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Home My WebLink AboutCAC Minutes draft 04-23-24_v2 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 23, 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, Owen Rowe (City Council), Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), Nicole Gauthier (Jefferson Transit); Kees Kolff (JHC), Carol Hasse (Port of PT), Jamie Duyck, Krista Meyers, Dave Seabrook, Crystie Kisler, Kate Dean (BoCC) Absent: Dave Wilkinson, Sara Peck (Jefferson Transit alt.), Kate Chadwick, Micheal Clea (PTPC), Eric Toews (Port of PT alt.), Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1) Staff: Judy Surber (City of Port Townsend); Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: Lara Gaasland-Tatro (Jefferson County Public Health), Lara Cittandini, Gus W, Frank, Kat Klass (Peak Sustainability) Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Introductions Vice Chair Cindy Jayne called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM, as the Chair, while present, was recovering from surgery. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Kees Kolff moved to approve the agenda and 2/13/24 Minutes with minor amendment to pronouns, second by Carol Hasse. Approved by consensus. Laura to post on County Website Public Comment None. GHG Goal Update (Cindy Jayne) CAC previously recommended two goals be forwarded to BOCC and Council for adoption: 1) Emissions reduction goals and 2) new proposed goal for increasing carbon sequestration. Cindy and Kees presented to BOCC in February and again yesterday. BOCC approved both recommended goals with no modifications. BoCC recommended developing steps to meet targets. Cindy asked for volunteers to help develop steps. Next step is to present the recommendations to city council. Commissioner Dean would like update from City on Tree Conservation Grant. Carol Hasse asked for presentation to Port (once Council has taken action). Kees anticipated 0.5 hour. Laura: Initiative 2117 proposes to repeal Climate Commitment Act and place a 40-year moratorium on any further climate initiatives. Kate noted pulp and paper mills will be given emissions allowances at no cost until 2034 https://ecology.wa.gov/air- climate/climate-commitment-act/cap-and-invest/emissions- intensive-trade-exposed-industries Cindy coordinate development of steps to meet targets. Judy – assist in scheduling Council presentation. Ideally 45 min- hour Review and Update Organizational Goals Cindy reviewed updated goals received to date and encouraged others to provide updates by June 11. These will be posted on the CAC website by organization. Group discussed renaming from “organizational goals” to “action steps” or “activities”? K. Dean prefers goals. Kees and Cindy to develop terminology. Status of previously set goals for 2022- 2023 are requested from the County and Jefferson PUD. New goals for 2024-2025 (or planned action steps) re climate, including reducing emissions and planning for climate impacts, are requested from Commented [JS1]: May 13 workshop followed by action at next meeting? Commented [CJ2R1]: That works for me. the county, Jefferson Healthcare, JPUD, PTPC, and Port of Port Townsend. Work Group Updates EV group: Cindy reported. 8 fast chargers @ Chamber will be installed by mid-June. Working with City to spread the word re the fast chargers and also the EV Carshare. Grant funding secured for second ZEV Coop carshare car at OlyCAP 7th Haven and at Chamber. Looking for funding to cover the extra cost to make the 2nd vehicle at the Chamber be a pick-up truck. Fast chargers funded for: Quilcene, Port Ludlow, a few locations on west end, PT Community Center, and Visitor Center at Hwy 19/104. Grant from WA Commerce for Level 2 workplace chargers at Wooden Boat School and JPUD. VMT Redux group: Cindy - some members participated in Transportation Lab conference on 4/19, will share information at next VMT meeting. Note that the action item from last meeting to finalize language regarding recommendation rescinding off street parking minimums was completed. Agricultural: Crystie and Cindy: proposing 8-10 people with a two-year term to meet monthly. Focus on researching and articulating actional items at the county level, at the intersection of climate change adaptation/resilience and mitigation and food systems. She would like clarification on protocols for workgroups. Forestry: Focus has been supporting the preparation of the presentation to BOCC re carbon sequestration goals. General procedural update: Judy and Cindy to investigate guidelines for workgroups. JS to arrange meeting with City and County Clerk, KK, CJ, LT to provide guidance for workgroups. Upcoming Organizational Plans and Documents for Climate Review? Jefferson Transit (JT) Climate Action Plan (CAP) – Nicole Passed long-range plan in 2022 which included a requirement to develop a stand-alone climate action plan. Retained Peak Sustainability in 2023. A core group (including Kate Dean and Cindy Jayne) is working with the consultant to shape the plan. Goal is to complete by end of year. Entering public outreach stage. Kat Klass of Peak Sustainability gave a brief presentation. A survey is now active. Members shared ideas to promote transit use. JT has additional electric buses on order. Judy to send link encouraging all to take the survey and share link with others: https://qualtrics xmmnbfw26d2 .qualtrics.com/j City Shoreline Master Program 2025 update - (Judy) Staff is negotiating the grant contract with Ecology. County Shoreline Master Program – Kate Dean reported final hearing coming up. fe/form/SV_73 fYmJjW4Ydvq zI Bike to Work Day Krista announced National Bike to Work Day is May 18, Friday. She encouraged organizations to provide incentives to employees who bike to work. ICLEI Circularity Cohort Resources Laura described the resources offered by ICLEI including the Circularity Framework. Her slide presentation and resource link provided here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15DxqemnlgcJlH_LOPcB3 MSxBLbDWzElXIcPI04Ox72s/edit?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_5f8hJo4cfpzxh7E- HGo6r75OxB8IhYB Public Comment Lara Cittadini will send information on “One Water” as a resource Other Updates Dave Seabrook suggested the CAC institute and maintain a list of resources, references and reports to include relevant developments in the science, information from recognized authorities, appropriate essays and information from subject matter experts and journalism. Cindy suggested discussion at a future meeting. Carol Hasse: Bonneville Power info shows hydropower generation has dropped to a 22-year low. Water shortage is a concern even for the PNW. Crystie asked if CAC is tracking the County Comp Plan? Kate noted Josh Peters will be giving an update at our next meeting. Cindy asked if there might be interest in holding a Drought Forum like was done in 2015, since Jefferson County was recently declared a drought emergency by WA Dept of Ecology. Kate noted local drought conditions may be a topic for the Intergovernmental Collaborative. Krista noted availability of $7 billion via Department of Commerce Solar for All, to increase solar accessibility for low-income families. Cindy noted that Jefferson County has been selected for two WA Commerce awards regarding commercial Energy Audit grants; DIY Residential Plans Engineered for Energy Efficiency/Stock Add Dave Seabrook item and County grant item to list for future agenda items. Plans. The CAC may have a role in the grant, if desired, to be discussed at a future meeting. Kees recommended Andrew Boyd’s book I Want a Better Catastrophe; Navigating the Climate Crisis with Grief, Hope and Gallows Humor. https://andrewboyd.com/better-catastrophe/ and if you can spare 52 minutes and want the summary version, watch his narrative of an amazing flowchart of decisions: https://flowchart.bettercatastrophe.com Next Steps and Agenda Planning June 25: Salmon Habitat Restoration is Climate Action Too (Tami Pokorny) Climate change in Comp Plan- update on the climate planning process (Josh Peters confirmed; Adrian Smith invited) Workgroups guidance and EV group as part of Local 2020? Plan report outs to our partners/stakeholders (KK, CJ) Commerce grant for Energy Audits Future: Resources/reference list (Dave Seabrook) Climate Commitment Act Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 p.m..