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Agendas and Minutes

Climate Policy Committee (View All)

Climate Policy Commission Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, October 10, 2019

MINUTES FOR THE CLIMATE POLICY COMMISSION

October 10, 2019 4 to 7 p.m.

Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way

1. Call to Order

Chair Tonya Graham called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Commission members Rick Barth, Julian Bell, Zander Huston, Ray Mallette, Gary Shaff, and Talia Shea were present. Commission members Christopher Brown, Allie Coleman, and Les Stone were absent for the beginning of the meeting. Staff members Stu Green and Adam Hanks were also present.

Commissioners and members of the public made short introductions.

2. Consent Agenda

September 12 Meeting Minutes

Bell/Shaff moved/seconded to accept the minutes. Further discussion: none. All in favor. Motion passed unanimously.

3. Announcements

Next Meeting: November 14, 2019

Graham announced the next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

4. Public Forum

Huelz Gutcheon – announced that he records the meetings and has recently sent out emails to the Commissioners. Gutcheon also spoke to SB 79 requiring all new homes/homes to sell to get an energy audit, but was made voluntary by the legislature. However, Portland is starting to require it.

5. Annual Workplan Development

Question to Answer: What should the Climate Policy Commission focus on over the next 12 months in terms of planning and recommendations to Council?

• CEAP Progress Report – What has happened and what is underway?

Green presented Ashland’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) presentation (see attached).

• Review potential actions developed from Staff recommendations and commissioner “homework” from the last meeting

• Brainstorm additional actions

• Discuss actions and identify low hanging fruit

• Prioritize actions

Graham presented a summary sheet about task prioritization (see attached) based on the homework items the Commissioners submitted before the meeting. Graham described that the Engagement section could be achieved by collaborating with the Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission. Graham also emphasized that the Advocacy section could also fit into working groups tasks while working on the other sections.

Chris Brown arrived at 4:49 p.m.

The Commission started by reviewing the Planning section of the task prioritization sheet. Changes to the Planning section included:

• Add “develop a comprehensive plan for the Municipal Electric Utility” and “develop a plan to build sufficient solar and wind power capacity to replace Bonneville contract by 2028” as subsections underneath “long range planning of utility services”;

• Move “review and develop framework for multi-stakeholder climate commitment” to underneath the Engagement section;

• Move “adopt the CEAP as an element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and provide for its implementation and enforcement through the City’s Development Code” to the Advocacy section;

• Move “report how many people are and are likely to become heat shelter insecure” underneath “address and understand measurement possibilities and recommend those appropriate for Ashland”;

• Combine “establish a specific goal for bicycle mode share” and “modify the existing transportation system to ensure that the bicycle network is suitable for the use by all ages and abilities”; and

• Split “work with RVTD to improve transit to reduce GHG emissions and improve accessibility for disadvantaged populations” to “work with RVTD to improve transit to reduce GHG emission” and “work with RVTD to improve accessibility for disadvantaged populations”.

Barth requested a that staff make available all current master plans and a schedule for the plan updates.

Using the dot voting technique, Commissioners voted for their Planning priorities:

• Five votes for “long range planning of utility services”;

• Five votes for “develop plan to eliminate natural gas use in Ashland in five years”;

• Five votes for “establish a specific goal for bicycle mode share and modify the existing transportation system to ensure that bicycle network is suitable for use by all ages and abilities”;

• Four votes for “incorporate CEAP into all plan updates at the City”;

• Four votes for “GHG emissions measurements and consideration in all City Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)”;

• Three votes for “review current CEAP plan, goals and targets, and strategies and actions and recommend changes to Council”;

• One vote for “work with RVTD to improve transit to reduce GHG emission”; and

• One vote for “work with RVTD to improve accessibility for disadvantaged populations”.

Next, the Commission started by reviewing the Policy section of the task prioritization sheet. Changes to the Policy section included:

• Move “require HVAC and hot water heater installations to send a photo of the equipment data plate and installation address to the City” to underneath “new construction policies”; and

• Move “make a policy recommendation for measuring GHG reduction” to underneath “long range planning of utility services” under the Planning section specifically in regards to the Electric Utility planning.

Using the dot voting technique, Commissioners voted for their Policy priorities:

• Eight votes for “new construction policies”;

• Six votes for “ban the use of gas (two cycle) lawn/landscape maintenance equipment excluding chainsaws”;

• Five votes for “funding policies”;

• Four votes for “support for renewable energy and efficiency measures in CIP”;

• Four votes for “evaluation of climate impacts in all relevant Council/Commission/ad hoc committee work and decisions”;

• Four votes for “put pressure on supply chains to become decarbonized”;

• Four votes for “explore water conservation improvements”;

• Three votes for “require embedded and operational carbon disclosure on buildings for sale and rent”;

• Three votes for “Community Development plans favor walkable neighborhoods and infill density”;

• Two votes for “reduce the posted speed on streets within residential districts to 20 miles per hour pursuant to State law”;

• Two votes for “improve City procurement policies to promote the use of captured carbon, especially in construction”;

• Two votes for “education program on climate and the CEAP for all City departments”;

• Two votes for “use green infrastructure to reduce flood risk and minimize sediment entry into creeks”;

• One vote for “each year obtain make, model, year, and mileage from Oregon DMV for each vehicle registered to an Ashland address”;

• One vote for “understand current policy regarding health impacts from extreme heat and other climate impacts and make policy recommendations”; and

• One vote for “support development near transit hubs without displacing disadvantaged populations”.

6. Dinner Break

5. Annual Workplan Development (continued)

Next, the Commission started by reviewing the Programs section of the task prioritization sheet. Changes to the Program section included:

• Move “promote switching to lower-carbon fuels and phase out natural gas/oil” to underneath “expand and revise electrification/renewable energy incentives”;

• Move “provide utility and property based financing for building shell upgrades and electrification” to underneath “climate adaptation loan design for existing buildings”; and

• Combine “implement efficiency recommendations from the City facilities water audit” and “implement energy efficiency efforts throughout City facilities and vehicle fleet”.

Using the dot voting technique, Commissioners voted for their Program priorities:

• Seven votes for “expand and revise electrification/renewable energy incentives”;

• Five votes for “creation and use of voluntary rate tier and energy investment fund”;

• Four votes for “climate adaptation loan design for existing buildings”;

• Four votes for “building energy scores program for existing buildings”;

• Four votes for “incentivize extreme temperatures (changed from heat) tolerance in buildings to transform buildings to be better suited for increased temperatures in a way that targets those who will be impacted most by temperature increases”;

• Four votes for “provide a subsidy for the purchase of both new and used bicycles (both pedal and e-bikes)”;

• Four votes for “implement efficiency recommendations from the City facilities water audit and implement energy efficiency efforts throughout City facilities and vehicle fleet”;

• Three votes for “explore collaboration with corporate pilot projects, other Oregon municipal utilities, and consultants”;

• Three votes for “standardize the list of energy efficiency options based on energy score along with incentives depending whether residential or commercial. Make it easier to plan for implementing or upgrading energy efficiency changes and cost over time. This includes residential, commercial, and rentals”;

• Three votes for “provide incentives to employees/business owners to walk, ride a bike, or use transit to get to and from work – using a local improvement district or a surcharge on business licenses”;

• Three votes for “implement bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly actions in the City’s Transportation System Plan and Downtown Parking Management Plan”;

• Three votes for “expand or modify (previously assess feasibility) of a City-sponsored carbon offset program”;

• Three votes for “evaluate potential for installation of rainwater collection systems at City facilities for greywater uses”;

• Two votes for “provide leadership on community climate adaptation, including consumption emissions reduction strategy”;

• Two votes for “create a method for assessing the social cost of carbon in Public Works projects”;

• Two votes for “incentivize (formerly promote) a reduction in food consumption that is environmentally unfriendly”;

• Two votes for “manage forests to retain biodiversity, resilience, and ecosystem function and services in the face of climate change”;

• One vote for “expand water conservation outreach and incentive programs for residents and businesses”; and

• Zero votes for “consumption emissions reduction strategies for existing buildings”.

7. Commission Organization

Question to Answer: How shall we organize ourselves in order to complete the prioritized actions?

Graham asked the Commissioners if they were interested in developing work groups based on the three sections: Planning, Policy, and Program. Some Commissioners expressed interest in working directly on topics versus the three sections. Shea mentioned that the three sections could be used as phases for each topic.

Barth asked how the working groups would operate. Graham stated that the groups would need to be less than a quorum and would only research and gather information to bring to the whole Commission. The working groups will form around the prioritization above. Graham will send out the prioritization results two weeks before the next meeting. Brown also asked for the Commission to be presented with broad definitions of the Planning, Policy, and Program sections with the prioritization.

Graham asked for the information on the new email contact for and Commissioners emails to be brought up at the November meeting.

8. Election of Vice Chair

Due to lack of time, this item was moved to next agenda item. Staff/Graham will send out a description of the Vice Chair duties.

9. Wrap Up

Review of next month’s agenda items

Chair Graham adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Taylor, Executive Assistant