[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6485533,"mediaKeyId","5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177","parentId",5689837,"title","Joint Sustainability Committee adopts previous meeting minutes","audioSeconds",102,"startMs",374000,"endMs",476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177&start=374&end=476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177/thumbnail_374000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485533/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Joint-Sustainability-Committee-adopts-previous-meeting-minutes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485533-c3816ecc39204e24b64ec0712de934f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499949&Signature=npQf4AdLkCGlC0BLXJtwwnOhiIBGsagNSSHHy0IOsGlH0Hjb3HqB2fJuu1EujLgi-vOmxolpz~Rjk0qaYS2U~E9eVAQWKl4uGJ5MqoYxgXLYIW~heERLk0MBDU3Sfp8lWM3enWIy~Xj4-yu0orVWsHuAaQmWQsiiKizfhIi3IXBn6ln51HxCXTapLX0lBdu3xOa7QvcwLL-x623KULvOtoM-tgifnblY-pepUjtpBRCYXdzKr7y8luH3zUD0tHZzCkVpsKUFDSSEtSOT11unGivOWDV6~9h8xNizPYtLhCddpCfoWMLI5LsWkkyKkxis4g0KQi7PgINo4VKx6LUEyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-08-27T00:00:00Z","article","During the meeting the committee moved to adopt the minutes from the previous meeting. Arla Davis moved to adopt the minutes; Harris seconded. Chair Kaiba White called for those in favor to raise their hands. Josh Shiller confirmed he was \"voting in the affirmative\" when asked for clarification. The minutes were approved and will be posted.

The motion to adopt the minutes did not require attendance at the prior meeting to vote, and staff will proceed with posting the minutes as approved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Joint Sustainability Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The Joint Sustainability Committee voted to adopt the minutes from the prior meeting after a motion and second; the minutes were approved for posting.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485536,"Food Policy Board seeks input as it readies strategic plan; may ask for farmland‑preservation funding in 2026 bond",143,3913000,4056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177&start=3913&end=4056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177/thumbnail_3913000.jpg","/articles/6485536/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Food-Policy-Board-seeks-input-as-it-readies-strategic-plan-may-ask-for-farmlandpreservation-funding-in-2026-bond","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485536-9c1723d51d89ed2088e9d07bbb65c9d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499949&Signature=YFN-nbiZrJumDDhlio6FUnmS3NrIIrwEnbVGbMzPQKgK2ZAkexL3FPrihawr4nrzHEcujX6NP1FPqyLIK5VRZVFSKv1bJSg682qVbPMaCN3N3CoIzE3MEMVbFzwdjjPiHEOSYgrL6nbwOX9z~6qaFTgvFg3OPgWHjGdOh2bewt3FKYlIlSc0~DJhd1ECCzDCi4hLYnZoprqqu44X~0y8h8wIz6YYkBLSg8Ugdf0wepZCjB4n7klAQCDv2ZDq5Qnv3EwTOSnbPXe0WWh5DwaJBTPd9y7BRf5kbUQNHrP3-6GISXVmtmRpYpdztH7fuIu8kFXSIVPhSHgOoLnZIe26rQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andy Smith, representing the Austin‑Travis County Food Policy Board, told the Joint Sustainability Committee that the board will hold annual strategic planning in mid‑September and invited input from JSC members on priorities. \"If there are any kind of particular areas that you think would be interesting for our board to give particular attention to, please reach out to me and let me know,\" Smith said.

Smith said the board will consider recommending that funding for farmland preservation be included in the 2026 bond package and is exploring how farmland protection, local food production and supply‑chain improvements intersect with watershed protection, carbon sequestration and resilience goals. He noted that the food plan adopted by council last year provides a road map but has seen limited dedicated funding to date.

Committee members recalled prior JSC work on connecting local producers to institutions and on assessing supply‑chain gaps for school food procurement. Several members suggested coordinating working groups to update inventories of local farms and distribution capacity to inform bond recommendations and program design.

Smith said the Food Policy Board would return with outcomes from strategic planning and welcomed JSC working‑group participation and cross‑board collaboration.","Andy Smith of the Austin‑Travis County Food Policy Board asked Joint Sustainability Committee members for input ahead of the board's annual strategic planning and said the board is considering recommending farmland preservation funding be included in the 2026 bond package.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485541,"Resource Management Commission raises concerns about Texas Gas Service rate case, consolidation and fixed‑charge increases",268,3561000,3829000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177&start=3561&end=3829","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177/thumbnail_3561000.jpg","/articles/6485541/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Resource-Management-Commission-raises-concerns-about-Texas-Gas-Service-rate-case-consolidation-and-fixedcharge-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485541-b94812748c0e7d3341a3fa7208956b3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499949&Signature=a8iHwUqe1X4cKRwP2Y0mkixnwTL7CHghFAOAgWWoWC6QWwbeGYG~bcaT-XS12VmEL-mOjMf-oeEat1rSPN2zh7Vn-oFRpisLU7ihJhBUtuGl2vbJZGgW7ZbagcjE271tyNaBptHcGgWMNpT5c1lQD~lgcGbgRoOMZB9LXk15G4Fu7GflYAS78k7HEFP6BKPOFg6WNuot0dHmw1mxDxOLU1II03KI38fQPzvUSPvHzQW~IWAAAuZx2N5uRFZ-Gif1jTyIo9owSJ5hWINeL2BmP0Vh0Oxjstyk73Lv3JlqCxf0Gm~tTP0LL6Xi~YbOEzdX~w4BIsKsjcyv~1bQepodBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charlotte, a member of the Resource Management Commission (RMC), updated the Joint Sustainability Committee about a Texas Gas Service rate filing and the RMC’s early concerns. Texas Gas has filed a rate case that proposes consolidating its three Texas service regions into one statewide region and is seeking approximately $41,000,000 in additional annual revenue, Charlotte said.

\"They are asking for a number of things... they're asking to increase revenues by $41,000,000, which is a 7 percent rate increase, excluding gas costs,\" Charlotte said, describing the filing. The company also seeks a 38% increase in the fixed customer charge for small residential customers while decreasing volumetric charges in many cases; RMC members said that structure would shift cost recovery toward higher fixed charges and make bills more regressive for low‑usage households.

The filing would also change the administration of the Share the Warmth low‑income assistance program. Texas Gas proposed expanding the program to $2,000,000 but the filing did not make clear whether shareholder matches would continue; RMC members said the lack of transparency makes it difficult to evaluate whether ratepayers or shareholders would bear the additional cost. Charlotte said the filing also includes line items for program administration, outreach and donation management.

The RMC discussed the issues and found general consensus opposing area consolidation, the proposed shift to higher fixed charges, and the lack of transparency around customer assistance expansions. Charlotte said the city has until about mid‑November to take final action; if the city denies aspects of the filing Texas Gas may appeal to the Texas Railroad Commission, which will hold additional hearings.

Charlotte encouraged public engagement and said the RMC will provide updates when formal public hearings and dates are scheduled. \"So that, I think, is another thing that hopefully, you know, as that work comes along, we can get some updates about that here at the JSC,\" she said.","The Resource Management Commission told the Joint Sustainability Committee that Texas Gas Service has filed a rate case seeking roughly $41 million in additional revenues, proposing consolidation of service areas and a large increase in small residential customer charges.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485546,"Draft FY26 budget adds climate revolving fund, energy staff and rebates, committee hears",1267,2189000,3456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177&start=2189&end=3456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177/thumbnail_2189000.jpg","/articles/6485546/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Draft-FY26-budget-adds-climate-revolving-fund-energy-staff-and-rebates-committee-hears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485546-13b17cf168ca5fed05390e6d8cb75f2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499949&Signature=TTnXaOEb6et3m9ZKB57BGSyK54BV9UIWhl573OU1wo3-3wSlSLZJ9dyDbQACXWA3lTTRhScsHvf2SmSUhm5i~-Lw3YFmjNgAECwff8UC8ZuadWEd7cQ4LQ4xxU4o2Y0zETXEZEcZTfmtdelNGcu3aZOhghCX2bDSdWyMXLxyqmbIlvYL4vzcOJrh57o8N0MVbgJxHQvuat5xSvXcSHjlbhGfEKDJq5ERR2Jigo8mg5L3mAT9iKjTGnqHiNS0dgeiHwPg244VmUxxmQdRTI7zglmOHOayQmkMX7iheEobHWqwPP-mQIqpuiVhsAkvKk7s2bXB1qkbdUrLqj01n-T7Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff briefed the Joint Sustainability Committee on FY26 budget elements that affect sustainability and city facilities, highlighting new and increased allocations intended to advance energy efficiency, water conservation and climate work.

Kaiba White, who presented the briefing, said the City Manager’s proposed budget plus council amendments include a new climate revolving fund and an energy program manager position at the Office of Climate Action and Resilience. \"The good news is that the Fund is being established. And the, I guess, you know, medium news is that there's $300,000 in it, and, obviously, we need probably tens of millions,\" Kaiba said.

Other items highlighted by staff include:

- $3,700,000 added for Austin Energy clean‑energy rebates (energy efficiency, solar, demand response), including planning for a battery incentive next year and EV charger support;
- Four conversions and one additional new staff in Austin Energy’s Customer Energy Solutions program;
- Approximately $1,400,000 for water conservation and meter‑accuracy work (description in budget documents was broad);
- A new \"sustainable program manager\" position intended for sustainable purchasing within the Office of Climate Action and Resilience;
- Funds for an electric lawn‑care pilot (likely at Zilker) including mowers and charging equipment;
- $619,000 allocated for a furniture reuse warehouse and six new litter‑abatement positions; and
- $864,000 allocated to the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps to continue current contracts and staffing.

Staff also noted a council resolution directing the city manager to evaluate a permit fee to support a comprehensive solar‑panel recycling program so panels can be collected and recycled at end of life.

Committee members asked for further detail in areas such as water‑loss and pipe repair funding; several members suggested forming a working group to review budget gaps and prepare materials for the next budget cycle. Kaiba said some increases came from enterprise departments (Austin Energy, Austin Water) and that a tax rate election (TRE) in November will determine whether the adopted budget stands as presented. \"As Rohan mentioned, there is gonna be a tax rate election, in order for this budget to actually exist as adopted by city council,\" Kaiba said, noting uncertainty about which items could be cut if the TRE fails.

Staff said more detailed program plans will follow and offered to provide the committee with the Boards & Commissions recommendations report summarizing where committee recommendations were or were not incorporated.

The presentation did not request committee action; members asked staff to consider returning with more detail and to form a working group to analyze unmet budget priorities for next year.","Committee members reviewed FY26 budget items relevant to sustainability: a $300,000 climate revolving fund, a new energy program manager, $3.7 million added to Austin Energy clean-energy rebates, water‑conservation funding and several pilot programs.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485551,"City staff outline multi-site plan to install solar on Austin facilities, warn of tightening federal deadlines",834,496000,1330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177&start=496&end=1330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689837-30e95e7fa6c626a05c352496d82a3177/thumbnail_496000.jpg","/articles/6485551/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-staff-outline-multi-site-plan-to-install-solar-on-Austin-facilities-warn-of-tightening-federal-deadlines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485551-4a99d9eab3de19fb6e69ace844ea74cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770499949&Signature=gKesQNT191VIeVfzDg4PGGMWXCVlLI5TIBO6F0Yo4l77wvdCSasoBcff~HQb~pN5g-RTBBs0tHVeUGvJgYMsKm9VnRSKIdsMCxZ5wwUT6uzz-stLjXkWOjWiqrQv0g4NBK6WTBifiXgbIWHQSgvHrHz38rIiO2hqwN4TVyxCDez7RuzHWl9rjcl~X9Yo7xrMqyc1YlGQ20hlNiEF35nx3WO8gYcOOpjGuLqJcDkZ9ye9K~4PogMPzMR6SRuCs2fhn0UDtq2ONMILCRTFettDIL8r3qDuTIH5EXPGxm1nHFS62ife72DjGZ1w1COfSgvFAaKzbWejd1aadYC-s5Ka8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Joint Sustainability Committee that they have begun site screening and financial modeling for a multi-site solar program across city facilities and are moving quickly to preserve federal tax credits that help make those projects viable.

The work responds to a council resolution passed in May directing staff to analyze city property and recommend solar generation opportunities, prioritizing general fund properties; to calculate annual energy cost savings and dedicate equivalent funding to environmentally beneficial projects; and to evaluate opportunities on properties owned or operated by other local governments within the Austin Energy load zone, staff said. \"The work we're doing is in response to a council resolution that was passed in May, and council directed the city manager and staff to, to do a number of things,\" Rohan, a city staff member leading the project presentation, told commissioners.

Staff described a three-step approach: inventory and assess city facilities for solar potential (rooftops, parking lots and adjacent land); issue a multi-site request for proposals (RFP) and evaluate ownership models; then select proposals and build, including operations and maintenance. The city has hired the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) under a professional services exemption to support site screening, portfolio-level financial modeling and procurement strategy; Rohan said RMI previously helped San Antonio on a comparable project.

Rohan cited San Antonio as a case study: that city contracted for roughly 13 megawatts across 42 rooftops and parking sites with about $30,000,000 in upfront investment and modeled $7 million–$11 million in net savings over 25 years. San Antonio used a single master developer contract and a separate operations-and-maintenance agreement, Rohan said.

Federal policy shifts are central to the timeline. Rohan summarized that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) greatly expanded the value of solar tax credits and introduced the direct-pay mechanism that lets non‑taxpaying entities such as cities capture credits (about 30% for solar). He warned, however, that more recent federal legislation phases out or tightens some clean-energy tax credits and introduced new foreign‑entity rules with uncertain guidance. \"Projects must either commence construction by July 4, 2026, or be placed in service before 2027,\" he said, cautioning that guidance from Treasury will affect how the city demonstrates commencement.

On the question of how to show construction has started, Rohan said Treasury guidance suggests that for projects under about 1.5 megawatts \"expending 5% of the project budget is sufficient\" to demonstrate the start of construction, though the physical‑work test remains unclear and the city will seek legal advice.

Staff outlined three ownership models to be evaluated in procurement: a city‑owned model (city purchases systems using debt), a power‑purchase agreement (PPA) with a third party selling energy to the city at a fixed price, or use of Austin Energy's residential/commercial standard offer (a roof‑lease model paid to a system host). Rohan said staff is coordinating with building services, Austin Energy, finance and procurement to streamline processes and engage building managers early.

Commissioners asked about pairing batteries with solar. \"I have found it worthwhile to consider pairing a solar installation with, like, a backup battery,\" said Commissioner Varun Prasad of the Urban Transportation Commission. Rohan replied that batteries are being considered but, given the tight tax‑credit timeline, staff is prioritizing getting solar built now and making sites \"battery‑ready\" as a likely Phase 2, noting that San Antonio and other cities have phased batteries into follow‑on work.

On procurement design, staff said they expect to use a multi‑site RFP to achieve economies of scale and that San Antonio's process included a request for qualifications to narrow vendors before issuing detailed bids. Commissioners asked for vendor‑screening criteria to protect quality and encourage subcontracting that meets local procurement goals; Rohan said the RFP is still being developed and staff will try to accommodate a review by the Joint Sustainability Committee if timing allows.

Next steps: staff said a memo to council will be issued September 2 and that staff plan to present to the Council's Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee in the coming months; they aim to develop and release an RFP in the next few months to move quickly to preserve tax‑credit eligibility. \"We're moving, you know, really fast, especially in city terms,\" Rohan said. \"We are trying to align multiple departments and stakeholders to make sure that we get solar built as fast as possible and are able to leverage those tax credits.\"

The committee discussion also flagged follow‑up needs: legal review of tax‑credit commencement tests, details on vendor qualifications and subcontracting expectations, and clarity about how any future operations and maintenance contracting would be structured.","City staff briefed the Joint Sustainability Committee on a multi-site approach to rooftop and parking-lot solar for city properties, describing procurement options, consultant support and a compressed federal tax-credit timeline that increases project risk.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Joint Sustainability Committee adopts previous meeting minutes

Food Policy Board seeks input as it readies strategic plan; may ask for farmland‑preservation funding in 2026 bond

Resource Management Commission raises concerns about Texas Gas Service rate case, consolidation and fixed‑charge increases

Draft FY26 budget adds climate revolving fund, energy staff and rebates, committee hears

City staff outline multi-site plan to install solar on Austin facilities, warn of tightening federal deadlines