1. 20250122 Minutes for Approval — original pdf

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January 21, 2025 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at Austin Energy Headquarters. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Craig Nazor, Marissa Bell, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Anna Scott, Christopher Campbell Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Charlotte Davis, Diana Wheeler, Heather Houser, Haris Qureshi, Rodrigo Leal, Alberta Phillips Board Members Absent: City Staff in Attendance: Rohan Lilauwala, Emily King CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiba White called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. 1. Approval of minutes from the December 18th, 2024 meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee. • Scott motion, Maxwell-Gaines second, passes on a 10-0 vote (Leal, Phillips off dais). DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion of Joint Sustainability Committee membership, expiring terms, and replacement members. • Members to check with clerk’s office to check if they are rolling off or not. • Some members rolling off because of term limits, particularly Mayoral appointments. • Members to check in with alternates (if applicable) 3. Discussion of potential Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendations for the FY26 City Budget. • Natural Systems o Working on 4-5 recommendations. o Recommendations put forth last year that didn’t get adopted but still worthwhile o Items being discussed in the climate equity plan implementation o Converting impervious cover to functional green – audit of city owned land o Land acquisition, in eastern watersheds o Citywide green infrastructure vision, implementation strategy o Green workforce o Wildfire prevention o Tree canopy survey/assessment using LIDAR • Consumption o Looked at previous recommendations from 2024 and 2023. In 2023, 100% adoption. In 2024, near zero adoption. o Looking at reinstating the climate ambassador program o Citywide sustainable purchasing o Low carbon concrete o Food plan implementation o Zero waste and circular restaurant materials o Electric landscape equipment • Transportation still working • Buildings o Outreach/engagement for sustainability incentives o Refrigerants – reducing leaks, switching to different refrigerants o Air sealing task force o Water leak detection and landscape conversions o Sustainable construction procurement coordinator o ACCC support 4. Update from Electric Utility Commission on Solar Programs – Kaiba White • Update on solar standard offer, allows building owners to lease roof space to solar developers. First stakeholder meeting scheduled for expansion of program on Jan 29. • Solar for All moving slower because interlocal agreement with Harris County needed to be completed. 5. Update from Austin Travis County Food Policy Board on draft recommendations for consideration by the Joint Sustainability Committee – Marissa Bell • Food Policy Board working on a land acquisition recommendation for JSC consideration – working lands for food production; use revolving loan fund to help fund this; inventory land that can be used for agricultural use (city owned or land that could be acquired. • Recommendation to be brought to next agenda 6. Update from The Austin Travis County Public Health Commission on an approved recommendation to improve the supportive services provided to Community Health Workers – Natalie Poindexter. • Item skipped  FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT White adjourned meeting at 7:09 pm with no objections.