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Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission

Agenda
Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Meeting Video

MINUTES FOR THE CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE OUTREACH COMMISSION

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Held Electronically via Zoom

1. Call to Order (item starts at 1:18 on video)

The meeting was called to order by Chair Rebecca Walker at 3:01 p.m. Commissioners Risa Buck, Larry Cooper, Marni Koopman, James McGinnis, Jamie Rosenthal, and Bryan Sohl were present. Staff members Stu Green and Bridgette Bottinelli were also present. Council liaison Stef Seffinger arrived later in the meeting.

2. Consent Agenda (1:25)

2.1. October 28, 2020 Meeting Minutes

Buck/Cooper moved/seconded to approve the minutes from the last minute. Further discussion: none. All in favor; motion passed unanimously.

3. Announcements (1:50)

3.1. Next Regular Meeting: December 16, 2020 (one week earlier than regularly scheduled)

3.2. Other Announcements from Commissioners (2:23)

Buck mentioned that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has suspended bottle and can redemption statewide during the current COVID-19 lockdown.

3.3. Reports from Members of Other Commissions

4. Public Forum

No public forum was submitted for this meeting.

5. Reports/Presentations (4:24)

5.1. Council Update

Seffinger was not available and this item was skipped.

5.2. Staff Update (4:35)

Green gave an update on the following items:

New electric vehicle (EV) chargers installed in Pioneer Parking Lot;
New grant funded EV and electric bike incentive programs are available;
Rogue to Go reusable to go container program continuing with new ownership;
Climate outreach and Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) website design created by Bottinelli; and
The Climate Policy Commission (CPC) having many projects under advisement.

6. Old Business

6.1. Decision: Commission Monthly Column in Sneak Preview (14:16)

Buck clarified that fluorescent is spelled differently than in the article. Cooper wanted to have a link in the article about what goes in the blue commingle bin. McGinnis/Buck moved/seconded to approve the article with the improvements that were discussed. Further discussion: none. All ayes; motion passed unanimously.

6.2. Discussion: Different Channels for Articles and Future Outreach (31:25)

Walker asked if there were other channels the Commission should pursue to get the articles out to the community as well as general outreach. Discussion included:
Using Southern Oregon University as a channel. Walker volunteered for this task.
Using Social media including Facebook groups, Nextdoor and Instagram as channels Koopman volunteered to reach out to Facebook groups and Nextdoor.
Using Recology as a channel. Rosenthal volunteered for this task.
Collaborating with Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) and Ashland Climate Action Project who are writing climate articles for the Ashland Tidings. Buck volunteered to reach out to both groups.
Defining a goal/message and measuring results for the outreach.

Buck suggested checking in on this item at the next meeting.

Stef Seffinger arrived at 3:45 p.m.

Larry Cooper left at 3:57 p.m.

6.3. Discussion: CEAP Project Leader Assignment and Details (1:01:40)

The three project categories the Commission will work on are:

Responsible Consumption and Single Use – Rosenthal, Buck, Walker
Climate Resilience – Koopman (lead), McGinnis, Sohl, Walker

This group will coordinate with SOCAN and Ashland Climate Action Project. Project suggestions included the previous work done by the former outreach and marketing subcommittee.

Water Use and Conservation – Cooper (lead), Sohl, Buck

Seffinger also suggested collaborating with the Ashland Food Bank on outreach regarding dehydrating food to reduce food waste as a potential project. The CEAP project areas will be a reoccurring item on the agenda.

7. New Business

7.1. Annual Report to Council for December 15 (1:21:50)

The annual report will include:

COVID-19 break
Current projects
Joint meeting with CPC
Conservation Corner Sneak Preview
Rogue to Go program
Keeping track of programs that have been reversed because of the COVID-19 pandemic; the bag bans not being enforced and the bike share being defunct due to Zagster’s bankruptcy.

Buck/Koopman moved/seconded that the items discussed be written up and presented at the upcoming City Council meeting in December. Further discussion: McGinnis wanted to have Jim Hartman honored as he recently retired from teaching at Ashland School District. Seffinger suggested that Hartman be nominated for the Ragland Award. All ayes; motion passed unanimously.

7.2. City Wide Composting Action (1:34:35)

Walker explained the letter would be sent to the General Manager of Recology and the City Administrator regarding having a curbside compost program to help with reducing food waste as referenced in CEAP. McGinnis asked if there could be a cost benefit analysis before this letter is sent. Buck stated that the letter recommends that Recology and the City could activate the process since Recology does have this offering in other service areas. They can provide options and costs on how to execute the program. With concern over cost to end users and lack of cost and benefit analysis, the Commissioners talked about not having the collection be curbside, but instead could be a drop off program. McGinnis asked that this also be a regional program.

Koopman/McGinnis moved/seconded to remove the word curbside and send the letter to the City Administrator and general manager of Recology from the Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission. Further discussion: none. All ayes; motion passed unanimously.

Green stated that sending the letter to those two parties does not guarantee it will go to Council. McGinnis asked that a partnership with the greater Rogue Valley could be added in.

7.3. 20’s Plenty Initiative (1:53:25)

Walker introduced this item and stated that a volunteer from the Commission would participate on the group which will include Transportation and Climate Policy Commission members. Sohl volunteered to be on the group. McGinnis volunteered to support Sohl in this role.

Buck/McGinnis moved/seconded that Bryan Sohl represent the Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission in the joint group with Transportation and Climate Policy Commission. Further discussion: none. All in favor; motion passed unanimously.

Chair Walker adjourned the meeting at 4:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Taylor