Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

in a REGULAR meeting on ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, February 7, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramberg called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Peter Einhorn, Colin Nickells, Haris Qureshi, Kevin Ramberg, and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Richard Brimer, Jennifer Bristol, Mariana Krueger Commissioners Absent: Melina Schiera PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Diana Prechter, Stratford/Butler Landfill Cap Roy Wayley, Zilker Park and mass transit APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on January 17, 2024 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on January 17, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Schiera was absent. Commissioner Bristol was off the dais. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Name: Sunset Ridge 290 C14-85-288.166(RCA) Applicant: Armbrust & Brown (Richard Suttle) Location: 8401 Southwest Pkwy, Austin, Texas, 78735 Council District: District 8 Staff: Leslie Lilly, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, (512)535-8914, Leslie.lilly@austintexas.gov Applicant request: Restrictive Covenant Amendment Staff recommendation: Recommended with conditions 1 Speakers: Liz Johnston, Watershed Protection Richard Suttle, speaking for the applicant Stuart Goodman, speaking against the RCA Chandler Harris, speaking against the RCA Bobby Levenski, Save Our Springs, Roy Waley, Sierra Club Nancy Estrada, Zoning Department Leslie Lilly, Watershed Protection A motion to close the public hearing was approved on Commissioner Ramberg’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Schiera was absent. A motion to approve the requested Restrictive Covenant Amendment with conditions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second on an 8-2 vote. Commissioners Brimer and Einhorn voted nay. Commissioner Schiera was absent. Chair Ramberg called for a recess at 7:36. Chair Ramberg reconvened the meeting at 7:47. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Consider a recommendation requesting that the City of Austin work with a qualified research partner to study the environmental impacts of different vehicle parking options to determine if there are certain levels of parking at which one option might be more environmentally friendly than another. Presenter: Hanna Cofer, Environmental Commission Member Speakers: Hanna Cofer Tanya Payne Diana Pretcher Mark May Gail Rothe Mike Cannatti Cedar Stevens Patricia Bobeck Phillip Thomas Roy Waley A motion requesting that the City of Austin work with a qualified research partner to study the environmental impacts of different vehicle parking was approved on Commissioner Cofer’s motion, Commissioner Nickells’s second on a 9-1 vote. Commissioner Krueger voted nay. Commissioner Schiera was absent. 2  4. Consider a recommendation requesting funds to restore the Polo Field at Zilker Park. Presenter: Richard Brimer, Environmental Commission Member Speakers: Richard Brimer David Sullivan Tanya Payne Diana Pretcher Mark May Gail Rothe Mike Cannatti Patricia Bock A motion requesting funds to restore the Polo Field at Zilker Park on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second was approved on a 7-1 vote. Commissioner Bedford voted nay. Commission Bristol abstained. Commissioner Schiera was absent. Commissioner Brimer was off the dais. A motion to extend the meeting to 10:10 from Commissioner Bristol, seconded by Commissioner Bedford was approved on a 9-0 vote. Einhorn abstained. Commissioner Schiera was absent. Commissioner Brimer was off the dais. 5. Consider a recommendation concerning updates to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Climate Equity Plan, and Austin Equity Plan related to City Council’s resolution 20231109-029 regarding telework policies and resolution 20231102-002 regarding disposal rate goals. Presenter: Haris Qureshi, Environmental Commission Member Speakers: A motion to recommend updates to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Climate Equity Plan, and Austin Equity Plan regarding telework policies on Commissioner Qureshi’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second on a 9-1 vote. Commissioner Nickells voted nay. Commissioner Schiera was absent. Commissioner Brimer was off the dais. COMMITTEE UPDATES 6. Update from the Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, and Melinda Schiera 7. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer 8. Update from the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – (alternate member) Jennifer Bristol 3  9. Update from the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Haris Qureshi, and Kevin Ramberg 10. Update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – David Sullivan FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 9:58 P.M. The minutes were approved at the February 21, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Einhorn’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Schiera and Brimer abstained. 4