The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCAC Minutes_08_08_23 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Special Meeting Minutes Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 3:00 - 5:00 PM Jefferson County Public Health 615 Sheridan Street; Pacific Room; Port Townsend or Online Members Present: Kees Kolff (JHC), Cindy Jayne, Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), Dave Seabrook, Kate Chadwick, Owen Rowe (City Council), Dave Wilkinson, Micheal Clea (PTPC), Nicole Gauthier (Jefferson Transit) Absent: Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1), Carol Hasse (Port of PT), Kate Dean (BoCC), Diane McDade Staff: Judy Surber (City of Port Townsend); Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: Richard Dandridge (T-Lab/VMT Working Group), Cyndy Bratz (Forest Working Group), Alyssa Wyrsch (JCPH), Krista Myers, Chris Goy (Jefferson County Administration; subbing for Kate Dean) Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Introductions Chair Kolff called the meeting to order at 3:16 due to technical difficulties with first hybrid meeting. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Approval of Agenda and 6/13/23 Minutes. Motion to approve Agenda and minutes as presented, by Cindy Jayne, 2nd by Owen Rowe, motion passed. Laura to post on County Website Public Comment None. Updates Cindy Jayne attended a workshop on Climate Action Federal Funding opportunities and suggested future speaker to learn more. Dave Wilkinson is on Jefferson County Conservation Futures – their selection criteria includes climate resilience. They are considering modifications to that language. Dave Seabrook – last week’s fire on Beaver Valley Road raises awareness of wildfire danger. Judy reported on July 10 Council Retreat next steps. Kees: Sarah Rubenstein from PTSD invited CAC to help train teachers in local climate resilience efforts. City involvement in Port SLR Planning The Port’s plans for the Flood Protection Waterwalk was the topic at our April 11, 2023 meeting. CAC recommended Council include “Plan for sea level rise adaptation” in the 2024 Workplan. Council’s draft 2024 Draft Workplan includes: “Coordinate with Port, CAC, and other agencies on planning a response to SLR including waterwalk and BRIC application – City Manager Mauro noted opportunity to coordinate on SLR with Port. Jeff Kostechka, Assistant City Engineer, will be on the Port’s interview panel. A complete analysis of the project’s consistency with adopted city plans has not been conducted as no application is pending. However, the Port noted Shoreline Master Program Policy 7.3.5 is being used for guidance. Anticipated permits include Shoreline, Building, Grading, Site Development Permits, including necessary State and Federal and environmental review. Since existing elevations, on the whole, are higher downtown than at Boat Haven, design solutions for any future downtown phase of the project is expected to differ from the first phase. Ask Dave N. about Port’s public outreach plan/opportunities for community input EV Working Group Update Cindy Jayne met with Chris Goy and Steve King to discuss opportunities. EV Carshare is now live (one by Chamber and one at OlyCAP 7th Haven next to QFC). Fast chargers at Chamber are being installed with a variety of connectors. Future Grants: ZEV Co- Op applieded for funding for additional EVs for the carshare, and OlyCap will be getting an ADA van, and the Chamber will be getting an additional sedan. Chris Goy: County partnered on 2 grant applications for fast charging stations (Uptown Community Center, Jefferson County Library Port Hadlock, Quilcene Community Store, intersection of 104 and Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitors Center. Cindy Jayne: Heads up to all, Commerce grants for EV chargers in Rural workplace will become available early next year. CAC EV group is interested in pursuing this, and Chris has been researching it. Let Cindy know if your organization is interested in collaborating. Forestry Workshop Update Cindy Jayne recapped the two documents routed in advance of the Meeting 1) CAC recommendations re Tree Canopy Goal and City Urban Forestry Plan - Tree canopy goals were discussed last meeting. City has applied for grant funding to complete a Urban Forestry Plan. The CAC Forest Working group recommends that the letter be forwarded to City Council, and amended to be from the CAC. Motion: Laura Tucker moved that CAC adopt the letter as written and forward to City Council. Second by Dave Wilkinson. Motion Passed. 2) Proposed Amendments to the Forests and Trees GHG Inventory Report to correct the report which excluded Fort Worden from the City of Port Townsend. Motion: Owen Rowe moved to Approve edits to the Forests and Trees GHG Inventory Report as recommended in the letter from the Forest Working Group dated 8/1/23. Laura Tucker second. Motion Passed. 3) Goals – draft goals were circulated to various agencies for review. Based on input received, Forestry Group recommends revising goals. Cindy will report more at the next meeting. Cyndy Bratz noted yesterday the BOCC voted to send a letter to Hilary Franz to expand the Dabob Bay protected area. Setting the recommend goals may assist with future grant funding. **Finalize letter and send to Council VMT Redux Working Group Update Cindy Jayne recapped materials included in the CAC meeting packets. 1) Recommendations from CAC VMT Working Group. Dave Wilkinson: suggested adding enhance livability in the urban environment. Krista Myers commented on incentives for E-bikes. Laura suggested adding transit incentives. Cindy suggested separating out the Comprehensive Plan land use/density recommendations from the incentives. Discussion ensued. Cindy incorporated edits to second paragraph last sentence after 2030, while adopting strategies to minimize heat island effects and enhancing livability. Motion: Kate Chadwick moved to adopt the first two paragraphs of the letter as amended to include heat island effects and enhanced livability and forward to City Council and BoCC. Second by Dave Wilkinson. Motion Passed. For the remainder of the letter, members asked the working group to come back to CAC with recommended language. Nicole asked for clarification on incentives. Members shared thoughts. Krista Meyers shared financial incentive models: https://ecoact.org/ebike-rebate-application/ https://3cenergy.org/ **Finalize letter and send to Council and BoCC CAC Membership Openings Update Judy noted two vacancies have been advertised on city and county websites and city newsletter. Two applications are in review. Per the CAC membership resolution – applications are reviewed by the Mayor, BOCC Chair, City Manager and County Administrator. They may choose to expand advertising. Laura noted the timeline was not clear. Cindy noted there was one additional application that had been submitted previously. Judy has informed the City Clerk. Laura noted Commissioner Dean welcomed input from CAC Chair. Member expressed desire for student participation and discussed history. Laura will encourage students to engage. Kate Chadwick suggested bringing this up with Sarah Rubenstein. Krista Myers suggested advertising on sites visited by student demographic. Staff to research the past student membership status. Upcoming Organizational Plans and Documents for Climate Review? Nicole: Jefferson Transit is starting process to draft a Climate Action Plan as directed by their board. They will be putting out an RFQ. Stakeholder group may be formed. Community Wildfire Protection Plan: Dave Seabrook: County taking lead with EFJR and other fire districts playing a role. Councilmember Rowe noted Urban Wildland Code adoption in late October. Public Comment None Next Steps and Agenda Planning Next Meeting October 10. Possible Topics: Organizational Climate Goals Proposed updated climate goals Carbon Sequestration Urban Wildland Interface Funding for Agriculture Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:01 p.m.