Council to consider environmental funding

City Council will consider a resolution that will increase the city’s environmental investment. Sponsored by Council Member Ryan Alter and co-sponsored by Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Paige Ellis and Jose Velásquez, the resolution would kick off a public input process about the city’s environmental visions like Water Forward and the Austin Climate Equity Plan and identify funding opportunities in the city’s budget, utility rates or a November 2024 bond election. “Austin has done an excellent job of planning to address our climate crisis, but we’re falling short of our goals,” Alter said in a statement to the press. “Climate change will not wait for us to act. If we’re not willing to invest in our future, extreme weather will only get worse and the reliability of basic things like clean air, fresh water, and available electricity will diminish.” The resolution, which will be considered by Council on Feb. 15, sets a May 1 deadline for recommendations to Council and a May 16 public hearing.