City resolution on preparing for shared, autonomous, electric vehicles

Generic version adapted from one model. Also see this 2017 guide on Writing Effective Resolutions Preparing for the New Mobility

WHEREAS, the City is recognized as an innovative, pioneering, and technologically savvy Smart City, that is creative, compassionate, and economically vibrant; and

WHEREAS, the City is challenged with increasing congestion associated with its growing population, leading to increasing vehicle miles traveled, longer commutes, and difficulties for some in our community to access reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation options; and

WHEREAS, the City seeks to be a leader in the deployment of “Shared, Electric and Automated Vehicles” for this emerging technology industry, bringing jobs and new skilled training opportunities to the area; and

WHEREAS, “Shared, Electric, Autonomous Mobility Services” in a City Designed for It, would offer the opportunity to provide mobility, accessibility, affordability, and better designed communities and cities that will provide the underpinnings for improved health and livability, and reduced transportation costs, as compared to owning a single occupancy vehicle, specifically to seniors, persons with disabilities, millennials, and others without a driver’s license or means to access a car; and offers further opportunities to the broader population to transition to shared, electric, autonomous mobility services for their transportation needs as a strategy to reduce transportation costs and improve health and well-being outcomes via improved air quality, stress reduction, physical fitness, and affordability;

WHEREAS, the City remains dedicated to seeking out and employing strategies and solutions that make our City more sustainable, support clean renewable energy and our municipal utility, and enhance overall quality of life and equity in our community; and

WHEREAS, the City recognizes the power and potential of creating a groundbreaking P4 Public/Private/People Partnership as a means to leverage and create communally beneficial solutions to the challenges and opportunities we face as a City in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, autonomous driving technology is being heavily invested in by many large companies, with 13 of the world’s 14 largest automakers announcing plans to bring autonomous vehicles to market, and 12 of the world’s 14 largest technology companies announcing plans to build technologies to support and operate autonomous vehicles; and

WHEREAS, there is opportunity and logic in leveraging the synergy between autonomous and plug-in electric vehicles technologies as a way to address not just mobility but also clean air and climate change goals; and

WHEREAS, the City Council passed a resolution (No. ______) that established a goal of reaching NET-ZERO community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, recognizing that it is important and valuable to accomplish emissions reductions as soon as it is feasible; and

WHEREAS, as of 2010, greenhouse gas emissions in ____________ were created by approximately one-third from transportation (up to 50% and more in areas with cleaner electricity already); and

WHEREAS, the City Council set the vision for reducing carbon dioxide (C02) emissions from all city-controlled generation resources to zero by ____; and

WHEREAS, the City recognizes “Automated and Connected Vehicle (AC-V) technology” as an emerging field of transportation innovation and established a goal of becoming a leader in the public infrastructure adaptation of AC-V technology; and

WHEREAS, expanding electrification options for more vehicle classes and within vehicle classes will be available going forward leveraging advancements in automotive and utility technology; and

WHEREAS, leading cities and nations have recently completed adoption of electric vehicle sales targets up to 100% electric vehicles by as soon as 2030; and

WHEREAS, a high degree of electrification will have significant impact on fiscal opportunities for the utility and potentially the city; and

WHEREAS, “New Mobility Electric/Autonomous Vehicles and Services” have the potential to make travel more affordable, accessible, and efficient, as well as helping our City reach environmental and community health goals by reducing emissions and improving air quality, as well as reducing stress and anxiety, and improving access to jobs/food/healthcare; and

WHEREAS, to successfully make the transition to “New Electric/Autonomous Mobility Vehicles and Services” will take sustained effort, with all individuals, businesses, and organizations in the community playing a role;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF _____: The City Manager is directed to develop a plan (The New Mobility EV/AV Plan” or “Plan”) and prepare the City to take a state/national/global leadership role in the ensuing “New Mobility Electric/Autonomous Vehicle (EV/AV)” solution. The New Mobility EV/AV solution will shift the City’s transportation system to one that enables “Shared, Electric, and Autonomous Mobility Services” and provide a City ready and willing for it.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: “The New Mobility EV/AV Plan” should include measurable interim greenhouse gas reduction targets to support the goal set by City Council _________ of reaching NET-ZERO community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by ____, or sooner if feasible, that includes a ___% overall reduction goal by _____ and, procedures for when and how annual progress reports will occur.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The New Mobility EV/AV Plan will address on-demand mobility, accessibility and reduced transportation costs, reduced congestion, improved air quality, and mobility for seniors, persons with disabilities, and others without a driver’s license or means to access a car. The Plan will include opportunities to the broader population, making it easier to shed private vehicle ownership and migrate to shared, electric, autonomous mobility services for their transportation needs. Wide spread adoption of Shared, Electric, and Autonomous transportation services has potential to transform our transportation system and provide benefits such as reduced transportation costs and congestion as well as improved air quality and increased affordability. The plan will also include and provide opportunity to evolve with future technological advancements, as well as:

Consider creating an executive position to act as Chief Officer of EV/AV transportation services;
Measure of savings and increased access to transportation options to individuals and our community;
List of next steps and targets needed to achieve goals;
Description of resources that may be needed and potential funding options; and
Safety considerations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

The City Manager shall develop and present a New Mobility EV/AV Plan to City Council by ______2017.

ADOPTED: ____________, 2017 ATTEST: ________________________ City Clerk

WHEREAS, the City is recognized as an innovative, pioneering, and technologically savvy Smart City, that is creative, compassionate, and economically vibrant; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin is a founding member of the Texas Coalition of Smart Cities and together with our research partners and coalition cities were collectively selected as an Automated Vehicle Proving Ground by the USDOT; and

WHEREAS, the City has been and continues to be recognized with significant grant monies by United States Department of Energy supporting our New Mobility initiatives and further participates as an initial member of the Bloomberg Aspen Initiative on Cities and Autonomous Vehicles, which will galvanize experts and data to accelerate cities’ planning efforts for Autonomous Vehicles and produce a set of principles and tools that participating cities can use to chart their own paths forward; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin was called the “Kitty Hawk” of driverless vehicles for hosting the first passenger-only vehicle on a public City Street; and

WHEREAS, the City seeks to be a leader in the deployment of “Shared, Electric and Automated Vehicles” and to build upon its “Kitty Hawk” designation for this emerging technology industry, bringing jobs and new skilled training opportunities to Central Texas; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin remains dedicated to seeking out and employing strategies and solutions that make our City more sustainable, support clean renewable energy and our municipal utility, and enhance overall quality of life and equity in our community; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin recognizes the power and potential of creating a groundbreaking P4 Public/Private/People Partnership as a means to leverage and create communally beneficial solutions to the challenges and opportunities we face as a City in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20140410-024 that established a goal of reaching NET-ZERO community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, recognizing that it is important and valuable to accomplish emissions reductions as soon as it is feasible; and

WHEREAS, as of 2010, greenhouse gas emissions in Travis County were created approximately 52% by energy use, 36% from transportation, and 12% from local landfills and manufacturing processes; and

WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20140828-157 that set the vision for reducing carbon dioxide (C02) emissions from all city-controlled generation resources to zero by 2030, subject to the previously-adopted and reaffirmed affordability goals; and

WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20141211-112 recognizing “Automated and Connected Vehicle (AC-V) technology” as an emerging field of transportation innovation and established a goal of becoming a leader in the public infrastructure adaptation of AC-V technology; and

WHEREAS, expanding electrification options for more vehicle classes and within vehicle classes will be available going forward leveraging advancements in automotive and utility technology; and

WHEREAS, leading cities and nations have recently completed adoption of electric vehicle sales targets up to 100% electric vehicles by as soon as 2030; and

WHEREAS, a high degree of electrification will have significant impact on fiscal opportunities for Austin Energy; and

WHEREAS, Austin Energy is a national leader in utility electric vehicle (“EV”) programs; and

WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s public charging network, Plug-in EVerywhere, has over 500 level 2 charging ports and 3 DC Fast Ports backed by the utility’s 100% renewable energy program, GreenChoice, to maximize the carbon emission reduction benefits of electric vehicles over fossil fuel vehicles; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: The City Manager is directed to develop a plan (The New Mobility EV/AV Plan” or “Plan”) and prepare the City to take a state/national/global leadership role in the ensuing “New Mobility Electric/Autonomous Vehicle (EV/AV)” solution. The New Mobility EV/AV solution will shift the City’s transportation system to one that enables “Shared, Electric, and Autonomous Mobility Services” and provide a City ready and willing for it.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: “The New Mobility EV/AV Plan” should include measurable interim greenhouse gas reduction targets to support the goal set by City Council Resolution No. 20140410-024 of reaching NET-ZERO community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, or sooner if feasible, that includes a 20% overall reduction goal by 2020 and, procedures for when and how annual progress reports will occur.

Consider creating an executive position to act as Chief Officer of EV/AV transportation services;
Measure of savings and increased access to transportation options to individuals and our community;
List of next steps and targets needed to achieve goals;
Description of resources that may be needed and potential funding options; and
Safety considerations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

The City Manager shall develop and present a New Mobility EV/AV Plan to City Council by June 15, 2017.

ADOPTED: ____________, 2017 ATTEST: ________________________ Jannette S. Goodall City Clerk

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