JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HYBRID MEETING FORMAT February 23rd at 6pm Austin Energy Headquarters 4815 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723 Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please email Zach Baumer. (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Audrey Barrett (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Diana Wheeler (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) Karen Magid (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Christy Williams (Water & Wastewater Commission) Alexis Taylor (Economic Prosperity Commission) Richard DePalma - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Solveij Praxis (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc AGENDA CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) December 6, 2021, meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Vice Chair Election – (Discussion and/or possible action) b) Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation update – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability – (Discussion and/or possible action) c) Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation working group update – (Discussion and/or d) Fayette coal power plant retirement update – (Discussion and/or possible action) e) Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments – (Discussion and/or possible possible action) action) f) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Ongoing updates on Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation • Ongoing updates on community and climate resilience ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Zach Baumer at the Office of Sustainability at 415-694-3111, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Joint Sustainability …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING December 6, 2021 MEETING MINUTES The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a special called meeting on December 6, 2021 at the Austin Energy Headquarters on 4815 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:04 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, David Carroll, Diana Wheeler, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Christy Williams, Richard DePalma, Karen Magid, Audrey Barrett Board Members Absent: Alexis Taylor, Fisayo Fadelu, Alberta Phillips, Melissa Rothrock, Karen Hadden City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) July 28, 2021 and August 25, 2021 meetings of the Joint Sustainability Committee a. Motion to approve both minutes (Commissioner Praxis), second (Commissioner Wheeler). Record of the vote: 7 approved, 0 opposed, 1 abstained. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Approve 2022 Schedule – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Motion to approve (Commissioner DePalma), second (Commissioner Barrett). Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. a. Commissioners approved meeting on November 16th and December 14th on the alternate months. b) JSC Bylaws Revision – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Need to finalize changes Bylaws with the primary change being an additional 5 members who will be nominated by the mayor • Discussed quorum issues and some reformatting • Will request Audit and Finance Committee take at look at Article 3 to evaluate: • Whether quorum can be based on majority of members appointed • Rethinking appointing members in March, could lead to shorter terms • Motion to approve (Commissioner Wheeler), second (Commissioner DePalma). Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. • Recommendation: • The JSC recommend that Audit and Finance Committee ensure that: • Article 3, Section C aligns with council terms and appointments • Article 7 – Section F – consider whether or not a quorum can be defined by 50% + 1 of the appointment membership • Motion to approve (Commissioner White), second (Commissioner DePalma). Record of the vote: 7 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Commissioner Magid left the dais. c) Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Planning – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Community oversight of climate plan implementation should involve Equity Office and new Equity & …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20220223-2E on Electric Readiness and EV-Ready WHEREAS, the Austin City Council approved the Austin Climate Equity Plan on September 30, 2021, which commits the city to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 75% by 2030; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan calls for code amendments, incentives and education to enable electrification of buildings; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan calls for codes that address future EV charging needs; and WHEREAS, the majority of the public comments submitted during the 2021 Austin Energy Conservation Code adoption process were supporting adoption of Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy committed to initiating a public process to consider adoption of Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments, as well as other solutions to encourage electrification, before the end of 2021; and WHEREAS, it is more affordable to do electric wiring and install and an appropriately sized electric panel at the time of construction than to retrofit buildings later; and WHEREAS, Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code provisions have already been drafted by the International Code Council and came very close to being included in the Energy Conservation Code, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: The Joint Sustainability Commission supports adoption of Electric Readiness and EV-Ready amendments to the Austin Energy Conservation Code and recommends that the Austin City Council direct that the City Manager initiate a formal process to make these code updates immediately. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission supports staff plans to conduct stakeholder meetings on electrification and recommends that the Austin City Council request regular updates on this work to ensure that it is completed on a timeline that will allow for implementation of the Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments by September 1, 2022. Date of Approval: _____February 23, 2022____________ Motion to approve (Commissioner DePalma), second (Commissioner Phillips). Record of the vote: 9 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Attest: Zach Baumer, Staff Liaison
Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Update Joint Sustainability Committee February 23, 2022 1 Overview ● Memo Update ● Story Map ● Climate Ambassadors Update ● Implementation Tracking Website ● Strategy Status Categorization ● FY22-23 Budget Communications ● Implementation Discussion ● Working Group Discussion ● Next Steps 2 Feb 9 Memo Update to Council ● Leadership responsibilities over the implementation of the Climate Equity Plan members ● Updating the bylaws of the Joint Sustainability Committee to add new ● A publicly accessible dashboard to track plan implementation ● The Community Climate Ambassadors Program ● Community engagement efforts ● Plan recommendations that can be completed without a mid-year budget amendment Airport ● Exploration of opportunities for further electrifying operations at the Austin ● Status update on key items that have been initiated since the plan's adoption https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/pio/document.cfm?id=376186 3 Austin Climate Equity Plan – Story Map https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a16c5def2fef4a2285be0737e2efdeb0 4 Climate Ambassadors Update ● Hired a Climate Equity Engagement Associate in late January ● Currently having interdepartmental and community conversations with climate plan participants and former ambassadors to identify lessons learned ● Reviewing opportunity areas within climate plan's community engagement strategies implementation ● Developing new framework for how this model can be adapted for 5 Implementation Tracking Website Using the Socrata Dashboard Platform: 1. Quantitative Data on all Quantitative 2030 Goals 2. Reporting on all 74 strategies: status, project phase, responsibility, tasks, budget, and impact Planning on Discussing the Audience, Purpose, and Details with the Working Group tomorrow Strategy Status Categorization Organizing the 74 Strategies into the following categories: 74 Strategies Key Takeaways from our Discussions ● 37% of the plan strategies are already being implemented in some way, and by next year over 75% of it could be underway ● Many of the mid-year budget needs are focused on: ○ Funding for consultants to assist with assessments ○ Hiring additional full-time staff to manage new initiatives ○ New focus on equity for existing programs or initiatives ○ Mid-Year Needs are being reviewed and filtered by Management right now ○ Determining if funding exists that could be shifted, so no ammendment needed ○ If existing funding can’t be found ○ Budget Office needs to find funding sources ○ Packaged up and put on a Council Agenda as an RCA FY22-23 Budget Communications Resolution 110 For Fiscal Year 2023 budget process and all future budgets, identify investments supporting greenhouse gas reduction efforts to achieve net-zero goals. …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES February 23, 2022 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting on February 23, 2022 via videoconferencing and at the Austin Energy Headquarters on 4815 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:26 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Diana Wheeler, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Christy Williams, Richard DePalma, Audrey Barrett, Fisayo Fadelu, Karen Hadden, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: Alexis Taylor, Melissa Rothrock, David Carroll, Karen Magid City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) December 6, 2021 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner DePalma), second (Commissioner Hadden). Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Phillips was off the dais. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Vice Chair Election – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner Hadden nominates Commissioner Phillips. Commissioner Phillips suggests an alternate nomination may be best suited. Commissioner Fadelu nominates Commissioner Wheeler, who accepts the nomination. Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. b) Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation update – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Memo update was released on February 9th • Key updates include: o Releasing StoryMap overview for the climate plan o Hiring a Climate Equity Engagement Associate who is leading the development of a second cohort of Climate Ambassadors o In process of developing a public dashboard to track implementation o Developing status update for each climate plan strategy o Cross-departmental collaboration on mid-year budget requests • Commissioners discussed questions on tracking metrics, ways to track departmental implementation, and developing a set of questions for all departmental presentations c) Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation working group update – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioners discussed model for working group, availability of staff support, and form for recruitment for community members • JSC pending Bylaws changes approval from Audit and Finance Committee. Will have to wait for March meeting. d) Fayette coal power plant retirement update – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner White discussed Fayette Coal Plant community initiative, and importance of shutting down plant to meet climate goals • Created a public …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES February 23, 2022 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting on February 23, 2022 via videoconferencing and at the Austin Energy Headquarters on 4815 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:26 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Diana Wheeler, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Christy Williams, Richard DePalma, Audrey Barrett, Fisayo Fadelu, Karen Hadden, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: Alexis Taylor, Melissa Rothrock, David Carroll, Karen Magid City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) December 6, 2021 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner DePalma), second (Commissioner Hadden). Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Phillips was off the dais. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Vice Chair Election – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner Hadden nominates Commissioner Phillips. Commissioner Phillips suggests an alternate nomination may be best suited. Commissioner Fadelu nominates Commissioner Wheeler, who accepts the nomination. Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. b) Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation update – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Memo update was released on February 9th • Key updates include: o Releasing StoryMap overview for the climate plan o Hiring a Climate Equity Engagement Associate who is leading the development of a second cohort of Climate Ambassadors o In process of developing a public dashboard to track implementation o Developing status update for each climate plan strategy o Cross-departmental collaboration on mid-year budget requests • Commissioners discussed questions on tracking metrics, ways to track departmental implementation, and developing a set of questions for all departmental presentations c) Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation working group update – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioners discussed model for working group, availability of staff support, and form for recruitment for community members • JSC pending Bylaws changes approval from Audit and Finance Committee. Will have to wait for March meeting. d) Fayette coal power plant retirement update – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner White discussed Fayette Coal Plant community initiative, and importance of shutting down plant to meet climate goals • Created a public …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES February 23, 2022 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting on February 23, 2022 via videoconferencing and at the Austin Energy Headquarters on 4815 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX 78723. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:26 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Diana Wheeler, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Christy Williams, Richard DePalma, Audrey Barrett, Fisayo Fadelu, Karen Hadden, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: Alexis Taylor, Melissa Rothrock, David Carroll, Karen Magid City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phoebe Romero CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) December 6, 2021 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner DePalma), second (Commissioner Hadden). Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Phillips was off the dais. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Vice Chair Election – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner Hadden nominates Commissioner Phillips. Commissioner Phillips suggests an alternate nomination may be best suited. Commissioner Fadelu nominates Commissioner Wheeler, who accepts the nomination. Record of the vote: 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. b) Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation update – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Memo update was released on February 9th • Key updates include: o Releasing StoryMap overview for the climate plan o Hiring a Climate Equity Engagement Associate who is leading the development of a second cohort of Climate Ambassadors o In process of developing a public dashboard to track implementation o Developing status update for each climate plan strategy o Cross-departmental collaboration on mid-year budget requests • Commissioners discussed questions on tracking metrics, ways to track departmental implementation, and developing a set of questions for all departmental presentations c) Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation working group update – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioners discussed model for working group, availability of staff support, and form for recruitment for community members • JSC pending Bylaws changes approval from Audit and Finance Committee. Will have to wait for March meeting. d) Fayette coal power plant retirement update – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Commissioner White discussed Fayette Coal Plant community initiative, and importance of shutting down plant to meet climate goals • Created a public …
