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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Climate Action Plan Task Force - 03/10/2022 Climate Action Plan Task Force 180 Market Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sbvt.gov Meeting Thursday, March 10, 2022 City Hall, 180 Market Street, Room 301 and Online 7:00 pm This meeting will be held both in person and digitally via Zoom. Participation Options: In person: South Burlington City Hall Room 301, 180 Market Street Assisted Listening Service Available; reach out to staff before meeting begins Interactive Online (audio & video): https://zoom.us/j/95143480222 Telephone (audio only): (929) 205 6099; 951 4348 0222 AGENDA: 1. Instructions on existing building in case of emergency and review of technology options – Paul Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning (7:00 pm) 2. Agenda: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items 3. Open to the public for items not related to the agenda 4. Welcome ICLEI representative to discuss science based targets 5. *Review second draft of Buildings/Thermal Sector pathways and actions. 6. Continue review of Pathways & Actions by sector and schedule next topic areas. 7. *Minutes: February 10, 2022 8. Other Business 9. Adjourn (8:55 pm) *Item has attachments Respectfully submitted, Paul Conner, AICP, Paul Conner, AICP Director of Planning & Zoning Chief Sustainability Officer 180 Market Street South Burlington, VT 05403 tel 802.846.4106 fax 802.846.4101 www.sb vt.gov MEMORANDUM TO: South Burlington Climate Action Plan Task Force FROM: Paul Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning & Chief Sustainability Officer SUBJECT: March 10, 2022 Task Force Meeting Cover memo Hi folks. Enclosed is this week’s packet. 1. Instructions on existing building in case of emergency and review of technology options – Paul Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning (7:00 pm) 2. Agenda: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items 3. Open to the public for items not related to the agenda 4. Welcome ICLEI representative to discuss science based targets We are excited to have a representative of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability join us for a portion of the meeting. The CCRPC is a member of ICLEI and intend to use one of their software programs to help evaluate proposed pathways & actions. Here is a link to their work on science-based targets. 5. *Review second draft of Buildings/Thermal Sector pathways and actions. Enclosed please find the most recent draft of the Buildings/Thermal sector pathways and actions. This draft incorporates the structural feedback, includes many of the ideas (in some cases consolidated among similar ones), and strives to have them all read at a similar level of depth/detail. These actions, as you will see, are ambitious, and some include structures and investments that are significantly above the City’s present roles/funding. As we proceed through this work and development of the Plan, an evaluation of the relative costs of implementation will likely need to accompany the evaluation of actions’ climate impact. As an iterative process, actions may be added or removed later in the process following this review. In the meantime, though, staff recommends the Task Force continue to build the worksheets for remaining Sectors. For the Task Force’s Consideration leading up to and at the meeting: • Does this list capture all of the major topics within this sector? Anything missing? Anything folks disagree with? • Does the Task Force want to discuss phasing of any of the actions? • Review through lens of equity at this initial high level. If the Task Force is then ready to share this as the working list of pathways and actions, it may do so via a straw poll and embark on the next sector. 2 6. Continue review of Pathways & Actions by sector and schedule next topic areas. This item will be for the Task Force to discuss how it would like to proceed with review of the pathways and actions within the remaining sectors. If Task Force members are comfortable with the “level” of the actions within the building/thermal sector, that can serve as somewhat of a template for the product. We should note that while the discourse on the Building/Thermal sector has been both important and valuable, we are behind schedule overall in completion of this first round of possible pathways & actions. 7. *Minutes: February 10, 2022 Draft minutes enclosed 8. Other Business 9. Adjourn (8:55 pm) DRAFT Climate Action Plan Pathways and Action Worksheet BUILDINGS / THERMAL SECTOR 3/3/2022 A pathway is a high-level means of achieving GHG emissions reductions or adaptation goals. Data point to measure; as a second step a target may be established where possible based on emissions modeling. Actions are the “operational” tasks the City will undertake to meet the pathways and strategies. Actions may be written around existing — or propose new — policies, programs, projects, initiatives, plans, etc. Committees or staff responsible for taking action. CAPTF member who contributed comments on a particular aciton Draft Pathway Metric for montioring DRAFT Action Leaders CAPTF 21 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of target units thermally improved each year. Identify the least efficient residential owner-occupied buildings in City and develop policy and program to increase efficiency in those buildings. VGS can track energy use before and after thermal improvements. City Council City Manager Andrew, Donna 22 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of buildings graded per year Establish a City-based grading for all buildings/homes on energy efficiency. Recognize/certify homes that have phased out fossil fuels or reduced significantly by electrification. City Council, City Manager, Consultant Srini 23 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of sales/title transfer with energy audits per quarter Require an energy audit report, certified by the city, be provided for every home prior to sale or title transfer. Collaborate with home inspectors and Efficiency Vermont to develop an energy audit report. Needs research All 24 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of City-sponsored energy audits per year Identify gaps in energy audits by VGS and EVT and provide city resource to perform energy audits on these buildings. City Council, City Manager, Consultant Srini 25 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of City residents assisted by CVOEO (or airport) weatherization program. Promote and collaborate with CVOEO and other partners to assist low-income residents with weatherization and energy efficiency projects. Additionally, if successful, consider expanding the airport area weatherization program. Energy Committee, City Council, City Manager All 26 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of rental properties weatherized Develop weatherization ordiance to mandate weatherization requirements in high energy use rental properties similar to Burlington's Minimum Housing Code Weatherization Ordinance. City Council, City Manager, City Attorney Andrew 27 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of participating property owners City to become a 2030 District (https://www.2030districts.org/). This is a private/public partnership working to reduce building energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions 50% by 2030. Program targets larger commercial and multi-family buildings, benchmarks energy use, and sets reduction targets. City Council Andrew, Donna, Srini 28 Reduce energy use in existing buildings Number of buildings receiving preferential tax rate Develop preferential tax rate for highly efficient buildings. Needs research Andrew and Srini Page 1 of 2 DRAFT Climate Action Plan Pathways and Action Worksheet BUILDINGS / THERMAL SECTOR 3/3/2022 A pathway is a high-level means of achieving GHG emissions reductions or adaptation goals. Data point to measure; as a second step a target may be established where possible based on emissions modeling. Actions are the “operational” tasks the City will undertake to meet the pathways and strategies. Actions may be written around existing — or propose new — policies, programs, projects, initiatives, plans, etc. Committees or staff responsible for taking action. CAPTF member who contributed comments on a particular aciton Draft Pathway Metric for montioring DRAFT Action Leaders CAPTF 29 Net-zero for new construction Percentage of net-zero homes Establish and adopt City building code and hire code inspector in order to ensure building energy code compliance and that City of South Burlington has the authority to regulate the thermal fuel source of new buildings. City Council, City Manager, City Attorney All 30 By 2030 100%? Net- zero for new construction Percentage of net-zero homes Establish a city level resource to educate/promote net zero building standards and work with builders and contractors and to certify NetZero buildings and promote programs to attract/certify NetZero building contractors. Enabled by City's adoption of building code (action 29). City Council, City Manager, City Attorney Srini 31 Increase awareness of City CAP buildings/thermal programs Number of communications Dedicate City resources to promote and educate residents, businesses, and property owners about programs within this list. City Manager, P+Z, Communications All Page 2 of 2 SOUTH BURLINGTON CLIMATE ACTION TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES 10 FEBRUARY 2022 1 The South Burlington Climate Action Plan Task Force held a meeting on Thursday, 10 February 2022, at 7:00 p.m., in person at 180 Market Street and online via Zoom remote technology. MEMBERS PRESENT: Andrew Chalnick, Darrylin Peters, Donna Leban, Ethan Goldman, Michael Mittag (first part of meeting), Sriram Srinivasan, Paul Conner (Ex-Officio Staff Liaison) ALSO PRESENT: Melanie Needle (CCRPC project consultant), Ann Janda (CCRPC Project Consultant), R. Greco, M. Murray 1. Instructions on existing building in case of emergency and review of technology options – Paul Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning Mr. Conner provided instructions for those attending in person. 2. Agenda: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items No changes were made to the agenda 3. Open to the public for items not related to the agenda (7:04 pm) No comments unrelated to the agenda were provided 4. Review and finalize structure of Pathways and Actions worksheet Mr. Goldman, Ms. Janda, and Ms. Needle discussed how the worksheet has been updated based on feedback provided at the last meeting. This included defining a goal vs a pathway and action and sets up a structure to capture key information. Ms. Needle noted that some of the information would be filled in later in the process. Mr. Srinivasan said he thought this format is fine for now. Looking at other examples from other CAPs, there are nuanced attributes that may be helpful to incorporate at a later date. Ms. Leban said there were some columns containing much of the same information that should be removed or hidden. Ms. Peters said the structure is sufficient for now and urged the Task Force to not worry about the final columns until later. She recommended working with a more nimble document. Mr. Chalnick said there needs to be a little more known by sector as a goal. Ms. Leban said the Task Force should filter between small actions and big actions, and to focus on what can be achieved and how. Ms. Conner said he felt the levels of each action differ; that by having the same level of depth of each action it would make them easier to review. Mr. Mittag excused himself from the remainder of the meeting during this item. Mr. Goldman said that while the Task Force didn’t appear ready to vote on approval of a structure, that with these improvements discussed herein the Task Force could move to the next item. Ms. Janda said she would take the feedback and incorporate it into the next draft of the Building/Thermal Sector. 5. *Begin review of Pathways & Actions, by Sector, beginning with building / thermal 2 Ms. Goldman invited each member to take 2-3 minutes to outline their thoughts. Mr. Chalnick said he would add code enforcement to column H under efficiency improvements to new and existing buildings. In addition, the focus we have listed for renovations is towards lower- income. He said he would want to make sure that we’re also looking at big homes which are energy hogs as the charge of the Task Force is on energy reduction. On the switch out fossil fuels, he would like to add some kind of taxation method, and would also want to understand how this pathway relates to the state’s clean heat standard. If state adopts its standard, will there be things we need to do as a city or will the work be done? Regarding net-zero, these are the right actions; the key will be the obstacles to implementation. Ms. Leban said there should be a focus on benchmarking. She recommended utilizing VT Gas to identify high energy use homes / businesses and focus there. This is work that Efficiency Vermint has been doing for a long time. Similarly, identify rental properties with high energy use, and low income families in coordination with CVOEO. Sometimes people just don’t know about CVOEO and what they can assist with. At the high income end, efficiency programs work better on higher income. Need to convince them to spend in this area. For working families, we should work to convince people this is a financially even, teach them how this has to be done to meet climate objectives. With Realtors, work with them to help share and market what’s fashionable, what’s not. Mr. Srinivasan said we should code buildings based on energy efficiency. The City should develop a sustainable audit plan on energy efficiency. In reading other climate action plans, he said, he is picking up is “what policy does the city need to consider”, then “what expertise”, then “what financial resources” as a primary theme. On energy audits: the City could jump start the effort by having a part time person, maybe a basic fee for service. In addition, when a sale goes through, have an energy audit required. Ms. Peters said she liked the idea of these requirements, such as a time of sale audit. We’re going to need to have a training program though because CVOEO can do this but they don’t have sufficient staff. Mr. Goldman said he has been thinking about what is the City’s unique role. He said he’s observed two buckets: Hard power and soft power. Hard power is regulations, taxation, etc. Soft power is information. He recommended we think about it in these terms and what can the city impact. Mr. Conner said that he’s add to Mr. Goldman’s notes that city has (some) financial ability and can access grants as tools as well. Ms. Leban said the City has political capital too. Task Force members discussed some of the individual actions. Educational programs (button up workshops) were discussed. Ms. Peters said that in her view, the educational program such as these are in service of the other actions, and should not be our primary focus as individual actions themselves but as means to accomplish the others. 3 Mr. Conner said that he felt some of the actions, such as the button up workshops, were too specific, while others were too broad. He recommended the next draft strive to be at an equivalent level of depth so that the Task Force could view them through a similar lens. Ms. Janda invited members to provide their feedback in writing by the end of the following week, to be incorporated into the March 10th draft. 6. Evaluating equity of Pathways and Actions in the context of the Climate Action Plan The Task Force has a short discussion of equity. Ms. Needle indicated that through the CCRPC’s channels, they would reach out to representatives of some underrepresented populations. Ms. Peters drew the Task Force’s attention to the State of VT’s list of underrepresented populations, and noted that in the State CAP, one of the goals is to involve underserved populations from the start. 7. *Minutes: January 26, 2022 Ms. Peters moved to approve the minutes as presented. Ms. Leban seconded. Motion approved 5-0. 8. Other Business 9. Adjourn (8:55 pm) The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 pm.