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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 11/02/2017 South Burlington Energy Commiee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sburl.com facebook.com/SouthBurlington Meeting Notes November 2, 2017 Committee members present: Don Cummings, James Mount (Chair), Keith Epstein, Marcy Murray, Sam Swanson Committee members absent: Drew Gelfenbein, Fred Kosnitsky, Jeremy King, Karen Mckenny, Linda McGinnis, Patty Tashiro Community members present: Aly Lynch & Addy Kalnun from Colchester High School; Jameson Connor & Noah Braun from Saint Michael’s College City staff present: none Minutes & Motions: Because we did not have a quorum, we could not approve past meeting minutes or consider motions. Project updates: Members shared project updates and requests for input. See the accompanying email’s monthly update attachment for details. Sam volunteered to input the data needed for South Burlington’s part of the Vermont Climate Pledge. Paul Conner, Sam, Linda, Don and Marcy plan to attend the Vermont Climate Summit on November 8. Budget discussion: Members discussed potential projects and funding requests. Discussions included a carpooling project (that needs a leader and will eventually be part of a wider commuting-focused transportation effort), a potential project to support energy efficiency for folks with low incomes, the need for increased funding for future initiatives resulting from Paul’s expanded energy-related focus (the annual savings that SBEC efforts contribute to the city supports such an increase), and the need for ongoing outreach (including newspaper advertising; an updated website; messages via property tax bills, the Parks & Rec brochure and digital media; events; collaboration with community members and organizations; and a redefinition of the meaning of “Energy Prize”). Opportunities to help: · For our next meeting: all are encouraged to do an online search of energy committees throughout the country to identify potential projects to include in our budget. · Tell Keith you’d like to lead (with his support) an effort to encourage businesses to promote carpooling. Ideas include: Creation and delivery of free eye-catching carpool parking signs to businesses (a Go! Vermont rep would give a talk to employees at time of delivery); creating and publicizing a prize for businesses with the best initiatives; and promoting Go! Vermont’s Guaranteed Ride Home benefit (for when bus or carpool plans change). Consider reaching businesses through the SBBA (South Burlington Business Association). Next scheduled meeting: Thursday, December 7th, at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the South Burlington Police Station (19 Gregory Drive • middle entrance)