Jan 20, 2021 Environmental Commission

[00:00:02]

GOING TO START THE ENVIRONMENTAL

[CALL TO ORDER]

THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING FOR OUR COMMISSION.

JANUARY 20TH, 2021 AT 6:00 PM.

VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING.

I'M GOING TO DO ROLL CALL NOW.

COMMISSIONER CREEL, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

HELLO? YES.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER BARRETT, BIXLER PRESENT COMMISSIONER COIN.

I KNOW SHE'S THERE.

COMMISSIONER.

MACIO PRESENT COMMISSIONER.

LAMBERG PRESENT.

AND COMMISSIONER GUERRERO HERE.

COMMISSIONER GORDON, COMMISSIONER BEDFORD HERE.

AND COMMISSIONER COIN.

CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF? AND FOR THE RECORDS I HEAR COMMISSIONER COIN HAS DROPPED OFF THE MEETING FOR A MINUTE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK IN DOES SHE KNOW THAT SHE'S MUTED? VICE HERE.

WE CAN SEE YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU.

IF YOU ARE SPEAKING SHE CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

COMMISSIONER POINT CANNOT HEAR ANYTHING.

YEAH, I'LL PICK SOME OPTIONS.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S MOVE ON AND, UM, GO

[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

DID YOU SAY WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT'S HERE TO SPEAK? KAYLA CHAPLET WATERSHED PROTECTION.

WE HAVE KATHERINE LEE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

OKAY.

SHE AND SOMEONE WILL TIMER FOR THREE MINUTES.

YES, CATHERINE, ARE YOU READY? I AM.

OKAY.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS KATIE AND I'M A UT STUDENT INTERNING AT ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS THIS SEMESTER.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME THIS ISSUE OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS WAS IMPORTANT TO ME AND ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY ABOUT THIS CRISIS AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TAKE UP THE MANTLE AND BAN THE USE OF PLASTIC ON CITY PROPERTY.

SINGLE USE PLASTICS ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR AMERICANS.

A STUDY PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE ADVANCES FOUND THAT IN 2016, THE U S POPULATION PRODUCED THE LARGEST MASSIVE PLASTIC WASTE OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

IN 2018 CLASSES GENERATION WAS 35.7 MILLION TONS IN THE U S AND PER PRODUCTION IS PROJECTED TO DOUBLE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

UNFORTUNATELY, ALL OF THIS WASTE RARELY ENDS UP IN THE RECYCLING BIN.

IN 2018.

THE NATIONAL RECYCLING RATE WAS 8.5%, WHICH LASTS 32.7 MILLION TONS OF PLASTIC AND LANDFILLS ON THE SIDE OF OUR STREETS AND IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

UM, TO ME, THESE FIGURES, AREN'T REALLY SURPRISING ON WALKING MY DOG AROUND AUSTIN.

I ROUTINELY SEE PLASTIC TRASH ABANDONED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PLASTIC BAGS BLOWING PAST ME LIKE TUMBLEWEEDS THAT NOT ONLY ARE SINGLE USE PLASTICS, UBIQUITOUS AND WASTEFUL, THEY ALSO PRODUCE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES FOR PEOPLE IN WILDLIFE CONSIDER PRODUCTION.

99% OF THIS MATERIAL COMES FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND THE EXTRACTION OF OIL RELEASES, MANY TOXIC SUBSTANCES INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND LARGE VOLUME,

[00:05:01]

FURTHERMORE, ONCE PLASTICS ENTER THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY CAN KILL ANIMALS THAT MISTAKE THEM FOR FOOD AND ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN.

AND WHEN YOU INGEST THEM OR INGEST, UH, CONTAMINATED ORGANISMS, THE CHEMICALS CONTAINED IN THIS PLASTIC CAN HAVE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

SO NOW THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT CAN WE DO TO DISMANTLE OUR THROWAWAY CULTURE AND PROTECT AUSTIN? AND ALTHOUGH I RECYCLED RELIGIOUSLY, I KNOW THAT RECYCLING ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

WE MUST ATTACK THE SOURCE DEMAND FOR PRODUCTION.

FOR THESE REASONS, WE ASK YOU TO URGE THE CA WE ASK YOU THE COUNCIL TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL, SORRY, WE ASKED YOU, WE ASKED YOU TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENDING THE USE OF PLASTIC, SOME CITY PROPERTY, WHICH THE CITY STILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO.

WE RECOMMEND THAT SUCH A POLICY SHOULD INCLUDE RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES, WHICH LEASE CITY PROPERTY, SUCH AS AIRPORT RETAILERS AS A CONDITION OF THE LEASE.

ALTHOUGH WE CAN NOT ALLOW A PLASTIC ACROSS OUR CITY, AUSTIN CAN CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BY SHOWING THE COMMUNITY THAT PLASTIC FREE OPERATION IS POSSIBLE EASY AND BENEFICIAL.

WE CAN ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO QUESTION THE STATUS QUO, PUSHED BACK AGAINST OUR THROWAWAY CULTURE AND USHER IN A NEW STAGE OF THE FIGHT AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO MY TESTIMONY AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, YOU HAVE THE DUTY, THE LEADERSHIP AND THE EXPERIENCE TO BE STRONG INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN THIS FIGHT ENVIRONMENT TAXES LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO BAN THE USE OF SINGLE USE PLASTICS ON CITY PROPERTY, KEEPING OFTEN SAY FOR DECADES TO COME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, KATIE.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'LL TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

SO, UM, IF COYNE ISN'T MUTE ISN'T UH, IS SHE STILL HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS? I'M FINE.

NOW.

I THINK YOU CAN HEAR ME WHEN I AM NEEDED.

I HAVE A NEW COMPUTER.

UM, I WAS JUST, YEAH, I JUST COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING Y'ALL WERE SAYING.

OKAY, GOOD DEAL.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE BACK TO OUR AGENDA.

[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION]

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

SECOND, SECOND.

THANK COINED.

SECOND DID ALRIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

WAVIER.

AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS WITHOUT ANY SUGGESTION.

NO OBJECTIONS.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW FOR THE FUN PART.

UM,

[2a. Commissioner Audrey Barret Bixler welcome and introduction]

AND WE'D LIKE YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES.

HOW ARE YOU? AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

UM, SO AS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY NAME IS AUDREY AND I'M EXCITED TO, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES.

GOOD.

OKAY.

UM, I'M EXCITED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR DISTRICT FIVE.

AND, UM, I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK BIO.

UM, SO I'M A TEXAN BY BIRTH.

I GREW UP IN HOUSTON BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE I GOT A DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.

UM, I WOULD SAY MY INTEREST IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INITIALLY BEGAN WITH THE OCEAN.

UM, I BECAME A SCUBA DIVING INSTRUCTOR AT AGE 19 AND WAS FORTUNATE TO TEACH DIVING IN SOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND THEN I WORKED IN AUSTIN A FEW YEARS IN MY TWENTIES WITH PUBLIC FITNESS, A LOT ABOUT THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND BECAME FOCUSED ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

UM, SO THEN I SWITCHED COAST AGAIN AND WENT TO THE WEST COAST AND I WENT TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AT UC BERKELEY, AND I GOT A MASTER'S OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

UM, AS I MENTIONED, UM, WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

SO IT'S DOING A LOT, A LOT OF WORK ON AIR POLLUTION AND, UM, UH, IMPACTS OF CLIMATE ON HEALTH.

UM, AND THEN I ALSO, UM, STUDIED, I DIDN'T FIT A MASTER'S OF SCIENCE AND ENERGY AND RESOURCES, SO I WAS VERY EAGER TO KEEP LEARNING.

UM, AND THAT I GUESS LED ME TO, UM, A NINE YEAR CAREER WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AS A CONTRACTOR ON SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES.

SO THEN I WENT BACK TO THE EAST COAST, UM, TO WASHINGTON DC AND HELPED.

UM, I WORKED PRIMARILY WITH THE ARMY, UM, AND I HELPED THEM SET POLICY AND LAUNCH SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS

[00:10:02]

UM, THESE INITIATIVES, UM, SUCH AS LIKE IDENTIFYING ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES AND INCREASING POWER RESILIENCY, UM, REDUCING WASTE, UM, REALLY JUST IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABILITY BEST PRACTICES THROUGHOUT ALL THE ARMY INSTALLATIONS.

UM, THAT WAS INITIALLY LAUNCHED UNDER THE ARMY NET ZERO PROGRAM.

UM, NOW MY HUSBAND AND I WE'VE MOVED TO AUSTIN ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO AND WE'RE HAPPILY RAISING OUR FIVE-YEAR-OLD AND OUR THREE THREE-YEAR-OLD HERE.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME.

APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME.

THANKS.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO

[2b. Recognize Mary Ann Neely for over 13 years of service on the Environmental Commission]

AND I THINK SOMEONE'S GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.

OH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NEELEY.

THIS IS, THIS IS CHRIS HARRINGTON.

I JUST WANT TO SAY IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER TO SERVE WITH YOU.

I HOPE I DID THE MATH, RIGHT, BUT I THINK I AM ACTUALLY THE FOURTH ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, UM, TO HAVE THAT PLEASURE, UM, GOING BACK TO PAT MURPHY, UH, GENE DREW, UH, CHUCK LESNIAK IN IT AND NOW MYSELF.

SO, UH, IT'S UH, IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT I SEE YOU GO.

UM, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU AND CRAIG, UM, I HAVE SO MUCH IN FRONT OF YOU, AND SO I DO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART WITH DEEPEST GRATITUDE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO AUSTIN AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCES WITH THAT.

I'LL PASS THE MIC TO OUR DIRECTOR OR HIM OR ALICE.

THANK YOU, CHRIS.

THANK YOU.

MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND WELCOME COMMISSIONER BIXLER TO THE COMMISSION.

UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS.

I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME.

YES.

OKAY.

HOW TO DO THE MIC CHECK? YOU KNOW HOW THESE THINGS ARE ONE MINUTE AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE THEY DON'T WORK.

SO THANK YOU.

AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

I'M GOING TO SAY BRIEF COMMENTS, AND THEN WE WANT TO PRESENT MS. NEWLYWEDS, A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FROM THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

SO MARIANNE JOINED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IN APRIL, 2007, REPRESENTING PLAY SIX, WHICH IS NOW DISTRICT FIVE.

OVER THE YEARS, MARIANNE HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND HAS THERAPY ON MANY OF THE COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEES.

MOST RECENTLY, SHE SERVED ON THE AIR QUALITY COMMITTEE, THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE, THE URBAN GROWTH POLICY AND WATER QUALITY PROTECTION COMMITTEE, THE JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS AND PARKS BOARD AND THE KENYA LAND CONSERVATION PLAN CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

IN ADDITION TO, TO HER WORK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, MARIANNE HAS BEEN A PART OF MANY COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING TRUE TREE FOLKS, SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION, CLEAN WATER ACTION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN CLIMATE PROTECTION TEAM.

AND SHE ALSO WORKED IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS AT THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR OVER 13 YEARS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, MISS NEELY HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE ARE VERY APPRECIATE APPRECIATIVE FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TO THE WATERSHED PROTECTION AND TO THE MISSION OF PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT WAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR HUSBAND, IF HE COULD PRESENT YOU WITH A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION ON OUR BEHALF AT THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT, WE DON'T DO STREET SIGNS.

WE ACTUALLY DO WALKING STICKS.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET OUT IN THIS BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO WE WANT TO PRESENT THAT WITH YOU.

WOW, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

I CAN GO IN ANYWHERE.

THANK YOU SO SWEET.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL ON OUR COMMITTEE FOR 13 YEARS.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT'S SUCH GOOD PEOPLE WERE THERE TO REALLY GET THE WORK DONE.

AND, UH, I'M STILL WORKING ON THE OTHER TREE FOLKS, OF COURSE, AND THOSE OTHER, OTHER COMMITTEES AND THOUGHT, UH, DON'T WORRY.

I'LL CALL YOU AND SAY, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY WE DO THAT? WE LOSE ARTERIES HERE.

SHE IS SO WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU, MARIANNE.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE WE ACTUALLY ENGRAVED IT.

SO

[00:15:01]

IT'S A TRADITIONAL, WE HAVEN'T WATERSHED.

WE DO FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THAT RETIRE, UH, 13 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IS A LONG TIME.

AND WE FELT THAT WAS WHEN I RETIRE.

I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE STILL A LOT OF FUN WORKING AND I'LL BE THERE TO HELP YOU ANYWAY, THAT I ABSOLUTELY COULD COULD.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.

MADAM CHAIR, MARIANNE, YOU GOT A BIG, THANK YOU.

DON'T FORGET.

WE'LL BE ASKING YOU FOR FAVORS AND ADVICE IN THE FUTURE.

YOU HAVEN'T LEFT US.

YOU'RE ALWAYS PART OF THE FAMILY.

OKAY.

THAT'S GREAT.

ENJOY YOUR EVENINGS ON WEDNESDAYS, YOU KNOW, KICK BACK SO GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH.

BYE.

BYE.

BYE-BYE.

I'M GOING TO SAY GOODBYE AND LET YOU GO TAKE YOUR MEETING.

OKAY.

RIGHT.

COMMISSIONERS.

[2c. Consider a recommendation to support the City of Austin’s 87th State Legislative Agenda]

MOST OF Y'ALL HAVE GOTTEN THIS IN BACKUP.

UH, HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD TIME TO READ IT.

IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY UH, IF Y'ALL HAVE, DOES ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO ASK STAFF TO COME AND CLARIFY REGARDING THIS, UH, RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME? YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

OKAY.

ON PAGE SIX OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENTAL PART, IT SAYS CONVERSATION LANDS.

SO I JUST WANTED THEM TO CORRECT THE SPELLING TO CONSERVATION LANDS.

PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE CATCH ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS? ALL RIGHT.

SO IF WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, TO APPROVE THE SUPPORT MADAM CHAIR.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER.

UM, I MOVE THAT.

WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS IT'S WRITTEN, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO REPEAT IT IF YOU'D LIKE, THAT'D BE GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

UH, WHERE IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S GREATEST ASSET IS IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR CITY, COMMITTED TO ITS IMPROVEMENT AND DETERMINED TO SEE IF ITS VISION, SEE ITS VISION BECOME A REALITY.

WHEREAS THE PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS WHO VOTED IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS OF CITY ELECTIONS EXCEEDED 60%, WHEREAS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS WHO LIVE IN AUSTIN, VOTED FOR THE CURRENT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATION OVER 700 AUSTINITES PARTICIPATE AND SERVE ON OVER 60 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO HELP SHAPE AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE UPON THE POLICIES OF THE CITY AND THE LIVES OF ITS RESIDENTS.

WHEREAS THE INPUT PROVIDED TO THE CITY, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL THROUGH THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS REFLECT THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS IT IS THE INTENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA CITY STAFF IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND THEIR EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITS RESIDENTS.

WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE INCREASINGLY ATTEMPTS TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE CITY THROUGH PREEMPTION OR LIMITING THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE.

WHEREAS THE 2019 LEGISLATURE STRONG, STRONGLY CONSIDERED AND ALMOST PASSED SENATE BILL 29, WHICH WOULD HAVE LIMITED THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO UTILIZE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE ON THE BEHALF OF THE POLICIES CREATED AND SUPPORTED BY ITS RESIDENTS, WHEREAS TAXPAYERS AND CITY RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM AND NEED COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AS A TOOL THAT AMPLIFIES THEIR VOICES BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, CONGRESS AND REGULATORY BODIES.

AND WHEREAS A PROHIBITION ON COMMUNITY ADVOCATE ADVOCACY EQUATES TO CENSORSHIP OF THE RESIDENTS' VOICES AND IT'S DETRIMENTAL AND IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WHERE ALL AUSTINITES AND TEXANS HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HEREBY ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION BELIEVES THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE POLICY AND POSITION STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA CAPTURED THE POSITION OF ITS MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT REPRESENTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION URGES, ALL AUSTIN DELEGATE MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO PROTECT THE CITY'S RIGHTS TO

[00:20:01]

YOU'RE YOU'RE MUTED, MADAM CHAIR.

OKAY.

AND SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SECOND THAT, AND I SEE, WE NOW HAVE COMMISSIONER CREOLE HERE AND COMMISSIONER GORDON.

SO LET ME ADD YOU TO THE VOTE AND LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.

NOPE.

UM, BEFORE WE DO THAT, JUST WITH THE DISCUSSION PERIOD HERE, JUST KIND OF LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, A LOT OF STUFF THAT I AGREE WITH, AND THERE'S A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT, THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH.

AND, AND I THINK THIS IS KIND OF A RESTATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S POSITION.

I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR POSITION AS A BOARD TO JUST COMPLETELY CONFIRM AND AFFIRM EVERYTHING THAT CITY COUNCIL'S DOING.

I THINK OUR PREROGATIVE IS VERY MUCH TIED TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND MANY OF THESE THINGS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR PREROGATIVE AS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONERS.

SO I PERSONALLY CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS VOTE, VOTE FOR THIS.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SILLY STATEMENT, AND THIS IS REALLY NOT THE ROLE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION TO, YOU KNOW, PAT THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE BACK FOR THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

IF WE WONDER TO FOCUS IT ONLY ON, ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL VERY DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS JUST, IT, IT SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE TO ME AND I'LL, I'LL BE VOTING NO COMMISSIONER CRADLE COMMISSIONER GORDON.

AND I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS BECAUSE I THINK LIKE COMMISSIONER CREOLE, I DO FEEL SOMEWHAT UNCOMFORTABLE, JUST RUBBER STAMPING, SOME, YOU KNOW, WIDESPREAD AGENDA ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

YES.

THEY, THEY DON'T TOUCH ON THE COMMISSION.

THEY'RE NOT THINGS THAT I'M PERSONALLY, UM, ALL THAT FAMILIAR WITH.

AND IF IT'S A MATTER OF A RESOLUTION STATING THAT WE SUPPORT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO LOBBY, CAUSE THIS IS REALLY WHAT WHAT'S UNDER FIRE RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE CRITICISM IS COMING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER BASICALLY CITIES LIKE AUSTIN SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOBBY WITH, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, CITY, CITY FUNDS.

SO IF WE WANT TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS THAT OR NOT, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE.

YES.

IF WE WANT A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS SAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PORTION OF THIS, THAT'S FINE.

BUT I AGREE.

I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT VOTING ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE NOT OUR PURVIEW.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GORDON.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS DISCUSSION? YES.

YES.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

THANK YOU.

UM, I, ON THE OTHER HAND APPRECIATED THE EFFORT TO INCLUDE US WITH THINGS LIKE HOMELESSNESS PARKS AND THE OTHER THINGS.

AND I ASSUMED THAT THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT OUR INTERESTS WERE AND THAT WE FELT LIKE, UM, SUPPORTING THE OVERALL EFFORT, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR, THAT IS IN OUR PURVIEW.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT SO MANY OF THESE THINGS AFFECT US THAT ENVIRONMENTALLY AND IN HEALTH ASPECTS THAT I FELT LIKE IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD EFFORT THAT WE SAID THAT THEY DID COMMENT ON SOME LEVEL, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DISCOURSE ON THAT.

IT DOES AFFECT US WITH OH, OKAY.

SORRY.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A COMMENT THAT I DON'T SEE? OKAY.

THEN MY ONLY COMMENT IS THAT IN PREVIOUS TIMES THE HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK AND THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A BILL IS GOING TO COME FORWARD, THAT COULD BE PRETENDING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD, UH, BUBBLE UP OUT OF THE BLUE.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE JOIN IN THIS EFFORT, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE PROTECTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, ISSUES THAT COULD COME FORWARD.

THAT

[00:25:01]

AND SO I FEEL LIKE, UH, THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO INTERTWINED WITH SO MANY ISSUES THAT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.

ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO THE ROW? OKAY.

LET'S GO.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, COMMISSIONER BEAR FLIRT HERE.

YES.

YES.

COMMISSIONER KRILL.

COMMISSIONER COIN.

YES.

DID YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, I DID COMMISSIONER MACIO COMMISSIONER RAMBERT.

YES.

COMMISSIONER GUERRERO.

YES.

COMMISSIONER GORDON.

I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ONE ABSTENTION.

COMMISSIONER BEDFORD.

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

SO I HAVE SEVEN YEAS, ONE ABSTENTION ON NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO BACK TO OUR AGENDA.

AND, UM,

[3a. Name: Allegro Parmer, SP-2019-0170C]

WE HAVE A, B, C AND D ON SOME VARIANCES.

AND AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO TURN OVER THE MEETING TO COMMISSIONER COINED SO THAT SHE CAN HELP ME THROUGH THIS LAST LEG OF THE MEETING.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAVE COMMISSIONER COIN ANNOUNCED THREE EIGHT FOR US.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, UM, ALLEGRO PARMER SP 20 1901 SEVEN ZERO C.

UM, AND DO WE HAVE, WE HAVE STAFF AND THE APPLICANT HERE, UM, AND HIS STAFF DOING THE PRESENTATION FIRST.

YES.

HI CHRISTIE.

WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SPECIALIST SENIOR WITH THE BOWMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HERE TO PRESENT THE ALLEGRO PALMER PROJECT TO TEAL IT EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UM, WE ARE, I'LL BE SHARING THE LEGO PARMER PROJECT CASE NUMBER SKA 20 NINETEENS OR ONE SEVEN OSI PROJECT.

IT'S LOCATED AT FOUR ZERO ZERO ONE WEST PALMER LANE WITHIN THE MILLWOOD, A SECTION SIX COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION, AND IS IN THE SUBURBAN WATERSIDE CLASSIFICATION.

A MAJORITY OF THE SITE, APPROXIMATELY 92.7 ACRES OF THE 3.97 ACRE LOT IS WITHIN A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND CURRENTLY EXISTS AS A LARGE UNUSED PARKING LOT.

AND WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHAPTER 25 EIGHT TWO SIX ONE TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION WITHIN A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE TO DEVELOP THE PARKING LOT INTO A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY.

THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL LARGELY REMAIN WITHIN THE SAME EXTERNAL BOUNDARIES OF THE PARKING LOT AND THE EXISTING UNDER SIZE WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION PODS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE HALF CRITICAL ABOUT 60 TO A HUNDRED FEET AWAY WILL BE FULLY DISMANTLED AND RESTORE TO THE CITY'S STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS, 609 S THEREBY REMOVING THE EXISTING NONCOMPLIANT DEVELOPMENT FROM THE HALF CRITICAL.

THE PROPOSED PAWNS WILL BE A PROPERLY SIZED AND CONSTRUCTED TO CURRENT CODE AND HUNDREDS TO TREAT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER AND WILL BE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE HALF CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

AND WITHIN THE BUILDINGS UP FRONT FURTHER, THERE WILL BE A NET REDUCTION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER, APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SQUARE FEET WITH THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

FOR THESE REASONS, STAFF HAS DETERMINED THESE DESIGN DECISIONS PROVIDE GREATER OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FROM ITS EXISTING CONDITIONS.

STAFF HAS TO TERM IN ALL VARIANTS REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET AND RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, DO WE ALSO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE AND ARE THEY PLANNING ON SPEAKING? UH, YES.

COMMISSIONER, THIS IS MICHELLE LYNCH.

I, I DON'T REALLY NEED TO GO OVER MORE THAN THE STAFF.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY WELCOME TO THE NEW COMMISSIONER DIXLER AND GOODBYE TO COMMISSIONER NEELEY, WHO I DID WORK WITH FOR MANY YEARS AND APPRECIATED HER WORK.

UM, I THINK STAFF HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, UH, WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROJECT.

WE DID REVISE THE PROJECT MANY TIMES TO GET TO THIS LOCATION.

UM, WE ARE PROPOSING WHAT WE THINK IS A GOOD PROJECT IS CONGREGATE LIVING IN SENIOR LIVING AND REPLACING A LARGE SEA OF SURFACE PARKING LOT IN DOING SO WE ARE, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT TODAY AND ACCEPT THE CONDITIONS BY STAFFS AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

UH, WELL THEN DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

[00:30:01]

YES.

UM, IS THERE, UH, WAS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION TO, UH, INCORPORATE, UH, DARK SCARS LIGHTING ON THIS PROJECT? OR WAS IT JUST NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS? UM, WE DID NOT DISCUSS THAT'S DARK SKIES FOR, OR THIS PROJECT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS APPROPRIATE? MADAM CHAIR? THIS IS CHRIS HARRINGTON, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

I'M NOT SURE LOOKING AT THE NATURE OF A REQUEST TO VERY CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IF DARK SKY, AS A CONDITION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN THIS INSTANCE, CERTAINLY FOR OUR ZONING CASES, UM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SITE DESIGN STANDARDS LIKE LIGHTING, UM, THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE CONDITION.

UM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE GERMANE IN THIS CASE.

IF, IF THE COMMISSION WISHES TO PURSUE IT, YOU CERTAINLY MAY RECOMMEND IT.

AND THEN WE CAN CONSULT WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THEN HAVE THAT RESOLVED BY THE TIME THE ITEM IS HEARD AT LAND USE COMMISSION, IF YOU WISH TO PROCEED IN THAT WAY, I'M GOING TO WRITE WITH JUST AS IT IS.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

MADAM CHAIR.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

I THINK OF THE VARIOUS FEEDBACK WE GET LAST YEAR.

IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE NATURE OF, UM, THE, THE VARIANCE REQUEST IS TIED TO THE CONDITIONS.

SO I, YEAH.

OKAY.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR STAFF OR THE APPLICANT? OKAY.

UH, DID WE EVER EMOTION, RAMBLER EMOTION? THAT'S GREAT.

UH, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO THIS IS ROMBERG.

UH, I MOVE FIRST, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CREEL.

OKAY.

UM, MADAM VICE-CHAIR I HAVE A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM THREE, A THE SUBJECT ALLEGRO PALMER S P 2019 DASH ZERO ONE SEVEN ZERO C.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING VARIANCE FROM LDC 25 DASH EIGHT DASH TWO SIX ONE TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE MAJORITY OF THE SITE IS WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AND HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY DISTURBED THROUGH PREVIOUSLY PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT TO CONSTRUCT A PARKING LOT AND A WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION POND.

AND WHEREAS THE COMMISSION RECOGNIZED THE STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS, HAVING DETERMINED, THE REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACT HAVE BEEN MET.

THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING STAFF CONDITIONS.

THE APPLICANT WILL FULLY DISMANTLE THE EXISTING WATER QUALITY AND DETENTION POD, INCLUDING WATER APPURTENANCES AND DRAINS AND UNDER DRAINS AND PROVIDE RESTORATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S SIX OH NINE S STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO THE APPLICANT WILL CLEAN UP DEBRIS AND TRASH ALONG THE PORTION OF YET BRANCH CREEK LOCATED AT THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY BOUNDARY OF THE COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION.

AND THREE APPLICANT WILL DESIGN THE FIRE LANE TURNAROUND WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH INFORMANT ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA, MANUAL 1.6 0.7 TO REDUCE POLLUTANT LOAD PERCUSS COVER.

SECOND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CREOLE WAS AT YOU.

GREAT.

ANY FURTHER? THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

UH, THEN I'LL DO A ROLL CALL.

UM, COMMISSIONER GUERRERO.

YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER BARRETT.

BIXLER.

YES.

COMMISSIONER BEDFORD.

YES.

COMMISSIONER ROMBERG.

YES.

UH, FISHER COIN.

YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER GORDON.

JUST, UH, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

YES.

COMMISSIONER CREEL.

YES.

GREAT.

SO THAT'S, UH, EIGHT, UH, AND THAT'S IT.

UH, SO EIGHT, UH, EIGHT ZERO MOTION PASSES.

THANKS SO MUCH.

Y'ALL KNOW COMMISSIONER ICO.

OH, I ALWAYS FORGET BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THE PHONE.

I'M SO SORRY.

A CONDITIONER MACIO YES.

ALL RIGHT.

NINE ZERO.

UH, NO ABSTENTIONS.

UM, NO, UH, DISPATCHING.

OKAY.

UM, MOVING

[3b. Name: 3336 Mount Bonnell Road, SP-2020-0274D]

UM, FOR THAT ONE,

[00:35:01]

COMMISSIONER.

THIS IS ROBIN RICE.

PERFECT.

UM, GREETING FISHERS.

UH, MY NAME IS ROBIN WRIGHT.

I'M A HYDROGEOLOGIST REVIEWER WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.

UM, THE CURRENT PROJECT IS LOCATED AT THREE 30, THREE 36 MOUNTAIN MANEL ROAD.

AND I HAVE A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE FROM THE LDC BY DEVELOPMENT CODE 25, EIGHT TO 81 C TO BE, UH, TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 150 FEET TO SPRING CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.

UM, IN FRONT OF RECORD, THERE ARE A COUPLE TYPOS IN THE VARIANCE PACKET.

JANICE SMITH IS THE APPLICANT REPRESENTING THE OWNER, MATT CLARK FOR THIS CAKE FOR THIS CASE.

AND THIS PROPERTY IS, AND THEN NORTHERN SEGMENT OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.

UM, THE TWO SPRINGS ON SITE WERE OBSERVED DURING A LAKE DRAWDOWN, UM, ON, IN 2017 BY A SENIOR WPD STAFF MEMBERS.

THERE WAS A PHOTO OF THAT IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

AND THE PRESENTATION THAT I BELIEVE WAS PROVIDED TO YOU, UM, THE AFRICAN PROPOSING TO REMOVE AND RELOCATED DOCK AND ASSOCIATED ACCESS, WHICH WAS IN A DETERIORATED STATE.

UM, STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THE REQUIRED FINDINGS HAVE BEEN MET AND THAT THIS PROJECT IS THE MINIMUM DEVIATION FROM THE CODE, UM, THAT PROVIDES EQUAL OR GREATER WALKWAY WATER QUALITY.

UM, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THIS VARIANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP PACKET, BUT STAFF ARE AVAILABLE WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THEN AS A CORRECTION TO THE BACKUP PACKET, CONSTRUCTION BY BARGE WAS NOT A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION AT ALL OF THE PATH ON SLOPE.

AND THERE'S ALSO CONCURRENT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON TOP OF THE SLOPE OR THE, UH, HOUSE.

UM, IN ADDITION, THE AFRICAN HAS PROVIDED ENHANCED EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROLS IN THE FORM OF A DOUBLE LINE OF SEDIMENT CONTROL.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. RICE.

AND DO WE ALSO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE WISHING TO SPEAK? YES.

GOOD EVENING.

MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER SOME JANICE SMITH, THE DESIGN ENGINEER FOR 33 36 MOUNTAIN.

AND NOW I'M REPRESENTING THE OWNER.

MEG CLARK REDMOND'S PRESENTATION WAS THOROUGH, AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, YES, MADAM CHAIR.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, IT SEEMS LIKE THE FOOTPRINT HAS INCREASED CONSIDERABLY ON THE, UM, THE DOCK.

IS THAT TRUE OR IS THAT JUST THE WAY IT LOOKS ON THE MAP? WELL, YOU KNOW, LINDA, I'M TRYING TO SEE, WAIT A MINUTE, I'VE GOT A PROPOSAL.

THE PROPOSAL IS 1200 SQUARE FEET AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THE EXISTING DOCK, IF I DO THE MATH HERE IS LESS THAN THAT.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT IS AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE ARE Y'ALL WAITING ON ME TO DO THAT? YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER.

WELL, I DON'T CALL THEM.

I'M SORRY.

I DON'T CALL OUT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE EXISTING DOC.

I'M SORRY.

I DON'T KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A SINGLE OR IS IT JUST A STORY? IT'S THE STORY.

AND IT'S TWO SLIPS.

THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER RAMBERT.

UH, I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR STAFF, UM, ABOUT W UM, I'M LOOKING AT THE BACKUP.

WE'RE ACTUALLY THE VARIANCE PACKET PAGE 31, AND IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE IS INTO THE, THE BUFFER FOR MORMON TAYLOR SPRING ONE, WHICH IS SOUTH, I BELIEVE OF THE PROPOSED PAD SITE.

BUT, UM, DURING THE PRESENTATION, YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE, IT WAS ENCROACHING IN TWO SPRING SETBACKS.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS ALSO ENCROACHING UP HUCK SLU, OR JUST THE FACT THAT SPRING ONE AND TWO OF MORMON TAYLOR ARE IN ONE COMBINED CEF SETBACK.

[00:40:01]

SO THE, THIS IS AROUND RISE, SORRY.

UH, IT IS CONVERGING IN BOTH BUFFERS RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE A COMBINED BUFFER.

UM, IT IS WITHIN 150 FEET OF MORMON TAYLOR'S SPRING TO WHICH IS TO THE SOUTH.

UM, IF YOU LOOK OKAY.

YEAH.

UH, SO IT'S GOING TO BE DIRECTLY NORTH OF MORMON SPRING TAYLOR SPRING ONE.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT OF DISTANCE FROM A MORMON TAYLOR SPRING, TOO.

IF YOU SEE THE PHOTO, THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER A SPRING HORIZON.

SO THERE ARE ACTUALLY MULTIPLE OUTFITS BETWEEN THOSE TWO SPRING LOCATIONS, UM, THAT ARE SOMETIMES EPHEMERAL.

SO LIKE THEY SOMETIMES MOVE AROUND.

UM, SO LIKE WE ACTUALLY PREFER THAT THIS APPLE PEN OR, UH, GRATEFUL AT THE APPLICANT DECIDED TO MOVE THE DOCK AWAY FROM BETWEEN THE TWO SPRINGS AS IT APPEARED THAT TO THE SOUTH, HAD THE MORPH, UH, QUITE A BIT MORE FLOW, UM, JUDGING FROM THAT PICTURE AND FROM STAFF RECOLLECTION COMMISSIONER, REMEMBER, THIS IS, GO AHEAD, CHRIS, GO AHEAD, CHRIS HARRINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL, SIR.

SO JUST TO CONFIRM THE APPLICABLE CODE PROVISION SPEAKS TO CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE BUFFER OF A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES.

SO EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST GOING IN TO REMOVE THE EXISTING FACILITY, IT WOULD STILL BE WITHIN IT STILL BE CONSIDERED CONSTRUCTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE VARIANCE TO ALLOW IT TO OCCUR, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THAT TEMPORARY IMPACT.

AND THEN MADAM CHAIR, JUST TO CONFIRM THE EXISTING DOCK IS TWO SLIPS AND THE NEW PROPOSED DOCK IS LARGER, BUT IT'S STILL CODE COMPLIANT.

I FORGOT CHRIS, HOW WILL, HOW WILL THEY BE BRINGING IN THE MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION? I CAN READ THEM AND ANSWER THAT TOO, BUT THERE IS RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL BE OCCURRING UPSLOPE AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DOCK ITSELF.

SO IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING FOR BOTH THE UP THE UPLANDS PERSON, AS WELL AS THE DOCK, THAT WAS THE REASON WHY WE WEREN'T RECOMMENDING CONSTRUCTION FROM A BARGE.

THANK YOU.

GOOD QUESTIONS.

AND THERE WON'T BE A, UH, WELL, THERE'LL BE ROOM FOR THEM TO ALSO PUT ON A JET SKI ONTO THAT DOCK, IN ADDITION TO THE TWO SLIPS OR ISN'T THAT PROHIBITED? I CAN'T RUN.

NO.

NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, ADAM CAREY? THIS IS RAPPER GUY MOVED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND, SECOND BY MEDICARE.

ALL RIGHT.

REMEMBER, DO YOU HAVE A MEASURE FOR US? I DO AN AGENDA ITEM THREE B SUBSTANCE.

DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE CLOSE FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING? OH YES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

GIVE ME A THUMBS UP.

ANY OPPOSED? GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU.

SURE, GORDON.

ALL RIGHT.

YES.

UM, SUBJECT 36 MOUNTAIN BELL ROAD S P 2020 DASH ZERO TWO SEVEN FOUR D.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING VARIANCE FROM LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 25 DASH EIGHT DASH TWO EIGHT ONE C TWO B TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 150 FEET OF A SPRING CEF.

WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE LIMITS OF CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT ENCROACH INTO THE SPRING, BUT ONLY THE CF BUTLER.

AND WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT STAFF RECOMMEND THIS VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS.

HAVING DETERMINED, THE REQUIRED FINDINGS OF FACT HAVE BEEN MET.

THEREFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE VARIANCE REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING STEP CONDITIONS.

ONE TO REMOVE THE EXISTING BOAT DOCK AND ACCESS PATH AS SPECIFIED ON THE PLANS AND TO, TO RESTORE THE DISTURBED AREAS PER CITY STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS SIX OH NINE S UH, I THINK WE HAD OUR FIRST STEP IN FROM COMMISSIONER BEDFORD.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL.

UH, COMMISSIONER GUERRERO.

YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER CORN.

[00:45:01]

COMMISSIONER RANDBURG.

YES.

COMMISSIONER BARRETT.

BIXLER ABSTAIN.

MR. BEDFORD.

YES.

COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.

YES.

COMMISSIONER GORDON.

YES.

COMMISSIONER CREEL.

YES.

COMMISSIONER MACIO.

OKAY.

SO THAT PASSES EIGHT, UH, W WITH EIGHT, UH, IN SUPPORT AND ONE EXTENSION.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Y'ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALRIGHT.

UM, COMMISSIONER RAMBERT, UH, IS THIS THE ONE YOU'RE STEPPING AWAY FOR? I NEED TO RECUSE ON D OKAY.

PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO MOVING

[3c. Name: Goodnight Ranch Planned Unit Development (PUD) – 2nd Amendment, C814-04-0187.02.SH]

THIS IS A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THIS, UH, AND WE SHOULD HAVE WINNIE ROTES HERE FROM STAFF TO SPEAK ON THIS FIRST.

UH, HELLO, MY NAME IS WENDY ROSE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU.

HELLO, THIS IS WENDY RHODES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, THIS GOOD NIGHT, THE GOODNIGHT RANCH PD IS LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AND IS BOUNDED BY KNUCKLES CROSSING TO THE NORTH TEXAS BORDER TO THE, AND AN AISD SCHOOL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO THE EAST THERE'S OLD LOCKHART ROAD TO THE SOUTH AND OLD WALKOUT ROAD, SOUTH PLEASANT VALLEY TO THE WEST.

THE POD IS BISECTED BY A, UH, SEGMENT OF SLAUGHTER LANE AT CONTINUOUS EAST FACTS AND ROAD DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED ON THIS PUD NORTH OF SLAUGHTER LANE, AND INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS, APARTMENTS SCHOOLS, AND AMENITY CENTER PARKS AND PAWNS.

THE MAJORITY OF LAND SOUTH OF SLAUGHTER WILLINGNESS, UNDEVELOPED THE EXCEPTION OF APARTMENTS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT SLAUGHTER AND PLEASANT VALLEY.

THE PROPOSED PUD AMENDMENT COVERS THE ENTIRE PD AREA AND ADDS A SIX ACRE PIECE AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF SLAUGHTER LANE.

UH, IT WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS BY ABOUT 2,700 ALLOW FOR UP TO 635 SQUARE FEET, 635,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL RETAIL AND OFFICE USES AND PROVIDE FOR A HIGH SCHOOL SITE AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER.

UH, THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE HAS ALSO INCREASED FROM 70 ACRES TO 129.

AND IT ALSO FROM THERE IDENTIFIES A FIRE STATION SITE ON THE, ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE, OF THE PUD.

UH, THE ORIGINAL PD WAS APPROVED IN 2006 AND PREDATES THE SIGNIFICANT REVISIONS TO THE PUD THAT WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

AND IN 2008, THIS PD ALSO SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES BY INTRODUCING NEW HOUSING PRODUCT TYPES AND REVISED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

AND IT RESULTS IN A REV IN A REBALANCED SITE LAYOUT.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR A DENSER AREA ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SLAUGHTER LANE, THERE IS A CORRESPONDING TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, WHICH HAS BEEN AT WORK FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW AND PROVIDES FOR A SUITE OF TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL DENSITY.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.

CHRIS, CAN YOU PUT UP THE SLIDE, THE PRESENTATION, GIVE US ONE SECOND.

OKAY.

YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

NOW JUST TELL US WHEN YOU WANT TO ADVANCE THE SLIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

MADAM CHAIR AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TONIGHT, I'LL BE PRESENTING THE SECOND MINT SECOND AMENDMENT, THE GOOD NIGHT PUD.

UH, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WILL BE A LITTLE REDUNDANT.

UM, WENDY AND I ACTUALLY DON'T COMMUNICATE TO CREATE OUR, UM, PRESENTATIONS.

SO BEAR WITH ME.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO THE SITE IS LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.

IT IS IN THE FULL PURPOSE JURISDICTION AND DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.

NEXT, THE PET SIDE IS OUTLINED IN RED TO THE LEFT.

YOU CAN SEE AND BISECTING.

THE SITE IS THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SLAUGHTER LANE.

THE PUD IS LOCATED MOSTLY WITHIN THE ONION CREEK WATERSHED AND PARTIALLY IN THE CREEK WATERSHED.

NEXT, THE AREA IN YELLOW IS THE FOCUS OF THIS AMENDMENT AND CURRENTLY USE FOR AGRICULTURE PURPOSES OF RAISING LIVESTOCK.

YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE YELLOW DOTS THROUGH THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT OR THE DOTS THROUGH THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT.

THOSE ARE EXISTING STOCK PONDS THAT PROVIDE WATER FOR THE COWS SITE.

NEXT TO GIVE THE COMMISSION A LITTLE BACKGROUND, THE POD WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED IN 2006, BUT IT'S SUBJECT TO CURRENT CODE UNLESS MODIFIED BY

[00:50:01]

THERE ARE NO EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL OR TREE PRESERVATION MODIFICATIONS TO CODE WITHIN THE MISTING.

IT INCLUDES 695 ACRES.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

IT INCLUDES 695 ACRES OF LAND.

IT IS A SMART HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND THIS AMENDMENT SHUFFLES THE STREET AND USES, BUT PROVIDE MORE HOUSING UNITS.

HERE'S A COPY OF THE PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN TO THE NORTH IS LOCATION OF ONION CREEK.

METRO PARK.

THE PUTT IS PROPOSING PUBLIC TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT CONNECT THAT PARK.

THERE ARE TWO SLAUGHTER LANE UNDERPASSES THAT ALLOW PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT TRAFFIC.

THE PUTT AMENDMENT HAS INCREASED OPEN SPACE FROM 70 ACRES TO 129 ACRES.

NOT TO MENTION THAT THAT PARK IS THERE AS AN AMENITY FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.

NEXT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL EXHIBIT THEREFORE IDENTIFIED WETLANDS STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THE APPLICANT TO PRESERVE ALL OF THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WITH MODIFIED BUFFERS.

WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE APPLICANT TO DEFINE THE CREEK AND CRITICAL WATER QUALITY BUFFER.

NEXT, THE CREEK WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED TO ALLOW FOR THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER, PROVIDE VOLUME TO CONTAIN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN AND RESTORE THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED CREEK AND FLOOD PLAIN TO A NATIVE AND HEALTHY CONDITION NEXT.

SO FOR THIS PUD AMENDMENT, THEY ARE ASKING FOR THREE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE MODIFICATIONS.

THE FIRST ONE IS 25, EIGHT 92 PROTOCOL WATER QUALITY ZONE ESTABLISHED BECAUSE THIS SITE IS MOVING AND RE-ESTABLISHING THE CRITICAL, THIS IS A NECESSARY MODIFICATION, UH, 25, EIGHT TO 81 CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES BECAUSE THE SITE HAS MODIFIED THE BUFFERS, WHICH WOULD BE A STANDARD 150, BUT BUFFER FOR EACH WETLAND.

UM, EACH ACTUALLY EVERY, UH, ALL FOUR WETLANDS ON SITE HAVE A MODIFIED BUFFER, BUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE HAS REMAINED THE SAME.

UM, AND THEN 25, EIGHT, THREE 92 IMPERVIOUS COVER IN THE UPLAND.

THE SOUTHERN PORTION HAS INSTALLED A CAP OF 67% GROSS SITE AREA, BUT THIS, UM, THIS COULD BE GOOD AND IT COULD BE BAD BECAUSE THEY'RE PROPOSING MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CAN GET UP TO 95% IN PERVIOUS COVER.

AND SO TO KEEP THE, UM, THE OVERALL WILL BE 67% GROSS SIDE AREA, BUT, UH, IT WILL STILL NEED A MODIFICATION BECAUSE IF THEY JUST BUILT, UM, MULTIFAMILY, THAT WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED 60%.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE HOW OR WHAT THE PROJECTS LOOK LIKE.

AND SO WE WILL, UM, OFFER A MODIFICATION TO THIS SECTION OF CODE.

SO THESE MODIFICATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

THE POD WILL PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 129 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE.

IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE PORTION OF THE PUD SOUTH OF SLAUGHTER LANE WILL BE CAPPED AT 67% GROSS SITE AREA.

THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED PER EXHIBIT D AND D ONE, AND THE PROJECT WILL RESTORE THE CREEK AND WHAT LUMBAR BUFFERS PER EXHIBIT D AND D ONE NEXT.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.

AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

DO WE, UH, ALSO HAVE THE, THE APPLICANTS HERE TO SPEAK AT ALL? I'M HERE.

THIS IS MY RIGUP.

DO WE WANT TO TAKE QUESTIONS? UH, WELL, LET ME JUST ACTUALLY POSE THIS WEEK COMMISSIONERS.

WE WANT TO TAKE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FIRST AND THEN HEAR FROM THE APPLICANTS OR YOUR FROM THE APPLICANT, AND THEN HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EITHER PARTY AT THE END.