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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_082620 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 3:30 - 5:30 PM ONLINE due to COVID Hosted by Jefferson County Public Health Members Present: Pamela Adams (City Council), John Bender (Jefferson Transit), Cindy Jayne, Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), Cara Loriz, Shelley Jaye, Diane McDade, Dave Wilkinson, Kate Chadwick Absent: Eric Toews (Port of PT), Chris O’Higgins, Kate Dean, Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1), (BoCC), David Seabrook, Sam Jones (Port Townsend Paper Corporation) Staff: Judy Surber (City of PT), Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: none Scribes: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Chair Cindy Jayne called the meeting to order at 3:31. A quorum was present. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Pam Adams moved to approve agenda. Second by Diane McDade. Motion passed. Motion: Pamela Adams moved to approve June 24 minutes; Laura Tucker seconded. Motion passed. Laura to finalize minutes and post to County website. Public Comment No public comment. Considering a 2050 Kate Chadwick: For context, visioning relates to inventory roll-out as to what Vision on Climate comes next and has some overlap with NODC grant (see agenda item below). Through visioning, we would identify where we want to be in 2050 and work back to determine steps to reach that goal. It would also include a strategy for financing. Kate believes Jeff. Co is well positioned for this (Policy, Climate Action Plan, inventory, near term goals, etc. completed). In addition, we are working on ICLEI emissions reduction modeling. But we don’t yet have a clear strategic plan for how to meet our reduction goal. Once we have it, we can seek funding. She will send a related NPR podcast. We would be addressing reductions by sector and account for Federal/State plans. We would develop specific actions for local implementation. It can provide valuable information for investment/budgeting. There are several similar programs Internationally/Nationally. There’s still much to figure out, but she seeks initial reactions from members. Pam: Supports the idea, likes the working backwards strategy. Diane: May tie in well with State goals and action plan for 2050. Dave Wilkinson: Generally, likes the idea. Suggests interim milestones. Noted forecasting challenges. Laura: Research shows that having a positive, tangible vision is key to gathering support and for people to take action. Podcast link Kate will email links of examples. Kate responded to comments and explained she would research methodologies and send samples. ICLEI Cohort Training Update Cindy shared scenarios from 3 ICLEI training sessions which covered forecasting and modeling various reduction scenarios. Work included establishing forecasts of business as usual accounting for projected population growth and factoring in state electricity legislation (SB5116) and more efficient vehicles. ICLEI provides various canned reduction strategies that can be modeled. They identified several to model. (EV promotion, Residential Heat pumps, increased transit/bike, etc.). Member discussion ensued. Cindy clarified; the current model only includes emissions reduction not sequestration strategies. Clean electricity is a major beneficial factor. Transportation is our largest sector to tackle, followed by Industrial. Once this modeling is complete, it could inform future CAC discussions regarding our community’s emissions goals. Laura suggested adding a residential energy efficiency strategy, in addition to the low income weatherization one. A question was asked regarding the industrial electricity usage forecasts. Cindy thanked the volunteers assisting with the modeling, as well as Steve King, the City of Port Townsend Public Works director. Cindy will check with Jeff on any Industrial electricity projections. Update on NODC Grant on Climate Cindy: NODC working with WA State on the contract for the grant. Timing: Starting RFP in October; region wide strategies targeted for Oct. 2021; work with local governments on implementation July 2022. WA 2021 State Energy Strategy Diane connected with Eileen Quigley of Clean Energy Transition Institute and formerly with Climate Solutions. She was the technical consultant for WA on updating the energy strategy. State’s Draft anticipated Oct. 15; to legislature by Dec. 31. Goal is to be primed if federal funding becomes available. Eileen is interested in connecting with CAC. She is a technical resource/possible moderator for future charrette. Cindy: State emissions targets are 45% below 1990 levels by 2030; net zero and emissions 95% below 1990 levels by 2050. 10% drop in fuel demand due to COVID. Discussion: Support for Eileen as guest speaker. Inventory Roll out Planning and Materials Diane: She referred to Proposal for CAC Outreach Meetings (proposal in packets). 2 online meetings are proposed, one during the day and one evening. Possibly special meetings of the CAC with members present, a moderator, ability for public to interact with CAC members and ask questions about the inventory. Ideally this would build on articles in paper/city newsletter. (The City’s August Newsletter included a section on the greenhouse gas inventory.) City or County online meeting platform? LT: Zoom will only allow the public to listen to the presentation, not view, unless they can get a link, which compromises security. The County only has a call-in option, but not a chat format. Questions could be sent ahead of the meeting, but only verbal questions/comments could be made by phone. No prescreening would be possible. Pam: City uses Go To Webinar, can email questions or comments ahead, Clerk reads aloud; we also have a call-in ability. Advertising via paper/newsletter. Can it be included Judy coordinate with Laura/Joanna on process/notice/minutes/quorum/recorded? Is it a CAC meeting or an outreach event? Judy to ask if we can advertise for volunteer media/graphics? in Engage PT? Pam: the 10 initiatives are items on Council’s workplan. Not adding more currently. Diane asked if members are in support of early Oct. event. Members support November event. Kate suggests broadening format in future (e.g. Engage PT type of format, signage, schools, video). Motion by Laura Tucker: Move to approve Diane to work with Chair and staff to come up with dates and presentation plan for the November event. Second by Pam. Motion passed. Emissions Reduction Next Steps Cindy: Two possible paths for identifying top priority next steps for reducing emissions: 1) may be possible to do as part of the NODC grant process of working with municipalities but timing may be too far out (Fall 2022). 2) Our own charrette leveraging local experts. Funding Kate Dean had found no longer available: or 3) Both. Discussion: Agreed that both would be best. Consider how the Inventory Outreach event, Kate’s Vision 2050 and the charrette are best coordinated. All part of a larger Community Engagement. Chair to follow up with John Mauro re his potential participation in the roll out, and/or participation in a charrette. Upcoming Organizational Plans & Documents for Climate Review? City and County Shoreline Master Program Periodic Reviews: Judy provided overview of City SMP. Asked that it be included in next agenda for CAC comments. Dave Wilkinson is on County committee – four meetings starting in September. Judy to send link to City SMP project page. Public Comment None. Other Updates Cara: 1) Organic community has been working on climate initiatives in Europe and USA. They issued a white paper which includes benefits of organic food production including carbon sinks. 2) Solar project at American Legion Hall. Laura: 1) Local 20/20 Climate Action group redoing the Taming BigFoot Competition Jan-April 2) Students for Sustainability great group this year despite COVID challenges. Cindy: Strait ERN meeting with PS Leadership agenda topics included climate change. Cindy will send 2-page summary. Next Steps and Agenda Planning Next Meeting is October 28, 2020 1) Finalize November outreach meetings 2) Eileen Quigley guest speaker 3) City SMP Periodic Review 4) ICLEI Modeling 5) Charrette/Outreach December meeting is 12/23. Suggest rescheduling to 12/9 or 12/16. Members agreed. Cindy to send Doodle Poll for date preferences. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.