Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

in a REGULAR meeting on ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, February 21, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, February 21, 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: Hanna Cofer, Peter Einhorn, Haris Qureshi, Kevin Ramberg, Melina Schiera, and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Perry Bedford, Richard Brimer, Jennifer Bristol, Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells Commissioners Absent: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Adam Shedlosky, The Expedition School APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 7, 2024 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on February 7, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Einhorn’s motion, Commissioner Bedford’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Schiera and Brimer abstained. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation of Development Assessment Report for 500 South Congress, located at 500 South Congress Avenue, CD-2023-0001 (District 9). Applicant: Richard T. Suttle, Armbrust & Brown, PLLC. Staff: Sherri Sirwaitis, Planning Department, and Leslie Lilly, Environmental Program Manager, Watershed Protection Department Speakers: Sherri Sirwaitis, Planning Department Michael Iannacone, Related Companies Dawood Rouben, Related Companies Richard Suttle, Armbrust & Brown 1 Leslie Lilly, Watershed Protection Department Item conducted as posted. No action taken. 3. Presentation on the status of Austin Light Rail. Presenters: Jen Pyne, Executive Vice President Planning, Community & Federal Programs, Lisa Storer, Sustainable Design Program Manager, and Yannis Banks, Public Involvement Manager (Austin Transit Partnership) Speakers: Jennifer Pyne, Austin Transit Partnership Alvin Livingstone, Austin Transit Partnership Lisa Storer, Austin Transit Partnership Jocelyn Vicks, Austin Transit Partnership Zenobia Joseph, public commenter Liane Conte, Project Connect Office Item conducted as posted. No action taken. COMMITTEE UPDATES 4. Update from the Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, and Melinda Schiera 5. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) Jennifer Bristol 6. Update from the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – 7. Update from the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Haris Qureshi, and Kevin Ramberg 8. Update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – David Sullivan FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Qureshi mentioned a draft recommendation from the JSC regarding reducing emissions through concrete that he would like to bring to the Environmental Commission in the future. ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 8:52 P.M. 2  The minutes were approved at the March 6, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Hanna Cofer, Peter Einhorn, and Melina Schiera were absent. 3