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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC Minutes_121421 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 3:00 - 5:00 PM ONLINE due to COVID Hosted by Jefferson County Public Health Members Present:, Dave Wilkinson, Cara Loriz, Cindy Jayne, Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), David Seabrook, Kate Dean (BOCC), Diane McDade, Kate Chadwick, Pamela Adams (City Council), Absent: Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1), Shelley Jaye, Eric Toews (Port of PT), Kevin Scott (Port Townsend Paper Corporation), Nicole Gauthier (Jefferson Transit), Miranda Nash (Jefferson Transit) Chris O’Higgins (JHC). Staff: Judy Surber (City of PT), Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: Kees Kolff, John Mauro, Mike Kennedy Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Cindy Jayne called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. A quorum was not yet present. Public Comment Kees Kolff – Thanked the committee and announced he may become the new hospital representative. Cindy summarized written comments from Scott Wilson and Lisa Crosby included in the packet materials, and noted that the reference from Scott is a great compilation of emissions reduction strategies with notes on which apply to rural areas, and also includes adaptation and equity aspects. At 3:05 Kate Chadwick joined the meeting. A quorum was present. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Cindy requested amendments/approval of today’s agenda and October 12 Minutes. Laura Tucker moved to approve; Second by Diane McDade. Motion passed. Laura to finalize October 12 minutes and post to County website. Update on Forest and Tree Greenhouse Gas Inventory Kate Dean had contacted Angus Brody, DNR Policy Lead – who agreed to review the Draft Forestry and Greenhouse Inventory (FGI). Angus was helpful in understanding how the report’s commercial sector results compared to other reports. Different time frames and geographies could account for some variations. He was not surprised that the draft FGI found commercial forestry a net emitter in 2 of the 3 periods. DNR is developing their own methods for measuring forestry emissions. Cindy noted the latest draft FGI includes the State carbon inventory report. Angus recommended others who may review the draft report. Cindy distributed the draft to relevant local organizations, Ecotrust, UW, and others for feedback by the end of the year. Other Updates Laura Tucker reported on her recent presentation to Board of Health with a focus on how climate change affects public health. Kate Dean noted the link to Governor Inslee’s Climate Agenda. Dave Wilkinson reported on King Tides Program. On December 3rd, he gave a presentation to the public that was sponsored by Port Townsend Marine Science Center and Jefferson Marine Resources Committee (MRC). MRC expressed interest in joint monitoring, and may have some funding and intern. Ian Miller may give some time. Could share with other MRCs to expand the program. NODC Grant: (Kate Dean) County submitted for funding to do a community wildfire protection plan which dovetails with their Hazard Management Plan update. NODC may be getting additional funding. (Judy) City submitted for technical assistance on climate impacts to city assets (e.g., SLR), EV infrastructure and supporting County community wildfire planning. Climate on Tap – (Laura) December 1st session featured local scientists and filmmakers who participated in the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (Jessica Plumb. Rachel Cardone, and Daphne Wysham. Climate on Tap will focus on transportation at the Jan. 5th session. The program is bringing in more local presenters to focus our work on local climate action. Summary of Outreach to the Public (Diane) November 4 outreach event focused on Emissions Redux report. Event was well attended with high degree of engagement. There was interest in transit, including bus pilot to Kingston Ferry, bikes, car idling at schools. Laura to post link on County website. VMT Redux Working Group Update (Cindy) Diane and Cindy are co-leading the group. Discussing ways to combine Transit’s Dump the Pump Day with broader bike/walk/etc to work/school concept (possibly in May?). This could be a good pilot for employee commute trip reduction. A friendly competition among employers has been suggested. Kate Dean happy to encourage County to participate. Arlene Alen of Chamber is interested in supporting. Local 20/20 is also discussing trip reduction. Kees suggested the event coincide with National Bike to Work event, and Recyclery might be interested. Laura suggested a City/County proclamation. Cindy noted parking and employee commute reduction ideas are also being explored by the group. Diane spoke to Arlene’s interest on climate issues – she has initiated a Chamber Sustainability task force. Diane and Arlene discussed greening tourism, transit, Kitsap ferry, and employee commute reduction. Diane hopes a CAC member can participate on the Chamber task force. There is interest in Chamber joining the CAC. EV Working Group Update (Cindy) WSDOT will have grant funding for EV infrastructure which promises to be competitive process. Jefferson PUD, City, and others coordinating possible applications. Bonneville Environmental Foundation also has grant funding for EV infrastructure. NODC grant for Port Townsend may provide grant funding for EV planning. Discuss and Vote on Legislative Agenda (Cindy) reviewed the CAC’s Draft legislative agenda letter to Council and BoCC. For future reference, the best timing for recommendations on City John Mauro: For future reference, the best timing for recommendations on City legislative agenda is prior to November. David Wilkinson suggested minor edit which Cindy incorporated. Motion by Pamela Adams to approve the CAC’s recommendations on the City/County 2022 legislative agenda as amended: Second by Kate Chadwick. Motion passed. legislative agenda is prior to November. Discussion with John Mauro on Climate Change and PT City’s 2022 Legislative Agenda builds off 2021 agenda. Priorities include Housing (City received affordable housing infrastructure monies) and Transportation (ferry service, Mill Road/Kearny) and Climate Action (adaptation of city assets – requesting state funds, active transportation to compliment clean fuel standards, GMA long-range planning for reducing emissions and equity, retrofit of buildings). Cindy noted Clean Building Act, if passed, would allow local jurisdictions to develop residential energy standards for buildings. Currently State law prohibits. Q&A ensued. NODC grant application – John expanded on the city’s application. In regards public assets vulnerable to shoreline erosion/storm events/SLR. Sees this opening a conversation with private landowners who are also at risk. David Wilkinson shared observations from King Tides walk with Steve King (erosion, trail south of ferry, ferry parking/circulation impacted). Barney Burke took photos. Need to feed into emergency management. Kate Chadwick reminded group of Climate Risk Screening Tool, and it was noted that using it as appropriate was part of the City’s climate goals Cindy noted past Local 20/20 work with Chamber on sea level rise vulnerability, where local businesses heard from the former mayor of Olympia on their planning. Olympia has been doing SLR planning and has been willing to share their experience. John encouraged CAC to consider ways to leverage Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG)– County/City/Port/PUD. Organizational Goals City and County reported out on their 2022 organizational goals. John Mauro shared City has been selected for NODC grant. Upcoming Organizational Plans and Documents for Climate Review? (Cindy) County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan update. CAC input was requested on climate action section, and Cindy offered that the committee could also be used as a resource on other sections on specific topics. Cindy sent draft climate action section to members for review. Dave Seabrook is helping with the drought section; he noted Chief Black has experience on wildfire planning from California. David Wilkinson and Kate Chadwick volunteered to review. Public Comment Mike Kennedy – commended the group. Next Steps and Agenda Planning 2022 schedule continues with second Tuesday of the month, every other month. Next meeting: February 8, 2022,. Meetings for year April 12, June 14, August 9, October 11, December 13. Mark your calendars! Farewell to Councilmember Pam Adams and Shelley Jaye. Cara and Dave plan to apply for another term. Kees Kolff will likely replace Chris O’Higgins as Hospital’s primary. Agenda items: Elections for Chair and Vice Chair, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Forest Report Update, NODC Grant, Equity and Climate, Organizational Goals. Legislative update. Pam and Kate Dean support a business/Chamber representative on CAC. Staff have reached out to Port and Mill to inquire about their continued place on the Committee. Discussed equity and diversity in membership, including ag and/or forestry, and including students again. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:04 p.m.