Approved Minutes 10-20--2020 — original pdf

Approved Minutes

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday October 20, 2020 The Resource Management Commission convened via videoconference on Tuesday October 20, 2020 in accordance with social distancing protocols necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic. Commissioners in Attendance: Dana Harmon, Chair (District 9); Kaiba White, Vice Chair (District 2); Shane Johnson (District 4); Jonathan Blackburn (District 8); Leo Dielmann (District 7); Rebecca Brenneman (District 10); Lisa Chavarria (Mayor); Tom “Smitty” Smith (District 5)); and James Babyak (District 6) . There is one vacancy (District 3). Commissioners Absent: Nakyshia Fralin (District 1); Lisa Chavarria (Mayor). CALL TO ORDER – Chair Harmon called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: Tim Arndt spoke in support of Item 5. He discussed Austin Energy multifamily efficiency and weatherization programs and their importance to the community. Consent Items: APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve minutes of the September 14, 2020 meeting. The motion to approve minutes of the September 14, 2020 meeting was approved on Commissioner Dielmann motion, Commissioner Blackburn second. 8 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent, 1 vacancy. STAFF REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS 2. Briefing regarding solar ready provisions plan review and inspections by City of Austin Development Services Department. Beth Culver, Assistant Manager, Building Official City of Austin Development Services provided an update on staffing and enforcement of solar ready provisions during the inspection and permitting phase of construction. She mentioned a shortage of qualified staff to perform such duties. She was joined, by Kelly Stilwell, Building Inspections Division Manager. Commissioner Smith urged the other commissioners to contact both the City Manager and the council member that appointed them about this issue. Item 4 (see below) was brought up out of order to discuss possible action on the information presented. 3. Electric vehicle and infrastructure program update. Karl Popham Manager, Electric Vehicles and Emerging Technologies and Cameron Freberg presented information on charging stations and other updates to the electric vehicle program of Austin Energy. NEW BUSINESS 4. Possible action regarding plan review and inspection for solar ready provisions. No formal action was taken. Commissioner White requested that City staff provide more detail on staffing levels needed to fully enforce solar ready provisions of City code. City staff agreed to provide this Page 1 of 2  information at the next meeting. Commissioners discussed using the data to be provided to draft specific language to include in a recommendation to City Council which will be acted upon at a future Commission meeting. OLD BUSINESS: 5. Discussion and possible action regarding support of the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Commissioner Smith moved approval of a resolution supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Commissioner Brenneman seconded the motion and the motion passed on a vote of 8 ayes, 0 Nays, 2 absent with one vacancy UPDATES FROM COMMISSIONERS, WORKING GROUPS 6. Update from working group of Resource Management Commissioners to coordinate with the Office of Sustainability regarding the Austin Community Emissions Dashboard as it relates to Commission goals. (Members: White, Brenneman, Blackburn, Fralin, Babyak). Commissioner Babyak provided an update of the training the working group received on the Community Emissions Dashboard and how it could be used in future Commission work. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. Discuss future agenda items. Staff Liaison, Jamie Mitchell, provided a list of future agenda items including requests for council action from the Austin Water Utility and a quarterly update from the Texas Gas Service. Commissioner White requested an update on fractional billing for multifamily solar projects and Chairman Harmon requested a presentation on weatherization programs of Austin Energy. ADJOURN Chairman White adjourned the meeting at 7:48 pm on a motion by Commissioner Smith. Page 2 of 2