED TO TEST THIS WATER, BUT UM, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD ONLY BE ACCURATELY TESTED WHEN IT IS, UM, FLOWING AND TO GET SOMEONE OUT TO TEST IT, LIKE WHEN A RAIN EVENT WAS HAPPENING.
IT, IT JUST HASN'T HAPPENED YET.
SO THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE DEFINITELY, UM, SOMETHING WE'D WANNA DO.
UH, SO THE INTENTION OF THE, THE, THE RETENTION PONDS AND THE OTHER STRATEGIES WOULD BE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, CAPTURE THE POLLUTANTS BEFORE IT FLOWED INTO BARTON, UH, CREEK AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY LADY BIRD LAKE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, VICE CHAIR COFER.
UM, NOPE, SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
I JUST, I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A PRESERVATION EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN THAT'S COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND NOT A SET OF DESIGN PLANS.
SO I DO LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING TUNED FOR, FOR WHAT THOSE WILL LOOK LIKE ONCE YOU HAVE MORE OF A SCHEMATIC DESIGN.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR BEING BEFORE THIS BODY AND, UM, REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO, TO LOOK AT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.
COMMISSIONER EINHORN, COMMISSIONER KRUEGER, UH, YES, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, YOU MENTIONED EV CHARGING STATIONS.
I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY YOU'RE ANTICIPATING PUTTING IN.
UM, SO I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN THAT FAR YET.
UM, YEAH, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
UM, AND FOR THE NEW BUILDING THAT YOU'RE PLANNING, UM, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING USING ANY KIND OF GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS LIKE LEAD CERTIFICATION OR PASSIVE HOUSE? YEAH, SO WE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PLANNING FOR EITHER A EGB THREE STAR OR LEAD SILVER AS A BASELINE.
AND SO, UM, WE'RE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEW BUILDINGS, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY DO THAT KIND OF THING.
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'LL BE A VOTE FOR PASSIVE HOUSE
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF INFORMATION YET, BUT DO YOU HAVE AN ANTICIPATED TIMELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OR HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE? WE DON'T.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, I'M LOVING ALL THE RENDERINGS OF LIKE THE INCREASED BIODIVERSITY ON THE SITE.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE PLAN IS TO HELP UPKEEP AND MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF BIODIVERSITY.
THAT, BUT WE KNOW THAT'LL HAVE TO BE WRITTEN INTO THE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND THE BUSINESS PLAN.
SO THAT'LL ALL BE PART OF THE, THE STUDY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I, I THINK IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL DESIGN AND, UM, ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF THE MUSEUM.
I APPRECIATE, UM, COMMISSIONER BRIAN ME'S, UH, REALLY IN DEPTH REVIEW OF THE DESIGN AND REALLY ASKING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
'CAUSE MY MIND REALLY DID GO THERE TOO, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE,
[00:40:01]
UM, SPECIFICS ON, ON THE BUDGET THERE.UM, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU, IF THERE'S ANY LIKE, PROJECTIONS BEING MADE FOR INCREASED USE OF THE MUSEUM AND INCREASED REVENUE FROM THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE? YES.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIME AS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.
UM, WE, THAT WILL BE A WHOLE NOTHER, UH, FEASIBILITY STUDY AND, AND PLAN IN ITSELF.
UM, THAT WOULD BE KIND OF OUR NEXT PHASE.
I WILL SAY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO US, KIND OF GOING BACK TO A PREVIOUS QUESTION TO INCLUDE INDOOR RENTAL SPACE, BECAUSE CURRENTLY, AS WE MENTIONED, UM, RENTAL REVENUE, YOU KNOW, OUR MUSEUM ADMISSION IS PRETTY MODEST.
UM, AND WE DO FREE DAYS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE DO, IN ORDER TO OPERATE THIS EIGHT ACRES OF LAND DO REQUIRE THAT WE, ABOUT 25% OF OUR REVENUE COME FROM RENTALS EVENTS.
HOWEVER, THOSE ARE ALL OUTDOORS RIGHT NOW.
AND IN AUSTIN ESPECIALLY, OUR WINDOW OF WHEN WE CAN HOST EVENTS IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER.
SO IN ORDER FOR US TO EVEN SUSTAIN WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD AN INDOOR SPACE, UM, THAT COULD BE USED AS A RAIN PLAN OR DURING THE SUMMER FOR HEAT.
UM, SO THAT WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAINTAINING THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF, OF THE NEW BUILDINGS FOR SURE.
I ACTUALLY GOT MARRIED IN Z OR BOTANICAL GARDENS.
SO I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE, UM, HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WOULD BE TO HAVE A WEDDING AT UMLA GARDEN.
SO, UM, I JUST ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT FOR THE RECORD, UM, THAT I, I APPRECIATE THAT PARD IS CONTRIBUTING FUNDS BECAUSE IT'S A JOINT USE SITE.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE, I THINK 21 JOINT USE SCHOOL PARKS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT ARE NOT FUNDED.
UM, AND, AND I DEFINITELY SEE THE, THE NEED THERE, SO THANK YOU.
UM, YEAH, ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, UH, WELL YOU MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL BOARDS ARE LOOKING AT THIS.
I KNOW THE ARTS COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF THIS.
WHAT OTHER BOARDS HAVE SEEN THIS ALREADY? UH, WE HAVE BEEN TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, BOTH, UH, COMMISSIONS SUPPORTED THIS UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK, NO, WE DID HAVE ONE PERSON ABSTAINING 'CAUSE THEY HAD A CONNECTION WITH THE CONSULTANT TEAM AT THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
WE'LL BE AT THE DESIGN COMMISSION NEXT WEEK AND THEN THE PARKS BOARD, AND THEN WE HOPE TO GET TO CITY COUNCIL IN OCTOBER.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MATERIAL YOU PROVIDED IN BACKUP.
UM, I JUST HAD, UM, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.
I WAS WONDERING ABOUT, UM, WHAT KIND OF, UH, CLASSES WOULD BE IN THE CLASSROOMS THAT WERE MENTIONED, LIKE IS IT CLASSES THAT YOU ARE TEACHING OR IS IT, UM, KIND OF CONTRACTED OUT TO, WELL, LIKE ARE PEOPLE CONTRACTING TO USE THAT SPACE TO TEACH, BASICALLY, IS WHAT I WAS WONDERING ABOUT.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW YET, BUT PROBABLY LIKE WE DO NOW, CLASSES THAT WE TEACH, WE HAVE SUMMER CAMP.
WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SHAPING SPACE FOR STUDENTS IN TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, WHERE WE ACTUALLY SEND TRAINED TEACHING ARTISTS OUT TO TITLE ONE SCHOOLS TO TEACH IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. ONE DREAM THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD IS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE STUDENTS BACK TO SHOW THE WORK THAT THEY MAKE ALL YEAR LONG.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT VERY WELL CURRENTLY.
SO AN EXPANSION OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING, WHERE WE, WE RUN IT ALL, UM, AND WE DO HIRE OUT TO CONTRACTED TRAINED TEACHING ARTISTS.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE? OKAY.
SORRY, I, I FOUND A BULLET POINT I MISSED.
UM, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT PURPLE PIPES.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STORMWATER RETENTION, REUSE COLLECTION SYSTEMS. I HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS LOOKING THROUGH THE BACKUP.
UM, I DID LOOK AT, UH, THE AUSTIN REC RECLAIMED SYSTEM MAP AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ALL MIGHT JUST BE KIND OF ON THE EDGES OF IT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD HELP GIVE IMPETUS TO EXPAND IT OR IF THAT'S BEEN PART OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS AT ALL.
YEAH, IT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS.
SO WE LOOKED AT INCORPORATING OR BRINGING THE PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM TO OUR SITE.
IT IS, I WANNA SAY LIKE ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THE SITE.
UM, AND WE'VE SPOKEN WITH OUR CIVIL TEAM AND ON ANOTHER PROJECT THEY'VE TRIED TO BRING THE PIPE SYSTEM A SHORTER
[00:45:01]
DISTANCE THAN THAT.AND IT WAS, UM, VERY FINANCIALLY EXPENSIVE.
AND SO WE'VE OPTED FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO USE THE STORM WATER RETENTION FOR IRRIGATION, TRYING TO DO THE RAIN WATER, UM, GRAY WATER, UM, AND CONDENSATE.
SO THESE ARE CHEAPER OPTIONS JUST KIND OF OFF OF EXPERIENCE FOR US, UM, THAT WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, DO FIRST BEFORE THINKING OF THE RECLAIM OPTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
UM, LET'S READ OUT THIS MOTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE OF, OF SECRETARY BRISTOL, BUT, UM, SO, UH, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WAS PRESENTED THE UMOFF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN, OH, UH, IT'S SCROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE MISSION OF THE UMOFF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN IS TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY CURIOSITY AND CONNECTION THROUGH NATURE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THE WORK OF CHARLES UMOFF.
AND WHEREAS THE VISION PLAN INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ANALYSIS OF GENERAL, UM, E ECOLOGY OF THE PARK, ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION FROM HISTORIC LAND USE AND REVIEW OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PLANT, UM, COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE VISION PLAN INCLUDES THE HISTORY OF THE UMLA SCULPTURE, GARDEN AND MUSEUM, THE PURPOSE, UH, GUIDING PRINCIPLES, VISION AND GOALS OF THE PLAN SITE ANALYSIS, AND NEED AND NEED ASSESSMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND APPENDICES.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION UNANIM UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED ADOPTION OF THE UMLA HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN.
AND WHEREAS THE VISION PLAN INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING UTILIZING 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER OF ALLOWABLE 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER REPLEN REPLENISHING OF MID-LEVEL PLANTING AND REMOVAL OF INVA INVASIVE SPECIES AND REPLACING WITH NATIVE SPECIES REPLENISH A MIDDLE LAYER OF ECOLOGY WITH REGENERATIVE SPECIES TO CREATE PLANT DIVERSITY PRESERVATION OF THE SITE THROUGH A 500 YEAR FLOOD AND REGULAR RAIN EVENTS THROUGH DRAINAGE ENHANCEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER PERMANENT STORM WATER ATTENUATION IMPROVEMENTS, TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION MEASURES.
AND THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE UMLA HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN AS PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS, PRE PRE-WIRE PARKING SPOTS FOR ADDITION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING, USE STORM WATER FOR IRRIGATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, UM, CONTINUE TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS, OUTREACH, INCORPORATE PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND SEEK CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL DURING THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE DRAFT VISION PLAN AS THESE BECOME MORE DETAILED AND FINALIZED AND INCLUDE ART SPACE WITHIN THE MUSEUM OR SHARED DISPLAYED ART SPACES TO DISPLAY ART FROM LOCAL ARTISTS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMISSIONERS? I KNOW THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT SECRETARY OF BRISTOL NORMALLY BRINGS UP, UM, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT DARK SKY LIGHTING IN WITHIN THE PLAN OR, UM, IN THIS MOTION THAT WE SHOULD MAKE AS A RECOMMENDATION? WE COULD ADD IT.
DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADD? SO ADD THAT.
I PUT UTILIZATION OF DARK SKIES INITIATIVES AND BIRD FRIENDLY LIGHTING AND GLASS REFLECTIVITY.
[00:50:01]
GREAT.I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR PHRASING ON ONE LINE.
I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT RETURNING TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS THE DESIGN PROCESS MOVES ALONG.
I'M WONDERING, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED TONIGHT, WE WERE TOLD, BUT WE'RE NOT THAT FAR ALONG IN THE DESIGN PROCESS YET TO ANSWER THAT.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ALSO INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, LIKE ASK THEM TO COME BACK AT THAT STAGE WHEN THEY'RE FURTHER ALONG THE DESIGN PROCESS.
SHOULD I ADD THAT TO THAT SAME ONE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING? OR JUST MAKE A I THINK SO.
CONTINUE TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS, OUTREACH, UM, INCORPORATE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SEEK CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL AND PRESENT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DURING THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE DRAFT.
DOES THAT SOUND GOOD TO Y'ALL? SOUNDS GREAT.
UH, ANY OTHER ADDITIONS? OKAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO, UH, VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENTS.
SO WE HAVE EINHORN, KRUEGER, BEDFORD, SHERA, SULLIVAN NICHOLS, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
ALL THOSE AGAINST ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.
NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, UH, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. ITEM THREE, REVISIT A RECOMMENDATION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE 25 RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO RESIDENTIAL RE SUBDIVISIONS AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT OF FIVE TO 16 UNITS, SITE PLAN, LIGHT PHASE TWO, AND INFILL PLATS.
WOULD NOW BE A TIME TO RECOMMEND THAT MAYBE WE TAKE THE STAFF BRIEFINGS FIRST? I'M GOOD WITH THAT, WITH THE STAFF BRIEF.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE STAFF BRIEFINGS FIRST?
[4. Staff briefing on wastewater capital improvement projects – Charles Celauro, Austin Water Assistant Director, Engineering Services, Austin Water]
OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE STAFF BRIEFINGS FIRST.I'M CHARLES RO, I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH AUSTIN WATER.
I'M OVER ENVIR, UH, GOT ENVIRONMENTAL MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, ENGINEERING SERVICES AND OPERATIONS TECHNOLOGY.
AND ONE OF THE LARGE FUNCTIONS OF MY DEPARTMENT OR PROGRAM IS DELIVERING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR AUSTIN WATER.
THE FIVE YEAR FISCAL YEAR 25 THROUGH 29 INCLUDES ABOUT 500 PROJECTS, ABOUT $2.3 BILLION.
UH, TONIGHT I WAS GONNA BE REVIEWING THE WASTEWATER, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE FIVE YEAR BUDGET.
SO I'LL START WITH PROJECT NUMBER ONE.
UM, I'VE SELECTED JUST A FEW PROJECTS TO
[00:55:01]
GO OVER, KIND OF SHOW WHERE WE'RE MAKING OUR EFFORTS IN THE WASTEWATER.I'LL START WITH THE, UH, WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, FOLLOWED BY SOME OF OUR OTHER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, ODOR AND CORROSION FACILITIES, THEN THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM, AND THEN THE LIFT STATIONS.
UH, THIS IS KIND OF WASTEWATER BY THE NUMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE, UM, I CAN'T READ THAT FROM THERE.
IT'S, UM, ABOUT 59,000 MILES OF GRAVITY SEWER, IF I COULD READ THAT RIGHT.
UM, 137 LIFT STATIONS, 78 MILES OF FORCE MAINS.
WE HAVE, UM, NINE DECENTRALIZED PACKAGE PLANTS.
UM, I HAVE ONE PLANT WHERE I CALL IT AS A FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP PLANT.
WE OWN, UH, WE HAVE A PARTIAL OWNERSHIP IN THE EAST BRUSHY CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UP IN ROUND ROCK FOR ABOUT 9.87%.
TWO REGIONAL PLANTS, THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THE SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND ONE BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT PLANT.
UH, JUST FOR REFERENCE, THE, THE SOLIDS AT BOTH THE WALNUT CREEK AND THE SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL AS WELL AS THE, UH, NEW CENTRALIZED PLANTS, THE SOLIDS ARE ALL TAKEN TO THE ONE FACILITY TOBY BEND BIO SOLIDS MANAGEMENT PLANT FOR THE PROCESSING OF THOSE SOLIDS.
UM, OUR FUTURE INVESTMENT IN THE WASTEWATER ABOUT, UH, 50% OF IT IS, UH, FOR, UH, WASTEWATER FACILITIES.
UH, THE INVESTMENTS INCLUDE, UH, CONVERTING THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS FOR, UH, FOR SOME OF OUR FACILITIES TO BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENT REMOVAL, REHABILITATION OF AGING, UH, EXISTING FACILITIES, INTERDEPARTMENTAL, UM, COORDINATION INCLUDING PARD WATERSHED PROTECTION STREET AND BRIDGE PROJECT CONNECT TECH STOP.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, IS THE, UH, PIPELINE MAINTENANCE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CLOSED CAPTION TV.
SO WE CAN LOOK DOWN THROUGH THE PIPELINES AS WELL AS, UH, SMOKE TESTING TO SEE WHERE, WHERE, IF THERE'S ANY HOLES OR ANY LEAKS ANYWHERE.
I'LL WALK, I'LL GO WALK THROUGH THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR US.
UH, FIRST I'LL GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT SOME HISTORY.
UH, THE PLANT STARTED IN 1977 AS AN 18 MILLION GALLON PER DAY FACILITY.
ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER, IT WAS, UH, UPGRADED TO 60 AND THEN VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, UP TO, UH, EXCUSE ME, 1987, IT WAS UP TO 40 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
AND THEN VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IT WAS UPGRADED TO 60 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
AND THEN ABOUT 15 YEARS LATER, WE WENT AHEAD AND UPGRADED THE PLANT OR EXPAND THE PLANT TO 75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT SITS TODAY.
UM, AS A PLANT AGED TO ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD, WE BEGAN SOME STRATEGIC REHABILITATION AND RENEWAL PROJECTS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUED RELIABILITY ENHANCE, UH, WASTEWATER TREATMENT.
I SHOW ABOUT 10 OF SOME OF OUR LARGER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
UH, NOTE ABOUT THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT CLOSER TO ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT THE PLANT.
AND AS YOU, AND THEY'RE KIND OF SHOWN IN BLUE ON THAT SLIDE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE KIND OF TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT OF ALL PARTS OF THAT PLANT IN THE, IN THE, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO.
UH, THIS IS THE, THE PLANT, THE EXPANSION OF THE PLANT.
UH, IN 2019, WE STARTED A FACILITY AND OPTIMIZATION PLAN TO SEE WHAT, HOW THE PLANT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE EXPANDED IT AND WHAT KIND OF, UH, PROCESS TREATMENT WE WOULD, UH, USE.
AND THEN IN 2021, WE ACTUALLY STARTED THE DESIGN OF THE PLANT.
UM, I'VE KIND OF SUMMARIZED WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING AT THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THAT PROJECT.
IN BLUE IS THE REHABILITATION PROJECTS.
AGAIN, THEY'RE THE EXISTING FACILITIES.
UM, THE DARKER GREEN IS WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING THE NEW 25 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY OF AN EXPANSION, AS WELL AS WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE, UH, NUTRIENT REMOVAL AND ALSO UV DISINFECTION.
THE LIGHTER GREEN IS ACTUALLY GOING BACK INTO THE EXISTING 75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY PLANT AND CONVERTING IT TO BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENT REMOVAL, AS WELL AS PROVIDING UV DISINFECTION.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS TO PROTECT THE PLANT FROM HIGH FLOW EVENTS.
UM, AND AS WELL AS THE FLOOD WATER, UH, INTERIOR, YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING THAT'S LOOK KIND OF BROWN OR BURNT ORANGE, UH, AS FOR WET WEATHER FACILITY DURING HIGH FLOWS, AND IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SEE RIGHT THERE, BUT AROUND THE WHOLE PLANT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO BUILD A FLOOD WALL TO MAINTAIN IT OUT OF THE FLOOD, UH, ZONE.
I'LL GO OVER OUR PACKAGE PLANT.
AS MENTIONED, WE OPERATE 11 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, ONE BIOLOGICAL SOLIDS PLANT, AND THAT FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP OF THE, UH, OF THE
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BRUSHY CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.THE TWO REGIONAL PLANTS ARE BOTH, UH, 75 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY FOR A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 150 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
AND THAT'S THE RATED CAPACITY OF THE PLANTS.
AND THE DECENTRALIZED FACILITIES ARE MUCH SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER AT 3.3 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
UM, I DO NOTE, UH, THREE, UH, SOME PACKAGE PLANTS THAT, WELL, THE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE, OF SOME OF THE PLANTS.
I NOTED ABOUT THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREE PLANT GOING TO A HUNDRED MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
BUT WE HAVE THREE PACKAGE PLANTS AS WELL.
WILDHORSE PACKAGE PLANTS GOING UP TO 2.5 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
TAYLOR LANE PACKAGE PLANTS GOING TO A 0.6, AND OUR OWNERSHIP IN THE BRUSHY CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS GOING UP TO 3.25 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR ODOR CONTROL AND, UH, FACILITIES.
UM, I NOTE FIVE THERE THAT ARE PROPOSED IN, IN THE BUDGET TO BE DONE.
UH, THESE ARE FACILITIES THAT PULL AIR FROM THE INTERCEPTORS AND TUNNELS USING A FAN.
UH, THE PULL AIR WILL, UH, BE TREATED BEFORE IT'S RELEASED.
UH, THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT WITH THAT IS THAT THE MORE AIR WE PULL THROUGH THE TUNNEL, IT PROVIDES OXYGEN IN THE TUNNEL, WHICH REDUCES THE, UM, GENERATION OF ODORS AND LESSENS THE PRODUCTION OF CORROSIVE GAS.
SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU'LL ALSO SEE THIS AS NOTED AS ODOR AND, UH, CORROSION CONTROL FACILITY.
UH, THE PROCESS WE'RE USING IS A BIO TRICKLING FILTER, AND THAT'S USING A NATURAL BIOLOGICAL PROCESS TO TREAT THE ODORS AS THE FAN, UH, PULLS THE AIR THROUGH THE, THAT THE TRICKLING BIO TRICKLING FILTER.
I'LL TALK ABOUT OUR WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM.
UH, THIS SLIDE SHOWS, UH, THE FIVE YEAR CIP, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN, DEPENDING IF IT'S AN EXPANSION OR EXCUSE ME, A RENEWAL OR A CAPACITY PROJECT, YOU'LL SEE IT'S ALL OVER, UH, THE AUSTIN AREA.
UM, UH, WE PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR, UM, UH, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, REDUCING OF SENATORS WHO ARE OVERFLOWS, AS WELL AS COLLABORATING FOR, UH, MOBILITY PROJECTS AND DRAINAGE PROVINCE PROJECTS TO MOVE OUR OUR LINES OUT OF THE WAY AND ALSO MAINTAIN FOR GROWTH.
UM, I PICKED THREE PROJECTS TO KIND OF SHOW WHAT WE'RE KIND OF OH, OF DIFFERENT STYLE OF PROJECTS THAT WE DID.
UH, THAT SLIDE BEFORE SHOWED 110 PROJECTS.
I PICKED THE THREE, THEY'RE THE UPPER HARRIS BRANCH, WHICH IS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF AUSTIN, UPPER TANYA HILL IN THE CENTRAL, AND THEN IN SOUTH WILLIAMSON CREEK WESTPORT TREATMENT INTERCEPTOR.
UH, THE WILLIAMSON CREEK INTERCEPTOR IS REPLACING AN EXISTING, UH, UH, GRAVITY SYSTEM.
UM, IT'LL INCREASE THE RELIABILITY OF THE SYSTEM, REDUCE SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS.
UH, AS I MENTIONED, IT WAS AN AGING PIPE, SO WE WOULD DECREASE THE OPERATION OF MAINTENANCE COST, UM, AND MINIMIZE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS BY MOVING THE, UM, PIPELINE OUTSIDE OF THE EROSION HAZARD ZONE AND ELIMINATING SOME CREEK CROSSINGS.
UM, AN ITEM TO NOTE IS THAT THIS WILL BE BACK AT THE, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE DATE FOR, UH, FOR, TO LOOK AT SOME VARIANCES.
SO YOU'LL SEE THIS ONE HERE SHORTLY.
HARRIS BRANCH, UH, INTERCEPTOR.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A NEW, UH, INTERCEPTOR PIPELINE.
UH, THERE'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 4.3 MILES OF 24 TO, UH, 42 INCH GRAVITY SEWER PIPE.
UM, THE PIPE'S BEING PUT IN FOR, UH, CAPACITY GROWTH.
THE PIPELINE WILL ALSO, UH, BE ABLE TO, UM, ALLOW US TO, UH, UH, DECOMMISSION AND ABANDON TWO LIFT STATIONS AND THEN POSSIBLY THREE MORE IN THE FUTURE.
IT ALSO WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THE DECILE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS LOCATED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP LEFT THERE ON THAT GRAPH, AS WELL AS A FUTURE ABANDONMENT IF, IF, IF WE, IF WE NEED TO FOR THE DECAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THIS PROJECT IS THE UPPER HARALD TENAL PROJECT.
UH, THE BIG GREEN AREA THERE IS THE MORRIS WILLIAM UH, GOLF COURSE AND THIS IS ABOUT, UH, 4,500 LINEAR FEET OF 42 AND 48 INCH GRAVITY INCH LIME.
UM, IT'S GONNA INCREASE THE, UH, RESILIENCY AND CAPACITY OF THAT AS WELL AS REDUCE SOME OF THE SAN SEWER OVERFLOWS.
THIS PROJECT'S IN, IN COORDINATION WITH PARD AS WELL AS WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
IT'S LOCATED NEXT TO THE, THE FLOOD CONTROL, UH, UH, DAM AND LAKE THAT'S IN, IN THE LOCATED WITHIN THE GOLF COURSE.
THE LAST WE WOULD GO THROUGH IS SOME OF OUR LIFT STATIONS.
UM, WE HAVE THE ROCK HARBOR LIFT, OH, EXCUSE ME, LEMME GO THROUGH THIS REAL QUICK.
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SORRY ABOUT THAT.UM, UH, WE HAVE 137 LIFT STATIONS, RIGHT? UH, NO, SORRY, GOT MY BACKED UP THERE.
UH, WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE ILLUSTRATION.
THE FIRST ONE I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE ROCK HARBOR FORCE MAIN AND FOUR POINTS.
NUMBER TWO, UH, LIFT STATION IS IN THE BALCONES, UH, CONSERVATION LAND.
SO WE ARE GONNA REROUTE THE FORCE MAIN SO WE CAN ABANDON THAT LIFT STATION.
THEN THERE'S THE GREAT HILLS LIFT STATION.
THAT'S AN OLD CANNED LIFT STATION WE CALL IT THAT'S COMPLETELY UNDERGROUND.
IT'S NOT WEATHERING WELL, IT'S VERY OLD.
SO WE'LL BRING THAT UP TO STANDARDS AS WELL AS BRING THAT OUT OF THE