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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 10/11/20231 South Burlington Energy Committee Meeting Minutes October 11, 2023 Committee members present: Fred Kosnitsky, Ethan Goldman, Sam Lipschutz, Carrie McLaughlin, Rob Meader, Tim Perrin (Chair), MJ Reale (Vice Chair) Committee members absent: Frans Van Boden, Steve Crowley, Keith Epstein City staff present: Lou Bresee, Nick Atherton City council member present: Andrew Chalnick Community member present: Marley Hauser Convene: Tim called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. MJ volunteered to serve as scribe. Public comments not related to the meeting agenda - none Introductions: The Committee welcomed Marley Hauser, who volunteered at the festival and is considering joining the energy committee. Minutes. The Committee reviewed and adopted the draft meeting minutes from the September 13 meeting. Sam motioned to adopt the minutes and Ethan seconded. The members present voted unanimously to adopt the minutes as presented. 2023 Energy Festival debrief & next steps The committee reviewed the 2023 Energy Festival. MJ referred everyone to the google drive spreadsheet where they can review detailed feedback and recommendations for improvement provided by visitors, exhibitors, food truck vendors, SBEC members, city staff, presenters - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rNxU0RQT_-O24iFQwNED- mA2CGZQFJYT/edit#gid=728432635 Nick mentioned the need for improvement closing the street – with better detour info and signage. Andrew thought the event was a success and pointed out that we likely did not have enough visitors to support two rooms of presentations happening at the same time and also that we should have more signage around the city one week prior to the event. The budget will end up around $4500 when electrician bill comes in. The MERP grant covered $4000. The group discussed that: ●there should be less tours and less workshops next time. An hour-long panel discussion format would probably work better. ●EVs and eBikes should be in the front – perhaps the parking lot near where Local Motion was set up. Mostly we don’t think we have to do test drives. ●press release should be sent out earlier. ●we will have a lot more signs for local neighborhoods and larger font signs for busier roads where people stop – one week prior. 2 What are other formats and ways to engage the community? ●What kind of workshops during the winter? ●Should we consider a Spring/Earth Day event instead of Fall? ●Is there a way to have neighborhood outreach/programs? ●Maybe a panel on EVs? Tie in a TOP Clean and Green article with commonly asked questions? ●There were lots of families with small kids at the event. How engaged were the parents with the exhibitors? Should we have a fenced off area next time with caregivers so parents can visit the exhibits and workshops? ●Start using the email list – we currently have 200 emails and names on the list – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19W2SdHS_RbxG8E4ye9_5QOZhy29zFdu8FsK oyew-jtk/edit#gid=300062001 What is the first thing we want to put out – more feedback on the festival and/or generate topics for workshops? ●How to engage teenagers? None were at the event. We reached out and had interest from Patrick Burke and Matt Dransfield but they did not have any teen volunteers interested. Sunrise Movement did not respond. September timing was possibly a factor. Should there be a stand alone High School event? Can we tie in HS service requirement? Andrew told us that there is a HS Climate Action Task Force now with a variety of stakeholders involved. ●Consider starting a program for: o residents – ambassadors/social club – like weed warriors for invasive species o businesses – awards for sustainable and energy efficient practices ACTION: MJ will start process of email outreach and confirm with the group what we will do. Next meeting – we can determine if we want to have a member or subcommittee address the last two bullet point items. Winter Workshops The committee talked about options for engaging the community this winter. Fred has connected with Jennifer and Mira from the library to discuss a book discussion series. The group thinks that a combination of events that includes 1) book discussions, 2) film showing and discussion – possibly with a panel and wine/snacks, and 3) workshops would be good. Ideally once per month from November or December through April. Book discussions would likely be in a smaller room while film and workshops would be in auditorium. ACTION: Fred will reconnect with Jennifer and Mira about this extended plan. MJ will send Fred link to Auditorium reservation application. Ethan created a google doc for workshop ideas; https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDaSJK- ObrT7yL_roG5EMEffOprTs4Pe7moz-AoBZK12pzFA/viewform Next meeting we can confirm a schedule and identify members who will be involved with this Winter Community Engagement series. Relate discussion included: Tours of City Hall – involve Better Building Group or others? 3 Involve CCRPC for workshops? Review FY’24 Work Plan Tim began a review of the plan. https://drive.google.com/file/d/10iSs4RdjPTooT0xc8_uWujOoMk9wYa5N/view In past meetings we spent a lot of time refining this plan and the strategies and clarification of tactics. Members committed to participating in specific goals. However some of the items have been pushed back a few times and not addressed due to other pressing issues/projects/events. (A few of the strategies were left without team commitment because they are more dependent on city staff input and direction.) Tim suggested and the group agreed that a new approach is to take a look at each section at future meetings with a deeper dive discussion by the members that signed up for specific roles. ACTION: Coordinate with other energy committees: Rob, Tim, Steve, Carrie Support the City in implementing infrastructure/funding: Ethan, Sam, Keith Assist monitoring/analysis of the energy of City facilities: Sam, Ethan, Tim Conduct public outreach, education, and engagement: MJ, Keith Related discussion points: Connecting with other Energy Committees Rowland from Shelburne Energy Committee reached out at the festival and would like to connect more with SBEC and learn about the festival planning. Andrew noted that he has been in touch with Rowland about a number of issues. ACTION: MJ will reach out to Rowland share info about festival planning and cc others on this Work Plan item. SBEC website – create a page that includes all of the things that the city has done in the area of sustainability and energy efficiency. We can point other energy committees to that. Create a document that outlines what steps were taken for festival. Year End Report Nick confirmed the deadline for this is in November. Ilona can let us know the process. ACTION: MJ will check in with Ilona and put together a draft from the minutes during the last fiscal year. City Policies Andrew reviewed rental ordinances related to weatherization. It is on City Council agenda for November and no ordinance likely until 2024. He would like SBEC to review what Burlington has done and weigh in on this officially. Tim discussed the Burlington policy and the challenges with enforcement. ACTION: Tim and Andrew will discuss this further. 4 Ethan asked about whether there has been a report issued as called for in the Council Resolution that passed. Andrew said that has not happened yet. The city is planning to hire a Climate Action staff person. Local energy events MJ reviewed three events happening in the next couple of weeks to see if SBEC members can go and report back. October 12 – A public meeting in City Hall Auditorium to discuss CAP – Ethan will try to attend. October 19 - Environmental Justice Community Forum Series (EJCFS) – MJ will try to attend (Andrew pointed out that this is sponsored by Fuel Alliance) October 19 - REV free "add-on" event geared to help build relationships between Town Energy Committees – Carrie will attend Grants Andrew updated the group on some grants available. Some relate to options for local businesses. It would be good for SBEC to connect with local business groups like SBBA (South Burlington Business Association) Rotary and VBSR (VT Businesses for Social Responsibility) Other updates Lou told the group that the SB Fire Dept is using all electric tools except high powered chain saws. Fred shared that he is using the SB CAP as part of the course he teaches at CCV. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned approximately at 8:45pm. Next Regular Meeting: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 6:30pm.