20260304-001 Draft Meeting Minutes February 19, 2026 — original pdf

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SPECIAL-CALLED MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MINUTES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 The Environmental Commission convened in a special-called meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Kreuger called the Environmental Commission meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Mariana Krueger, Vice Chair Richard Brimer Justin Fleury Martin Luecke David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Isabella Changsut Annie Fierro Mar Moretta-Urdiales PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Craig Nazor, bird-friendly building construction, watershed restoration, and tree planting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on February 4, 2026. The minutes from the Environmental Commission regular meeting on February 4, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Brimer’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, and Commissioner Morrison were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation on Austin Youth River Watch’s mission and programming. Presentation by Melinda Chow and Fidel Campuzano Gonzalez, Co-Executive Directors, and Jasalyn Franco, Program Specialist, Austin Youth River Watch. The presentation was made by Melinda Chow and Fidel Campuzano Gonzalez, Co- Executive Directors, and Jasalyn Franco, Program Specialist, Austin Youth River Watch. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation, discussion, and action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council on the creation, continuation, terminations, and status of a concession including issuance for a Request for Proposal for a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to City Council annually. Presentation by Karen Charles, Contract Management Specialist, and Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor, Austin Parks and Recreation. There was a motion to approve the recommendation to Council to approve the 2025 concessions report, acknowledging that the reporting requirements were met, and additionally recommend that future joint reports include the following: • • Information from contractors detailing the environmental stewardship initiatives and accomplishments they achieved, in specific qualitative and quantitative terms, and specifically request detailed metrics regarding erosion control, streambed restoration, grassland maintenance, trash pick-up, water quality, and biodiversity Information regarding environmental equity in terms of access and concession usage Include concessions from parks other than Lady Bird Lake • • Delay the implementation of Phase II of the Parks Operations and Maintenance Agreements with the Trail Conservancy until the financial audit is finalized and made public, and until it can be updated to include requirements for bi-annual environmental impact assessments. The motion was approved on Vice Chair Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 7-1 vote. Commissioner Brimer voted nay. Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, and Commissioner Morrison were absent. images, Presentation and Recommendation related to potential City Council action that would authorize larger signs, including wayfinding kiosks, in the public right-of-way that include lights, and off-premises advertising. Presentation by Anthony electronic Segura, Deputy Director, Austin Economic Development. The motion to extend the meeting to 10:10 p.m. was approved on Vice Chair Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 6-2 vote. Those members voting aye were: Vice Chair Krueger and Commissioners Brimer, Changsut, Fierro, Fleury, and Moretta- Urdiales. Those members voting nay were: Commissioners Luecke and Sullivan. Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, and Commissioner Morrison were absent. There was a motion to approve the recommendation to City Council to uphold the current code regarding billboards and digital signs, and not weaken or change it, and ensure no digital billboards are allowed within the City’s limits. If, against the wishes of the Environmental Commission, the City Council allows for this code change, the commission recommends the following: • The City of Austin explores options to make each kiosk self-sufficient with solar or other alternative energy options • Allow the City to shut down kiosks and billboard operations during storms, heat waves, or other events that require energy to be saved or reduced • Ensure that data on users or passersby is not collected– ever 2 • Reduce light pollution by limiting hours of operation to only be active when public transit is operating • Limit the use of these signs to the downtown corridor and university areas (University of Texas at Austin and St. Edwards) only • Remove camera functionality of the kiosk The motion was approved on Vice Chair Krueger’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, and Commissioner Morrison were absent. 5. Appoint an alternate member to the Joint Sustainability Committee. The nomination of Commissioner Brimer as an alternate member of the Joint Sustainability Committee was approved on Vice Chair Kreuger’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Chair Bristol, Secretary Qureshi, and Commissioner Morrison were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion on the impact of data centers and their energy consumption and water usage. Sponsors: Commissioners Fleury and Sullivan. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Kreuger adjourned the meeting at 10:01 p.m. without objection. 3