Approved minutes from 9/27 JSC meeting — original pdf

Approved Minutes

JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Sep 27, 2023 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at AE Headquarters. Acting Chair Diana Wheeler called the Board Meeting to order at 6:05 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Diana Wheeler, Alice Woods, Jon Salinas, Yure Suarez, Rodrigo Leal, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Chris Campbell Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Lane Becker, Heather Houser, Melissa Rothrock, Kaiba White, Charlotte Davis Board Members Absent: Kelsey Hitchingham, Haris Qureshi, Larry Franklin, Bertha Delgado City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER 9. Approval of minutes from the July 26th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee.  Motion by White, seconded by Suarez. Approved unanimously (10-0, Maxwell-Gaines and Campbell off dais) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION  Scott Johnson (air quality advocate) spoke on the importance of sustainable purchasing to encourage improved air quality  Monica Guzman (Go Austin/Vamos Austin) spoke on the need for neighborhood circulators/shuttles in the Rundberg area of North Austin. 1. City of Austin Carbon Footprints, Phillip Duran, Office of Sustainability  White: Great news that we got more funding for this department that needs even more  Discussions of pros and cons of using 100-year Global Warming Potential measures vs funding for the large job it does. 20-year GWP      Discussion on how to communicate consumption-based emissions 2. Climate Pollution Reduction Grants – Rohan Lilauwala, Office of Sustainability  Unclear about whether GHG reductions include Scope 1-3 emissions 4. Updates from the Planning Commission – Alice Woods  PC joint meeting with Council on Oct 26 to discuss changes to Land Development Code, voted by PC on Nov 14, Council on Dec 14. Impacts have positive sustainability impacts. Encourages JSC to pass resolution in support of the item.  Wants to explore sustainability guide – can help provide objective source of environmental information. 5. Updates from Urban Transportation Commission – Diana Wheeler  Encourages defending Project Connect, uses examples of other cities.  Congress Ave urban design plan update 6. Updates from Water/Wastewater Commission – Chris Maxwell-Gaines  Austin Water external review to improve organization effectiveness and resilience  Water supply – Austin at stage 2 water restrictions since Aug 15 7. Updates from Resource Management Commission – Charlotte Davis  RMC considering resolution around AE Green Choice – repurpose program towards dispatchable renewable energy and storage 8. Updates from Electric Utility Commission – Kaiba White  Update to AE resource generation plan underway 10. Discussion and Possible Recommendation to Council on Priority policy and program recommendations from JSC working groups on Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation.  Discussion on recommendations from all 3 workgroups  Committee is making minor wording (not substantive) changes  Motion to approve recommendations from all working groups (pending minor edits) by Leal, seconded by Campbell, passes 11-0 (Davis off dais).  Rohan to submit request for same time (4th Wednesday of every month) at Austin Energy 3. 2024 Meeting Schedule HQ. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  Woods to provide a Planning Commission update and a resolution in support of the Land Development Code amendments – will draft and circulate the week prior to meeting (seconded by Wheeler).  Wheeler to provide Urban Transportation Commission update (seconded by Leal)      Salinas to provide Design Commission update (seconded by Leal)  Rothrock to provide Zero Waste Advisory Committee update (seconded by Wheeler)  White to give Electric Utility Commission update (seconded by Wheeler) Wheeler adjourns meeting at 8:24 pm with no objections. 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). The minutes were approved at the October 25, 2023 meeting on Commissioner Qureshi’s motion, Commissioner Davis second on a 12-0 vote (with Commissioner Woods off dais).