Oct 07, 2020 Environmental Commission

COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER C SMITH COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

WE'RE YOU HAVE THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION? OCTOBER 7TH, 2020.

IT IS 6:06 PM.

VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL.

PERMISSION ON NEIL COMMISSIONER NEELY.

COMMISSIONER MACIO COMMISSIONER RANDBERG YES.

COMMISSIONER COIN? YES.

COMMISSIONER GORDON.

COMMISSIONER BEDFORD? YES.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN.

IF ANYONE COMES ON.

WELL, UM, MY, UM, VICE CHAIR, LET ME KNOW SO WE CAN ADD THEM ALL THE SECONDS.

KAYLA HELPED ME OUT IF I MISS THE ONES WHO THINKS, OKAY,

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION]

I PROBABLY WILL HAVE MINUTES AND ACTION APPROVAL ON THE SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2020 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, THE BOTTOM CHAIR, MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

STAFF BRADY BRIEFING TO A, LET ME TELL YOU THIS CHRIS HARRINGTON DEPARTMENT OFFICER, YOU MAY PROCEED.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY.

MUST HAVE TOM 10 SECONDS.

ANY EDITS? I WAS COMMISSIONER GORDON AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT I'M TERRY.

THIS IS KAYLA CHAMPA AND, AND YES.

I THINK THAT IS YOU HERE.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND IT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WE CARRIED IT SEVEN.

OH.

UM, ARE WE STILL WAITING FOR ANYONE TO COME AND GO TO THE, OUR FIRST

[2A. STAFF BRIEFINGS Briefing on 87th State Legislative Agenda—Brie Franco, Officer, Intergovernmental Relations Office (30 minutes)]

UM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE 87TH STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

OH, BOARD.

YOU HAVE STAFF HERE TO PRESENT OR ARE YOU HERE? MS. FRANCO? HI, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

UM, IN LOOKING AT HOW THE BILLS, JUST SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THE ROLE, MY OFFICE PLAYS IN THE WORK THAT WE DO.

CITY HALL, IDP BRINGING UP MY PRESENTATION.

MY NAME IS BRIEF BRONCO.

I'M THE CITY'S GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, SIR.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT ON THE UPCOMING STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

I JUST CHECKED TODAY.

WE ARE 27 DAYS AWAY FROM ELECTIONS AND THEN BILL FILING WILL START SHORTLY AFTER THAT IN NOVEMBER.

SO WANT TO GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO COME.

NEXT SLIDE CHART SHOWS YOU A 10 YEAR LOOK BACK OF HOW OF THE BILL FILING THAT HAPPENS AT THE CAPITOL.

SO IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT TOP LINE OF THE 76 SESSION, 1999 AND COMPARE IT TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF LAST SESSION 2019, YOU'LL SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BILLS INTRODUCED HAS INCREASED ABOUT 1500 BILLS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.

TOTAL BILLS PASSED HAS ACTUALLY HAD A DECLINE OF ABOUT 200.

WE ALWAYS SAY IT'S HARDER TO PASS THE BILL, BUT IT IS TO KILL A BILL.

THAT SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO NOT REALLY PASS BILLS.

UM, AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE OUR FOUNDING.

UH, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT COLUMN, CITY RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED, THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THAT.

SO FROM 1200 IN 1999 TO 2300, SO OUT OF THE 1500 INCREASE OF THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS RELATED TO CITY BILLS.

AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE ABOUT LIMITING THE CITY'S AUTHORITY AND ABILITY TO ACT IN CERTAIN AREAS.

AND THEN YOU GET CITY RELATED BILLS PASSED, AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN THAT.

IN FACT, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN 182% INCREASE IN THE CITY RELATED BILLS, AND I'LL BE FRANK, THE NUMBER OF THOSE BILLS THAT PASS.

WE ALSO, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN TENDS NOT TO AGREE WITH AS THEY ARE ABOUT LIMITING AUTHORITY AND CONSTRUCTING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE,

[00:05:04]

WE WORK WITH ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ANALYZING THOSE BILLS.

THE MAJORITY OF THE BILLS ARE ACTUALLY FILED IN THE LAST 10 DAYS OF BILL FILING.

THEY HAD LAST SESSION UP TO MARCH 8TH TO FILE BILLS.

THEY'LL HAVE A SIMILAR DEADLINE THIS SESSION.

SO 4,000 OF THOSE 70,000 BILLS WERE DROPPED FROM APRIL 28TH TO MARCH 8TH.

AND SO MY OFFICE HAS TO REVIEW ALL THOSE BILLS, SHARE THEM WITH DEPARTMENTS FOR, FOR ANALYZING, AND THEN TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND DETERMINE OUR LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY.

LAST SESSION, THERE WERE ABOUT 2,500 BILLS THAT AFFECTED CITIES AND THAT WE DETERMINED THERE WERE ABOUT 1300 THAT REQUIRED, UH, ANALYSIS AND, AND, UM, ACTION BY OUR OFFICE SLIDE, PLEASE.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND THE OUTCOMES, BUT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE ELECTIONS WILL NOT CHANGE.

AND THAT'S THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

SO HE WILL STILL BE THE GOVERNOR COME THIS SESSION.

AND AS WE KNOW, GOING BACK TO 2017, HE HAS A CRA HAS PUT OUT HIS PHILOSOPHY ON CITIES AND THAT HE THINKS THAT TO PREEMPT LOCAL REGULATIONS IS A SUPERIOR APPROACH.

UM, WE ALSO KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN THIS PHILOSOPHY, THE ONLY SPECIAL SESSION HE HAS EVER CALLED.

UM, 10 OF THE ITEMS ON THAT CALL WERE RELATED TO BRAMPTON CITIES, INCLUDING PREEMPTING ARCHERY ORDINANCE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MIGHT REMEMBER FROM 2017, HE HAS NOT CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION.

WHEN FOR HURRICANE HARVEY, HE HAS NOT CALLED SPECIAL SESSIONS WHEN WE HAD THOSE, THE SHOOTINGS AND HAS NOT CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION ON THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE ONE HE DID CALL HEAT, 10 ITEMS ARE RELATED TO CITIES.

NEXT SLIDE ALSO, DAN PATRICK WILL STILL BE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AND AGAIN, HE HAS MADE HIS STANCE ON CITIES, UH, PRETTY CLEAR.

HE THINKS IT'S A POLITICAL ISSUE.

HE SEES IT AS A DEMOCRAT VERSUS REPUBLICAN ISSUE.

AND THAT CITIES THAT ARE CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES WHERE YOU SEE THE CRIME.

THIS IS A QUOTE FROM 2017.

SO SOME OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING TODAY, HE STARTED SAY SPEAKING TO, UM, ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, UH, THERE WON'T BE MUCH CHANGE IN THE SENATE EITHER.

THERE IS ONE SEAT THAT IS, UH, UP FOR ELECTION THAT MIGHT HAVE A CHANGE.

AND THAT'S A SEAT THAT INCLUDES SAN ANTONIO.

AND THERE IS A HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDO BOOK.

YARIS IS THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE CANDIDATE.

UM, AND HE'S UP AGAINST PETE FLORIDA'S REPUBLICAN.

IF WINS THE SEAT, UM, HE, THAT THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANGE FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO CONSIDER.

THERE IS WHAT IS CALLED THE THREE FIST ROLE, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF OT NEEDS TO BRING A BILL UP ON THE FLOOR.

IT USED TO BE THE TWO THIRDS ROLL WHEN I WORKED AT THE SENATE, BUT HE CHANGED IT TO THE THREE FISTS AS DENT, MORE DEMOCRATS STARTED WINNING SEATS.

I ANTICIPATE HE WOULD CHANGE IT AGAIN.

IF THERE ARE DEMOCRATS PICK UP THAT SEAT.

UM, AND I DON'T THINK HE CHANGES THE WAY THAT HE OPERATES THE SENATE.

WE WILL HAVE A NEW SPEAKER REGARDLESS OF ELECTION OUTCOMES, BECAUSE SPEAKER BONNEN DID NOT FILE FOR REELECTION.

HE DIDN'T JUST RESIGN.

HE, HE A SPEAKER HE'S NOT COMING BACK TO THE HOUSE AT ALL.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE HE WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE.

I'M SPEAKING AGAINST SOME REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, AND THESE ARE HIS QUOTES IN MIND THAT HE THOUGHT THAT MAYORS AND COUNTY JUDGES WERE DUMB ASSES TO COME AND MEET WITH HIM.

UM, SO HE WILL NOT BE BACK AND THEY'RE BILLED THAT.

HE WAS, UH, SO WHAT HE DID IS HE MET WITH A POWERFUL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE DIRECTOR ABOUT A BILL THAT AFFECTED THIS, THE ABILITY OF CITIES TO LOBBY.

I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

AND HE WANTED THAT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TO GO, UH, RUN P CANDIDATES AGAINST SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS, THE SUPPORTED CITIES IN THAT, IN THAT BILL, THAT BILL MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE.

IT MADE IT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

IT WENT DOWN ON A HOUSE, A FLOOR BOAT.

THAT'S THE LAST PLACE YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO KILL A BILL.

UM, BUT IT DIED.

AND HE WANTED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES, GOT CAUGHT ON TAPE SAYING SOME NASTY THINGS AND IS NOT COMING BACK.

THE SCHOOL FINANCE PLAN THAT THEY PASSED LAST SESSION THAT REQUIRED THEM TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT.

SO MOVING INTO THIS, UM, THIS SESSION, WE WILL HAVE THE ELECTION RESULTS.

AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WE WILL BE ELECTING A NEW SPEAKER, REGARDLESS OF THOSE RESULTS.

UM, THE DEMOCRATS MAY TAKE OVER THE HOUSE.

THEY MAY NOT.

I THINK THAT REGARDLESS, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A MORE MODERATE LED HOUSE THAN WE DID LAST SESSION.

IF THE DEMOCRATS DO WIN, IT WOULD BE BY THE SLIMMEST OF MARGINS, NONETHELESS.

UM, SO THEY'VE STILL WOULD BE A MODERATE HOUSE.

UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.

UM, THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING.

THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS WHEN, SO THE CENSUS RESULTS MAY NOT BE DELIVERED IN TIME FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH IT DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WOULD CALL SPECIAL SESSIONS TO DO IT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR.

THEY DO HAVE

[00:10:01]

THIS SESSION THEY KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE BUDGET THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS AT ABOUT A $4.7 BILLION DEFICIT.

AND SO THAT'S EATING A BIGGER HOLE INTO WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAN THEY THOUGHT.

AND THE MOST UNKNOWN THING THAT WE'RE TO DEAL WITH IS HOW ARE THEY GOING TO OPERATE WITH COVID-19? THAT IS WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW.

THE CAPITAL IS NOT OPEN RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

WE DON'T KNOW IF PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE ALLOWED, HOW IT WILL BE ALLOWED.

WE DO KNOW THERE'LL BE LESS HEARINGS.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THE NUMBER OF ROOMS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO DO SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE VERY FEW.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW THE CAPITOL.

THERE, THERE ARE MAYBE A HANDFUL OF ROOMS WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT.

THEY DON'T THE RULES RIGHT NOW DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO HOLD VIRTUAL HEARINGS, WHICH IS WHY THEY HAVEN'T HELD ANY.

UM, SO THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE TO DEAL WITH IS HOW MUCH ACCESSIBILITY WILL THERE BE AND THEREFORE HOW MUCH TRANSPARENCY WILL THERE BE FOR THE PROCESS.

NEXT SLIDE, WE DO HAVE AN IDEA.

I PUT THIS SLIDE TOGETHER FOR COUNCIL EACH SESSION, UM, TO SAY THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE ANTICIPATE COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S USUALLY A PYRAMID.

IT KEEPS GROWING.

IT'S NOW A SQUARE IN THAT WHOLE TOP ROW.

YOU CAN SEE AS JUST BRAMSHILL RAMPS AND PREEMPTION.

SO GOING FROM WHAT WE'RE CALLING SUPER PREEMPTION TO THE POLICE REFORM PREEMPTION, WHICH HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF ATTENTION TO MEDIA, UM, WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THEN COVID PREEMPTION.

SO THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE THAT THINK THAT THE COUNTY JUDGES AND THE MAYORS WENT TOO FAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO RELATION TO LIMIT THEIR AUTHORITY, SUPER PREEMPTION.

SO YOU GUYS KNOW IS A, IS A CONCEPT THAT KEEPS GETTING TRACTION.

IT DEFINITELY COMES OUT OF THE HAT AT THE SENATE.

AND THAT BILL BASICALLY SAYS THAT CITIES ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO LEGISLATE IN AREAS THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED.

IT BASICALLY WOULD TURN CITIES INTO COUNTIES.

AND IT'S BASICALLY AN END RUN AROUND THE CONSTITUTIONALLY CON THE CONCEPT THAT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION OF HOME ROLL.

UM, ON THE NEXT ROAD, THOSE ITEMS, YOU GUYS WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH EMPLOYEES, RIGHTS AND BENEFITS, REFER TO THINGS SUCH AS THE CITY'S PAID SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE.

ALSO THE CITY'S LGBTQ ORDINANCE.

UM, I KNOW WE HAD THE RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING YET.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY'LL TENANT.

GOVERNOR HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS AREA.

FOR SOME REASON THAT HE CAN'T JUST LIKE GO UP.

THERE WAS THE BATHROOM BILL LAST SESSION.

IT WAS THE CHICK-FIL-A BILL.

AND I ANTICIPATE, WE'LL SEE SOMETHING ELSE IN THIS AREA.

AGAIN, UM, THE NO CITY LOBBYING BILL, WHICH I REFERRED TO EARLIER, THAT BILL SAID THAT CITIES COULD NOT RETAIN LOBBYISTS AS PART OF USED TAXPAYER FUNDS TO HAVE LOBBYISTS.

I DO OVERSEE A LOBBY TEAM FOR THE STATE.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOBBY TEAM FOR THE FEDERAL AGENDA.

I COULD NOT DO THOSE JOBS WITHOUT THEM TO VISIT ALL THE MEMBERS AND TO DEAL WITH, AS YOU SAW THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WE HAVE TO ANALYZE AND RESPOND TO THAT.

IN ADDITION, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE BILL NOT ONLY SAID WE CAN USE HAVE LOBBYISTS.

IT SAID THAT WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IF WE WERE REQUESTED.

SO I REGULARLY EMAIL OUR DELEGATION RIGHT NOW WITH ITEMS OF INTEREST WITH REQUESTS.

AND I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT UNLESS THEY REQUESTED IT OF ME IN ADDITION OR ANYONE AT THE CITY, NOT JUST ME.

IN ADDITION, IT ALSO SAID WE COULD ONLY TESTIFY AT A COMMITTEE IF THE COMMITTEE ASKED US TO.

SO IT DID ALSO LIMIT HOW THE CITY COULD PETITION THE GOVERNMENT.

UM, THE LAST ROW YOU GUYS WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH.

WE REGULARLY SEE A TAX ON AUSTIN, ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER.

CAUSE THEY'RE MUNICIPALLY OWNED.

THERE'S A DESIRE TO DEREGULATE THOSE UTILITIES AND OPEN UP TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR REVENUE CAMPUS.

YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WITH HOW WE CAN, YUP.

IT'S TAXES FOR OUR PROPERTY TAXES, BUT MOST IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMISSION.

IF DNX, WHAT I CALL ANNEXATION PART TWO AND TWO SESSIONS AGO, THE BILL WAS PASSED.

THAT SAID, IF WE'RE A CITY HAS BEEN AN ANNEX, AN AREA, THEN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA HAVE TO VOTE TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION, WHICH IN DEFAULT, BASICALLY ENDS ANNEXATION FOR POPULATED AREAS.

ANNEXATION PART TWO.

NOW AS ETJ REGULATION, UH, DURING THE INTERIM SPEAKER, A FORMER SPEAKER PRATIK, WHO IS CHAIR OF THE LAND AND RESOURCE, UH, LAND COMMISSION COMMITTEE HAD A CHARGE THAT SAID, EFFECTIVELY SAID, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANNEXATION ANYMORE, WHY SHOULD CITIES BE ALLOWED TO REGULATE IN THE ETJ? AND THAT IS A VERY, UH, IMPORTANT CONCERN TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OTHER CITIES CAUSE ALL, ANY REGULATION WE DO AND THAT WE KNOW THAT THE WATER DOESN'T STOP AT CITY BOUNDARIES AND THAT WE WORK HARD TO PROTECT THAT, THAT VALUABLE RESOURCE OUT IN OUR ETJ AS WELL, FIVE.

SO, UM, HOW DO WE PUT THE AGENDA TOGETHER? I TAKE THE COUNCIL

[00:15:01]

RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE PASSED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE INTERIM.

I ASKED HER A REVIEW AND INPUT FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

UM, AND THEN WE SEEK YOUR COMMUNITY INPUT.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.

UM, AND I PRESENTED TO A NUMBER OF OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND WE ASKED OUR DELEGATION FOR INPUT.

THE AGENDA COVERS A NUMBER OF SECTIONS.

THIS DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE ALL OF THEM, BUT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BECAUSE IT'S THE CITY'S AGENDA INCLUDES PARKS AND LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ALSO ISSUES RELATED TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SO FORTH.

AND THE AGENDA LANGUAGE TENDS TO BE BROAD, TO COVER THE BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES, BUT CAN INCLUDE SPECIFIC THINGS.

SO FOR INSTANCE, IT'LL HAVE STATEMENTS LIKE THIS, ABOUT, UH, SUPPORTING OUR RIGHT TO GOVERN OURSELVES AND TO DEFEND OUR ORDINANCES.

SO IF THE CITY HAS AN ORDINANCE ON AN ISSUE, I USE THAT ORDINANCE AS THE GUIDE FOR HOW WE WILL, WHAT STANCE WE WILL TAKE WITH THE LEGISLATION NEXT SLIDE.

AND THEN THERE'S MORE SPECIFIC ITEMS AND THE RESOLUTION.

AND I JUST, THIS WERE JUST SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD BE INTERESTED.

I COULDN'T LIST THEM ALL ON ONE SLIDE AS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES IN THE AGENDA THAT COVER, UM, WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ORDINANCES IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY IN THE CITY'S AGENDA.

SO, UM, THE CITY DID, THE COUNCIL DID ADOPT THE AGENDA ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, BUT THE AGENDA CAN BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME.

I ASK YOU ALL AT THE LAST SLIDE HAS A LINK TO THE AGENDA AS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, THAT YOU ALL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDED OR EDITED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ALL ON A RESOLUTION TO CANCEL ON THAT ISSUE THAT COULD BE TAKEN UP TO CHANGE THE AMEND THE AGENDA.

UM, I'D ALSO, WE'LL PROBABLY COME BACK, MIGHT COME BACK AND SEEK YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE, FOR A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS THE AGENDA AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF A LOBBY TEAM.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED THROUGH SESSION.

UM, SO WE SEND UPDATES REGULARLY DURING SESSION ON WHAT STANCES WE'RE TAKING ON BILLS, AND WE CAN SEND THOSE UPDATES TO YOUR BOARD AND COMMISSIONS EMAILS.

LAST SLIDE, PLEASE.

OH, THAT ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK IF YOU KEEP ON PRESSING THE LINK, IT, UH, MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON THAT LAST SLIDE, ALONG WITH THE LINK VENDA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON UP ONE, MAN, THE COMMISSIONER, NEITHER WOULD YOU PLEASE MUTE YOUR IT'S NOT MUTED? I KNOW, BUT I CAN'T.

I DON'T KNOW.

GO AHEAD MR. THOMPSON.

OH, HAROLD.

I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER THOMPSON IS MUTED AND I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL THERE.

AND SO I JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT TWO THINGS.

ONE THAT CITIES IN TEXAS ARE GRANTED SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CONSIDERATION, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BEACHES AND THE COASTAL CITIES, UM, GET, UH, A WAY THAT THEY ARE FUNDED MONEY AND THEY CAN SPEND THAT MONEY.

UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR US, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND THAT AUSTIN BE CONSIDERED FOR MUSICIANS, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THAT IS AN ASSET AND IT IS NOT LISTED IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THEIR, UH, CONSIDERATION.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE HAVE MORE STATE BUILDINGS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAN ANY OTHER CITY.

AND HISTORICALLY THAT'S MEANT THAT TEXTS THAT HAS GIVEN US A BREAK ON CLEANING UP UNDERNEATH, UM, THE INTERSTATES AND ALL OF THE STATE HIGHWAYS.

SO I KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAVE HOMELESS SHELTERS THAT ARE THERE AND I KNOW IT'S VERY COSTLY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, PROBLEM WITH THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ON ALL OF OUR MINDS.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THOSE TWO THINGS THAT IT'S SORT OF A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT HISTORICALLY, THAT BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THAT THE STATE WOULD GIVE US A BREAK WITH TEXTILE HELPING US CLEAN THINGS UP.

AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GONE OUT THE WINDOW.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD PUT ANYWHERE, ANY SORT OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT THAT YOU CAN HAVE.

I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO

[00:20:01]

HAVE IT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE CITY OF BOSTON TO BE ABLE TO PROFIT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER WITH MUSICIANS AND THAT WE HAVE STAYED OFFICE BUILDING.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO PUT THAT IN YOUR LITTLE BAG THERE SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOME WHEREWITHAL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, COMMISSIONER NEELY, SHE JUST, DID YOU ASK ME SOMETHING? OH, I THOUGHT YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.

NO, SORRY.

YOU CAN MUTE AGAIN.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? YES.

COMMISSIONER BID FOR, UM, I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT, UH, THAT, UH, TEXAS WAS GRANTED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN USED FOR A COVEN, UH, 19 RELIEF.

AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU KNEW IF ANY, UH, ANY INSIDE OF LIKE, IF GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS GOING TO LOCATIONS, LIKE IF THERE ARE, IF IT WAS, UM, LIKE IF THERE'S BEEN ANY KIND OF HANDS UP WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT RELIEF MONEY.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT AND JUST GIVE THE COMMISSION MORE CONTEXT.

UH, WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER BEDFORD IS SPEAKING TO IS OUT OF THE CARE ZAC LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED TO ASSIST WITH THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

UM, BOTH STATES AND CITIES RECEIVED SOME MONEY TO ASSIST WITH THAT THIS, UH, STATE RECEIVED A PORTION.

AND THEN AUSTIN RECEIVED A PORTION THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UM, REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, WHO IS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO FIGURE, MAKE SURE, SEE WHERE ALL THE STATE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT.

AND THIS MONEY IS JUST, UM, BASICALLY UNRESTRICTED FUNDS IN THE TERMS THAT IT CAN BE USED JUST TO HELP IN RESPONSE FOR BUSINESSES, PEOPLE, UH, DEALING WITH EVICTIONS, AS LONG AS SOMEONE HAS BEEN HURT BY THE PANDEMIC, YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY TO ASSIST THEM FINANCIALLY.

UM, AND SO WHAT SHE FOUND IS THAT THE STATE HAS ABOUT 5 BILLION ON SPENT AND THERE'S BEEN NO PLAN.

AND SHE ASKED A NUMBER OF AGENCIES IF THEY KNEW, AND SHE'S GOTTEN NO RESPONSE.

AND IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR, HASN'T PROVIDED A RESPONSE TO YOUR POINT THERE.

SO NO, UM, YOU KNOW, HIS OFFICE, ISN'T GOING TO TELL ME DIRECTLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY.

BUT, UM, THERE HASN'T BEEN A SURPRISINGLY A RESPONSE AND THE, AND EVEN MORE INTERESTING IS THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT BY DECEMBER 30TH.

RIGHT? AND THEN WE FIND OUT YESTERDAY FROM THE PRESIDENT THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS ON A SECOND PACKAGE BEFORE I GUESS THE ELECTION BEFORE THEY ENDED UP, WELL, NOT EVEN THE ELECTION, I THINK BEFORE THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT, UM, WHETHER THAT'S HIM OR JOE BIDEN.

SO, UM, THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS.

AND I WISH WE DID KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

OTHERWISE THEY, THAT MONEY WILL GO BACK TO THE FENCE IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

ANYONE ELSE, COMMISSIONERS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE ENJOYED THIS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND WE'LL BE TALKING SOON.

ANOTHER BRIEFING, UH, TO BE BRIEFING ON MY PERIOD ZONE PROTECTION AND I HOPE WE GET TO SEE OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION PRESENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

APPRECIATE IT.

BYE BYE.

OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE HAVE AN

[2B. Briefing on riparian zone protection—Ana Gonzalez, Environmental Scientist Senior, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes)]

THERE YOU ARE, I THINK.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, SO TODAY, UM, THE PRESENTATION IS REALLY A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND OF WHAT OUR, UH, RIGHT CARRION AREAS, THE AREAS ALONG OUR CREEKS AND, UH, WHAT, WHY WE PROTECT THEM AND WHAT BENEFITS WE OBTAIN FROM THEM IN, IN MANY DIFFERENT.

UH, I MENTIONED BEFORE I START TALKING ABOUT RIGHT PARENT NEAR IS, OH, BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS ANNA GONZALES.

I WORK FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, UH, PLENTY COLLEGES BY TRAINING AND WORK ON TRYING TO RESTORE, UH, THE AREAS ALONG OUR CREEKS, UH, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF BENEFITS.

SO BEFORE I START TALKING ABOUT THE RIPARIAN AREAS, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONTEXT OF WHERE, UH, AUSTIN IS IN LIKE GEOLOGICALLY AND BIOLOGICALLY.

WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE,

[00:25:01]

UH, LOCATION, TWO DISTINCT, UH, GEOLOGICAL AREAS KIND OF MEET IN AUSTIN AND TWO DIFFERENT, VERY DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHIES AND SOILS AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OCCURRED.

THE EDWARDS PLATEAU IS THE, WHAT WE, UM, WHAT TRADITIONALLY KNOW AS THE HILL COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, THIS HILLY AREAS WITH SHALLOW SOILS AND, UH, VERY, UH, STEEPER TERRAIN AND FAST-MOVING CREEKS AND ON DAY EASTERN PORCH, AND WE HAVE THE BLACK LAND PRAIRIE WITH MUCH MORE DEEPER SOILS AND A VISITATION THAT IS MOST RELATED AS THE OPEN GRASSLANDS WITH CREEKS, UH, THAT, THAT ARE, UH, MORE PRONE TO FLOODING.

UM, MORE, MORE SHALLOW.

UM, I'M SORRY.

MORE, MORE PLAIN, MORE, UM, FLAT TERRAIN.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S AWESOME.

I CAN IN BASICALLY THE URBAN AREAS IS THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIVERSITY GEOLOGICALLY ON BIOLOGICALLY IN THIS LITTLE, THIS LITTLE CITY, IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THANK YOU.

THERE IS STILL A VERY MARKED EAST WEST, UH, SOCIAL CONTEXT THAT I WANT TO BE US TO BE COGNIZANT ABOUT.

UH, WE, WE ARE NOT, UH, HOMOGENEOUSLY DISTRIBUTED.

OUR POPULATION IS VERY STARKLY DIVIDED AND THAT IS BY DESIGN.

I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHEN I WAS PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PRESENTATION, A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE RELEVANT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT, UM, THAT STARK CONTRAST BETWEEN HOW OUR CITY IS ALSO DIVIDED IS WEST AND THAT HAS HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WAY WE CREATE REGULATIONS OVER TIME.

SO THERE'S A HISTORICAL COMPONENT TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS THAT ALSO HAVE AN EAST WEST COMPONENT.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO, FOR US TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT, IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, AS I SAID OVER TIME, WE'VE GOTTEN REGULATIONS.

I THINK THE CITY HAS BEEN IN AND IT'S RECOGNIZED FOR THAT PRETTY PROGRESSIVE AND A LOT OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

WE'VE BEEN AT THE VANGUARD OF SOME OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR CONTEXT, UH, US, UH, THE PREVIOUS PRESENTER WAS TALKING ABOUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UH, SURROUNDING THE CITY? BUT A LOT OF THE EARLY, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON MORE, THE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS IN THE HILL COUNTRY.

AND MORE AND MORE RECENTLY, WE'VE MOVED TO PROTECT ADDITIONAL AREAS, UM, IN THE EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, PORTION, AN EXAMPLE FOR THAT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHAT WE CALL CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES, THOSE BUFFERS AROUND CREEKS, TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENTS OR CREEKS ARE PROTECTED, UH, EARLIER ITERATIONS PROTECTED, FREAKS MORE, UM, MORE HEAVILY ON THE WESTERN PORTION.

AND THEN MORE RECENT PROTECTIONS HAVE EXTENDED THOSE, UH, PRODUCTIONS ON THE EASTERN PORTION ON THE HEADWATERS, IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT LIGHT, PLEASE.

SO WHAT IS THE RIPARIAN AREA? BASICALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TRANSITION BETWEEN THE CREEK THERE PURELY AQUATIC HABITAT INTO THE TERRESTRIAL HABITAT.

THERE IS A CONFLUENCE OF THE GRADIENT OF MOISTURE AND A LOT OF THINGS BIOLOGICALLY HAPPEN IN THIS AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN SEMIARID AREAS LIKE WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE WATER IS A SCARCE RESOURCE RIGHT HERE, AND NEAREST TENTS TEND TO BE LIKE THIS HUBS OF LIFE, WHERE OUR TREES ESTABLISHED AND GROW FASTER, WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY.

BIODIVERSITY IS HIGHER.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON THERE AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT LIFE HUBS FOR, FOR OUR, UM, OUR WATERSHEDS, IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND THE REASON WHY THESE AREAS ARE SO ACTIVE IS THERE IS A CONFLUENCE BETWEEN THE SOILS IN THESE SYSTEMS THAT TEND TO RECEIVE.

UNFILTER A LOT OF THE MATERIAL THAT MOVES THROUGH THE WATERSHED ENDS UP BEING FILTERED IN RIPARIAN AREAS.

SO LIFT DEBRIS AND SOILS, THE POSIT IN RIPARIAN AREAS, THERE'S ALSO THE WATER, UH, THAT IT'S FEEDING.

UH, THE RIGHT PARENT EARS TEND TO HAVE SATURATED SOILS BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF, UH, OF THAT WATER AND A LOT OF MICROBIAL ACTIVITY MOBILIZES.

UM, THE, THE, THE ACTIVITY OF THE MICROBIAL COMMUNITY CLEANS UP POLLUTIONS IN WAYS THAT OTHER SYSTEMS DO NOT.

SO THE, THE VEGETATION AND THE ROOT SYSTEMS IN COMBINATION WITH THE MICROBES IN THE SOIL PROCESS, A LOT OF POLLUTANTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE

[00:30:01]

GO INTO THE WATER.

SO WE DO RECEIVE A LOT OF BENEFITS FROM THAT INTERACTION BETWEEN SOIL, WATER, AND VEGETATION, THAT TREE ROOTS AND THE VISIT DEEP ROOTED VEGETATION ALONG OUR CREEKS ALSO HOLDS THE BANKS.

SO PROTECTION OF THE EROSIVE EROSION THAT CAN HAPPEN IN ABSENCE OF THAT VISITATION IS PROVIDED.

SO WE HAVE MORE STABLE CREEKS WHEN THAT SOIL WATER VEGETATION IS HEALTHY.

WE DO HAVE, IF WE HAVE HEALTHY FORESTS, THAT BRIGHT PAIR AREAS ALL ALONG THE WATERSHED, THAT THE RUNOFF, WHEN THERE ARE STORM EVENTS SLOWS DOWN AND IT CAN HELP, UH, REDUCE THE MAGNITUDE OF FLOODING DOWNSTREAM WHEN WE HAVE REALLY WELL COVERED FOREST VEGETATION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, BECAUSE HEALTHY RIPARIAN AREAS, INFILTRATE WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY, YOU HAVE FLUFFY SOILS FULL OF ORGANIC MATTER WHEN IT RAINS THAT WATER INFILTRATES AND STAY STORED WITHIN THE FLOODPLAINS WITHIN THESE REPAIR NEARS AND SLOWLY SEEP OUT INTO THE CREEK, CLEAN OUR WATER AND FOR LONGER, SO HEALTHY REPAIR AND NEAREST SUSTAIN OUR CREEKS LONGER, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT ACTIVELY RAINING, MAINTAINING THEY HAVE IT THAT, AND THE ORGANISMS THAT LIVE THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY RIGHT HERE IN AREAS, PARTICULARLY AGAIN, IN SEMI ARID AREAS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THAT PROVIDE A LOT OF BENEFITS.

UM, IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, UH, I HOPE THAT I KIND OF LAID A FOUNDATION OF TRYING TO, UH, MAY THE CASE OF WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THAT PROTECT OUR CREEK SITES AND RESTORE THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, IN URBAN AREAS, WE HAVE A LOT OF HIGHLY DEGRADED, UM, FREAKS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROTECTION TO DO, BUT ALSO A LOT OF RESTORING THAT WE NEED TO DO.

HERE'S A COMMUNITY CENTRIC, LIKE ALL OF US BENEFIT BECAUSE IN URBAN AREAS, WE TEND TO HAVE REALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE SUMMER, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT YOU SEE THERE IS, UH, SUMMER TEMPERATURES, LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURES, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ALONG THE CREEKS, YOU HAVE COOLER TEMPERATURES.

IF THESE CREEKS HAVE MORE BASE FLOW, IF THESE CRICKS ARE HEALTHY, HAVE FORESTED SYSTEMS, WE CAN MITIGATE ONE OF THE VERY THINGS THAT, UH, IS PROJECTED TO GET ONLY WORSE, UH, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO OUR PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE SUMMER STARTED GETTING HOTTER AND DURING HEAT WAVES, THE CREEK'S REALLY IMPORTANT ROLLING, HELPING MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.

SO IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN RESTORING AND PROTECTING THEM.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, THEY CONSTITUTE THE, IS NATURAL GREENBELTS, RIGHT? THESE ARE GREEN CORRIDORS WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO NATURE AND EXPLORE AND LEARN AND RELAX.

THERE'S WELL-DOCUMENTED, UH, HEALTH BENEFITS, MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS FROM JUST BEING IN, UH, IN CONTACT WITH NATURE.

AND WE HAVE CREEKS EVERYWHERE.

SO IT'S KIND OF A NATURAL MAKES SENSE NATURALLY TO PROTECT THIS NETWORKS WHERE OUR, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EXPERIENCE, UH, NATURE, MORE EQUITABLY.

IF THE CREEKS ARE EVERYWHERE AND WE INVEST IN PROTECTING THEM, EVERYBODY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.

TREES, AS WE KNOW, UH, HELP, UH, WITH AIR QUALITY, THEY, THEY CLEAN UP A LOT OF THE POLLUTANTS THAT, THAT OTHERWISE AFFECT OUR, OUR HEALTH.

SO THAT, THAT IS UNIMPORTANT BENEFIT THAT GREEK AREAS PROVIDE BECAUSE TREES GROW MORE VIGOROUSLY ALONG CREEKS.

AND THE LAST ONE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY THAT HAS LIVED ENOUGH TIME IN AUSTIN SHADE IS THIS CRITICAL THING THAT TREES PROVIDE AND, AND CREEKS ARE NATURALLY SHADED AREAS WHERE WE CAN KIND OF GET A LITTLE BIT OF RESPITE FROM, FROM THE SUMMER IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LIGHT, PLEASE.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE LIKE COMMUNITY CENTRIC, UH, ALSO FOR OUR WATERSHEDS, I, I WORK FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

SO I, I HAVE TO SAY FROM THE WATERSHED'S PERSPECTIVE, THE CREEKS REALLY SUMMARIZE, UH, THE HEALTH OF THE WATERSHED.

WE DO HAVE THERE HAVE A VERY VIGOROUS MONITORING OF OUR WATER QUALITY IN OUR CREEKS.

WE GO EVERY TRIMESTER, EVERY FOUR, EVERY THREE MONTHS, WE GO AND COLLECT WATER SAMPLES.

ONCE A YEAR, WE COLLECT BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES BECAUSE THE CREEKS ARE TELLING US THE HEALTH OF OUR OVERALL, UM, WATERSHED.

SO IT IS WE, WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND, AND HAVE DEVELOPED, UH, RESOURCES TO MONITOR OUR, THE HEALTH OF OUR RIPARIAN AREAS AND HAVE PRODUCED A LOT OF RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS THAT, UH, MEMBERS ARE, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE

[00:35:01]

PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

I DON'T HAVE THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THE WEBSITE, BUT I'M SURE KAYLA CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU.

UM, THE, BECAUSE THESE, UH, THESE CREEK NETWORKS HAVE HIGHER MOISTURE THAN THE UPLANDS.

THEY ARE NATURAL PLACES FOR INCREASING OUR TREE COVERAGE.

WE ARE AS A CITY MOVING TOWARDS INCREASING OUR TREE CANOPY TO MEET OUR CLIMATE.

UH, SOME OF OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND THE CREEKS ARE THEIR NATURAL PLACE TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

CAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE TREES ARE GONNA WANT TO SURVIVE BETTER.

SO OBVIOUSLY NOT ONLY ALONG CREEKS, BUT IF WE WANT TO GET A BIG INVESTMENT, BIG RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THE CREEKS ARE THE NATURAL PLACE TO GO IN.

UPLAND AREAS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO GET TREES TO GO.

YOU HAVE TO ESTABLISH IRRIGATION, YOU HAVE TO DO A LOAD OF A HEARING FOR THOSE, AND IT IS WORTH DOING IT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT THE LONG CREEKS.

WE DO HAVE A BELOVED, UH, RESTORATION EVENT PROGRAM WITH GO READY, SET PLANT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY MEMBERS HAVE HEARD OF THAT WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND SIZES CAN COME AND HELP US PLANT BABY TREES.

WE DON'T IRRIGATE THEM.

AND THEN YOU STILL HAVE THAT 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY'RE THRIVING.

NOT ALL OF THEM, OBVIOUSLY NOT NATURE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, BUT IT REALLY IS A NATURAL PLACE FOR, FOR US TO COME AND, AND RESTORE OUR CREEKS CAUSE TREES REALLY, UM, HELP TREES SURVIVE MUCH BETTER THAN IN UPLAND AREAS.

AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE, UH, THESE NATURAL NETWORKS FOR HABIT THAT, AND, AND ACCESS TO NATURE.

SO IT REALLY, IF WE'RE THINKING CITYWIDE, THIS IS A NATURAL NETWORK WHERE WE CAN INVEST IN IMPROVING OUR NATURAL SYSTEMS IN WHEN THE RIGHT PERIOD AREAS ARE HEALTHY OR CREEKS ARE HEALTHIER.

WE HAVE A FULL RESTORATION PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE CAN HELP US IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR APPEARANCE AREAS.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL, A PROGRAM THAT IS CALLED ADOPT, ADOPT A CREEK.

AND WE CAN ESTABLISH GROWTH ZONES WHEN PEOPLE NO LONGER MO A ALONG CREEK SIZE.

AND WE LET THE VEGETATION GROW BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE CREEKS ARE GOING TO BE HEALTHIER, MORE STABLE.

IF WE LET THE VEGETATION GROW NATURALLY, INSTEAD OF MOWING, AS WE DO THEM SADLY ON A LOT OF OUR CREEKS AND FOR WILDLIFE TO CRITTERS MOVE ALONG CREEK SITES AND, AND KNOW IT IS UNIMPORTANT FOR IT OR FOR THEM, UM, IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THE REFLECTION OF WHY, WHY IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE IN RESTORING CREEKS.

AND, AND HERE, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMUNITY AND RESILIENCY, BOTH COMMUNITY RESILIENCY, AS WELL AS NATURAL RESILIENCY.

WHEN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN PENDING FOR OUR CREEKS, IT'S ALSO A HEALING PROCESS FOR US AS COMMUNITIES WHEN PEOPLE CALL AND I GET EXCITED ON EMOTIONAL.

SO I'M SORRY, THIS IS A VERY DEAR THING TO ME, BUT YOU, IT IS ONE OF THOSE, UH, COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES IN WHICH YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE MAKING SOMETHING GROW, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE BETTING FOR THE FUTURE WHEN YOU'RE TENDING FOR CREEKS.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE BETTER CAUSE WE'RE PLANTING TREES AND THEY HAVE A POSSIBILITY.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN EXERCISE ACTIVE EXERCISE IN HOPE, WHICH IS REALLY HARD IN THIS, IN THIS ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND, AND, UH, ON TEXT THOUGH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE ENGAGE INTO IT, IT ALSO, WE HELP HEAL THE CREEKS, BUT IT ALSO HELP HEAL OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A THING THAT WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF IF WE, UM, IF WE WERE, WE'RE AIMING FOR HAVING MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, TENDING TO NATURE AND MAKING OUR CREEKS MORE RESILIENT TO THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING IN, IN THAT FUTURE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US, IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LIGHT, PLEASE.

SO I WANTED TO GIVE AS A LAST PORTION OF MY PRESENTATION, WE DO HAVE, UH, MANY ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO TO PROTECT OUR CREEKS.

ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS THE PROTECTIONS, THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CREEKS, WE'VE ESTABLISHED CRITICAL WATER QUALITY QUALITIES, NOUNS IN WHICH DEVELOPMENT IS SUPER RESTRICTED.

WE ALSO HAVE PROVISIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

IF THEY WANT TO MODIFY THE FLOOD PLAIN, THEY'D HAVE TO RESTORE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE HOW THOSE FLOOD PLAINS LOOK LIKE.

SO YOU MAY BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE DEVELOPABLE AREA, BUT IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, AND ONLY IF IT'S IN POOR CONDITION,

[00:40:01]

YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND IN EXCHANGE YOU HAVE TO RESTORE AND THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE MUCH BETTER ON YOU.

FOR EXAMPLE, MODIFY ONE ACRE, BUT YOU HAVE TO RESTORE TWO ACRES OF FLOODPLAIN.

SO THERE THERE'S, THERE'S ONE OF THE MORE RECENT, UM, PIECES OF, UH, UH, OF OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT REALLY HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE AND NOT JUST NOT TOUCHING, BUT IF YOU TOUCH REALLY, REALLY ENHANCED, WHAT, WHAT IS, UH, IN OUR FLOODPLAINS, ONE OF THE STRONG PIECES THAT WE HAVE IS BECAUSE OF THE RISK THAT FLOOD PLAIN, UH, REPRESENTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES.

AND, AND IT IS REALLY A THING THAT WE'VE LIVED AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE CDS HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT RESTRICTING WHAT DEVELOPMENT CAN HAPPEN IN THE FLOOD FLOODPLAINS.

AND AS A RESULT OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, WE'LL HAVE MORE GREEN FLOODPLAINS, RIGHT? NO MORE GROWTH AND CRUNCHING ALL THE WAY DEVELOPMENT GROWTH AND FORGING INTO THE FLOODPLAINS.

THAT CREATES A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATION AND THE CREATION OF GREEN BELTS.

UH, IT'S SO HAPPENS THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT DEVELOPABLE AREA, VERY OFTEN PROJECTS HAVE DIVISIONS.

AND SO DEDICATE THOSE FLOODPLAINS AS PARKLAND.

SO WE HAVE THIS NETWORK THAT IS BEING CREATED, THIS GREEN BELT NETWORK OF PARKLAND, ALONG OUR FLOAT PLANES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS.

SO THERE'S A REALLY GOOD, UM, SET OF RULES THAT WE HAVE IN TO PROTECT IT.

CREEKS.

THERE ARE SOME GAPS, HOWEVER, AND I WANT HIM TO BE VERY COGNIZANT ON THAT.

ONE OF THOSE IS THERE IS NOTHING IN OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AT THIS POINT, EXCEPT WHEN THERE IS FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATION THAT SAYS IF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IN YOUR PROPERTY IS IN POOR CONDITION, YOU HAVE TO RESTORE IT.

ONLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO TOUCH IT WITH FLOOD PLAN, MY VACATION, THEN YOU HAVE TO RESTORE IT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT TRIGGERS, UH, IF THE CROAKER WATER, CORY, AS SOON AS POOR, OR IF THIS CREEK IS ACTIVELY ERODING, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT YOU, YOU KIND OF NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

THE, THERE IS, UH, IT'S CODE IS SILENT AT THIS POINT OF THAT.

THE OTHER PIECE, WHICH IS IT'S SOMETHING THAT CUT OUR ATTENTION AND WE'RE WORKING THIS POINT TO TRY TO FIX IS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOTHING SAYING THAT WHAT ARE NEEDS TO BE FLOWING THROUGH RIPARIAN AREAS RIGHT NOW YOU DEVELOP A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

YOU CAN PUT A PIPE AND THEN THE PIPE AT THE END KNEE CAN EXIT RIGHT INTO THE CREEK.

AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE, UM, THERE IS SOME SOMETHING IN CODE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO TRY TO DO OVERLAND FLOW, BUT IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT YET CODIFIED IN OUR CRITERIA AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL.

SO BASICALLY WE'RE STARVING OUR RIPARIAN AREAS OF WATER.

AND THERE'S A HUGE LEGACY OF ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED, WHERE ALL THE PIPES GO THROUGH THE RIPARIAN AREAS, BUT THAT WATER DOESN'T FEED THEM.

SO A LOT OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT THEY'RE REPAIRING AREAS COULD BE DOING, THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE WATER, THEY NEED TO SUSTAIN THAT VEGETATION.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING AT THIS POINT, AND IT IS VERY EARLY, IS CREATING A FRAMEWORK TO RETROFIT AND RE DIRECT SOME OF THAT WATER BACK INTO THEIR RIPARIAN AREAS.

THEY'RE HAVING SOME PRETTY EXCITING PILOTS, EARLY IMPLEMENTATIONS OF PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

AND IT IS REALLY AMAZING HOW THE VEGETATION RESPONDS TO AN AREA THAT WAS PURELY ON TOP OF A PIPE, PURELY UPLAND.

YOU OPEN THAT PIPE AND YOU LET THE WATER ENGAGE WITH THOSE SOILS.

AND IT JUST GOES, THE TREES JUST GROW LIKE CRAZY.

YOU CAN'T STOP THEM.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF HOPE IN THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THOSE GAPS, BOTH IN OUR REGULATORY APPROACH, AS WELL AS THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE BUILDING AS BIOLOGISTS, TRYING TO GET THIS A BIT HEALTHIER.

I THINK I BURNED THROUGH MY TIME AND I THINK THAT WAS MY LAST LIGHT IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

SO I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY CLARIFICATION.

IF SOMETHING I SAID WAS NOT VERY CLEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

QUESTIONS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS.

I, I MEAN, ANYTIME YOU COME TO PRESENT IT, IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC AND YOUR PASSION IS CLEAR TO SEE.

UM, SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR DOING ALL THE GOOD WORK AND FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

HI, ANNA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT WAS AWESOME AS ALWAYS.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF THE DEMOGRAPHICS FOR

[00:45:01]

THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA FOR SLIDE TWO AND SLIDE SEVEN ARE THE SAME, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I, MAYBE I DIDN'T READ THE MAP CORRECTLY OR COULD NOT SEE ENOUGH THINGS TO, UH, IDENTIFY, UM, THAT SLIDE TO DEMOGRAPHICS NEEDS TO EXTEND INTO MONTOPOLIS.

IF YOU GUYS COULD DO THAT FOR AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE EAST SIDE SLIDE SEVEN WAS EXCELLENT AND I COULD SEE THE DOG'S HEAD.

SO I SAW THAT THAT WENT THERE.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY OF BUILDING, UM, SOMETIMES THE FLOOD FLOODPLAIN IS ALSO DOUBLING AS THE PARKLAND, ALL THE, WHEN THERE IS A FLOOD, THE PARKLAND CANNOT BE ACCESSED.

SO IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT DOUBLE DUTY FOR, UH, FLOODPLAINS TO SERVE AS PARKLAND.

AND SO I'M WONDERING IF, UM, AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE PIPE BECAUSE HERE IN AUSTIN, IN, IN THE EAST SIDE WHERE I LIVE IN MONTOPOLIS, WE ARE GETTING A PUBLIC WORKS, UM, WITH THE PIPE GOING UNDER AND WE HAVE THE FEMA FLOOD PLAIN ABOVE.

SO I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE SUCCESS WITH YOUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR FEMA FLOOD PLAIN, UH, IN, IN MONTOPOLIS.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, WE'LL REVISE LIGHT TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE AREAS ARE INCLUDED.

IF, IF I, IF I DIDN'T, I, THAT WAS LACK OF OVERSIGHT.

MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT.

I DID NOT NOTICE I HAVE A QUESTION.

THIS IS MARIANNE REALLY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY.

I THINK IT WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

WHAT I'M WONDERING IS WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS SO IMPORTANT, WHEREAS YOU MENTIONED THE GAPS.

SO HOW I WOULD THINK THAT AS A COMMISSION, THAT WE ARE, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO THOSE GAPS AND THEN PERHAPS PRESENT THAT TO OUR MEMBERS THAT WE REPRESENT, YOU KNOW, OUR, UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE THAT, TO GET RID OF THOSE GAPS, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET THAT.

AND SO I THINK WE THAT'S, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE OUR JOB TO DO THAT.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING IN ENGAGING.

THESE ARE SOME OF THESE GAPS ARE THINGS THAT HAVE EMERGED TO OUR KNOWLEDGE MORE RECENTLY.

UM, THE EXAMPLE OF THE FACT THAT THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES NOT HAVING ANY TRIGGER FOR RESTORATION IS BASICALLY A MERGE.

WE REALIZED THAT THE CREEKS IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF OUR CITY, A LOT OF THEM ARE WAY MORE DEGRADED THAN WE HAD IMAGINED, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROVISIONS TO MAKE THEM, UH, BEING RESTORED IN A LOT OF THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.

IF YOU JUST DON'T TOUCH THE CREEK IS GONNA REGENERATE AND DO BETTER.

DON'T REALLY APPLY IN THOSE AREAS.

CAUSE THERE'S SO LITTLE CANOPY, NOT A LOT OF SEED SOURCE FOR NEW TREES THAT YOU DON'T REALLY GET THAT REBOUNDING BACK AS YOU DO IN AREAS THAT HAVE MORE FREE COVERAGE.

SO WE'VE BEEN THINKING OF WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE THINGS WE'LL PRESENT TO, TO BEING CONSIDERED FOR, FOR REGULATORY CHANGES.

THIS THERE'S A LOT OF HOMEWORK THAT WE STILL NEED TO DO, BUT FOR SURE, WE'LL ENGAGE WITH ALL OF YOU TO HELP US IN THAT PROCESS THAT WE WILL NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK.

FOR SURE.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR JOB TOO, TO HELP PRESENT THAT TO OUR MEMBERS OF OUR, OF THE, UH, THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL.

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THAT DECISION, CORRECT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN BRING TO THEM TO SAY THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WELL, WE'LL ENGAGE WITH, ONCE WE HAVE PREPARED SOMETHING IT'S, IT'S WORK IN PROGRESS.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THERE IS WORK TO DO, BUT FOR SURE WE ARE, WE'RE ADDING TO THAT FOR TASKS.

YOUR PRESENTATION WAS WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE IT TOO, BEFORE WE END THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND, UH, WILL YOU HAVE NEXT ITEM THREE,

OH, OKAY.

LET'S MOVE FORWARD ON OUR AGENDA.

[00:50:01]

[3A. NEW BUSINESS Update on remote meeting schedule—Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department (5 minutes)]

A DATE ON THE REMOTE MEETING SCHEDULE.

THIS CHAPLAIN IS GONNA COME FORWARD AND TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW SITUATION.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

THIS IS KAYLA CHAMPLIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.

UH, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A FEW QUICK UPDATES.

UH, SO THE CLERK'S HAS BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO GET US BACK ON TRACK TO HAVING OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE ON THE FIRST AND THIRD, WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:00 PM.

SO WE'LL BE TRYING TO KEEP TO THAT SCHEDULE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE GOING FORWARD.

UM, SO OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 21ST.

I KNOW OUR CALENDAR SAYS THAT WE WERE PLANNING ON HAVING MAYBE A TOWN HALL STYLE MEETING, BUT SINCE WE ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED AND HAVE, UM, A REGULAR MEETING INSTEAD.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TWO UPCOMING MEETINGS.

WE HAVE A WORK GROUP MEETING ON THE UPDATES TO THE WILD LAND, URBAN INTERFACE CODE THAT WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY THAT'S OCTOBER 12TH, FROM THREE TO 4:00 PM.

THERE ARE, I THINK, TWO SEATS STILL AVAILABLE IF ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISH TO JOIN THAT MEETING.

SO JUST EMAIL ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AN UPCOMING URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 10 TO 1130.

UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK REMINDER THAT THAT COMMITTEE STILL HAS ONE VACANT SEAT.

SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN JOINING, I I'M SURE THAT THE MEMBERS WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

SO, UM, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, UM, AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

AND ONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCHEDULE.

OTHERWISE, KAYLA, I HAVE ONE QUESTION WHEN WE START BEING ABLE TO HAVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AGAIN, I DID ASK THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT, AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON SOME TECHNICAL THINGS SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT RUNNING BETTER.

BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'LL JUST, WE WON'T HAVE ANY GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.

WE'LL ONLY HAVE TWO DISTINCT COMMUNICATION ON SCHEDULE THE GENERAL ITEMS AND WILL THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP AT THE BEGINNING? YES, RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT CITIZENS CAN SIGN UP IS, UM, THEY CAN CONTACT ME MY INFORMATION AS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AGENDA, THEIR INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW TO SIGN UP AND THEN THEY WILL SIGN UP ON THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING I'M FINDING NEW SO THAT THEY CAN SPEAK.

AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO SEND THEM ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS WE CAN PARTICIPATE, UH, THROUGH WEBEX OR I'M SORRY FOR CITIZENS, THERE'LL BE THROUGH A PHONE NUMBER THAT IS PROVIDED.

RIGHT.

MAKE SENSE.

LIKE YOU'RE NOT REALLY.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

[4A. COMMITTEE REPORTS Urban Growth Policy and Water Quality Protection Committee – Pam Thompson, Kevin Ramberg, Mary Ann Neely, Curtis Smith, and Perry Bedford]

A COMMITTEE REPORT, PLEASE.

ANYONE? I HAVE SOMETHING, BUT DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE SOMETHING I DO.