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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGTF Minutes 02-02-10 GREEN TASK FORCE MINUTES FEBRUARY 2, 2010 Roll Call Members Present: Chair Mario Guerra Vice Chair Luis Marquez Bob Ciatti Bill Kalpakoff Sally Flowers Calvin Davis Tom Davidson Janet Molinaro Robert Rubio Also Present: Desi Alvarez Michael Finn Bob Phillips Christian Projeska Absent: Lars Clutterham Nancy Swenson Jesse Kalashyan Julia Emerson Dan Pruitt Jonathan Leonard The meeting was called to order at 12:15 pm by Chair Guerra. Minutes It was moved by Sally Flowers, seconded by Bob Phillips and carried to approve the Minutes from January 5, 2010, as presented. Mr. Davidson noted Dan Pruitt could not make it today and noted he asked Christian Projeska (not sure of spelling), Coca Cola’s Quality Systems Manager to sit in. Proposed Amendments to Building Code and Future Direction Mr. Alvarez presented a PowerPoint program on Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act adopted in 2006, and Senate Bill 375, one of the implementation portions of AB 32. He noted the focus of AB 32 is to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), which are gases trapped in the environment that escape back into space and warm up the environment and mentioned some of the gases involved, noting carbon dioxide (CO²) is the biggest one. He explained AB 32 requires reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the agency mandating AB 32. He displayed a chart showing the GHG reduction challenge and caps that will be mandatory by 2012, mentioning what the CARB must evaluate. He also reviewed proposed fees. He said the single biggest piece of legislation is SB 375, which tries to deal with the issue of GHG emissions generated by cars and light trucks and has the most impact on communities. He mentioned the specifics of what SB 375 does and noted it started to happen this past year. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is working with - 1 - sub-regional groups and is the regional planning agency dealing with SB 375 implementation. Downey is included in this group and specifically works with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. He reviewed SB 375 timelines, noting SB 375 became law last year and by March 2017 local agencies, such as Downey, must plan conformance in areas, such as: 1. Green buildings 2. Land use and planning 3. Energy efficiency a. Reduce energy use b. Incentives for solar water heating and electric roofing systems c. Requires new buildings to be LEED equivalent energy efficient Sustainability Working Group Sally Flowers presented a PowerPoint program looking at what Downey is doing now and what we can do better. She referred to the book “The Road to Green,” a municipal guide from four cities on what they have done to be more green. She said the city should set the example for the community by looking at recycling programs; tree planting programs; incentives for transit oriented programs, mixed use developments and compact developments; incentives for use of renewable energy; and assistance with energy audits. Vice Chair Marquez noted the School District is using drought resistant landscaping through water education programs. He asked if the School District has changed its policy for chemical usage and pesticides and Calvin Davis responded that this is strongly regulated. Janet Molinaro pointed out it is also posted every time. Sally Flowers said building code incentives and some level of LEED standards should be considered. Education Working Group Tom Davidson mentioned when their subcommittee met they talked about both groups coming up with similar ideas. He passed out a list of ideas, noting they were not specific on how the concepts can be accomplished. 1. Inaugurate Earth Day Celebrations (4/22) in Downey, beginning this year, in 2010. It was noted Gallatin Elementary will be the pilot school for Earth Day this year and advised School District Superintendent Dr. Wendy Doty wants the program to be district wide and to involve Character Counts. 2. Provide sustainability information booth at Street Faire (5/1). 3. Provide sustainability information booth at Kids Day (5/8). 4. Create citywide reusable bag art design competition – associated with Earth Day. 5. Furnish recycling containers to City Hall – it was noted this has been approved. 6. Distribute recycling containers to public parks. 7. Incentivize business recycling. 8. Produce and provide sustainability information kit for Downey business license applicants – educating businesses. 9. Provide conservation inserts and varying envelope stamps with conservation tips for use on city bills. 10. Establish tax breaks for using reclaimed water – No room for rebates as water rates are very low. 11. Work with other agencies on annual low flow toilet program. 12. Establish water bill credits for sustainable practices – No – current water rates are very low. - 2 - 13. Recommission Green Task Force – Desi noted the sunset of the group is April. Chair Guerra noted he envisions keeping it going and will present this to the City Council in May. Vice Chair Marquez agreed. 14. Explore city policy and long-term plan to replace city vehicles with electric, hybrid, CNG, or other low emission vehicles. 15. Explore a long-term plan to increase low emission mass transit in conjunction with the city’s Specific Plan for downtown development. 16. Create a xeriscaped California-native landscape space at City Hall and establish a long-term plan to move towards drought tolerant landscaping on city property. 17. Explore the possibility to establish a timetable to phase out Styrofoam use by the City of Downey – provide information for businesses. 18. Actively support A Day Without a Bag in 2010, including promotion, city activities, and collaboration with Heal the Bay and other participating agencies. 19. Explore a City of Downey “Office of Sustainability and the Environment” with a budgetary commitment of at least one half-time staff 20. Reinforce policy to implement a Green Alleys and Green Streets program, retrofitting alleys and streets with environmentally sustainable road-building materials, bioswales (natural water drainage) where possible, and green spaces. Desi said this is already in place, stating we look at opportunities to modify streets and all our asphalt is rubberized asphalt. 21. Research and join one or more Green cit organizations ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), Smart Cities, Natural Resources Defense Council 22. Reinforce city standards for gathering rainwater and use of grey water 23. City educational program for responsible tree trimming 24. Update building codes, especially for business new construction, to include at least LEED silver standards. Chair Guerra noted we are in the process of doing this Vice Chair Marquez felt a lot of the recommendations are easy to do and noted some, such as No. 22, are already being done. In reference to water: Chair Guerra mentioned a bill two years ago by Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, Assembly Bill 640, which is now being resurrected. One thing is the difference between us and the Central Basin and West Basin water agencies where we are subsidizing the South Bay area to a point. He mentioned the oil companies, where there were no mandates to use reclaimed water, were using 8 gallons of clean water to refine a gallon of oil. The water was basically used as a coolant. He noted some of the oil companies now want to come onboard. Desi said we are working with legislators to review this issue to help convert some of the refineries in the South Bay to use reclaimed water. Chair Guerra said he has learned that water is a fighting word and that we are subsidizing other areas. Desi said we pay one million more than necessary. If there was equity in the plumb tax, our rate would be $1,060,000 less. He said when the idea of a uniform rate was brought up, every lobbyist was there. Calvin Davis mentioned one Downey school on the border with Bellflower, Pace Elementary, pays seven times what is paid in other Downey schools for water because it is supplied by Park Water Co. Chair Guerra mentioned the City had a public hearing on sewers and Downey is by far the lowest cost. It is time to upgrade and have an increase. Desi noted our water is the cheapest in the region and we have worked hard to maintain this. We have other agencies that increase their charges to us and we have absorbed this but cannot do so any longer. Chair Guerra noted the recommendations are not for us to do but to recommend. - 3 - Vice Chair Marquez asked Mr. Kalpakoff when his company switched to CMG trucks did he find them efficient and he replied that they work as well. He noted they take spark plugs that have to be replaced, at an average of $600 per year per truck. He said he was told there is more maintenance involved after 4 or 5 years. He also noted they cost $50,000 more. He said in the old days they ran 1988’s on 50 gallons a day and noted the 2005’s are down to 22 gallons. Sally Flowers said her city passed a resolution stating they had to consider CNG vehicles when they needed to replace a vehicle. She noted it was a choice. In reference to item No. 17, “Explore the possibilities of phasing out Styrofoam - provide information for businesses,” Tom Davidson mentioned a take home food container that is made of recycled bottles. Bob Phillips stated Styrofoam waste is miniscule and felt it would put a significant cost on small chains. He referred to the green caps on Dasani water, stating they are 30 percent plant based and a renewable source of resin. He said a plastic recycling corporation did a study and found that 70 percent of bottles have caps on them. He said they are saying plastic caps are a significant source of marine litter and that Albatross feed them to their young. He also noted the number one source of marine debris is cigarettes. He stated, if you are going to deal with an issue, you don’t pick one product, but need comprehensive policy to deal with the whole issue. He referred to the cost to run the California Redemption Program and questioned whether the results were worth the cost. Janet Molinaro said we need to promote the things Downey already does and Vice Chair Marquez said we need to inform the citizenry of what the city already does and put it on the website. Bob Phillips noted words sound good but there is a cost factor. He noted recycle bins have to be bought and maintained. He suggested caution against proposing things that have a cost that the city will never do, feeling it will harm the GTF’s credibility. Chair Guerra said these are our recommendations but the Council will decide. Janet Molinaro said we are recommending the Council take this action. If we come back with weak stuff, it will not look like we did anything. Robert Rubio said this past year we came up with recommendations and the City Council can come back with work to be done regarding those recommendations. Chair Guerra said the committee can make sure the recommendations are being followed up. Chair Guerra said next month we want to fine tune the list and include a paragraph on what is meant by each item. Discussion of Future Agenda Items Desi noted the subcommittees previously decided that January was their last separate meeting and they would then meet together. Chair Guerra asked if they wanted to wait until March to combine and Bob Ciatti said he felt his group needs one more meeting. Chair Guerra advised we have a recycling person and suggested she give a presentation on what we are currently doing to recycle. The meeting was adjourned at 1:58 p.m. to Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at 12:00 pm in the Cormack room at the Downey City Library. _____________________________ ______________________________ Shirley Conte, Secretary Chair, Dn. Mario A. Guerra - 4 -