12 Apr Bill Spelman – 2012 (Incumbent) Candidate for Place 5

Each 2012 Austin City Council candidate was sent a Multi-Environmental Issue Questionnaire with 28 questions broken into seven subject areas. The blank questionnaire as well as information about the live, televised May 23rd Election 2012 Green Forum is here.  Below are the written answers submitted for incumbent Bill Spelman.

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General

• What do you believe that Austinites think are significant environmental issues? How do you plan to address those?

We are passionate about our environment, about protecting and improving it.  The health of our environment is one of the key reasons why Austin tops so many nationwide quality of life lists.  Of the myriad issues associated with the term “environment,” maintaining water quality and improving water conservation, increasing the availability of parkland, improving air quality, and minimizing waste are topics that I hear about everyday – on the dais, at school, and at home.

Water.  I led the effort to postpone Water Treatment Plant 4 because we can do so much more with our conservation efforts and we’ve barely scratched the surface of establishing a reclaimed water system.  About 40% of the treated, drinkable water used in Austin is poured on our lawns.  We’ve got to change that habit by getting property owners to install drought-tolerant landscaping and by helping them use their water more than once.

Parkland.  The Urban Parks Workgroup reported last October that only 37% of Austinites in the urban core live within ¼ mile of developed parkland.  They also stated that the city has a whole falls well below the national average of per capita parks spending, resting at a meager $41 per capita compared with $91 nationally.  We need to improve these numbers by setting up a realistic plan to achieve our park access goals.  Just like we have our Generation, Resource and Climate Protection Plan to 2020 that outlines how we will reach our 35% renewable energy goal, we should have a well-vetted plan that helps us figure out how we will reach 90% access to our parks within the next 20 to 25 years.  To start moving us towards this goal, I will support the inclusion of a significant parkland acquisitions measure on our next comprehensive bond package.  And I will continue my multi-year fight to rebalance our General Fund spending to increase the amount of available funding for park maintenance.

Air.  Austin has teetered on the edge of EPA air quality non-attainment for over a decade and while many of the steps we’ve taken are helping us to stay below that harmful threshold, we need to redouble our efforts on point source pollution problems.  Many of our air quality efforts have focused on improving Austin Energy’s resource mix to include renewable and not-carbon emitting generation sources.  Our goal of reaching 35% renewable by 2020 is important but it does little to improve Austin’s air quality because our power plants are located tens to hundreds of miles away.  We need to take more serious action to control the levels of pollution within Austin to help curb the rise of asthma and other health-related symptoms of poor air quality.

With Council Member Riley, I sponsored a resolution that asked the City to investigate ways to reduce emissions generated by construction vehicles.  I supported the implementation of an alternative parking plan at Austin City Hall to get more City employees to take public transportation instead of their own vehicles.  And I have happily supported efforts to increase the number (and safety) of bike lanes and paths to help more folks commute on bike.  But we need more than this – we need a truly multi-modal transportation system to move people around town, and to encourage more carpooling and more public transit ridership.  I serve on CAMPO’s Transit Working Group, helping the regional decision-makers find a sensible and meaningful path to establishing urban rail in Austin.  I have and will continue to demand that the Transportation Department answer basic questions – where will it run? how much will it cost to construct and operate? who will operate it? – before we try to take it to the voters.

Waste.  I firmly support the Zero Waste Plan and am proud to have offered the amendment to include paper bags in our comprehensive single-use bag ban.  I have been working closely with the US Business Council for Sustainable Development to develop the Central Texas By-Product Synergy network and am looking forward to seeing it launched next year.  I am encouraged by our adoption of the Universal Recycling Ordinance and will monitor its implementation to ensure that we are meeting our targets, especially as they involve commercial sector recycling goals.

 

 

• What positive contributions have you made to environmental efforts in the past?

Beyond those listed in the first question, I have sponsored several environmentally focused resolutions, notably on:

1. studying options to divest from Fayette Power Project;
2. outlining steps to achieve our 800 MW energy efficiency goal;
3. establishing the regulatory framework to allow community solar to develop in Austin;
4. restarting the Property Assessed Clean Energy financing mechanism conversation to improve access to upfront capital costs for significant energy efficiency projects.

I was also an environmental leader on the city council in the late 1990s, contributing to the development of many programs and policies that are still in place today.

Finally, I can't resist putting in a plug for my wife, Niyanta, who as the executive director of Rainforest Partnership pours all the money she could be earning as a salary back into saving rainforests in Peru and Ecuador.

 

• What is the role of the sustainability officer and what changes–if any–would you like to see to increase sustainability practices in Austin?

Our sustainability officer should coordinate and guide the wide range of sustainability efforts that take place across the City.  These include social equity and financial equity measures, in addition to our environmental initiatives.  I appreciate that she has spent a good bit of time learning about the variety of projects that are underway and helping to improve their reach through focused communications strategies.  I would like Ms. Athens to take a more comprehensive approach to these issues and develop an understanding of the social and financial equity issues our residents face.  I’d also like her to start providing council and staff with a range of policy positions and best practices that can help us improve the delivery of our current offerings, eliminate ineffective programs, or devise new projects that would help us meet our goals.

 

• What is your strategy for engaging YOUTH and SCHOOLS in sustainability initiatives?

The City of Austin should look to find partnership opportunities for the local school districts, Boys & Girls Club, Scouts and Campfire, and other children groups to meaningfully integrate with one or more of our many sustainability programs.  A great example of this is the partnership between Little Helping Hands (a local non-profit that arranges children-oriented volunteer opportunities) and APD’s Blue Santa.  I am proud that my office helped establish a relationship between these two important community agencies that allowed Little Helping Hands volunteers to wrap donated presents slated for Austin children of lesser means.  The Austin International School in NW Austin has built a relationship with Keep Austin Beautiful and the City’s Parks & Recreation Department to bring its students to the April 14^th KAB Clean Sweep.  Solidifying relationships like these and developing more opportunities throughout our wide range of activities will help inspire today’s kids to become tomorrow’s sustainability advocates.

Food

• What steps do you believe the city can take to ensure long-term sustainability of our local food system, including production, marketing and distribution, and preparation and consumption? How can the City make good food easily available and affordable for all of us living in Austin?

I am particularly interested in getting the City of Austin to create a map of food oases and deserts so that we can start developing data-driven policies directed at eradicating the many gaps we have in access to affordable and healthy food.  I would seriously consider economic incentives to bring full-service grocery stores with healthy, local food options to locate in these underserved areas.   Creating partnerships between farmers, distributors, and sellers of local food will help us create synergies among these sectors and help promote a financially sustainable local food industry.  And continuing to examine the regulatory framework will help us eliminate unnecessary barriers that keep the local food industry from fully developing.

 

Development and Transportation

• How will you take use of resources and resource availability into account when making decisions about local economic development and incentives?

Our city staff conducts a pretty careful review of the costs and benefits of incentives deals, including computer-based statistical analysis that incorporates infrastructure costs.  However, I’m not convinced that we as a city have effectively incorporated resource availability into any of our decision making.  Specifically, our utilities need to find ways to remain economically viable and able to contribute to the support of the general fund, while also conserving our precious resources.  On the question of incentives, however, after questioning I feel fairly confident that our incentives are used when appropriate as far as our resources are concerned.  My recent local business incentives resolution is a good way to keep some more of those incentives for home-grown businesses and workers.

 

• Do you support construction of SH 45 SW? Why or why not?

I do not support the construction of SH 45 SW.  It would encourage development on the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones.  We need to find another way to reduce traffic congestion on and near Brodie Lane.

 

• Going forward, what are your plans for improving Austin’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure?

We need a comprehensive and connected system of bike routes throughout Austin.  That means repairing the “breaks” in the current system, so that riding is not only safe and comfortable, but also easy and intuitive.  Although we may someday need computer models and other fancy stuff to identify threats to and opportunities for connectivity, looking at the map and listening to bikers is enough for now.

We should do the same for sidewalks and other pedestrian improvements, particularly along routes to school and to local shopping districts.  As the Dell Children's Hospital data reminded us, the vast majority of pedestrian accidents happen in a small proportion of Austin's intersections and streets.  Those are the places where we have the most work to do.

 

• Campaign finance reports for Council candidates are not due until the end of April, after Early Voting starts. In the past, candidates have made environmental promises which some believe were undermined by the influence of political donations. In the interest of disclosure and transparency, will you tell us who is bundling contributions for your campaign?

Yes.  I have already disclosed this information and will continue to do so.

 

• What will you do to create or attract high-wage, family-supporting green jobs to the Austin and Central Texas areas? What will you do to ensure that hard-to-reach populations and communities of color have access to these green jobs?

I have acted as Council Member to support high wage, family supporting green jobs.  Many of the incentive deals I have supported have sought to employ hard-to-employ populations (for example, U.S. Farathane has agreed to hire re-entering ex-offenders). I have been a constant questioner of our economic growth department to ensure that jobs are well-paid and include necessary benefits, that construction jobs are safe, and that we incorporate environmental concerns into our efforts.   I am also working with a wide consortium of business and education leaders to help establish a cleantech cluster in Austin.  We are in the process of identifying regulatory barriers that I will do my best to eliminate in my next term.

 

• Politicians often say they are against suburban sprawl – yet they approve water and sewer lines and zoning changes that create it. How are you different? How will you ensure that development pays for itself, i.e. the extension of water and wastewater lines? Do you support or oppose giving a discount on electric and water rates to ratepayers living outside the city? Why or why not?

I do not support zoning changes that expand sprawl.  In fact, I cast some very difficult votes on central city PUDs because I believe they put density in the right place and did the right thing by the community environmentally, even though these votes were painful politically.  (Though the PUD tool may not be the best way to bring these items forward, it is the only tool that is currently available to achieve these increased densities.)  I review each water and sewer line extension request carefully, with an eye to the impact on the environment and on our resources.

I do not support discounted rates for electric or water customers living outside the city.  The cost of serving folks in less densely populated areas is greater than the cost to serve residents living closer together.  Moreover, ratepayers living outside the city limits do enjoy a benefit of living so close to one the country’s most exciting cities as our quality of life and business environment keep our jobless rates low and our area finances more stable.  And they benefit from the use of our infrastructure (roads, parks, public safety) without having to support those resources with their tax dollars. 

 

• Between urban rail, expanding the current light rail system, bus rapid transit, a monorail system or HOV lanes on major roadways, toll lanes which transportation options do you believe would be best and worst for Austin and why?

I support all these options, with a priority on mass transit options.  Toll lanes are my least favored option, but as an elected official I have to be cognizant of the fact that we do not have sufficient funding for transportation or even authority to raise those funds.  We need a reliable, regional, multi-modal transportation system that includes light rail, urban rail, BRT, and HOV lanes.

 

• As more families are forced to move further out of Austin to find housing they can afford, our traffic is becoming more congested, earning us another distinction as the third most congested city in America and our air quality deteriorates as a result. What would you do to address these interconnected issues? How would you help more residents secure affordable housing in the city?

At some level, affordable housing, traffic congestion, and air pollution are about supply and demand.  Many new migrants to Austin have chosen to live far from the city center to find housing they can afford (“driving to qualify”), only to be socked with gasoline and auto maintenance bills that can be as high as $1,000 per month.  If we could increase the supply of housing in the central city (that is, Austin), these folks will have more options, the price of housing will go down for everyone, and we can reduce vehicle-miles traveled and associated congestion and pollution costs.

Although this makes all our housing more affordable, we’ve had to spend some money to ensure that housing is available for people with very limited means.  During my tenures, I have voted for many affordable housing projects, in support of an affordable housing program that includes rental and homeownership options all over town.  We need to give highest priority to housing that is close to employment centers, along transit corridors, and within transit-oriented developments.  As mentioned, I’m also an ardent supporter of public transportation, and think it’s critical to helping our most vulnerable citizens.

 

• Do you believe that the Formula 1 deal is an “historic agreement” for sustainability? Please explain why or why not. What are your concerns around Formula 1 and what should be done to mitigate the impacts?

I do not think Formula One is a historic agreement in terms of sustainability.  I think our community got a reasonable agreement that will benefit Austinites.  I will continue to push Formula One to be a good corporate citizen; for example, I recently sent them a letter asking them to work with Workers Defense Project to ensure worker safety on their site, and I will encourage them to have as small a carbon footprint and as little negative impacts on the environment as possible for a racetrack.  One of my biggest concerns was making sure that the City stayed off the hook for any kind of local match, and succeeded in persuading COTA to pay the “City's portion.”  At the end of the day, I felt that the economic benefit of having Formula One in Austin was significant, and that the state's Special Event Trust Fund money (partly paid by Austin residents and businesses) would be better spent in Austin than elsewhere in Texas.  If the state is going to spend $20 million somewhere, let them spend it here.

 

Zero Waste

• The City Council has passed a plan to reach 90% diversion of our discards from landfills by 2030 and 95% by 2040. Would you support any changes to the Zero Waste plan?  Phase 1 of the Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) requires all multifamily buildings, office buildings, and institutional properties in the City to recycle. In Phase 2, the City will add a citywide policy for diverting compostables. Phase 3 will include single-family residences in the requirement to recycle and compost. Do you support all three phases of this ordinance?

 

I support all three phases of the Zero Waste Plan.  The Zero Waste idea is all about the fact that “waste” is actually a resource and can be used in various ways rather than discarded.  I support efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, but I think that a lot of the effort will need to be spent on public education (specifically to change people’s views regarding “trash”) and finding practical ways to address the unexpected barriers to implementation that will inevitably arise.   I have some concerns about how we practically speaking will divert food waste in multifamily complexes, especially space-constrained high-rises downtown, and I think we need to address that. I will commit to working with Austin Resource Recovery and with public stakeholders to address these issues.

 

• Do you believe Austin should ban certain problem materials, such as styrofoam, to keep them out of our waste stream? If so, which materials should we target? If not, how will you deal with problem materials? 

The case of plastic bags gives us a good basis for how to handle these issues.  The plastic bags stakeholder group took lots of time (some would argue too much time) to consider all the angles of the issue.  We as a community were thoughtful and smart about how we examined and analyzed the issue, and I think it resulted in a very strong and well-considered ordinance that limited any unintended consequences.  I would support a similar process to examine these issues so that we can vet any concerns and get the best possible solutions with regard to these problematic materials.

 

Water, Streams and Trees

• The health of Barton Springs and its aquifer are always a concern to us. How would you use land acquisition to protect the aquifer? How much would you allocate for this purpose in upcoming bond packages? What new ideas do you have to stop pollution of our waters? 

I have supported several land purchases to protect the aquifer, and I think it’s one of the City’s highest priorities.  I am pleased with the way city staff use dye traces, identify caves, sinkholes, and similar features, and in other ways identify those lots that get us the most bang for our buck.  I will support additional funding for land acquisition in future bond propositions, but we always need to balance the amount against all other City needs.  I also think pollution of our water is a serious concern, and am looking to the scientific and advocacy communities to bring forward the best ways to address it.

 

• Austin’s residential water rates are among the highest in Texas, and unless Water Treatment Plant 4 is put on the shelf, the cost of water will continue to rise. How will you stop the increase in Austin’s residential water rates?

I have been concerned about the increasing burden to our ratepayers since I have been in office, and I spent a lot of time and energy in opposing WTP4.  Unfortunately, by the time we had enough votes on Council to stop the plant, we had invested such significant funds that stopping it would have been financially irresponsible (in my opinion).  Nevertheless, we can still help the water utility minimize rate increases.  I hope to increase our efforts to distribute reclaimed water and use that as a source of revenue for the 40% or so of our water that is used for irrigation.

 

• We’re in one of the worst droughts in Texas history yet we are still watering our lawns. What stronger measures do you see as necessary to conserve water beyond the city’s current goals? How do we get to 140 GCPD or less?

As mentioned above, reclaimed water is one effort I believe can help us with water reuse, especially for irrigation purposes.  As the drought continues, I also would support stronger restrictions on lawn watering.  We need to implement many more of the items from the Water Conservation Plan.

 

• Austin has lost thousands of trees during the recent drought, posing a serious threat to our urban forests. What will you do on the Council to protect and replenish these forests? How do these concerns figure into your priorities when it comes to drought response? 

I support the heritage tree ordinance, which I believe protects our trees.  While we’re still working out the kinks in it and watching how it works in practice, I think it’s generally a very good ordinance. Prioritizing the watering of trees, even during our drought, is important to ensuring that our tree canopy survives.

 

• The City of Austin is currently engaged in a public input process to amend the Watershed Protection Ordinance to help preserve east side creeks. Based on this input the Watershed Protection Department will probably recommend headwater setback buffers to be set at 64 acres in east Austin and the ETJ. Would you support or oppose allowing developers to use expanded creek protection setbacks as part of their Park Land dedication requirements?

I haven’t heard any of the details of this suggestion yet.  Obviously, I would like to see expanded creek setbacks from our developers, but I also don’t want to lose significant amounts of funds that could be put in the park land dedication fund. As you know, most development agreements are unique, and I will commit to working each time to ensure we get necessary setback and park land dedication fees.

 

Air

• What air improvement strategy or set of strategies would you advocate to help clean our air? How can the City leverage its purchasing power to impact air quality?

The most important thing we can do is encourage people to get to work by some other means than single-occupancy vehicles, and by planning for complete communities that do not require as much driving.  My colleagues on the Council and I have spent a lot of time also on the City’s fleet, making sure that not only are we purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, but also that we are fueling them up with alternative fuels.  This is one very important purchasing power strategy that I believe has seen results.

 

• Pure Casting Foundry emits toxic metals and carcinogenic compounds/particles through the manufacturing process of steel and aluminum products. Residents have registered odor complaints from this facility and others, most of which are located East of IH 35. The TCEQ has installed an air quality monitor on top of Zavala Elementary, which is located directly south of Pure Castings. Would you support the passage of an air quality nuisance ordinance as part of the solution? Also, what steps would you take to relocate this facility in order to protect the health of the children at Zavala Elementary and area residents?

The city has investigated ways to relocate Pure Casting, but has been unable to find a feasible option.  My staff is drafting an air quality nuisance ordinance related to air pollution or containment emissions that cause harm to individuals.  Before it can be passed, any such ordinance would need to be clearly and carefully crafted and enforceable.

 

Energy and Austin Energy

• Fayette finally has sulfur dioxide scrubbers installed after many years of delay. Fayette doesn’t have SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology to reduce NOx emissions that contribute to ozone. Fayette has not installed the technology to control the fine particles (PM2.5) that cause premature deaths and asthma attacks within a few hundred miles. Do you support getting Austin out of Fayette, and off of fossil fuels and nuclear power altogether? How do you propose that we do so?

I sponsored a resolution last September calling on AE to study the options for handling FPP and very much look forward to seeing the results of that study later this summer.  Until that report is completed, I cannot commit to one course of action.

If the analysis supports my current understanding, I would sell the plant.  Austin Energy has a tremendous amount of equity built up in FPP and it is my fiduciary responsibility to the city’s ratepayers and taxpayers to ensure we use those resources wisely.  LCRA will have right of first refusal over AE’s share in the plant and I understand that we cannot unilaterally choose to cease operations of our 50% ownership of units 1 and 2 without LCRA’s consent.  It may make more sense to sell our share and use the proceeds to fund our renewable energy and conservation programs, and build up our rate stabilization funds to help keep future rate increases as small as possible.  While it is still a dirty power plant, FPP is one of the cleaner coal-burning plants in the state.  If we can prevent the development of an entirely new coal-fired plant by keeping AE’s share of FPP on- line, we would benefit both the environment and society.

Natural gas-fired power plants serve as an important bridge for us to transition out of fossil fuels and into renewable energy sources.  I know that they emit carcinogens and greenhouse gases, but they do so at a lower rate than coal-fired plants and provide the kind of quick-response firming power we need to keep our electric system stable.  I look forward to the day when our technology and infrastructure have caught up to our vision so that we can turn off all our fossil fuel plants.  

For now, we need the cheap, carbon-free electric power we get from the STNP.  I know that the full life-cycle analysis of nuclear power shows that it is an expensive and dirty source of electricity.  So, I do not support an expansion of our nuclear portfolio, either at the South Texas Nuclear Project or at any other nuclear facility.  But for now, the debt of the plant is nearly (if not totally) paid off and I’d prefer to use that power rather than relying on buying electricity from coal-fired plants on the open market.

 

• As the board of directors for Austin Energy, the City Council sets environmental policy for our electric utility. What are your environmental priorities for Austin Energy for the next three years? What will you do to increase energy efficiency savings so that we meet our 300 megawatt savings goal by 2020? Proposed hikes to minimum charges are a disincentive to conservation. Will you raise minimum charges for residential users, and if so, by how much?

I want the utility to set realistic plans that will get us to our goals of 200 MW of solar, 800 MW of added energy efficiency, and a total of 35% renewable energy by 2020.  I have been encouraging AE to lay the groundwork by sponsoring or cosponsoring resolutions on energy efficiency planning, solar program planning, and third-party financing of upfront energy efficiency capital costs.  I have been a consistent advocate for community solar and have worked diligently behind the scenes to move AE to a “yes” on this issue.

I don’t want AE’s fixed charges to increase much above the current $6 per month because I am concerned about the effect higher charges might have on low-income, low-energy, and environmentally conscious customers.  My own analysis suggests that a fixed charge between $10 and $12 per month is a more reasonable increase that covers the increased cost to serve our residential customers and won’t act as a barrier to reaching sustainability.

 

• Currently Austin's water rates have 5 tiers. The lowest "lifeline tier" is less than 10% of the highest tier. Do you support a similar rate structure for Austin's electric utility?

Yes, I support an inclining block rate structure for AE.  I would like AE’s Customer Assistance Program to waive all fixed charges for low-income users, offer at least a 10% discount on energy charges, and automatically enroll all SNAP- and Medicaid-eligible account holders.

 

• The City Council adopted the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure ordinance in 2008 as a key component of the Climate Protection Program, with the goal of retrofitting older properties with energy efficiency measures at the point of sale. The program has not yet lived up to expectations, with only 5% of properties sold retrofitted. Would you support mandating some energy efficiency improvements when a home is sold?

Not yet, for two reasons.  First, the real estate market has been weak since 2008, and it's not surprising that few buyers are willing to spend more on energy improvements in the current economic climate.  Second, during the first two years of program operation at least, most audits were not conducted until after the sales terms had been negotiated.  This prevents use of the ECAD audit as a negotiating tool, and inhibits buyers' willingness to secure another loan (for example, an AE-subsidized Power Saver loan) to pay for improvements.  If the housing market continues to strengthen and buyers continue to receive audit results earlier in the purchase process, I would expect the takeup rate to increase considerably, even in the absence of a legal mandate.  If it doesn't, it's time to discuss the value and potential terms of such a mandate.

 

• What role does rooftop solar energy have in Austin’s renewable energy mix?

I hope rooftop solar will play a large role.  There’s something like 2.5 GW of potential rooftop capacity in our city and so we must begin to lay the groundwork for tapping into that future.  We'll need to establish

• value of solar rates that are meaningful and transparent,
• rebate and incentive schedules that provide predictability and value to consumers and solar industry, and
• infrastructure adjustment plans that will accommodate the nature of a fully developed distributed generation program.

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