Approved minutes from Oct JSC meeting — original pdf

Approved Minutes

JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Oct 25, 2023 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Austin Energy HQ. Acting Chair Diana Wheeler called the Board Meeting to order at 6:07 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Diana Wheeler, Charlotte Davis, Chris Maxwell- Gaines, Jon Salinas, Rodrigo Leal, Haris Qureshi Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Heather Houser, Melissa Rothrock, Kaiba White, Stephanie Bazan, Yure Suarez, Chris Campbell, Alice Woods Board Members Absent: Haris Qureshi, Larry Franklin, Bertha Delgado City Staff in Attendance: Angela Baucom, Rohan Lilauwala, Jason McCombs, Richard McHale CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION  Diana Prechter encouraged JSC to recommend closure of Zilker Park Polo Field to parking. off Dais)  Chris Flores encouraged JSC to support audit of the use of fertilizer on Zilker Great Lawn because of its effects on water quality in Barton Creek. 9. Approval of minutes from the September 27th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee.  Motion to approve by Qureshi, seconded by Davis. Approved unanimously (12-0, Woods 2. Austin Resource Recovery Zero Waste Comprehensive Plan Update. – Jason McCombs, Austin Resource Recovery, Scott Pasternak, Burns & McDonnell.      Qureshi asks about multifamily composting. McCombs – thinking about this for a while, coming in Oct 2024.  White has several questions around goals, timelines, rollout plans.  Discussions at length around workforce development, community engagement, litter control, textile recycling, fees for diversion, etc. 1. Sustainable Purchasing Best Practices – Johanna Anderson, Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council.  Discussions around potential staffing needs, resources available, engagement with institutions and businesses 3. Updates from the Planning Commission – Alice Woods  PC submitted recommendations in support of changes to city telework policy  Joint meeting with council on 10/26 in favor of homes initiative. 4. Updates from Urban Transportation Commission – Diana Wheeler  Recent topics discussed safe routes to schools, ETOD program, parking requirements 5. Updates from Zero Waste Advisory Commission – Melissa Rothrock  ZWAC made recommendation of support of ARR zero waste plan  Working on multifamily composting initiative 6. Updates from Design Commission – Jon Salinas  Looking at building/site design guidelines 7. Updates from Electric Utility Commission – Kaiba White  AE to present on modeling at Nov meeting. Resource planning WG continued meeting  AE part of EPA Solar for All grant application 10. Resolution in support of proposed Land Development Code amendments.  Discussions around community outreach, unintended consequences, garbage bins  Davis motions to approve, Woods Seconds.  White motions to make an amendment that supports with the caveat that existing impervious cover regulations are maintained. Qureshi seconds. o Amendment fails on a 5-4 vote with 2 abstentions (Yes: White, Rothrock, Wheeler, Maxwell-Gaines, Qureshi; No: Salinas, Davis, Houser, Woods; Abstain: Leal, Suarez)  Leal motions to table until November, Wheeler seconds o Motion passes on an 8-3 vote, with Davis, Salinas, Rothrock voting no. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  Update from Water and Wastewater (Maxwell Gaines, Wheeler seconds)  Update from Urban Transportation Commission (Wheeler, Qureshi seconds)  Update from Planning Commission (Woods, Wheeler seconds)      Update from Electric Utility Commission (White, Wheeler seconds)   Wheeler adjourns meeting at 8:56 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 December 13, 2023 meeting on Commissioner Wheeler’s motion, Commissioner Leal second on a 11-0 vote (with Commissioners Noel and Suarez off dais).