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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGTF Minutes 12-1-09 GREEN TASK FORCE MINUTES DECEMBER 1, 2009 Roll Call Members Present: Chair Mario Guerra Vice Chair Luis Marquez Dan Pruitt Mike Finn Bob Ciatti Bill Kalpakoff Lars Clutterham Robert Rubio Tom Davidson Janet Molinaro Also Present: Desi Alvarez Absent: Calvin Davis Bob Phillips Nancy Swenson Sally Flowers Jesse Kalashyan Julia Emerson Sylvia Southerland The meeting was called to order at 12:25 pm by Chair Guerra. Chair Guerra gave a brief update on Tesla Motors and pointed out how green the facility would be. He advised the City Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday night and hopes to have an announcement shortly. He mentioned writing his final Mayoral message and noted we have created over 4,500 new jobs, not counting the possible Tesla jobs. He said the Green Task Force is a great group and we are in the home stretch with only a few meetings left. He said he was not sure whether he will still be part of the committee after the Mayoral Transition but said he would still come as a citizen, if not. Minutes It was moved by Lars Clutterham, seconded by Bill Kalpakoff and carried to approve the Minutes from November 3, as presented. Mr. Alvarez pointed out he should be noted as an attendee and not as a member. Sustainability Working Group Bill Ciatti referred to the group’s meeting on November 17 with himself, Calvin Davis, Sylvia Southerland and Bill Kalpakoff in attendance. He said they spoke with Sylvia regarding Edison and discussed what Downey is doing in the Green way and what it could be doing and said Sylvia will put a presentation together for the GTF’s January 5 meeting with Julia Emerson as co-presenter. He said - 1 - Sylvia brought paperwork titled “leading the way in electricity,” which he passed around and noted they talked about the group’s legacy and about the big goal. Chair Guerra responded to a comment made to a member by a Council Member regarding the lunches provided to the Green Task Force and advised he felt the food provided is justified for a group of volunteers who give up their lunch time to meet on behalf of the City and its residents. He also noted that food is provided at Council meetings for the Council and City staff. The GTF member noted they were offended by the comment. Education Working Group Lars Clutterham noted their meeting was a week ago on Wednesday and he summed up where they are in terms of education with respect to the School District. He noted the School District provided a list of activities that schools were doing and said the Education Group came up with a brainstorming list and he reviewed what was discussed and how some things are already being implemented in the School District. He reviewed a Power Point program showing a comparison of the group’s list with the School District’s list. Lars noted the bottom line of what the Education Group discussed is being implemented in the schools already but in a piecemeal way. He said the reusable bag project is a foot in the door and needs to be developed to create visibility. He pointed out that shortly after the last GTF meeting the School District letters from Superintendent Wendy Doty were distributed to the supermarkets but noted he has not heard back from anyone yet. Annabel Carcel, substitute teacher at DUSD, who returned to college for her Master’s degree in conservation biology, has close contacts at Warren and Griffith’s Middle School and is working to get the faculty to introduce the program to their students in time for the A Day Without a Bag program on December 17. He noted Nancy Swenson’s daughter, Cheyenne, put together a proposal at Gallatin and Janet Molinaro will approach principals she knows. It is developing in a number of schools. Chair Guerra asked what the City is doing for participation and it was noted Desi will issue press releases. Lars advised they have not requested this yet. He did note the Wave newspaper misquoted the date as the 19 and Chair Guerra also noted they said the cost was $15,000, which was corrected. Lars said Annabel has volunteered to speak with any class and has provided links and noted community members have also volunteered time. He said the first bag offer to come through is from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and he showed a photo of the bag. Bill Kalpakoff asked why just one day for the bag program and Desi noted it is part of Heal the Bay, which is a countywide program. Lars said it is an opportunity to get things off the ground. He noted Annabel has had a presence at Keep Downey Beautiful cleanups for the past few months. She has a tape and photos with information, is out there in the community and is a great contact with the schools to keep things moving forward. He said the group assessed things, the participation was great, and everyone had their own ideas. He said we are not intending to be a one-horse event and need to return to water conservation also. Lars mentioned another topic he wanted to discuss was solar installation. He mentioned he installed solar at his home the first of May and showed photos of his roof, stating it has 18 panels. He showed the meter and the junction box that stops the electricity from going into the house, which they would have to pay for. He said an inverter on the back of the house has a display that indicates the kilowatts of electricity produced and the savings on CO2. He showed his electric bill, which was currently $64.81 covering the period from May to December. He mentioned the list price of $38,500 with a discount of - 2 - $7,284 and a $9,365 Federal Government credit, for a balance of $21,851. He showed an Agenda Memo from City staff and said there were 8 solar fee applications in the last 12 months. He noted it will take him 12 years to pay off with savings at an average of $150 a month. At $200 a months it would average 9 years to pay off. He feels it will increase the value of his home and is warranted for 25 years. Bill Kalpakoff asked what it weighs and what it uses. Lars advised the panels collect electrons and the inverter changes the electrons to AC electricity. There is no water. The panels each weigh about 20 lbs. and there are 18 panels and also copper pipes that add about 450 lbs. more. They are very discreet and totally enclosed. He said his meter turns negative all day long and at night uses electricity. It is not cost effective to have a battery. He mentioned he has a small exercise pool so his costs are actually increased by that fact. He said he is 61 now and during limited income from retirement he will not need to worry about his electric bill. He said one recommendation to Council is AB811, which creates funds for cities to subsidize residents and businesses to install solar and the property owner pays back on a monthly basis. There is over 100 million available. They are not ready to propose the recommendation yet but it is something to look into. Water Conservation Lars noted the front page of the L.A. Times ran an article about how people in the future will need to adjust. He said there are laws on the books and there is a way to educate the Downey citizenry about ways to conserve water. Sixty to seventy percent of water usage in the United States is landscaping and if the City finds a way to address landscaping water, it will go a long way to conserving water. He said solar may move forward with recommendations next month and then water conservation. Bob Ciatti asked if any other permits have been pulled since we lowered the permit fees and it was noted this will be checked out for next time. Robert Rubio noted ESPN was providing solar panels to the Boys and Girls Club and wanted to do a ground breaking ceremony. When we looked at the Edison Bill it was around $500-$700 per meter per month and around $1,500 per month. We were using timers for lighting all the way around the club that was on sensors and we no longer use this system and the sensors come on in the evening and we are looking at a savings of $200-$300 per month due to turning off the timers. He said this was the first time building inspectors in Bell Gardens had to check this out. Chair Guerra mentioned his house had solar panels in 1987 but they did not work after a year. He said education is the key. Desi noted solar panels in the old days were for heating water and they were heavy. The panels now are cells generating energy. Chair Guerra asked when do we start writing final recommendations of what we want to accomplish. In April we will ask the Council so in January we need to make suggestions. Lars said if we recommend to the Council to implement whatever city opportunities are under AB811, implement the water conservation ordinance already in place, address the City teaching by example, and LEED certification. If we hit those 4 issues we have hit the biggest points along with an education partnership with DUSD, which is underway. He also hoped to reconstitute the task force. Tom Davidson asked if we are at a point of making the subcommittees meet as a group to be more effective and meet twice a month. The members present felt it was a good point. - 3 - Vice Chair Marquez thought they should get together one more time alone and then get together in February as one group. Future Agenda Items Chair Guerra noted we are hitting the ground running in January and advised we will change the Mayor on Tuesday, December 8, and usually the Mayor appoints the Council Members to various committees. He said either way he will still attend as a citizen of Downey. Vice Chair Marquez noted he too would still be involved. Chair Guerra mentioned he went to Washington DC and noted 16 million was received from Federal stimulus money. He said you can’t take steps back and Economic Development is amazing right now. Chair Guerra reiterated the Tesla update for Mr. Rubio as he had arrived late. Mr. Rubio asked, if approved, how much time to get started and Chair Guerra said Tesla’s response to that question was they need to roll out cars by late 2011. He said they have had many late night meetings. Mr. Kalpakoff stated Chair Guerra has the most energy of any City Mayor he has ever seen. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. to Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at 12:00 pm in the Cormack room at the Downey City Library. _____________________________ ______________________________ Shirley Conte, Secretary Chair, Dn. Mario A. Guerra - 4 -