Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 6, 2021 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at City Hall in Council Chambers at 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Commissioners attending in person: Perry Bedford Haris Qureshi Rick Brimer Kevin Ramberg Katie Coyne Jennifer Bristol Linda Guerrero Rachel Scott Commissioner attending remotely: Audrey Barrett Bixler Pam Thompson Staff in Attendance: Kaela Champlin Kate Clark Sara Hartley Scott Grantham Liz Johnston Andrei Lubmudrov Atha Phillips Jerry Rusthoven CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Coyne called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers should sign up to speak prior to the meeting being called to order; you will receive a three-minute allotment to discuss topics not posted on the agenda. Speakers Paul Barnes APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the September 15, 2021 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) A motion to approve the minutes of the September 15, 2021 Environmental Commission Meeting was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, 1  2. Commissioner Bristol’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Barret Bixler, Guerrero, and Scott were off the dais. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Introduction with Councilwoman Fuentes and flood resilience priorities (25 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. b. Briefing on the Village of Webberville’s request to release approximately 31 acres of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to be included in Webberville's ETJ— Andrei Lubomudrov, Senior Planner, Housing and Planning Department (30 minutes) Speakers Richard Mathias A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion and Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 10-0 vote. A motion to approve the ETJ release was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 8-1 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Bedford, Qureshi, Thompson, Barret Bixler, Guerrero, Ramberg, and Bristol. Commissioner Brimer voted nay. Commissioner Scott abstained. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS a. Name: 305 South Congress Planned Unit Development (PUD), C814-89-0003.02 Applicant: Richard Suttle, Armbrust & Brown, PLLC Location: 305 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704 Council District: District 9 Environmental Review Staff: Atha Phillips, Environmental Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department Zoning Case Manager: Kate Clark, Senior Planner, Housing and Planning Department Watershed: Colorado River Basin Request: To amend the current PUD Staff Recommendation: Current proposal is not recommended but staff recommend with the conditions attached in backup materials. (1 hour) Commissioner Coyne recused on Item 3a. Speakers Richard Suttle A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commission Ramberg’s second on a 9-0 vote. A motion to not recommend the requested amendment to the existing PUD was made on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second. A substitute motion to add noise abatement to the conditions failed on Commissioner Thompson’s motion, Commissioner Scott’s second on a 5-4 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Scott, Guerrero, Thompson, and Bristol. 2  Those voting nay were Commissioners Qureshi, Ramberg, Brimer, Bedford, and Barrett Bixler. Commissioner Coyne recused. A substitute motion to allow structures to extend into Lady Bird Lake up to 70 feet failed on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Barret Bixler’s second on 7-2 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Barret Bixler and Bristol. Those voting nay were Commissioners Qureshi, Scott, Thompson, Ramberg, Guerrero, Brimer, and Bedford. Commissioner Coyne recused. A motion to not recommend the requested amendment to the existing PUD was made on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Coyne recused. However, the Commission recommends staff continue to work with the applicant to negotiate unresolved superiority items, Environmental Commission concerns, and staff conditions. In future the Environmental Commission may recommend the PUD amendment with the conditions laid out in the motion form. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, and Linda Guerrero b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Katie Coyne 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 Commissioner Guerrero gave an update on South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None ADJOURNMENT Chair Guerrero adjourned the meeting at 9:43 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