Leslie Lilly of the Watershed Protection Department presented staff recommendations in response to a City Council resolution directing work on bird‑friendly design and Lights Out measures. The presentation reviewed the extent of bird collisions with glass and the role of light pollution in attracting migrants into urban areas at night.

Lilly and intern Lily Raresich highlighted three complementary strategies: (1) reduce or treat glazing with patterns or frits to lower material “threat factors,” (2) adopt dark‑sky and timed lighting controls to reduce nighttime attraction, and (3) launch an education campaign for residents and property owners. “Birds have difficulty perceiving glass,” Lilly said, and “that problem is exacerbated by light pollution.”

What staff proposes: Watershed staff proposed a land‑development code amendment requiring bird‑safe facade materials for new commercial and multifamily buildings over 10,000 square feet and applying treatments up to a recommended height tied to canopy and migration patterns (staff suggested up to 100 feet in many urban contexts). Staff also recommended expanding Lights Out requirements for city‑managed buildings, working with Austin Energy’s Green Building program, and developing residential outreach and retrofit guidance.

Cost and feasibility: Staff reported that new commercial treatments (fritted or etched glass) are widely available and that retrofit options (decals, films or applied patterns) cost roughly $12–$14 per square foot with warranties that often run to about 15 years. Staff cited a range of cost estimates from peer cities, including Madison (small percent increase to project costs) and New York (staff estimate of little to no net impact), but warned that costs vary by facade composition and project type.

Commission feedback and key concerns: Commissioners supported the goal but raised concerns about thresholds and affordability. Commissioner Carroll asked whether requirements would apply to renovations; staff said those are implementation details to be worked out if the city initiates a code amendment. Commissioners urged clarity on waiver or exemption routes for deeply affordable housing: several members warned that even small cost increases can threaten project feasibility and recommended automatic exemptions or built‑in budget recognition for subsidized projects rather than discretionary waivers.

Other points: Commissioners and members of the public recommended collecting local collision data (iNaturalist and other platforms were cited), coordinating with universities and volunteer groups for monitoring, and pairing building standards with public‑lighting changes because exterior municipal lights also attract migrants. The Watershed team told the commission it will brief Downtown Commission, Planning Commission and other committees and aims to present a formal package to the city manager and council in January.

Ending: The commission offered detailed technical feedback — including reconsideration of strict single‑metric thresholds in favor of flexible weighted averages and expanded incentives for voluntary adoption — and staff said it will incorporate that feedback into the ordinance draft and continue stakeholder outreach.