1. Draft 20240228 Minutes for approval — original pdf

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JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Feb 28, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Permitting and Development Center. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:09 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi, Charlotte Davis, Larry Franklin Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Diana Wheeler, Stephanie Bazan, Melissa Rothrock, Amy Noel, Heather Houser, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: Yure Suarez, Bertha Delgado City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION • Charlie Mossburger – St. Edwards Civic lab. o Spoke about ‘Get Fertilizer Wiser’ program to replace plants that have low fertilizer requirements • Chioma Okoro – street nurse o Spoke about mental health initiatives 1. Approval of minutes from the Jan 24th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. • Qureshi motions to approve, Davis seconds, passes on 13-0 vote (Franklin, Phillips off dais)  2. Discussion on the benefits of adopting and implementing the Great Streets Initiative –Kevin Howard • Presentation on Great Streets Initiative • Commissioners discussed details and logistics of supporting a measure at length. 15. Approve a recommendation supporting adoption and implementation of the Great Streets Initiative. • Proposed amendments to clarify goals, add safety for bicycles and peds. • Salinas motions to support goals of Great Streets Initiative. Salinas motions, Davis seconds, passes 14-0 (Phillips off dais). 3. Discussion of next steps on the Environmental Investment Plan Resolution (Item 25 from 2/15 Council Meeting). • JSC will need to hold public hearing in May/Apr • Mar – broad, public input • Apr – narrow, possible staff draft list • May 1 – JSC presentation due; May 30 – staff response due • This is parallel with budget recommendations • JSC has commissioners over many of the plans. Homework for March meeting – each working group to look at each of the plans related to their group. • White to write a short message to share with home commissions 16. Creation of working group to advise on public input and recommendations that are responsive to the Environmental Investment Plan (Item 25 passed by the Austin City Council on 2/15). • Office of Sustainability staff support for working group • White, Leal, Scott, Qureshi, Davis, Salinas, Campbell, Franklin volunteer to be on • White motions to create a working group, Davis to second, passes 13-0 (Phillips off dais). working group. 4. JSC Strategic Plan – revisit • Hard to define high impact strategies • Working groups established, and budget recommendations made • Need a mechanism for specific accountability • Working groups should set up meetings with council to discuss specific recommendations • Now-Apr, focus on Environmental Investment Plan • May-Sep, follow up on recommendations 12. Approve amendments to the Joint Sustainability Committee bylaws increasing the membership to include a representative from the Public Health Commission. • Davis motions to amend bylaws, Qureshi seconds, passes 13-0 (Phillips off Dais) 13. Approve recommendations to encourage low-carbon foods in the Austin-Travis County Food Plan • White motions to approve, Qureshi to second, passes 13-0 (Davis recuses, Phillips off Dais)  5. Joint Sustainability Committee budget recommendations • Discussions at length on proposed budget recommendations • Considerations – combining certain recommendations, limiting FTEs, looking for things with maximum impact 14-0 (Phillips off dais). • Davis motions to approve low carbon concrete recommendations, Qureshi seconds, passes • White motions to adopt pro-climate, pro-health food recommendations, Rothrock seconds, passes 13-0 (Davis recuses, Phillips off dais). • Campbell motions to adopt Transportation electrification recommendation + Transportation and land use recommendations (as amended), minus recommendation #3. Scott seconds. Passes 13-0 (Bazan, Phillips off dais) • Qureshi motions to adopt Consumption/Natural Systems budget recommendations, Scott seconds. Passes 13-0 (Bazan, Phillips off dais). • Qureshi motions to adopt Sustainable buildings, purchasing and overarching strategies recommendations, Scott seconds. Passes 14-0 (Bazan off dais) 17. Approve a recommendation to initiate a study on sustainable / green parking practices. • AW update on winter preparedness plan • Water availability after recent rains • Qureshi motions to support resolution as amended, White seconds, passes 12-0 (Davis no, Bazan and Houser off Dais) ___ 10:00 pm, White motions to extend meeting, Qureshi seconds, passes 12-1 (Davis no, Bazan and Houser off dais). FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • TBD Wheeler adjourns meeting at 10:03 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).