BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION  Bicycle Advisory Council  Recommendation Number 20240820-005: Great Springs Project Partnership  WHEREAS, the purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Commission (BAC) is to advise the City of Austin and other jurisdictions on all matters relating to the use of the bicycle, bicycle infrastructure, and individuals of all ages and abilities who utilize bicycles; and  WHEREAS, among the BAC's responsibilities are "Advising and Recommendations, such as reviewing and making recommendations on policies, programs, projects, plans and funding priorities as they relate to bicycling, provide information and recommendations to boards, commissions, councils, and City Council, as needed, and advising on issues related to public involvement processes in bicycling-related projects; and  WHEREAS, BAC responsibilities also include "Citizen Input," especially encouraging resident and community participation in identifying problem areas, reviewing existing facilities, and  planning and implementing new projects and programs; and  WHEREAS, Great Springs Project (GSP) is an Austin-based non-profit organization with a demonstrated capacity to support local governments and other partners in the region  with implementing priority trail and conservation projects; and  WHEREAS, Trails and Transportation Planner for Great Springs Project Mikey Goralnik, PLA, AICP, presented at the August 20, 2024 meeting to introduce the Great Springs Project, its history, resources, and plans for supporting local efforts to implement priority trail  projects ini the City of Austin, and  WHEREAS, GSP has diverse expertise in a range of topics that align with the BAC's mandate to support the City's cycling culture, including supporting urban trail implementation through right-of-way acquisition, designing and permitting priority trails, and WHEREAS, the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan identifies the Urban Trails System, highlighted by the Tier land Tier II Urban Trails, as "an integral part of the transportation network" to "connect the street grid [and] provide additional pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and shorten walking and bicycling distances..[that) increase connectivity between neighborhoods, facilitate active trips, promote healthy lifestyles and outdoor experiences, and strengthen our community's connection to nature and our ecosystem;  programming trails with activities and events; and  and    WHEREAS, numerous local and regional planning efforts, including the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Climate Equity Plan, Green Infrastructure Strengths and Gaps Assessment, and CentralTexas Regional Air Quality Plan, state the importance of partnerships between the city and non-profit partners for rapidly and fullyi implementing the community's vision of WHEREAS, GSP has a mission to support the City's connectivity, mobility, resiliency, vitality, and equity objectives in the organization's project area, and the capacity and  ac connected, resilient, healthy, and prosperous Austin, and  resources necessary to implement these stated priorities; and  WHEREAS, the City of Austin may direct City staff to encourage collaboration between external not-for-profit partners such as Great Springs Project to complete public works projects  such as those GSPi is pursuing in its project area.  NOW,THEREFORE, BEI IT RESOLVED that the Bicycle Advisory Council recommends that Citystaff, including those in the Parks and Recreation Department, Watershed Protection Department, Transportation and Public' Works Departments, and others as necessary, be fully authorized and encouraged to partner with the Great Springs Project to  collaboratively implement shared projects of interest.  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that shared projects of interest include, but are not limited to, the Onion Creek Greenway (Old San Antonio Road Trail to Onion Creek Metro Park), the Williamson Creek Greenbelt (Sunset Valley to McKinney Falls SP), and trail along the Colorado River below Longhorn Dam, all of which are mapped in the "Proposed Urban Trail Network.". Collaboration could entail a variety of activities, such as partnering on applications to state and federal grants to support various trail implementation activities  that the partnership determines to be necessary and effective.  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bicycle Advisory Council recommends that City Council take actions necessary, such as a memorandum of agreement, memorandum of understanding, resolution of support, or similar, to establish a partnership with GSP that will serve the City's interest with respect to bicycle infrastructure and programming.  Date of Approval: 8/20/2024 Vote: Unanimous, 5-0 Attest: Natalie Leone, Staff Liaison