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File #: 25-1224   
Type: Consent Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 6/9/2025 In control: City Council
On agenda: 7/24/2025 Final action:
Title: Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County to allow the City staff to access Travis County's MyGovernmentOnline program to accept, process, and track Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) infrastructure incidental take permit applications. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
Attachments: 1. Recommendation for Action
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Posting Language
Title

Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County to allow the City staff to access Travis County’s MyGovernmentOnline program to accept, process, and track Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) infrastructure incidental take permit applications. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.

 

De

Lead Department

Austin Water.

 

Fiscal Note

This item has no fiscal impact.

 

Prior Council Action:

May 4, 1995 - Council authorized negotiation and execution of an interlocal cooperation agreement with Travis County implementing the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (“BCCP”) Shared Vision, which guided the creation of the BCCP Habitat Conservation Plan for issuance of the Federal Endangered Species Incidental Take Permit issued to the City of Austin and Travis County in 1996 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

September 21, 2023 - Council authorized negotiation and execution of an amended and restated interlocal cooperation agreement with Travis County for the implementation of the BCCP Shared Vision to update implementation of the BCCP and to reflect current industry standards.

 

For More Information:

Vicky Addie, Austin Water Program Coordinator, 512-972-0332, vicky.addie@austintexas.gov <mailto:vicky.addie@austintexas.gov>.

 

Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:

June 18, 2025 - Recommended by the Water and Wastewater Commission on an 11-0 vote.

 

Additional Backup Information:

The BCCP provides a fast-track solution to habitat mitigation for Endangered Species Act compliance that supports economic growth and protection of endangered species habitat.  It honors multiple community priorities by enabling the construction of roads, utilities, and buildings while upholding a commitment to natural resources, including the parks, creeks, and preserves that make up our green infrastructure. 

 

The BCCP Permit is the name given to the Federal Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit issued to the City of Austin and Travis County in 1996 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) combined with the BCCP Habitat Conservation Plan, which is the governing document that established the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP). 

 

The permitting process for infrastructure projects and the City-owned BCP lands are managed by City of Austin staff at Austin Water and the permitting process for development projects are managed by Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources staff.  In the 28+ years since the BCCP was created, more than 1,200 private landowners and developers have applied for BCCP incidental take permits, resulting in the development of over 17,100 acres and the authorization of more than 300 public infrastructure projects.

 

Since 1996, developers and infrastructure providers have obtained their endangered species take authorization for BCCP-covered species directly from the City or the County, providing a faster alternative to the USFWS permitting process and with much lower mitigation costs and more certainty in project cost and timing. 

 

The County is transferring to the MyGovernmentOnline program (MGO) to accept and track applications for participation in the BCCP. City BCCP administrative staff for infrastructure permitting require access to MGO for purposes of processing and issuing infrastructure incidental take permits. It has been determined that it would be mutually beneficial and advantageous for the City to have access to MGO.