Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 16, 2022 The Environmental Commission convened in a public meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 City Hall in Council Chambers at 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Commissioners attending in person: Kevin Ramberg Linda Guerrero Commissioner attending remotely: Perry Bedford Haris Qureshi Rachel Scott Pam Thompson Jennifer Bristol Rick Brimer Audrey Barrett Bixler Commissioners absent: None Staff in Attendance: Pamela Abee-Taulli Kaela Champlin Katie Coyne Cole Huggins Liz Johnston Sherri Kuhl Leslie Lilly Mike McDougal Jorge Morales Shwetha Pandurangi Wendy Rhoades CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Ramberg called the meeting to order at 6:09 P.M. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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  1. 2. 3. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION a. Approval of the February 2, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes (5 minutes) The minutes of the February 2, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting were approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s motion on a 9-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. 87th State Legislature Update—Brie Franco, City of Austin Intergovernmental Relations Officer (30 minutes) Item 2a was postponed until a future Environmental Commission meeting. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Recognize Linda Guerrero for six years of service on the Environmental Commission (10 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. PUBLIC HEARINGS a. Name: Violet Crown Water and Wastewater Service Extension Requests #5111 & #5112 Applicant: Jim Wittliff, Land Answers, Inc. Location: 10649 SH 71 Austin, Texas 78736 Council District: Austin 2-Mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Staff: Kaela Champlin, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department Watershed: Barton Creek Watershed, Barton Springs Zone, Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone, Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Water and Wastewater Service Extension Staff Recommendation: Staff does not recommend approval of the water and wastewater service extension requests (30 minutes) Speakers Jim Witliff, applicant’s engineer Steve Ihnen, applicant’s engineer Craig Bryan, applicant Mike Clifford, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Nicole Netherton, Travis Audubon Dan Snodgrass, The Nature Conservancy Bill Bunch Roy Waley Bobby Levinski Patti Clark, Austin Zoo Scott Duncan A recommendation to deny Water and Wastewater Service Extension Requests #5111 and #5112 was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Thompson’s second on a 9-0 vote. 2  b. Name: 7715 1/2 West State Highway 71, C14-85-288.23(RCA) Applicant: Amanda Swor, Drenner Group Location: 7712 Oak Forest Lane, Austin TX 78736 Council District: District 8 Staff: Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department and Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Coordinator Watershed: Williamson Creek, Barton Springs Zone (Contributing Zone), Drinking Water Protection Zone Request: Conduct a public hearing and approve a restrictive covenant amendment Staff Recommendation: To grant an amendment to the restrictive covenant (30 minutes) A motion to postpone agenda item 4b was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 9-0 vote. c. Name: Iglesia Pentecostal Emanuel, Inc., SP-2020-0324C Applicant: Bill Graham, IT Gonzalez Engineers Location: 6300 Moonglow Dr., Austin, TX 78724 Council District: District 1 Staff: Pamela Abee-Taulli, Environmental Program Coordinator, Development Services Department Watershed: Walnut Creek Watershed, Suburban Classification, Desired Development Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-261 to allow development of a portion of a driveway in the Critical Water Quality Zone. Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions (30 minutes) Zone A recommendation to approve the requested variance with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on a 6-3 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Bedford, Qureshi, Bristol, Ramberg, Guerrero, and Brimer. Those voting nay were Commissioners Scott, Thompson, and Barrett Bixler. 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Urban Forestry Committee –Pam Thompson, Richard Brimer, Linda Guerrero, and Rachel Scott b. Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Audrey Barrett Bixler 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, Pam Thompson, and Rachel Scott e. Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Linda Guerrero Commissioner Guerrero gave an update on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. 3  6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Discuss possible special-called meeting for briefings on the Watershed Protection Department and Development Services Department Budgets (5 minutes) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. ADJOURNMENT Vice-Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 8:20 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). 4