May 22 JSC meeting minutes - approved — original pdf

Approved Minutes

JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES May 22, 2024 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and City Hall. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Charlotte Davis, Alice Woods, Christopher Campbell, Haris Qureshi Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Melissa Rothrock, Diana Wheeler, Kaiba White, Yure Suarez, Rodrigo Leal, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Amy Noel Board Members Absent: Larry Franklin, Heather Houser, Stephanie Bazan City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala and Zach Baumer CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Charlotte Davis called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 1. Kayla Reese – speaking in support of parks being added to Environmental Investment 2. Mike Cannatti – speaking in support of parks being added to Environmental Investment Plan recommendations. Plan recommendations. 3. Scott Johnson – speaking in support of battery electric technology. 1. Approval of minutes from the April 30th special called meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. • Maxwell-Gaines motions to approve, Campbell seconds, passes 12-0 with Woods abstaining. 3. Staff update to the response to the council resolution 20240215-025 ‘Environmental Investment Plan’ – Zach Baumer and Rohan Lilauwala, Office of Sustainability • Qureshi asks how to disseminate info to the public? o Share memo. • What could be funding mechanism for climate fee?  o Need council support to even have direction, then come up with options • White: Questioning Decker infrastructure as setting stage for new thermal generation • Leal: Question around why “other” category o A gap now, but TPW will seek funding in the future. • Campbell: Is there going to be discussion around priorities? o Next steps from council • Noel: What did we learn? o Hard to compare projects that meet different goals. i.e. water vs carbon o Most funding comes down in silos. In this case – we did things a different way. E.g. land acquisition, city facilities; would require departmental collaborations + thinking beyond budget cycles. • White: Where is ARR fleet electrification. Should take advantage of if funding is available. o Charging network needed first, not enough time to assess fleet cost. • Davis: Estimates – did they line up with JSC? o Not really. Very rough estimates. More work needed to be refined. 2. Recommendation in support of staff response to council resolution 20240215-025 ‘Environmental Investment Plan’. • No action was taken. 4. Update from the Electric Utility Commission on the Austin Energy Resource Planning Process – Kaiba White • AE has hired a facilitator and invited stakeholders to four workshops on the planning process. • First one – relevant information on generation and resource plan • Four-month process o Implies EUC would consider something in Oct. EUC Pushing back, encouraging a quicker process. 5. Update from the Design Commission on the status of updated design guidelines and timelines – Jon Salinas • Format changing a little, 50 guidelines. • In phase 2 (creation), wrapping by Sep. Hoping to finalize by February 2025. Available in Design Commission backup from last meeting. 6. Update from the Water and Wastewater Commission on the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion contracts – Chris Maxwell-Gaines • Last meeting – voted to approve this project. Large, generational investment - $900m • 75 mgd to 100 mgd expansion • Will implement biological nutrient removal and improve effluent quality of discharge. 7. Update from Planning Commission on recent Land Development Code changes including HOME and ETOD – Alice Woods • PC recently considered many of these changes. • Code changes - Home phase 2 – reduces the minimum lot size, changes to compatibility, and equitable transit-oriented development. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  • Staff update on EIP process. • Sustainable Purchasing • Heat preparedness efforts. Qureshi motions to adjourn, Davis adjourns meeting at 7:08 pm without objection. 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 June 26, 2024 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee on a 10-0 vote (Maxwell-Gaines motions to approve, Qureshi second).