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Home My WebLink AboutCAC Minutes_Final 080922 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 3:00 - 5:00 PM ONLINE due to COVID Hosted by Jefferson County Public Health Members Present: Cindy Jayne, Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), Owen Rowe (City Council), Arlene Alen (Chamber of Commerce); Kate Dean (BoCC); Cara Loriz, Dave Wilkinson, Diane McDade, Michael Sheehan (PTPC); Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1) Absent:, Carol Hasse (Port of PT), Miranda Nash (Jefferson Transit), Kate Chadwick, Kees Kolff (JHC), Nicole Gauthier (Jefferson Transit) Staff: Judy Surber (City of PT), Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: Elise Rasmussen, WA State Department of Health (DOH); Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Cindy Jayne called the meeting to order at 3:03 PM. A quorum was present. Welcome new member Arlene Alen (Chamber of Commerce). Arlene has already been active in EV Working group and car free day. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Agenda – Owen moved. Kate Dean second. Agenda passed as written. Approval of minutes deferred. June 14, 2022, Minutes will be provided in next meeting packet. Include Draft June 14, 2022, Minutes in next meeting packet. Public Comment None. Equity Presentation Laura introduced guest speaker Elise Rasmussen, Climate Justice Coordinator with State DOH. Elise gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Shaping Change Toward Climate & Environmental Justice, Health Equity & Anti-Racism” (Slides will be available). Discussed “environmental justice” (proximity to pollution source – e.g., targeting poorer communities to locate incinerator), “climate justice” (climate change threatens health- some groups unequally impacted/adds to existing health inequities). Studies have shown that racial demographics strongly correlate with where pollution is found. Climate justice means no one is left behind in the face of climate change…means transitioning to a more equitable and health-promoting future. Recommends: health2016.globalchange.gov; Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act passed 2021; EJ Task Force Recommendations for Prioritizing EJ in WA State (Fall 2020) Discussion: what actions can we take to promote climate justice? Consider adding Climate Justice to the CAC’s climate risk screening tool EV Working Group Cindy referred to written EV update which was previously provided. Two grant applications we participated in are looking hopeful. 1. City DC Chargers at Chamber location. 2. WSDOT Low-income EV carshare at Chamber and at Jefferson Healthcare VMT Redux Working Group Update / Car Free Day Cindy referred to written VMT update which was previously provided. 1. Any specific topics for Miranda to cover in her presentation on vanpools at the October meeting? Tie to ferries, E-bike/E-scooters; Haines Place infrastructure updates.; tie to major employers start times. 2. If City forms a “paid parking downtown workgroup”, should CAC request to participate? 3. If Council directs Planning Commission to revisit zoning and density, should the CAC request to be a part of the discussion? Owen Rowe noted Council is in very early stages of formulating Items 2 & 3. No workgroups are being formed to date. May be premature for Item 3. Commented [CJ1]: perhaps not include, since speaker may not have been speaking for DOH? Owen Rowe moved to request that a CAC representative be included in City workgroups for parking management plan and changes to zoning and density. Second by Laura Tucker. Motion passed unanimously. Update on Input to PT 2023 Workplan [5] Cindy shared draft CAC input to City Council 2023 Workplan. Owen noted the input was well received. Owen Rowe moved that CAC recommend that someone from the Forest Working Group be part of City Tree Ordinance work group if one is formed. Second by Cara Loriz. Motion passed unanimously. Upcoming Organizational Plans and Documents for Climate Review? Cindy summarized Organizational Goals update (provided in the meeting packets). Owen noted City increasing walkability and bike- ability definitely within City workplan. He has not seen the Climate Screening Tool used. Cindy noted NODC grant – developing a climate checklist. Once this is available, CAC may want to revisit our Climate Screening Tool; and as noted above, consider climate justice. Jeff Randall discussed Type I and II chargers that other PUDs provide access to. If chargers are intended for employees – a low tech method of ensuring charger is used by employees is to lock it during non-business hours. Laura noted the Climate Protection and Restoration Initiative. https://cprclimate.org/. EPA comment period closes on Sept.14, 2022. Kate Dean: County working with DNR - certainly want carbon sequestration to be part of the discussion. Arlene: Chamber adopted a sustainable tourism approach in 2020 and continues to ramp it up. “Bikes across the bay” leveraged with Jefferson Transit service to ferry. Passport program. Relationship with Fort Worden for one day free in exchange for work to benefit the community. Reintroduce CAC Climate Screening tool and keep it in the conversation. PTPC and Port requested to provide organizational goals. Cara – Seed Alliance is providing input on federal policy emphasizing organic farming as a climate solution. Public Comment None. Other Updates 10/5/22 3PM Forestry report to City Council I&D Committee 10/25/22 7PM Forestry report to public Kate: NODC wrapped up grant: ranking priority projects on the Olympic Peninsula. NODC planning on energy grid resilience presentation in the Fall Architect of Inflation Reduction Act was a local Chimacum High School graduate! Send the NODC climate grant report to CAC when available. Next Steps and Agenda Planning Upcoming CAC Meetings and possible agenda items: October 11 Meeting Topics: Miranda on Vanpools, possible discussion with Chimacum graduate noted above, Community-wide goals; NODC ranking of priority projects Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.