Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 7, September, 2022 The Environmental Commission convened in a regular meeting on 7, September, 2022 at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Commissioners in Attendance: Ana Aguirre, Audrey Barrett Bixler, Jennifer Bristol, Rick Brimer, Colin Nickells, Melinda Schiera, Kevin Ramberg, and Haris Qureshi. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Perry Bedford, Rachel Scott, and Pam Thompson CALL TO ORDER Chair Ramberg called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:01 P.M. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION 1. Approval the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on August 17, 2022, and the Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting on August 31, 2022 (5 minutes) The minutes of the August 17, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting and the August 31, 2022 Environmental Commission Special Called Meeting were approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Thompson’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Nickells abstained. Commissioner Scott was off the dais. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Name: Shoal Cycle, SP-2021-0350C Applicant: CJI Properties Inc. Location: 812 West 11th Street, Austin, Texas, 78701 Council District: District 9 Staff: Naomi Rotramel, City Arborist Ordinance: Heritage Tree Ordinance (LDC 25-8-641) Request: The applicant is seeking the removal of a Heritage tree with a single stem over 30 inches in diameter Staff Recommendation: The request meets City Arborist approval criteria set forth in LDC 25-8-624(A)(2). Thus, the variance is recommended. (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Chair Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 11-0 vote. 1  3. A motion to approve the requested variance with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 10-1 vote. Commission Thompson voted nay. Name: BKO Parmer, SP-2021-0034D Applicant: Steve Jamison Location: 4801 East Yager, Austin, Texas 78754 Council District: None (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Staff: Tunde Daramola, Development Services Department Watershed: Harris Branch Watershed, Suburban, Desired Development Zone Request: Request to vary from LDC 25-8-342 to allow fill over 4 feet up to 12 feet Staff Recommendation: Recommended with conditions (30 minutes) A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Qureshi’s second on an 11-0 vote. A motion to approve the proposed variance with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second on an 11-0 vote. Chair Ramberg recessed the meeting at 7:48 P.M. Chair Ramberg called the meeting back to order at 8:00 P.M. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Consider an ordinance regarding amendments to Title 25 related to environmental protection, landscape requirements, and site plan requirements. City Staff: Liz Johnston, Deputy Environmental Officer, Watershed Protection Department (1 hour) A motion to extend the public hearing until 10:15 P.M. was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 10-1 vote. Commissioner Scott voted nay. A motion to extend the public hearing until 10:30 P.M. was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Nickells was absent. A motion to support the ordinance regarding amendments to Title 25 related to environmental protection, landscape requirements, and site plan requirements with conditions was made on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Ramberg’s second. A substitute motion to postpone consideration of the proposed amendments until the next regular Environmental Commission meeting on September 21, 2022 was approved on Chair Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Aguirre’s second on a 8-2 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Aguirre, Bedford, Brimer, Bristol, Ramberg, Qureshi, Scott, and Thompson. Those voting nay were Commissioners Schiera and Barrett Bixler. Commissioner Nickells was absent. 2  6. 7. 8. A motion to extend the public hearing until 10:35 P.M. was approved on Chair Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 10-0 vote. COMMITTEE REPORTS 5. Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Pam Thompson, Rachel Scott, and Colin Nickells Report on the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) Report on the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Jennifer Bristol Report on the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Pam Thompson, Rachel Scott, Perry Bedford, and Haris Qureshi Report on the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – Ana Aguirre 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Brimer requested a staff briefing from Keith Mars on the status of updating the Heritage Tree Ordinance. The request was supported by Chair Ramberg. ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 10:33 P.M. The minutes of the September 7, 2022 Environmental Commission Regular Meeting were approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Aguirre’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Scott and Barrett Bixler were off the dais. 3