Posting Language
Title
Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing a change in use of dedicated parkland, known as Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach, to permanently use approximately 15,368 square feet of parkland in order to construct, operate, maintain, and repair an Austin Energy transmission line. Funding: This item includes a mitigation payment in the amount of $2,414,240 from Austin Energy to Austin Parks and Recreation and, as a result, there is no impact to the General Fund.
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Lead Department
Austin Parks and Recreation, Austin Financial Services.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget of Austin Energy. This item is projected to result in additional revenue of $2,414,240 in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget of Austin Parks and Recreation. There is no net General Fund impact from the payment of the mitigation fee.
For More Information:
Lead Department - Austin Parks and Recreation, Randy Scott, Division Manager, (512) 974-9484; Paul Books, Planner Principal, (512) 978-1315;
Lead Department - Austin Financial Services, Michael Gates, Officer, (512) 974-5639;
Sponsoring Department - Austin Energy, David Tomczyszyn, Project Sponsor, (512) 322-6821.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
March 23, 2026 - Recommended by the Parks and Recreation Board with additional recommendations on a vote of 7-0 with Vice Chair Flowers, Board Members Abou-Emara, Orme and Taylor absent. Recommendation No. 20260323-003.
Additional Backup Information:
Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code provides that the use of parkland for non-park purposes may be approved upon findings that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the parkland and that all reasonable planning has been undertaken to minimize harm to such land.
The Cap Express Lady Bird Lake project involves a reroute of Transmission Circuit 1015, a high voltage transmission line that serves tens of thousands of Austin Energy customers in South Central Austin. The transmission line must be relocated due to TxDOT’s expansion of I-35. The project will place one new transmission structure in Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach and place one new structure outside of the park property in the road right-of-way.
No staging and storage of equipment will occur on parkland and park access will be maintained at all times during construction.
Upon Council approval of this item, Austin Parks and Recreation will receive $2,414,240 from Austin Energy as mitigation for the permanent use of parkland.
The Parks and Recreation Board reviewed the project at the March 23, 2026 meeting and provided a recommendation to City Council. This item is brought forward because there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the dedicated parkland, and all reasonable planning has been undertaken to minimize harm to such lands. The dates of public notification in the Austin American-Statesman were March 29, April 5 and 12, 2026.