[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
[01:00:01]
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.
[01:05:01]
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 A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
UH, BOULDER LANE LIFT STATION IS A LIFT STATION THAT'S UPSTREAM OF ROCK HARBOR.
THAT ONE'S BEING IN, UH, UH, IMPROVED FOR CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AS WELL AS THE DOWNSTREAM LIFT STATION.
ROCK HARBOR IS ALSO BEING INCREASED FOR CAPACITY IN THE AREA.
UM, THE SPRINGFIELD LIFT STATION, WHICH NOW LAY DOWN THE SOUTH, WE ARE, UH, PLANNING ON ABANDONING THAT BY, UH, WITH A GRAVITY SEWER TO VENUE CREEK TUNNEL.
AND THAT WOULD REMOVE IT FROM THAT, ACTUALLY THE 25 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
SO THAT ONE IS PRETTY, UH, INUNDATED.
AND NOW I GOT WHERE I GOT MESSED UP HERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THE SLIDE THERE ON YOUR LEFT IS THE NUMBER OF LIST STATIONS.
UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 137 AND THAT UPPER ONE OF THE, UH, IN NEXT YEAR WE'RE PLAYING ON, UH, BEING ABOUT 141 LIFT STATIONS.
UM, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF LIFT STATION BY ABOUT 15, AND WE'RE STILL SEEING THAT, UH, GROWTH TREND OCCURRING.
UM, THE OTHER SLIDES SHOW ABOUT OUR POWER RESILIENCY, UM, UP THERE, THE FIXED LIFT STATION GENERATORS, MEANING THAT THE GENERATOR'S ACTUALLY AT THE SITE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 85 OF THOSE AT THE LIFT STATIONS.
AND THEN IT'S SHOWING OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS, WE'RE PLANNING ON ADDING 30 ADDITIONAL FIXED GENERATORS AT THE LIFT STATIONS.
UH, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE, UH, TO THE FIXED LIFT STATE, UH, FIXED, UH, UH, UH, GENERATORS, WE DO HAVE 25 PORTABLE GENERATORS IN OUR FLEET THAT WE MOVE AROUND AS NEEDED FOR POWER OUTAGES NECESSARY.
AND, UH, THAT BRINGS ME TO THE END OF MY PRESENTATION AND I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, I BELIEVE WE HAVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION FOR THESE, UH, FOR THIS ITEM.
SO LET'S HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS.
UH, FIRST UP WE HAVE MEGAN MEISENBACH, I BELIEVE SHE'S A VIRTUAL CALLER.
IS IS THE COLLAR THERE? UM, I'M SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON A AGENDA.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE PHONE CALL IN RIGHT NOW, SO LET'S, UM, GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKERS.
I THINK THESE ARE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR A DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEM.
OH, THEY WERE LISTED ON THEIR AGENDA.
ITEM THREE AND I, I'M FOUR, AH, SORRY.
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO QUESTIONS NOW.
UH, LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER BRIMER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THE LIST STATIONS, HOW ARE THOSE BEING POWERED? UM, THE LIFT STATIONS ARE USUALLY POWERED BY, UM, UH, CENTRAL POWER SUCH AS FROM AUSTIN ENERGY BLUEBONNET OR PERELLIS ELECTRIC CO-OP, UH, NOTED.
WE HAVE 85 LIFT STATIONS THAT HAVE BACKUP RESILIENCY POWER IN THE FORM OF A GENERATOR.
THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE THEY REPLACED A LIFT STATION IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY EXTENDED A NATURAL GAS LINE DOWN THERE
[01:10:01]
IN ORDER TO RUN IT.AND THEY REMOVED THE DIESEL GENERATOR, WHICH WAS THE LIFT STATION THERE, THERE.
SO IS THE STRATEGY THAT YOU'RE GONNA EXTEND GAS LINES TO DO THAT ALSO? UH, WE DO HAVE A STRATEGY TO, UH, UTILIZE NATURAL GAS.
WE AVAILABLE IF IT'S EFFECTIVE TO DO THAT, UH, FOR THE POWER OF THE GENERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL GENERATORS.
I ASKED THAT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO NET ZERO AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ON, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, CARBON AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE GAS COMPANY DRILLED UP, YOU KNOW, DUG UP A MILE WORTH OF THE STREET I LIVED ON AND WAY DOWN THERE.
AND NOT ONLY HOOKED UP THE GENERATOR, BUT EVERY HOUSE THEY DROVE BY, UH, THEY OFFERED TO HOOK THEM UP TO GAS.
AND, UH, SO THAT SEEMS KIND OF COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, SORT OF FOR THE USE OF OUR USE.
WE ONLY USE IT IN AN, AN EMERGENCY STATUS.
BUT THEY ALSO HOOKED UP EVERY HOUSE, RIGHT? THAT THEY, UH, DROVE THEIR, THEIR, THE PIPE BY.
THEY OFFERED TO HOOK THEM ALL UP.
SO YES, I UNDERSTAND IT'S ONLY AN EMERGENCY STANDBY THING IF THE POWER GOES OUT.
UH, BUT THEY ALSO EXTENDED GAS LINES TO A BUNCH OF HOUSES ALONG THE WAY THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD GAS, HAD NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAD DECIDED TO USE GAS AS THE BACKUP GENERATOR, RIGHT? CORRECT.
WE'VE ONLY ASKED, UH, FOR GAS LINE, WHICH I BELIEVE FOR US IS TEXAS GAS ONLY.
WE'VE ONLY ASKED FOR GAS LINES TO, UH, SUPPORT OUR LIFT STATIONS.
I GUESS WHAT THEY DO, THEY MAY HAVE TO DO ON THEIR, WITH THEIR FRANCHISE WITH THE CITY.
BUT WE'RE NOT ASKING ANY KIND OF UPSIZING OF THE NATURAL GAS LINE ABOVE WHAT WEIGHTS NEEDED FOR THE LIFT STATIONS.
AND I WILL NOTE THAT IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE, UH, NOT EVERY LIFT STATION WILL BE ABLE TO BE AFFORDED THIS OPPORTUNITY BY ANY MEANS.
IT'LL, IT'LL ONLY BE A CERTAIN HANDFUL.
AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO, UM, STORE, UH, DIESEL FUEL IN THE GENERATORS.
AND THEN DURING, AT A TIME OF EMERGENCY EVENT, WE ONLY USUALLY MAINTAIN ABOUT A DAY'S WORTH OF DIESEL.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO BRING DIESEL THERE.
UM, ALSO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHICH LIFT STATION YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
UH, THERE'S ONE, UM, THAT IT IS BEHIND HOMES AND IT'S VERY HARD TO GET A TRUCK BETWEEN THE SHARED DRIVEWAY.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER UTILIZATION WHERE WE USE THE NATURAL GAS.
YEAH, NO, I UNDERSTAND THE, UH, THE LOGISTICS OF THE PROBLEM AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE LIFT STATION IS AND ALL THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION TO, UH, GO WITH NATURAL GAS TO, UH, POWER A LIFT STATION AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ALLOW TEXAS GAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THEIR PIPELINE.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE THEM TO OFFER NATURAL GAS TO ALL THE HOUSES THEY PASS BY, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOCK ON ALL THE DOORS AND SIGN PEOPLE UP.
UH, SO YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT HELPING OUR ATTEMPT TO GET TO NET ZERO BY, UH, YOU KNOW, LAYING A MILE WORTH OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINE IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF HOUSES.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S, IT'S NOT A QUESTION, IT'S A STATEMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WELL, I HADN'T HEARD, UM, PROBLEMS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KNOW THE ODOR ISSUE.
WHAT ARE THERE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT? UH, I, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE HAVE A PREDOMINANT ODOR ISSUE AS, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, UH, OCCASIONALLY WE DO GET A CALL IN FOR AN ODOR COMPLAINT.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT, UH, FOR, FOR MYSELF AS AN ENGINEER, I AM MORE, UH, UH, THE BENEFIT OF AN ODOR CONTROL CORROSION FACILITIES ON THE CORROSION SIDE FOR US TO PROTECT THE LONG LONGEVITY OF THE, OF THE TUNNELS.
SO IS IT MAINLY H TWO S OR WHAT IS IT? MAINLY H TWO S.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH A LACK OF ERROR, THEN YOU HAVE ANAEROBIC ADDITION AND THAT EXASPERATES THAT, THAT SCENARIO.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[01:15:01]
OKAY.OKAY, NOW NEXT STEP WE HAVE ITEM THREE,
SORRY, I LIKE SPOKE WITH ELIZABETH BEFOREHAND AND WE HAD SWITCHED TO ORDER AND WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL
SO IS, UH, ITEM THREE OR THE OTHER BRIEFING GOING TO GO NEXT? UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO, OKAY.
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THE OTHER BRIEFING FIRST AND THEN WE'LL DO ITEM THREE.
[5. Analysis of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - Staff Response to Resolution #20230126-054 – Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer, William Burdick, Interim Planning Manager, Jessica Wilson, Community Education Manager, Watershed Protection]
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.I'M THE INTERIM ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER HERE TO PRESENT ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE CUNNING MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK.
UH, YEAH, MAKE SURE WE GET THE RIGHT ONE.
THIS WOULD BE, UM, ITEM FIVE, PLEASE.
UM, ALSO JOINING, UM, JESSICA WILSON, UM, SHOULD BE MOVED TO PANELIST IF SHE HASN'T ALREADY.
SHE'S THE, UH, PREVIOUS, UM, INTERIM, UH, PLANNING MANAGER.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CURRENT INTERIM PLANNING MANAGER WILL, ICK, YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT IF YOU WANT.
SO WHAT IS THE CUNNING MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK YOU MIGHT ASK? UM, SO THIS, IT WAS A, UM, A, UH, POLICY DOCUMENT THAT WAS PRODUCED DURING THE COUNCIL OF PARTIES 15TH MEETING, UM, COP 15, WHICH OCCURRED IN MONTREAL IN 2022.
UM, CUMING IS THE, UH, ANOTHER PARTNERING CITY, UH, SPONSORING CITY FROM CHINA.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM.
UM, SO THIS, UH, THE COP 15, THIS IS A GROUP, UH, IT'S A DECISION MAKING BODY RELATED TO, UM, CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT'S A, A PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
THEY HAVE ANNUAL, UM, MEETINGS.
AND THE 2022 MEETING WAS FOCUSED ON BIODIVERSITY AND THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF BIODIVERSITY, UM, DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO, UM, DURING THAT MEETING, THERE WERE SOME POLICY MAKERS FROM THE AUSTIN AREA THAT DID ATTEND, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UM, AND, AND HER STAFF.
AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK, THEY WERE INTERESTED, UM, IN SEEING HOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS WORKING, UM, AND, AND WHERE WE WERE MEETING SOME OF THESE TARGETS AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD ANY GAPS.
AND THAT, THAT, THAT 23 TARGETS THAT THE, UH, THAT THE, THAT WAS ISSUED OUT OF THIS, THIS COP 15, UM, MEETING.
UM, AND SO THERE WAS A RESOLUTION FROM CITY COUNCIL IN 2023 TO, UH, BASICALLY DIRECTING STAFF TO ANALYZE ELEMENTS OF THOSE 23 TARGETS AND TO, UH, ALIGN WITH THE STREET STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
UM, UH, THE RESOLUTION SET SD 2028, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT STRATEGIC DIRECTION, BUT MORE OR LESS THE SAME, UM, ARE, UH, THE CITY'S STRATEGIC GOALS.
UM, AND TO ANALYZE THE ELEMENTS OF THE 23 TARGETS WITH THE GOAL OF ALIGNING RELEVANT AND EXISTING PROPOSED PLANS.
AND I, UM, ON THERE, THE SLIDE THERE IN YOUR BACKUP, I HAVE SOME OF THE, THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS PRODUCED FROM THE COP 15, UM, MEETING, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A STEP BACK.
UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY AND WHY WE CARE ABOUT IT.
UM, AND I'M, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A BIODIVERSITY ECOLOGIST, SO I'M, I'M BORROWING SOME INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION AND THEY ARE, UM, VERY ACTIVE IN, UM, PRESERVING ENDANGERED SPECIES, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, UM, THE, THE FIRST BULLET THERE, UM, THE FIRST TWO BULLETS REALLY ARE THE, THE REAL IMPORTANT REASONS TO CARE AND WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY.
UM, IT IMPROVES A MORE BIODIVERSE ECOSYSTEM, IMPROVES THE STABILITY AND THE RESILIENCE OF THE ECOSYSTEM, AND IT MAINTAINS ALL OF THE CO-DEPENDENCIES, THE, THE, THE WEB CHAIN, THE FOOD CHAIN, UM, AND ENERGY CYCLING, UM, OF, OF, UH, AN ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, AN OF AN ECOSYSTEM.
I'VE READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOU NEED BETWEEN SIX AND 9,000 CATERPILLARS TO RAISE A CHICKY BROOD, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU NEED A VERY BIODIVERSE AREA BECAUSE YOU NEED LOTS OF DIFFERENT CATERPILLARS, RIGHT? SO THE BIODIVERSE ECOSYSTEM CAN HELP SUSTAIN, UM, PLANTS, UH, BIRDS, EVERYTHING THAT FEEDS ON IT.
SO, BUT THERE'S MORE THAN THAT.
[01:20:01]
UM, WETLANDS, RIPARIAN BUFFERS, MUSSELS AND CREEKS CAN HELP IMPROVE WATER FILTRATION IN STREAMS. UM, HEALTHY SOIL BIOTA CAN HELP, UH, ATTENUATE SMALL FLOODING, UM, FOOD SECURITY.WE NEED POLLINATORS TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF OUR, OF, UM, FOODS SOURCES, MEDICINES, ECONOMIC RESILIENCY AND SOCIAL IMPORTANCE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY.
UM, SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE GENETIC DIVERSITY WITHIN AN ACTUAL SPECIES.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT TO MAINTAIN, UM, GENETIC DIVERSITY WHEN THERE IS A SMALL POPULATION OF SPECIES, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THERE'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES WITHIN A REGION, AREA OR ECOSYSTEM.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF BIODIVERSITY.
JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPECIES.
SO WHAT NICHES ARE BEING FILLED IN AN ECOSYSTEM? THERE'S THE FORGER, UM, PREDATION.
UM, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT NUTRIENT CYCLING? UM, AND THEN THERE'S THE ACTUAL DIVERSITY OF ECOSYSTEMS THEMSELVES.
SO DOES AN AREA HAVE PRAIRIES, WETLANDS, RIPARIAN FOREST, OR IS IT ALL KIND OF ONE THING? UH, NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE GLOBALLY THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY INCLUDE HABITAT LOSS, OF COURSE, CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH IS WHAT, UH, THE COP 15 GROUP WAS LOOKING AT.
WILDLIFE, TRAFFIC, TRAFFICKING AND TRADE.
UM, THIS HAPPENS IN TEXAS, UH, POACHING.
PEOPLE GO OUT AND REMOVE, UM, ILLEGALLY CACTI AND OTHER RARE PLANTS FROM LAND SOMETIMES.
AND THEN POLLUTION AND TOXIC CHEMICALS.
ALRIGHT, SO THERE WERE THREE THEMES THAT CAME OUT OF THE 23 TARGETS.
UM, REDUCING THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY WAS THE FIRST THEME.
UM, AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE TARGETS WOULD BE RESTORE 30% OF ALL DEGRADED ECOSYSTEMS. UM, ANOTHER BUCKET WAS MEETING PEOPLE'S NEEDS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE USE AND BENEFIT SHARING.
AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS MANAGE WILD SPECIES SUSTAINABLY TO BENEFIT PEOPLE.
AND THESE ARE KIND OF PARAPHRASED.
AND THEN, UM, THE, THE FOURTH ONE IS TOOLS AND SOLUTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINSTREAMING.
SO THAT'S A, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE EN ENABLE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION CHOICES TO REDUCE WASTE AND OVER CONSUMPTION.
SO I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL 23, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE, IT'S AN INTERESTING READ IF YOU WANT.
UM, BASICALLY THE IDEA WAS LOOK AT THESE 23 TARGETS AND SEE IS AUSTIN DOING THESE TARGETS ALREADY? CAN WE DO THESE TARGETS IF WE'RE NOT, NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE RESOLUTION SAID, BASICALLY WHAT I JUST SAID, ANALYZE ELEMENTS OF THE GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK WITH THE GOAL OF ALIGNING EXISTING AND PROPOSED PLANS.
UM, THIS ACTIVITY WAS COMPLETED, UM, AND SUMMARIZED IN A MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WHICH I THINK HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SENT OUT TO Y'ALL, BUT IS ALSO IN THE BACKUP.
UM, AND YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE.
SO IN ORDER TO DO THE WORK, UM, UH, JESSICA AND AARON WOOD PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH WATERSHEDS PLANNING GROUP, UM, PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER.
THERE WERE FIVE PLANS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT COUNSEL SAID, LOOK AT THESE.
BUT THERE WERE ADDITIONALLY NINE OTHER PLANS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AND, AND BROUGHT INTO THE ANALYSIS, UM, BASED ON THEIR, THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF, UH, ALL THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.
AND, UM, AI WAS JUST BECOMING A, A THING THAT, UH, PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO USE.
UM, BACK THEN IT WAS RELATIVELY NEW, OF COURSE, THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE, UM, RAPIDLY CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES, SO IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT NOW.
BUT, UM, THEY, UH, DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, TO USE A PILOT PROJECT TO USE BEING AI TO RUN THE TARGETS THROUGH, UM, BEING AI AS LONG AS WELL AS THE PLANS, AND THEN HAVE HUMANS, QA AND QC, UM, THE RESULTS.
UM, SO PEOPLE FROM GIS, UH, WILL'S TEAM, UM, OUR DATA ANALYSIS DECISION SUPPORT TEAMS WORKED TOGETHER, UM, WITH THE PLANNERS TO EVALUATE, UM, ALL THE, THE, THE PLANS.
UM, THE AI SEARCH WAS CROSSCHECKED WITH HUMAN, UM, CENTERED QA, QCE.
SO THERE WAS ALWAYS A PERSON LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WEREN'T, UM,
[01:25:01]
IT WASN'T HALLUCINATING TOO BADLY, AND THAT THEY, IT ACTUALLY CAUGHT THE, THE, THE WORDS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, AND THAT THE WORDS REALLY MEANT WHAT THE, UM, THE, THE, THE, WHAT THE INTENT OF THE TARGETS WERE.AND SO THERE WERE 299 TOTAL COMBINATIONS OF TARGETS AND PLANS SEARCHED.
UM, THEY, THE QA QC FOUND LIKE OUT OF 30 RANDOMLY SELECTED COMBINATIONS.
IT WAS CORRECT 16 TIMES, PARTIALLY CORRECT, 11 TIMES AND OH, LIKE FLAT OUT WRONG THREE TIMES.
SO IT HAD A PRETTY GOOD RESULTS.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT ALL BIODIVERSITY TARGETS WERE REFERENCED IN SOME WAY IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE CITY PLANS THAT WERE EVALUATED.
UM, THE UN TARGETS WITH THE LEASE CORRELATION WITH EXISTING PLANS ARE, UM, MAY HAVE ELEMENTS THAT ARE BEYOND THE ZONE OF CONTROL FOR CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND THEY HAVE LIKE A, A DIFFERENT, THE WAY THEY CENTER EQUITY IN THE COP 15 FRAMEWORK IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
CITY OF AUSTIN LEADS WITH RACE WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY.
AND THE, THE FRAMEWORK WAS REALLY TARGETING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND WOMEN.
SO THE WAY, YOU KNOW THINGS, UH, WE HAD TO LOOK AT THE MORE OR LESS THE INTENT OF, OF WHAT WAS BEING ASKED.
UM, NOT NECESSARILY THE, UH, SPECIFIC WORDS.
UM, SO IN THE MEMO THERE WERE, UM, IDENTIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO ONE OF THOSE WAS THAT WATERSHED AND THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY WHERE WILL, UM, SHARE THE CROSS COMPARISON WITH, UM, THE DIRECTORS AND THOSE WHO OWN THE PLANS THAT WE LOOKED AT.
AND SO THAT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED OUT TO THE DIRECTORS AND WILL'S GOING THROUGH AND MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WHO OWN THE PLANS ARE, ARE, ARE AWARE OF THIS SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THESE, UM, TARGETS ARE OUT THERE AND THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE CONSIDERING BIODIVERSITY.
AND THE, THE, THE TARGETS IN THE FUTURE, UM, EQUITY OFFICE SHOULD BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAN UPDATES, UM, WITH A LENS ON RACIAL EQUITY, UM, AND A FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, LOCAL COMMUNITY, GENDER RESPONSIVE PRACTICES, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND PEOPLE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS.
UM, WHEN, WHENEVER THE EQUITY OFFICER FEELS THAT IT'S, UH, IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO DO SO, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER WERE, WILL ESTABLISH A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP, WHICH, UM, IS IN PROCESS WITH A, A RELATED GROUP THAT'S LOOKING AT ENDANGERED SPECIES.
AND, UM, CITY SCIENTISTS SHOULD EXPLORE OPTIONS LIKE STATISTICAL MODELING, REMOTE SENSING, AND EDNA.
SO ENVIRONMENTAL, DNA, UM, METHODS TO DEVELOP CITYWIDE BIODIVERSITY MONITORING METHODS.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING, UM, EVALUATED.
AND I SHOULD ALSO SAY THIS WAS, UM, ORIGINALLY DONE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PREVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER KATIE CO.
UM, SO THANKS TO HER LEADERSHIP.
AND THEN THIS IS THE, UH, THE PIONEERING, UH, AI TEAM, UM, REPRESENTING FOLKS FROM OUR GIS, OUR DATA ANALYSTS, ANALYTICS, AND OUR PLANNING TEAM.
SO WELL DONE TO ALL THOSE FOLKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
LET'S OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS FROM REMOTE COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER BRIMER, UH, THERE'S THE BUTTON.
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE, UH, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
CHAIR COFER, NO QUESTIONS EITHER, AND THIS IS FASCINATING.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KRUEGER.
SIERRA, NO QUESTIONS, BUT YEAH, REALLY INTERESTING.
THANK YOU, MR. SOMETHING, UM, ONE THING THAT POPS INTO MY HEAD IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, UH, INEFFECTIVE BIODIVERSITY WHEN WE HAVE INVASIVE SPECIES.
AND SO IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.
IT HAS TO BE NATURAL, LOCAL, INDIGENOUS SPECIES.
THERE COULD BE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT INVASIVE, IT MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE A CREPE MYRTLE DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T DO A WHOLE LOT FOR POLLINATORS, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, UM, YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT IS DEFINITELY TRUE AND A LOT OF THE PLANS AND, UM, OUR POLICIES IN WATERSHED REALLY FOCUS ON, UM, NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE, UM, NATIVE TO THE ECO REGION.
RIGHT? SO, GOOD POINT BEING ONTO THAT.
ONE OF THE UN BIODIVERSITY TARGETS DOES FOCUS ON INVASIVE SPECIES.
AND SO WE INCLUDED THE CITY'S INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN AS PART OF THE EVALUATION,
[01:30:01]
BUT INVASIVE SPECIES ARE MENTIONED IN OTHER PLANS AS WELL.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[3. Revisit a recommendation on an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 related to development regulations applicable to residential re-subdivisions and multi-family residential site development of five to sixteen units (Site Plan Lite, Phase 2 & Infill Plats) – Presented by Matt Hollon, Watershed Protection, requested by Environmental Commissioner Jennifer Bristol and Hanna Cofer]
OKAY, UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER THREE.UM, REVISIT A RECOMMENDATION ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE 25 RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT REGULATION APPLICABLE TO RESIDENTIAL RE SUBDIVISIONS AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT OF FIVE TO 16 UNITS.
SITE PLAN, LIGHT FACE, OH, SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING.
OH, UM, SITE PLAN LIGHT PHASE TWO.
AND IN, UH, INFILL PLATS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRE.
I WORK WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION AND I'LL BE GUIDING YOU THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION.
IT IS A BIT TEXT HEAVY AND WONKY, AND I MADE THE FATAL ERROR OF ANIMATING THE BULLETS.
AND SO I'M GONNA DO SOME KIND OF, UH, SOME SORT OF WACKY SIGNAL TO MY FRIEND OVER THERE FROM CTM.
AND SO, UM, ANYWAY, SO BEAR WITH ME ON THAT.
UM, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH THIS TOPIC.
IT'S PRETTY, I WENT AHEAD AND KIND OF MAYBE WENT OVERBOARD WITH THE DETAIL 'CAUSE I FIGURED YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO DIVE IN AND WANTED TO SHARE THAT AS WITH YOU.
AND I'LL BE VERY HAPPY TO, UH, DIVE IN FOR QUESTIONS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW STAFF HERE IN ADDITION TO ME TO HELP ANSWER OTHER DETAILED QUESTIONS THAT I CAN'T FIELD MYSELF.
WE'VE GOT KEVIN SCHUNK, OUR FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR, UH, RAMESH SCHWA, NATHAN, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH WATERSHED AND, AND KEITH MARS.
UM, AND OF COURSE LIZ HERE MIGHT CALL HER INTO ACTION.
AND THEN LINDY GARWOOD IS ALSO ONLINE AND CAN ANSWER IT FROM THE DSD AND CAN ANSWER, UM, DETAILED QUESTIONS ON THE, IF YOU HAVE 'EM, ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.
I WASN'T REALLY GONNA FOCUS AS MUCH ON THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.
IT'S REALLY A PRETTY SIMPLE THREE PART DEAL.
YOU GUYS LOOKED AT THIS BACK IN MAY 1ST.
I THINK THERE ACTUALLY WAS SOME FRUSTRATION AT THE TIME THAT IT WASN'T AS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS YOU, UH, EXPRESSED IN THAT MEETING.
UH, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THAT ONE, BUT THE BASICS ARE SAME.
UM, WE, UM, WE, THERE WASN'T, THERE WASN'T AN ADDED SMALL PROJECT, UM, SECTION IN THERE.
THERE'S A SECTION OF CODE THAT TREATS WHAT'S CONSIDERED A SMALL PROJECT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN A, UM, THAN A LARGER PROJECT IN TERMS OF THE, THE LEVEL OF REVIEW.
UM, THERE'S ALSO, AND THAT THE MAIN, MAIN MAIN, THERE WAS ALSO A SECTION ON IMPERVIOUS COVER ASSUMPTIONS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO FIELD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY.
I THINK THAT'S, UM, WE DID GET SOME QUESTIONS ONLINE AND FROM, FROM, FROM, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND, AND THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO TREAT, UH, TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT IF WE NEED TO.
BUT THE BULK OF IT, THE BIGGEST THING, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, THE REASON WE'RE HERE, IS TO TALK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE, UH, PART OF IT WITH, WITH, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE, UH, DETENTION.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL FIGURE OUT THIS BULLET THING.
UM, SO THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO START WITH IS COUNCIL DIRECTION.
UM, THEY ARE EXTREMELY FOCUSED ON HOUSING AND, AND, AND REMOVING BARRIERS, UH, TO COST COMPLEXITY, ET CETERA, FOR, FOR HOUSING PROJECTS.
UM, AND SO THERE, THERE, THEY'VE, THEY'VE PASSED A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES, THIS COUNCIL, UM, ON, ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS. UM, AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TRACKING THESE TWO AS THEY COME THROUGH HOME ONE, HOME TWO.
UM, AND THERE WAS EVEN A, THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE, UM, LAST YEAR, UH, CALLED SITE PLAN LIGHT PART ONE.
THESE ARE NOT CATCHY NAMES, UH, ANY OF THESE IN FULL PLAT ORDINANCE SITE PLAN LIGHT.
BUT THE, THE, THE CONCEPTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO IN SITE PLAN LIGHT PART ONE, YOU TAKE A SITE PLAN, WHICH IS A PRETTY HEAVY DUTY INSTRUMENT WITH A LOT OF BIG, A LONG LIST OF BULLETS OF, OF CHECKLISTS, OF THINGS THAT YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH IF YOU'RE GONNA GET THIS THING PERMITTED.
UM, AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THERE'S ANOTHER SIMPLER PROCESS CALLED THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS.
LET'S ALLOW PROJECTS WITH UP TO FOUR UNITS TO USE THE BUILDING PRO, UH, BUILDING PERMITTING PROCESS ONLY.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PASSED BY COUNCIL.
SO PROJECTS NOW THAT ONLY PROPOSE FOUR NEW UNITS ON ONE PROPERTY CAN USE THAT ALREADY.
THAT WAS PASSED LAST, I THINK LAST YEAR.
I COULD GET THE DATE FOR YOU GUYS IF YOU NEED IT.
UM, BUT SO TODAY'S CONVERSATION'S ABOUT FIVE TO 16 UNITS, PROJECTS WITH SITE PLANS, SITE PLAN LIGHT, UM, AND THEN ALSO THE INFILL PLAT ORDINANCE.
AND SO, UM, AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL DESCRIBE ALL THESE IN, IN SOME, IN SOME DETAIL.
SO THOSE ARE THE, THE THREE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES ARE BUILDING PERMITS, WHICH ARE SMALL SCALE.
AND THEN THE OTHER TWO BIGGER ONES ARE SITE PLANS AND SUBDIVISION, UM, SUBDIVISION, UM, UH, PLANS.
UM, AND THEN ON THE NON ZONING REQUIREMENTS, COUNSEL SPECIFICALLY SAID, WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS BEYOND ZONING THAT AFFECT THESE PROJECTS.
AND SO WE, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY, MANY OF THESE WE'RE HEARING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ARE, UH, BARRIERS AT THIS SMALL SCALE.
[01:35:01]
AND WE WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THOSE.AND SO, UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE I WORK FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE, ONE KEY COMPONENT, WHICH IS THAT OF, OF, UH, OF DRAINAGE AND, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY OF FLOOD DETENTION.
UH, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT BULLET.
UM, I'M GONNA ASK THE QUESTION.
UM, OKAY, SO YOU HAVE, EVERYTHING IS, THAT'S AS BIG AS HIGHLAND MALL OR SOMETHING GIGANTIC WITH MANY, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF ACRES ALL THE WAY DOWN ON A CONTINUUM, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE VERY SMALLEST PROJECT.
SO WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A VERY, AND NOW, YOU KNOW, WITH HOME TWO BEING PASSED, THAT'S AN ORDINANCE, UH, TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 1800 SQUARE FEET.
SO THAT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL PROJECT.
WE'VE NEVER, EVER HAD A PROJECT IN OTHER THAN SOME VERY UNUSUAL, UM, VARIANCE OR SOMETHING.
WE HAVEN'T EVER HAD PROJECTS THAT SUBDIVIDED PIECES DOWN INTO THAT SMALL OF A LEVEL.
AND SO, UM, SO THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S CREATED A NEED, WE THINK, UH, TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS AND SAY, DO WE NEED THE SAME THING THAT'S LOOKING AT A HIGHLAND MALL OR EVEN JUST A MEDIUM OR KIND OF MEDIUM, MEDIUM TO SMALL PROJECT VERSUS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY TINY.
UM, AND SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PUT ON A COUPLE MORE.
SO ON, ON FLOOD DETENTION, I'M GONNA GONNA DESCRIBE WHAT FLOOD DETENTION IS, UM, HOW IT'S IMPORTANT AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO USE IT.
AND WE, UH, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, PLANS ON CHANGING FLOOD DETENTION FOR, UH, OTHER THAN FOR THIS VERY SMALLEST CATEGORY, MANY OF WHICH ARE BRAND NEW, UM, EVEN SMALLER THAN WAS EVEN LITERALLY POSSIBLE, UH, PRIOR TO HOME ONE AND HOME TWO.
UM, AND THEN I'LL GO THROUGH IN SOME DETAIL THE DRAINAGE, THE ORDINANCES DRAINAGE PROPOSAL, WHICH IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE, OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND THEN THERE'S A FEW DRAINAGE CRITERIA, MANUAL AMENDMENTS THAT STAFF IS GONNA RECOMMEND THAT ARE SORT OF COMPLIMENTARY AND HELPFUL ALONG THE SAME SPIRIT AS WHAT THE COUNCIL IS ASKING US TO DO.
'CAUSE THEY'RE SAYING, LOOK, THIS IS COMPLICATED, THIS IS EXPENSIVE.
UM, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE HANDLE THIS IN A WAY THAT'S NOT GONNA COMPROMISE, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND DRAINAGE OUTCOMES? AND THEN THE, AND LAST BULLET OR TWO I THINK IS SOMETHING LIKE CONCLUSION AND QUESTIONS.
YOU CAN GO IN THERE, SUMMARY QUESTIONS.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT, NEXT SLIDE.
UM, SO THE COUNCIL DIRECTION, UH, THEY, THERE'S TWO PARTS.
ONE OF 'EM IS INFILL PLAT AND THE OTHER ONE IS SITE PLAN LIGHT.
AND THEY BASICALLY WANT TO STREAMLINE THESE VERY, THESE SMALL HOUSING, UH, UH, UH, UH, PROCESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY KIND OF CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT, OF, OF ONE PROCESS, WHICH IS A BUILDING PERMIT, WHICH IS SUPER, SUPER NIMBLE AND SMALL AND HAS A PRETTY SHORT PUNCH LIST OF THINGS YOU GOTTA DO WITH THE VERY LONG PUNCH LIST OF THE SITE PLAN OR A, OR A SUBDIVISION.
UM, AND THEN THE NEXT, GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE NEXT ONE.
THESE ARE, THIS IS JUST SOME, UH, THIS WAS, A LOT OF THIS IS FOR BACKGROUND FOR YOU GUYS, SO WHEN YOU'RE READING THROUGH IT, YOU CAN KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHAT THE COUNCIL IS ASKING.
I WON'T GO THROUGH AND READ ALL THAT.
BASICALLY THEY'RE SAYING, PLEASE LOOK AT THESE NON ZONING ELEMENTS AND STREAMLINE THEM.
SO IN THIS ONE, UM, SO TO BUILD HOUSING OR REALLY ANY DEVELOPMENT, UH, BUT, BUT HOUSING SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S THE FOCUS.
UM, WE'VE GOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS WHERE YOU CREATE SMALLER LOTS.
UM, YOU HAVE SITE PLANS WHERE YOU BUILD A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT, WHICH COULD BE GIGANTIC 500 OR 800 UNITS, BUT IT COULD BE ONLY FIVE UNITS OR SIX UNITS, ET CETERA.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD TRIGGER A SITE PLAN.
AND THEN THE BUILDING PERMIT IS THE, IS THE PERMIT YOU GET IN ORDER TO BUILD ONE HOME ON A INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL, UM, PLATTED LOT THAT YOU WOULD, YOU, UH, PLAT FROM SUBDIVISION.
LET'S GO IN THE NEXT BULLET OR TWO, UH, TALKS ABOUT, UM, UM, LET'S SEE.
UM, SO I'LL, I'LL GET TO THIS.
UM, SO BUILDING PERMITS ARE REALLY, I, WE, WE, WE, I, I WAS, UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO GET DATA.
I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T HAVE IT TODAY YET.
I'M, I'M, I'M WORKING WITH OUR STAFF.
IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, GONNA CRUNCH SOME NUMBERS IN OUR DATABASE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THESE PROCESSED EVERY YEAR.
THERE'S A, HE HECK OF A LOT OF BUILDING PERMITS, GET, GET, GET SUBMITTED AND BUILT AND SO FORTH.
AND THIS IS JUST A CLASSIC WAY YOU BUILD A HOUSE OR IN THE, IN THE CASE OF HOME ONE, YOU COULD BUILD TWO HOUSES OR THREE HOUSES ON, ON, ON ONE LOT, AND YOU CAN USE A BUILDING PERMIT.
AND AGAIN, SITE PLAN LIGHT PART ONE, NOT TODAY'S DISCUSSION, YOU CAN BUILD FOUR LOTS ON, UH, BUT YOU WOULD NEED A DIFFERENT ZONING THAN YOU WOULD USE FOR THE, UM, HOME ONE ORDINANCE.
UM, AND LET'S GO TO THE NEXT BULLET OR TWO.
UM, AND SO PRETTY MUCH SMALL SCALE PROJECTS, THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS, HENCE THE, THE SMALLER PUNCH LIST.
UM, HOME ONE WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THREE ZONING TYPES, WHICH ACTUALLY ADDED UP TO SOMETHING LIKE 150, 50,000, SOMETHING LOTS, UH, THEIR ZONE, SF ONE, SF TWO, AND SF THREE, THOSE ARE THE ZONING CATEGORIES.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER
[01:40:01]
MAXIMUM.AND WE ARE, THIS, THIS NEW ORDINANCE IS NOT PROPOSING ANY SORT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER CHANGE.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE THEMES HERE.
WE'RE WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, AND, AND I I I, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY THE SAME CONCERNS AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
LIKE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE? ARE WE GONNA HAVE MORE RUNOFF, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE, UH, ISSUES WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
WE ARE, THE, THE, THE TYPES OF PROJECTS WE'RE SEEING WITH BUILDING PERMITS NOW ARE COMING IN PRETTY MUCH ALMOST STILL EXACTLY AT 45.
EVERY TIME THEY'RE GONNA MAX OUT, THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO, YOU KNOW, LAND'S EXPENSIVE.
THE PROJECTS ARE EXPENSIVE, AND SO THEY'RE GONNA USUALLY, UH, WE'RE TYPICALLY SEEING SOMETHING IN THE 40, 40, 44, 40 5%, UM, AND PERVS COVER RANGE.
UM, UM, AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THESE, UM, THESE HOME TWO OR SITE PLAN PROJECTS, WE WANNA BE COMPARING IT TO THAT.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT COUPLE, COUPLE, GO AND STICK ON THE NEXT BULLET OR TWO.
UM, SO THERE ARE SOME DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS WITH A BUILDING PERMIT.
THEY'RE LOW KEY, UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE, THEY ARE IN ON THE BOOKS AND THEY HAVE TO DO WITH GETTING WATER AROUND AWAY FROM YOUR FOUNDATION AND BUILDING IT CORRECTLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, RESISTING FLOOD FLOWS AND VARIOUS THINGS THAT YOU DO THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE BUILDING CODE.
AND THERE'RE EVEN, THERE'RE EVEN, UH, PROVISIONS IN THE PLUMBING CODE.
TEXAS STATE LAW SAYS YOU CANNOT REDIRECT DRAINAGE AND FLOOD A NEIGHBOR.
AND SO YOU END UP WITH, UH, PRIVATE CASES BETWEEN NEIGHBORS WHERE SOMEBODY SAYS, HEY, YOU PUT IN A BIG PROJECT AND REDIRECTED WATER.
IT USED TO KIND OF GO, OH, WE'RE THERE AND NOW YOU'RE MAKING IT GO INTO MY YARD, UH, IN MY HOUSE EVEN.
AND SO THAT IS, UH, TEXAS STATE LAW HAS LONG SAID THAT IS NOT OKAY.
AND SO WE LIKE, PRETTY MUCH EVERY CITY IN TEXAS RELY ON THAT FOR THESE VERY SMALLEST SCALE PROJECTS.
THERE'S A TINY HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T THAT GO BEYOND THAT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE USE.
UM, AND THEN THE, UM, AND SO IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF RIGOR THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOR A BIGGER PROJECT, BUT I THINK WE THINK STAFF THINK, SO THAT'S APPROPRIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA WANNA RAMP UP THE REQUIREMENTS AS THE PROJECTS GET BIGGER AND HAVE MORE IMPACTS ON THEIR NEIGHBORS AND POTENTIALLY ON THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND POTENTIALLY ON THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND EVEN ON THE FLOODPLAIN, UH, NETWORK DOWN BELOW IT.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
YEAH, GO AND PUT ON A COUPLE OF THESE ON THERE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, SO IT, UM, RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS BASICALLY CREATE THE LOTS.
UM, YOU CAN BUILD ONE TO THREE HOMES ON THEM.
UM, TRADITIONALLY, LIKE WHEN YOU THINK OF A SUBDIVISION, YOU'RE NOT THINKING, OH, SOMEBODY'S TAKING ONE LOT FROM THE OLD DAYS AND MAKING THREE OUT OF IT.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S A BRAND NEW, THAT'S HOME TWO.
UM, MOST OF THESE IN THE, HISTORICALLY WHEN THESE, WHEN THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS WERE, WERE BEING BUILT IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES AND AND NINETIES, THESE PROJECTS WERE PRETTY BIG.
AUSTIN HAD QUITE A BIT OF GREENFIELD AREA AND PEOPLE WERE PUTTING IN THESE NEW SUBDIVISIONS.
NOW THOSE AREAS ARE MORE LIMITED AND THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS WANNA LIVE IN THE, IN, IN THE, IN THE CENTER CORE.
THEY WANT TO BE CLOSER TO THE ACTION.
THEY WANNA BE CLOSER TO THEIR JOBS, THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR, THEIR, UH, THINGS THEY VALUE, AND SO THEY WANT, SO WE'RE GETTING MORE INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
AND THERE'S, AND THAT'S WHAT HOME WANTED TO, AND THE SITE PLAN LIGHT ARE, ARE TRYING TO DO IS HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE THIS, UM, NEW, THIS NEW HOUSING DEMAND, UM, IN A WAY THAT AVOIDS SPRAWL AND, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS.
THAT LONGER CONVERSATION, NOT, NOT TODAY'S CONVERSATION FOR NOW AT LEAST.
UM, SO WE HAVE THIS PROCESS THAT'S BUILT FOR THESE BIG SUBDIVISIONS, UM, BIG SUBDIVISIONS BUILD NOT JUST LOTS.
THEY ACTUALLY BUILD THE, THEY PLOT, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY LAY OUT THE ROADS AND THEY LAY OUT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT GOES IN.
WHEN A, WHEN A SUBDIVISION GOES IN INFILL PLATS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO ANY OF THAT STUFF.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SO SMALL THAT THEY'RE JUST THEIR OWN LITTLE ISLAND NEXT TO THE ROAD.
THAT LONG AGO WAS PROBABLY PLATTED.
UM, AND, UM, AND, AND, AND A LARGE SCALE SUBDIVISION NEEDS TO HAVE, WE, WE, WE IN AUSTIN, UH, HAVE, I, I'M, UM, I'M ACTUALLY DOING SOME BENCHMARKING OF OTHER COMMUNITIES NOW, WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING.
I'M, I'M WILLING TO, I'M WILLING TO PUT AUSTIN UP THERE WITH MOST DATING OTHER TEXAS CITY ON, ON TERMS OF OUR RIGOR ON HOW WE HANDLE SUBDIVISIONS.
UM, MOST OTHER CITIES DON'T ACTUALLY EVEN DO WATER QUALITY CONTROLS AT ALL.
WE, WE ALSO DO, UM, FLOOD DETENTION, OF COURSE, SOME OF THESE.
AND SO IN BENCHMARKING SOME OTHER TEXAS CITIES, MOST OF THEM, UH, ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE, UH, WHAT WE DO.
AND THEN IN THE PROPOSAL, WHEN WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME NEW, NEW GUIDELINES FOR THIS, WE'RE STILL GONNA BE MORE RIGOROUS THAN THE OTHER, UM, THAN SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, HOUSTON.
AND I'M, I HAVEN'T REACHED FORT WORTH YET, BUT I'M GONNA BE, UM, INVESTIGATING THAT, HOPEFULLY PRE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, AND THEN, UH, YEAH, SO THESE REGULATIONS REALLY WORK WELL AND ARE NEEDED FOR A LARGE PROJECT.
UM, YEAH, SO IF YOU CLICK ONCE, IT'S GONNA SEW JUST A LOT.
AND THE, THE POINT WAS GONNA BE, YEAH, CLICK ONCE AND IT'S GONNA HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE YELLOW LOT.
AND SO THAT, THAT JUST SHOWS IT'S CREATING LOTS
[01:45:01]
HERE.AND CLICK ONE MORE TIME AND IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA, AND THIS PARTICULAR ACTUALLY ZOOMED IN AND LOOKED AT THE SUBDIVISION, AND IT ACTUALLY, EACH OF THESE LOTS IS ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF AN ACRE, UM, IN JUST HAPPENSTANCE.
AND SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN A LITTLE WHILE WHEN I PULL UP THE PROPOSAL THAT IT'S GONNA HAVE A QUARTER ACRE IS ONE OF THE THINGS.
SO THE, THIS SCALE, THAT SIZE IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, IN OUR DETENTION ONE, IT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IN OUR DETENTION.
I WANTED TO, I WANT TO KIND OF FOCUS ON IT SO YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE INTO CONTEXT.
AND IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, LET'S GO, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
UM, SORRY FOR THE, THE PRIMER ON THIS, BUT IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE ARE.
UM, SO THIS, THIS TAKES A, A LOT THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
IT'S IN, IN THIS CASE, FOR LITTLE MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA HAVE MF ONE OR MF TWO ZONING.
LINDY GARWOOD KNOWS, YOU KNOW, 10 TIMES MORE THAN I DO ABOUT THIS TOPIC, BUT WE CAN GET HER ON THE LINE IF WE NEED TO ASK MORE DETAIL THERE.
THOSE HAVE ABOUT 60, 65% IMPERVIOUS, NOT ABOUT, THEY HAVE EITHER 60 OR 65% LIMITS RESPECTIVELY ON THEM IN TERMS OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE INTENSIVE PROJECT, A LITTLE MORE, UM, A LITTLE MORE IMPACT ON WATERSHEDS.
UM, AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE AS WELL.
UM, AND SO THE, UH, LET'S SEE.
AND THEY HAVE A REALLY SIMILAR SET OF PUNCH.
THE PUNCH LIST LOOKS REALLY SIMILAR TO A, UH, SUBDIVISION IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU HAVE WATER QUALITY CONTROLS, YOU GOTTA HAVE FLOOD DETENTION, YOU GOTTA, UH, DRAINAGE STUDIES, ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT BULLET OR TWO.
UH, SO WE HAVE DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING STORM DRAIN ANALYSIS AND DETENTION.
AND IT WORKS BEST FOR, UH, LARGE SUBDIVISIONS.
AND SO, UM, THIS, NOBODY, NOBODY SAT DOWN AND SAID, OH, I'M GONNA BUILD A FIVEPLEX AND CAME UP WITH THIS GIANT LIST OF THINGS YOU NEED TO DO WITH THE FIVEPLEX.
AND WE'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN A SECOND THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN, WE CAN RIGHTSIZE THE, THE DETENTION REQUIREMENTS A LITTLE BIT, UM, WITH THAT.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
IF, IF, IF YOU PULLED UP MORE EXAMPLES OF MISSING MIDDLE, IT WOULD, THERE'D BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS, BUT YOU'RE BASICALLY BUILDING, YOU KNOW, 5, 6, 7 UNITS AND, AND YOU'D HAVE MULTIPLE BUILDINGS OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING THING GENERALLY, ALTHOUGH SOME, A FEW OF THEM DO EXIST SIDE BY SIDE, LIKE IN HY LIKE IN HYDE PARK IN SOME OTHER AREAS.
AND, AND, UM, UM, WHAT WAS IT? UH, ANYWAY, I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF, RIGHT? LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
SO COUNCIL SAYS, HEY, LOOK AT NON ZONING DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO HOUSING AND, AND MAKING THINGS MORE COMPLICATED AND MORE COSTLY.
DO IS, IS THE, IS THE, IS THE SCALE OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR MATCHING THE SMALL SCALE OF THESE PROJECTS.
UM, AND NOT ALL OF THESE ARE CODE THINGS.
AND SO WHEN I COME UP AND SAY, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE INFILL PLAT ORDINANCE AND THE SITE POINT LIGHT PART TWO ORDINANCE, THOSE ARE ORDINANCES.
THERE'S A COMPANION PIECE, THE CRITERIA MANUALS THAT KIND OF TELL YOU HOW TO CARRY OUT THE CODE.
THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON, ON, THEY, THEY REALLY GUIDE YOU THROUGH DEVELOPMENT.
SO I CAN'T, I CAN'T CHANGE CRITERIA IN THE ORDINANCE, ALTHOUGH WE CAN, WE, IT CAN CASCADE AND DO THAT.
AND WE ACTUALLY DID IDENTIFY A FEW THINGS WE THINK COULD BE TWEAKED IN THE CRITERIA MANUAL AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE DID GET SOME COMMENTS FROM THE, FROM THE INFILL PLAT, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, FROM THE INFILL, UH, COALITION, AUSTIN INFILL COALITION FOLKS.
THEY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE EXPECTED THIS AND IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION.
WE, WE HAVE SOME FOLKS SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH.
THIS IS STILL GONNA BE WAY TOO HARD TO BUILD THESE THINGS.
NONE OF THEM GONNA GET BUILT THAT YOU HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH.
AND THEN FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY AND SOME THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKS LIKE, HEY, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GONNA CAUSE SOME ISSUES.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE WHAT, YOU KNOW, SO I'M WANTING TO DESCRIBE WHAT THIS IS AND HOW, WHAT KIND OF IMPACTS WE THINK IT HAS SO THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
UM, AND SO IT IS, UH, LET'S SEE.
UM, SO WHY DETENTION? WELL, DETENTION IS IN THE CODE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF, IT'S A LITTLE BIT BURIED ACTUALLY.
IF YOU GOOGLE, IF YOU SEARCHED FOR DETENTION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D EVEN FIND IT IN THE CODE, BUT THERE'S A, THERE IS A, IN THE DRAINAGE CHAPTER OF THE CODE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT NO ADVERSE IMPACT.
AND YOU USE, AND YOU DON'T WANT, DON'T WANT, YOU WANT, DON'T WANT ADVERSE FLOODING IMPACTS.
AND SO TO GET THERE, UM, PROJECTS SINCE 1974 HAVE USED, UM, HAVE USED, UH, UH, DETENTION PONDS AS ONE KEY TOOL.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, SO YEAH, IF YOU'VE GOT A BUILDING PERMIT PRETTY FAST AND UNCOMPLICATED, YOU DON'T HAVE DETENTION, UH, IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT AT THAT LEVEL.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T HOLD A PROJECT THAT'S THAT SMALL IN ONE HOUSE AND HISTORICALLY, AND NOW IT'S GONNA BE MAYBE TWO HOUSES OR MAYBE THREE HOUSES, BUT THERE'S STILL THE EXACT SAME FOOTPRINT.
THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE IN A HOME ONE,
[01:50:01]
TWO UNIT OR THREE UNIT PROJECT THAN YOU HAD IN THE OLD DAYS.'CAUSE YOU WOULD JUST HAVE ONE PRETTY BIG HOUSE.
UH, TYPICALLY A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAD ONE OF OUR, UH, DEVELOPER, UH, STAKEHOLDERS, UH, GAVE US SOME INFORMATION ABOUT ONE OF HIS PROJECTS.
SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PRETTY, IT WAS RELEVANT.
I ACTUALLY CHECKED IT AGAINST SOME OTHER INFORMATION THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS, IT WAS ON TRACK PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WITHIN RIGHT, THE, IN THE BALLPARK.
AND SO A BUILDING PRIME, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA COST.
SO YOU WANNA BUILD ONE HOUSE OR TWO HOUSES, OR THREE HOUSES IN YOUR LOT.
IN THIS CASE, HE ACTUALLY WAS A THREE HOUSE DEAL.
SO HE'S LOOKING AT, HE'S GOT A PIECE OF LAND, I WANNA DEVELOP IT WITH THREE HOMES, UH, THREE UNITS.
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE ABOUT A ONE TO TWO MONTH PROCESS.
HE, THIS GUY APPARENTLY HAD DONE MANY, MANY, MANY OF THESE PROJECTS.
AND THEN IT WOULD COST HIM APPROXIMATELY $30,000 TO DO THE PERMITTING, GET TO THE PERMITTING, AND THEN START, UH, YOU KNOW, KICK OFF THE, THE, THE, THE PROJECT, GET IT START BUILDING.
IF HE DID THE SAME PROJECT, SAME THREE UNITS, BUT SUBDIVIDED 'EM KICKS IN ALL THE BIG LONG LIST AND IT TAKES HIM ONE TO TWO YEARS AND PROBABLY 350,000 BUCKS OR SOMETHING IN THAT RANGE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, AND THEN, SO THESE FOLKS ARE TALKING TO COUNCIL AND TALKING AND SAYING, LOOK, THERE'S A MISMATCH HERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON? WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THIS.
WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, MAKE IT SO SOMEBODY COULD OWN A SMALLER PIECE OF LAND IN A SMALL HOME.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAKE THOSE, UH, A LITTLE MORE SIMILAR? AND SO WE, WE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT OUR DETENTION REQUIREMENTS 'CAUSE THIS IS THAT, THAT PART OF THE THREE 50 IS THE DETENTION.
UM, IN FACT, AND, AND THIS IS ONE CASE.
AND SO I DON'T WANNA OVER, I DON'T WANNA OVER RELY ON THIS ONE THING, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS GET THE POINT THAT TAKES A LOT LONGER AND IT COSTS MORE MONEY.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT BULLET AFTER THAT.
SO DETENTION WAS A BIG, BIG, IT WASN'T THE ONLY ONE, BUT IT WAS, AND, AND, AND, AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S KEY.
UH, SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE REALLY WORRIED.
AND I, AND I WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, I USED TO BE ON PRIVATE SIDE TOO.
I'D BE GOING, HEY, HOW ABOUT WATER QUALITY? WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME PEOPLE SAY, HEY, WE'RE THESE GUYS ARE DOING AWAY WITH DETENTION AND WATER QUALITY.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE, THIS CODE PROPOSAL THAT SAYS WE ARE GONNA CHANGE IN ANY WAY OUR WATER QUALITY POND REQUIREMENTS.
SO THAT'S JUST A KEY THING THAT THAT TO, TO NOTE.
UM, THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONFUSING TOPIC WITH LOTS OF BO LOTS OF LEVERS AND STUFF.
SO, UM, SO THE COUNCIL IS SAYING, HEY, HOW DO WE MAKE THESE PROCESSES KIND OF SYNC UP MORE? AND, AND, AND, AND, AND IF, IF, IF A PROJECT IS, IT'S ALMOST VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL SIDE BY SIDE WITH BUILDING PERMANENT AND, UH, AND, AND SUBDIVISION, LET'S MAKE 'EM, YOU KNOW, LET'S TAKE AWAY SOME OF THAT COMPLEXITY IF IT'S NOT ADDING TO THE, UM, TO THE, TO THE VALUE, UM, OF THAT, OF THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, YEAH, GO AHEAD AND STICK TO THE POOL.
OKAY, SO, UM, I MENTIONED THE CONTINUUM ALL THE WAY FROM HUGE TO MEDIUM TO MAYBE EVEN SMALL, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WHAT I'M GONNA CALL TINY.
UM, ON, ON THESE, THESE PROJECTS ARE VERY SMALL.
UM, AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME, WE HAVE SOME CODE GUIDANCE ALREADY.
SO, SO THE QUESTION IS, WHEN DO YOU START? SO I I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M GONNA EXAGGERATE TOTALLY.
SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT IN A TINY SHED IN THEIR BACKYARD.
OKAY, WELL, I, THAT, THAT OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T TRIGGER ANY DE DETENTION OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT JUST FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTS AND EXPERIMENT, NOBODY'S GONNA ARGUE GO OUT.
I, I GOTTA DETAIN, PUT A LITTLE POND IN NEXT TO THE DETEN, MY, MY, MY, UM, SHED.
BUT THEN, SO WHERE AS YOU GET BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER, AT SOME POINT WE'RE GONNA GO, HEY, LOOK, I MEAN, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M A HUGE FAN.
I HELP IDENTIFY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF, FOR OUR DATABASE USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE OUT OF DATE AND, AND NOT VERY COMPLETE.
SO WE'VE MADE A HUGE EFFORT TO FIND OUT WHERE ARE ALL THESE DETENTION PONDS, WHERE ALL THE WATER QUALITY PONDS, WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SO OUR INSPECTORS CAN GO LOOK AT 'EM AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AND THEY'RE COOPERATING AS, AS, AS DESIGNED AND, AND TO PERFORM THEIR FUNCTION.
SO THEY'RE A BIG DEAL AND WE WANT THEM TO WORK AND TO BE THERE.
UM, SO, UM, HOWEVER, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR, OUR CONTENTION AS WE ARE DEFINITELY, AS WE'RE GETTING DOWN INTO THE HOME TWO TERRITORY.
AND EVEN IN SOME OF THE, UM, UH, INTO THE HOME TWO TERRITORY, WE'RE GETTING INTO THE POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURNS WHERE YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY HAS VERY LITTLE VALUE, COSTS A LOT FOR THE PROJECT, AND HAS A LOT OF COMPLEXITY.
AND IN PERPETUITY PUTS A DEMAND ON THE, UM, THE WHOEVER OWNS THE PROPERTY, WHETHER THAT'S THE RESIDENTIAL OWNER OR MAYBE IT'S A TINY APARTMENT COMPLEX OR SOMETHING THEY WOULD, OR CONDO OR WHATEVER THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD NEED TO, TO, UM, TO UH, MAINTAIN THAT.
UM, SO FLOOD DETENTION DOESN'T HAVE A LOWER LIMIT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW.
AND MAYBE WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING IT IF IT WERE IN THERE, BUT IT'S NOT IN THERE.
SO YOU MIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO, WE 8,000 SQUARE FEET WAS, WE STARTED WITH THAT ACTUALLY IN THE ORDINANCE WE BROUGHT IN MAY 1ST, 8,000 WAS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE TRIGGERS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, BUT IN LOOKING AT THIS, UM, THIS IS WONKY, BUT UM, UP TILL HOME TWO, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WAS THIS KIND OF STRANGE NUMBER OF 57 50 SQUARE FEET.
IT HAD BEEN IN THE, ON THE BOOKS FOR, GOSH, WHAT WAS IT?
[01:55:01]
UH, UM, SINCE, WHAT WAS IT, FORTIES? I, WELL, I THINK IT WAS WHEN JIM DUNCAN WAS, UH, THERE IN THE SEVENTIES.SO I THOUGHT, I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS, UM, ANYWAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER, RIGHT? IT'S BEEN AT LEAST 50 YEARS.
BUT ANYWAY, I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
GETTING SOME GOOD PEANUT GALLERY COMMENTS.
OKAY, SO IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
AND SO JUST BY DEFINITION, IF YOU'RE SUBDIVIDING SOMETHING, YOU TAKE ONE THING AND MAKE IT AT LEAST TWO.
AND SO IF YOU TOOK, UH, SO WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY SMALLEST SUBDIVISION YOU COULD POSSIBLY MAKE IN THE OLD DAYS? WELL, IT WOULD BE TWO OF THE SMALLEST THINGS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, SO THE, THE 57, 50 TIMES TWO.
SO YOU COME UP WITH THIS NUMBER OF, OF 11, 11,500 SQUARE FEET, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE ABOUT 0.26 ACRES IN SIZE, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT, UH, YEAH.
AND SO THAT'S THE SMALLEST YOU COULD EVEN DO.
AND SO WE LITERALLY DIDN'T, I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SOME COTTAGE CORE THINGS AND WHATNOT THAT ARE A LITTLE WONKY.
AND I DON'T WANT, I DON'T, BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THOSE.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A WAY, WAY MORE OF THE, OF THE 50 SOME 50 AND UP, UH, FLAVOR.
BY, BY, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE LIKE A ROUNDING ERROR OF THE OTHER ONES.
SO, UM, YEAH, SO, SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M GONNA GO TO THE QUARTER ACRE, WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING WE'VE NEVER ASKED ANYBODY TO DO DETENTION FOR A SUBDIVISION BELOW A QUARTER OF AN ACRE.
'CAUSE NOBODY COULD EVEN DO THAT.
IT WAS SO SMALL THAT IT WASN'T EVEN POSSIBLE IN THE OLD DAYS, PRE HOME TWO.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, AND, AND ANYTIME YOU DO A SUBDIVISION KICKS IN THE LONG LIST, OKAY? SO THIS IS JUST A RANDOM, UH, HOME.
AND IF YOU CLICK THE NEXT SLIDE AND, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT, UM, AND I, I KIND OF REGRETTED THAT LABEL OF IMPERVIOUS COVER 'CAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID THAT'S NOT ONLY IMPERVIOUS COVER, THEY DIDN'T DO THE DRIVEWAYS AND THE PATIOS.
OKAY? SO IGNORE THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT PERFECT.
BUT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT THIS PERSON WHO'S GOT KIND OF MAYBE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL HOMES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, IS SURROUNDED BY PROJECTS THAT USING BUILDING PERMITS HAVE MAXED OUT AT 45%.
THAT'S THE RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS FROM THOSE.
WE, EVERY NOW AND THEN WE DO, BUT ON AVERAGE IT'S PRETTY LOW, UM, PERCENTAGE.
BUT HERE, THESE FOLKS AROUND THERE ARE ALREADY BUILDING OUT TO 45.
AND SO IF YOU, BUT IF THE MOMENT THAT IS SUBDIVIDED INTO MORE THAN ONE PIECE AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TWO OR THREE PIECES OR WHATEVER, SUDDENLY ALL THIS STUFF KICKS IN AND THE BIG LIST COMES IN.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY, SO I'M WANT EXTOL THE VERSE SHOES OF FLOOD DETENTION.
UM, UH, WE'VE BEEN USING IT SINCE 1974 WITH THE WATERWAY ORDINANCE.
UM, WE HAVE 5,500 OR 5,700 OF THESE THINGS IN AUSTIN AND COUNTING.
EVERY TIME A NEW PROJECT GOES IN, NOT EVERY TIME, EVERY PROJECT, WHEN ARE PROJECTS THAT WITH DETENTION, WE ADD TO THE LIST.
WE, WE, UM, SOMEBODY HAS TO DESIGN IT.
SOMEBODY HAS TO SUBMIT THE PLANS, SOMEBODY WE REVIEW THE PLANS, WE INSPECT THE, THE, THE RESULT.
AND THEN LATER ON, ONCE IT'S BUILT, WE INSPECT THAT IN PERPETUITY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE, MAKING SURE THEY WORK.
UM, THEY REDUCE PEAK STORM FLOWS.
UM, I MERCIFULLY I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT WATER QUALITY CONTROLS FOR YOU GUYS.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT THERE'S REALLY A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATER QUALITY AND FLOOD.
AND MOST OF THE COMMUNITY TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLY, IS LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF KIND OF MIXING AND MATCHING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE TWO TOPICS.
THE WATER QUALITY PONDS ARE GONNA BE, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE NOW GSI, THEY'RE ALL GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
NOW, AFTER THE ORDINANCE, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UM, WATER GOES INTO YOUR RAIN GARDEN, WATER GOES INTO YOUR RAIN TANK, WATER GOES TO YOUR BIOFILTER.
THOSE ARE SMALL STORMS THAT GET CAPTURED, KIND OF RETAINED, SOAKED IN ALL SORTS OF GOOD STUFF HAPPEN.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH THAT WATER THAT IS A SEPARATE ANIMAL FROM A FLOOD POND, WHICH REALLY GETS ONLY THE WATER THAT COMES ALONG AFTER THAT OTHER POND IS FULL.
UM, AND SO, UM, THESE WERE, YOU KNOW, FLOOD DETENTION WAS, WAS, WAS ENVISIONED FOR THESE LARGE SITE PLANS AND SUBDIVISION PROJECTS THAT CAME ALONG IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN IT WAS FIRST DEVELOPED.
AND, AND WE, AND WE, AND WE NEED THIS, WE'VE DONE SOME STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT IT, IT'S NOT A HU IT'S NOT, MAYBE IT'S NOT AS BIG AS IMPACT AS YOU MIGHT THINK, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE LIKE FIVE TO 10%, YOU KNOW, UH, REDUCTION IN THE PEAK.
WE'VE DONE A FEW, UH, INTERNAL STUDIES LOOKING AT THAT.
IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY INTERESTING STUFF.
UM, AND IN FACT WE, UM, UH, WE ARE LOOKING, WE HAVE CO COUNCIL MARCHING ORDERS TO LOOK AT NOT ONLY CONTINUING THE GOOD WORK WE'RE DOING NOW WITH DETENTION, BUT ACTUALLY EXPANDING, UH, DETENTION TO INCLUDE, UM, SOME PROJECTS THAT, UM, ARE REDEVELOPING NOT JUST NEW BRAND NEW GREEN FIELDS, BUT 'CAUSE OUR RULES RIGHT NOW, JUST SAY IF YOU INCREASE KNOW YOUR DEVELOPED FOOTPRINT, THEN YOU NEED TO, TO THE DETENTION ON THAT DELTA.
BUT WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE EXPLORE
[02:00:01]
LOOKING AT PEOPLE THAT COME BACK AND, YOU KNOW, I, I USED USE THE HIGHLAND MALL EXAMPLE, HIGHLAND MALL.IT'S BUILT IN THE SIX LATE SIXTIES.
HUGE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER, CREATED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FLOODING, DOWNSTREAM, UH, FROM THE PREEXISTING HOUSING, UH, WITH NO DETENTION PAWN AT WHATSOEVER.
BUT SO WHEN THOSE FOLKS REDEVELOPED REALLY, UH, STONES THROW AWAY FROM HERE, MAYBE THIS IS EVEN PART OF IT, UM, THEY, UM, YEAH, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT, THEY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO, UH, A DETENTION PAWN.
SO THAT, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT, UM, REGULATIONS THAT WOULD LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK WHEN WE DO THAT, ARE WE GONNA LOOK AT 1800 SQUARE FOOT LOTS AND QUARTER ACRE OR WHATEVER? NO, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT MUCH BIGGER PROJECTS BECAUSE THOSE ARE GONNA BE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE ACTUAL BIG IMPACT.
AND SO YOU SEE AT THE BIG, SO, UM, SO DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, UM, UH, IT'S THE, THE BUNNY SHOT.
IT'S STAFF DO NOT RECOMMEND DETENTION FOR SMALL HOME.
TWO PROJECTS FOR THESE LITTLE BITTY, UH, THE VERY SMALLEST, UH, SCALE.
WE DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA WORK VERY WELL.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA ADD A LOT OF VALUE.
UM, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND SHOULD BE ABOUT LOCAL FLOOD SYSTEMS DURING LOCAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. HOW'S THAT WORKING? THE IMPACT ON THOSE IS SURPRISINGLY NEGLIGIBLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE PROJECTS KIND OF EDGE UP IN, IN INTENSITY, UM, IT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS.
I CAN'T JUST COME UP AND SAY, HEY, THERE'LL NEVER BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS IF THIS HAPPENS.
BUT IT IS NOT A, UM, SO THERE'S NOT A BIG JUMP AND WE ARE PRETTY VIGILANT ON, ON THIS SYSTEM.
WE'RE, WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEM WORKS WELL.
UM, SO THIS WAS A BIG DEAL FOR US TO LOOK AT AND TO CONSIDER THIS CHANGE.
UM, AND THEN FRANKLY, THE SMALLER YOU GET ON THESE, THESE, THESE LITTLE DETENTION PONDS OR EVEN WATER QUALITY, FRANKLY, UM, THE MORE CONCERNS WE HAVE OVER TIME THAT YOU'VE GOT LIKE JUST AN INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER THAT HAS A POND OR A WHAT HAVE YOU, WE'RE LITERALLY JUST SEEING OUR INSPECTORS WILL COME IN AND SOMEBODY'S FILLED IT IN OR THEY PUT A, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ON TOP OF IT OR WHATEVER.
UM, IT'S, SO IT'S NOT VERY EFFECTIVE.
AND WE'RE SEEING ISSUES WITH MAINTENANCE, WITH INSPECTION, WITH LONGEVITY.
SO WANTED TO JUST POINT THAT OUT, I THINK.
SO, UM, THAT'S CONCERNING TO US.
AND SO WE, WE WANT, WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO DO IS, IS PROVIDING VALUE AND, AND, AND, AND DELIVERING.
UM, AND WE DON'T THINK THAT THIS TINY SCALE, SO THAT'S WHY THE LAST BULLET IN BOLD IS THAT WE THINK THAT THAT DE FACTO 0.25 WAS REALLY SIX WE'RE PRODUCING.
IT SLIGHTLY SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM SIZE IF, IF YOU'RE SMALLER AND YOU'RE SUBDIVIDING THAN A QUARTER ACRE.
UM, AND WE, WE MET WITH SOME INFIELD, UH, FOLKS, I'M SURE THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT BE A LOT HIGHER THAN QUARTER ACRE, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE STAFF LANDED ON, ON, ON OUR, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO LET TO NEXT ONE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UH, OUR, HERE'S OUR PROPOSAL.
UM, IT, IT, IT LIKE STAFF, UM, LIKE COUNCIL ASKED FOR, THEY WANT IT TO SCALE AND THEY WANT IT TO BE, UH, SIMPLER.
AND SO WE THINK THERE'S ENOUGH COMPLEXITY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT, IT'S NOT JUST A ONE LIKE, YOU KNOW, GET OUTTA JAIL BELOW THIS AND HERE'S, UH, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE NUANCE TO IT.
SO DEPENDING ON IF IT'S A SITE PLAN VERSUS A SUBDIVISION, YOU'RE GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
AND THE SIZE OF IT'S GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE.
SO LET'S KEEP, UH, PLOWING THROUGH THESE BULLETS.
UM, APPLYING THE SAME DRAINAGE.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAW ON THAT, THAT GRAPHIC WITH THE, THE LITTLE HOUSE AND, AND YOU KNOW, SO HIS NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO 45 AND YOU'RE GOING TO 45 WITH A SUBDIVISION SHOULD PROBABLY BE A SIMILAR PROCESS.
AND SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T DETAIN FOR THOSE OTHER ONES ALREADY.
UH, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THESE, UM, THESE GUYS.
UM, WE HAVE, WE'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE THREE TIERS, UM, ALL THE WAY UP TO ONE ACRE MAXIMUM.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT PUSHING IT PAST ONE ACRE.
UM, WE THINK THAT'S AS FAR AS WE'RE WILLING TO GO.
YOU COULD PROBABLY STUDY THIS AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU COULD DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD SAFE SPOT TO LAND.
THAT'S WHAT OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS.
UM, AND SO, UM, WHEN I SAID, YOU KNOW, A SUBDIVISION LESS THAN 0.25 ACRES PRETTY SMALL IS NOT GONNA HAVE TO DO DETENTION.
THAT'S GONNA BE AN EASY THING COMES IN.
YOU'RE LESS THAN 0.25 OR AT TWO FOUR AND TWO FIVE NO DETENTION.
THERE IS NO, WE ARE NOT PROPOSING THAT OPTION AT ALL PER SITE PLAN LIGHT.
I'M SURE THERE COULD BE A CASE MADE FOR THAT.
LIKE, HEY, ARE THESE REALLY DELIVERING THE SAME BANG FOR THE BUCK AS THEY NEED TO, TO OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.
AND WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING WE ARE GOING, WE STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THERE STILL BE DETENTION IN THE MIX AS A POSSIBILITY.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN A SECOND.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
UM, AND THEN, WE'LL, WE'RE ALSO THROWING IN SOME, UM, NOT THROWING IN.
WE ARE, WE HAVE, UH, UH, CAREFULLY CONSIDERED SOME DRAINAGE CRITERIA, UH, RULES.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THOSE AS WELL FOR SOME SMALL SITES.
OKAY, THE NEXT, LAST ONE, BULLET.
[02:05:01]
AND AGAIN, I WANNA KNOW, I'M GONNA EMPHASIZE THIS.THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS.
THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO WATER QUALITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS IN OUR PROPOSAL.
NEXT, NEXT BULLET OR NEXT SLIDE.
THERE'S NO MORE CLICKING FOR THIS ONE SLIDE.
UM, THE BLUE MEANS IT'S BRAND NEW.
THERE'S OTHER STUFF ALREADY EXISTED, SO I WANTED TO KIND OF POINT THAT OUT.
THE VERY BOTTOM ROW IS JUST BIG PROJECTS, ANYTHING ABOVE AN ANCHOR, FULL CODE, FULL CRITERIA.
NOTHING MORE TO REALLY DISCUSS.
IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE FULL MEAL DEAL.
THE VERY FIRST ROW IS THE LESS THAN 0.25 ACRES.
IT'S GOT SOME BASIC REQUIREMENTS, BUILDING CODE, PLUMBING CODES, STATE LAW.
UM, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING IT.
IT, IT, IT, WE ADD THAT YOU HAVE TO DO ANY KIND OF STORM DRAIN ANALYSIS OR ANY, UM, ANY DETENTION ON THAT ONE.
THAT'S JUST, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR ESSENTIALLY IN, IN SCALE.
AND THEN IN THE, IN THE MIDDLE THERE WHERE THERE'S KIND OF THREE ROWS.
IT'S BASICALLY SAYING, OKAY, IF YOU'RE IN YOUR LITTLE TINY SUBDIVISION, YOU CAN SHOW US WITH VER WITH CLARITY THAT YOUR WATER IS JUST DRAINING RIGHT TO THE STREET.
THEN WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA CALL THAT GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA SAY THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA WORK FOR US.
UM, FRANKLY, A DETENTION POND AT THAT SCALE IS GONNA BE, IS GONNA HAVE ALL THOSE ISSUES WITH COST AND, UM, AND, AND, AND LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND, AND, AND SO FORTH.
UH, AND SO WE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE DETENTION PONDS AT THIS SCALE, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN, WE THINK THEY MAY BE NECESSARY AT THIS POINT.
SO THE FIRST ONE SAYS, HEY, JUST SHOW US RETRAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE PLAYED WITH THE, UM, UH, PROPERTY PROFILE WEBSITE.
IT'S A GREAT WEBSITE AND IT, IT'S, IT'S, YOU CAN TURN ON ALL KINDS OF LAYERS SO YOU CAN TURN ON YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU CAN SHOW WHERE THE TO TOPOGRAPHIC LINES ARE.
SO WE'RE WANTING TO SEE SOMEBODY GO, OH, LOOK, IT'S SUPER OBVIOUS THAT MY WATER'S RAINING RIGHT TO THE STREET CHECK.
OKAY, GREAT DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
WHEN THEY SAW THAT, EH, THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE LIKE 20% OF THE PROPERTIES ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY JUST DRAINS RIGHT TO THE STREET.
WELL, THAT'S THE EASY THAT, THAT'S GREAT.
THOSE ARE PROPERTIES THAT ARE GONNA DRAIN WITHOUT A LOT OF, UH, UM, MANIPULATION TO THE SITE THAT'S GONNA DRAIN AC UH, YOU KNOW, WELL TO, TO THE, THE STORM DRAIN.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE, THE, THE, YEAH, THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM OR THE STREET OR A OR CREEK.
SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S THE EASY PATH IF YOU QUALIFY.
AND WE DO THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY, PROBABLY BE SOUTH OF 30% OF THE PROPERTIES WOULD PROBABLY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.
THE MIDDLE ONE IS, OH WOW, I CAN, YOU KNOW, I CAN PUT SOME SWALES IN, I CAN, 'CAUSE PEOPLE DO THIS ALL THE TIME NOW.
THEY, THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, MODIFY THEIR PRO PROPERTY BY DOING GRADING.
THEY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CHANGE THE TOPOGRAPHY SO THAT IT WITH, WITH VARIOUS BASIC TECHNIQUES AND GET THE WATER TO GO TO THE STREET.
OKAY, WELL THAT'S AWESOME, BUT WE WANT SOME OVERSIGHT AND WE WANT SOME ACTUAL ENGINEERING WITH THAT.
AND SO THOSE ARE GONNA BE A DE DECENT SIZED CHUNK OF THE PROJECTS, UH, THAT WOULD PROBABLY COME THROUGH, WOULD NEED TO DO THAT.
THAT HAS AN EXISTING PROCESS RIGHT NOW THAT WAS CREATED SOME YEARS AGO THAT SAYS YOU'RE, YOU'RE SMALL ENOUGH.
IF YOU'RE LESS THAN ONE ACRE IN SIZE AND YOU'RE YOU'RE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION, YOU GET TO DO THAT.
AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA REVIEW YOUR PLANS.
YOU'RE EVEN GONNA PAY INTO OUR REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND WE WILL GET SOME MONEY THAT WE CAN USE TO CORRECT ERRORS HERE AND THERE, OR ISSUES ALONG THE WAY.
SO THAT IS, UM, THAT'S THE MIDDLE CATEGORY.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS STILL DETENTION STILL IN THE MIX.
IF YOU CAN'T, LIKE, WE DON'T WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T DRAIN THEIR WATER AWAY FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS TO GET TO NOT DO SOMETHING.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DETAIN.
COULD WE DIG IN THERE AND FIGURE OUT IF THAT'S REALLY A GREAT SOLUTION OR NOT? PROBABLY THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AND WE THINK IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE STICKING WITH IT.
AND, AND DETENTION IS IN THERE FOR THESE, UH, THESE SMALL SCALE SUBDIVISIONS.
SO THIS WHOLE, THIS WHOLE CHART IS SUBDIVISIONS.
ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD AND CLICK ON THE NEXT SLIDE AND THEN CLICK TWICE AND THEN YEAH, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE MORE BLUE THERE.
OKAY, SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE NEW.
SO IT'S REALLY SIMILAR TO THE OTHER ONE EXCEPT THERE'S NO TOP LINE THAT SAYS NO DETENTION AT ALL.
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOTTA, YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA DO A BUILDING CODE STUFF, ET CETERA.
BUT THIS ONE, THIS ONE YOU GOT, YOU'RE LESS THAN HALF AN ACRE.
YOU'RE A LITTLE BITTY FIVE AC FIVE, FIVE LOTS OR FIVE UNITS, SIX UNITS, SEVEN UNITS.
I GUESS I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY'S GONNA GO TO FOUR 16 UNITS ON SUCH A, A SMALL THING.
BUT, UM, THE, UM, YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD NEED, UH, YOU WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF SHOWING THAT YOU CAN, YOU CAN CLEANLY GET TO THE STREET WITH YOUR, YOUR DRAINAGE, UM, AND, UH, AND THEN, AND THEN THE WATER WOULD PROCEED FROM THERE DOWN INTO OUR SYSTEM, ET CETERA.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND I HAD A LONG SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FLOOD ENGINEERS ABOUT THIS.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF IMPACTS? SOMEBODY COMES IN, BUILDS ONE OF THESE PROJECTS, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THAT LOCAL FLOODING SYSTEM? TURNS OUT
[02:10:01]
IT'S NOT A HUGE JUMP.IN FACT, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO MEASURE IN SOME CASES.
I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL ANSWER TO IT, BUT IT'S, BUT IT, IT WAS REASSURING IN TALKING WITH OUR, UH, STAFF ABOUT THAT WE FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH, UM, UH, PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
AND THEN, AND THEN IT JUST, IT LITERALLY LOOKS THE SAME, SAME, SAME THREE LINES.
THE NEXT ONE, THE NEXT ONE HAS A BLUE THING AROUND IT IS NOT THE ORDINANCE.
IT IS A, IT'S A DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL, UM, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
AND RIGHT NOW, UM, IF YOU ARE ZERO TO 0.5 ACRES IN YOUR SITE PLAN, YOU'RE A LITTLE MINIATURE, UM, MULTIFAMILY OR ANY OR EVEN COMMERCIAL, YOU CAN DRAIN TO THE STREET AND DO THIS THING AND PAY TO THE FUND.
WE THINK THAT THE SMALL SCALE HOUSING PROJECTS, WHICH IS THE, THE TOPIC TODAY, HOW DO WE GET MORE HOUSING? HOW DO WE GET MORE SMALL SCALE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE, ET CETERA, THAT WE WOULD ALLOW THOSE WHICH HAVE A LOWER IMPERVIOUS COVER LEVEL THAN THE COMMERCIAL OR THE MIXED USE ONES.
ALLOW THEM ALSO TO USE, UM, THE DCM OPTION THAT THEY HAVE TODAY.
STILL GOTTA GET ENGINEERING, STILL HAS TO PAY A PAYMENT, STILL GIVES ALL THE OVERSIGHT, BUT WE'RE BUMPING UP THE SIZE OF PROJECT THAT COULD USE THAT IF THEY, IF THEY QUALIFY.
AND AGAIN, SOME OF THEM CAN'T DO IT AND THEY'LL HAVE TO USE A DETENTION POND.
UM, AGAIN, WE GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THAT ONE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDABLY, 'CAUSE I THINK A LOT OF, A LOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS VERY, VERY, UM, LIKELY THAT YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT SOME, BUT I WOULD SAY THIS PROPOSAL IS BIASED TOWARD SITES THAT HAVE FAVORABLE DRAINAGE THAT DRAIN TO PLACES WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THE NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE NOT CREATING LOT, LOT FLOODING AND THEY'RE, AND, AND WE HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE FELT LIKE WE WANTED TO LAND.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
MERCIFULLY, OH NO, NO, IT'S NOT.
SORRY, IT'S NOT THE LAST SLIDE.
UM, STORM DRAIN CONNECTION REQUIREMENT.
THIS, UM, WE HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL STORM DRAIN CONNECTION.
IF YOU'RE A PROJECT, YOU'RE A SITE PLAN OR YOU'RE A SUBDIVISION, YOU WANNA COME IN AND DRAIN, UH, WE SAY, OH, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO CONNECT TO THE NEAREST STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
WELL, SOMETIMES THERE'S AN INLET RIGHT THERE AND YOU JUST CONNECT RIGHT IN.
WELL, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S GOTTA GO A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN.
SO IN THE OLD DAYS IT WAS 300 FEET AND WE WOULD SAY, HEY, 300 FEET AWAY, YOU CONNECT.
UM, SOME YEARS AGO, UM, WE UPPED THAT TO 550.
GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD AND, UH, GO AHEAD AND CLICK THIS AND CLICK DOWN ONE OR TWO MORE.
UM, SO WE ARE, WE WOULD FOR THESE, UM, SO WE WOULD, WE ARE RECOMMENDING 300, 550 FEET IS, IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, A NORMAL CITY BLOCKS SOMEWHERE AROUND, YOU KNOW, 400 FEET.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY OUT ASKING PEOPLE TO MAYBE EVEN GO TWO BLOCKS AWAY.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A TINY MULTIFAMILY PROJECT OR TI YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR A VERY LONG RUN OF PIPE THAT BASICALLY THAT THAT, THAT, THAT KILLS ON ANY PROJECT PRETTY MUCH.
UM, AND IT'S NOT, AND THE, AND THE, AND THE, THE IMPACTS, AGAIN, BACK GETTING BACK TO THE IMPACTS PRETTY DARN MINOR HARD TO MEASURE.
SOMETIMES THAT'S, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO US.
AND SO IF YOU'RE A BIG PROJECT, SO WE WE'RE GONNA NEED A STAFF TO THINK ABOUT IF THERE'S A THRESHOLD THERE AND MAYBE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE FIVE 50 FOR A MUCH LARGER PROJECT.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY, THAT'S PROBABLE THAT WILL DO THAT.
BUT WE ALSO, IF YOUR SITE IS LESS THAN HALF AN ACRE IN SIZE, UM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE YOU A CONNECT IN, YOU CAN DRAIN TO THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO YOUR WATER, UM, RUNS IN WITH THE REST OF THE WATER IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE STREET AND GOES TO THE, GOES TO THE DOWN TO THE NEXT STATION.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO, UM, WOULD, UM, AND IF, AND IF, AND IF THAT, IF THAT'S NOT, IF YOU'RE ABOVE 0.5 ACRES FOR LIKE THE 0.5 TO ONE ACRE PROJECTS, YOU COULD HAVE AN ENGINEER.
AND THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND, AND DETAILED, THAT PERSON COULD, THEY COULD GO IN AND SEE, OKAY, LOOK, WE, THIS, WE CAN PROVE UP THAT THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM CAN HANDLE THIS.
AND THEN, AND THEN WE, WE, WE, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CONNECT.
THAT WOULD SAVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY.
UM, AND YOU WOULD SHOW THAT IT WORKS.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT ONE.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN CLICK A TIME OR TWO HERE.
UM, YEAH, SO THIS WAS, THIS IS BASICALLY THE ONE THAT SAYS BETWEEN HALF AN ACRE AND ONE ACRE, WE'RE GONNA ALLOW MULTI-FAMILY ONLY, NO MORE THAN 65 AC UH, PERCENT OF PURVIEW COVER PROJECTS USE.
UM, THAT, THAT, THAT RSMP UM, UH, OPTION.
OKAY, SO LET'S GO TO THE FINAL SLIDE, WHICH IS THE SUMMARY.
UM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO RIGHT SIZE THE DRAINAGE.
WE'VE GOT A TINY PRODUCT AND WE'VE GOT A GIANT PRODUCT, AND THEN YET WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MISSING MIDDLE FITS IN.
AND WE'RE FINDING MISSING MIDDLE DOESN'T FIT WELL AT ALL, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT PRODUCT AT ALL.
UM, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A A A, IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT.
UM, WE'RE NOT CHANGING IMP COVER LIMITS.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING WATER QUALITY, UH, CONTROL REQUIREMENTS.
[02:15:01]
A TIERED APPROACH, UH, TO, BASED ON PROJECT TYPE, UH, SIZE AND TOPOGRAPHIC COMPLEXITY.UM, SUB SMALL SUBDIVISIONS AT OR UNDER 0.25 ACRES QUARTER ACRE, ARE NOT GONNA BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS BEYOND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, UH, FOR A BUILDING PERMIT AT THE EXACT SAME SCALE, SAME PRODUCT, SAME OUTCOME LIST LISTS HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS.
AND THEN, UM, IT WILL, UM, AND THIS, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS EARLIER, BUT THIS IS ONLY ELIGIBLE TO, UM, PREVIOUSLY PLATTED SUBDIVISION.
SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET A HUNDRED ACRE SITE CARVE UP INTO TINY LITTLE LOTS AND SOMEHOW GET OUT OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS REALLY, THIS IS REALLY, UM, ONLY YOU HAVE TO BE PREVIOUS PLOTTED IS RESIDENTIAL, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT WAS KIND OF AN IMPORTANT POINT.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE COMPLIMENTING THAT WITH THESE TWO DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL.
YEAH, IF YOU CLICK NEXT, I THINK IT SAYS QUESTIONS.
YEAH, YOU DON'T NEED THAT ONE.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SECRET.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
UM, LET'S TRY, UH, THE REMOTE SPEAKER, MEGAN MEEN BACH.
HELLO, MEGAN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AGAIN, IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, MEGAN, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
HELLO, MEGAN, IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
MAYBE WE GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO IN PERSON AND CHECK IN WITH HER AFTER IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE MONICA GUZMAN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, PUTTING YOUR TIME INTO, INTO THIS AND LISTENING TO ALL THIS WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
UH, TOO MUCH INFORMATION I'M GONNA SAY.
AND, UM, UH, MY NAME IS FRANCIS UNA AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ITEM FOR A FEW REASONS.
UM, ONE, UH, THE STATEMENT THAT WAS PUT ON, ON THE EMAILS WAS TOO HARD TO UNDERSTAND, AT LEAST FOR ME.
SO WE CAN'T EXPECT A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITY INPUT IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE READING.
UH, TWO, THE MORE WE ADVOCATE FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOOD MITIGATION, FLOOD INSURANCE, MONTHLY PREMIUMS, AND PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER EACH TIME THAT WE TRY TO FIGHT FOR, UH, FLOOD MITIGATION.
FOR ANYTHING THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS A HUGE BARRIER FOR US TO HAVE A SAFE, UH, LIFE.
AND, UM, WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER ON STRATEGIES ON HOW TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE FROM, FROM FLOOD RISK AND CONTINUING TO KEEP OUR LONGTIME RESIDENTS HOUSED AS WE ACCOMMODATE THE HIGH DEMAND FOR HOUSING.
THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR UPDATING THE STORM IN THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE ANY DEVELOPMENT CAN HAPPEN.
AND THAT WE HAVE SEEN IT, THAT DEVELOPMENT KEEPS HAPPENING.
WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE FLOODING WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN.
UM, UNPLANNED AND IMPERVIOUS COVER PREVENTS NATURE FROM DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, WHICH IS THE WATER SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE, TO THE EARTH, SO IT CAN BE ABLE TO REPLENISH AND COME BACK
[02:20:01]
TO US.BUT THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT IS THE WRONG WAY.
WE ARE COVERING THE, THE GROUND SO MUCH THAT IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN 30 YEARS IF WE DON'T PLAN, UM, CAREFULLY.
THERE'S, UM, ALL THE WATER THAT IS, THAT WE ARE SENDING THROUGH THE DRAINAGE IS GOING TO THE OCEAN THAT IS CAUSING A LOT MORE FLOODING WITHIN THE OCEAN.
UM, THE COASTAL FLOODS, YOU KNOW, THE COASTAL AREAS ARE GETTING A LOT MORE FLOODING BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE.
SO WE CANNOT EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO MITIGATE FLOODING OVER HERE WHEN WE'RE CAUSING MORE FLOODING ON OTHER, UH, AREAS.
INSTEAD, WE, UM, IN PREVIOUS COVER IS CAUSING LOT TO LOT FLOODING, LOCALIZED FLOODING, AND IT'S CAUSING DISPLACEMENT, TRAUMA, AND DEATH.
THERE'S A NEED TO SIT BACK AND DIGEST, LEARN ABOUT WHAT IMPACT OUR DECISIONS ARE, ARE HAVING TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO LIFE ITSELF.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S A NEED FOR REAL SOLUTIONS LIKE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, TRUE, UH, TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND HAVE, UH, STRICTER REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPERS ACQUIRING PERMITS TO DEVELOP WITHOUT, UM, DOING THE APPROPRIATE STUDIES, NOT ONLY ON THE FLAT IMPACT TO THE IMMEDIATE AREA, BUT THE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM, UH, COUNTIES.
AND I KNOW WE ARE WORKING WITH TIME AND MONEY AND, UM, I LIVED IN A QUARTER ACRE HOME AND THAT HOME IN 2017 OR 2015, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YEAR I HAD MY GATE OPEN.
THAT WATER WENT IN, UM, IT ALMOST WENT INSIDE MY HOME IF I HADN'T OPENED THE GATE.
WHEN I OPENED THE GATE, IT FLOODED MY NEIGHBOR TO TWO FEET OF WATER IN THEIR HOME.
THAT WAS ONLY BY ME OPENING THE GATE OF MY HOUSE.
AND, UH, AND MR. UNA, YOUR THREE MINUTES HAVE PASSED.
SO JUST WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.
UM, PLEASE, UH, YOU KNOW, DON'T VOTE FOR THIS, AT LEAST NOT WHEN UNTIL THERE'S A LOT MORE, UM, A LOT MORE STUDIES ON THE IMPACT THAT RESIDENTS ARE HAVING AND I LOVE WATERSHED PROTECTION.
BUT, UM, I'M GONNA GO AGAINST THIS ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE ANA, UH, AQUIRE.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR, BECKFORD AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS AN, I'M A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT AND I'M SPEAKING ONLY FOR MYSELF.
I AM SPEAKING AGAINST ITEM THREE.
THE RECORD NEEDS TO REFLECT THAT NO COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION ON ITEM THREE, WHICH PROPOSES CHANGES TO LAND.
THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OCCURRED IF WE HAD, I ASSURE YOU, MORE PEOPLE WOULD'VE BEEN HERE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
FLOODING IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS TOPIC FOR D TWO RESIDENTS.
I NOTED THE CONCERN THAT CONTINUES TO BE RESTATED IS AFFORDABILITY.
YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEMONSTRATED EFFORTS TO INCORPORATE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN ANY OF THE RECENT LAND DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES.
NOT IN HOME PHASE ONE, NOT IN HOME PHASE TWO.
IF THIS IS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, YOU NEED TO MAKE IT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
AUSTIN IS SPLASH FLOOD ALLEY, UNLIKE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS OF WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF PROBABLY A HANDFUL THAT ARE CHARGED WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
WATCHING ONE OF THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS WE SAW THE DAMAGE LITTLE RUNOFF CAN HAVE ON PROPERTIES DOWNSTREAM.
THOSE OF US IN THE LOWER ONION CREEK DURING THE 2013 AND 2015 CATASTROPHIC FLOODS SAW THAT HOW BIG THE RUNOFF ACCUMULATED CAN HAVE ANY IMPACT ON US.
THAT FLOW WAS TWICE THE SPEED OF NIAGARA FALLS.
WHEN IT HIT US IN 2013 AND 2015, WE TRY TO TELL THE LEADERS AND CITY STAFF THAT THE FLOODING WAS GETTING WORSE.
ARE THEY GONNA LISTEN THIS TIME? I DON'T KNOW.
WHERE'S THE RACIAL EQUITY HERE? THOSE OF US THAT WERE IMPACTED WERE MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND I HOPE THEY'RE CONSIDERED.
HOW WAS THE FLOOD MITIGATION TASK FORCE REPORT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS
[02:25:01]
THESE PROPOSED POLICIES WERE BEING CONSIDERED? WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT ON CREEK FLOODING? LOCALIZED FLOODING, AND LOT TO LOT FLOODING.I KNOW LOT TO LOT FLOODING HAPPENS EVERYWHERE.
THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE.
WHERE THESE DETENTION PROJECTS ARE LOCATED IS GONNA BE CRITICAL.
WHAT IS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT? WHERE ARE MOST OF THEM GONNA BE LOCATED? ARE THEY GONNA BE IN EAST DAWSON? BECAUSE IF THEY ARE IN EAST DAWSON, IT'S GONNA BE AT THE LOWER PART OF THE FLOOD PLAIN MAKING IT WORSE.
AND THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE LOCALIZED FLOODING OCCURRING.
AND WE KNOW THERE'S VARIANCES.
THEY HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME TO ENSURE STATE COMPLIANCE SHOULDN'T DEVELOPERS OR THE CITY PAPER, THE ENGINEERING STUDIES FOR PROPERTIES DOWNSTREAM TO SHOW THAT THOSE IMPACTED PROPERTY OWNERS CAN HAVE AN ESTABLISHED BASELINE DATA SPECIFIC TO THEIR PROPERTY IN THE EVENT THOSE PROPOSED POLICIES THAT ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED DUE RESULT IN ADVERSE FLOODING AFTER THOSE PROPERTIES UPSTREAM ARE DEVELOPED OR REDEVELOPED, BUYOUT, OR RELOCATION FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION UNLESS THE BUYOUT OF THOSE PROPERTIES IS SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PURCHASE A NEW HOME AND REMAIN IN AUSTIN WITHOUT INCURRING AN ADDITIONAL MORTGAGE.
AND FOR THE RECORD, RELOCATION FEES ARE OFFENSIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
I FOR ONE PLAN TO STAY IN AUSTIN AND IN PLACE.
WHAT ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE? WHAT IS THE CITY'S CAPACITY? WHO WILL PAY FOR THE DAMAGE COST PER RUNOFF? I NEED TO CLOSE WITH THIS.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION FOR US.
I CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS STATEMENT, BUT THE AUTHOR IS UNKNOWN.
BUT SAID, SOMEONE SAID THAT THOSE OF US BEING IMPACTED THE MOST ARE NOT AT THE TABLE.
AND WHEN WE'RE NOT AT THE TABLE, WE'RE DEFINITELY ON THE PLATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDER CONSIDERATION.
NEXT UP WE HAVE BOBBY LAVINSKY.
BOB LACI WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO SUP SUPPORT SUPPORTING THE REDEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE THAT WILL, UH, ADDRESS THE DRAINAGE FOR OUR REDEVELOPMENT PROPERTIES.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'LL COME IN SUPPORT FOR, BUT WE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS, UH, ORDINANCES AS PLANNED.
SO, UH, I'M GONNA START WITH A METAPHOR.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I'VE GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT THIS YEAR, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT HAPPENED INCREMENTALLY OVER TIME.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING WITH THESE THIS PROBLEM.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, THESE PROPERTIES REDEVELOP INCREMENTALLY ON EACH STREET AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE GETTING DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOUNT FOR IT.
I'VE TALKED TO INFILL BUILDERS.
THEY'RE GONNA BE BUILDING AT 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
YOU CAN GET A REZONING CHANGE UP TO 65%.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING HERE.
UM, WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF, UM, HOW WE'VE HAD, UH, DRAINAGE ISSUES IN THE CITY, I, I THOUGHT BACK TO 2017 WHEN WE HAD TO ISSUE A, UH, MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THAT ORDINANCE, AND I THOUGHT THE, THE LANGUAGE FROM THAT WAS REALLY RELEVANT HERE.
IT SAID A RECENT INCREASES IN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT COUPLED WITH UNDERSIZED, COLLAPSED AND NON-EXISTENT STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, EXACERBATED FLOODING.
UH, IT, WHILE IT SAYS THAT THAT IS UNIQUE TO THAT AREA, IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF PRETTY COMMON ACROSS AUSTIN.
UM, AND I THINK THAT, UH, ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN IN AUSTIN LONGER THAN THE TWO YEAR DROUGHT THAT THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, HAS SEEN LOCALIZED FLOODING ACROSS AUSTIN.
WE'VE LOOKED AT, UH, FOUR YEARS OF DATA OF 3 1 1 CALLS.
ABOUT 600 OF THOSE INCIDENTS OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF FLOODPLAINS.
THAT IS, UH, A DIRECT INDICATION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER INDUCED, UH, FLOODING LOTTO, LOT FLOODING, LOCALIZED FLOODING.
UH, THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS FROM EXCEEDING CAPACITY OR TO ADDRESS STORMWATER ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S FROM THAT SOUTH LAMAR, UH, MORATORIUM THAT WAS CALLED, THAT PREVENTED ALL DEVELOPMENT FROM HAPPENING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS IT.
UM, AND THEN I WANT TO, UH, GET BACK TO THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENT THAT SAYS YOU WON'T HARM YOUR NEIGHBOR WITH THE, UH, BY DIVERTING FLOOD, UH, FLOODS.
UM, I LOOKED AT THE APPELLATE CASES FOR THAT IN TEXAS.
THERE'S OVER 200 CASES THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE APPELLATE LEVEL OVER THAT, UH, STATE LAW REQUIREMENT.
THINK ABOUT WHO CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS THE COURTS.
IT'S NOT PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD AN ATTORNEY.
THEY RELY ON THE CITY TO PROTECT THEM WITH STRONG DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS.
MAINTAINING THIS AND MAINTAINING A REQUIREMENT WHERE YOU'RE HAVING A PE, WHICH I DON'T, I WANNA ACTUALLY ASK THAT QUESTION.
IT'LL BE JUST ASKING THE PES TO SAY, DIRECT IT TO THE STREET, OR WE ASKING THEM TO SIGN OFF ON THE, THE NOTION THAT THERE'S AN ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THE DRAINAGE THAT THEY'RE POINTING TO THE STREET.
THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.
WE MUST BE PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE MUST BE PROTECTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST LIKELY GONNA BE FLOODED, WHICH INCLUDES THE EASTERN CRESCENT AND SOUTH AUSTIN, UH, WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS, UH, INADEQUATE BECAUSE EITHER THESE AREAS WERE DEVELOPED BEFORE THEY WERE PART OF THE CITY, OR THEY WERE DEVELOPED BEFORE THOSE STANDARDS HAD, UM, BEFORE THOSE AREAS HAD REGULATIONS THAT
[02:30:01]
WERE IN PLACE THAT COULD SUPPORT DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.I APPRECIATE MATT HOLLAND AND, AND THE TEAM FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THIS IS A TOP DOWN POLICY, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.
NEXT UP WE HAVE IRENE PICKARD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE PRESENTATIONS, BY THE QUALITY OF QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION MEMBERS ASKED BY MY MATT HOLLAND'S PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT MY MAIN CONCERN, LIKE OTHER SPEAKERS IS GOING TO BE FLOOD CONTROL.
AND, AND THAT IS A HUGE GIFT THAT OURS GIVE US, BUT THAT IS ONLY ONE POSSIBLE ECOSYSTEM SERVICE THAT WE GET FROM OUR CREEKS.
THERE'S NO WAY OUR CREEKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED WHEN THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE ON A LOT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE, UM, OIL FROM CARS.
THERE'LL BE MORE CARS, THERE'S GONNA BE MORE PET WASTE.
THERE ARE GONNA BE MORE PESTICIDES.
THERE'S JUST GONNA BE MORE OF ALL THESE SUBSTANCES THAT DO NOT MAKE FOR HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS WHEN THEY GO DOWN.
I, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE TREATMENT PLANTS, BUT I LIVE CLOSE TO SHOAL CREEK.
I GO DOWN AND VISIT IT AFTER EVERY RAIN.
I'M ALWAYS HOPING FOR A CLEAN, CLEAR CREEK.
AND ALREADY, YOU KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, IT LOOKS LIKE A BUBBLE BATH.
AND, AND OF COURSE, NOT ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM'S FAULT HOME TWO IS GONNA JUST EXACERBATE THAT.
AND SO WE HAVE A CHANCE, IF, IF, IF IT'S NOT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE ECOSYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE THAT REALLY PROVIDE SO MANY BENEFITS FOR US, AND ALL OF THE CREEKS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
BUT WE CAN MINIMIZE THAT BY AT LEAST MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD AND SPEAK FOR THE CREEKS.
IF, IF THEY CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, AND AT LEAST SAY NO.
THIS IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS JUST NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO GO.
I MEAN, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A PILOT AND FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ONE POOR BENIGHTED CREEK.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST, THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT PUTTING THINGS OUT TO THE STREET SOLVES THE PROBLEM.
OF COURSE, IT WATER JUST GOES RUSHING INTO SHOAL CREEK WITH THE, WITH THE WATER THAT'S IN OUR STREETS NOW.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE THAT VOICE.
YOU'RE THE ONLY GROUP THAT CAN, I THINK.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE TANIA KAREEM.
I'M WITH SOS UM, SAVE SPRINGS.
BEFORE I BEGIN MY COMMENTS, UM, I KIND OF WANNA ADD ON TO WHAT FRANCIS WAS SAYING EARLIER, UM, BY PREFACING THAT THE BACKUP MATERIALS, SPECIFICALLY THE REPORT SUMMARIZING THE CODE MODIFICATIONS COULD BENEFIT FROM BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYDAY CITIZENS TO COMPREHEND.
AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ON THE WATERSHED PROTECTION TEAM WORK ON A VERY TECHNICAL MINDSET, BUT THERE ARE INSTANCES IN OUR PAST, IN OUR, IN OUR, IN, IN CURRENT INSTANCES, ESPECIALLY WITH HOME, WHERE CITY PROPOSALS ARE VERY COMPLEX AND TECHNICAL JARGON TO, UH, THEY ADD THESE VERY COMPLEX, UM, CONCEPTS TO PURPOSEFULLY DETER THE PUBLIC FROM PARTICIPATING OR SPEAKING UP.
AND I THINK IT'S ON THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO INCORPORATE BASIC
[02:35:01]
EVERYDAY LANGUAGE INTO BREAKING DOWN MAJOR LAND CODE MODIFICATIONS AND ENSURE THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ARE INCLUDED IN IN THIS CONVERSATION.THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE ALMOST A DECADE'S WORTH OF EXPERIENCE IN LAND, UH, DEVELOPMENT, ENGINEERING, AND H AND H ENGINEERING.
AND I BELIEVE BYPASSING A FULL SITE PLAN REVIEW WOULD BE A NEGLIGENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, SAFETY AND OVERALL WELLBEING, ALLOWING APPLICANTS TO BYPASS THE WATERSHED.
WELL, THERE IS INVOLVEMENT THAT I JUST LEARNED FROM YOUR PRESENTATION THAT THERE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT'S REVIEW PROCESS, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE ANALYSIS FOR THESE RUNOFFS.
UM, AND PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE BEING SITUATED IN NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY EXPERIENCING LOCALIZED FLOODING DUE TO FAILING STORM SEWER SYSTEMS AND OVERBURDENED CREEKS WITHOUT ACTUAL DRAINAGE ASSESSMENTS, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE EXISTING STORM INFRASTRUCTURES CAN ADD, HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL RUNOFF GENERATED BY THESE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
AND MATT, I WANNA KIND OF ADDRESS WHAT YOU HAD SAID EARLIER ABOUT, UM, SORRY, HOW, YOU KNOW, FLOOD ENGINEERS HAVE DONE THOROUGH ANALYSIS THAT THESE INCREASED RUNOFF IS SURPRISINGLY NEG NEGLIGIBLE AND MINOR.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT PROOF, AND I THINK YOU OWE THE THE PUBLIC TO, TO THOSE NUMBERS AND THAT ANALYSIS.
I APPRECIATE THE ATTEMPTS IN EXPLAINING THE JUSTIFICATION OF, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATING, UH, DRAINAGE ANALYSIS.
BUT THE NUT, I THINK JUST SAYING THAT THESE INCREASED RUNOFF TO THESE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURES THAT ARE ALREADY FAILING US, UM, BECAUSE IT'S FATIGUED OF AGE, UM, BECAUSE OF THESE, UH, SHIFTS IN, UM, RAINFALL DATA, UM, I THINK IT IS A BIT SLIGHTLY INSENSITIVE AND SLIGHTLY DEHUMANIZING, UM, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO'VE HAD FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE ON THESE FLOODINGS.
UM, AND AS, AS BOBBY HAD MENTIONED, THERE'S PROOF AND THERE'S, THERE'S MAP OF HOW THERE'S FLOODING OUTSIDE OF THE FLOODPLAINS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE FROM THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT TO COME TO THESE EAT MEETINGS.
THEY'RE ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND I THINK A LOT OF Y'ALL DO ATTEND, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT YOU AS AN ENGINEER TO LISTEN TO THESE STORIES.
UM, LET'S SEE IF WE COULD, WELL, IF, UH, MEGAN MEISENBACH IS, SHE'S AVAILABLE ON THE, ON THE TELEPHONE.
HI, THIS IS MEGAN MEISENBACH AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR LISTENING TO THE TESTIMONY TONIGHT.
WE HAD GREAT TESTIMONY AND I AGREE WITH THE SOS REPRESENTATIVE, MS. AGUIRE, MS. AIA, UM, AND MS. PICKAR.
AND, UM, I THINK THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HOPE YOU'LL VOTE AGAINST IT.
I HAVE, UM, AN EXAMPLE FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE'S A VERY, VERY STEEP SLOPE DOWN LAMAR IS YOU, UM, UH, FROM, UM, MLK.
AND, UM, THERE'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM RIO GRANDE THAT'S, UM, NINE 10 POPLAR STREET, THE SITE OF A REDEVELOPMENT WITH TWO CONDOS, UH, ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH A MAVERICK MILLER HISTORIC HOUSE IN 2020.
THE CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT WAS ADDED.
IT'S ABOUT 16 UNITS, VERY STEEP HILL.
AND WHEN IT RAINED IN JANUARY 21ST, 2024, UH, THERE WERE 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN.
IT WENT REALLY FAST DOWN THE HILL AND IT'S COMPLETELY ERODED.
I, I THINK AT LEAST THE STEEPNESS AND THE TOPOGRAPHY NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE TWO DIMENSIONAL, UH, VIEW OF THE A PROPERTY THAT'S GONNA BE REDEVELOPED.
AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, THIS IS A MONUMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL FAILURE ON BOTH SIDES OF LAMAR AROUND 27TH, MEMBER OF THE WILDRIDGE, UH, DRIVE COLLAPSE.
AND SO THERE'S NOW ANOTHER ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAMAR.
SO I ASK YOU TO EXAMINE THIS CAREFULLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS ITEM.
UM, SO LET'S OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
UM, LET'S START WITH THE REMOTE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I DO AGREE WITH ONE OF THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH REGARD TO
[02:40:01]
THE LEVEL OF DETAIL IN THERE.I'M KIND OF ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT READS EVERYTHING.
AND, UH, I FOUND THE LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY IN THIS TO BE PRETTY DAUNTING.
UH, I THINK THAT RATHER THAN SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS, UH, THE WHOLE THING HAS BECOME A LOT MORE COMPLEX BY, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU INTRODUCE IT AS BEING GRADED BASED UPON THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT.
PERHAPS THAT IS THE CASE, BUT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THE WAY IT SEEMS TO BE, AT LEAST THE WAY IT'S BEEN PRESENTED, SEEMS TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY THAT, YOU KNOW, FAR EXCEEDS NECESSITY.
NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING OUT.
UH, IT WAS MENTIONED BY MATT THAT, UH, HE'S MEN, YOU KNOW, THAT HE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE BUILDING COMMUNITY.
I, I FORGET THE EXACT TERM HE USED.
I FIND IT INTERESTING IN, UH, ALL THESE HOME PRESENTATIONS WE'VE HAD IN, IN THEIR VARIOUS INCARNATIONS.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS OF THE TOWN, BUT WE'VE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE DEVELOPER COMMUNITY WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS.
THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN UP TO DEFEND THE BENEFITS OF THESE CHANGES AND HOW THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON IN THE LONG RUN WOULD SEE THE POSITIVE RESULTS OF THESE CHANGES.
I THINK THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.
OBSERVATION DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, IS JUST SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED TO ME RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I SAW IN THE PRESENTATION SAID 20 TO 40% OF A COST OF A PROJECT IS FLOOD DETENTION AND DRAINAGE.
IS THAT CORRECT, MATT? UH, THAT'S, THAT'S A PERMITTING COST, NOT THE ACTUAL COST OF BUILDING THE PROJECT.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T, UH, MAKE THAT CLEAR.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE COST OF DRAINAGE AND FLOOD, UH, DETENTION IS SUBSTANTIAL.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT.
SO, UH, I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO LIVED DOWN OFF OF, UH, ONION CREEK AND THE CITY WITH SOME FUNDING FROM THE FEDS BOUGHT UP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOUSES DOWN THERE BECAUSE OF FLOODING.
UH, SO ARE WE LOOKING AT SAVING MONEY IN THE FRONT END OF THE PROJECT ONLY TO SPEND IT ON THE BACK END WHEN WE HAVE TO BUY OUT HOMES BECAUSE OF THE DRAINAGE, UH, THAT NOW IS FLOODING INTO THE, UH, STORM SEWERS AND, UH, DOWN THE STREETS AND SO FORTH? I MEAN, HAS SOMEONE DONE A LIFECYCLE COST ANALYSIS OF THIS? UH, WE HAVEN'T DONE A LIFECYCLE COST.
I THINK THE, UM, THERE WAS, THERE WAS SOME ANALYSIS OR, OR WORK DONE TO, UH, ON THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA, MANUAL CHANGE, UH, UH, UH, SOME YEARS AGO THAT TALKED ABOUT THESE SMALL PROJECTS AND SOMETHING UP TO ONE ACRE OR UP TO HALF AN ACRE, UM, COULD GET, HAVE A STUDY DONE ON A PROJECT TO SEE IF IT COULD, IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE, UH, IF THE, THE HARMS WOULD BE MINIMAL, UH, AND, AND EASILY HANDLED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.
UM, AND SO I, I BELIEVE, AND KEVIN, I DON'T KNOW IF, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, SHOW US THE DATA.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WAS DONE ON THAT, BUT IT, IT, UM, THESE, THE SCALE OF THE PRO, IT'S THE SCALE OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN, IN RELATION TO THE LOCAL FLOOD DRAINAGE SIZES.
AND CERTAINLY THE CREEK FLOOD DRAINAGE SIZES ARE PRETTY DARN SMALL.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S GIVING US THE, WHAT, THAT'S WHAT'S LEADING TO OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THIS.
WELL, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE, UH, IN A MODERATE RAINSTORM, THE STREETS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD FLOOD.
SO WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU GET TO AN INTERSECTION, UH, I'VE SEEN CARTS STALLED OUT AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.
SO IF HOUSES IN THAT AREA BUILD WITH INCREASING DENSITY AND JUST DUMP THEIR WATER INTO THE STREET, UH, BECAUSE THEY CAN, THERE'S NOT SUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT AREA TO CARRY OFF THE WATER THAT'S ALREADY THERE, LET ALONE ADDITIONAL WATER.
AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NO PLAN BY THE CITY TO ADJUST THAT.
NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME YOU TALK ABOUT THAT THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT WHEN A LARGE
[02:45:01]
SCALE SUBDIVISION OF, SAY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED ACRES IS PLANNED, THAT SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENTS IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS.THE, THE, THE, THE, THE PLANNING, THE PLATING AND ALL THAT OTHER SORT OF FUN STUFF WILL APPLY WHEN PEOPLE PUT NUMEROUS SMALL BUILDINGS IN THEIR BACKYARDS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY, I MEAN, THERE'S NO PROOF OF THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SEWAGE AND THE WATER DEMANDS AND ALL THAT ARE GONNA UPSCALE TREMENDOUSLY AS WILL THE RUNOFF AND OTHER THINGS.
AS YOU UPSCALE WITH THAT AND THE CHART THAT YOU SHOWED, THAT AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH THAT SHOWED THAT SINGLE HOUSE THAT DIDN'T DEVELOP, BUT ALL THE HOUSES AROUND IT DID DEVELOP, IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, HAS ANYONE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE INCREASED, UH, COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD TO CARRY THE EXTRA WASTE, WATER, WATER, ALL THAT OTHER SORT OF STUFF IN THERE? OR IS THIS JUST, IS THERE THE ASSUMPTION THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, KNOW THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL, WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT? WELL, THE, UM, I'M, I'M, I'M, I, I WORK FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.
THOSE WERE, UH, QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED OF COUNCIL OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BACK WHEN HOME ONE AND TWO WERE GOING THROUGH.
BUT I DON'T, I I CAN'T, I CAN'T ANSWER THOSE, UM, AT THIS POINT.
NOW YOU ARE WAIVING A LOT OF FEES IN HERE.
UH, WE JUST WENT THROUGH A BUDGET THING, UH, WHERE THE CITY IS SHORT MONEY AND YOU'RE WAIVING FEES.
UH, WHAT'S THE, UH, ANTICIPATED IMPACT ON THE, ON THE FINANCES OF THE CITY FOR ALL THESE FEES YOU'RE WAIVING? UH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT OFFHAND.
UH, WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT INTERNALLY.
UM, THE, I MEAN, A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR REVENUE COME FROM THESE VERY TINY PROJECTS AT PRESENT.
UM, AND THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE PROBABLY PRETTY SIMILAR, UH, WITH THIS IN TERMS OF THE IMPACTS.
UM, IF WE DO INCREASE THAT ONE PROPOSAL WHERE WE SAY YOU CAN GO FROM, UH, HALF AN ACRE TO AN ACRE, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BRING IN REVENUE FOR THOSE PROJECTS AS WELL.
UM, SO IT, IT WOULD, THERE WOULD BE SOME BALANCING.
UM, IF WE LOST SOME ON ONE SIDE, WE'D GET A LITTLE MORE, BUT THAT'S, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULDN'T BE A MAJOR CONSIDERATION IN TERMS OF OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT'S, IT'S NOT A, UM, I DON'T KNOW.
I, I, I SHOULD PROBABLY GO BACK AND TALK TO OUR FINANCIAL PEOPLE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THIS, THAT'S NOT A MAJOR, UM, DRIVER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CITY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, PULLING UP THE COUCH CUSHIONS, TRYING TO FUND FOR, UH, FUND FOR PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE POLICE SALARIES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SALARIES, IT'S, UH, SEEMS TO ME THAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE MONEY THAT WE'RE LEAVING ON THE TABLE.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOT COLLECTING FEES FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM THE CITY IS LEGITIMATELY ENTITLED TO IN THIS TYPE OF THING.
UM, NOW THERE'S IN, IN THE WRITE UP, THERE'S THINGS, THE TERMS THAT YOU DON'T DEFINE, UH, HOLLYWOOD STRIPS.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S A HOLLYWOOD STRIP? I LOOKED THAT UP ON GOOGLE AND I CAN'T USE THE TERM THAT CAME BACK ON GOOGLE FOR WHAT A HOLLYWOOD STRIP IS.
UM, I THAT YOU, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT A LOT OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT, THAT NEED TO TRIM DOWN THEIR PREVIOUS COVER, INSTEAD OF HAVING A MONOLITHICALLY, YOU KNOW, SORT OF JUST ONE PORE OF THEIR CONCRETE ON THEIR, ON THEIR, ON THEIR DRIVEWAY.
WE'LL USE, UH, STRIPS OF CONCRETE WITH GRAVEL IN BETWEEN, UM, ON FOR, TO, TO MEET THEIR IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMIT.
I THINK THAT THE SORT OF, THE NICKNAME FOR THAT IS A HOLLY HOLLYWOOD STRIP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT THE NAME.
I DIDN'T WRITE THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE THING.
WELL, YOU NEED TO LET GOOGLE KNOW.
WHAT'S A MINOR DRIVEWAY? WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN? WELL, THERE'S ANOTHER TERM IN THERE CALLED A MINOR DRIVEWAY.
WHAT'S A MINOR DRIVEWAY? I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, LINDY, DO YOU? OKAY.
WELL, IT'S IN YOUR PRESENTATION, SO I WOULD'VE THOUGHT YOU KNEW.
UH, NOW IT SAYS REDUCED JOINT USE ACCESS EASEMENTS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UM, UH, JOINT ACCESS EASEMENTS.
I'M GONNA GET, I'M GONNA TEE UP LINDY HERE IN CASE I GET IN TROUBLE.
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS.
UM, BUT WHEN YOU SUBDIVIDE A LOT, YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO HAVE ACCESS FOR THE FOLKS AT THE BACK.
YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE A LONG, SKINNY LOT, AND SO YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY.
SO THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, LIKE MAYBE THERE'S THREE LOTS.
SO YOU, YOU'RE CREATING THREE NEW LOTS.
SO YOU HAVE ONE AT THE BACK, ONE IN THE MIDDLE, ONE AT THE FRONT.
SO YOU HAVE THESE, YOU CAN HAVE A DRIVEWAY GO AWAY TO THE BACK, AND YOU COULD, YOU
[02:50:01]
COULD, BUT ONE OPTION IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE SHARE THE DRIVEWAY.SO YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT CREATING EXTRA IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO EVERYBODY HASN'T, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL DRIVEWAY, WHICH WOULD BE EXCESSIVE.
LINDY, DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? I'M MAKE SURE I'M NOT OFF RIGHT.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DRIVEWAYS THAT ARE PERMITTED PER LOT.
AND, UM, FOR THINGS LIKE FLAG LOTS WHERE THEY HAVE A NARROW STRIP, UH, THAT'S, UM, CONNECTING THE REAR LOTS TO THE FRONTAGE, UM, SOMETIMES THOUGH IT CAN GO DOWN TO AS MINIMAL AS FIVE FEET.
AND IN THOSE CASES, UM, PROPERTIES WILL HAVE TO SHARE A DRIVEWAY.
YEAH, I UNDERSTAND JOINT EASEMENTS, UH, FOR PARK OR FOR DRIVEWAYS, THERE'S SOME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WHEN IT SAYS REDUCED JOINT USE ACCESS EASEMENT, APPARENTLY THAT MEANS CHANGING SOME ASPECT OF THE JOINT USE EASEMENT BY REDUCTION.
SO WHAT ARE WE REDUCING? UH, SO IN, UM, ATTACHMENT A, I BELIEVE IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, WHICH TALKS ABOUT OUR PROPOSAL, UM, TP W'S PROPOSAL AS PART OF KIND OF WHAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING.
UM, IN ADDITION TO OUR ORDINANCE AND THAT PARTICULAR COMPONENT, THEY RIGHT NOW TO GET A JOINT USE, UM, ACCESS AGREEMENT, YOU, IT'S A, IT'S A REQUEST.
YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN APPLICATION MATERIALS.
AND I BELIEVE WHAT, UM, TPW IS, IS REDUCING, IS JUST THE AMOUNT OF, UM, MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THEIR APPLICATION.
NOW, THERE'S A PHRASE IN THERE THAT SAYS, AUSTIN WATER HAS EXPRESSED ITS WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SER PROCESS TO HELP APPLICANTS ACHIEVE GREATER CERTAINTY ON LIKELY INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS EARLIER IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
CAN SOMEONE TRANSLATE THAT INTO ENGLISH FOR ME? OF COURSE.
UM, AND I REALIZE I DIDN'T INTRODUCE MYSELF, BUT I'M LINDY GARWOOD WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
UM, SO AGAIN, AS PART OF, UM, THE OVERALL PROJECT, THERE'S THE ORDINANCE ITSELF THAT WILL, THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
AND THEN THERE'S KEY CRITERIA THAT, UM, WATERSHED HAS PUT FORWARD FOR THE, UM, AS PROPOSED POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA.
MANUAL TRANSPORTATION HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED SOME KEY ASPECTS OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AS, UM, CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS TOWARDS THESE, UH, TOWARDS THE GOAL OF INFILL AND AUSTIN WATER HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED, AND WHAT AUSTIN I WATER IDENTIFIED IN THE STATEMENT THAT YOU READ IS CURRENTLY, UM, SUBDIVISION PROJECTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.
UM, AND IT'S AN ANALYSIS, AND PLEASE EXCUSE ME IF I GET THIS WRONG, UH, IF, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT AN SER IS, SO YOU DO HAVE OH, TO EXPLAIN THAT PART.
UH, THE SPECIFIC PHRASE THAT THEY WERE, OR WORKING TO MOVE IT, UM, TO EARLIER DETERMINATIONS, WELL EXPLORE POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SER PROCESS TO HELP APPLICANTS ACHIEVE GREATER CERTAINTY ON LIKELY INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.
IT, THAT'S SUITABLY VAGUE AS TO MEAN ALMOST NOTHING.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN? SO SINCE I'M NOT, I AM NOT WITH AUSTIN WATER, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY, UM, LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, BUT AS PART OF THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, AND COMMUNICATION WITH, UM, DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS, THEY'VE JUST EXPRESSED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND IT CAN CAUSE, UH, THE COST OF A PROJECT TO, UM, HAVE A LARGE BILL AND KIND OF THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT AFTER THEY'VE SUBMITTED FOR SUBDIVISION.
AND IT GETS VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEN THEY FIND OUT THROUGH THE SER PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE A HU THAT THEY HAVE A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, PAYMENT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.
AND SO THEN IT EFFECTIVELY, UM, KILLS THE PROJECT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT THEY CAN'T PENCIL OUT WITH THIS, WITH THE, UM, WITH THE, WITH WHAT WOULD REQUIRE FOR THE SERVICE EXTENSION.
AND SO GAINING CERTAINTY ON THE FRONT END AND KIND OF GETTING IN A DETERMINATION EARLIER IN THAT PROCESS TO HELP DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROJECT WILL PENCIL IS SOMETHING THAT APPLICANTS WERE HOPING FOR.
AND I BELIEVE THE AUSTIN OR AUSTIN WATER HEARD THAT, AND I BELIEVE IS TAKING THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION ABOUT HOW TO GET SOME OF THAT CERTAINTY SO THAT PROJECTS DON'T INVEST SO MUCH ON THE FRONT END, UM, IN THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS PRIOR TO ACTUALLY LEARNING ABOUT WHAT THAT FEE MIGHT BE.
AND THERE'S NO ONE, UH, YOU SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, YOU KNOW, FROM VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
THERE'S NO ONE FROM AUSTIN WATER THERE TO SPEAK TO AUSTIN WATER ISSUES.
[02:55:02]
MATT, IS THERE SOMEONE PERHAPS IN THE ROOM? I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYONE WHO, UH, NO.WELL, THE REASON I ASK IS THIS WAS IN THE PRESENTATION PREPARED BY WATERSHED, AND I WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD'VE HAD FOLKS THEY'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
SO THAT'S, NO, WE, I MEAN, KIND OF THE DIRECTION I'M GOING WITH THAT, THIS IS A CITY PRESENTATION AND WE'LL OWN THE WHOLE THING HERE.
WE, BUT THE, UH, THE STAFF REPORT WAS MORE GENERAL.
IT WAS, IT WAS INTENDED FOR PLANNING COMMISSION FOR Y'ALL, ET CETERA, FOR JUST, UM, A WIDER TOPIC, I GUESS TODAY WATERSHED IS FOCUSING ON THE DRAINAGE ASPECTS.
AND SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AUSTIN WATER TOPIC THAT'S A LITTLE OUTTA SCOPE OF TODAY'S, UH, DISCUSSION.
UM, SO I DON'T, WE DID, SO WE DID NOT LINE UP ANYBODY TO TALK ABOUT SCRS.
IT'S NOT PART OF THE ORDINANCE OKAY.
BUT IT IS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT WE ALL PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
UH, I JUST, I TRULY APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE STAFF AND THERE'S SOMETIMES, I GUESS, SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF SORT OF THREADING THAT NEEDLE OF DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL FOR ITEMS LIKE THIS THAT SEEK TO ALLEVIATE OUR NEED FOR CRITICAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, WITHOUT SACRIFICING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIMINISHING RETURNS, AND THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.
I, I JUST HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN ANY PROOF OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE THAT LINE IS AND DEFINING WHERE WE'VE SET THESE LEVERS AND WHAT ENABLES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT DOESN'T PUT THAT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY HARD FOUGHT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.
UM, SO I'LL JUST, I'M GONNA ANCHOR ALL MY CONCERNS IN THAT.
UM, BUT QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY, I WENT BACK TO OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM MAY.
UM, I WASN'T THERE, SO I WAS TRYING TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF.
UM, SO OUR RECOMMENDATION SUPPORTING HOME TWO IS CONDITIONAL ON MAINTAINING CURRENT PROTECTION FOR TREES AND IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS.
SO DOES THIS, AND I'M SORRY IF I'M OVERSIMPLIFYING THIS, DECREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS, LIKE DOES IT ALLOW FOR MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER? UM, SO GREAT QUESTION.
UM, AND SO THIS PROPOSAL HOME ONE, HOME TWO AND THIS INFO PLAT ORDINANCE SLASH SITE PLAN LIGHT, NONE OF THESE PROPOSALS, UH, PROPOSE INCREASES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER, YOU KNOW, ALLOW INCREASED IMPERVIOUS COVER ON PROJECTS.
AND THAT WAS PART OF THE COMFORT ZONE FOR US AS STAFF THINKING.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE PRODUCTS THAT LOOK REALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE GETTING WITH THE BUILDING PERMITS, UH, UH, PHASE.
AND THEN SIMILARLY, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT AS MUCH, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO THE, UM, OR SUGGESTED, OR RECOMMENDED AT ALL TO THE TREE PROTECTION.
SO YOU'D STILL HAVE OUR STANDARD TREE PROTECTIONS PLUS OUR, UH, HERITAGE TREE PROTECTIONS.
AND I DID DOUBLE CHECK THAT WITH KEITH MARS FROM DSD, WHO'S A QUITE AN EXPERT ON THAT TOPIC.
I REALIZE THAT GREAT QUESTION THOUGH, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THAT SCOPE.
UH, ARE THERE SETBACKS FOR CITY RECOGNIZED DRAINAGE AREAS WITH THIS? UM, PARDON? UH, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? SORRY, I WAS TAKING NOTES ON THE LAST THING.
WOULD THERE BE SETBACKS FOR CITY RECOGNIZED DRAINAGE AREAS FOR THIS? OH, I SEE.
UH, LIKE LOCAL FLOOD PROBLEM AREAS, IS THAT, UM, THAT IS NOT IN THIS PROPOSAL.
I THINK THE, UM, WE, WE DEFINITELY TALKED ABOUT THAT INTERNALLY.
UM, LOCAL FLOOD PROBLEM AREAS ARE A TRICKY ANIMAL.
UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOME DATA ON IT.
WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A FLOOD, UH, LOCAL FLOOD DRAINAGE SYSTEM, UH, CIP PROJECT IN THE WORKS THAT WE WOULD, THAT WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME YEARS TO EXECUTE AND COMPLETE, UH, WHICH WOULD GIVE US MUCH MORE SYSTEMATIC DATA ON OUR LOCAL FLOOD DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
I THINK THE, THE MAIN IMPETUS, SO IF YOU'RE THINKING, WOW, THIS, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION, I THINK THE MAIN INFORMATION WE'RE OPERATING FROM IS WE DO SEE EXTREMELY LOW KINDS OF IMPACTS AND EXTRA PRESSURES ON THE SYSTEM FROM THESE INDIVIDUAL VERY SMALL PROJECTS.
AND THAT'S GIVING US THE, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S HELPING US, HELPING US LEAD TO THIS RECOMMENDATION WE'RE MAKING.
SO, AND, UH, YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT TOPIC.
WE DIVE INTO THAT MORE IF YOU WANT TO.
UH, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE UPDATES TO THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS THERE TOO AS WELL.
UM, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT AND, AND HOW YOU GUYS WOULD GO ABOUT SORT OF PROVING UP SOME OF THOSE UNKNOWNS? UH, I MIGHT TURN TO LINDY ON THE, I I FORGET IF IT'S, I FORGET IF WE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO PASS THE ORDINANCE FIRST AND THEN WE MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
THAT'S PROB THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY MY ASSUMPTION.
LINDY, DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THIS YES.
SO BASICALLY THE CRITERIA MANUALS ARE ALL ROUTE, UM, ROOTED IN THE CODE ITSELF.
AND SO UNTIL THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED AND IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE CODE,
[03:00:01]
UM, WE CAN'T REALLY MAKE THE CHANGES IN THE CRITERIA MANUAL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT'S NECESSARY.UM, TO REFERENCE BACK TO IN THE CRITERIA MANUALS, HOWEVER, WE ARE, UM, ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY KEYED UP TO, UM, THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY REVIEW PANEL KNOWN AS THE TARP.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY KEYED UP TO THEIR, UM, LEAD, BUT WE WILL HAVE CRITERIA, MANUAL CHANGES, AND HE'S AWARE AND, UM, IS READY TO ACT, UM, ON THOSE ITEMS WHEN AND IF COUNSEL, UM, APPROVES THE ORDINANCE AND, AND LINDY, WOULD YOU GUESS THAT THAT WOULD BE IN THE FALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? OR LATE FALL WINTER? I, UH, THAT'S MY, THAT'S ANYWAY, MY, I'M LOOKING OVER TO OUR TEAM IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA TOO.
IT WOULD ALSO, IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHEN COUNCIL, IF, YOU KNOW, A, IF COUNCIL ADOPTED, BUT B, WHEN COUNCIL ADOPTED AND WHEN COUNCIL SET THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE, BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING FOR DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION IN ORDER TO GET, UM, STAFF TRAINED AND AN APPROPRIATE, UM, UPDATE TO OUR APPLICATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO, UM, THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE MAY ALSO IMPACT WHEN THE CRITERIA MANUALS COULD BE UPDATED.
SO WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, UM, IT, IT COULD BE, UH, FALL, WINTER, OR EVEN THE SPRING THAT THAT TAKES PLACE.
WE, WE DID RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE GOT LOTS OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, LOTS OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS, AND WE GOT GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE INFILL, UH, DEVELOPMENT COALITION FOLKS.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THEM, UH, OR AT LEAST WE HEARD FROM THEM THROUGH THIS LETTER THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS ADEQUATE.
THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS, ANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE GONNA MOVE FORWARD UNDER THIS, YOU KNOW, UNDER THIS ONE PROVISION WITH DR WITH, WITH DETENTION.
THAT, THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS THAT WILL BE BARRIERS AS WELL.
UH, AS IN THIS ISN'T, YOU KNOW, SO I, I DON'T EXPECT, HUH UH, ANYWAY, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
WELL THAT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND JUST THE PROCESS, SO THANK YOU.
DOES THE, SO THE TARP IS WHO I GUESS SORT OF SOMEWHAT ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVES THOSE CHANGE TO THE, THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR AMENDING THEN THE REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM? AND I'M GONNA TRY NOT TO USE ACRONYMS TOO MUCH.
REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
SO THAT IS A, WE, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE MAIN LANGUAGE OF, OF THE, OF THE REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL.
SO, SO THE, THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA, MANUAL CHANGES WOULD BE, UH, WOULD BE MODIFYING THE, THE REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, IF THAT, IF THAT DOES MOVE FORWARD.
THOSE ARE THOSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
DETAILS ARE A SUBSET OF THE DRAINAGE CRITERIA MANUAL.
IT'S ONE, ONE CHAPTER ON, ON THE NOMENCLATURE, UM, CONVERSATION THAT COMMISSIONER BRIMER BROUGHT UP.
UM, IS THE MISSING MIDDLE MENTIONED IN CODE ANYWHERE.
THIS WAS SORT OF A NEW, UH, PLACE FOR ME TO SEE IT MENTIONED IN SO MANY PLACES, UM, LEADING INTO THIS.
UM, MISSING MIDDLE AS A TERM, UM, WAS I DON'T I, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT GOES BACK.
UH, UH, IT'D BE AN EXCELLENT THING TO GOOGLE, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, IT CAME UP IN SPADES IN THE CODE NEXT PROCESS IN THE, IN THE, YOU KNOW, LATE LATE, WHAT WAS THAT? UM, DAVE, THAT'S PROBABLY 2016 OR 17.
YEAH, IT WAS BROUGHT BY THE CONSULTANT.
SO THEY, THEY INTRODUCED IT AND THEY, THEY HAVE THIS GRAPHIC THAT I THINK A LOT OF US RE REMEMBER AND IT SHOWED, YOU KNOW, LIKE A HOUSE AND A DU ONE, ONE SINGLE HOME AND A DUPLEX, AND THEN THIS KIND OF BIG GRADATION OF OTHER TYPES OF HOUSING PROJECTS TO TOWN HOMES, FOURPLEXES, THREE PLEXES, ET CETERA.
AND THEN ON UP TO VERY LARGE APARTMENTS.
AND IT SHOWED, HEY, AUSTIN'S CODE JUST DOES THESE TWO STREAM BOOKENDS.
NONE OF THIS MIDDLE STUFF IS SUPPORTED.
SO THEY CALLED IT THE MISSING MIDDLE 'CAUSE IT WAS SORT OF MISSING IN ACTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK TO GO, UH, TO LOOK FOR THAT AND NO.
UM, YEAH, THAT'S GOOD FOR ALL, ALL LISTENING.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE PLUG IN THE BACKGROUND.
UM, MY MAJOR CONCERN, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE, ARE SHARING THIS IS JUST HAS TO DO WITH ADJACENCY.
IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A DENSITY OF THESE PROJECTS IN ONE AREA, UM, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN JUST THESE ONE-OFF SMALL LOTS WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE, UM, THEORETICALLY HARMLESS.
UH, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE ASSUMPTIONS ARE ABOUT THAT SCENARIO? UM, YEAH, AND TALKING WITH OUR STAFF, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE OR TWO OR THREE OF THESE IS, ARE GONNA BE REALLY DIFFICULT IN, IN MOST CASES, TO, TO MEASURE.
UM, IF YOU HAD AN ENTIRE BLOCK, YOU KNOW, DO THIS ON BOTH SIDES, UM, UH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY AT ALL.
AND IN FACT, WE'RE NOT EVEN EXPECTING THIS TO HAPPEN UNTIL A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS MOVE FORWARD WITH OTHER, OTHER PIECES AS
[03:05:01]
WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.BUT, UM, EVEN WITH, YOU KNOW, A PRETTY SATURATED LEVEL, WE'RE NOT EXPECTING A HUGE, UH, YOU KNOW, THESE, IF YOU AND WE ARE VERY AWARE OF AND VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LOCAL FLOOD PROBLEMS IN OUR, IN OUR, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY, WE, WE TAKE A LOT OF DATA ON IT.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE STUDY THAT SHOWS FOR, FOR MORE INFORMATION.
UM, AND SO WE, WE IDENTIFY, UH, PROJECTS FOR SOLUTIONS THERE THAT, THAT, TO HELP, TO HELP SOLVE THOSE, TO HELP, TO HELP THE CONVEYANCE, THE DRAINAGE, YOU KNOW, WORK BETTER.
AND SO IF FOLKS ARE IN AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY, YOU KNOW, UNDER STRESS, I WOULD TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT PROBABLY IF I WERE IN THEIR SHOES, I'D BE GOING, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU GONNA, YOU KNOW, PILE ON TO THAT SITUATION? AND I, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS MOST ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT AS WE CAME FORWARD WITH THIS, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE WE GONNA EXACERBATE THESE ISSUES? AND THE ANSWER WAS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAYBE YOU'VE GOT SIX INCHES OF PONDING AND THAT'S A PROBLEM IN THIS SPOT, THIS IS GONNA ADD, YOU KNOW, 0.1 TO THAT OR SOMETHING LIKE 6.1 INSTEAD OF SIX.
SO THAT, THAT SORT OF, THAT SORT OF MAGNITUDE OF JUST LIKE BARELY CHANGING THINGS.
AND SO COUNCIL'S LOOKING AT THIS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HARD JOB.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE LIKE, YOU, YOU, YOU CAME, YOU HAD A NICE SUMMARY AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
THEY'RE BALANCING THESE PRIORITIES AND THESE, AND, AND THE LEVEL OF RISK.
AND SO RIGHT NOW THE LEVEL OF RISK FOR MISSING MIDDLE IS VERY HIGH.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING BILLED BECAUSE THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE IS BASICALLY ELIMINATING, UH, THE THEM FROM BEING FE UH, FEASIBLE, UM, IN MOST CASES.
AND SO HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE BALANCE THIS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY VERY, VERY MINOR AND TINY AND, YOU KNOW, NUDGE, UH, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND FLOOD RISK VERSUS SOMETHING ELSE.
AND I, I DON'T LOVE TALKING ABOUT IT 'CAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.
I, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TOPIC AND I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S NO, UH, THESE ARE, THESE ARE WHY THESE ARE TOUGH POLICY QUESTIONS AND WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND TO SPEAK TO, UM, THE INFILL PLAT PORTION, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, A, A NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, A STREET THAT DID TODAY, BUILT AN ENTIRE ROW OF HOUSES THAT USED 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR THEIR SINGLE FAMILY.
OR THEY BUILT THREE UNITS WITH 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER, OR THEY SUBDIVIDED AND PUT THREE UNITS WITH SUBDIVISION BETWEEN, BUT THEY STILL ONLY HAD 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
IT'S THIS, IT WOULD BE THE SAME EFFECT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH RUNOFF AND IMPERVIOUS COVER THERE WAS FOR, FOR THOSE KIND OF SUPER INFILL PROJECTS WHERE WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, SITES THAT ARE 8,500 SQUARE FEET AND YOU'RE PUTTING THREE HOUSES OR THREE HOUSES WITH IMAGINARY LINES BETWEEN THEM.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A SUPER IMPORTANT POINT.
I PROBABLY DID NOT MAKE THAT ENOUGH IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE'RE JUST, WE'RE GETTING LOTS OF INFIELD DEVELOPMENT ALREADY.
AND SO, AND LIKE IN ONE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH, WITH SOMEBODY THAT APPROACHED US ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD I JUST GO AHEAD AND DO A EASY PEASY FOURPLEX BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THE SITE PLAN LIGHT PART ONE? OR SHOULD I PROVIDE MORE HOUSING, MAYBE MORE AFFORDABLE? 'CAUSE THE UNITS ARE A LOT SMALLER.
UM, EH, I DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH TWO YEARS OF, OF PERMITTING.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND JUST DEFAULT TO LARGE SCALE HOUSES, WHICH WOULD, YOU KNOW, WOULD SERVE A HIGH HIGHEND, UH, NICHE, UH, MARKET, UH, AND SO FORTH.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE, AGAIN, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT COUNCIL WAS LOOKING AT.
I THINK ON THE, UH, LINDY REALLY NAILED IT WITH THE LINES ON THE PAPER.
I THINK THE VERY SMALLEST LEVEL THEY WERE THINKING, HOW DO WE MAKE SOMETHING THAT, AND I MENTIONED IT IN THE PRESENTATION, HOW DO WE MAKE SOMETHING THAT'S IDENTICAL SIDE BY SIDE, JUST HAS ONE SUBDIVIDED, ONE'S NOT, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT WORK? SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF PIECES TO THIS THAT PROBABLY CAN BE LOOKED AT SEPARATELY.
AND I GUESS LASTLY, LIKE, IT JUST KIND OF KEEPS COMING UP THAT THIS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THIS IS GONNA BE ENOUGH TO REALLY APPEASE THIS, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABILITY, YOU KNOW, THESE PROJECTS FOR MOVING FORWARD.
SO DOES STAFF TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS SMALL STEP ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IS, IS WORTH THE RISK? UM, WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS, UM, THIS IS THE TASK PUT IN FRONT OF US AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS IT AND SEE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE MEET THE COUNCIL REQUEST AND PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS NUANCED, UM, UH, THREE TIERED SYSTEM THAT WE THINK IS GONNA WORK REALLY WELL TO, UM, HELP THE PROJECTS, UM, HELP, HELP AREAS WITH THE, WITH TOPOGRAPHY.
THAT IS, IS THE, THE, THE MOST, UH, MOST FAVORABLE TO DOING THIS, TO WORKING THE BEST AND, AND, AND MAYBE BEING THE EASIEST TO DO AND THE, AND THE MOST FAVORED BY THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND VERSUS, UM, AND
[03:10:01]
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, DRAINAGE IS A BIG PIECE OF THIS.IT'S NOT THE ONLY PIECE, BUT IT'S A BIG PIECE.
THE OTHER PIECE WILL COME WITH CRITERIA AND MAYBE SOME WILL EVEN COME LATER WITH CODE AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THE DIFFERENT PIECES FORWARD AS BEST WE CAN, AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE CONTROL OVER THE, THE FULL PICTURE.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE TASK.
UH, THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY BE COVERED BY ALL OTHER FOLKS.
UM, COMMISSIONER EINHORN, ON SLIDE 19, YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT THE, THE PROJECTS OF LESS THAN 0.5 ACRES AND REDUCING THE CONNECTION REQUIREMENT FROM 550 TO 300 FEET, 300 FEET.
IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, IN THE PRESENTATION WE RECEIVED ABOUT THE, UM, LAB SCULPTURE GARDEN, WE SAW THE IMPACT OF DOWN SLOPE PROPERTIES FOR DRAINAGE.
WHEN THERE'S NO CURB AND GUTTER, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE AUSTIN STREET GRID HAS NO CURB AND GUTTER OR STORM DRAINS? I MEAN, IF WE'RE, I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO VISUALIZE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT'S RUNNING IN THE STREET, AND WHAT I'M VISUALIZING IS A LOT OF WATER AND THAT WATER'S GOING SOMEWHERE.
SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW THIS IS IMPACTING.
WHEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USING, UM, I MEAN, STREETS ARE ACTUALLY, UH, STREETS ARE ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO CONVEY WATER.
UM, WHEN YOU DESIGN A SUBDIVISION, UH, THE, THE, THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CARRY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE WATER.
AND THEN IF THAT IS SUCCEEDED BY GIGANTIC FLOOD, THEN THE STREET ITSELF ACTUALLY BECOMES, UH, THE, THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM.
BUT AS YOU ACCURATELY NOTE, THERE ARE HERE AND THERE AREAS OF TOWN THAT DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, FULL BLOWN, UH, CURB AND GUTTER.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE, MORE, UH, SORT OF RURAL ANTIQUATED KIND OF STUFF.
I'M GONNA TURN TO MY F MY GOOD FRIEND RAMESH, SHAMA.
NATHAN, DO YOU HAVE A GUESSTIMATE OR WOULD YOU KNOW HOW WE WOULD FIGURE OUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR STREETS, UH, HAVE CURB AND GUTTER VERSUS SOME SORT OF LAY DOWN CURVE THAT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, KIND OF OLD SCHOOL? I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION.
I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER FOR THAT.
I WILL LOOK IT UP AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU ALL TOO.
SO I, I AM VERY IN FAVOR OF THE DENSITY, UH, THAT THAT WAS, THAT WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THE RECENT CHANGES IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
AND I'M, I'M, I'M TRYING TO SQUARE THAT AND THE GOAL OF INCREASED AFFORDABILITY WITH THIS, UH, THESE CHANGES.
UH, AND I'M MINDFUL OF WHAT BOBBY SHARED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR AN INCREASE FROM 45 TO 65% OF OUS COVER.
AND I'M MINDFUL THAT A LOT OF DEVELOPERS WILL DO THAT.
I'M, AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY EVEN OPPOSED TO THAT, BUT CERTAINLY WE'VE GOTTA HAVE SOME SORT OF, UH, STORM WATER CONTROL FOR THOSE TYPES OF PROPERTIES.
I, I, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT, UH, STORM WATER RETENTION DETENTION PONDS ARE COSTLY AND, UM, CAN, CAN AND HAMPER PROJECTS.
ARE THERE NO OTHER TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN BE USED TO EFFECTIVELY SLOW THE FLOW OF WATER OFF OF THESE PROPERTIES? UH, I MEAN, I WOULD HONESTLY ANSWER CONVEYANCE IN THE STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS OUR MAIN ANSWER.
AND THEN, AND THEN, AND WE ARE SYSTEMATICALLY GRINDING AWAY AT TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE THOSE POSITIVE CHANGES AND UPGRADE THOSE WITH CIP PROJECTS WITH OUR FIELD OPERATIONS GROUP, ET CETERA.
SO IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO MANAGE THE HYDRO.
THERE'S A, OKAY, I'M GONNA GET SUPER INTO JARGON.
UM, I'LL, I'LL DO THE JARGON AND THEN I'LL EXPLAIN IT.
WELL, SO ENGINEERS TALK A LOT ABOUT, I'M ACTUALLY NOT AN ENGINEER, I'M A ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER, BUT I'VE WORKED WITH ENGINEERS FOREVER.
SO, UM, ENGINEERS TALK ABOUT HYDROLOGY AND THEY TALK ABOUT HYDRAULICS.
SOUNDS KIND OF SIMILAR, RIGHT? WELL, THE HYDROLOGY IS JUST ABOUT THE WATER HITTING THE LAND AND RUNNING OFF AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND CREATING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WATER ONCE THEN THE ENGINEERS TAKE THAT AMOUNT OF WATER AND PUT IT INTO THE HYDRAULIC MODEL AND FIGURE OUT LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON AS THE, AS THE WATERS KIND OF CONVEYED, AS IT RUNS THROUGH A CHANNEL OR UP STREET OR WHATEVER IT IS.
AND SO IT IS SUPER HARD IN AN URBANIZED SETTING TO CONTROL HYDROLOGY.
THESE PROJECTS ARE GONNA BE HOLDING BACK TINY AMOUNTS WITH, IF THEY DO HAVE DETENTION PONDS, THEY CAN BE HOLDING BACK TEENY TINY AMOUNTS OF WATER.
WE'RE RELATIVE TO THESE DRAINAGE AREAS, EVEN IN RELATIVELY SMALL STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS. AND SO, UM, I, I THINK OUR SOLUTIONS ARE GONNA COME MORE ON THE HYDRAULIC END, MEANING WE'RE GONNA NEED, YOU KNOW, OUR STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AND, AND WE, AND THAT IS A, THAT IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THIS STAFF RECOMME RECOMMENDATION IS WE'RE NOT SAYING, OH MAN, WE'RE GONNA RIP THE PANDORA'S BOX OPEN WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
WE THINK THAT THEY, THEY'RE GONNA BE VERY MUTED IMPACTS FROM THIS, UM, ON THE LOCAL DRAINAGE
[03:15:01]
SYSTEM.AND WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO NUANCE THIS SO WE CAN HELP ACHIEVE THE COUNCIL'S GOALS WHILE, WHILE HOLDING, HOLDING LINE ON A, ON A, ON A, ON A DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT THAT WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, SO WHERE THERE ARE STORM DRAINS, HAS THERE BEEN A SORT OF A, A SYSTEMIC OR SYSTEM WIDE ASSESSMENT OF THE CAPACITY OF THE STORM DRAINS TO HANDLE ADDITIONAL FLOW? I MEAN, I AGREE WITH YOU, YEAH.
THAT GETTING THE WATER INTO THOSE STORM DRAINS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE IS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE STORM DRAINS THEN, AS WAS PREVIOUSLY SHARED FLOW INTO SHOAL CREEK, WALLER CREEK, YOU KNOW, WILLIAMS CREEK YEAH.
WITH, WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF VELOCITY.
SO, UM, JUST TO LAY, WELL, TO A LAY FEAR OF THE, LIKE THE FLOODING AND THE CREEK FLOODING AND THAT SORT OF THING, LIKE THE BIG SCALE, LIKE, IS THIS GONNA CUMULATIVELY, AND THOSE ARE GOOD, GOOD COMMENTS IN OUR, WE, WE, WE, WE HEAR THIS FROM THE COMMUNITY, GOSH, ARE WE GONNA HAVE MORE FLOODING? LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN, UH, IN, IN MENTIONED HALLOWEEN 20 13, 20 15, THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THIS LEVEL ARE, ARE, ARE LIKE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN A LEVEL OF LIKE, UM, ROUNDING ERROR NOISE.
WE, WE CAN'T, ALMOST CAN'T MEASURE THAT FOR THESE, FOR THE BIG CREEK FLOODING, THIS IS NOT GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT.
WE DO BACK TO, UM, SO I'M, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE CREEK FLOODING AND WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE THINK THAT THE LOCAL FLOODING LEVEL WOULD BE MANAGEABLE.
UM, THE, WE DO MODEL THE LOCAL FLOOD SYSTEMS WITH A COUPLE IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, SO WE DO HAVE SOME COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION, BUT IT'S, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT NOW, UH, OR PROCURING MONEY TO DO THE PROJECT WHERE AN ENGINEER ENGINEERING FIRM WOULD GO IN AND MODEL THE SYSTEM CITYWIDE.
THAT'S KIND OF THE GOLD STANDARD.
MOST CITIES DON'T HAVE THAT EITHER, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS MODELED SO WE CAN FI FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES ARE UNDER THE MOST PRESSURE AND HAVE THE MOST NEED, UH, FOR, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE RELYING ON INFORMATION SUCH AS 3 1 1 REPORTS, WHICH ARE GREAT, AND WE ENCOURAGE THAT AND WE USE THAT DATA, BUT IT'S NOT COMPLETE.
NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS TO CALL IN.
NOT ONLY EVERYBODY FEELS COMFORTABLE CALLING IN.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE, WE WANT THAT TO BE MORE SYSTEMATIC.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS, UH, TO, TO, UM, MS. CULVER'S, OTHER GOOD QUESTION ABOUT THE LOCAL FLOOD PROBLEM AREAS.
WE'RE, WE'RE A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO USE THAT DATA AS THE BASIS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT YET, IT'S UNEVEN.
SO SHOULD WE HAVE THAT MODEL BEFORE WE CONTEMPLATE THESE CHANGES? I DON'T, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION STANDS THAT WE, WE, WE THINK THAT THE LEVEL OF IMPACT IS NOT CONCERNING, SUCH THAT WE WOULD NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.
THAT'S, THAT CAME UP IN SPADES.
I, I, I WASN'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WORK FOR AUSTIN WATER.
THEY WERE TALK, THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT THAT FOR WATER WASTEWATER.
LIKE THE, UH, COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, RYAN MENTIONED EARLIER.
UM, AND ALL THIS, WE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE C THE, THE COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO JUGGLE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AT THE SAME TIME.
THESE ARE, UM, WE THINK, YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE CAN, WE CAN ADDRESS THIS AT THE LEVEL.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO DO PROJECTS AND THAT THAT WILL BE A CONTINUE TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KRUEGER.
WELL, UM, FIRST I JUST WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION THAT I KNOW MUST HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH TIME TO PUT TOGETHER AND TO BE HERE ON A WEEKDAY AFTER NINE O'CLOCK, ANSWERING TOUGH QUESTIONS.
AND I ALSO AM JUST FEELING, UM, I DON'T KNOW THE CHALLENGES OF ISSUES LIKE THIS AND SO MANY THAT WE FACE AS HUMANS, WHERE WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE AND DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES WHO I THINK WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, PROBABLY SHARE A LOT OF SIMILAR VALUES, BUT ARE ARRIVING AT DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS.
AND I HEAR THE TENSION IN, IN PEOPLE'S STORIES AND IN YOUR COMMENTS, AND I FEEL THAT TOO.
SO I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THAT I FEEL THAT.
THAT THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT WAS PUT BEFORE YOU.
UM, SO I WANNA START WITH ONE OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
FRANCIS BROUGHT UP, SHE SAID THAT WE SHOULD IN UPDATE OUR CURRENT STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE BRINGING IN NEW DEVELOPMENT.
AND I UNDERSTAND IF THIS IS BEYOND, YOU KNOW, THE SCOPE OF WHAT YOU DO, BUT COULD YOU SUMMARIZE FOR US HOW YOU WOULD DESCRIBE THIS, THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE? UM, I MAY, I MAY CALL A FRIEND ON THAT ONE JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M GETTING THE LATEST AND GREATEST.
HE'S OUR FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR NOW WORKING, YEAH.
[03:20:01]
CAN YOU SEE, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION ONE MORE TIME FOR ME, PLEASE? SURE.UM, IT'S SORT OF A BIG ONE, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DO IT
THE SYSTEM OVERALL IS UNDERSIZED.
WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO UPGRADE SYSTEMS APPROPRIATELY, WE HAVE TO STUDY THEM.
SO WE STUDY THEM, THEN WE PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, THEN WE GET MONIES TO BUILD PROJECTS, THEN WE BUILD PROJECTS.
THAT PROCESS IS, I'M NOT, NOT TO PUT A TIME ON IT, BUT IT'S YEARS, YEARS IN THE MAKING.
WELL, I'M LIKE PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKE 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
SO YES, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF UNDERSIZED STORMWATER, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
ONCE YOU GET OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN AREAS, IT STARTS TO GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UM, BUT YES, THERE, THERE'S UNDERSIZED SYSTEM THERE, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S STILL CAPACITY IN THE SYSTEM BEING STREETS, GUTTERS, UH, INLETS, PIPES.
WE DO HAVE DETENTION BONDS, AND WE'LL STILL HAVE DETENTION BONDS.
ALL THAT TOGETHER IS HELPING TO GIVE US WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
HOWEVER, LARGE RAINSTORMS HAPPEN, RIGHT? EVENTS HAPPEN.
YOU GET FLOODING ON CREEKS, AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY WHEN WE'RE TALKING CREEK FLOODING VERSUS LOCAL FLOODING ON STREETS.
AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT A GRANULAR LEVEL AT THE MOST RECENT BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED, BUT DO YOU ALL HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE FOR STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE? OH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I'M, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA LOOK OVER TO RAMESH AND ASK HIM IF HE KNOWS WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE C WHAT THE CFP, UH, UH, STORM DRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE COST WAS FOR THIS BUDGET.
THE, THE, THE 24 FISCAL YEAR, WE, THE WAY WE FUND CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WE HAVE THE DRAINAGE FEE THAT WE TRANSFER SOME OF TO A CAPITAL SPENDING.
AND, AND WE ALSO HAVE, UH, BOND ELECTION THAT ALLOWS US TO SPEND SOME MONEY AS WELL.
UH, THE DO TRANSFER FOR 24, JUST FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR IS ABOUT $25 MILLION.
AND IT RANGES FROM 25, 28, 24.
IT JUST KEEPS GOING UP AND EDGE SOMEWHERE IN THE 25 TO $30 MILLION RANGE.
WE ALSO HAVE BOND MONEY FROM 2018 THAT WE ARE GONNA BE SPENDING.
UH, BUT, BUT TO, TO YOUR, TO YOUR QUESTION, WE DO HAVE A SHORTFALL AND WE ARE, WE ARE HOPING TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THIRD OF THE 26 BOND PACKAGE.
UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE HAVE, UH, AN APPROXIMATELY 400 AND, UH, UH, I'M JUST HAVING GIVE YOU THE RIGHT NUMBER HERE, AROUND 400 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN UNFUNDED PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
BUT WE HOPE TO SPEND ALL THE 18 BOND MONEY BY 26.
SO WHEN WE DO THE FY 26 BOND, WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UH, A FRESH, UH, MONEY COMING IN FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY FUNDED.
AND, UH, WE DO HAVE AN, UH, JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE STATE OF IT ITSELF, WE DO HAVE A, A, A FAIRLY, UH, WELL, WELL PUT TOGETHER ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE GO AND EVALUATE OUR EXISTING, UH, STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, A FIELD OPERATIONS CREW, WE HAVE TV INSPECTION WHERE WE LAUNCH CAMERAS THROUGH OUR PIPES, AND WE HAVE A CONDITION OF OUR EXISTING PIPES.
AND, UH, WE HAVE MODELING DATA FOR THE ONE DIMENSIONAL MODELING.
AND THE THING THAT KEVIN'S TALKING ABOUT IS MORE LIKE A TWO DIMENSIONAL, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ADVANCED, AND IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ELABORATE, MORE TECHNICAL, AND IT ALSO COSTS MORE MONEY.
AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT IT FOR CERTAIN WATERSHEDS, BUT WE ARE GONNA BE LOOKING AT IT TO SEE IF WE CAN SCALE IT UP FOR THE WHOLE OF THE WHOLE CITY OF BOSTON.
I, I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
LIZ JOHNSTON, I HAVE ONE OTHER THING.
I THINK I MAY BE GETTING A LITTLE BIT LOST IN SOME OF THIS.
AND, UM, BECAUSE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS NOT CHANGING THE, UM, ALLOWABLE IMPERVIOUS COVER MM-HMM.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE MODELS AREN'T REALLY NECESSARILY GONNA CHANGE BECAUSE OF THIS PRIORITIZATION MAY CHANGE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHERE DEVELOPMENT OCCURS.
UM, BUT, BUT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ALLOWABLE THAT IS, UM, FOR THESE, THESE LOTS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
COMMISSIONER? THE NUMBER IS MORE LIKE $420 MILLION, JUST CLEAR.
UM, IMPERVIOUS COVER, IT'S THE WORD DU JOUR, THE WORD OF THE YEAR, THE WORD OF THE ELECTION.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO BE EXPLICITLY CLEAR ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
[03:25:01]
THAT I HEAR BROUGHT UP MOST OFTEN IN OPPOSITION TO THESE LAND CODE CHANGES.AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY INFORMATION HAS BEEN PRESENTED AT TIMES HAS BEEN INACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT'S HOW MISINFORMATION CAN, CAN COME ABOUT OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S, UM, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS LIKE BOBBY BROUGHT UP, WHICH COMMISSIONER EINHORN RAISED, AND, AND I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, STAFF RESPONSE SPECIFICALLY.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS IN THIS CHANGE, HOWEVER, FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT UP THAT PEOPLE CAN REZONE TO GO UP FROM 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER TO 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO I'M CURIOUS, HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? IS THAT REALISTIC? BASICALLY, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE RESPONSE TO THAT? 'CAUSE WHEN I, YOU KNOW, SEE, YOU ALL SAY THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO IMPERVIOUS COVER, I'M SEEING PEOPLE SHAKING THEIR HEADS IN DISBELIEF.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA TRY TO GET US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON WHAT THE REALITY IS.
UM, AND SO I'M GONNA, I I'M GONNA TURN TO LINDY FOR THAT ONE.
IT'S MORE OF A PLANNING QUESTION.
UM, AND, AND, AND SHE WORKS FOR DSD, BUT SHE'S AN PLANNING EXPERT.
UM, LINDY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, BUT THAT'S, I, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
CHANGES IN ZONING ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.
SO HOW OFTEN, HOW, HOW LIKELY IS THIS SOME KIND OF BIG CHANGE TO HAPPEN? UM, THAT WOULD AND WHAT SCALE? DEFINITELY, SO TO SPEAK TO JUST, IF YOU WERE TO RETAIN YOUR ZONING, THERE'S, THE ONLY WAY TO GET A MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER THROUGH THESE AMENDMENTS WOULD BE TO REQUEST A VARIANCE FROM THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
AND WITHOUT A VERY SIGNIFICANT, UM, HARDSHIP ON YOUR PROPERTY, IT WOULD BE VERY UNLIKELY THAT A PROJECT WOULD BE GRANTED MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER WHILE RETAINING THEIR CURRENT ZONING.
AGAIN, ALL VARIANCES ARE BASED ON HARDSHIP, WHICH ARE DEFINED IN THE STATE LAWS ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES A HARDSHIP.
AND SO IT WOULD BE VERY, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING TO, TO DO THAT.
UM, IN TERMS OF HIS OWN CHANGE, UH, THE SMALL LOT, UH, SINGLE FAMILY USE IS ONLY PERMITTED IN, UM, SF ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
AND SO IF A PROPERTY WERE TO REZONE INTO A HIGHER DENSITY, UM, SF USE TO GET A HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER, THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SMALLER LOT, UM, USE.
AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TRIPLEX USE EITHER.
SO THEN THEY WOULD BE GOING INTO THE MULTI-FAMILY AND, UM, AND SITE PLAN WORLD, WHICH SITE PLAN LIGHT OF COURSE COULD BE USED, UM, WHICH IS PART OF THIS ORDINANCE.
BUT, UM, IF IT WAS ON A PREVIOUSLY SF THREE LOT, IT WOULD LIKELY BE A SMALL ENOUGH LOT THAT, UM, IT, THE, THE CHANGE WOULD NOT BE SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THEY WERE, UM, IMPERVIOUS COVER THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO UTILIZE.
BUT ALSO YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF WHEN YOU'RE REQUESTING ZONE CHANGES, THEY HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT AND, UM, APPROPRIATE FOR THE GEOGRAPHY THAT THEY'RE IN.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SITE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IN A SEA OF SF THREE AND YOU REQUEST MF FOUR, UM, TO GET 65% IMPERVIOUS COVER, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COUNSEL WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ON APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE USE OR FOR THE ZONE IN QUESTION.
AND SO, UM, IT, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE PROPERTY IS.
IF IT'S IN A PLACE THAT A MF WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, UM, THEN THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THEY COULD ZONE UP INTO A HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER.
BUT AGAIN, THEN THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UM, THE, SOME OF THE BONE, SOME OF THE, UM, SMALLER LOT SIZES.
AND, UM, AND IT, IT WOULD LIKELY NOT BE A, AN, A GOOD USE OF, UM, A GOOD USE OF FUNDS TO, TO TRY TO REZONE INTO A HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER FOR A SMALLER LOT.
THAT'S, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD PROBABLY ALMOST ALL CERTAINLY USE THE FOUR LOT, FOUR UNIT THING AND JUST STOP THERE.
I THINK ECONOMICALLY, WELL, ONE ONE POINT IS THAT, FIRST OFF, IN MULTIFAMILY ZONING, YOU NEED AN 8,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT TO BUILD APARTMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE MULTIFAMILY ZONING AND YOU HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY
[03:30:01]
HOUSE, YOU'RE HELD TO THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.SO EVEN THOUGH MULTIFAMILY ZONING MIGHT ALLOW 65% IF YOU'RE BUILDING HOUSES, THEY CAN ONLY BE 45%.
AND YOU, AND IF YOU CAN'T BUILD MULTIFAMILY ON A 57 50 SQUARE FOOT LOT OR AN 1800 SQUARE FOOT LOT.
YEAH, THAT'S A VERY HELPFUL AND VALID POINT.
UM, OKAY, NEXT, I'M WONDERING IF I CAN GET YOUR HELP IN JUST VISUALIZING SOMETHING.
OKAY, SO STAFF DOES NOT RECOMMEND DETENTION PONDS FOR SMALL HOME TWO PROJECTS.
AND THIS IS ONLY APPLYING TO SITES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PLATTED.
AND SO I WANNA HELP, I WANT HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE TERM PLANET PLATTED AND VISUALIZING THAT.
SO ARE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLANNED, BUT NO BUILDING OR CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED YET, OR ARE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS ON WHICH CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY BEGUN OR BEEN COMPLETED? OKAY, THAT'S A GREAT GOOD QUESTION.
LINDY, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK, ASK YOU TO HELP AGAIN WITH THIS ONE ON WHAT, WHEN, WHEN THE ORDINANCE SAYS PREVIOUSLY PLOTTED ONLY MM-HMM
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO USE IT IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
THIS IS REALLY FOR AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED AND, UM, HAVE THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF STREETS AND UM, YEAH, UH, DRAINAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT ALREADY IN PLACE.
AND SO THAT, THAT WAS THE MAIN IMPETUS FOR DOING THAT.
AND IN SOME CASES, UM, IT MIGHT BE A SITE THAT DOESN'T PHYSICALLY HAVE A STRUCTURE ON IT ANY LONGER, OR IT MIGHT BE A SITE THAT HAD A STRUCTURE THAT IS NO LONGER VIABLE OR FOR WHATEVER METHOD REASON.
UM, BUT IT CAN'T BE, IT CAN'T BE JUST LIKE A LARGE COMPLETELY GREEN SITE IS, IS THE POINT.
SO IT'S AN ALREADY DEVELOPED SITE.
STAFF DOES NOT RECOMMEND DETENTION PONDS.
AND SO THAT AND DETENTION PONDS, ARE WE THINKING ON LIKE SMALL INDIVIDUAL LEVELS OR LIKE THE LARGER COMMUNITY WIDE DETENTION PONDS? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO EVEN CONCEIVE OF HOW YOU COULD THEN FIND THE LAND TO, ON WHICH TO BUILD A DETENTION POND IN AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY DEVELOPED.
AND SO I HAD THAT ONE SLIDE THAT SHOWED THIS SORT OF GENERIC SUBDIVISION AND I HAD THE LITTLE YELLOW MM-HMM,
SORRY, I'M LOSING MY, MY, UM, TRAIN OF THOUGHT HERE AND I CAN BUILD ON THAT, MATT.
SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE MEANT TO BE SUB KIND OF SUBDIVISIONS WITHIN A SUBDIVISION.
SO TAKE, YOU KNOW, UM, THE FIRST ONE THAT POPS INTO MY MIND IS LIKE WINDSOR PARK.
UM, IT'S A DEVELOPMENT, IT'S A LARGE SUBDIVISION THAT WAS BUILT IN THE FIFTIES.
IT'S HAS, ITS UM, IT HAS ITS LARGER PLA THAT IT WAS, UM, HAD ALL THE HOUSES LAID OUT ON.
NOW THIS IS TAKING ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL PIECES AND TURNING IT INTO MORE INDIVIDUAL PIECES.
AND SO, UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE ZOOMING IN INTO AN ART, INTO A PLA THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED.
IT'S ZOOMING IN ON ONE OF THE PIECES AND FURTHER SUBDIVIDING IT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT REALLY, UM, THAT'S WHY IT HAS TO BE LIKE A PREVIOUSLY SUBDIVIDED, IS IT, IT HAS TO HAVE THAT UNDERLYING PARENT TRACT, UM, THAT YOU'RE NOT VACATING THAT, THAT UNDERLYING PARENT TRACK.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE TAKING, UM, A HUNDRED LOTS VACATING THE LOTS THAT ARE ON THEM AND THEN PUTTING NEW ONES DOWN.
THIS IS LIKE SAYING I'M TAKING THIS ONE SLICE OF THE PIE AND I'M SLICING IT UP FURTHER.
AND THAT'S WHY THE DETENTION PONDS, UM, WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY IS BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKELY, UM, YOU KNOW, LESS AROUND A, A QUARTER ACRE OR LESS TO BEGIN WITH.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD BE TAKING THAT SMALL SLIVER AND YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO DO A, A POND FOR THE SMALL SLIVER THAT YOU'RE JUST FURTHER CARVING UP.
DEFINITELY TALKING ABOUT THE SMALL THING, NOT THE BIGGER ANY, ANYTHING OVER ANYTHING OVER AN ACRE.
THIS PROPOSAL HAS NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
[03:35:01]
FULL DEAL.IF IT'S BETWEEN 0.25 AND ONE, THEN IT MIGHT STILL NEED A DETENTION POND.
'CAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE WATER WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO.
UM, BUT IF IT'S UNDER 0.25 FOR THE LITTLE SUBDIVISIONS, THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WOULD NOT, THAT WOULD NOT EVER HAVE A DETENTION POND, UM, REQUIRED FOR IT.
AND IS THERE AT ANY POINT, 'CAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE REFERENCING LIKE BOBBY'S ANALOGY OF LIKE KIND OF HAVING A CUMULATIVE EFFECT THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE SMALL THINGS HAPPEN PIECEMEAL AND THEN POTENTIALLY HAVE A LARGER IMPACT IS, I'M SURE THIS IS EXAMINED, BUT IF YOU COULD MAYBE JUST ADDRESS AGAIN, WHAT KIND OF TRACKING AND MONITORING THE CITY IS DOING IN TERMS OF THIS CUMULATIVE POTENTIAL CUMULATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND THEN THE IMPACTS THAT THAT COULD HAVE TO STORM WATER AND HOW, HOW IT'S ADDRESSED.
YEAH, I CAN SEE A COUPLE PIECES OF IT.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TURN IT TO KEVIN START.
YOU WANNA START? I THINK ONE TRICKY THING ON THIS, AND I'M HOPING THIS ISN'T GET YET MORE CONFUSING.
UM, IF, WHEN WE HAVE RIGHTFULLY TALKED ABOUT IMPERVIOUS COVER A LOT, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IT IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A VERY BIG COMMUNITY CONVERSATION HAS BEEN FOR DATING WAY BACK INTO THE EIGHTIES AND IN THE IN SEVENTIES.
UM, IF YOU'VE GOT, ONCE YOU PUT IMPERVIOUS COVER DOWN, LIKE ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE EXCELLENT SPEAKERS WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CAPPING OFF DRAINAGE THAT OTHERWISE YOU WOULD THINK WAS FRANCIS.
HE WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT WATER CAN'T INFILTRATE, YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA.
UM, AT THE SMALLER STORM SIZES YOU'RE GETTING INFILTRATION.
YOU, AND YOU ALSO HAVE VEGETATION.
YOU HAVE A BUNCH, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF THE WATER, THE INITIAL RAIN IS KIND OF INTERCEPTED.
IT'S, IT'S COATS THE TREES, IT COATS THE, IT COATS THE GRASS, IT GETS START SOAKS IN.
A LOT OF THE WATER CAN ACTUALLY JUST BASICALLY GET, YOU KNOW, RETAINED BY THE SITE.
YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST, THAT FIRST AMOUNT OF WATER, HOWEVER, AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT RAINS A LOT IN AUSTIN AND IT, AND IT STARTS AT SOME POINT, IT STILL RAINING, STILL RAINING, THAT FILLS UP THOSE, THOSE STORAGE AREAS FILL UP AND YOU END UP WITH LITERALLY ALMOST ALL THE RAIN IS JUST COMING OFF, IT CAN'T EVEN SOAK IN ANYMORE.
ALL THOSE CREVICES AND, AND THE SNOW OILS SATURATED, ET CETERA, THAT WATER'S COMING OFF THAT IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO TO, TO DEAL WITH IN, IN THIS AS A TOPIC.
BUT WHEN YOU START FLOODING, IMPERVIOUS COVER STARTS, IT'S STILL, IT'S AN ISSUE.
IT'S DIFFERENT IF YOU HAVE A HUNDRED YEAR, I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A, UM, IF YOU HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPERVIOUS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, GREENFIELD CONDITION, OF COURSE IT'S DIFFERENT IN A, IN A FLOOD EVEN AT A HUNDRED YEAR.
BUT IT'S NOT, IT STARTS TO MERGE TOGETHER MORE.
SO, UM, WE, WE DO TRACK IMPERVIOUS COVER VERY CLOSELY.
IT'S, IT'S THE BASIS OF OUR DRAINAGE CHARGE.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY IN A WAY TRACK THOSE CHANGES OVER TIME, AS, YOU KNOW, AS VERY CLOSELY ACTUALLY.
SO WE DO, WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT UNLESS IF YOU HAD A TWO YEAR STORM WOW, THAT A LOT OF THE WATER IS GONNA BE RETAINED IN A, IN A NATURAL CONDITION IF YOU HAVE PURPOSENESS AND IMPERIOUSNESS IS GONNA SHED IT OFF AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
SO YOU SEE A BIG DELTA BETWEEN AN A GREENFIELD AND A, A HIGHLY IMPERVIOUS SITE FOR A TWO YEAR FLOOD, FIVE-YEAR FLOOD, AH, STARTING TO TRAIL OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT STILL A BIG IMPACT.
10 YEAR IT'S HARDER TO MEASURE 2,500 STARTING TO LOSE THE, LOSE THE THREAT ON IT.
SO THE, THESE DETENTION PONDS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER QUALITY PONDS OR, OR WHATEVER ELSE WE'RE DOING, OR TREE PROTECTIONS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE DO IMPERVIOUS, WE HAVE A SUITE OF CONTROLS THAT WE USE.
UM, AND SO ANYWAY, I I HOPE I'M NOT RAMBLING TOO MUCH ON THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S, I IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE CONTEXT OF LIKE, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS TOOL VERSUS SOME OTHERS.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THOSE OTHER ONES.
KEVIN UNK, UM,
AND THAT'S, AND I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GONNA WANNA, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO I, I, I THINK THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT QUESTION IS MORE SO THINKING ABOUT FOR A PARTICULAR STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, HOW MUCH REDEVELOPMENT USING THESE ORDINANCES WOULD WE BE EXPECTING? AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A CITY WIRE PERSPECTIVE, IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF WATER.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE SHUNTING OFF TO THE ROAD.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A A, A BLOCK OR A STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT, BECAUSE THE LOTS ARE SO SMALL, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A MAJOR IMPACT TO THE OVERALL LEVEL OF SERVICE OF THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM ITSELF.
AND I'M AWARE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER ME, SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST ONE FOR NOW.
UM, WHAT, WHAT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH HAS THE CITY DONE TO INFORM PEOPLE OF THESE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES? UM, AND I GUESS SPECIFIC TO THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT AND DSD, AT WHAT POINT, AT WHAT LEVEL DO THINGS NEED TO RISE TO THEN
[03:40:01]
INITIATE A CERTAIN RESPONSE TO, TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN A CERTAIN WAY? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU COMING HERE, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, AS PART OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WE ARE JUST CITIZENS ON THIS COMMISSION, BUT CURIOUS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.UM, WELL, YEAH, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO AND DO FOLLOW THE FULL BLOWN, YOU KNOW, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS AND, AND GET IT OUT IN FRONT OF THIS.
UM, I MEAN, IT, IT, IT HAS DEPEND.
IT IS DEPENDENT IN THE PAST ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD MORE OR LESS ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, OUTREACH ON PROJECTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, LINDY, DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANNA WEIGH IN? I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UM, D DS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WILL LEAD ON A PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
AND SO DSDS ACTUALLY TAKING THE LEAD.
WE'RE DOING, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY TECHNICAL ADVISORS AND VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED SINCE IT, THIS, IT ENDED UP BEING ABOUT DE YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, DETENTION.
LINDY, DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT LIKE, LEVEL OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND OUTREACH? I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE KIND OF GOING BY THE BOOK ON THIS AND MAKING SURE WE, WE, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE RIGHT, UH, RIGHT.
PUBLIC, UM, MEETINGS AND SO FORTH.
UM, SO YES, WE CAME TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN MAY AND WE ARE BACK HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, WE HAVE PRES PROVIDED OUR, UM, BACKUP TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING BEFORE THEN AS WELL AS THE HOUSING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR COUNCIL.
UM, WE'VE ADDITIONALLY DONE, UM, STAKEHOLDER TESTING WHERE, UM, WE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS, UM, THE PROPOSAL AND KIND OF CONCERNS, UM, WITH THE, WITH, UM, HOW THE PROPOSAL WOULD WORK IN, IN CURRENT PRACTICES.
UM, BUT AS MATT SAID, MOST OF OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WILL BE THROUGH THE REGULATORY BOARDS.
YEAH, I JUST, UM, I SUPPOSE WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS OF COURSE IS A HOT, HOT BUTTON ISSUE.
WE'RE SEEING IT IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYORAL ELECTIONS, UH, THIS NOVEMBER.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS, THIS IS A TOPIC ON PEOPLE'S MINDS, AND I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN CRITICISMS OF HOME ONE AND HOME TWO BEFORE THEY PASSED WAS THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING THAT AGAIN TONIGHT, AND I UNDERSTAND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ROLE OF THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT AND THE DSD IS NOT TO BE THE PUBLIC SPOKESPERSONS FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BROADER CITY OR, SO I GUESS I'M, I'M WANTING TO SPEAK TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN COMMUNICATIONS, JUST TO NOTE THAT THAT PUBLIC OUTREACH IS IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF BUILDING UNDERSTANDING AND FIGHTING MISINFORMATION AND BRINGING PEOPLE ON BOARD.
BECAUSE I KNOW FROM OUR MEETING LAST NOVEMBER WHEN HOME FIRST CAME BEFORE US, WE HAD AN AGUIRE COME AND SPEAK VERY PASSIONATELY AGAINST IT.
ULTIMATELY, WE FORMED A WORKING GROUP ON THIS COMMISSION AND CAME TOGETHER AND THEN ANA CAME BACK AND SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
AND I THINK THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE WHO CAN SEEM TO BE ON SUCH DISPARATE OPPOSITE SIZE OF AN ISSUE WITH TIME WITH COMING TOGETHER CAN ULTIMATELY COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING TOGETHER.
SO I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ALREADY CRITICISMS THAT GOVERNMENT IS TOO SLOW.
IT'S TOO, YOU KNOW, BULKY, THERE'S TOO MUCH BUREAUCRACY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT CAN SLOW DOWN A PROCESS.
UM, AND I WOULD JUST SAY FOR ISSUES LIKE THIS THAT DO RISE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PUBLIC CONCERN THAT WE ALL THINK ABOUT IN WHATEVER CAPACITIES WE'RE IN, HOW CAN WE BETTER INFORM AND EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC? BECAUSE I JUST DO HAVE A BELIEF THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE I SAID, I THINK MOST OF US SHARE THE SAME VALUES AND WANT THE SAME THING FOR OUR CITY.
UM, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS PART OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION PROCESS AND YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR HOURS AND I APPRECIATE IT.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT, THAT COMMENT.
AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE, WE, WE OWE SOME, SOME COMMUNICATION AND SOME SITTING SIT DOWN LIKE LENGTHY SIT DOWN MEETINGS WITH MULTIPLE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.
AND WE WILL TRY TO UNDO THAT ENGAGEMENT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SAYING THAT.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS SO FAR.
UM, I'M GONNA TRY AND JUST BE PRETTY BRIEF.
I, I DEFINITELY WANT TO SUPPORT DENSITY IN AUSTIN.
UM, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FLOODING IN, IN THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION AREA.
[03:45:01]
UM, I GUESS I AM, YOU KNOW, IT IS A SCARY THOUGHT THAT A, THAT A BUNCH OF PROPERTIES ARE GONNA BE REZONED AND, AND THAT THERE WILL BE A LARGE INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER.UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT MONITORING ARE WE, YOU KNOW, GONNA DO FOR THESE PROPERTIES TO, TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT? WELL, I MEAN, I, I THINK THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS, UM, I'M, I'M NOT ANTICIPATING EITHER, EITHER LOTS OF REZONING OR INCREASES IN IMPERVIOUS COVER COM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THE IMPERVIOUS COVER IS, UM, LIZ DID A NICE JOB EXPLAINING, AND IT'S ALLOWABLE IN IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SO MAKE NO MISTAKE, AS AUSTIN GROWS IN INFILLS, IT CREEPS UP AN IMPERVIOUS COVER TOWARD, YOU KNOW, SOME MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS FOR THAT PARTICULAR ZONE.
SO WHETHER WE GET IT WITH ONE LARGE HOUSE FOR AN, YOU KNOW, UPPER INCOME OR WE HAVE MORE HOUSES PER HOME OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR QUESTIONS.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE MAJOR REZONINGS OR, UM, INCREASES INCREASES IN PREVIOUS COVER THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM TODAY'S TR CURRENT TRAJECTORY.
THAT'S, AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY HELPING, UM, MY NON-PROFIT DAYCARE, I'M ON THE ADVISORY BOARD HELPING THEM SUBMIT A BUILDING PERMIT SO THAT THEY CAN OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND AM LEARNING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SITE PLAN VERSUS SUBMITTING A SITE PLAN EXEMPTION FOR THE, THE PROJECT THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THEM TO MEET CODE.
THEY NEED TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL DOORS, UM, TO THE PROPERTY.
AND I AM, UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
THE ARCHITECT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE CODE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE RECEIVED COMMUNICATION THAT SO MANY DOORS NEED TO BE ADDED AND THE ARCHITECT ADDS THOSE DOORS AND THEN WE SUBMIT IT TO THE, UH, PLANNING REVIEW DEPARTMENT AND THEN WE'RE TOLD, OH NO, WE NEED A COUPLE MORE, A COUPLE MORE DOORS.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO VERIFY AND GET SOMEONE MAYBE ON SITE TO TELL ME WHAT IS THE, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER HERE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT RIGHT NOW.
LIKE, IF, IF YOU ARE JUST REQUIRED TO DO A SITE PLAN EXEMPTION AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE REVIEW OF THE SITE PLAN EXEMPTION PROCESS AND HOW WELL DOES IT MEET CODE VERSUS THE REVIEW OF THE SITE PLAN EXEMPTION, THE INTERPRETATION OF THE CODE, AND I, I, YEAH, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, REVIEWING THAT SITE PLAN EXEMPTION AND DOES THAT DRAINAGE REALLY MEET THE CODE? AND HOW, HOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES? MM-HMM,
WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SITE PLAN EXEMPTIONS AND PONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AT THIS VERY SMALL SCALE.
IT GETS TRICKY AND COMPLICATED AND THE BENEFITS ARE NOT CLEAR.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS SO HARD.
SO YEAH, I, YEAH, THAT YOUR, I I DON'T THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE IS, IS, IS UNIQUE.
I THINK LOTS, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT AND GONE, WOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A, THIS IS A LOT.
IT'S COMPLICATED GETTING DIFFERENT ANSWERS, ET CETERA.
SO WE'RE, YEAH, AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO RIGHT SIZE THIS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THESE SMALLER PROJECTS.
HOW DOES THAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, AND THIS IS A TOTALLY LEGITIMATE, I MEAN, THERE'S MULTIPLE LEVERS AND, AND THRESHOLDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COULD BE TWEAKED HERE.
UH, AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, PUT FORWARD OUR BEST EFFORT ON THE STAFF SIDE.
MAY, I MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT I'M GONNA LET THE, UH, THE REMAINING COMMISSIONERS ASK THEIR QUESTIONS.
I'M JUST GONNA BUTT IN AND MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO, UM, ABOUT 10 30 TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HANDS.
UH, NEXT UP, COMMISSIONER NICHOLS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL JUST KEEP IT TO ONE COMMENT THAT YES, THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OR COSTS TO BUILDING OUT MORE HOUSING.
THE ONE THING I WILL SAY THOUGH IS
[03:50:01]
THAT THERE ARE COSTS IN NOT BUILDING HOUSING AS WELL, AND I'LL JUST QU MY TIME.THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN.
ALRIGHT, UM, MATT, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY DATA THAT TELLS US DO WE HAVE MORE FLOODING IN 2024 OR IS THERE AN UPWARD TREND IN THE FREQUENCY OF FLOODING IN AUSTIN? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I REALLY DOUBT THAT.
I MEAN, I THINK, I MEAN, WEATHER PATTERNS ARE JUST SO RANDOMIZED.
YOU KNOW, ONE YEAR YOU GET SOME, YOU KNOW, TROPICAL BIG TROPICAL STORM COMES THROUGH VERSUS ANOTHER YEAR WHERE IT'S MORE DRY.
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, UH, IT, IT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE TRENDS.
AND WHAT, WHAT I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THOUGH, AND WHAT I BELIEVE ALSO IS THAT WE'RE NOT INCREASING IMPERVIOUS COVER BY ALLOWING SMALLER LOTS WITH SMALLER HOUSES OR ALLOWING MORE HOUSES PER LOT.
THAT'S STILL, IT'S 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND THE MISSING MIDDLE WOULD ALSO CAP IT WHATEVER THEY'RE ALREADY AT, RIGHT? THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
UM, SECRETARY BRISTOL, UM, SHE HAD SOME CONCERNS, BUT SHE'S ABSENT BECAUSE OF FAMILY EMERGENCY, SO I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD READ HER CONCERNS.
ONE, WELL, SHE SAID LIKE IT HAS LESS, UH, DEMANDING DAMAGE.
UH, WELL DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS THAN SUBDIVISION EXAMPLE, NO STORM DRAINAGE ANALYSIS OR DETENTION REQUIRED SINCE THESE ARE ASSUMED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE PROCEEDING SUBDIVISION PHASE TWO, THIS IS ONE AREA OF CONCERN FOR ME.
SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SUBDIVIDED AS EARLY AS 1940S.
THREE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS DO NOT HAVE STRONG, STRONG STORM WATER DRAINAGE, HEAVY RAIN EFFECTS, UH, AND HEAVY RAIN EVENTS STILL CAUSE NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR FLOODING IN AREAS ESPECIALLY THAT USE EXISTING NATURAL CONTOURS AS A DRAINAGE.
FOUR WILL NEW HOUSES ON DIVIDED LOTS BE ABLE TO FILL IN NATURAL CON CONTOURS THAT CURRENTLY DRAIN THAT PROPERTY AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS IN A DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF A LOT A IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE THAT DRAINS TO LOT B, THEN LOT B FILLS IN THE INCLINE, THAT LINKS THEM TO CAUSE WATER TO BACK UP INTO LOT.
A HOW WOULD THAT BE ADDRESSED, STOPPED, OR CAN LOT A SUE LATER FOR DAMAGES? NUMBER FIVE, WILL THERE STILL BE SETBACK FROM THE CITY RE RECOGNIZED DRAINAGE AREAS? NUMBER SIX, MISSING MIDDLE ZONES TYPICALLY HAVE IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS OF 60 OR 65%.
WHERE IN THE CODE DOES IT SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT? MISS MISSING MIDDLE? I THINK Y'ALL TOUCHED ON THAT EARLIER.
UM, NUMBER TWO, DO ALL SF ZONED HOUSING HAVE 60 TO 65 IMPERVIOUS COVER? AND THEN NEXT, UH, DOES THAT REMAIN? NUMBER SEVEN, THE COUNCIL REQUEST STAFF PROPOSE NEW CODE AND PROCESSES TO MAKE THESE TWO PRODUCTS.
UH, THESE TWO PRODUCTS MORE SIMILAR IN COST COMPLEXITY AND PERMITTING TIME.
NUMBER EIGHT, COUNCIL IS PUTTING COST SAVINGS AND FAVORING DEVELOPMENT OVER HARD FOUGHT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AND HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY.
IF THIS MUCH ATTENTION IS BEING GIVEN TO THIS ONE ENVIRONMENTAL PIECE, THEN THE PLAN IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE AND WILL END IN COSTLY LAWSUITS.
AND THOSE WERE ALL SECRETARY BRISTOL'S CONCERNS.
UM, JUST FROM LIKE COM, UH, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND EMAILS AND SPEAKERS THAT CAME TONIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LACK OF TRUST, UM, WITH THIS PROCESS DUE TO LAPSES IN COMMUNICATION.
AND SO I WANTED TO KNOW HOW, LIKE, WHAT PROCESSES OF COMMUNICATION DID Y'ALL USE TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITIES TO GET FEEDBACK? LIKE IF IT WAS FLYERS, WERE THEY IN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE LANGUAGES? AND IF YOU COULD PROVIDE, PROVIDE WHAT LANGUAGES? 'CAUSE WE HAVE FARSI, WE HAVE HINDI, WE HAVE SPANISH, WE HAVE ENGLISH, WE HAVE SWAHILI.
ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD A CONVERSATION WITH AN UBER DRIVER IN SWAHILI.
SO IT'S LIKE ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ARE HERE.
SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT ALL UM, LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION THAT Y'ALL HAVE GONE INTO REACH THESE COMMUNITIES? UM, GREAT QUESTION.
[03:55:01]
RESOURCE FOR THE PROJECT, SO I'M GONNA TURN TO LINDY.IF, DO YOU, YOU HAVE THOUGHTS OR RESPONSES ON, ON THE, I MEAN WE'RE, AS LINDY MENTIONED, WE'RE FOLLOWING THE, WE'RE FOLLOWING THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS.
WE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE FULL BLOWN NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND OUTREACH FOR ON THAT SIDE.
AND I THINK THERE IS SOME MULTIPLE LANGUAGE USED, BUT LINDY CAN, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON IF, IF YOU'RE AWARE, IF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? I CAN ONLY ELABORATE MODERATELY MORE.
I, WE'VE FOLLOWED AS, UM, MATT MENTIONED, WE FOLLOWED THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION PROCESS, INCLUDING ALL STATE REQUIRED NOTIFICATION PROCESSES, UM, WHICH I BELIEVE THERE'S AT LEAST AN, UM, A NEWSPAPER POSTING AS WELL AS, UM, I I BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER FORM OF NOTIFICATION.
I'M NOT A NOTIFICATION EXPERT.
UM, AND SO I CAN'T ADD MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
BUT, UH, KEITH MARS, UM, IS THE DSD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND HE MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE, UM, OR WE CAN GET BACK WITH YOU WITH THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION.
AND, AND LINDY, THIS IS A, THIS IS NOT A ZONE, THIS IS NOT A ZONING, THIS IS NOT CHAPTER 25 DASH TWO.
SO IT IS, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME NOTIFICATION STANDARD AS YOU WOULD HAVE FOR CERTAIN OTHER TYPES OF ORDINANCES IS CORRECT.
THERE'S, SO IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT THE NOTIFICATION LOOKED LIKE COMPARATIVELY TO THE HOME ORDINANCE, FOR INSTANCE, WHERE EACH, UM, INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCE GOT A LETTER, THESE ARE NOT ZONING REGULATIONS AND SO THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STATE REQUIREMENTS AND UM, SO THOSE, THEY DID NOT SEND OUT INDIVIDUALIZED MAILERS.
UM, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
THERE IS ALSO A WEBSITE NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, THERE'S A, A WEBSITE AVAILABLE THAT HAS SOME INFORMATION.
KEITH MARS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, UH, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD OTHER THAN WE ARE FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHED PROCESS.
WE DO NEED TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE, THE DEPTH OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
Y'ALL, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ADDED SO FAR.
UM, I, I GUESS ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, UM, IF THERE'S BEEN AN ANALYSIS OF LIKE, UM, THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON CERTAIN, LIKE A COMPARISON ON CERTAIN TYPES OF, CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN THAT WOULD HA BE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS.
LIKE, UM, WITH THE REZONING OF, UM, OF THE PROPERTIES, LIKE IF IT WOULD BE MORE, MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN, LIKE IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHERS, AND THE COMPARISON OF LIKE, THE COMPARE, LIKE, OKAY, THIS ONE IS LIKE 40, 45% MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LIKE ABOUT 20%.
LIKE IS IT KIND OF BROKEN DOWN IN THAT COMPARISON OR IF, IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO KIND OF SEE LIKE, OKAY, THESE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING MORE DISADVANTAGED OR ADVANTAGED, HOWEVER PEOPLE WANNA SEE IT THAN OTHERS.
AND, UH, AND I I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY, ANY ANALYSIS WE'VE DONE ON THAT FRONT.
LINDY, DO, HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING TO SHOW LIKELIHOOD OF THIS IN ONE LOCATION OR ANOTHER? NO, THERE'S, THERE HAS BEEN A, AN ANALYSIS FOR THE, UM, AFFORDABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT THAT'S ANALYZED THE AFFORDABILITY IMPACT OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND IT WAS, UM, REVIEWED POSITIVELY BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, INDIVIDUALIZED, UH, AREAS OF TOWN, KIND OF LIKE AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE IMPACT MIGHT BE IN A PARTICULAR AREA, THERE HASN'T BEEN A SPECIFIC ANALYSIS.
AND, UM, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD THAT HADN'T BEEN ASKED ALREADY, BUT, UH, SO I'LL GO BACK AROUND FOR IF ANY, ANYBODY ELSE HAD ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WANTED TO ADD AND COMMISSIONER BEDFORD ON THAT, ON THAT ONE, ONE INTERESTING THING ON THIS IS THIS, THIS ORDINANCE IS ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING HOME TWO AND I GUESS AN EXTENSION OF SITE PLAN, UH, WHAT'S IT CALLED? YEAH.
SO TO THE EXTENT THERE'S BEEN ANALYSIS ON AND, AND CALLS FOR ANALYSIS FOR, FOR HOME TWO, THAT WOULD BE VERY RELEVANT TO THIS.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY KIND OF A, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT, IT'S UH, IT'S FIGURING OUT A PATH, UH, FOR, FOR, YEAH.
IT'S FIGURING OUT A PATH TO, UH, TO LOOK, LOOK AT THESE NON ZONING REQUIREMENTS.
HOME TWO WILL BASICALLY GO NOWHERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ORDINANCE.
THERE'S TOO MANY COSTS AND, AND BARRIERS AND THEREFORE IT
[04:00:01]
WON'T, IT WON'T HAPPEN.SO, AND THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION I WAS WHERE WATERSHED, WE DON'T FOCUS ON THAT AS MUCH, BUT YEAH, THAT'S, ANYWAY, SORRY TO TACK THAT ON LATE, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S OF OF NOTE.
YEAH, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE O OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
I DO HAVE ONE THING ABOUT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NOTIFICATION OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND IT'S KIND OF A PERPETUAL COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE.
I'M PRESIDENT OF AN HOAI GET EMAILS AND PAPER MAIL FROM THE CITY ALL THE TIME AND NOTHING ABOUT THE STUFF THAT COMES BEFORE US SHOWS UP IN ANYTHING I GET.
SO I FIND ON A PERSONAL BASIS THE CITY'S ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE RESIDENTS ABOUT ANYTHING IS TOTALLY IN FACTUAL.
SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE FAULT HERE, IT'S JUST THE CITY IS JUST NOT VERY GOOD AT THAT.
SO MOVING ON TO THE OTHER THING IS, SOMEONE MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SIX INCHES OF WATER AND IF IT GOES UP TO 6.1 OR 6.2 INCHES, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND MY THOUGHT IS THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SAY IF YOUR HOUSE HASN'T BEEN FLOODED OR YOU, YOUR CAR HADN'T STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THEN BEEN WASHED AWAY BY AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF WATER.
AND SO I THINK IT REALLY MINIMIZES THE IMPACT THAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER CAN HAVE ON A LARGER COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S EASY TO RIDE OFF THE FACT THAT THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WATER AND IT'S JUST INCREMENTAL AND IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT ANYONE.
I REMEMBER EVEN TO THIS DAY, PEOPLE SAY CLIMATE CHANGE CANNOT BE CAUSED BY HUMANS BECAUSE REALLY HOW MUCH POLLUTION CAN A CAR DUMP IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT CHANGES THE CLIMATE OF THE PLANET? I MEAN, REALLY, LET'S GET REAL ABOUT THIS.
OKAY, WELL NOW PRETTY MUCH THE SCIENCE IS IN AND WE ALL PRETTY MUCH KNOW WE'RE KILLING THE PLANET.
SO WHEN WE DUMP A 10TH OF AN INCH HERE, A 10TH OF AN INCH THERE, TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT ALL ADDS UP AND IT ALL FLOWS DOWNHILL INTO BULL CREEK, WHICH EVERY OTHER YEAR DROWNS ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN THE CREEK.
AND WE JUST DON'T NEED ONE OR TWO PEOPLE KILLED JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RUNOFF FOR ANY REASON.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN WATER, FLUSH DOWN STREETS CAN HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED.
WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SAYING THAT CHAIR.
MAY I ASK MY COLLEAGUE A QUESTION? OKAY.
HOW WILL 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER WITH ONE LARGE HOUSE BE DIFFERENT FROM 45% IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM FOUR SMALL HOUSES? IN TERMS OF RUNOFF, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED, I THINK THAT I'M BEING ASKED TO EVALUATE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THAT'S BEFORE US.
I'M NOT BEING ASKED TO EVALUATE MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES.
SO IT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
NOW, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO COME BACK WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR REDEVELOPING AUSTIN AND THE SUBURBS, I CAN DO THAT, BUT NOT NOW.
IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO VOICE AN OPINION ON THE PROJECT OR THE THE THING THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, THEN I CAN DO THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE KIND OF STUDIED UP FOR.
I, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE SENSITIVITY.
I THINK WE'RE FEELING THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF COM A LOT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION, A LOT ABOUT THE NOTIFICATION, A LOT ABOUT THE, HEY, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE KIND OF COMMENT.
THAT'S, THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO IMP IMPLY, BUT I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT THE WAY IT MIGHT BE RECEIVED.
[04:05:01]
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, THAT THAT RE THAT THAT DIFFICULT FEEDBACK.UM, I ALSO AGREE, UH, COMMISSIONER SULLIVAN AND YOUR, YOUR POINT, I MEAN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT IS LIKE IF WE'RE TRENDING THE SAME DIRECTIONS WITH THESE SAME PRODUCTS, WHETHER IT'S A, WHETHER IT'S A LITTLE SUBDIVISION OR A, IT'S A, WITH, WITH EXTRA HOMES VERSUS ONE BIG HOUSE, AND IT'S THE SAME THING, SAME RUNOFF.
SO IT'S PRETTY, IT'S A COMPLICATED TOPIC AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COULD GRAPPLING WITH IT UNTIL PAST 10.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? VICE CHAIR FER? YEAH.
I, I PULLED TOGETHER ONE BASED ON, ON WHAT Y'ALL, UM, PASSED IN MAY AND THEN ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT BASICALLY FROM OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR HOME TWO 'CAUSE IT SEEMED PERTINENT.
UM, SO YEAH, NO, NO EGO IN IT.
WE CAN, WE CAN MASSAGE IT AS NEEDED.
UH, DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT OR DO YOU HAVE THAT HANDY? UH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND READ IT.
UM, WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE CODE AMENDMENTS RELATED TO HOME TWO KNOWN AS INFILL PLOTS AND SITE LINE PART TWO ARE A COMPILATION OF DIRECTIVES FROM CITY COUNCIL.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF ON IN V PLATS AND SITE PLAN LIGHT TWO ON TWO OCCASIONS.
AND WHEREAS RESEARCH INDICATES THAT HIGHER POPULATION DENSITY IN URBAN AREAS LEADS TO LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS PER HOUSEHOLD.
AND WHEREAS LOW DENSITY URBAN SPRAWL CONSUMES VALUABLE GRASSLAND PRAIRIES TREE COVERED HILL COUNTRY FARMLAND AND OTHER RURAL LANDSCAPES AND ENC ENCROACHES ON WILDLIFE HABITAT.
AND WHEREAS COUNCIL FIRST INITIATED RE REVISIONS TO SITE PLAN PROCESS FOR MISSING MIDDLE PROJECTS, MISSING AS A PART OF AFFORDABILITY AND LOCKED RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 19 0 2 2 1 DASH OH TWO SEVEN.
AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMEND RECOMMENDS THESE AMENDMENTS, THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE CODE AMENDMENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS CONCERNED THAT THESE CODE CHANGES, UM, MAY INE EQUITABLY AFFECT LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS HOMES IN THE LOCAL FLOODING AREAS OR HOMES THAT ARE ON THE EDGE OF FLOODPLAINS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS CONCERNED ABOUT NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR FLOODING DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE, INCLUDING GHOST DRAINAGE THAT IS DONE WITHOUT PERMITS.
UM, REQUEST THAT THE PUBLIC IS WELL INFORMED IN MULTIPLE WAYS ABOUT THE NEW CHANGES, HOW THAT WILL AFFECT THE IMPACT THEM, AND HOW THEY CAN UTILIZE THE CODE LEGALLY REQUEST THAT THE PUBLIC IS MADE AWARE OF THE PROCESS FOR ADJACENT HOMEOWNERS TO PROTEST OR IMPROVE CHANGES TO A NEIGHBOR'S LOT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS IN FAVOR OF INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOMES AND INCREASING DENSITY WHERE POSSIBLE.
UM, THIS RECOMMENDATION IS CONDITIONAL ON MAINTAINING CURRENT PROTECTION FOR TREES AND CURRENT AND PREVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS.
AND FINALLY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUESTS A REVIEW AFTER ONE YEAR, UH, ABOUT HOW THESE AMENDMENTS ARE AFFECTING LOCALIZED FLOODING, PARTICULARLY IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, ALONG WITH ANY UPDATED STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO ADJUST THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED GUARDRAILS.
SECOND, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY FER, A SECOND BY NICHOLS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAD A REQUEST FOR A SLIGHT AMENDMENT.
UM, I THINK YOU HAD, YOU HAD A PIECE ABOUT PUBLIC OUTREACH OR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UM, I WROTE SOME LANGUAGE THAT MAYBE COULD BE ADDED ONTO THAT.
I SAID WE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ALSO REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IDENTIFIES AND IMPLEMENTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR FUTURE PROPOSED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES.
SO JUST WITH A NOD TO THE FUTURE AS WELL, THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS PART OF THAT PROCESS TOO.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADDING UP? NO OBJECTIONS.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR STAFF ABOUT THE ONE YEAR LOOK BACK.
IS THAT A SUFFICIENT TIMEFRAME TO GO AHEAD AND LOOK BACK AND SEE HOW THIS IS IMPACTING OR WILL THERE BE ENOUGH DATE AFTER ONE YEAR? UM, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, WE HAVE, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE IN THE PAST WITH OTHER ORDINANCES OR, OR, YOU KNOW, LOOKING,
[04:10:01]
YOU KNOW, AND, AND I THINK THE, I THINK THE, THE COUNCIL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL DID PUT SOMETHING IN WHERE THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO TRACK THE NUMBER OF THESE AND WHERE THEY ARE AND SO FORTH.I THINK THAT SOME OF THE EQUITY CONCERNS, SOME OF THE JUST LIKE IMPACT CONCERNS FROM OTHER PERSPECTIVES, NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS TODAY.
UM, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING IN PLAY.
IT WASN'T MY MAIN, UH, PURVIEW, BUT, UM, WE COULD TRY TO GET BACK WITH YOU GUYS ON THAT.
MAYBE YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PUT SOMETHING IN.
I MEAN, THE, THE THING THING IS YOU GUYS MAY MISS GETTING RAINED ON FOR A WHOLE YEAR 'CAUSE IT DIDN'T RAIN MUCH.
AND THEN THE NEXT, THEN THE YEAR AFTER THAT, THEN IT RAINS HARD AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.
SO WEATHER PATTERNS CAN MAKE THIS, THAT TYPE OF THING PRETTY HARD.
LOCAL FLOODING IS SUPER RANDOM.
YOU KNOW, IT RAIN BOMBS HIT DIFFERENT PLACES AND SO IT'S HARD TO GO, OH, OKAY, ONE YEAR LATER.
BUT I, I THINK IT'S, I THINK THE POINT IS GOOD.
I THINK MONITORING THE NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS AND WHERE THEY'RE HAPPENING, I THINK WE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT INFORMATION AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THAT TO, TO TALK ABOUT IT.
AND IF WE CAN WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FLOODING.
YEAH, WE MIGHT WANT TO, WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE PERIODIC LOOK BACKS.
AND THEN WE MIGHT ALSO WANT TO ASK STAFF TO LIKE, LIKE WE SAID, TRACK WHERE THESE ARE HAPPENING.
IT'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLY HARD TO LINK SOME PROBLEM TO A, A HANDFUL OF THESE LITTLE THINGS.
THESE ARE NOT GONNA BE HAPPENING IN THE HUNDREDS.
THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE IN THE DOZENS OR SOMETHING PER YEAR.
BUT WE BUT THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANNA LOOK AT AND NOT TRUST ME JUST TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN I THINK IT'S JUST, IT'S BASED ON THE, THERE JUST BEING A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS IN HERE.
UM, SO I, I COULD JUST AMEND THAT TO SAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REQUEST.
THEY REVIEW AFTER ONE YEAR, WELL SEE ABOUT HOW THESE AMENDMENTS ARE AFFECTING LOCALIZED FLOODING, PARTICULARLY IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, ALONG WITH ANY UPDATED STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO ADJUST THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED GUARDRAILS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND WHERE THEY ARE OCCURRING.
I ALSO JUST WANNA RE REITERATE FOR THE FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE ROOM.
I'M HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU HANNAH, YOU DID SAY IN, IN ONE OF YOUR SENTENCES THAT THERE'S A REQUEST NOW CORRECT FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THEN I ADDED THE AMENDMENT ABOUT ALSO FUTURE ENGAGEMENT FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES.
OR WOULD YOU MIND REREADING THAT LANGUAGE JUST FOR FOLKS HERE? SURE, YEAH.
WE CAN, WE CAN FULLY, FULLY AMEND THESE, THESE CAME FROM THE ORIGINAL, UM, REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, REQUEST THAT THE PUBLIC IS WELL INFORMED IN MULTIPLE WAYS ABOUT THE NEW CHANGES, HOW THAT WILL AFFECT IMPACT THEM, AND HOW THEY CAN UTILIZE CITY CODE LEGALLY REQUEST THAT THE PUBLIC IS MADE AWARE OF THE PROCESS FOR ADJACENT HOMEOWNERS TO PROTEST OR IMPROVE CHANGES TO A NEIGHBOR'S LOT.
AND REQUEST NOW, UH, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IMPLEMENTS ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR FUTURE CODE CHANGES OF THIS NATURE.
ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONERS THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? OKAY.
UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RECOMMENDATION AS READ AS READ AND AMENDED, RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE EINHARD, UH, EINHORN, SORRY.
UH, KRUGER, SHERA, BEDFORD NICHOLS AND SULLIVAN.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? WE HAVE BRIMER.
[6. Update from the Bird-Friendly Design working group on their last meeting on August 14th – Jennifer Bristol]
NEXT STEP WE HAVE, UM, COMMITTEE UPDATES, UPDATE FROM BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN WORKING GROUP ON THEIR LAST MEETING ON AUGUST 14TH.AND SECRETARY BRISTOL'S NOT HERE TODAY, SO IS THERE, WELL, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ON, WAS IT SEPTEMBER 19TH? WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS I GUESS, UH, NEXT WEEK WE HAVE OUR, UM, NOT RETREAT.
WHAT ARE WE CALLING IT? OUR TRAINING,
UM, WHO SECONDED IT? OH, UH, HANNAH COFER SECONDED
[04:15:01]
THAT IN SEPTEMBER WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION FROM THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT, WHICH IS A TRAIL SYSTEM BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO THAT WILL INCLUDE THE CONSERVATION OF LAND AROUND SPRINGS AND WHATNOT ON THE EDGES OF THE HILL COUNTRY.WE'LL HAVE THAT IN SEP, LIKE IN MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.
UM, SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, LET'S GO.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE MEETING.