20260506-001, Draft Meeting Minutes April 15, 2026 — original pdf

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ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026 The Environmental Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room 1405, located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Krueger called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Mariana Krueger, Chair Jennifer Bristol, Vice Chair Haris Qureshi, Secretary Richard Brimer Justin Fleury Martin Luecke Allison Morrison David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Annie Fierro Mar Moretta-Urdiales PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Susana Almanza, Poder, Montopolis-Fairway Mixed Use Zoning Case. Bobby Levinski, Save Our Springs Alliance, Draft MoPac Environmental Assessment, MoPac South Project. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on April 1, 2026. The minutes from the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on April 1, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Sullivan’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Changsut was absent. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Presentation, discussion, and recommendation to amend City Code Title 25 (Land Development) and amend Ordinance No. 20221115-048 to modify development review 1 processes, methods to demonstrate water quality compliance, street design, and utility infrastructure design for the design and construction of certain transit system projects and related transit system infrastructure. Presented by Donna Galati, Capital Program Consultant, Austin Project Connect, donna.galati@austintexas.gov, 512-974-2733. The public hearing was conducted and a motion to close the public hearing was approved on Vice Chair Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Changsut was absent. The recommendation to amend City Code Title 25 (Land Development) and amend Ordinance No. 20221115-048 to modify development review processes, methods to demonstrate water quality compliance, street design, and utility infrastructure design for the design and construction of certain transit system projects and related transit system infrastructure was approved with the following proposed amendments: • Only native (no adaptive) plants, including trees, will be used. • To promote insect and other pollinator survival, rain gardens and other green spaces in the Right of Way will never be mowed, but periodic efforts to remove non-native, invasive species will be made. • To promote the survival of insects and amphibians, fallen leaves from street trees will not be blown, but may be raked around the circumference of the tree and/or left in green space. • Deny administrative waiver for heritage trees, maintaining the current code standards. If the waiver is granted, then every effort will be made to leave heritage trees in their current locations, followed by transplanting them, rather than cutting them down. • Staff, Austin Transit Partnership, Austin Project Connect, and relevant stakeholders will present updates to this Commission regularly as they become apparent. • Clearly define “end of project” in the ordinance. The motion was approved on Secretary Qureshi’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second, with the following amendment on a 9-0-1 vote. Commissioner Brimer abstained. Commissioner Changsut was absent. following amendment was made by Commissioner Brimer, seconded by The Commissioner Sullivan, and approved on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Changsut was absent. The amendment was to include the following proposed amendment to the main motion: • Any reimbursement for exceeding water regulatory requirements be limited to a specifically defined formula, as defined by the City. The motion to recess the Environmental Commission at 8:31 p.m. until 8:37 p.m. was approved on Commissioner Brimer’s motion without objection. Commissioner Changsut was absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding the Final Draft of the Rain to River Strategic Plan. Presented by Jorge Morales, Director, Austin Watershed Protection. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to adopt the Rain to River Strategic plan with the following additions was approved on Secretary Qureshi’s motion, 2 Commissioner Brimer’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Changsut was absent. The additions were to: • Create an online implementation dashboard, similar to that of the Austin Climate Equity Plan, to monitor progress and allow for public accountability and support. • Explore opportunities for collaboration with local indigenous groups in the pursuit of greater ecological restoration and community healing. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the Bird-Friendly Design Working Group regarding the meeting on April 10, 2026. The update was given by Vice Chair Bristol. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion on the MoPac South Project. Sponsors: Vice Chair Bristol and Commissioner Brimer. Presentation by the Montopolis Neighborhood Association. Sponsors: Vice Chair Bristol. ADJOURNMENT Chair Krueger adjourned the meeting at 9:38 p.m. without objection. 3