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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 02/13/2020 South Burlington Energy Committee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.SouthBurlingtonVT.gov facebook.com/SouthBurlington Draft Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020 Committee members present: Andrew Chalnick, Karen Mckenny, Keith Epstein, Marcy Murray, Richard Shrake, Sam Swanson, Tim Perrin Committee members absent: Linda McGinnis, Don Cummings, Patty Tashiro Community members present: Ethan Goldman City staff present: None Andrew called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. and reviewed evacuation procedures. Ethan Goldman introduced himself. He has substantial experience in the energy industry. He has recently moved from Burlington t o South Burlington and expressed interest in joining the SBEC. Keith moved and Marcy seconded to approve January 9 minutes. Motion passed. Keith moved and Sam seconded to approve January 30 minutes. Motion passed. Continued discussion of Climate Action Plan Andrew displayed a spreadsheet depicting the activities each SBEC member has identified as most important. Marcy and Karen verbally stated their preferences, which Andrew subsequently recorded in the spreadsheet. Andrew then proceeded through each item and welcomed discussion or clarification. Some activities were amended including: ● In acknowledgement of the reality that not all roads that are repaved are candidates for bike lanes, the item concerning requiring establishing bike lanes when repaving was changed to requiring bike lane assessment when repaving. ● The item concerned with building park and ride lots was changed to establishing such lots to provide primacy for repurposing existing paved surfaces. ● The advocacy for GMT item received significant discussion of alternative funding structures, including fareless riding, or possibly a trial for such a feature to introduce and encourage transit ridership ● The item concerning requiring the city to consider the adoption of electric mowers and blowers was expanded to include the city’s fleet of vehicles, but also received the addition of the phrase “where feasible” in deference to the fact that much of this technology is still developing. The actions in the spreadsheet were organized into groupings reflecting whether they had a direct carbon reduction impact or were more advocacy/incentivising actions. There was some discussion concerning this list of activities’ relationship to an actual Climate Action Plan. Keith suggested we recognize these actions as informing a Climate Action Plan. Andrew stated we need an introductory document to illustrate for city council what these activities represent and that a Climate Action Plan must still be constructed and implemented. South Burlington Energy Committee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.SouthBurlingtonVT.gov facebook.com/SouthBurlington Andrew highlighted the items that the SBEC will need to present to City Council and sought champions who will be prepared to fully articulate and advocate for each item in this presentation. It was also recommended to include a review of the activities and effectiveness of the City Energy Manager. In the interest of time, the remaining agenda items were tabled to the next meeting. Adjournment Andrew adjourned the meeting at 8:30. Next Meeting Thursday, March 12, in the South Burlington Police Station’s 2nd floor conference room at 19 Gregory Drive (middle entrance).