22 May Resolution to integrate climate resiliency into City’s plans and budgets

Council Member Riley has put a resolution on Thursday’s Council meeting related to taking the next steps for enhancing Austin’s climate resiliency.  We all know that after the Bastrop fires in 2011 and the recent Onion Creek floods that extreme weather events are happening and will be more frequent in the future.  This resolution directs staff to bring forward a couple of items for consideration in the FY15 budget, including more detailed climate projections specifically for our region and vulnerability assessments for the departments most exposed to the changing climate.

This is the Item 48 language:

“Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to implement City staff's recommendations related to enhancing the City of Austin’s climate resiliency by providing cost estimates for more detailed climate projections and vulnerability assessments, presenting them to City Council as items to consider for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget, and incorporating climate resiliency strategies in all budget and planning efforts.

( Notes:  SPONSOR: Council Member Chris Riley CO 1: Council Member Mike Martinez CO 2: Council Member William Spelman )”  See it online.

Integrating resiliency into our plans and budgets will ensure our roads and our infrastructure are better managed and that our people are more prepared for the hotter weather, the severe storms, and the other major weather events we expect to see more frequently over the next few decades.  It also means we’re using tax-payer dollars more wisely, ensuring our investments take this uncertain future into consideration.