2. Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission September 15, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Environmental Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi (D-1) Rachel Scott (D-2) Pam Thompson (D-3) Katie Coyne (D-4) Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol (D-7) Kevin Ramberg (D-8) Vacant (D-6) Audrey Barrett Bixler (D-5) Linda Guerrero (D-9) Chair _________________________________________________________________________________ Richard Brimer (D-10) Perry Bedford (Mayor) Secretary Agenda CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UPDATES a. Update on Brodie Oaks Planned Unit Development (PUD)—Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (10 minutes) APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the August 25, 2021 Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting Minutes and the September 1, 2021 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) 1 3. BRIEFINGS a. Update on the Watershed Protection Strategic Plan—Andrea Bates, Watershed Planning Manager and Sari Albornoz, Community Engagement Planner, Watershed Protection Department (1 hour) 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS and Linda Guerrero a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, Audrey Barrett Bixler, b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne c. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Kevin Ramberg d. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board –Linda Guerrero and Pam Thompson e. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days before the meeting date. Please call Kaela Champlin at Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Environmental Commission, please contact Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443. * A member of the public may not address a board or commission at a meeting on an item posted as a briefing, per City Code Section 2-1-144(E). …
Watershed Protection Strategic Plan Environmental Commission September 15, 2021 N I T S U A F O Y T I C W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T Watershed Protection Department 2 MISSION The Watershed Protection Department (WPD) protects lives, property, and the environment of our community by reducing the impact of flooding, erosion, and water pollution. N I T S U A F O Y T I C W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 3 Watershed Protection Strategic Plan N I T S U A F O Y T I C GUIDING BLUEPRINT FOR DEPARTMENT – Sets goals and objectives – Establishes method to prioritize problems – Creates a process for evaluating solutions EVALUATION FRAMEWORK Provides framework for evaluating future programs, projects, and regulations and measuring success of current portfolio COMMUNICATION TOOL Helps explain WPD’s work and priorities to staff, City executives, policymakers, and Austin community W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T N I T S U A F O Y T I C 4 Plan History & Update • Watershed Protection Master Plan adopted in 2001 – Gathered public input via Citizen’s Advisory Group, phone survey, and public meetings • • Last major update completed in 2014 – Updated data/methods used for prioritizing problems – No new updates to public input or goals/objectives It's time for an update to: – Learn about the community's values – Re-evaluate the plan's guiding principles – Update goals, objectives, & prioritization methods – Set targets and create systems to track progress • Build on what we’ve heard – Watershed Protection Ordinance – Green Infrastructure Working Group – Flood Mitigation Task Force W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N D E P A R T M E N T 5 Goals for Update REFLECT COMMUNITY VALUES • Reflect goals, priorities, knowledge, and experience of community, staff, and stakeholders INCORPORATE EQUITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE • Advance racial equity in all department operations, resulting in …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 15, 2021 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners attending in person: Perry Bedford Haris Qureshi Rachel Scott Audrey Barrett Bixler Rick Brimer Kevin Ramberg Katie Coyne Commissioners attending remotely: Jennifer Bristol Linda Guerrero Pam Thompson Commissioners Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Sari Albornoz Andrea Bates Kaela Champlin Sara Hartley Matt Hollon Liz Johnston Jorge Morales Erin Wood CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Coyne called the meeting to order at 6:04 P.M. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Speakers Craig Nazor 1 1. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UPDATES a. Update on Brodie Oaks Planned Unit Development (PUD)—Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (10 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the August 25, 2021 Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting Minutes and the September 1, 2021 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the August 25, 2021 Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting Minutes and the September 1, 2021 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Barrett Bixler’s second on a 10-0 vote. 3. BRIEFINGS a. Update on the Watershed Protection Strategic Plan—Andrea Bates, Watershed Planning Manager and Sari Albornoz, Community Engagement Planner, Watershed Protection Department (1 hour) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS and Linda Guerrero a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, Audrey Barrett Bixler, b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne c. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Kevin Ramberg d. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board –Linda Guerrero and Pam Thompson e. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Guerrero requested a briefing about the issues raised by Dr. Craig Nazor regarding the McKalla site and Little Walnut Creek. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Coyne adjourned the meeting at 8:12 P.M. 2 The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned …
