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WE, I'M GONNA CALL THE MEETING TO
[CALL TO ORDER]
ORDER.UH, IT IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 9:32 AM AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
UH, WE HAVE COUNCILOR SIEGEL HERE.
COUNCILOR ELLIS IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO, UM, CHECK TO SEE
[Public Communication: General]
IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE CHRIS FLORES.
GOOD MORNING, UH, ELECTED COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRIS FLORES AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ON ITEM TWO, I GUESS, UM, BEFORE IT'S PRESENTED TO YOU, UM, I HAVE AN ASK, UH, I, I'M ASKING IF A CITY DEPARTMENT COULD PLEASE MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT IN THE FORM OF A MAP THAT OVERLAYS THE STREETS AND THE PARKS OF THE CITY WITH A HEAT MAP, IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO SEE THE PROGRESS THE CITY'S MAKING, UM, IN BUYING PARK LAND AND PLANTING TREES ON THESE LANDS.
UM, THE HEAT MAP, I THINK IS THE TRUE COMMON DENOMINATOR IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
IN IT YOU WILL SEE SHOAL CREEK PARK, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AREA THAT'S ALWAYS GREENER AND COOLER COMPARED TO THE HOTTER BROWN ORANGE ZONES IN THE CITY.
UH, GOLF COURSES ON THE HEAT MAP APPEAR YELLOW GREEN.
THEY DON'T OFFER THE LEVEL OF COOLING THAT TREE CANOPIES, CANOPIES OFFER.
I THINK GOLF COURSES SHOULD BE CON, SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED PARKS.
I'VE TRIED STROLLING THROUGH MINE AT MUNI AND I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE FOR MY SAFETY.
I COULD GET HIT OVER THE HEAD WITH A GOLF BALL.
UM, THE POINT OF THE, OF THE GREENERY IS TO OFFER RELIEF FROM THE HEAT.
AND IF PEOPLE CAN'T STROLL THROUGH THESE AREAS, THEY AREN'T REALLY PARKS NOT TO THE PEOPLE.
UM, THE SAME GOES FOR LAND SET ASIDE FOR WATER CONSERVATION.
THEY AREN'T STROLL PARKS EITHER.
UM, IF, IF WE HAD A WAY AND A MAP TO MEASURE THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GO AFTER WORK FOR RELIEF FROM THE HEAT, IT COULD BECOME OUR REPORT CARD.
AS YOU RAISE MONEY FROM BONDS TO BUY MORE LAND AND PLANT TREES ON THEM, WE, WE NEED A WAY TO MEASURE THE PROGRESS.
UM, THE TREE CANOPY RELIEF, UM, HASN'T BEEN ADDED TO, UH, VERY MUCH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND IT'S GETTING HOTTER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PLEAD TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES OF THE PEOPLE ON THE EASTERN ZONES OF THE CITY WHO NEED THE TREE COVER URGENTLY FOR THEIR HEALTH.
[2. Briefing on the parkland acquisition data. [Dr. Amanda Masino - Evergreen].]
START WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO, A BRIEFING ON THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION DATA.I'M A PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AT THE HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY, AUSTIN'S ONLY HBCU AND THE NUMBER ONE PRIVATE HBCU IN TEXAS.
I AM HERE TODAY AS A VOLUNTEER REPRESENTING EVERGREEN AUSTIN, A NON-PROFIT ORGAN NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION, COMPRISED OF DIVERSE, INFORMED, AND INVESTED WOMEN.
WITH TIES TO AUSTIN'S GREEN COMMUNITIES, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING AUSTIN INVESTS URGENTLY, GENEROUSLY, AND EQUITABLY IN GREEN SPACES AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
LAND IS THE LIVING PLATFORM FOR EVERYTHING.
AUSTIN BELIEVES IN PARKS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND CLIMATE MITIGATION.
IT IS THE ESSENTIAL PART OF PROTECTING AND ENHANCING AUSTIN'S QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH IMPROVED AIR AND WATER QUALITY AND THE CRITICAL BENEFITS OF PARKS.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR BACKYARD OVER THE LAST DECADES.
NOTE THAT THE RED IN THESE SLIDES REPRESENTS THE GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND GIVES YOU A GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF OUR GROWTH, 68% GROWTH IN THE LAST DECADE.
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2005, 2015, AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.AND IN THIS PICTURE, YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE GREEN WE HAVE SAVED OVER THOSE YEARS.
ON THIS ISSUE, AUSTIN HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY BEGINNING DEMONSTRATING REMARKABLE VISION AND RESOLVE, GUIDED BY A PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC REALM.
33 YEARS AGO, LOCAL OFFICIALS BOLDLY PURSUED POLICIES THAT AGGRESSIVELY PRESERVED PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE, AN INITIATIVE THAT WOULD COME TO THE, UH, DEFINE THE CITY'S LEGACY, NOTABLY IN 1992.
AND THIS IS THE SECTION YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTED ON THE SLIDE, THE CITY REACHED A PINNACLE EMBRACING A ROBUST GREEN CULTURE AND COMMITTING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND YOU WILL NOTE THAT IN THAT YEAR, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE 20 MILLION DO DOLLAR PARD PACKAGE WAS FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
BUT IN OUR YEARS OF GREATEST GROWTH, WE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY FUND LAND ACQUISITION.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGE FOR LAND DROP IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS WITH THE LATEST NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM OF 30% OF THE TOTAL PARD PACKAGE, UM, GOING TOWARDS LAND ALLOCATION.
WHY DID WE TURN OUR BACK ON GREEN DURING THE DECADE OF OUR GREATEST GROWTH? MAYBE WE THOUGHT WE HAD DONE IT OR ASSUMED THAT THE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT CHANGE WOULD PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD.
MAYBE WE HAD OTHER PRIORITIES.
MEANWHILE, THE PRICE OF LAND SOARED.
BUT PARD AT LEAST HAD A FALLBACK PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES THAT WERE PRODUCING ABOUT 20 MILLION A YEAR IN LAND ACQUISITION FUNDS UNTIL THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ENDED ALMOST ALL OF THEM IN 2023.
BOTTOM LINE, AFTER PARS SPENDS ITS PORTION OF THE 50 MILLION SAVED FROM THE ABORTED CLIMATE BOND, IT BASICALLY HAS NOTHING FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
AS IT TURNS OUT, WE RELIED TOO HEAVILY ON OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION FEES ON THE CLIMATE MITIGATION FRONT.
THE OTHER COMPELLING USE OF LAND.
THE COUNCIL PASSED A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IN 2018, BUT AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, THE COUNCIL FAILED TO FUND IT.
SINCE 2018, CITY STAFF HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS ON THESE UNFUNDED ITEMS, BUT TOO MANY REMAIN UNFUNDED.
THESE FOUR AREAS IN PARTICULAR STAND OUT LAND ACQUISITION, URBAN FORESTS, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT AND LAND MANAGEMENT OF CITY LANDS.
BUT CLIMATE CHANGE HAS NOT WEIGHTED.
HERE YOU SEE A GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF THE INCREASED NUMBER OF DAYS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WILL BE OVER A HUNDRED DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITHIN THE NEXT 50 TO 75 YEARS.
THIS GRAPHIC IS A PREDICTION OF THE DROUGHT INDEX, AND YOU CAN SEE REGARDLESS OF THE MODEL USED TO PREDICT THE AMOUNT OF DROUGHT, WE SEE A CONTINUAL TREND TOWARDS MORE AND MORE DRY DAYS.
AUSTIN WILL GET THIRSTIER AS THE POPULATION INCREASES.
OUR NEED FOR CLEAN POTABLE WATER WILL GO UP.
WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC WANT? WE BELIEVE AUSTINITES STRONGLY SUPPORT LAND ACQUISITION FOR PARK LAND AND OPEN SPACE.
ONE NEED TO LOOK ONLY AT THE PERCENTAGE OF VOTER APPROVAL FOR GREEN BONDS OVER THE YEARS.
IN 2024 EVERGREEN AUSTIN RAN A POLL OF 400 REGISTERED CITY OF AUSTIN VOTERS.
AND THESE ARE THE PIE CHARTS YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLIDE.
88% OF OUR RESPONDENTS AGREED WITH THE STATEMENT, WE MUST PROTECT AND ACQUIRE GREEN AND OPEN SPACE BECAUSE ONCE IT IS GONE, IT'S GONE FOREVER.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE SURVEY.
HEB ANNUALLY CONDUCTS ON ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, UNIQUELY AMONG ALL THEIR MARKETS.
AUSTINITES CHOSE THE ENVIRONMENT AS THEIR TOP CHOICE.
WE THINK PART OF THE REASON THAT THE PUBLIC SUPPORT IS SO HIGH IS THAT PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE
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BENEFITS OF GREEN.GREEN ENHANCES PROPERTY VALUES, BOOSTS TOURISM, REDUCES HEALTHCARE COSTS, REDUCES AIR POLLUTION, REDUCES STORMWATER RUNOFF AND SUPPORT.
E SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
NOW, AUSTIN IS NOT ALONE IN FACING THESE CHALLENGES.
OTHER TEXAS CITIES AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF PARKLAND.
DEDICATION FEES SUCH AS FORT WORTH, DALLAS AND HOUSTON ARE UNDERTAKING EFFORTS TO PLANT TREES AND CURATE, UM, GREEN SPACES.
HOWEVER, WE THINK MORE IS REQUIRED.
RESTORING THE VISION OF 1992 DEMANDS LAND BANKING.
THE ECONOMICS OF LAND PURCHASE DEMANDS, LAND BANKING AND THE EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DEMANDS LAND BANKING.
HERE YOU SEE TREVINO PARK, WHICH ILLUSTRATES THE WISDOM OF GETTING AHEAD OF DEVELOPMENT.
THE CITY BOUGHT THIS LAND FOR 8,000,025 YEARS AGO, AND IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH A HUNDRED MILLION TODAY.
ONCE THE LAND IS BANKED, WE OFTEN HEAR THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MAINTAIN THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACES WE HAVE.
HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN NEW LAND ACQUISITION AND WHY BUY MORE LAND WHEN WE HAVE LOCKED UP PARKS THAT WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED? COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, BUY THE LAND, AND WAIT FOR THE COMMUNITIES TO COME TO THEM WITH CAREFUL PLANNING AND MINIMAL INPUTS.
YOU CAN SEQUESTER 20 TO 30 METRIC TONS OF CO2 OVER 10 YEARS TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT COSTS RUN FROM 800 TO 2000 PER ACRE.
MAINTENANCE COSTS AFTER TWO YEARS IS 75 TO 2 2 50 PER ACRE.
NOT ONLY CAN WE AFFORD TO MAINTAIN THESE LANDS, WE CAN MAKE THEM WORK FOR US.
WE ASK THAT YOU FUND PROTECT AND PRESERVE AUSTIN'S UNIQUE GREEN SPACES BASIS FUND 300 MILLION TOWARDS PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION IN THE 2026 BOND.
ADVANCE THESE BOND FUNDS IN FULL IN YEAR ONE, DEVELOP A VIABLE STRATEGY TO FUND IN FULL THE APPROVED CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND BUILD IN ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC OF YOUR PROGRESS AND PUT AUSTIN'S BANKED LANDS TO USE SEQUESTERING CARBON.
UH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE SLIDES OR SOME OF THE SOURCES THAT WE HAVE CONSULTED IN THIS PRESENTATION.
AND THIS IS A LIST OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, ALONG WITH OUR FOUNDER, UM, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I'LL, UH, TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS.
I WOULD A NICE ROBUST DISCUSSION.
AND, UH, MAY, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE WANNA HAVE PARTS PRESENTATION, THEN WE CAN ASK Y'ALL BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE, WE CAN HAVE A, YOU CAN JUST, I DON'T KNOW, IS IT JUST RANDY OR, UH, THREE OF US.
SO WE'LL CALL THEM UP AND THEN I THINK WE CAN HAVE THE FOUR OF Y'ALL SET, I THINK BE A LITTLE EASIER TO HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION HERE IN A SECOND.
[3. Briefing on parkland dedication and the Parks and Recreation Department’s parkland acquisition program. [Robynne Heymans, Planner Principal - Parks and Recreation Department; Randy Scott, Acquisition Manager- Parks and Recreation Department].]
WILL CALL UP PAR.WE HAVE ROBIN HAYMANS, RANDY SCOTT UP AND OUR DIRECTOR.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
SO I'M JESUS GURE, UH, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION, AND WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU, UH, SOME INFORMATION ON OUR, ON OUR PARKLAND ACQUISITION, BOTH OUR STRATEGY AND PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE ON SORT OF HOW WE'RE DOING, UH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND A COUPLE OF OUR KEY METRICS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH PARKLAND WE'RE ACQUIRING, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ONE METRIC IS REALLY ABOUT, UH, HOW MUCH PER CAPITA ACREAGE WE HAVE, AND THEN THE MORE IMPORTANT METRIC AROUND ACCESS, WHICH IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL OF ENSURING THAT EVERY RESIDENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS ACCESS TO A PARK WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK, FIVE MINUTES WITHIN THE URBAN CORE.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO LEANNA, KALI BOKA, WHO IS OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WHO OVERSEES THIS WORK.
UH, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.
WE ARE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, PARKING LOT ACQUISITION AND EXPLAIN, UM, UH, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THE LAST SEVERAL UH, YEARS.
UM, AS THE DIRECTOR SAID, I SERVE AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, I'M HERE WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF THE, UH, PARKLAND DEDICATION AND ACQUISITION
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TEAM, UH, TO PRESENT ON THE, UH, LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM.SO WE WILL GO TO, UM, IF WE GO TO THE AGENDA, UM, WE WILL START BY, UH, DISCUSSING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM, UH, THE LAST BOND, THE 2018 BOND, AND HOW, UM, THE BOND, UM, ALLOWED US TO PROGRESS ON OUR LONG-TERM GOALS.
UM, WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAT CAME FROM, UH, HB 1526, WHICH YOU ALREADY HEARD THAT WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATION IN 2023 AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAD ON, UH, ON OUR LAND LAND ACQUISITIONS AND THAT, UH, MADE, UH, LAND ACQUISITIONS AND LAND BANKING SO MUCH MORE, UH, CRITICAL AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND WE WILL CLOSE BY, UH, TOUCHING ON THE GOALS THAT, UH, WE HAVE SET, UM, FOR THE 2026 BOND, WHICH IS STILL, UH, THE GOALS ARE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT.
OF COURSE THERE WILL BE, UM, MUCH MORE DISCUSSION ON THOSE.
AND WITH THAT, I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE, UH, BRANDIS SCOTT, WHO IS THE, UH, LAND USE MANAGER AND PARKLAND DEDICATION TO START THE PRESENTATION.
UH, AGAIN, RANDY SCOTT, I MANAGE THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION PARKLAND DEDICATION TEAM.
UM, UH, BEFORE I, UH, PASS IT TO ROBIN TO RUN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2018 BOND PACKAGE.
UM, IN 2018, THE VOTERS APPROVED 45 MILLION, UH, FOR PARKLAND ACQUISITION.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, SPENT $31 MILLION OF THAT AND ARE IN ACTIVE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE OTHER $14 MILLION.
WE'VE ACQUIRED WELL OVER A HUNDRED ACRES OF PARKLAND.
UH, WE'VE ADDED 30 NEW PARKS OR PARK EXPANSIONS.
UM, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, WHICH IS, UH, HOW MANY RESIDENTS WE HAVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE, UH, THAT SERVICE, UH, BY 7%.
SO 7% OF AUSTINITES ARE NOW WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE WITH THE 2018 BOND PACKAGE.
UM, EACH DOLLAR THAT WE SPENT, UH, OF BOND FUNDING, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MATCH WITH 33 CENTS OF PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE IN LIEU OF, THAT'S ENABLED US TO, UH, EXPAND THAT $45 MILLION, UH, FOR EACH DOLLAR 33 CENTS.
WE'VE, UH, MATCHED WITH PARKLAND DEDICATION WITHOUT BOND FUNDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FEE IN LIEU OF IS INSUFFICIENT TO ACQUIRE LAND.
SO, UM, THANK YOU AND I WILL, UH, PASS IT TO ROBIN HAYMONDS TO RUN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION TEAM.
UM, SO AS RANDY MENTIONED, WE ACQUIRED 30 NEW PARKS.
I WAS JUST WANTED TO RUN THROUGH A FEW OF THE NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS.
WE HAVE COOPER NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH SERVES DISTRICT FIVE AND TWO.
AND, UH, THIS IS A REALLY RAPIDLY GROWING RESIDENTIAL AREA.
SO THIS, UM, FIVE ACRE PARK BE DEVELOPED TO SERVE THAT AREA.
UM, WE HAVE BULL CREEK BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH CLOSES A REALLY CRITICAL GAP IN OUR BULL CREEK GREEN BELT, AND IT OFFERS THESE REALLY BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIC VIEWS OF A LIMESTONE BLUFF.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED, IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT PICNIC WITH YOUR FAMILY.
UM, WE HAVE JAMESTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH WAS ADDED TO A DEFICIENT AREA IN NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN.
WE HAVE SHADY WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WHICH FEATURES OPEN SPACES AND CREEK FRONTAGE IN A INTERESTING STORIED HISTORY AS WELL ALONG SOUTH WA CREEK.
AND THEN WE HAVE COLLEGE ROW POCKET PARK, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO TILLSON UNIVERSITY AND ALSO WITHIN A RAPIDLY GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST AUSTIN.
UM, THOSE ARE JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS, MANY MORE OTHER ACQUISITIONS.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, MANY ACQUISITIONS, SIMILARS TO THOSE MENTIONED ARE SPREAD ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS MAP DISPLAYS THE DISPERSION OF NEW PARKLAND IN AREAS, UM, IN YELLOW SHOWING THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF, UM, FUNDING, UM, INVESTED IN THOSE ACQUISITIONS.
AS EVIDENT IN THE MAP, THE LAND ACQUISITION IS TAKEN PLACE KIND OF ACROSS THE CITY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PARK DEFICIENT AREAS AND EXPANDING
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GREEN BELT SYSTEMS. UH, IN 2018, THE AUSTIN PARK AND RECREATION LONG RANGE PLAN, LONG RANGE PLANS SET A GOAL OF 24 ACRES OF PARKLAND PER 1000 PEOPLE.SO WE REPORT ON THAT, UH, METRIC EACH YEAR.
IN 2006, AS AUSTIN'S POPULATION WAS GROWING, WE STARTED TO DIP BELOW THAT PARK SERVICE GOAL AND WE CONTINUE TO DO TO DECLINE UNTIL THE ADOPTION OF THE 2016 PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRE THE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORNAMENTS REQUIREMENTS, COUPLED WITH THE 2018 BOND HELPED INCREASE THE PARK SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE, DESPITE CONTINUOUS RAPID POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE CITY.
IN 2009, CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE URBAN PARKS INITIATIVE SETTING A GOAL TO PROVIDE PARKS WITHIN A FIVE TO 10 MINUTE WALK OF ALL RESIDENTS.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE NOW AT 70% OF OUR RESIDENTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK.
AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY NEW ACQUISITIONS AND DEDICATIONS TO INCREASES PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK YEAR OVER YEAR.
SO NOW KIND OF GOING TO, UM, UM, THE IMPACTS OF HB 1526
SO PARKLAND DEDICATION OR PLD IS A REALLY ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO REACH ITS LONG-TERM GOALS.
PLD ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO REQUIRE NEW PARKLAND TO BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY OR FEES TO BE PAID FOR EVERY NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE NEW RESIDENTS ARE SERVED WITH PARKLAND.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR PARKLAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENTS, WE THINK ABOUT THEM IN TERMS OF HOW THEY SERVE AUSTIN'S RESIDENTS NEW AND EXISTING.
ONE OF THE BEST METRICS FOR THAT IS OUR PARK LEVEL OF SERVICE, WHICH IS EXPRESSED IN THE ACRES OF THOU NUMBER OF ACRES PER THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THE 2016 PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE SET THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AT 9.4 ACRES PER 1000 PEOPLE.
WERE MEETING ABOUT 40% OF THE PARK SERVICE GOAL OF 24 ACRES PER 1000 PEOPLE.
THIS IS CONSIDERED A PROPORTIONAL SHARE OF THE NEW RESIDENTS IMPACT.
AND AFTER THE 2016 ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT, WE SAW PARK SERVICE KEEP PACE, THE PARK SERVICE LEVEL KEEP PACE, EVEN AS OUR POPULATION WAS ALSO RAPIDLY GROWING.
HB 1526 CHANGED THAT DRAMATICALLY BY REDUCING THE LAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENT AND REMOVING ANY KIND OF PROPORTIONAL IMPACT FROM THE EQUATION.
AT BEST, THE NEW STATE LEGISLATIVE PARKLAND DEDICATION ORDINANCE MEETS ABOUT 12% OF THAT 24 ACRE PER THOUSAND GOAL WITH THREE ACRES PER THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE SUBURBAN AREA.
BUT DOWNTOWN, THAT PERCENTAGE PLUMMETS TO JUST 0.3% OF OUR GOAL WITH, UM, JUST 1000 PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO AN AREA LESS THAN A 10TH OF AN ACRE.
THAT'S THEIR SERVICE LEVEL FOR DOWNTOWN FOR REFERENCE, THAT'S 1000 PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO THE FOOTPRINT OF JOE'S COFFEE ON SOUTH CONGRESS.
MOVING FORWARD, A PR WILL RELY MORE HEAVILY ON BONDS BOND FUNDING TO KEEP UP WITH AUSTIN'S DESIRED LEVEL OF PARK SERVICE OR WATCH OUR PARK LEVEL SERVICE PLUMMET IN A RAPIDLY DENSIFYING CITY, CHANGING THE NATURE OF AUSTIN ITSELF.
THE OTHER WAY WE WERE IMPACTED BY HB 1526 IS WITH THE FEES.
SO UNDER OUR PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, EVERY DOLLAR BOND FUNDING WAS MATCHED WITH 33 CENTS FROM PARKLAND DEDICATION FUNDS AND PLD BROUGHT IN UP TO 26 MILLION ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT ACQUISITION THROUGHOUT AUSTIN'S PARKS.
THIS FUNDING WAS COLLECTED AT THE TIME OF SITE PLANNER, SUBDIVISION APPLICATION APPROVAL, MEANING IT COULD BE APPROPRIATED, INVESTED AND INVESTED IN A PARK NEAR NEW RESIDENCE AND RESI READY WHEN THEY MOVED IN.
HB 1526 CHANGED THE COLLECTION TIME OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANTS TWO CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, WHICH DELAYS THE INVESTMENT OF THESE FUNDS BY AN AVERAGE OF FIVE YEARS.
THIS RESULTS IN A SHORT TERM FUNDING GAP OF ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILLION A YEAR FOR UP TO THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN DELIVERY OF PARKLAND TO NEW RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO DELI TO DELIVER DEVELOPED PARKS TO AUSTIN TO KEEP UP WITH POPULATION GROWTH.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE INVEST IN LAND AS SOON AS THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
THIS PRACTICE OF PURCHASING LAND FOR LATER DEVELOPMENT IS CALLED LAND BANKING.
LAND BANKING IS AN ESSENTIAL PRACTICE FOR ANY GROUP THAT MANAGES LAND.
ACQUIRING LAND AT TODAY'S PRICES SAVES AUSTIN'S RESIDENTS MONEY IS THE COST OF LAND APPRECIATES YEAR OVER YEAR FOR PARKLAND, THAT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
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SAVINGS PER PARK.OVER 10 YEARS, THE PARKLAND CAN BE MANAGED AS OPEN SPACE WITH MINIMAL MAINTENANCE COSTS AND THE PUB AND THE PUBLIC IS ABLE TO START ENJOYING THE LAND FOR PASSIVE RECREATION IN CONNECTION TO NATURE.
FROM DAY ONE, I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES.
COMMUNICATING THE BENEFITS OF LAND BANKING TO RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILD TRUST AND ENSURE SUPPORT FOR UPCOMING BOND REQUESTS.
SO LAND BANKING SERVES, UM, AS MORE THAN JUST A GOOD FINANCIAL INVESTMENT.
THE LAND IS PROTECTED FROM COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDES NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS INCLUDING CARBON SEQUESTRATION, UH, WHICH DEPENDING ON THE TREE COVERAGE PARK SEQUESTER ONE TO 1.85 METRIC TONS OF CARBON PER YEAR PER ACRE PARKS CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO URBAN COOLING AND ARE AN AVERAGE OF FIVE DEGREES COOLER THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.
THEY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE WILDFIRE RISK THROUGH FUEL REDUCTION.
UNDEVELOPED PARKS ARE ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EROSION HAZARD AND WATER QUALITY ZONES.
FINALLY, UNDEVELOPED PARKS CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY TO NATURE THROUGH PASSIVE RECREATION TRAILS.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND TO YIELD THESE BENEFITS COSTS VERY LITTLE.
SO THIS SIDE KIND OF BREAKS DOWN THE COST PER ACRE.
SO ONE CONCERN WE HEAR RAISED ABOUT LAND BANKING IS THE COST TO MAINTAIN THE LAND IN AN UNDEVELOPED STATE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE ACTUAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH LAND, BANK LAND AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THOSE COSTS TO THE APPRECIATION OF THE LAND YEAR OVER YEAR.
WHEN THE PARK IS FIRST PURCHASED, THE PROPERTY IS CLEARED OF ANY DEBRIS IN BUILDINGS AND THEN SECURED TO SEC TO ENSURE IT'S SAFE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION.
A PARK IS THEN MAINTAINED FOR PASSIVE RECREATION UNTIL IT'S READY TO GO THROUGH THE VISION PLANNING PROCESS FOR AN INFILL PARK ADJACENT TO EXISTING NEIGHBORS.
THIS JUST MEANS REGULAR MOWING TO MATCH THE PRIVATE LAWNS AROUND IT.
FOR A GREEN BELT, THIS IS JUST MOWING THE RIGHT OF WAY TO KEEP IT CLEAR.
AND SOMETIMES WE'LL ACTIVATE SOME EARTH AND TRAILS AND DO SOME SELECTIVE CLEARING SO PEOPLE CAN USE IT FOR NATURE HIKES.
FOR, UM, FOR DESTINATION PARKS, THIS IS MOWING IT OCCASIONALLY TO MANAGE SUCCESSIVE GROWTH AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY ADDING IT TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THIS IS A MORE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT TO MAKE THE LAND WORK AS A CARBON SINK OR MANAGE WILDFIRE RISK IN THE CITY.
IN ALL CASES, MAINTAINING UNDEVELOPED PARKLAND COMES AT A VERY LOW COST OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PER ACRE ANNUALLY.
COMPARED TO THE RAPID LAND APPRECIATION COST OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER ACRE ANNUALLY OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS, WE ARE SAVING THE PUBLIC MILLIONS PER PARK IN PUBLIC ACQUISITION FUNDS BY PRIORITIZING PURCHASING LAND TODAY AND KEEPING THE LAND FOR PASSIVE RECREATION RATHER THAN DELAYING THE PARKLAND INVESTMENT TO THE FUTURE.
SO NOW THAT WE'VE CON COVERED THE IMPORTANCE OF GROWING OUR PARK SYSTEM, AS AUSTIN GROWS AND INVESTING IN PARKLAND WITH AVAILABLE FUNDING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING 2026 BOND.
AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION WILL WORK TO CLOSE OUR PARK DEFICIENCY GAPS THROUGH THE CITY AND BRING MORE THAN 70% OF AUSTINITES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A PARK THROUGH INFO POCKET AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ACQUISITIONS.
BOND FUNDING WILL BE INVESTED INTO LAND ACQUISITIONS FOR A RECREATION CENTER, WHICH ARE RECREATION CENTRIC GAPS ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED TO BE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
BOND FUNDING WILL GO TOWARD CONTINUED ACQUISITION OF THE COLORADO RIVER FRONTAGE FOR THE PATROL CORRIDOR AND RECREATIONAL NODES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COLORADO RIVER VISION PLAN AND COUNCIL DIRECTION.
LIKEWISE, BOND FUNDING WILL BE FOCUSED ON GAPS IN GREEN BELTS AND GREENWAYS CLOSING CRITICAL HOLES IN TRAIL SYSTEMS LIKE ONION CREEK, WILLIAMSON CREEK, SOUTH BOGGY, RENARD LITTLE AND NORTHERN WALNUT CREEK, AMONG OTHERS WHERE FEASIBLE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION WILL TAKE A ONE CITY APPROACH TEAMING UP WITH COMPLIMENTARY DEPARTMENTS FOR LAND ACQUISITION THAT MEETS MULTIPLE CITY GOALS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS, LIBRARIES, WATER QUALITY AND PROTECTION.
ALL OF THESE GOALS INHERENTLY AND DELIBERATELY CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO MEETING THE GOALS OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, ENSURING THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE NATURAL SYSTEMS RESPONSIBLE SEQUESTERING CARBON AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A GENERAL, UM, SHOWS THE GENERAL PRIORITY AREAS FOR LAND ACQUISITION THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREAS FOR INFILL PARKS, THE CRITICAL GAPS IN GREENBELTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND A GENERALIZED LOCATION FOR THE RECREATION CENTER.
THE LIGHT YELLOW AREA IS ALREADY SERVED BY PARKLAND.
[00:30:01]
PRIORITIZES ACQUISITIONS BASED ON PARK DEFICIENCY OF AN AREA, AS WELL AS THE DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES INCLUDING CONCENTRATION OF CHILDREN, LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH, UM, AND HEALTH OUTCOMES.PRIORITIZING EQUITY ENSURES THAT THE DEPARTMENT SERVES THOSE THAT NEED THE PARKLAND THE MOST.
THE SITE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR A NEW RECREATION CENTER WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2024 FACILITY ASSESSMENT AND GAP ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT BASED ON DEMOGRAPHIC AND PARTICIPATION ANALYSIS.
THE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE SOUTHEAST AUSTIN HAD INSUFFICIENT ACCESS TO RECREATION PROGRAM AND THAT NEW LAND WAS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS DEFICIENCY.
UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD, WE HAVE THE, AND SORT OF CALCULATED THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT OF THE 2026 BOND.
AND IT'S BROKEN DOWN ON THIS SIDE FOR EVERY A HUNDRED MILLION IN AC IN ALLOCATED FOR OUR, FOR PARKLAND ACQUISITION.
SO OF COURSE IT CAN BE EXTRAPOLATED UP BASED ON THE AVERAGE LAND VALUE ACROSS THE DIFFERENT PARK TYPOLOGIES STAFF ESTIMATED AMOUNT, THE AMOUNT OF NEW PARKLAND WE EXPECT TO ACQUIRE.
WE WOULD EXPAND OUR GREENBELTS BY ABOUT 200 ACRES, CLOSING CRITICAL GAPS NEEDED FOR TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION.
GREENBELTS ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD CANDIDATES FOR CREST DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION DUE THEIR DUE TO THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE CAN EXPAND DESTINATION PARKS BY ABOUT 60 ACRES, INCLUDING LAND FOR RECREATION CENTER IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE CAN EXPAND POCKET AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY BY ABOUT 60 ACRES.
THIS CONTRIBUTES MOST SIGNIFICANTLY TO BRINGING US CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF SERVING EVERY AUSTINITE WITHIN THE PARK WITHIN A PARK WALKING DISTANCE OF THEIR HOME.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S KEY TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE IN INVESTING PARK IN PARKLAND TODAY.
LAND VALUES RELIABLY INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR AND WAITING TO INVEST IN THIS PARKLAND TO A FUTURE BOND CAN COST THE PUBLIC SIGNIFICANTLY.
BASED ON THE LAND VALUE APPRECIATION DATA FROM TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT STAFF ESTIMATES THAT THERE WILL BE THERE TO BE $150 MILLION SAVINGS TO THE PUBLIC, PER PUBLIC FOR PURCHASING LAND TODAY, RATHER THAN WAITING 10 YEARS TO INVEST THE LAND CAN BE BANKED AND USED PASSIVELY UNTIL THE PARK INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE BUILT, CONTRIBUTING TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR CITY AS WE GROW.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'M GONNA INVITE DR.
MASSINO BACK UP FOR OUR CONVERSATION HERE.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL OF IT AT ONCE.
UM, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES COUNCILOR ELLIS.
I LOVE THAT PURPLE MAP THAT WAS AT THE END, BUT I DON'T SEE IT IN BACKUP.
WHERE CAN I FIND THAT ONLINE? IT WILL BE POSTED.
WE, WE'VE UPDATED, UM, BUT WE CAN ALSO SEND IT TO YOU.
IS THAT ONE THAT'S STAGNANT OR IS THERE AN ARC? GI SNT LINK STAGNANT.
WE'LL, WE'LL SHARE A PDF WITH YOU.
I I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO GET THAT DATA IN A WAY THAT'S MORE ZOOMABLE AND I'M SPECIFICALLY ASKING BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF OUR SMALLER POCKET NEIGHBORHOODS KNOW SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO IDENTIFY LAND.
UM, WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME DIRECTOR AGUIRE TO DISTRICT DATE YESTERDAY FOR A RIBBON CUTTING AT SCENIC BROOK POCKET PARK, UM, WHICH IS ONE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ACTUALLY DEEDED OVER TO THE CITY ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT ONLINE AND IT LOOKS AMAZING, KIDS LOVE IT.
BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT OTHER PARTS OF MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE SIMILAR STORIES WHERE MAYBE THEY HAVE LAND IDENTIFIED, UM, WHERE THAT COULD EITHER BE DEEDED OR SOMEHOW OTHER ACQUIRED BY THE CITY.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US AND HELP THE NEIGHBORS KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE IN FRONT OF THEM IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY ZOOM IN AND, AND SEE HOW FAR ARE THEY FROM THEIR PARKS, WHAT DOES THAT WALK SHE LOOK LIKE, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD OR COULD NOT WORK FOR, FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
MASSINO, HAVE YOU DONE ANY, UM, WHETHER IT'S ANALYSIS OR JUST KIND OF YOUR BASE KNOWLEDGE, I'M CURIOUS HOW WE COMPARE TO WHETHER IT'S DALLAS OR SAN ANTONIO KIND OF SISTER CITIES, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE SEEN THIS RAPID GROWTH, HOW HAVE OTHER AREAS, IF IF YOU HAVE, UM, ANY EXPOSURE TO THOSE OTHER AREAS HANDLED THIS OR, OR NOT? AND IF NOT, THAT'S FINE.
I I I, I JUST, I WAS LOOKING AT THAT RED MAP OF, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE'VE GROWN AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANY YEAH, I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL, LIKE HOW WE RANK OVERALL PART, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT PARTICULARLY IN COMPARISON TO OTHER TO SURE, SURE.
DALLAS FORT WORTH, UM, AND I'M GONNA
[00:35:01]
ASK JUNIE PLUMBER TO SPEAK TO THAT FROM OUR GROUP.ONE OF THE THINGS DID MICRO OKAY.
JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
FOR THOSE WHO DUNNO, YOU
ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT WAS FORT WORTH AND THEY HAVE A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR 10,000 ACRES AND IT INVOLVED A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, BUT IT WAS VERY CLEVER, IT WAS VERY CREATIVE, IT WAS EMBRACING THEIR NATURE.
AND THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIVE CITIES THAT LOST PARKLAND DEDICATION.
SO THE FIVE ARE SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, AND AUSTIN.
SO WE LOOKED AT THOSE FIVE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING, WHAT ARE THEY EMBRACING? AND THEY REALLY HAD A STRONG 10,000 ACRE PLAN.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST EXAMPLE, BECAUSE MANY YEARS AGO, ONE EIGHTH OF 1% OF THEIR SALES TAX WENT TO THEIR PARKS.
AND THAT WAS THEN LATER TERMINATED.
BUT NUREMBERG, THE MAYOR AT THE TIME, PROMISED 10 MILLION A YEAR.
SO THEY WERE ALL HAVING DIFFERENT KINDS OF APPROACHES.
NOW WAS WAS THAT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE LOSS OF PLD? YOU CAN'T QUITE EQUATE IT TO THAT.
WE LOOKED AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS REALLY PROGRESSIVE.
THEY HAVE 67 MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
AND THAT IN THAT MANA, THOSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS COMMERCIAL HELPS PAY FOR THE PARKLAND.
SO THERE WERE BIGGER BONDS IN DALLAS, BIGGER BONDS THAT COMMITMENTS FROM DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.
BUT IN PARTICULAR, FORT WORTH REALLY KIND OF DREW THAT ATTENTION TO 10,000 ACRES OVER FIVE YEARS AS THEIR GOAL.
YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, THE, THERE'S THE, THE CLIMATE ELEMENT.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE PARKS AND REC, UH, BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A PASSIVE PAR, I'M, I'M TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS ALL, UM, TOGETHER.
AND, AND AS, AS THE DECISION'S GOING TO COME TO US, THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ASK FROM PAR.
THERE'S A $300 MILLION ASK FROM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT NOW OFF, THEY WERE THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION RESILIENCE.
I GUESS IT'S NOW THE AUSTIN, I GOTTA GET OUR NEW NAMES RIGHT.
BUT, UM, FORMALLY OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION RESILIENCE, MORE FOCUSED ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, YOU KNOW, ELEMENT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING CARBON SINK.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD, AS YOUR MAP SHOWS, A LOT OF WATER CONSERVATION, YOU KNOW, PROTECT OR WATER CONSERVATION, PROTECTION LANDS.
HOW DO WE BALANCE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THEN HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH THE DOLLARS WE'RE SPENDING? YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF WE PURCHASE, UM, LAND, LET'S SAY THAT'S, UM, BLACKLAND PRAIRIE, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN EVENTUALLY TURN IT INTO A TRAIL, ARE WE, CAN WE GET THOSE CROSS BENEFITS OR, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TAVEN PARK, I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, QUITE THE EXAMPLE, RIGHT? OF THIS HUGE, HUGE PARK THAT RIGHT NOW IS MORE OF A CARBON SINK THAN IT IS A RECREATION AREA.
BUT THERE IS A PLAN TO MAKE IT MORE RECREATIONAL.
SO, UM, I'M NOT ASKING A VERY GOOD QUESTION, BUT I I JUST, I'M TRYING TO PUT ALL THESE PIECES TOGETHER OF HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT, BOTH FROM A CLIMATE PERSPECTIVE AND A PUBLIC ENJOYMENT PERSPECTIVES TO HAVE THAT 10 MINUTE WALK OR LESS ABILITY.
THAT, THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION.
AND I THINK THE KEY IS THAT THOSE BENEFITS, THE BENEFITS THAT EVERGREEN IS BRINGING TO, BROUGHT TO THE DISCUSSION AND THE ONES MENTIONED BY PAR, THOSE ARE COLLECTIVE BENEFITS OF GREEN SPACES, RIGHT? YOU ABSOLUTELY ARE GOING TO SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT ON CARBON FROM AN UNDEVELOPED, MORE NATURAL AREA COMPARED TO A TINY POCKET PARK.
YOU ARE GONNA SEE DIFFERENT HEAT SINK EFFECTS IF YOU HAVE AN AREA OF CONTINUOUS GREEN RATHER THAN A SMALL SPOT OF GREEN SURROUNDED BY A CIRCLE OF CONCRETE, RIGHT? SO THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY THINGS THAT ARE TRUE.
UM, I, I DO BELIEVE THAT THOSE DETAILS CAN BE WORKED OUT.
UM, THE PLAN THAT PAR PRESENTED WHERE THEY HAVE A BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE TYPE OF PARK, THAT'S ONE APPROACH THAT YOU COULD USE TO THEN MODEL WHAT THE IMPACT IN THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS WOULD BE OVER TIME, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GOOD BALANCE, SO NOT EVERYTHING AS CLIMATE MITIGATION, NOT EVERYTHING AS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS PARKS, WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE BENEFITS OF ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
[00:40:01]
YOU HAD A REALLY POWERFUL NUMBER AT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION.THE A HUNDRED MILLION IN SPENDING GETS YOU 150, JUST IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAND ACQUISITION COST.
BUT THAT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION AND REDUCED HEALTHCARE COSTS, UM, IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES HEALTH BECAUSE OF BEING ABLE TO EXERCISE WATER QUALITY IMPACTS AND ALL THE SPENDING THAT CAN COME IN THERE.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S, IT'S A GOOD NUMBER, BUT THAT IS A LOW ESTIMATE FOR THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT OVER TIME OF ACTING ON ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
BUT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WHO CAN MODEL THAT OUT AND GIVE US REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE TYPES OF AREAS AND TYPES OF ACQUISITION COULD BE.
AND I WOULD LIKE JUST TO SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT PARKS OR LAND AS, UH, PRODUCING ONLY ONE OUTCOME BECAUSE WE HAVE, AS THE PROFESSOR SAID, UM, WE HAVE IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE.
UH, WE AND HEALTH BENEFITS, WE HAVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE IMPACTS ON, ON ECONOMICS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, UH, UH, PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN PROXIMITY TO PARKS HAVE ACTUALLY HIGHER VALUES, WHICH TRANSLATES TO ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE CITY.
AND OF COURSE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM TOURISM AND OTHER VISITORS.
SO PARKLAND AND LAND BANKING AND LAND ACQUISITIONS, UM, OFFER BENEFITS THAT ARE, UM, MULTIFOLD AND, UH, STAND THE, THE TEST OF TIME.
AND OF COURSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AIR QUALITY WATER AND TREE CANOPY.
AND PART OF THE ITEMS, ACTUALLY IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION, WE VERY MUCH COORDINATE WITH AUSTIN WATER, WITH WATERSHED, WITH HOUSING, UM, AND WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE MULTIPLE CALLS ON EVERY CASE.
AND AS WE'RE, UH, THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR RANDY.
IF, IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COMPARING A VERY LARGE ACQUISITION OF A SPACE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE TYPE OF ACQUISITION THAT COULD BE A METROPOLITAN PARK OR JUST, YOU KNOW, A VERY LARGE AREA PARK VERSUS, YOU KNOW, A, A SERIES OF VERY SMALL KIND OF POCKET PARKS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, I, LOOKING AT THE MAP, SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL HOUSES, RIGHT? THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE ONLY WAY TO CREATE A PARK IS BASICALLY TO TAKE A HOUSE AND TEAR IT DOWN AND TURN IT INTO A PARK.
UM, WHAT'S THE, WHETHER IT'S PRIORITIZATION OR HOW, HOW ARE Y'ALL THINKING ABOUT EITHER, UH, I, I MEAN I GUESS DO MORE PEOPLE, DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON USAGE OF LIKE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PUT A SERIES OF POCKET PARKS VERSUS HAVING A LARGER DESTINATION PARK? UH, USAGE INCH? YEAH.
UH, PEOPLE DO TRAVEL LONG, LONG, LONGER DISTANCES TO GET TO DESTINATION PARKS, WHICH WE WOULD CONSIDER MORE LIKE A DISTRICT PARK OR A METROPOLITAN PARK.
UH, METROPOLITAN PARKS ARE VERY LARGE OR OVER 200 ACRES IN SIZE.
UM, BUT, BUT, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE AS A CITY'S GOAL, UH, COUNCIL DIRECTED TO HAVE A PARK WITHIN A QUARTER MILE AND A HALF MILE OF ALL RESIDENCE.
SO AFTER WORK OR AFTER SCHOOL OR, OR MORE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK TYPE OF AMENITIES TO TAKE.
THE LITTLE ONES PLAY SCAPES, UH, LOOP TRAIL EXERCISE.
UH, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT A POCKET PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CAN PROVIDE TO COMMUNITIES.
UH, WITH YARDS AND DENSER DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THE CITY.
UH, THIS, THAT'S THE ONLY OUTLET FOR MANY, UH, RESIDENTS.
SO GOING BACK IN AND BUYING PARKLAND IN AREAS THAT ARE DEFICIENT IN PARKLAND IN THE CITY, UM, IS VERY DIFFICULT ONE.
AND, AND NUMBER TWO, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, UH, PER ACRE VALUE.
AND THEY EVEN HAVE A HIGHER MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT FOR PARD WHEN THEY'RE LAND BANKED.
'CAUSE WE DO HAVE TO KEEP IT MOWED ON A REGULAR BASIS 'CAUSE IT HAS RESIDENCE NEXT DOOR TO IT.
UM, BUT IT'S AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
DO WE EVER GO INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT IS NOTHING BUT RESIDENTIAL AND SOMEONE'S SELLING A HOUSE AND SAY, THIS IS THE ONLY, YES, WE'VE BOUGHT HOUSES.
USUALLY THEY WERE, UM, LARGER LOT, UH, DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, OR MAYBE THAT WAS THE RANCH HOUSE WHERE THEY SOLD
[00:45:01]
OFF AROUND THEM.UM, BUT YES, WE'VE, WE'VE TORN DOWN USUALLY DILAPIDATED, UH, HOUSING, A LOT OF IT, UH, CLOSING GAPS ON GREENBELTS AS WELL.
UH, TRYING TO MAKE THAT TRAIL CONNECTION.
UH, SO OUR ACQUISITION METHODOLOGY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, IT'S A, IT'S A FOLLOWING LINEAR PARKS AND THEN HAVING NODES ALONG THOSE LINEAR PARKS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THEM, UH, A CROSSING ROADS OR, YOU KNOW, GETTING IN TRAFFIC.
I'M, I'M CURIOUS IN TERMS OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, MAXIMIZING USE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING WHERE ON THE BOND PACKAGE PRESENT OR A PROPOSAL, THERE IS A LOT OF LAND FOR, UM, STORM STORMWATER, ESPECIALLY REGIONAL STORMWATER, UM, MITIGATION.
AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST THOUGHT LAST WEEK AT A COUNCIL MEETING HAVING A STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THAT WHEN IT'S NOT FLOODED HOWEVER MANY DAYS A YEAR FOR, THERE WERE OTHER 300 SOMETHING DAYS A YEAR.
IT IS A PARK, UH, AND AN OPEN SPACE.
SO HOW ARE, ARE Y'ALL TALKING TO WATERSHED ABOUT IF YES.
SO A COUPLE OF THOSE THAT ARE MAYBE UNDERWAY NOW, MAYBE ADAM
WELL, I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS GO FORWARD.
I, I HOPE THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN THIS.
I THINK THE, THE CASE IS VERY CLEAR AND Y'ALL HAVE LAID IT OUT VERY WELL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHTING THE VALUE.
'CAUSE I THINK WE, WE DON'T ALWAYS, UM, CAN'T ALWAYS PUT OUR FINGER ON THE VALUE AND HEAR YOU HAVE HELPED DO THAT.
SO, UM, WE WILL, WE WILL CERTAINLY SEE, AND, AND I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOND TASK FORCE AS WELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THAT GOES.
SO I, IS THAT, UH, I, I DO NEED TO BACK UP AND DO, UM, TAKE UP ITEM
[1. Approve the minutes of the Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee meeting of August 27, 2025.]
ONE, UH, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.SO I SEE MOTION BY COUNCILOR SIEGEL
THE OBJECTION MS. ARE APPROVED.
UM, WE WERE GONNA HAVE A COUPLE OF THE BRIEFINGS, BUT EVERYONE ELSE, UH, DECIDED NEXT TIME SO WE GET OUT A LITTLE EARLY TODAY.
IT IS 10 19 AND IF THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE SHALL BE ADJOURNED.