Regular Meeting of the Environmental Commission July 2, 2025 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 Justin Fleury Mariana Krueger, Vice Chair Martin Luecke Hanna Cofer, Secretary Ashika Ganguly Annie Fierro Jennifer Bristol, Chair David Sullivan Richard Brimer Isabella Changsut CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on June 4, 2025 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend approval of the Austin Water Capital Improvement Projects located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone for approval to include in the 5-year Capital spending plan as required by Financial Policy #8. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion on the Rain to River Strategic Plan – Sari Albornoz, Planner Senior, Watershed Protection Department 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 (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Elizabeth Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov, Watershed Protection Department, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Environmental Commission, please contact Elizabeth Funk, (512) …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Environmental Commission convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Bristol called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Jennifer Bristol, Hanna Cofer, Richard Brimer, Isabella Changsut, Justin Fleury, Annie Fierro, Martin Luecke, Haris Qureshi, David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None Commissioners Absent: Mariana Krueger, Ashika Ganguly PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Craig Nazor, concerns on the Little Walnut Creek Flood Risk Reduction Project APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 21, 2025 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 21, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Cofer’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Krueger and Ganguly were absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Name: 500 S Congress, C814-2024-0001 Applicant: Armbrust & Brown, L.L.P (Amanda Hendrix) Location: 500 S Congress, Austin, TX 78704 Council District: District 9 Staff: Sean Watson, Environmental Program Coordinator, (512) 963-2167, Sean.Watson@austintexas.gov; Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512) 535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov Applicant request: Planned Unit Development Zoning Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended with conditions Speakers: Sean Watson, WPD 1 Roy Wayley, Sierra Club Bobby Levenski, SOS Michael Iannacone, Related Companies Dawood Rouben, Related Companies Liz Johnston, Interim Environmental Officer, WPD Sherri Sirwatis, Planner, Planning Department Matt Yeager, TGB Partners Leslie Lilly, WPD Jonathon Ogren, Siglo Group Jonathan McKee, Garza engineers A motion to close the public hearing passed on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Cofer’s second, on a 9–0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Cofer, and Fleury were absent. Krueger and Ganguly were absent. A motion to recommend the 500 S Congress with conditions passed on Commissioner Cofer’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on an 8–1 vote. Commissioners Krueger and Ganguly were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 3. Update on response to Council Resolution 20241121-073 on Bird-Friendly Design – Environmental Commission Chair Jennifer Bristol Item conducted as posted. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Qureshi requested a presentation on the post-op of the recent storm. Liz Johnston stated that the Homeland Security office does an after-action report that we can share. Commissioner Sullivan requested commissioners share ideas for Bond projects. Commissioner Changsut requested a presentation on wildfire risk. Staff will send over the presentation recording from May. Chair Bristol asked for a presentation to learn more about recycling concrete. ADJOURNMENT Chair Bristol adjourned the …
Memorandum To: Boards and Commissions From: Shay Ralls Roalson, Director, Austin Water Date: June 25, 2025 Subject: Board and Commission and Citizen Review of new Growth-related Capital Improvement Projects in Drinking Water Protection Zone In accordance with Austin Water’s (AW) Financial Policy No. 8, which is adopted by City Council annually as part of the annual budget adoption process, AW is providing a report of new growth-related capital improvement projects (CIP) located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone (DWPZ). The financial policy, which requires certain Board and Commission review of applicable projects, reads as follows: Capital improvement projects for new water and wastewater treatment plants, capital expansions, and growth-related projects that are located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone (DWPZ) will be identified and submitted, as part of the annual budget process, to the following Boards and Commissions: Water and Wastewater Commission, Resource Management Commission, and the Environmental Board. These Boards and Commissions will review growth-related DWPZ capital projects spending plans, obtain Board and Commission and citizen input, review consistency with Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, review effect on growth within the DWPZ, and make recommendations on project approval for inclusion in Austin Water's five-year capital spending plan. This summer, AW representatives will be distributing a brief report to the Commissions on the CIP projects located in the DWPZ related to the financial policy. Attachments: CIP Subprojects Summary CIP Subprojects Supplemental Information and Map The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Austin Water Infrastructure Management Financial Policy No. 8 Drinking Water Protection Zone Projects Summary FY26-30 CIP Plan Development Each year, as part of the City of Austin Budget approval process, Austin Water submits a plan for the capital improvements program (CIP) spending for the upcoming five-year period. Austin Water’s FY26-30 CIP Plan includes projects located across the Austin metropolitan area, including the Drinking Water Protection Zone (DWPZ). In compliance with Austin Water’s Financial Policy No. 8, the capital improvement projects for new water and wastewater treatment plants, capital expansions, and growth related projects that are located in the DWPZ are presented below for consideration by City of Austin Boards and Commissions. These projects represent improvements required to meet Austin Water standards for operability and customer service. While additional capacity may be added in accordance with current design standards, the intent of …
A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks and Communities N I T S U A F O Y T I C Project Update & Current Engagement Effort Sari Albornoz, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department 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 What is Rain to River? A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin's Creeks and Communities N I T S U A F O Y T I C Guiding Blueprint for department Evaluation framework Communication Tool 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 What are our goals for the update? ❖ Reflect the vision and values of our community ❖ Incorporate equity, climate resilience, and population growth ❖ Be informative and accessible 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 Priority Stakeholders ❖ Under-served groups ❖ Impacted groups ❖ Organizations with relevant expertise And reach the full 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 What’s the Project Status? N I T S U A F O Y T I C ❖ Phase 1 (2022-2023) WHAT does the community want? ❖ Community Activation Group (Fall 2024) ❖ Phase 2 (Summer 2025) HOW should we prioritize solutions? ❖ Phase 3 (Winter 2025-6) Seek feedback on draft plan ❖ Goal: Adoption by City Council Spring 2026 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 Broad Engagement Focused Engagement • RaintoRiverATX.com • • Community Vision Survey (April 2022 – March 2023) • Yard signs at community gathering spaces W Focus groups: 5 with MEASURE, 11 with organizations A T like Austin Youth River Watch E R S H E D • Community Ambassadors conducted 1:1 interviews • $5K mini-grants to …
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20250702-002 Date: July 2, 2025 Subject: Recommend approval of the Austin Water Capital Improvement Projects located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone for approval to include in the 5-year Capital spending plan as required by Financial Policy #8. Motion by: Mariana Krueger Seconded by: Jennifer Bristol WHEREAS, the City of Austin Water Utility presented and updated the Environmental Commission on new and existing growth-related Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone; WHEREAS, the Austin Water Utility provides adequate drinking water and reliable systems for current and future customers; and WHEREAS, The Environmental Commission requests that on the 2026 report it should reflect any water leak detection or abatement to leaks in the drinking water zone. THEREFORE, the Environmental Commission recommends approval of the request for inclusion of the CIP projects in Austin Water Utility’s 5-year capital spending budget. VOTE 6-0 For: Jennifer Bristol, Mariana Krueger, Justin Fleury, Martin Luecke, Haris Qureshi, David Sullivan Against: None Recuse: None Abstain: Richard Brimer Absent: Isabella Changsut, Hanna Cofer, Ashika Ganguly Approved By: Jennifer Bristol, Environmental Commission Chair 1
