20240327 Approved JSC Meeting Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES Mar 27, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and City Hall. Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:20 pm. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Richard Brimer, Charlotte Davis, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Craig Nazor, Jon Salinas Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Amy Noel, Alice Woods, Chris Campbell Board Members Absent: Heather Houser, Bertha Delgado, Stephanie Bazan, Yure Suarez, Melissa Rothrock City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Zach Baumer, Leti Alvarez, Sergio Torres-Peralta, Erik Nelson, Belinda Weaver CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiba White called the meeting to order at 6:20 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 1. Approval of minutes from the Feb 28th meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee.  Brimer motions to approve, Maxwell-Gaines seconds, passes on 10-0 vote (Scott, Salinas off dais) 3. Navigating Funding Opportunities – Erik Nelson and Belinda Weaver, Financial Services Department  Presentation on how the city budget works, and sources of revenue and how they function.  White: are any revenue sources constrained? Nelson: general fund tight due to lege constraints, ways to override. Other sources have legal limitations on what they can be used for.   2. Presentation on the goals and strategies in the draft Austin-Travis County Food Policy Plan – Sergio Torres-Peralta, Office of Sustainability  Presentation on high level food planning process, structure, goals, objectives  Campbell: what are some hurdles to implement the plan? Torres: need to find a balance between community desires and what is feasible and can go in the plan. 4. Presentation on the Staff Response to Resolution 20240215-025, the “Environmental Investment Plan” – Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability  JSC will need 5. Public Hearing on Resolution 20240215-025, the “Environmental Investment Plan”  Ted Eubanks – need to balance green with density (acres purchased and restored, wetland preserved, etc.). Inventory public lands, convert to green space, no net loss for green space, etc.  Bobby Levinski, representing SOS Alliance – support Rewilding goals + programs to improve water quality. Protect land, water-smart infrastructure, smart mowing, study and mitigate damage from Fayette coal plant  Spencer Schumacher – in support of ATX Walk Bike Roll, actionable items that can meet goals of ACEP and ASMP. $211 million delta between goals and funded items in mobility bonds.  Tanya Payne – Rewilding ATX sent 10 recommendations. 40% of funding should go to natural systems section of ACEP.  Adam Greenfield, representing Safe Streets ATX - transportation is biggest source of emissions, needs to be front and center. Nowhere near goal of 50% non-drive-alone trips by 2030. Look to international examples, quick build walking and biking network. Emphasizes importance of opportunity.  Shane Johnson – speaking to support centering equity; need to also consider equity gaps and leverage equity practices. Consult equity office, use ACEP equity tool  Palmer Fox – proposes to work with 5 breweries to divert organic waste  Trevor Sorrells – AI startup to address homelessness, encampments affecting water quality  Carlos Pinon, representing PODER – supportive of investments that include solar in Montopolis to benefit communities in need. Support more deeply affordable housing (30- 50% AMI).  Mark May – in support of investments in trees and green space. In favor of increasing taxes. City needs to make process improvements: new employees to enforce tree protection ordinance; educate city staff on land management; climate impact assessment in major projects  Scott Johnson – in support of low-carbon concrete.  Brandi Clark Burton – in support of: refrigerant recovery projects; community solar (including on city owned properties that can be used for resilience hubs); improved green choice; food recovery and cold storage; neighborhood green crew leaders to help people take advantage of city green programs; Creekside neighbor program; single use food service ware reduction (BYO container); green procurement and improved supply chain; AI-assisted scenario planning    Ted Siff, Austin Outside – close Fayette; buy more land, protect land we own; fund alternative transportation facilities (bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, scooter parking, etc.); electrify fleets; increase utility rebates that promote goals; protect and plant trees; fund battery storage. GO Bonds not the best choice, utility revenue bonds should be initiated.  James F – make solar panels and installation deductible from property taxes  David Levesque – solar manufacturer in Round Rock. San Antonio just proposed putting  Pierre Nguyen – Travis County firefighter (as a private citizen). Consider implications of solar on all city buildings. all decisions on environment. 6. Approve FY25 budget recommendations to support the implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan as it relates to the objectives of the Joint Sustainability Committee.  Food Plan Implementation: Campbell motions to approve, Noel seconds, passes 11-0, Scott off dais).  Discussions of the mechanisms of Austin Energy’s solar programs  Campbell proposes amendment to #2, ‘as soon as possible, by 2030’.  Brimer proposes amendments to #3 for funding ($175,000) to support water quality monitoring and remediation.  White motions to approve as amended, Wheeler seconds, passes 12-0 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  TBD Wheeler adjourns meeting at 8:14 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). Approved at the April 24, 2024 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee on a 11-0 vote (Davis motions to approve, Maxwell-Gaines seconds, Suárez off dais)