REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, September 23rd, 2026, AT 6 PM CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Joint Sustainability Committee may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via 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. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by remotely, contact Amanda Mortl (amanda.mortl@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2651). telephone. To to speak register CURRENT JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Home Commission Member Alternate Electric Utility Commission Kaiba White (Chair) Al Braden Economic Prosperity Commission Aaron Gonzales (Vice- Chair) Zain Pleuthner Resource Management Commission Charlotte Davis GeNell Gary Urban Transportation Commission Varun Prasad Justin Jacobson Environmental Commission Haris Qureshi Zero Waste Advisory Commission Iris Suddaby Community Development Commission Jo Anne Ortiz Richard Brimer Caitlin Griffith Valerie Menard Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Melody McClary Marissa Bell Water & Wastewater Commission Chris Maxwell-Gaines Michael "Mike" Reyes Parks & Recreation Board Luai Abou-Emara Shelby Orme Design Commission Planning Commission Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission City Council Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Jon Salinas Josh Hiller Vacant Vacant Rodrigo Leal Anna Scott Mayor’s Representative Mridula Madipakkam Mayor’s Representative Chris Campbell Mayor’s Representative Diana Wheeler Evgenia Murkes Peter Breton Vacant Vacant N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2. Approve the minutes of the Joint Sustainability Committee Special Called Meeting on June 24th, 2026. Approve the minutes of the Joint Sustainability Committee Special Called Meeting on July 22nd, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Rain to River. Presentation by Erin Wood, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of zoning policies regarding data centers HOME COMMISSION UPDATES 5. Update regarding two new working groups: 1) Local Solar and Storage and process; 2) Long Duration Storage –Charlotte Davis, Resource Management Commission. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access …
Rain to River: Austin Watershed Protection Strategic Plan Joint Sustainability Committee Austin Watershed Protection | September 23, 2026 What is Rain to River? Austin Watershed Protection’s Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks and Communities Guiding Blueprint for Department Communication Resource – Establishes our mission, – Helps explain our vision, and values – Sets strategies and direction for the next 10 years work and priorities to staff, policymakers, and the community 2 Guiding Principles for the Plan • • • • • • Center the needs of vulnerable populations Engage the community through clear and open communication Align our aspirations with community priorities Strengthen partnerships for greater impact Empower our leaders to advocate for our mission Create a dynamic and inclusive framework 3 Plan Highlights • Our mission remains unchanged to reduce the impacts of flooding, erosion, and water pollution • Reflects how we will strengthen and adapt our work to center community and build resilience • Expands our focus to include community voices, lived experience, and shared stewardship as essential components of our infrastructure • Holistic and proactive approach that balances immediate needs with our long-term vision • Equity not as a one-time initiative, but as an ongoing practice rooted in accountability and trust 4 Our Challenges • Climate change is driving more extreme weather, including more intense storms and prolonged drought • Historic inequities have left some neighborhoods more exposed to flooding and degraded waterways • Urbanization and development add pressure to our natural environment and infrastructure • Housing costs are driving displacement of residents and an increase in people experiencing homelessness 5 Community Engagement • Robust and inclusive process that spanned multiple years • We identified stakeholder groups that have been historically underrepresented in our past planning efforts and worked to engage with them more directly • We partnered with local organizations, community ambassadors, and advocacy groups to reach residents in every district • Engagement took many forms—surveys, interviews, focus groups, neighborhood meetings, and community events 6 Community Activation Group The Community Activation Group (CAG) helped shape the content of the plan and ensured that the diverse voices of our community are integral to the Rain to River planning process and Austin Watershed Protection’s work. • Diverse community leaders with expertise in the environment, community health, and disaster preparedness and recovery • Helped shape the plan via: ✓ Synthesis of community feedback ✓ Helping design & broadcast survey …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES July 22, 2026 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at City Hall Council Chambers (301 W 2nd St) in Austin, Texas. Chair Kaiba White called the Meeting to order at 6:29 pm Commissioners in Attendance: Kaiba White, Aaron Gonzalez, Mridula Madipakkam, Haris Qureshi, Jon Salinas Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Charlotte Davis, Iris Suddaby, Diana Wheeler, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott Board Members Absent: Varun Prasad, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Chris Campbell, Chris Crookham, Parks PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Present DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. 2. Presentation by Bobby Levinski, Senior Staff Attorney for Save Our Springs Alliance regarding impacts of data centers. Discussion of policies regarding data centers. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 4. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for fiscal year 2027. Discussion regarding recommendation. Discussed. A motion to approve the recommendation with amendments was made by Chair White, seconded by Commissioner Haris, and approved on a 10-0 vote. Recommendation is adopted Approve a recommendation to Council regarding energy and water rate increases. Discussion regarding recommendation. 1 5. Discussed. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council to was approved on Commissioner Chair White’s motion, Commissioner Scott’s second on a 10-0 vote. Recommendation is adopted Approve a recommendation to Council regarding Dog’s Head Development. Discussion regarding recommendation. Discussed. A motion to approve the recommendation with amendments was read into the record and made by Commissioner Gonzales, seconded by Commissioner Davis, and approved on a 10-0 vote. Recommendation is adopted Chair White adjourned meeting at 7:48 pm without objection. 2
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 2026 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at City Hall Council Chambers (301 W 2nd St) in Austin, Texas. Chair Kaiba White called the Meeting to order at 6:12 pm Commissioners in Attendance: Kaiba White, Anna Scott, Iris Suddaby, Mridula Madipakkam Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aaron Gonzales, Rodrigo Leal, Diane Wheeler, Charlotte Davis, Chris Crookham, Varun Prasad, Josh Hiller Board Members Absent: Chris Campbell, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Haris Qureshi, Jon Salinas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None Present APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Sustainability Committee Regular Meeting on May 13th, 2026. Minutes were approved on Madipakkam’s motion and Scott’s second on a 10-0 vote with Leal off the Dais. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Travis County Environmental Preferred Procurement Program. Presentation by Ryan Kenney and Katie Cane, Travis County Operational Sustainability. HOME COMMISSION UPDATES 3. Update regarding the status of Mopac Expansion – Chris Crookham, Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission. Update struck from agenda DISCUSSION 4. Discussion to develop Joint Sustainability Committee priorities and plan for upcoming year. Proposed ideas: a. Bond $450 million b. Policy changes that don’t cost the City money 1 c. Sustainable purchasing, ncluding LCC d. Refrigerants and other short-lived pollutants e. Electric generation i. Permitting for residential solar installations ii. Green Choice iii. Community solar f. Emergency purchasing- Emergency Management presentation g. Dog’s Head East Austin Development h. AI / Data center recommendations, i. water usage limitation policies i. Water Conservation j. Wildfire risk reduction k. Education and awareness on sustainability for City of Austin l. Transportation i. Electrification of city fleet ii. Encouraging public transit use iii. Active transportation including sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, etc FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Data Centers- City manager office already has a presentation? Audit finance committee, what they’ve learned what gaps they have • Dog’s Head development, no action item- Env Commission had a meeting, Watershed, applicant- July • LCC- Marin County • Rain to River Chair White adjourned meeting at 8:11 pm without objection. 2
