Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

2. 3. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, May 20, 2020 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Andrew Creel Curtis Smith Pam Thompson Ryan Nill Mary Ann Neely Katie Coyne Peggy Maceo Kevin Ramberg Linda Guerrero Wendy Gordon Perry Bedford Commissioners Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Pamela Abee-Taulli Kaela Champlin Jonathan Garner Chris Herrington Hank Marley Atha Phillips Aurora Pizano CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Guerrero called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER 1. EDUCATION a. None APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. None STAFF BRIEFINGS* a. None ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER’S UPDATE ON PAST COMMISSION ACTIONS AND REPORT ON ITEMS OF INTEREST a. None 1  5. 6. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Discussion and recommendation of 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—Aurora Pizano, Financial Manager II, Austin Water (15 minutes) A motion to recommend Austin Water’s 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 was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Neely’s second on a 11-0 vote. b. Update on Austin Community Climate Plan—Zach Baumer, Climate Protection Manager, Celine Rendon, Community Engagement Specialist, and Phoebe Romero, Environmental Program Coordinator, Office of Sustainability (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Name: Additional 300K Ground Water Storage Tank Improvements 360, SP-2019-0417D Applicant: Gray Engineering, Inc. Watershed: Lake Austin Watershed, Water Supply Rural, Drinking Water Protection Zone Location: 5418-1/2 Buckman Mountain Road, Austin, Texas 78746 Staff: Hank Marley, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Request: Variance request is as follows: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut in excess of four feet in depth and not more than 8 feet. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended this variance, having determined the findings of fact to have been met. (15 minutes) A motion to recommend approval of the requested variance with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Neely’s second on a 11-0 vote. b. Name: Persimmons Construction Plans, C8-2019-0080.1B.SH Applicant: Dario Octaviano, City of Austin Public Works (Applicant) Watershed: Onion Creek Watershed, Suburban Classification, Desired Development Zone June Routh, Dunaway Associates (Engineer of Record) Location: 7051 Meadow Lake Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78744 (District 2) Staff: Jonathan Garner, Environmental Program Coordinator, Development Services Department Request: To cut more than four feet in depth within 100 feet of a classified waterway Staff Recommendation: Staff determines that the findings of fact have not been met and recommends that the variance request be denied. (15 minutes) A motion to recommend denial of the requested variance was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Guerrero’s second on a 9-1 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Smith, Thompson, Neely, Coyne, Maceo, Ramberg, Guerrero, Gordon, and Bedford. Commissioner Creel voted nay. Commissioner Nill was off the dais. c. Name: Vi Collina Multifamily, SP-2019-0529C.SH Applicant: Ryan Taylor, Kimley-Horn Location: 2401 E Oltorf St, Austin, Texas 78741 Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Country Club West Watershed, Suburban Classification, Desired Development Zone 2  Request: Variance requests are as follows: 1. Vary from 25-8-302(B)(1) to allow construction of a building on a slope between 15 and 25 percent, where impervious cover on slopes over 15 percent exceeds 10 percent of the total area of the slopes over 15 percent. 2. Vary from 25-8-302(A)(2) to allow construction of a parking area on a slope over 15 percent. 3. Vary from 25-8-341 to allow cut exceeding 4 feet on slopes over 15 percent. 4. Vary from 25-8-342 to allow fill exceeding 4 feet on slopes over 15 percent. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends these variances with conditions, having determined the findings of fact to have been met. (15 minutes) A motion to recommend approval of the requested variance with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Guerrero’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Nill was off the dais. 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Growth Policy and Water Quality Protection Committee – Pam Thompson, Kevin Ramberg, Mary Ann Neely, Curtis Smith, and Perry Bedford b. Urban Forestry Committee – Peggy Maceo, Pam Thompson, Linda Guerrero, and Mary Ann c. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne d. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Mary e. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Mary Ann Neely, Peggy Maceo, Linda Guerrero, and Pam Thompson f. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero g. Other reports from Commissioners 8. NEW BUSINESS – Future agenda items a. None Neely Ann Neely ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Guerrero adjourned the meeting at 2:29 P.M. 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. For additional information, please call Kaela Champlin, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443; 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). 3