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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAC Minutes draft 02-13-24 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 3:00 - 5:00 PM Hybrid Meeting Hosted by Jefferson County Public Health 615 Sheridan Street; Pacific Room; Port Townsend Members Present: Cindy Jayne, Dave Wilkinson, Owen Rowe (City Council), Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), Nicole Gauthier (Jefferson Transit) Sara Peck (Jefferson Transit alt.); Kees Kolff (JHC), Carol Hasse (Port of PT), Kate Chadwick, Jamie Duyck, Krista Meyers, Dave Seabrook, Crystie Kisler, Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1) Absent: Kate Dean (BoCC), Micheal Clea (PTPC), Eric Toews (Port of PT alt.) Staff: Judy Surber (City of Port Townsend); Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: Mark Toy, Lolinthea Hinkley and Alyssa Wyrsch (Jefferson County Public Health), Josh Peters, Donna Frostholm (Jefferson County Dept. of Community Development), Lara Gaasland-Tatro (Jefferson County Public Health), Cyndy Bratz (Forest Working Group), Bear Belle Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Introductions Chair Kees Kolff called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Cindy Jayne moved to approve the agenda, second by Krista Meyers. Approved by consensus. Motion by Cindy Jayne, second by Jamie Duyck to approve 12/12/23 Minutes with minor edits by Cindy Jayne and corrected spelling of Rebecca’s last name. Minutes Approved by consensus. Laura to post on County Website Public Comment Bear introduced herself and said she is here to listen to and support the CAC. Elections Chair Kees Kolff opened the floor to nominations for Chair. Laura Tucker moved to nominate Kees for Chair, second by Cindy Jayne. Passed by consensus. Chair Kolff opened the floor to nominations for vice Chair. Kees moved to nominate Cindy Jayne, second by Laura Tucker. Passed by consensus. Membership Update/Introd uctions Chair Kees noted the welcome number of applications to join the CAC; there were numerous qualified candidates making it a difficult selection process. There was a round of introductions. GHG Emissions Goal First letter: Cindy Jayne noted at the December meeting, the CAC approved a motion to recommend the City Council and BoCC approve updated GHG emissions reduction goals based on the IPCC recommendations and science-based targets: 58.7% reduction from 2018 baseline levels by 2030 (absolute) and 95% below 2018 levels by 2050 (absolute) with reference to our previous goals using 1990 baseline data. Cindy shared the draft letter with references to 1990 baseline for comments. One correction to numbers in table, include a line that the CAC should review and update goals as the science evolves; suggest the pdf document be included as an attachment. Edits approved by general consensus. A discussion ensued with suggestions that the CAC update the recommended GHG reductions when possible, using the best current scientific data. David Seabrook offered these resources: 5th National Climate Assessment: https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/ - The chapter on the Northwest: https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/27/ “World will look back at 2023 as year humanity exposed its inability to tackle climate crisis, scientists say” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/29/world- will-look-back-at-2023-as-year-humanity-exposed-its-inability-to- tackle-climate-crisis Second Letter: Also at the December meeting, the CAC approved a motion to recommend setting Carbon Sequestration Goals. Cindy shared a cover letter to go along with materials from last meeting. Laura Tucker moved to approve the letter with Kate Chadwick’s suggested edits. Second by Cindy Jayne. Motion passed by consensus. Cindy to finalize the two letters and forward to Council and BoCC. Cindy offered an outline of Presentation to BoCC on Proposed New Goals. She welcomed comments and asked if anyone wished to participate. Owen Rowe clarified that the presentation will also be made to City Council. Review and Update Organizational Goals Kees shared Jefferson Healthcare goals. Judy Surber shared City of PT goals. Staff will send goals to the CAC and post to CAC webpage. Work Group Updates Cindy reported. EV working group meets tomorrow. There have been some recent grant successes, will cover at the next CAC meeting. VMT Redux group has a recommendation for the group to consider: "Knowing that 66% of our community’s GHG emissions are from transportation sources and knowing that Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is nearly directly correlated to GHG emissions, the VMT group recommends the CAC recommend to its respective governments that they rescind their off-street parking minimum policies. Minimum Off-street parking policies create sprawling commercial and residential development, which discourages and increases the danger of walking, biking, and use of transit, hence increasing VMT. Furthermore, off-street parking policies have resulted in the loss of valuable CO2 absorbing native habitat. Furthermore, off-street parking policies increase development cost, and add to an excessive number of parking spaces per vehicle, approximately 8 spaces per vehicle nationwide. Additionally, rescinding the parking minimums gives developers the flexibility to design and build the amount of parking they feel is appropriate." Motion by Cindy Jayne to approve the above recommendation and forward to City Council and BoCC. Second by Jamie Duyck. Kate Chadwick asked for clarification on language “increases the danger”? Motion passed by consensus with Cindy Jayne to clarify: which discourages and increases the danger of walking, biking, and use of transit, hence increasing VMT . Motion passed by consensus. Cindy to edit and final letter and send to Council/BoCC Upcoming Organizational Plans and Documents for County SLR Study & 2025 Comprehensive Plan periodic update - Donna Frostholm & Josh Peters Donna shared a presentation on Sea Level Rise Study completed last June. This report is very preliminary overview of the big Climate Review? scheme. Compiled existing SLR data. Consultant looked at vulnerability (exposure + sensitivity-adaptive capacity). Josh Peters presented on Climate Resilience and GMA. HB 1181 (2023) added Climate as 14th goal to GMA. County (& City) must do a Resiliency Element in Comprehensive Plan as part of the Periodic Review due by June 2025. Commerce funding of $300,000 for planning and future funding for implementation. County will continue to coordinate with CAC. Some of the Commerce grant funding will go to the Coordinated Waster System Plan (CWSP). Josh to explore overlap with NODC NOAA Resiliency Challenge Grant application. Q&A: Hazard Mitigation Plan update timing? Hoping for this year or next. Jeff Randall noted importance of updating the CWSP. Dave Wilkinson noted that from his experience with King Tide monitoring need to clarify the reference data in the SLR study and encourage including storm surge and wave run-up. Also it would be helpful if shoreline landowners had a way to find out what their elevation is. Laura hopes the CWSP will note carrying capacity with respect to water availability and feed into building permit review. Kees noted climate refugees. Dave Seabrook shared links to 5th National Climate Assessment released 11/23/24. Josh provided web links to view county comp plan updates: https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1708/2025-Periodic-Update County comp Plan; Sustainable Innovative Agricultural and Food Business 7-21 https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1709/2018-Comprehensive-Plan Also Natural Resource Lands: Agricultural Land; Economic Development; food security; rural character (various intersecting topics with agriculture, climate, sustainability). Jefferson Transit (JT) Climate Action Plan (CAP) – Nicole – In 2022 JT completed their long-range plan with goal of completing its own standalone CAP. They have retained Peak Sustainability to complete the CAP and inventory of GHG emissions. Public engagement will be in late spring-early summer. In response to questions, Nicole noted they have one EV bus and one more on order, looking at inductive chargers. City Shoreline Master Program 2025 update - Judy noted city progress. Currently in consultant selection process, then the Ecology grant contract will be finalized, and a public participation plan developed. Discussed possible role of CAC outreach to communicate the various plans underway and how our community is rising to the challenge. Spawned idea of a CAC Outreach subcommittee. Laura Tucker, Krista Meyers, and Crystie Kisler expressed interest. Josh asked, if subcommittee formed, please loop him in. Public Comment Mark Toy asked that the organizational goals be posted on the CAC website. Bear suggested outreach in conjunction with community gardening activity. Laura will post organizational goals on the website. Other Updates Carol Hasse: Port has a couple grant applications in process: 1) Solar panels and HVAC at Point Hudson 2) Power cord hookup for cruise ships. She referred the group to the Jefferson Land Trust resilency study: https://saveland.org/building-climate-resilience-on-the-olympic- peninsula-land-resilience-study/ Cindy recapped NODC grant application on NOAA Resiliency Challenge Grant. City/County/Port provided letters of support. Crystie asked if agriculture has been addressed? Cindy said, to date, nothing in depth, but it could be a new work group. Excited about prospect. Should engage WSU Director. Dave Seabrook also interested, and Jamie. Tourism and travel another related area. Owen interested; he is on City LTAC committee. Cindy Bratz – suggested it’s a good time to help inform public on forest carbon sequestration. Krista noted that the USDA Rural Energy for America Program grant can provide rural businesses and farms funding to cover 50% of renewable energy projects, and there are other organizations that can help with the application. Judy noted March 4 Council Interim Parking consideration. Next Steps and Agenda Planning Chair Kees asked if members were amendable for Fourth Tuesday of the month? All in favor provided Kate Dean agrees. Laura to formalize the change in schedule after confirming Commissioner Dean’s availability Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:01 p.m., only 1 minute late.