Resident urges update to Austin’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and raises concern about cell towers near habitat

At the council’s public comment period on May 8, Carol Phillipson, chair of the Austin Firewise Committee and a District 10 resident, urged the City of Austin to update its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which she said is 11 years old and in need of revision to reflect new risks.

“I was taught that the way to reduce any fire risk is to reduce the ways it can start,” Phillipson said, saying cell towers “may be infrequent, but they do occur” and can be devastating because of steep terrain and limited access in wildland-urban interface areas. She told the council she had asked for staff follow-up on the issue after prior council meetings and conversations with Austin Fire Department representatives but had not received the promised outreach.

Phillipson told the council she had provided information to Mayor Watson and staff, including talking points related to pending state legislation she said could provide different types of protections. She also said the city’s fire department view that the presence of existing wildfire risks meant cell towers could be added without additional safeguards concerned her.

Council members and staff noted constraints on municipal authority where state law applies; the mayor’s dais acknowledged that some limitations are set by the legislature. Council Member Duchin, speaking later during consent discussion, said the city’s wildfire plan is “over a decade old” and expressed support for getting an updated plan within a year of executing a relevant contract.

Phillipson’s remarks were delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal council action on the wildfire plan or cell tower siting occurred at this session.

Ending: Council members said they expected the community wildfire protection plan update to be completed through the contract process and indicated they would monitor staff follow-up and legislative developments.