Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Friday, November 20, 2020 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Friday, November 20, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Ryan Nill Pam Thompson Curtis Smith Kevin Ramberg Linda Guerrero Perry Bedford Katie Coyne Mary Ann Neely Wendy Gordon Peggy Maceo Commissioners Absent: Andrew Creel Staff in Attendance: Kaela Champlin Chris Herrington Margaret Stenz Keith Mars Kristy Nguyen Lisa Killander Liz Johnston Mike McDougal Pamela Abee-Taulli Patricia Rossett Radmon Rice Suzanne Piper CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Coyne called the meeting to order at 1:05 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 Dave Piper 1  1. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the October 21, 2020 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2020 Environmental Commission meeting failed on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Smith’s second. A motion to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2020 Environmental Commission meeting were approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Nill abstained. Commissioner Creel was absent. Commissioner Maceo was off the dais. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Make a recommendation regarding the creation, continuation, or termination and status of Lady Bird Lake concessions contained in the 2020 Annual Report of City of Austin/Parks and Recreation Department Managed Concessions on Town Lake— Margaret Stenz, Contract Management Specialist III, Parks and Recreation Department (15 minutes) A motion to recommend continuation of the concession contracts on Lady Bird Lake Park with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Guerrero’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Creel was absent. Commissioner Maceo was off the dais. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Name: Concordia University Campus Residence Hall, SP-2020-0038C Applicant: Brandon Hamman, P.E., LEED AP – Kimley-Horn & Associates Location: 11400 Concordia University Drive, Austin, TX, 78726 (District 6) Staff: Kristy Nguyen, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Bull Creek, Water Supply Suburban, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: 1. Request to vary from Lake Austin Watershed Ordinance No. 840301-F, LDC Chapter 9-10, Section 9-10-409(b) - for cut exceeding four feet 2. Request to vary from Lake Austin Watershed Ordinance No. 840301-F, LDC Chapter 9-10, Section 9-10-409(a) – for fill exceeding four feet Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends these variances with conditions (15 minutes) Commissioner Ramberg recused on item 3a. Brandon Hammann Speakers A motion to recommend these variances with conditions was approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Gordon’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Ramberg recused. Commissioner Creel was absent. Commissioner Maceo was off the dais. 2  b. Name: Albert H. Ullrich Water Treatment Plant, Revision 2, SPC-03-0005C(R2) Applicant: Shari Pape, MWM Design Group Location: 3602 ½ Redbud Trail, Austin, TX, 78746 (District 8) Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Review Specialist Senior, Development Services Department Watershed: Bee Creek, Little Bee Creek, and Lake Austin watersheds are classified Water Supply Rural. Lady Bird Lake watershed is classified Water Supply Suburban, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: 1. LDC 25-8-261 to allow development in the Critical Water Quality Zone, and by extension in the Water Quality Transition Zone of a Water Supply Rural watershed in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone South [LDC 25-8-452] for: a. Phase 2: switchgear enclosure, duct bank and access drive, and b. Phase 3: containment basin, electric building and related duct banks, sludge changeover facility, 6” water line. 2. LDC 25-8-281 to allow construction within a rimrock Critical Environmental Feature 3. LDC 25-8-301 to allow construction of a driveway on a slope with a gradient of more 4. LDC 25-8-302(A)(1) to allow construction of a building on a slope with a gradient of buffer for: a. Phase 2: duct bank and access drive than 15 percent for: a. Phase 2: duct bank and access drive more than 25 percent for a. Phase 2: switchgear enclosure, and b. Phase 3: sludge change-over facility 5. LDC 25-8-341 to allow cut to sixteen (16) feet for: a. Phase 3: containment basin 6. LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill to twelve (12) feet for: a. Phase 2: duct bank and access drive 7. 25-8-423(D)(1)(a) to allow impervious cover to exceed the 20 percent limit for development in the uplands of a Water Supply Suburban watershed Staff Recommendation: Staff recommend these variances with conditions (30 minutes) Speakers William Wehner Bobby Levinski A motion to close the public hearing was approved on commissioner Ramberg’s motion, commissioner Guerreros’s second on a 9-0 vote. A motion to approve the requested variances with conditions was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Creel was absent. Commissioner Maceo was off the dais. 3  4. c. Consider an appeal by Patrick Fulker of the Urban Forester’s denial of an application for an administrative approval, as provided for under City Code Section 6-3-91, to remove public trees located at 13213 Villa Park Drive. (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Coyne’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 9-0 vote. A recommendation to sustain the denial of the request to remove the public tree was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Guerrero’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Creel was absent. Commissioner Neely was of the dais. 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 Neely – Mary Ann Neely c. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne d. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee 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 ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Coyne adjourned the meeting at 3:14 pm. 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). 4