1. 10222025 JSC Minutes for Approval — original pdf

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JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES October 22, 2025 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting via videoconferencing and at City Hall Council Chambers. Board Members in Attendance in Person: Kaiba White, Anna Scott, Jon Salinas, Charlotte Davis Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Rodrigo Leal, Andy Smith, Christopher Campbell, Chris Crookham, Aaron Gonzales, Peter Breton, Varun Prasad Board Members Absent: Lane Becker, Haris Qureshi, Diana Wheeler, Chris Maxwell-Gaines City Staff in Attendance: Braden Latham-Jones CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiba White called the meeting to order at 6:15pm. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL N/A APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Motion to approve minutes of the Joint Sustainability Committee Regular Meeting on August 27, 2025 Meeting. a. Adopted on a 11-0 vote on Davis motion and Salinas second. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Green Infrastructure in the Right-of-Way. Presentation by Michelle Marx, Transportation Officer, Austin Transportation and Public Works. a. Marx: We are in discussion with many departments and agree that we’ll have to be at the table. The goal is to reconcile the various rules and regulations, and there’s been a willingness to collaborate from all departments. b. Marx: Focus has been on both private development and capital projects. As we update the manual, we’ll need to focus on these details. We’ll need to focus strategically on these and set up capital project review systems to catch that. c. A plan to expand existing requirements? d. Marx: Right now street trees are not rolled into residential streets, which would be an important conversation to have over time. e. Scott: Encouragement to focus on specific neighborhoods that meet an equity lens. f. Rodrigo Leal: DO you have the resources necessary in house to develop a green infrastructure plan, and how long might that take? i. Marx: We have staff capacity to develop analysis and prioritize target list. Don’t have a good inventory of street trees that are out there today and their condition. Need that to better understand where the gaps are. Inventory is a first step. g. Charlotte Davis: Question about the city-wide tree inventory, yes this is part of the conversation. h. Scott: Have y’all considered ways to expedite this process? i. Marx: Yes and we’ll continue reflecting on ways to do so. j. Andy: Encouragement for species selection, and exploring best guidance on which species would match. k. White: Ballpark funding estimate? l. Marx: Back of the napkin math is $10-20M a year. 3. Staff briefing related to response to Council Resolution 20241121-073 regarding Bird- Friendly design. Presentation by Leslie Lily, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection. a. Questions about opacity in the glass b. John: Fritted glass is often not feasible in all cases, what options are there for those buildings? c. Lily: There are plenty of aftermarket products DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Discussion of 2026 Bond Process. a. White: Providing update from the Bond Election Advisory Task Force on current status of bond process. b. Cambell: Seek input on climate c. Smith: bond proposals is part of the conversation at the Food Policy Board. Would be interested in bringing a recommendation to the Joint Sustainability Committee related to this. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the 2026 annual meeting schedule for the Joint Sustainability Committee. a. Amendment: Changing date to reflect that the calendar will be set to the calendar year 2026, as opposed to 2025. Adopted. b. Motion to approve: Davis c. Seconded: Scott d. Vote: 11-0 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Food policy board bond proposal resolution • Reconstituting working groups and appointing chairs Meeting adjourned at 8:28pm. 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).