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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 03/01/2018 South Burlington Energy Commiee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sburl.com facebook.com/SouthBurlington _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Meeting Notes March 1, 2018 Committee members present: Karen Mckenny, Marcy Murray, Linda McGinnis, Sam Swanson (Chair) Committee members absent: Don Cummings, Fred Kosnitsky, James Mount, Jeremy King, Keith Epstein, Patty Tashiro, Drew Gelfenbein Community members present: Carrie Fenn (Suncommon), Mark Benton (350VT) City staff present: Paul Conner (Director of Sustainability), Sharon Murray (Front Porch Community Design) Note: Because the meeting lacked a quorum of Energy Committee members, those present could not take any action. These notes record what transpired during this meeting. Committee Chair Sam Swanson initiated the meeting at 6:35 PM. Linda McGinnis volunteered to record meeting notes. Public Comment Suncommon- Carrie Fenn · Reaching out to SBEC to identify how to further engage the next round of residential solar customers · 8000 households without solar, how to get more linkages with EVs, · Would like to schedule an Energy Carnival (with GMP, Vermont Energy, electric lawnmower, EVs, etc.) · March 29th, dinner for SB customers and SBEC members, tour of Net Positive facility 350VT – Mark Benton · Wants to work with EC to get resolution in front of selectboard Approval of Minutes from last meeting: NO QUORUM TO VOTE City Staff Presentation (Paul Conner and Sharon Murray) gave an overview of the SB Planned Unit Development Strategies: Phase 1 Project Report, with a particular focus on discussing the role of energy. The PUD was described as a way to waive zoning, where waivers are tied to benefits to the community. The goal is to have greater predictability and creativity in meeting the city’s goals. In the report that was shared with the committee, 7 types of PUD were covered. Some of the key issues that were discussed were: · Solar ready subdivisions – what is the best way to address it? o How to incorporate community solar and/or solar orientation of houses in zoning? o How much do stretch codes cover solar ready roofs or solar orientation (now it’s primarily an incentive. Is there a way to make it have more impact?)\ · How best to incorporate transit into every type of PUD? (we discussed the use of solar carports/canopies with charging stations, increased public transit/carshare infrastructure options, among others · The current thinking is to establish minimum density levels to ensure compact development and maximum density levels to ensure walkable/bikeable communities with green spaces · Biking: ultimate goal is to have about 80% of neighborhoods connected by bike paths · The PUDs are encouraging more mixed use neighborhoods, but many are still traditional designs (e.g. no services in neighborhoods). They are looking for ideas on how to try for more mixed use to allow for walking/biking to services wherever possible They asked for SBEC to share specific regulations or examples that could help meet the energy goals. Linda and Karen offered to send examples of solar carports /canopies in states that receive a lot of snow (Minnesota, Michigan, Utah, Colorado, Massachusetts). Climate Action Overview (Paul Conner) Paul Conner provided an overview of what has happened to date. He has met with all of the committees who serve a role in a sustainable SB. He defined this as a community that is: · Walkable · Affordable · Economically viable · Greenspaces · Energy Efficient/Renewable SB became a member of STAR Communities that provides a framework to develop metrics and data around what it means to be sustainable with a goal of enabling data driven decision-making. In addition, City Manager Kevin Dorn asked Paul to work with Dept heads to ensure that we are also fiscally sustainable, providing our municipal services in a way that is financially efficient. For example, a building built on Farrell St. costs no additional services to the city, whereas a building on a new street in SE quadrant can cost us much more in terms of operational expenditures. Sam indicated concern that the city is losing focus on carbon emissions reduction both as a goal and as a metric. The STAR Communities framework puts GHG emissions as one small subset of many categories rather than as a lens by which to assess all categories. He underscored that the point of signing up with the Climate Pledge Coalition was to ensure that we measured our city investment decisions with a climate lens. Paul responded that it will be important for residents (and committees) to keep the attention on this issue. The City will need assistance to translate the work of the city into carbon emissions reductions, as well as assistance in the outreach to community members to encourage them to help reduce our emissions (through solar, efficiency, public and electric transportation, etc.). He asked if SBEC would be willing to help develop this type of metric. Lacking a quorum the Committee did not respond but Sam indicated that he believed the Committee is eager to assist in developing carbon emission metrics. We also discussed the importance of building a climate lens into describing (or ‘rebranding’) as well as tracking ongoing SB projects, to help reinforce and strengthen the efforts of other committees. The example was given of the sewer bond ($2.98 million to be voted on Town Meeting Day) and wastewater treatment facilities improvements. Very little mention is given to the energy/carbon emissions savings (and financial), that the City and its residents will accrue by supporting this project. The most important example discussed was the City Center project. The SBEC can strengthen the links to carbon emissions reduction, as well as strengthening the messaging of how SB is a community where we place a premium on a low carbon footprint, achieved by investments in, among others, smart growth, efficient buildings and systems, renewable energy, bike paths, public transit, vehicle electrification, etc. We agreed that: i) SBEC could help Paul strengthen the carbon emissions metrics used in the City’s climate action plan; and ii) SBEC would meet regularly with Paul to discuss tracking the city’s efforts, and identifying areas that could use SBEC support. The tracking would include regular updates on the use of the Efficiency Fund and other key projects that have an important carbon reduction impact. Sam agreed to follow up with Paul on establishing a regular meeting schedule. Additional project updates Since there wasn’t a quorum, we opted not to do specific project updates. Karen noted that the newsletter went out today and that regular FB updates were scheduled during her absence. Sam shared that he will be drafting a first cut of a FY 2019 Committee Work Plan requested by City at the Leadership Meeting attended by Sam and Keith on February 22. Sam will present a draft for consideration by the Committee at the next meeting. Adjournment & next meeting The meeting ended at 8:45 p.m., and the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the South Burlington Police Station (19 Gregory Drive • middle entrance).