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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 07/05/2018_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ South Burlington Energy Commiee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sburl.com facebook.com/SouthBurlington Draft Meeting Minutes  July 5, 2018 Committee members present: Don Cummings (Chair), Keith Epstein, Karen Mckenny, Marcy Murray, Sam Swanson, and Patty Tashiro, Committee members absent:  Drew Gelfenbein, Jeremy King, Fred Kosnitsky, Linda McGinnis, and James Mount.   Community members present:   Mark Benton , Julie Macuga, Natalee Braun -  (representing 350.org) City staff present: None   Initial business Don convened the meeting at 6:30 PM at the City’s Community Meeting Room at 19 Gregory Drive.  Members confirmed agenda items. Sam volunteered to write meeting minutes.    Public input Mark Benton, Julie Macuga, and Natalie Braun appeared, representing 350.org, to ask the Committee to support the efforts of South Burlington members of 350.org to get the City of South Burlington to pass a Climate Solutions Resolution they have developed.  They observed that more than 20 communities in Vermont had produced similar resolutions. Mark had introduced the Committee to this proposal at the June Committee meeting and appeared again at this meeting to continue that discussion.   Don Cummings observed that because the City Council had passed a Climate Change Resolution in August 2017, the Committee was focused now on encouraging City action to address the steps called for by that resolution.  He urged they should instead focus on urging City action on the August 2017 Resolution rather than promoting a second climate change resolution.  He observed that proposing a new resolution may confuse the Council and the public.  The Committee described the August 2017 Resolution and its understanding what steps had been taken to implement the actions the resolution mandates.   Several Committee members observed they understood that the City has made little progress with developing the climate change plan called for by that resolution.   The Committee advised that an effective next step for South Burlington members of 350.org would be to ask the City Council to carry out the August 2017 Climate Change Resolution.    Review and approve April 6th mtg minutes.   Sam moved, and Karen seconded his motion, to approve the April 2018 meeting minutes,  The Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes, which will be transmitted to Ilona Blanchard for the public record.  Because the Committee meetings for May and June lacked a quorum, the Committee did not consider the notes taken at those meetings.   Discuss Recruitment of Additional Committee Members   Don observed that the terms of four  Committee members were expiring: Don, Drew, James and Jeremy.     We do not know whether any of these four  will apply for reappointment.  Karen will publish on the Committee Facebook page an invitation to apply for Council appointment to the Committee. It was noted that there is a general sense of discouragement among the committee members due to what they feel is very little action on the part to the city to address energy efficiency & climate action. This may be contributing to the lack of interest in staying on the committee.   We noted that the City Council had appointed a Sustainability Officer but that we understand he has been directed to focus primarily on improving the fiscal sustainability of City operations. We observe little indication that the City is initiating the actions on climate change called for by the August 2017 Resolution. We also noted that City Council passed an Energy Efficiency Resolution in 2014 that called for the City staff to prepare an Energy Efficiency Plan and to prepare annual energy efficiency progress reports, but the City has produced neither the plan nor any progress reports. In addition, we noted that despite what city officials had said publicly, the text of the June 2017 resolution to create a reserve fund from solar savings indicates that the funds can be used for any infrastructure project—not just for energy efficiency projects—thus weakening the opportunity to maximize savings in money and emissions for taxpayers.       Plans for a Public Work Session on Wednesday, July 25th, 5:30 PM of four bicycle-pedestrian projects presently undergoing scoping studies: 1. Spear Street from the US Forest Service Building to the Shelburne Town Line 2. Allen Road area from Baycrest Drive to Shelburne Road 3. Hinesburg Road from Williston Road to Kennedy Drive 4. Fayette Road from Shelburne Road to Queen City Park Road Don urged that the Committee support the work needed to implement these four projects by attending and expressing their views. Don will circulate to the Committee more information about the work session when it is available. The Committee members voiced support for the efforts of the Bike and Pedestrian Committee to publicize the upcoming vote on the penny for paths on the August ballot. These funds may provide the resources the City may need to make these improvements in the bike and ped trail network. Our Committee will publish an ad encouraging people to use their bicycles in an Other Paper ad that will be published later this month.   Should we participate in the Efficiency VT (EVT) Button-up Campaignng in the fall? Karen reported that she had received an inquiry from EVT’s Paul Markowitz asking whether the Energy Committee wanted to participate in the fall Button UP program. The Committee wants information on the details of what actions may qualify for EVT support and whether VT Gas served homes can participate. Karen will obtain more information from Paul Markowitz and will circulate the information she gets to the Committee for their consideration in advance of our next meeting.   Volkswagen Mitigation Fund – assisting SB Schools with application for an electric school bus     MarcyDon reported that she had been we were communicating with and forwarding documents to staff at the  City of South Burlington Sschool Ddistrict to help maximize its chances of obtaining about supporting their effort to obtain funding from this program for the purchase of at least onen electric powered school bus to serve the school districtonce the state issues its expected RFP.    Next Meeting of the Energy Committee – August 16 Because several members will not be available to meet on August 2, the Committee decided to change the date of the August meeting from the first Thursday to the third Thursday, August 16.  Don reminded the Committee that his term expires at the end of the August meeting.  Linda McGinnis, the current Vice Chair, will be a candidate for Chair for the next four months.   The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.