Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, August 18, 2021 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications via remote video conferencing. Commissioners in Attendance: Pam Thompson Audrey Barrett Bixler Rick Brimer Kevin Ramberg Katie Coyne Rachel Scott Haris Qureshi Commissioners Absent: Jennifer Bristol Perry Bedford Linda Guerrero Staff in Attendance: Christine Canal Chute Kaela Champlin Andrew Clamann Sara Hartley Liz Johnston Jorge Morales Katie Wettick Julie White CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Coyne called the meeting to order at 6:00 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. None 1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION UPDATES a. Recognize Andrew Creel for 6 years of service on the Environmental Commission (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 1  2. 3. 4. b. New Environmental Commission member welcome and introduction (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the August 4, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the August 4, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Scott were off the dais. Commissioners Bristol, Bedford, and Guerrero were absent. BRIEFINGS a. Update on School Year 2020-2021 WPD Youth Education Report—Susan Wall, Conservation Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department (15 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. b. Updating the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan for Waller, Walnut, Taylor Slough South, and the Spicewood Tributary of Shoal Creek—Julie White, Environmental Program Coordinator and Andrew Clamann, Environmental Scientist Senior, Watershed Protection Department (30 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Joint presentation on the Programing, Operations and Maintenance Agreement between the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and The Trail Foundation (TTF)— Christine Canal Chute, Program Manager II, PARD, Heidi Anderson, CEO, TTF and Al Godfrey, TTF Board Member (30 minutes) Commissioner Coyne recused on Item 4a. Item conducted as posted. No action taken. b. Discuss and consider proposed changes to the Land Development Code for Urban Trails including: 1. Amendment to LDC 25-8-341 and 25-8-342 to cut and fill requirements to allow cut and fill of up to 8 ft for a public trail if the cut or fill is not located on a slope of more than 15% or within 100 feet of a classified waterway and the trail is constructed in accordance with the Environmental Criteria Manual 2. Amendment to LDC 25-8-261 to clarify the language to formalize the current interpretation making clear that a trail within the critical water quality zone is limited to 12 feet plus one foot compacted subgrade shoulders on each side. Staff: Katie Wettick, Urban Trails Program Manager, Public Works Department (20 minutes) A motion to close public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Thompson’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Bedford, and Guerrero were absent. 2  A motion to recommend the proposed changes to the Land Development Code for urban trails was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Scott’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bristol, Bedford, and Guerrero were absent. 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS and Linda Guerrero a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, Audrey Barrett Bixler, b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne Commissioner Coyne gave an update on the Climate Equity Plan. c. Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Kevin Ramberg d. Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board –Linda Guerrero and Pam Thompson e. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Barrett Bixler requested an update on Brodie Oaks PUD. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Coyne adjourned the meeting at 8:35 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. Please call Kaela Champlin at Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 974-3443 for additional information; 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