15 Jun Central Texas Environmental Policy Events for June 15-21, 2009
Central Texas Environmental Policy Events for June 15-21, 2009
What is this? For those interested in environmental policy at the local level, this post enumerates all of this week’s meetings having an effect on environmental policy. Please attend as many as you can and help move the green agenda forward!
Highlights:
MONDAY: The Water Conservation task force discusses the proposed 2009 Water Conservation Plan.
MONDAY/TUESDAY: The City will hold town halls on the upcoming budget and take citizens’ input.
MONDAY: The Electric Utility Commission hears an update on the point of sale Energy Audit implementation.
MONDAY: The joint Parks/Environmental Board subcommittee hears the latest Barton Springs tree assessment and action plan.
TUESDAY: The Zoning and Platting Commission hears a briefing on the Green Building Rating System.
TUESDAY: The Codes and Ordinances subcommittee of the Planning Commission will consider a proposed ordinance to clarify and improve ownership, maintenance, and inspection requirements for structural water quality and flood control ponds.
TUESDAY: Travis County applies for $2.2 million in stimulus funds to install a new HVAC system in their executive office building.
TUESDAY: The Resource Management Commission hears updates on the city’s energy efficiency and water conservation efforts.
TUESDAY: The Water Quality Protection Lands stakeholder steering committee meets to discuss Walk For a Day and other trail efforts.
TUESDAY: The Texas Environmental Democrats meet to discuss SH 45 SW and the upcoming City Council environmental meet and greet.
WEDNESDAY: The Environmental Board considers the mass excavation and stormwater facilities for the WTP #4 raw water pump station, the proposed FY 2010 budget for WPDR and changes to the drainage utility fee, hears an update on the Friendship to Manchaca electric transmission line, hears a staff briefing on Walnut Creek water quality, and hears an update on the Austin Clean Water Program.
WEDNESDAY: The City will host a public forum to update and take comments on the Austin Go City Website project.
THURSDAY: The City Council considers funding the Solid Waste Management Master Plan for $1.5 million, directs the City Manager to develop a strategic mobility plan, hears a staff briefing on the Austin Go Website initiative, hears a staff briefing on the Austin Climate Protection Plan annual report, hears a development assessment of the Whisper Valley PUD near SH 130, and holds a public hearing on the protected/heritage tree ordinance, new parking lot landscaping requirements, and planting of trees in residential subdivisions.
Please click on the full version of this post to see the details of the above items as well as additional meetings happening this week.
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Monday, June 15
5:30pm: Citizens’ Water Conservation Task Force
Item #2: Presentation on the High efficiency leak repair program contract
Item #3: Presentation on multifamily direct installation contract
Item #E1: Discussion on proposed 2009 water conservation plan
Location: Waller Creek Center, Room 105
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/cwctf_081509.pdf
6:00pm: COA Budget Town Hall Meeting
The city will hold a public hearing to gather input for necessary budget reductions for the next fiscal year.
Location: Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 Rundberg Ln.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/budget_town_hall_061509.pdf
6:00pm: Electric Utility Commission
Item #5d: Implementation of Energy Audit ordinance
Item #5e: Legislative Report
Item #5f: General Managers report on the new Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force and other items.
Location: Town Lake Center, Shudde Fath Room
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/euc_061509.pdf
6:15pm: Parks and Recreation Board/Environmental Board Joint Subcommittee
Item #3: Barton Springs Tree Assessments and Action Plan
Location: 200 S Lamar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/parks_eb_061509.pdf
7:00pm: Save Barton Creek Association Board Meeting
Location: Vinny’s Italian Cafe
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Tuesday, June 16
9:00am: Travis County Commissioner’s Court
Item #8: Approve application for $2.2 million in energy efficiency and conservation block grants from the federal stimulus package. They will be used to fund a new HVAC system for the Executive Office building.
Location: Travis County Commissioner’s Courtroom
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/voting_session_agenda.asp
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/2009/06/backup/eAgenda_Packet_20090616.pdf
6:00pm: Zoning and Platting Commission
Item #1: Briefing on the Green Building Rating System
Item #6: Blackstone Vinyard Preliminary Plan, 13005 Fitzhugh Rd, 157 lots on 205 acres in the BSZ (Barton Creek). Recommended by staff.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/zap_061609.pdf
6:00pm: Water Quality Protection Lands Stakeholder Steering Committee
Item #1: Updates on acreage, trail construction progress, and the conceptual plan for public use of WQPL
Item #2: Walk For a Day trail public involvement process and an overview of the conceptual plan
Item #3: Environmental Constraints and issues
Location: Waller Creek Center, Room 104
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/water_q_061609.pdf
6:00pm: Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Subcommittee
Item #B1: Proposed amendments to the Neighborhood Plan Amendment procedure
Item #B2: Establish public notice and hearing reqs for interlocal development agreements.
Item #B3: Proposed ordinance to clarify and improve ownership, maintenance, and inspection requirements for structural water quality and flood control ponds.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/planning_co_061609.pdf
6:00pm: Board of Adjustments Special
Item #A: Staff Briefing on Commercial Design Standards. Apparently, some City Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners were upset because the BOA messed up a VMU case recently, so the board is going to receive some education on the topic.
Location: One Texas Center, Room 240
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/boa_061609s.pdf
6:30pm: COA Budget Town Hall Meeting
The city will hold a public hearing to gather input for necessary budget reductions for the next fiscal year.
Location: Tony Burger Activity Center, 3200 Jones Rd.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/budget_town_hall_061609.pdf
6:30pm: Resource Management Commission
Item #4a: Monthly report on energy efficiency programs
Item #4b: Monthly report on solar rebate programs
Item #4c: Monthly report on water conservation programs
Item #5a: reinstatement of austin environmental awareness award
Item #6a: update on citizens water conservation implementation task force
Item #6b: update on formation of austin generation resource planning task force
Item #6e: recommend approval of $17k in grant funding for education
efforts regarding soybean-based biofuels
Location: City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/rmc_061609.pdf
6:30pm: Sustainable Neighborhoods Meeting
Do you have an open-space or trail project that should be on Sustainable Neighborhoods’ Top 10 list of improvement projects? Join the brainstorming session.
Location: email for info
http://www.snaustin.org
7:00pm: Texas Environmental Democrats
Steve Beers presents a SH 45 SW update and what’s next
Discussion of upcoming City Council environmental meet and greet
Location: Vinny’s Italian Cafe
http://www.texasenvironmentaldemocrats.org
7:00pm: Native Plant Society
Jill Nokes, board member of the Austin Parks Foundation, discusses ecological restoration efforts in our local parks.
Location: Wild Basin Wilderness Meeting Room, 805 Capital of Tx Hwy
http://www.npsot.org
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Wednesday, June 17
10:00am: Sustainability in Party Planning
Party planners are invited to learn to shrink their carbon footprint.
Location: Habitat Suites, 500 E Highland Mall Blvd.
http://www.positiveimpactevents.co.uk
3:00pm-7:00pm: Austin Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic
Location: The Triangle, 46th and Lamar
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org
5:30pm: Downtown Commission
Item #4: Report from Density Bonus subcommittee
Item #5: Downtown Austin Plan Update
Location: City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/downtown_061709.pdf
6:00pm: Environmental Board
Item #2b: Consider resolution adopting Native Plant Communities and invasive species
Item #3a: COA WTP #4 raw water pump station mass excavation and stormwater facilities
Item #4a: Staff report on the FY 2010 budget for WPDR and proposed changes to the drainage utility fee, including a rate structure change for vertical construction.
Item #5a: Update on the LCRA Friendship to Manchaca power line project across WQPL.
Item #5b: Staff Briefing on Walnut Creek water quality
Item #5c: update on the status of the Austin Clean Water Program
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/eb_061709.pdf
6:00pm: Urban Forestry Board
Item #5: PARD Budget reduction presentation
Item #7c: Resolution for renaming of S First Island Oaks to Hoffman Oaks
Item #7d: Review of current proposed Heritage Tree Ordinance
Location: 200 S Lamar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/forestry_061709.pdf
6:00pm: Austin Go Project Public Forum
Public forum on the city’s website project. There will be a project update and the team will take comments and ideas from the community.
Location: Carver Museum
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austingo/news_townhall_09.htm
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Thursday, June 18
10:00am: Austin City Council
Item #2: Authorize the City Manager to pursue $53 million in stimulus funding for the implementation of wastewater projects.
Item #3: Authorize the annexation of 6.7 acres of Westlake into WCID #10
Item #4: Rebate $55k to Crowne Plaza for the installation of 293 water efficient toilets
Item #6: Allocate an additional $5 million for the energy efficiency services company rotation list for the identification, design, and implementation of energy and water conservation measures in various COA facilities. $10 million has been spent since 2005 on this.
Item #14: Authorize $1.5 million for the creation of the Solid Waste Management Master Plan
Item #29: Authorize another $200k for consulting work on the Austin Energy long-range energy resource planning process for a total cost of $564k.
Item #30: $58k for Austin Energy Power Saver Program door hangers
Item #44: Authorize a 1 year agreement worth $1.8 million with the Texas Industries for the Blind and Handicapped for vegetation control in creeks and detention ponds.
Item #45: Authorize the negotiation and execution of the Whisper Valley and Indian Hills Development agreement. These are massive PUD-type projects near SH 130.
Item #50: Direct the City Manager to develop a strategic mobility plan.
12:00pm
Citizens Comm: The Pure Casting opponents are out in full force and Scott Johnson advocates for a cell phone/text message driving ban.
2:00pm
Item #55: Staff briefing on the Austin Go Initiative
Item #56: Staff briefing on the Austin Climate Protection Plan 2009 Annual Report
Item #57: Development assessment of Whisper Valley PUD near SH 130. I believe this might be the first PUD to go through the new PUD ordinance “early council input” process.
4:00pm
Item #64: Zoning change to allow development of WTP #4
6:00pm
Item #75: Public hearing on the Protected and Heritage Trees ordinance change.
Item #76: Public hearing on changes to parking lot landscaping
Item #77: Public hearing on the planting of trees in residential subdivisions
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council_meetings/public_meeting_agenda.cfm?meetingid=175
6:00pm: Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Agenda pending
Location: 1124 Regal Row
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Friday, June 19
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Saturday, June 20
9:00am-5:00pm: Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership River Monitoring Trip
Join Allan Kugler and the Bastrop County Colorado River Monitoring trip for the Austin‐Bastrop River Corridor Partnership for a day on the river monitoring birds and more, and help the Austin‐Bastrop River Corridor Partnership learn more about the ecology of the Colorado River..
Location: RSVP for details, must provide own boat
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/downloads/cereventsupdatejune2009.pdf
9:00am-1:00pm: Austin Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic.
Location: Republic Square Park
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org
9:30am-1:00pm: Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic
Location: Toney Burger Center
http://www.sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org
1:00pm: Conserve Energy and Save Money Seminar
In the midst of a dry summer and an economic downturn, the Austin Public Library offers a series of Green Living talks presented by Austin Energy — the folks who know Austin, its climate and its energy situation best. Learn ways to conserve energy and water as well as
save money. These talks are free and open to the public.
Location: University Hills Branch Library, 4721 Loyola Lane
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/news/nr20090512b.htm
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Sunday, June 21
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