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Home My WebLink AboutGTF Minutes 03-30-10 GREEN TASK FORCE MINUTES March 30, 2010 Roll Call Members Present Chair Mario Guerra Vice Chair Luis Marquez Bob Ciatti Lars Clutterham Tom Davidson Calvin Davis Julia Emerson Bill Kalpakoff Janet Molinaro Robert Phillips Robert Rubio Nancy Swenson Also Present: Michael Finn Steve Factor Kendall Hirai Jonathan Leonard Dan Pruitt Absent: Desi Alvarez Sally Flowers Jesse Kalashyan Sylvia Southerland The meeting was called to order at 12:20 p.m. by Chair Guerra. He showed a power point slide nd of the City’s new website, which will be available on April 2. He added that the new website is user friendly, accomplishing one of the goals for the website. Chair Guerra mentioned that the GTF has a couple meetings left and the focus should be on finalizing the recommendations that will be brought to the City Council Minutes Lars Clutterham asked to remove/change a sentence on page four of the March 2, 2010 minutes. He referred to the sentence on line 8, “The plastic for cigarette butts comes out of trees and are environmentally conscientious.” For the record the sentence should be corrected to read “. . . and could be argued by comparison to be environmentally conscientious.” It was moved by Bob Ciatti, seconded by Nancy Swenson and carried to approve the Minutes of March 30, 2010, as revised. Discussion Bob Ciatti introduced his guest, Steve Factor of Solar City. Mr. Factor stated that his company Solar City is the largest residential solar company in the U.S. He added that one of their Board Members is Elon Musk of Tesla Motors and Space X. Janet Molinaro introduced her guest, Kendall Hirai, Senior Vice President with YMCA. Green Task Force Minutes 03/30/10 MINUTES – 03/30/10 Green Task Force Page 2 Report from Sustainability Working Group/Education Working Group Chair Guerra commented on the science fair at St. Raymond’s Elementary and meeting a student who was working on a school project on how to create a green safe environment. He did research on the amount of trash at St. Raymond’s, and found approx. 300 pounds of trash and determined how much was Styrofoam, paper, etc.; and, he received $28 in recycling monies. The student took the initiative to learn how recycling saves money, saves our city and our earth. Promoting this type of educational level is how we can make a difference and how we can promote green on every decision we make. Vice Chair Marquez said it was early on that the group set up goals to promote an educational process to make a difference. He added that the School District is also supporting this goal. Our residents are thinking of this and seeing the benefits, saving money, and how to keep our community clean and protect the environment. Chair Guerra stated that the special meeting was called to go over the Task Force recommendations and pare them down for presentation to City Council. As part of the mission statement, the year has been spent analyzing, reviewing and sharing ideas on sustainability and working groups. The education working group did not have a meeting, so the sustainability and working group were combined for today’s meeting. Chair Guerra commented on the recycle trash cans delivered at city hall, which will be a visual example for recycling. Bill Kalpakoff said Caltrans was originally going to pay for the trash cans and told to hold off, but the offer is still there. Mario suggested the Library and Barbara J. Riley Center as possible sites for other trash cans. Task Force Recommendations At the GTF meeting of February 2, it was agreed that Task Force Recommendation #10 and #12 would be removed. Chair Guerra added that at the March 23 City Council meeting, they approved an increase in water user fees to fix sewer lines. The following recommendations were presented at today’s March 30 meeting: Combine #2, #3, #4, #16 as part of #1 #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. Recommendation #2 Provide sustainability information booth at Street Faire (5/1). #3 Provide sustainability information booth at Kids Day (5/8). “Participate at public gatherings such as Street Faire and Kids Day, promoting educational component of GTF.” Green Task Force Minutes 03/30/10 MINUTES – 03/30/10 Green Task Force Page 3 (Recommendation continued) ● #4 Create citywide reusable bag art design competition – associated with Earth Day. ● #16 Actively support A Day Without a Bag in 2010, including promotion, city activities, and collaboration with Heal the Bay and other participating agencies. It was noted to encourage an annual Earth Day celebration and campaign for educational and sustainable programs city wide, including businesses and school district. #2-4 (see above) #5 Furnish recycling containers to City Hall – it was noted this has been approved. Status This task has been completed. #6 Distribute recycling containers to public parks. Recommendation “City to have recycling containers at all public parks and public facilities within the city of Downey.” Combine #7, #8, #9 #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. Recommendation Further discussion on the intent of these items referred to the need to work with the Chamber and local businesses to encourage and incentivize business recycling. Recognize businesses, individuals or organizations who accomplish sustainable practices, and reward businesses and individuals with a plaque or decal. Develop conservation tips for use on all city mailers, such as city bills, for residents and businesses. Combine #10 and #20 #10 Work with other agencies on annual low flow toilet program. #20 Reinforce city standards for gathering rainwater and use of grey water. Recommendation “Continue to” work with other agencies on annual low flow toilet program.” Also look at other conservation products. Bob Phillips said low flow is too specific and suggested incorporating wording such as energy production, energy and water conservation, and waste reduction. It was suggested that city website for GTF have links to other conservation and energy efficient programs, sustainability, or lists of green sites, rebates, and money saving tips. Julia Emerson suggested a link to SCE with title “Save Energy, Save Money.” Green Task Force Minutes 03/30/10 MINUTES – 03/30/10 Green Task Force Page 4 Combine #11 and #17 #11 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. #17 Explore a City of Downey “Office of Sustainability and the Environment” with a budgetary commitment of at least one half-time staff. Recommendation Request city council to recommission GTF as a standing committee and each appoint two members for the public meetings. Create an “Office of Sustainability and Environment” which needs a city staff liaison, suggesting the City Manager’s Office. #12 Explore city policy and long-term plan to replace city vehicles with electric, hybrid, CNG, or other low emission vehicles. Recommendation “Establish city policy and long-term plan to explore city vehicles with electric, hybrid, CNG, or other low emission vehicles, and provide the appropriate charge stations within our community.” #13 Explore a long-term plan to increase low emission mass transit in conjunction with the city’s Specific Plan for downtown development. Recommendation O.K. #14 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. Recommendation Review city code for clarification on amount of xeriscaped landscaping and lawn. #15 Explore the possibility to establish a timetable to phase out Styrofoam use by the City of Downey – provide information for businesses. Recommendation It may be controversial to establish a time table. Instead, the City can set an example not to use Styrofoam at city events, nor used by city staff and employees. Find alternatives for Styrofoam, and encourage business owners to also find a different source. (Combined with #1) #16 (Combined with #11) #17 Green Task Force Minutes 03/30/10 MINUTES – 03/30/10 Green Task Force Page 5 #18 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. Recommendation The City consider a Green Streets Program in environmentally sustainable road-building materials for every public works project in our city. #19 Research and join one or more Green city organizations ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), Smart Cities, Natural Resources Defense Council. Recommendation Explore the possibility of joining a green city program such as listed above; there also may be other groups to consider. (Combined with #10) #20 #21 City educational program for responsible tree trimming. Recommendation Chair Guerra commented that with what the GTF is trying to accomplish, this would be too small for the task force. This item was removed. #22 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. Recommendation Encourage general green building standards in the next Building Code update, such as presented to the GTF. It was suggested that a semi-final set of Recommendations be ready for the next GTF meeting. Presentation to the City Council could either be May 11 or 27. Chair Guerra said a power point presentation of Recommendations is needed to outline all the different processes on sustaina- bility and education, a history of how the process came about, list everyone who served on the subcommittees, and the reasons for the final report. Comments were made related to bringing back Assemblyman De La Torre’s water bill, AB640. It is not mandated that you reclaim water. The regular meeting was scheduled for April 6, but there was agreement to meet instead on April 13, at 12 noon, in the Cormack Room. Green Task Force Minutes 03/30/10 MINUTES – 03/30/10 Green Task Force Page 6 th Bill Kalpakoff mentioned that Calmet had a mulch give-away on March 27, giving out over 40,000 pounds of mulch. Mike Finn said Tierra Verde Industry provided plastic emergency preparedness barrels to various agencies. Julia Emerson commented on SCE’s free Municipal Green Building Expo on April 14. At the next meeting there will be a picture taken of those in attendance which will be used for the front cover of report to Council. Adjournment : 2:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, April 13, at 12:00 p.m. in the Cormack Room, at Downey City Hall. ______________________________ _______________________________ Barbara Hruden, Recording Secretary Mario A. Guerra, Chair H:\CMANAGER\BHruden\Green Task Force\MINUTES 3-30-10.doc Green Task Force Minutes 03/30/10