Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutGTF Minutes 04-13-10 GREEN TASK FORCE MINUTES April 13, 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 Sally Flowers Sylvia Southerland Also Present: Jonathan Leonard Anna Valcarcel Desi Alvarez Mark Sauter Absent: Jesse Kalashyan The meeting was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by Chair Guerra. He mentioned various documents to be distributed. He also mentioned a newspaper article written by Christian Brown from an interview by Henry Veneracion at The Downey Patriot. He noted Desi was present and noted Henry was informed the article was premature, as next month the group will have its working list. He apologized that everyone’s names were not included in the article and said they were mentioned. He said he will be taking a photograph today of the group and will put it together with the professional report. He said we will recommend the Green Task Force be a standing committee. Chair Guerra introduced Mark Sauter, Deputy City Manager/Public Safety Emergency Operations Chief and advised that Assistant City Manager Gilbert Livas will also be attending. He referred to the copy of the article from the Los Angeles Times on the pros and cons of green tax breaks from Sacramento and advised the other items are working documents. He noted the final document will be a professional report with the No. 1 recommendation to keep the Green Task Force Committee going. Minutes It was moved by Sylvia Southerland, seconded by Calvin Davis and unanimously carried to approve the March 30 minutes as read. Discussion Chair Guerra complimented everyone’s commitment and said everyone will be properly recognized. He introduced Assistant City Manager Gilbert Livas to the GTF members and noted Green Task Force Minutes 04/13/10 the five members appointed by Council: Lars Clutterham, by Chair Guerra, Janet Molinaro, by Vice Chair Marquez, Bob Ciatti, by Council Member Gafin, Robert Rubio, by Mayor Bayer and Nancy Swenson, by Council Member Roger Brossmer. He noted members from Coca Cola, Calmet, the Gas Co., Southern California Edison and others who have attended all meetings. He introduced guest Anna Valcarcel who assisted the GTF with the school program. Chair Guerra suggested going over the draft of the final recommendations and referred to the March 30 minutes, bottom of Page 2, showing what items were combined to produce today’s working draft. He also mentioned that the recycling bins have been installed at City Hall. Desi explained, in terms of the final recommendations, to look at the product the group came up with last week. He stated it is a pretty comprehensive set of recommendations with some being long term. He said to reconcile that work product with the additional recommendations that were submitted by Bob Phillips on behalf of the Sustainability Working Group. We will go through them and come up with a comprehensive report showing the background discussion and the path moving forward to implement them. This will take some time and will probably not be ready until the end of May. Lars said he thought the set of recommendations were appropriate and do not reach too high or too low. In broad terms we are doing the right thing and are setting in motion the potential for greater sustainability change in the future. He asked Desi if he thought we need to go through Bob Phillip’s notes line by line. Desi said whatever is comfortable and noted there is overlap and also things that were not in the group’s recommendations. Sally Flowers advised when the Sustainability Group met they went over Lar’s list from the Education Group and took off things they were not in agreement with at this time and added some things and then Julia Emerson consolidated them. Chair Guerra suggested prioritizing them and Sylvia Southerland said her experience is that a date needs to be set. Desi Alvarez commented on the green vehicle fleet recommendation, stating this is a big commitment for the City and these kinds of issues will be expanded in the report. Julia Emerson felt her group’s wording was more flexible, such as having staff to look at as a goal. Chair Guerra said this is a goal that will not happen soon but is a policy and how it is worded is important. We need to clarify what we want. The Council adopts and sets policy. He felt the biggest one is to have a standing Green Task Force that meets monthly or bi-monthly. Robert Rubio asked do we want to acknowledge accomplishments, such as reducing solar fees, and Desi said this will be part of the report. It will have accomplishments and recommendations. He stated to Sally that in terms of some of these issues, he does not think we should be specific and was not comfortable setting dates but can set them as long term and short term goals. Sylvia Southerland felt it is important to have dates, 5 years, 2 years, etc., and Chair Guerra agreed. Assistant City Manager, Gilbert Livas, mentioned an implementation plan in the Economic Development Department to put goals down for 5 years and then revisit it to see what works. He stated it does not tie you down but gives you a target. Sally Flowers said if we were to look at these and say who is assigned, she felt the person should know about it and felt, if not, it will not get done. Green Task Force Minutes 04/13/10 Desi said, once this is expanded, it will be respective departments and individuals who will be responsible for things and there will be oversight. Sylvia said maybe a matrix could be attached to the list to prioritize. Chair Guerra said we cannot do a matrix today. Some items will fall under the office of the City Manager, as the Council recommends them and the City Manager assigns certain employees to handle. Chair Guerra referred to Item 12, (The Green Task Force recommends that City Council recommission a permanent Green Task Force, to be filled by annual appointments of two volunteer members each by each member of City Council, in cooperation with the office of the Deputy City Manager), and said he would like to change it to “cooperation with the office of the City Manager.” Sally Flowers noted in her city they do this every year and there is always a name put down. Desi said that is the next step and requested they work on a matrix, not necessarily putting a name, in terms of prioritizing. Chair Guerra said lets take the 12 items and categorize them as long term and short term. Short Term and continuous 1. – The Green Task Force recommends to City Council that Earth Day, as well as other appropriate dates, such as A Day Without a Bag, the Downey Street Faire, and Downey Kids Day, be designated as annual city-wide occasions to celebrate sustainable living and to educate the community about sustainability issues. The Green Task Force recommends that these events should include activities such as  Dissemination of sustainability information and literature;  Creation and hosting of city-wide competitions for reusable bag design, recycling competitions for student production of Public Service Announcements on sustainability, and the like. Short 2. Term – The Green Task Force recommends to City Council that the city provide recycling containers in all public parks and public areas. Short Term 3. – The Green Task Force recommends to City Council that  The city produce and provide sustainability information kits to all Downey business license applicants  The city develop a program to incentivize, recognize and/or promote business recycling  The city provide conservation inserts and conservation tips with all city mailers, such as city bills  The city develop a program to recognize businesses, organizations, non-profits, schools, and residents for exemplary sustainable practices, perhaps in the form of window decals Short 4. Term – The Green Task Force recommends to City Council that all conservation and energy efficiency programs available through the City be publicized, reinforced, and enhanced, including  Municipal programs, such as city irrigation with reclaimed water, city standards for gathering rainwater, and city use and policies concerning grey water  Residential distribution programs, such as high efficiency toilets and low flow shower heads, including partnership with other agencies that provide these services Green Task Force Minutes 04/13/10 Long Term 5. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council establish city policy and long-term plans  To replace city vehicles with electric, hybrid, CNG, or other low emission vehicles  To develop and install appropriate charging stations throughout the community Desi said is fine. Need to develop a policy and long term plan of what it will target. Bill Kalpakoff thought the City should take a certain approach Long Term 6. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council establish a long-term plan to increase low emission mass transit in conjunction with the City’s Specific Plan for downtown development, as well as for other areas throughout the City Long Term 7. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council establish a long-term plan to move towards drought tolerant landscaping on private and city property Short Term 8. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council lead the community by example by establishing a policy of not using expanded polystyrene (“Styrofoam”) at city functions or in the conduct of city business Short Term 9. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council publicize and consider ways to enhance its current Green Streets program Desi noted the city does streetscapes by planting trees and is designated a Tree City. He noted we try to retain and reduce stormwater runoff as we have to cut back on the amount of contaminants moving over our streets and have used medians with water draining to the median. Short Term 10. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council explore and evaluate the possibility of joining one or more Green city organizations, such as ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), Smart Cities, Green Cities California, Natural Resources Defense Council Chair Guerra said we can have links and can recommend, explore and evaluate. Short Term 11. – The Green Task Force recommends to enhance sustainable building codes in anticipation of the next code updates and review all environmentally sustainability applicable fees with an eye towards reducing those that may incentivize sustainable practices Assistant City Manager Livas stated this can be amended anytime. Sylvia Southerland suggested looking at all permit fees and anything considered Green could be scaled back. Mr. Livas advised they did look at these things and stated, from a city perspective, when you give someone a break on a toilet and need to send someone out to install it, you have lost the cost effectiveness. Desi stated we cannot incentivize all fees and if we reduce the revenue to be less than the cost to provide solar inspections, etc., we will get to the point the City can’t function, as the revenue would be less than the cost to provide inspections. Mr. Livas said on the zoning side, they looked at incentivizing green buildings. If you build to certain standards, you will get a break or bonus density. Bob Phillips said we could ask the city to look at or review the Building Codes and fees associated with the environment. Green Task Force Minutes 04/13/10 Lars said the goal is not to lower fees but is to incentivize. The experience in reducing the permit fee for solar has not brought a significant increase in solar permits. It is not an end in itself to reduce fees. The goal is to increase the sustainable behavior. The city should have the option to study the data to determine if the change will incentivize the process. Mr. Livas said this is why we looked at zoning to get an additional 500 square feet of living space they would not get otherwise. Julia Emerson suggested letting people move to the front of the line and Lars stated Dave Stevens from the County said this is the County’s policy now and it does make a difference. Short Term 12. – The Green Task Force recommends that City Council re-commission a permanent Green Task Force, to be filled by annual appointments of two volunteer members each by each member of City Council, in cooperation with the office of the City Manager  Maintaining the Downey website Green page with current information on promotions, rebates, etc. Chair Guerra suggested prioritizing the 12 items. Short Term 12 – A 1 - B 4 - C 2 – D 3 – E 11 – F 8 – G 9 – H 10 – I Long Term 7 – A – Mr. Livas noted this is addressed in the Zoning Code 5 – B 6 – C Short Term was defined as 6 months to 2 years Long Term was defined as 2 years to 5 years It was moved by Janet Molinaro, seconded by Bob Ciatti and unanimously carried to approve the list of priorities. Chair Guerra said we will shoot for the May 25, 2010 Council Meeting to present the recommendations report. He said when the report is submitted, the Green Task Force’s work is done and the Council will then determine if a standing committee is to be set and, if so, members will be appointed by each Council Member. He suggested another meeting of the GTF and May 11, from 12-2 in the Library’s Cormack Room was set. Lars passed out a reusable bag to everyone stating they are the bags given to the kids at Gallatin Elementary School. Green Task Force Minutes 04/13/10 Chair Guerra referred to the letter in the Downey Patriot from the mother who said she was insulted by having kids teach their parents and compared it to Nazi Germany like brainwashing the kids. He hopes the School Board Members do not read into it and stop the program. He noted Nancy Swenson came back to City Hall loaded up with 12,000 plastic bags. Lars advised he spoke with Nancy who is heavily involved at Gallatin and thinks it is a plus. He said Superintendent Wendy Doty makes it a policy to stay out of this kind of stuff and she felt it would not have a negative effect on the School Board. Everyone gave Lars a hand commending him for living the green life. Assistant City Manager Livas thanked everyone for coming and commended the groups efforts stating they are pretty impressive. Adjournment : 1:57 p.m. The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, May 11, at 12:00 p.m. in the Cormack Room, at Downey City Hall. ______________________________ _______________________________ Shirley Conte, Recording Secretary Mario A. Guerra, Chair Green Task Force Minutes 04/13/10