Posting Language
Title
Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending Exhibit A to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 City Fee and Fine Ordinance (Ordinance No. 20230816-007) to add a dedicated GoPurple component of $0.15 cents per thousand gallons to Austin Water’s water utility and wastewater utility community benefit charges to support reuse strategies in the Water Forward plan; and amending the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Austin Water Community Benefit Charge Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20230816-008) to increase revenue and appropriations by $4,100,000 and the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Austin Water Operating Funds (Ordinance No.20230816-008) to increase transfers in and appropriations by $4,100,000 for reuse strategies in the Water Forward plan.
De
Lead Department
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
Fiscal notes are attached.
Prior Council Action:
August 16, 2023 - Council approved Ordinance No. 20230816-007 authorizing fees, fines, and other charges to be set or charged by the City for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on September 30, 2024.
August 16, 2023 - Council approved Ordinance No. 20230816-008 adopting the Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
For More Information:
Blanca Madriz, Program Coordinator, Austin Water, blanca.madriz@austintexas.gov, 512-972-0115.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
February 14, 2024 - Recommended by the Water and Wastewater Commission on a 7-0 vote with Commissioner Pandurangi recused and Commissioners Navarro, Angoori and Musgrove absent.
Additional Backup Information:
This action is one of four proposed Council items related to implementing Austin Water's new “GoPurple Program” to accelerate the expansion of Austin's centralized reclaimed system and onsite reuse. These are essential strategies in Austin's Water Forward plan to meet long-range needs for a secure and sustainable water future.
“GoPurple Program”:
Austin Water continues to expand its centralized reclaimed water infrastructure (known as “purple pipe”) throughout Austin. This system delivers non-drinking water for irrigation, cooling towers, toilet/urinal flushing, and virtually any use not requiring higher-quality drinking water. Expanding the use of reclaimed water builds the City’s resilience against drought and climate change by diversifying its water supply. Reclaimed water is a renewable resource that is less expensive to treat, and users are charged lower rates. All customers benefit from the expansion of the reclaimed water system, which is a key strategy in Austin’s Water Forward 100-year water supply plan.
The GoPurple Community Benefit Charge (CBC) will fund the reclaimed water system expansion as well as incentive programs to expand the use of reclaimed water within new development projects. Austin Water’s customers who are enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) do not pay this CBC so their water and wastewater bills will not be impacted by this proposed increase. The impact will be a $1.47 monthly increase for the average residential customer who is not enrolled in the CAP program.