20210728 JSC Meeting Minutes_approved — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING July 28, 2021 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a special meeting on July 28, 2021 via videoconferencing. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 5:35 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White Chair, Katie Coyne Vice-Chair, Diana Wheeler, Fisayo Fadelu, Melissa Rothrock, Karen Hadden, Karen Magid, Alberta Phillips, Alexis Taylor Board Members Absent: Solveij Rosa Praxis, David Carroll 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) May 26, 2021 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Move Alberta Phillips to “In Attendance” • Motion to approve (Commissioner Hadden), second (Commissioner Wheeler), 8 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Commissioner Taylor was not yet on the dais. 2. NEW BUSINESS and/or possible action) a) Legislative Session Debrief – Brie Franco, Intergovernmental Relations (Discussion • Provided overview of passed bills, including some with positive effects for pensions, health departments, and music, and some negative effects for climate action, policing, firearms, and unhoused communities. • Current special session is on hold due to lack of quorum, but likely to have another session in August and upcoming sessions on redistricting and COVID-19 federal funds in September or October. b) Austin Climate Equity Plan Update – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or possible action) • Discussed schedule for ACEP approval: • Office of Sustainability is aiming to publish a final draft for council approval in late August • Looking to present at a City Council Work Session prior to the City Council Meeting on September 30th • Commissioners discussed opportunity to support plan implementation, including the potential creation of a Council Committee on Environmental Justice • The JSC recommended the creation of a working group focused on how to support the successful implementation of the Draft Austin Climate Equity Plan. The group will reference a previously passed recommendation: 20200826-2A Supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Record of the vote: Motion to approve by Commissioner White, second by Commissioner Coyne. Motion passes 9 approve, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. c) Discussion on 2020-21 JSC Annual Internal Review – (Discussion and/or possible action) • The 2020-21 JSC Annual Internal Review Draft was approved on a motion by Commissioner Rothrock, second by Commissioner Coyne, with a vote of 8 approved, 0 opposed, 1 abstained. Commissioner Wheeler was off the dais. The motion was approved with the following friendly amendments: • For Section 3: List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year: • Commissioner Rothrock and Commissioner Coyne requested to replace “reduce emissions internally and lead efforts to reduce emissions in the community” with “reduce emissions within City operations and in the community”. • Commissioner Magid requested to replace “to promote climate-friendly diets and reduce food waste” with “to enhance the regional food system, including by promoting climate-friendly diets and reducing food waste”. • Commissioner Rothrock requested to replace “Work to develop and implement policies that promote mode shift to reduce private vehicle use, including improving pedestrian and bike safety with protected bike lanes and implementation of Vision Zero” with “Work to implement Vision Zero policies that promote mode shift to reduce private vehicle use, including improving pedestrian and bike safety with protected bike lanes.” d) Discussion on JSC Schedule Planning and Recommendation Tracking – (Discussion and/or possible action) to climate-related activities • Will utilize a spreadsheet to streamline agenda and action tracking processes related • Commissioners discussed that schedule should incorporate topics related to city business, including city budget, legislative session, etc., and adding additional departments for briefings, including Austin Public Health and the Equity Office. e) Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) • Environmental Commission • Position for replacement of the Chief Environmental Officer is now posted • Economic Prosperity Commission, Zero Waste Commission and Resource Management Commission • Recent meetings were cancelled due to no quorum • Commissioner Phillips • Discussed ongoing concern with encampments and where unhoused communities will go, along with vaccine equity issues in this community; this is an issue that disproportionately affects the African American/Black community in Austin. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • None discussed Motion to adjourn (Commissioner Coyne), Second (Commissioner Taylor). Meeting adjourns at 7:13 pm 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 with the Office of Sustainability at 512-974-2836, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Joint Sustainability Committee, please contact Zach Baumer at (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2836).