Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission October 2, 2024 at 6:00 PM Permitting And Development Center, Events Center, Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Environmental Commission will be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Elizabeth Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov, no later than noon the day before the meeting. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Haris Qureshi Mariana Krueger Melinda Schiera Hanna Cofer, Vice Chair AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Colin Nickells Jennifer Bristol, Secretary David Sullivan Richard Brimer Perry Bedford, Chair PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 18, 2024 1 1. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation on Hays Commons Municipal Utility District (MUD) and request for a recommendation to initiate a Site-Specific Amendment to City Code Chapter 25-8, Subchapter A, Article 13 of the Save Our Springs Initiative – Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department DISCUSSION ITEMS Presentation and discussion on listed endangered and potentially listed species in Travis County – Michael Warriner, Supervisory Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Service Presentation and discussion on Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) and covered species – Sherri Kuhl, Environmental Resource Officer, and Kimberlee Harvey, BCCP Officer, Austin Water ACTION ITEMS COMMITTEE UPDATES Review and approve the draft 2025 Environmental Commission Regular meeting schedule Update from the Urban Forestry Committee on the rescheduled meeting – Richard Brimer 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 …
ITEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AGENDA October 2, 2024 Hays Commons MUD, C12M-2024-0003 Milestone Community Builders (Andrew Cortes) COMMISSION MEETING DATE: NAME & NUMBER OF PROJECT: NAME OF APPLICANT OR ORGANIZATION: LOCATION: 2833 1/2 BLISS SPILLAR RD COUNCIL DISTRICT: Austin ETJ and Hays ETJ WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT STAFF: Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512) 535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov WATERSHED: REQUEST: STAFF RECOMMENDATION: STAFF CONDITION: Bear Creek and Little Bear Creek Watersheds, Barton Springs Zone, Desired Development Zone Recommendation to initiate a Site-Specific Amendment to City Code Chapter 25-8, Subchapter A, Article 13, Save Our Springs Initiative Recommended Not applicable
SOS Site-Specific Code Amendment Initiation for Hays Commons MUD 2833 ½ Bliss Spillar Road Leslie Lilly Environmental Conservation Program Manager Watershed Protection C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 HAYS Commons Municipal Utility District (MUD) Not under consideration at this time – This item will return at same time as the proposed SOS amendment • Finances p ublic infrastructure imp rovements as defined by State Law and Texas Water Code with the consent of the City. The consent a greement p rovid es cer ta inty regarding the regulator y requirements ap plica ble to the District and provides the City with assura nce of a superior quality of development. • C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 SOS Site-Specific Amendment Initiation • 1992 Save Our Sp ring s ordina nce ad op ted by citizen initiative • Per 25 -8-515, variances to SOS are not allowed , prohibiting modification by MUD consent agreement • Only applies to the Ha ys Commons MUD project • Supermajority of Council must ap prove amendments to SOS • Council Resolution 20221011-076 on October 13, 2022: • “ The City Manager is d irected to initiate site specific variances ….. C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 SOS Site-Specific Code Amendment Initiation EVC EVC C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 Hays Commons C 1 2 M - 2 0 2 4 - 0 0 0 3 C I T Y O F A U S T I N W A T E R S H E D P R O T E C T I O N …
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin Ecological Services Field Office Michael Warriner – michael_warriner@fws.gov U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions Southwest Region: AZ, NM, OK, and TX Ecological Services Field Office in Texas • Administer U.S. Endangered Species Act • Petitioned species assessment • Listed species recovery • Conservation planning assistance Austin Ecological Services Field Office Project Leader, Karen Myers karen_myers@fws.gov Branch of Consultations and Habitat Conservation Plans Christina Williams christina_williams@fws.gov Branch of Listing and Recovery Michael Warriner Texas Transportation Branch Dawn Gardiner dawn_gardiner@fws.gov Austin Ecological Services Field Office Resources www.ecos.fws.gov/ecp/ Austin Ecological Services Field Office Resources www.ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/ Austin Ecological Services Field Office Branch of Listing and Recovery Central and Western Texas • 51 Endangered species • 12 Threatened species • 4 Proposed endangered species • 6 Petitioned species for listing consideration Austin Ecological Services Field Office Branch of Listing and Recovery (Species Leads) Austin Ecological Services Field Office Listed Species in Travis County Karst Invertebrates - Endangered • Bee Creek Cave harvestman • Bone Cave harvestman • Coffin Cave mold beetle • Krettschmarr Cave mold beetle • Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion • Tooth cave spider FY25 Deliverables 5-year reviews: updates on status of species Solicitation for new information published in Federal Register • Coffin Cave mold beetle • Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion • Tooth Cave spider Images courtesy of Colin Strickland (City of Austin) Austin Ecological Services Field Office Listed Species in Travis County Salamanders • Austin blind salamander - Endangered • Barton Springs salamander – Endangered • Jollyville Plateau salamander – Threatened FY25 Deliverables 5-year reviews: • Austin blind salamander • Barton Springs salamander Recovery outline/draft recovery plan: Jollyville Plateau salamander • ; FY26 Deliverables 5-year review: • Jollyville Plateau salamander Austin Ecological Services Field Office Listed Species in Travis County Birds • Golden-cheeked warbler – Endangered FY25 Deliverables • 5-year review Image courtesy of Gil Eckrich Austin Ecological Services Field Office Listed Species in Travis County Freshwater Mussels • Texas fatmucket - Endangered FY25 Deliverables • Recovery Outline Austin Ecological Services Field Office Listed Species in Travis County Plants • Bracted twistflower - Endangered FY26 Deliverables • Draft recovery plan Austin Ecological Services Field Office Proposed Species in Travis County Tri-colored bat (multi-state range) • Proposed endangered (9/14/2022) Image courtesy of Tim Krynak (Cleveland Metroparks) Austin Ecological Services Field Office Petitioned Species in Travis County www.fws.gov/project/national-listing-workplan Austin Ecological Services Field Office Petitioned Species in Travis County Not Substantial 90-day …
Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) October 2, 2024 Environmental Commission Sherri Kuhl AW Environmental Resource Officer Kimberlee Harvey BCCP Officer AGENDA BCCP Permit Overview BCCP Covered Species 2 Key Elements of BCCP Permit BCCP Permit Holders: City of Austin and Travis County Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) Partners: City of Austin, Travis County, Lower Colorado River Authority, City of Sunset Valley, The Nature Conservancy, Travis Audubon, Texas Cave Management Association, USFWS, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, and private preserve managers Permit Area: 561,000 acres = City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County excluding the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge boundary within Travis County Original Permit Term: 30 years (May 2, 1996 to May 2, 2026) • Applied for 15-year Permit extension (May 2, 2026 to May 2, 2041) 3 BCCP Take Permits An Endangered Species Act (ESA) Incidental Take Permit is required for any “take” on an endangered or threatened species, incidental to an otherwise lawful activity. Key Elements of BCCP Mitigation Obligations Acquire, protect in perpetuity, manage, and monitor a system of preserve lands called the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) 28,428 acres of Golden-cheeked warbler habitat 2,000 acres of Black-capped vireo habitat Seven preserve planning units called “macrosites” • Min. sizes and max. edge-to-area ratios requirements Acquire and/or manage 35 named caves for listed karst invertebrates + 27 named caves for karst invertebrates of concern Protect and manage populations of Canyon mock-orange and Texabama croton on the BCP 32,428 acres bird habitat & 62 caves 5 Golden-cheeked Warbler Black-capped Vireo *Delisted in 2018 Bee Creek Cave harvestman Bone Cave harvestman Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle Tooth Cave ground beetle Tooth Cave spider BCCP Covered Species • 7 Endangered Species • 1 De-listed Species • 2 Plants of Concern: Canyon mock-orange, Texabama croton Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion • 25 Karst Invertebrates of Concern Golden-cheeked Warbler • Listed as Endangered in 1990 • All are native Texans • Require Ashe Junipers for nesting and for hosting invertebrate prey • Need closed-canopy woodland of both junipers and broadleaved trees Photo by Gil Eckrich Number of Territorial Male Golden-cheeked Warblers ON THE BALCONES CANYONLANDS PRESERVE • Long-term monitoring allows us to determine how the Golden- cheeked Warbler is doing across the BCP. • Management focuses on protecting, maintaining, and creating high quality Ashe juniper- oak woodlands …
2025 Environmental Commission DRAFT Meeting Schedule Permitting and Development Center (PDC) Events Center Room 1405, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, Texas 78752 6:00 pm March 5 (Ash Wednesday) January 15 February 5 February 19 March 19 April 2 April 16 May 7 May 21 June 4 June 18 July 2 August 6 August 20 September 3 September 17 October 1 November 5 November 19 December 3 July 16 (Special called for the Annual Planning Meeting) October 15 (Simchat Torah, Jewish holiday)
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, September 18, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bedford called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Colin Nickells, Mariana Krueger, Haris Qureshi, Melinda Schiera, David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None Commissioners Absent: Jennifer Bristol PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carol Philipson, Cell towers in Balcones Canyonlands Preserve in a REGULAR meeting on APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 4, 2024 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 4, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Qureshi’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Bristol was absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Name: Williamson Creek Interceptor (SP-2022-1368D) Applicant: Kane Wei, P.E., Austin Water Utility (AWU) Location: From 5111 S. 1st Street to 5404 E. William Cannon Drive along Williamson Creek Council District: District 6 Staff: Brad Jackson, Environmental Compliance Specialist Senior, 512-974-2128, Development Services Department, brad.jackson@austintexas.gov Applicant request: Request to vary from a) LDC 25-8-261 to allow development in the CWQZ for a wastewater interceptor and b) LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut up to 9 feet for removal of a building foundation exceeding the 4-foot limitation 1 3. 4. 5. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions Speakers: Brad Jackson, DSD Kane Wei, applicant (AW) A motion to close the public hearing passed on Commissioner Qureshi’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Bristol was absent. A motion to approve the Williamson Creek Interceptor variances with conditions passed on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on an 8–0 vote. Commissioner Bristol was absent. Presentation, discussion, and recommendation on the Great Springs Project – Mikey Goralnik, Trails and Transportation Planner, Great Springs Project; Requested by Environmental Commissioner David Sullivan Speakers: Mikey Goralnik, Great Springs Ana Aguirre, member of the public A motion to recommend the Great Springs Project passed on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 6–1 vote. Commissioner Brimer voted against. Commissioner Cofer abstained. Commissioner Bristol was absent. Chair Bedford called for a recess at 8:35 pm. Chair Bedford reconvened the meeting at 8:41 pm. DISCUSSION ITEMS Briefing on the listing status of native mussels – Matt Johnson, Texas Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Recovery Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service Item conducted as posted. No …
SOS Site-Specific Code Amendment Initiation for Hays Commons MUD 2833 ½ Bliss Spillar Road Leslie Lilly Environmental Conservation Program Manager Watershed Protection C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 HAYS Commons Municipal Utility District (MUD) Not under consideration at this time – This item will return at same time as the proposed SOS amendment • Finances p ublic infrastructure imp rovements as defined by State Law and Texas Water Code with the consent of the City. The consent a greement p rovid es cer ta inty regarding the regulator y requirements ap plica ble to the District and provides the City with assura nce of a superior quality of development. • C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 SOS Site-Specific Amendment Initiation • 1992 Save Our Sp ring s ordina nce ad op ted by citizen initiative • Per 25 -8-515, variances to SOS are not allowed , prohibiting modification by MUD consent agreement • Only applies to the Ha ys Commons MUD project • Supermajority of Council must a pp rove amendments to SOS SOS site -sp ecific amend ment has not been initiated. • C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 SOS Site-Specific Code Amendment Initiation EVC EVC C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 Hays Commons C 1 2 M - 2 0 2 4 - 0 0 0 3 C I T Y O F A U S T I N 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 …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 2, 2024 The Environmental Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bedford called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Mariana Krueger, Melinda Schiera, David Sullivan, Richard Brimer Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Haris Qureshi Commissioners Absent: Jennifer Bristol and Colin Nickells PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 18, 2024 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on September 18, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Cofer’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Krueger was off the dais. Commissioners Bristol and Nickells were absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS Presentation on Hays Commons Municipal Utility District (MUD) and request for a recommendation to initiate a Site-Specific Amendment to City Code Chapter 25-8, Subchapter A, Article 13 of the Save Our Springs Initiative – Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department Speakers: Leslie Lilly, Watershed Protection Robert Deegan, landscape architect for the project Jeff Howard, speaking for the applicant 1 1. 2. Mike Clifford, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA); received time donation from Anne Mason Jim Camp, Local landowner next to Hays Commons Bobby Levinski, Save Our Springs Alliance Tanzia Karim, Save Our Springs Alliance Brian Zabcik, Save Barton Creek Association Carol Pennington, Local landowner next to Hays Commons (virtual) Lee Burton, Save Barton Creek Association Craig Nazor, Sierra Club Roy Wayley, Sierra Club Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer A motion to close the public hearing passed on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bristol and Nickells were absent. A motion to recommend the initiation of a Site-Specific Amendment to City Code Chapter 25-8, Subchapter A, Article 13 of the Save Our Springs Initiative for the Hays Commons Municipal Utility District (MUD) with conditions failed on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Cofer’s second, on a 3–3 vote. Commissioners Cofer, Bedford, and Sullivan voted in favor. Commissioners Krueger, Schiera, and Brimer voted against. Commissioner Qureshi abstained. Commissioners Bristol and Nickells were absent. Chair Bedford called for a recess at 8:08. Chair Bedford reconvened the meeting at 8:16. DISCUSSION ITEMS Presentation and discussion on listed endangered and potentially listed species in Travis County – Michael Warriner, Supervisory Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Fish and …
