REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 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, contact Nicole Corona, 737-291-3084, Nicole.Corona@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Mariana Krueger, Chair Jennifer Bristol, Vice Chair Haris Qureshi, Secretary Richard Brimer Isabella Changsut Annie Fierro AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Justin Fleury Martin Luecke Allison Morrison David Sullivan The first ten 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 May 20, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP). Presentation by Brydan Summers, Land Development Rules Administrator, Austin Development Services. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Presentation by Commissioner Sullivan. Sponsors: Chair Krueger and Commissioner Sullivan. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS City Code requires at least two board members sponsor an item to be included on an agenda. This section of the agenda provides members an opportunity to request items for future agendas. Staff should assume that if there is no objection from other members expressed at the meeting, the members’ silence indicates approval for staff to include on the next agenda. ADJOURNMENT 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. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Nicole Corona at Austin Watershed Protection, at 737-291-3084, Nicole.Corona@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Environmental Commission, please contact Nicole Corona at 737- 291-3084, Nicole.Corona@austintexas.gov.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2026 The Environmental Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Kruger called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Mariana Krueger, Chair Haris Qureshi, Secretary Annie Fierro Justin Fleury Allison Morrison David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Richard Brimer Isabella Changsut PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 6, 2026. The minutes from the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on May 6, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Secretary Qureshi’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Changsut and Fierro were off the dais. Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Luecke were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and action to approve a recommendation regarding potential environmental impacts of the MoPac South Project, as presented to the Environmental Commission on May 6, 2026. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council regarding potential environmental impacts of the MoPac South Project was approved on Secretary Qureshi’s motion, 1 Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Changsut was off the dais. Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Luecke were absent. 3. Discussion and action to approve a recommendation to Council regarding the Barton Springs Road Bridge Project, as presented to the Environmental Commission on May 6, 2026. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council regarding the Barton Springs Road Bridge Project was approved with the following amendments on Secretary Qureshi’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Luecke were absent. The following amendment was made by Commissioner Changsut, seconded by Commissioner Brimer, and approved on an 8-0 vote. Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Luecke were absent. The amendment was to include the following addition to the main motion: • Deputize a public liaison for this project, create an easy-to-use online, public portal with relevant project documents (including the full Environmental Impact report), and hold more frequent, targeted meetings in the community for continued stakeholder engagement. The following amendment was made by Commissioner Brimer, seconded by Commissioner Sullivan, and approved on an 8-0 vote. Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Luecke were absent. The amendment was to include the following addition to the main motion: • Include a full environmental …
Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP) Overview Brydan Summers Land Development Rules Administrator Austin Development Services What are Administrative Rules? The difference between City Code and Administrative Rules City Code Adopted by Council, authorized by the City Charter Encompasses all ordinances, regulations, and the Land Development Code (LDC) Zoning Site Plans/Subdivisions Environmental Protections Administrative Rules Drainage Requirements Transportation Requirements Utilities Adopted by departments to administer, enforce, or comply with the Code 2 The Authority to Adopt Rules In 1992, City Council adopted Chapter 1-2 of City Code authorizing departments to develop rules Ord. 031106-11; Ord. 031211-11 “This chapter applies to a department with administrative duties under the Code, an ordinance, or another law.” “A department may adopt rules to implement, administer, enforce or comply with the Code, and ordinance or another law for which the department is responsible.” 3 List of Administrative Criteria Manuals Building Criteria Manual Drainage Criteria Manual Environmental Criteria Manual Fire Protection Manual Standard Specifications Manual Standards Manual Transportation Criteria Manual Utilities Criteria Manual 4 Rules Adoption Process 1 3 2 Rules Adoption Process Interdepartmental Review Phase 1- Two-week period Phase 2- Technical Advisory Review Panel Phase 3- Notice of Proposed Rule: Must be after the public comment period but no later than 70 days after the Notice of Proposed Rule Phase 4- Notice of Rule Adoption: - Public comments open for 31 days - All comments must receive a written department response Phase 5- Appeal Process: - A person may submit a written appeal to the adoption of the rule - The City Manager may affirm, amend or withdraw the appealed rule. If the City Manager does not act within 60 days, the rule is withdrawn Phase 6- Publication: The rule is posted on Municode The Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP) 7 Administrative Rules and TARP Background Criteria Manuals are essential to implement the LDC, but rules have the potential to complicate the development process Common concerns about rules adopted by COA departments: Creates conflicts and inconsistencies Some rules are unnecessary to implement the LDC Drives up costs of development, including housing There has been limited opportunity for stakeholder engagement on rule development 8 TARP Development In response to concerns regarding criteria manuals, Council: Approved creation …
Bond Election Advisory Task Force Final Recommendation Dave Sullivan BEATF member Environmental Commission, June 3, 2026 BEATF History • City Council Resolution No. 20240718-093 directed the City Manager to prepare and present a comprehensive bond package for a bond election no later than November 2026. • Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) was designated by City Council Resolution 20240829-138 to suggest projects for consideration for a comprehensive general obligation (GO) bond election. • 22 members, each Council member appointing 2 members. • GO bonds pay for capital projects – buildings, roads, land purchase, parks, sidewalks, stormwater controls, etc., not operations and maintenance. BEATF History • BEATF met twice a month (generally) and created 6 work groups to consider potential bond items: • Community Engagement • Stormwater/Watershed Protection • Parkland and Open Space • Affordable Housing • Facilities and Assets (Libraries, Rec Centers, etc.) • Transportations and Electrification • City staff presented a list of $3.9 billion worth of city capital needs. BEATF History • A City Council “sub-quorum” suggested a smaller ~$375M to $400M bond package, and the BEATF obliged. This smaller package included $250M-$260M for Parks & Open Space, $50M-$60M for Facilities & Assets, and $70M-$80M for Transportation. • From our Community Engagement WG research, Housing and Transportation are the top priorities. Across all engagement methods, these categories emerged as the most consistent and widely supported, with additional support for quality-of-life investments such as parks, recreation, and community facilities. • City staff has proposed postponing the GO Bond election from Nov. 2026 to Nov. 2028. In 2028 we would have a larger number of voters, and debt from earlier bond elections paid off. $200M $147M $175M $113.4M $131M Watershed / Stormwater projects Stormwater$MOpen Space Acquisition12Small Scale Stormwater & Drainage Asset Management9Stormwater & Drainage Partnership Opportunities14Stormwater Resilience Program3Tannehill Creek - Bartholomew Park Stormwater Treatment Retrofit1.4Walnut Creek - North Acres Storm Drain4Tannehill Creek - Morris Williams Stormwater Improvements8.5Boggy Creek - Kealing Park Green Infrastructure Program1.3Walnut Creek - McNeil Dr Low Water Crossing Improvements1.5Colorado River - CAPEX Water Quality Control21.65Williamson Creek - Brassiewood Dr. Ph 3 Neighborhood Stormdrain Improvements20Boggy Creek - MLK TOD Stormwater Conveyance Improvements Ph 31.5Waller Creek - Guadalupe St Flood Risk Reduction Project Ph 1-315.575Total113.425 Well, we proposed a little more than $750M • City staff’s recommendation reflected a different set of priorities than those used by the BEATF, and proposed $0 for Affordable Housing, • $251M for Transportation …
