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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGTF Minutes 10-6-09 GREEN TASK FORCE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2009 Roll Call Members Present: Chair Mario Guerra Mike Finn Vice Chair Luis Marquez Sally Flowers Desi Alvarez Bill Kalpakoff Bob Ciatti Janet Molinaro Lars Clutterham Robert Rubio Tom Davidson Sylvia Southerland Also Present: Mike Hollon, Deputy for Assemblyman Hector De La Torre Jonathan Leonard Dan Pruitt Absent: Calvin Davis Bob Phillips Julia Emerson Nancy Swenson Jesse Kalashyan The meeting was called to order at 12:18 pm by Vice Chair Marquez. Minutes Mr. Clutterham pointed out two corrections to the Minutes. On Page 2, Paragraph 1, Line 11, the spelling of Berkley should be “Berkeley.” Also, on Page 2, Paragraph 5, Line 6, the quoted words should read “support comprehensive public education effort.” to approve the It was moved by Bob Ciatti, seconded by Lars Clutterham and unanimously carried Minutes from the September 1, 2009 Green Task Force meeting, with the corrections noted. Sustainability Working Group Mr. Ciatti advised the Sustainability Working Group met on Tuesday, September 29, and discussed the gardening workshop held at the Barbara J. Riley Senior Center, which had 26 attendees. He presented a Power Point program, referring to “low hanging fruit” and putting together a “legacy program” for going forward. 1. Would like to do another gardening workshop. Will do a press release and call people the night before. He said people who had signed up weeks before had forgotten, noting the majority of participants were senior citizens. - 1 - 2. High Efficiency Toilets (HET) – Ms. Flowers advised Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) was awarded a grant program but it was suspended by the State. She noted CBMWD still has 10,000 low flow toilets to install, pointing out there are no requirements other than the old toilet must be the type that uses more water. CBMWD sends out a plumber to install the toilets. The program is targeted for multi-family units and is done on a first come, first served basis. Mr. Alvarez advised notices can be sent to apartment owners and management companies. Mr. Ciatti asked if the Green Task Force wishes to make this recommendation to the City Council and the response was yes. 3. Mr. Ciatti mentioned a conservation workshop to include Southern California Edison, The Gas Company and Central Basin Municipal Water District and stated the Sustainability Group would like to suggest that conservation tips be printed on the City’s billing envelopes. He also mentioned the possibility of mandating clear coating for graffiti prevention and Mr. Alvarez noted the City of Los Angeles requires this for both residential and commercial construction. Ms. Flowers noted it was just initiated in the City of Artesia but just for commercial projects. Mr. Davidson asked what this had to do with the GTF and Ms. Flowers and Mr. Ciatti advised it was part of the legacy program. Chair Guerra asked if the group is looking to present all topics mentioned to the City Council. Mr. Ciatti said the items mentioned are a recoup of their meeting, stating they were to do 2 low hanging fruit and 1 large item. Ms. Flowers said the thought was to throw items out and let the group decide. Mr. Alvarez explained the City spends $200,000 a year on graffiti abatement through the Graffiti Hot Line, 923-4484, and maintains 2 fulltime trucks to remove graffiti from private and residential property. He advised the coating is highly encouraged for new construction but is not mandated. Mr. Kalpakoff asked if industrial buildings could be targeted and encouraged to grow ivy and was advised the City encourages the coating and selective planting. Ms. Flowers advised they had not come to an agreement on the City site conservation recognition program. Chair Guerra stated if this is the recommendation for the City Council, if approved, City staff would plan the program. Mr. Ciatti noted they talked about the recycling containers at City Hall and the Library and said a letter stating trash gets separated at Calmet could be posted as a no cost way. Mr. Kalpakoff advised Calmet can custom make something, if the City wants it to happen. Chair Guerra stated he still thinks the three containers at City Hall is a visual message. Lars Clutterham mentioned the Green Building Code could be one of the biggest things and Mr. Ciatti said this could come after LEED comes in. Mr. Alvarez suggested Ms. Emerson could invite the person from LEED to the next Task Force meeting in November. Education Working Group Member Clutterham advised the Education Working Group’s September 28 meeting was hosted by the Gas Company and its members were given a tour of the facility by Ms. Emerson. He noted they focused on the recommendation to have a Downey Green Page on the City’s website and passed out information. - 2 - Mr. Davidson noted if he goes on the City’s website there would need to be some type of catch to take him to the Green Page or felt most people will not go to that page. Chair Guerra advised the City’s website is currently in the process of being updated and said he spoke to Director of Community Development, John Perfitt, about the Green Page and he said it can easily be done. He recommended input from the GTF members, stating it has to be visual and give conservation tips. Ms. Flowers said she was concerned about the blog part, stating if you don’t have someone monitoring it it can be nasty. Janet Molinaro said you can have a link to a Facebook page and stated in Facebook it is not easy to be anonymous. The motion was moved by Lars Clutterham, seconded by Robert Rubio, and carried to make the following recommendation to the City Council: The Green Task Force recommends that City Council provide for a “Downey Green” page on the city’s website. The Downey Green page would be highly visible and easily accessible from the website’s home page. It would include such elements as: 1)links to other sites featuring sustainability practices and information; 2)links to sites that offer no-cost and low-cost energy saving devices, energy-related rebates, etc., such as those available through southern California Gas and Southern California Edison; 3)notice of green activities in or near the City of Downey; 4)a blog/comment page available for citizens to add green ideas to the site, and so forth The Task Force also recommends that representation from the Green Task Force Education Advisory Group, possibly one or two members, be assigned to work with the website developer on layout and content for the Downey Green Page. Mr. Clutterham presented a Power Point regarding the issue of throwaway plastic bags, depicting cities around the world where plastic bags are banned, the national and global impact, the impact on our oceans and the environment. He recommended the City Council start a pilot program in the elementary schools, such as a school site contest, and encourage students to teach their parents. He said Superintendent Doty gave approval to possibly start the program at Gauldin. He also said the major supermarkets have been approached regarding providing reusable bags. He reviewed the benefits, such as low cost of support compared to forms of legislation and the public relations benefits from establishing a proactive community program that addresses the environmental issue of throwaway bags. Ms. Flowers mentioned Trader Joe’s markets have a program whereby if you bring in reusable bags, your name goes into a bowl and at the end of the month someone wins something. Ms. Molinaro advised Whole Foods market gives a nickel for every bag brought in. Chair Guerra brought bags from Coca Cola Bottling and pointed out they were constructed from three plastic water bottles. He said he was not fully in favor of saying Downey should ban plastic bags and felt paper bags are not always better, noting the trees used and the carbon footprint. He also said many senior citizens like plastic bags. Ms. Molinaro suggested having a component, like the used oil calendar program, where people can decorate the bags and felt this gives them a stake in the program. - 3 - It was moved by Sally Flowers, seconded by Robert Rubio and carried to recommend: 1.That the City Council endorse and support a pilot program within the Downey Unified School District through which both the City of Downey and the City’s major supermarkets (or other donors) provide reusable grocery bags to students along with classroom instruction in the environmental advantages of reusable bags. 2.The Green Task Force recommends that City Council authorize the purchase of up to 1,000 reusable bags, either generic or with the City’s logo, to be contributed through such a pilot program within the DUSD. 3.The Green Task Force recommends that City Council review this program with DUSD at or before the close of the 2009-2010 school year with a view to expanding the program to more schools in the district not later than the school year 2010-2011. Mr. Davidson noted the group had discussed a larger widespread program with the schools and stated if this is our only shot, he did not feel it was big enough. Mr. Clutterham said this is not a one shot deal and passed out material from Superintendent Doty. Vice Chair Marquez stated the City wanted to partner up with the School District and felt this is a start. City Council Actions on Task Force Recommendations Chair Guerra suggested showing the Power Point at a City Council meeting and asked Mr. Alvarez to do a bullet point of what was approved today and to send it out in an e-mail. Other Business Mr. Ciatti pointed out Downey Unified School District has been working on a fundraiser for this Friday where proceeds will go to the Downey Adult School. He said Goodyear, Nike, Wescom, etc., contributed and there will be a live band playing 70’s and 80’s music. Chair Guerra noted Character Counts Week is coming up in October; on October 23 the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center will have its grand opening ceremony and said he will get invitations to the Task Force; thanked the members of the Green Task Force for their time and effort; welcomed Mike Hollon, Deputy for Assemblyman Hector De La Torre; thanked Coca Cola for assisting the Assemblyman with soft drinks and water for the college day event he held a week ago with 1,100 in attendance; noted reporter John Canalis will be doing a story on Coca Cola; and advised that the City’s recent Communicator booklet has four pages of Character Counts information. Mr. Rubio asked about opening day for Bob’s Big Boy and was advised there is no definite date yet. The meeting was adjourned at 1:37 p.m. to Tuesday, November 3, at 12:00 pm in the Cormack room at the Downey City Library. _____________________________ ______________________________ Shirley Conte, Secretary Chair, Dn. Mario A. 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