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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-29 Minutes finalJefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 29th, 2017, 3:30 - 5:30 PM Jefferson County Public Health, Port Townsend, WA Members Present: Cindy Jayne, Deb Stinson, Eric Toews, Dave Wilkinson, Judy Surber, Jeff Randall, Matt Ready, Darren Wilson, Akwe McDaneils, Sonja Hammar, Scott Walker, and Kate Dean. Absent: Scott Walker, Sonja Hammar, Ashley Rosser Staff: Laura Tucker, Jefferson County Guests: Kate Chadwick Scribes: Jeff Randall Topic Recommendation/Action Call to order 3:30PM. Did brief introductions.  Approval of Agenda & Minutes Motion to approve agenda, unanimously approved. Motion to approve July 26, 2017 minutes by Deb Stinson, second by Eric Toews, approved.  Public Comment None  City of Port Townsend Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Update Judy Surber – City of Port Townsend Judy provided update on City’s process to update the Critical Areas ordinance and the Stormwater Management Manual. Laura Tucker Discussed new development being required to mitigate environmental impacts through conditions on permitting and the need for future climate change impacts to be included as issues that need to be mitigated. Also mentioned that insurance companies are catching on to the future having changed conditions and that cities that aren’t planning for climate change could see their bond ratings at risk. Eric Toews Asked if new Stormwater Management Manual will be considered to address climate change and sea level rise through best available science. Judy Surber It was her understanding that the City’s consultant Parametrix has included future climate change impacts in updated Stormwater Plan being considered by the city. Deborah Stinson Indicated the plan would soon be coming to the City Council and she would be looking for those issues in her review. Group Discussion Group discussed how it would make sense if such plans and manuals were anticipating sea level rise and other climate change impacts. However it is not clear if such plans and manuals do.   City of Port Townsend Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Update Judy Surber – City of Port Townsend Judy provided update on City’s process to update the Critical Areas ordinance and the Stormwater Management Manual. Laura Tucker Discussed new development being required to mitigate environmental impacts through conditions on permitting and the need for future climate change impacts to be included as issues that need to be mitigated. Also mentioned that insurance companies are catching on to the future having changed conditions and that cities that aren’t planning for climate change could see their bond ratings at risk. Eric Toews Asked if new Stormwater Management Manual will be considered to address climate change and sea level rise through best available science. Judy Surber It was her understanding that the City’s consultant Parametrix has included future climate change impacts in updated Stormwater Plan being considered by the city. Deborah Stinson Indicated the plan would soon be coming to the City Council and she would be looking for those issues in her review. Group Discussion Group discussed how it would make sense if such plans and manuals were anticipating sea level rise and other climate change impacts. However it is not clear if such plans and manuals do.  Strait ERN NTAs (Near Term Actions)– Kate Kate Dean Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda is currently in process. This WA State Governor appointed group has a role in determining funding for local projects, such as the Climate Change Preparedness Plan. The group is now seeking NTAs for projects to be funded for the next 4 years. The Hood Canal Coordinating Council is the local group applications for funds must go through. Because the Climate Change Preparedness Plan has been funded once, the group is interested in continuing to fund projects already started. Group has only gotten about $100k per year for funding for the whole area which doesn’t go far. Seeking additional funds. Cindy Jayne Purpose of the plan intended to act as a guide for local communities, counties, and entities on actions to take to prepare for climate change. Group Discussed possible projects or plans that could be identified for applying for funding over the next 4 years. Eric Toews Ideally the market would help drive decisions. Unfortunately consensus science is conservative science and the data lags behind actual events. If the Committee could find a way to show a tangible return on investment for adaptation efforts. It seems like we need some tangible projects rather than more plans. Cindy Jayne It seems that a big challenge for an organization like a city is deciding what is the most important thing to do over the next 5 years. Dave Wilkinson While actual sea level rise at a certain time may be difficult to predict, it seems that intensity of storm events and their frequency is something that we have a better handle on now. Such information might be more meaningful now than the future sea level rise statistics to business owners. Sonya Hammar Asked if Food Coop looked at issue of increased flooding when deciding to invest $3 million in current location. Laura Tucker Indicated that the Food Coop was interested in relocating but were unsuccessful in finding another suitable location. So despite the low lying location decided to go ahead with additional investment in their current location. Eric Toews It would be great if local government agencies considered a common understanding of future conditions in making project improvements and decisions and considering return on investment. A common standard would be a big improvement.   Strait ERN NTAs (Near Term Actions)– Kate Kate Dean Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda is currently in process. This WA State Governor appointed group has a role in determining funding for local projects, such as the Climate Change Preparedness Plan. The group is now seeking NTAs for projects to be funded for the next 4 years. The Hood Canal Coordinating Council is the local group applications for funds must go through. Because the Climate Change Preparedness Plan has been funded once, the group is interested in continuing to fund projects already started. Group has only gotten about $100k per year for funding for the whole area which doesn’t go far. Seeking additional funds. Cindy Jayne Purpose of the plan intended to act as a guide for local communities, counties, and entities on actions to take to prepare for climate change. Group Discussed possible projects or plans that could be identified for applying for funding over the next 4 years. Eric Toews Ideally the market would help drive decisions. Unfortunately consensus science is conservative science and the data lags behind actual events. If the Committee could find a way to show a tangible return on investment for adaptation efforts. It seems like we need some tangible projects rather than more plans. Cindy Jayne It seems that a big challenge for an organization like a city is deciding what is the most important thing to do over the next 5 years. Dave Wilkinson While actual sea level rise at a certain time may be difficult to predict, it seems that intensity of storm events and their frequency is something that we have a better handle on now. Such information might be more meaningful now than the future sea level rise statistics to business owners. Sonya Hammar Asked if Food Coop looked at issue of increased flooding when deciding to invest $3 million in current location. Laura Tucker Indicated that the Food Coop was interested in relocating but were unsuccessful in finding another suitable location. So despite the low lying location decided to go ahead with additional investment in their current location. Eric Toews It would be great if local government agencies considered a common understanding of future conditions in making project improvements and decisions and considering return on investment. A common standard would be a big improvement.  CAC Presentations to Organizations – Cindy * Follow up on BOCC presentation * Greenhouse gas inventory * Climate logo and other outreach opportunities * Scheduling of other presentations/updates Cindy Jayne Discussed conducting greenhouse gas inventory by organization. For example, asking how much fuel is burned a year, electricity used per year, etc. To try and build and inventory over time. The Local 2020 Energy Action group. Laura Tucker Talked about Enviro Star program which the Public Health Department is using to determine organizations greenhouse gas emissions. Free for the first 3 years. Cindy Jayne Asked if it would be worthwhile to work with local jurisdictions to have them measure their greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. The goal would be to seek reductions in climate emissions over time. Jeff Randall Asked that we get some more detail on what we would be asking each organization to do and that the PUD would probably need a presentation by the Climate Action Committee representatives to explain how the other organizations are working together to measure greenhouse emissions over time. Laura Tucker Talked about what it took the Public Health department to set up the program (2- 3 hours initially) and that they are rolling it out to the businesses they work with. Cindy Jayne Discussed developing a logo for organizations that commit to taking action on climate change. The logo would be intended to raise awareness about climate action. The details of what the logo stands for is still in progress. Local 2020 is working on this. Eric Toews There needs to be a standard for actions that the logo stands for. Dave Wilkinson For example if your organization is working to implement its portion of the climate action plan, then that organization gets to display the logo. Group Agreed that a logo that represents individual or organizations being committed to reduce their climate change impacts would be a useful thing. Cindy indicated she’d keep working with Local 2020 on this. Group Discussed following up with each partner organization (hospital, Port, City, County, PUD) with a climate action presentation. All organizations interested in talking about when that could happen. PUD needs to be later in the Spring with all the organizational changes going on.   CAC Presentations to Organizations – Cindy * Follow up on BOCC presentation * Greenhouse gas inventory * Climate logo and other outreach opportunities * Scheduling of other presentations/updates Cindy Jayne Discussed conducting greenhouse gas inventory by organization. For example, asking how much fuel is burned a year, electricity used per year, etc. To try and build and inventory over time. The Local 2020 Energy Action group. Laura Tucker Talked about Enviro Star program which the Public Health Department is using to determine organizations greenhouse gas emissions. Free for the first 3 years. Cindy Jayne Asked if it would be worthwhile to work with local jurisdictions to have them measure their greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. The goal would be to seek reductions in climate emissions over time. Jeff Randall Asked that we get some more detail on what we would be asking each organization to do and that the PUD would probably need a presentation by the Climate Action Committee representatives to explain how the other organizations are working together to measure greenhouse emissions over time. Laura Tucker Talked about what it took the Public Health department to set up the program (2- 3 hours initially) and that they are rolling it out to the businesses they work with. Cindy Jayne Discussed developing a logo for organizations that commit to taking action on climate change. The logo would be intended to raise awareness about climate action. The details of what the logo stands for is still in progress. Local 2020 is working on this. Eric Toews There needs to be a standard for actions that the logo stands for. Dave Wilkinson For example if your organization is working to implement its portion of the climate action plan, then that organization gets to display the logo. Group Agreed that a logo that represents individual or organizations being committed to reduce their climate change impacts would be a useful thing. Cindy indicated she’d keep working with Local 2020 on this. Group Discussed following up with each partner organization (hospital, Port, City, County, PUD) with a climate action presentation. All organizations interested in talking about when that could happen. PUD needs to be later in the Spring with all the organizational changes going on.  CAC Goals for 2017 Progress and Goals for 2018 – All [20] Cindy Jayne Asked how the goals could be useful for the group and how we should discuss them going forward. Scott Walker Feels that the current list of goals won’t significantly reduce our greenhouse gases. Would like to see Jefferson Transit increase their services as a way to significantly reduce our County’s emissions. 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from our transportation and the other 40% come from our buildings. Group Talked about the value of having the lists. If the list of goals don’t significantly reduce climate emissions, that is useful in an of itself. Talked about going back to the goals from 2017. Then use the Climate Action Plan to identify goals for 2018.   CAC Goals for 2017 Progress and Goals for 2018 – All [20] Cindy Jayne Asked how the goals could be useful for the group and how we should discuss them going forward. Scott Walker Feels that the current list of goals won’t significantly reduce our greenhouse gases. Would like to see Jefferson Transit increase their services as a way to significantly reduce our County’s emissions. 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from our transportation and the other 40% come from our buildings. Group Talked about the value of having the lists. If the list of goals don’t significantly reduce climate emissions, that is useful in an of itself. Talked about going back to the goals from 2017. Then use the Climate Action Plan to identify goals for 2018.     Provisions for Sea Level Rise Flood Damage Reduction – City of Olympia example Cindy Jayne New buildings both residential and commercial for the city of Olympia are required to be build with the first floor level 3.5 feet above mean higher high water mark for area or that space below this level floodproofed. Judy Surber City of PT and Jefferson County both have these building codes and standards, but they are 1 foot above that level rather than 3.5 feet higher. Deb Stinson City just went through the FEMA flood map process. Would need to have some pretty compelling reasons to need to revisit it again. Dave Wilkinson Gave presentation to the Port where King tides have occurred here at 11.3 feet. Mean higher high tide is only 8.4 feet. So the highest high water we have already gotten is basically set at the same standard that Olympia is using. Scott Walker There isn’t much developable land left in town that is this low. And areas that are will probably be looking at a sea wall. Eric Toews The majority of Boat Haven is already in a FEMA flood hazard area. It may be more beneficial to have flood hazard information in an information format rather than a regulatory one. Dave Wilkinson Asked if a property owner suffers damage from a flood event if a City or County could be held liable. Group Agreed that courts have set a pretty high bar for finding a local jurisdiction responsible for failure to adopt protective codes. Usually the property owner is responsible for the decisions they make. Kate Dean The County is under a lot of pressure to streamline and simplify their codes, so not likely to want to adopt more protective flood codes. Eric Toews Asked what we would gain if the jurisdictions adopted to more stringent 3.5’ above mean high water level. Cindy Jayne Basically if we adopt a more stringent standard, hopefully we have fewer homes damaged in the future. Deb Stinson Feels that the timing is not the best for pushing this issue at this time. Eric Toews However a decision tool that would help decisionmakers reach good decisions to address future impacts would be very helpful.   Provisions for Sea Level Rise Flood Damage Reduction – City of Olympia example Cindy Jayne New buildings both residential and commercial for the city of Olympia are required to be build with the first floor level 3.5 feet above mean higher high water mark for area or that space below this level floodproofed. Judy Surber City of PT and Jefferson County both have these building codes and standards, but they are 1 foot above that level rather than 3.5 feet higher. Deb Stinson City just went through the FEMA flood map process. Would need to have some pretty compelling reasons to need to revisit it again. Dave Wilkinson Gave presentation to the Port where King tides have occurred here at 11.3 feet. Mean higher high tide is only 8.4 feet. So the highest high water we have already gotten is basically set at the same standard that Olympia is using. Scott Walker There isn’t much developable land left in town that is this low. And areas that are will probably be looking at a sea wall. Eric Toews The majority of Boat Haven is already in a FEMA flood hazard area. It may be more beneficial to have flood hazard information in an information format rather than a regulatory one. Dave Wilkinson Asked if a property owner suffers damage from a flood event if a City or County could be held liable. Group Agreed that courts have set a pretty high bar for finding a local jurisdiction responsible for failure to adopt protective codes. Usually the property owner is responsible for the decisions they make. Kate Dean The County is under a lot of pressure to streamline and simplify their codes, so not likely to want to adopt more protective flood codes. Eric Toews Asked what we would gain if the jurisdictions adopted to more stringent 3.5’ above mean high water level. Cindy Jayne Basically if we adopt a more stringent standard, hopefully we have fewer homes damaged in the future. Deb Stinson Feels that the timing is not the best for pushing this issue at this time. Eric Toews However a decision tool that would help decisionmakers reach good decisions to address future impacts would be very helpful.  Upcoming Organizational Plans and Documents for Climate Review? All [10] Cindy Jayne Asked if any organization is updating any plans to please include the CAC for an opportunity to comment.  Other Updates – All [10] Kate Dean KUOW reporter Ashley Ahearn is coming to Port Townsend to discuss how King High tides are affecting us today and will affect us in the future. Asked if any individuals are interested in being a part of the interview. Laura Tucker The kids are proceeding with a bottle bill at Olympia in working with Mike Chapman. Mike was unable to get any of the committees to introduce the bill. Would place a 5 cent deposit on bottles to encourage recycling. If they can’t get it introduced next year they intend to go to a ballot initiative. Scott Walker Local bike groups are working on efforts to get better facilities in town to make bike riding more comfortable.   Other Updates – All [10] Kate Dean KUOW reporter Ashley Ahearn is coming to Port Townsend to discuss how King High tides are affecting us today and will affect us in the future. Asked if any individuals are interested in being a part of the interview. Laura Tucker The kids are proceeding with a bottle bill at Olympia in working with Mike Chapman. Mike was unable to get any of the committees to introduce the bill. Would place a 5 cent deposit on bottles to encourage recycling. If they can’t get it introduced next year they intend to go to a ballot initiative. Scott Walker Local bike groups are working on efforts to get better facilities in town to make bike riding more comfortable.  Public Comment Dave Wilkinson Got lots of photos during the most recent king tide event. Very successful event.  Next Steps & Agenda Planning The next meeting would be February 28, 2017. Stormwater plan update Logo update Local 2020 group coming up with recommendations on energy efficiency and energy audits Laura Tucker could give a presentation on EnviroStar Scott Walker Asked about more frequent meetings. That going to quarterly was done during a time when the economy was in recession.  Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.