HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-2-18 CEPAC Minutes
Climate and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (CEPAC)
Minutes
Feb 08, 2024, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
51 Winburn Wy, Ashland, OR 97520
1. Call to Order
1.1. COMMITTEE MEMBERS-
PRESENT: Kip Barrett, Richard Barth, Colin Bishopp, Sidney Brown, Sharon
Dohrmann, Cat Gould, Mark Morrison, Gary Shaff, Bryan Sohl, Becs Walker,
OPEN POSITIONS: 0
ABSENT: Jamie Rosenthal, Kiera Reitz, Keeley Reiners, Piper Banks
1.1. CITY COUNCIL: Bob Kaplan
1.2. STAFF: Chad Woodward
2. Consent Agenda
2.1. Minutes- January 11, 2024
2.1.1. Correction- regarding Ashland Schools Foundation to be changed to
Ashland School District.
Motion to approve made by Shaff. Seconded by Dohrman. Approved
unanimously. No discussion.
3. Updates/Announcements
3.1. Council Update –
3.1.1. Bob Kaplan-
3.1.1.1. Facilities planning through council. Assessment of all city facilities,
including parks, which will identify end of life gas equipment to be
swapped out in a timely manner. Estimated completion by end of
2024. No CEPAC work needed before completion of the study.
3.1.1.2. Briscoe school discussion. Previous 1.3-million-dollar state grant
to repair HVAC system. Roof has solar potential but would depend
on a structural-readiness assessment. Discussion followed.
3.2. Staff Update –
3.2.1. Chad Woodward
3.2.1.1. USDA rural energy savings program with Legal for review. Working
with a non-profit (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) to
provide technical assistance. Mayor announced during Town Hall
meeting. No approaching deadline
3.2.1.2. Oregon Department of Energy seeking grant for energy auditor
training.
3.2.1.3. Energy Efficiency Conservation Community Block Grant
announcing pass through feral grant. Able to apply for $50-100
thousand for energy efficiency audits, municipal building
upgrades, solar/storage, and municipal EV chargers. Application
available in March. Discussion followed about which area for
CEPAC to focus on.
3.2.1.4. State Homes and Hears energy rebate incentives delayed to late
2024.
3.2.1.5. DEQ working on climate pollution reduction grant application to
the Feds. 5 billion dollar grant. State pursuing 400 million.
3.2.1.6. Stracker Solar installation up and running at 90 N Mountain. Four,
level 3/DC fast chargers installed and in use. Discussion followed
about which type of plug in is in use.
3.2.1.7. Medford requested information about Ashland’s EV charging
infrastructure.
3.3. Chair Update –
3.3.1. Bryan Sohl-
3.3.1.1. Terms of service update: Discussion followed regarding future
appointments.
3.4. Other Committee Members Update-
3.4.1. Becs Walker- SOU Cascade Halls to be demolished and rebuilt as
potential senior housing on campus as a revenue diversification project.
Recommendation made for rebuilding as an all-electric facility.
3.4.2. Collin Bishop- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant winners will be
announced in March, totaling 20 million dollars. Funds sub-allocated to
CDFI’s. Municipalities potentially able to receive funds for technical
assistance to support deployment. Ashland was the only municipality in
Oregon that requested funding. Discussion followed.
3.4.3. Linda Peterson Adams- Transportation system scope of work process
through ODOT. No contractor has been selected. Vision ZERO resolution
being resubmitted to council for speed reductions in climate friendly and
equity communities. Bike rack survey to be reviewed at the next meeting.
Near miss and crash data from the previous six-month period to be
analyzed. Bird scooter removed from work plan. Near miss report
information in local bike shops.
4. Old Business
4.1. Unbundled parking
4.1.1. Gary Shaff- CEPAC invited to participate in discussion and involvement in
unbundling of parking. Rent reduction and land use changes.
Motion for CEPAC to be involved in the discussion and study of unbundled
parking, as outlined by Shaff, made by Walker. Seconded by Morrison.
Approved unanimously.
4.2. Ordinance Update
4.2.1. Bryan Sohl- Expressed frustration with the city’s Legal team as well as
the City Manager and Electric Director over timeline for response
regarding legal guidance. Requested suggestions for how to move
forward. Would like to know staff’s concerns with the ordinance to get it
moved on to council’s review.
4.2.2. Woodward- No explicit update from City Manager currently. Explained
City Staff’s response timeline, as staff has other priorities as well. No
update for Council’s CEPAC study session.
5. New Business
5.1. Small Engines discussion - ban or regulate two stroke engines. Incentive Plan
vs. Ordinance?
5.1.1. Gary Shaff discussed the history of this idea in Ashland. Informed on
Portland and Seattle’s work on an ordinance to ban gas-powered small
engines.
5.1.2. Becs Walker- Informed on SOU’s 3-year plan to convert all hand
mowers, blowers, and trimmers. Cost is 3x higher for battery powered.
Economic impacts to small business need to be considered, since all-
electric prices are higher than those of their gas-powered counterparts.
There is no ROI that matches that of the gas-powered tools since
maintenance cost and life cycle are more expensive.
5.1.3. Mark Morrison- School District has been slowly replacing two-stroke
equipment with all-electric. Using a residential line, not commercial, due
to cost, and finding durability issues. Recently purchased a diesel mower
due to lack of alternative options. Mower is a low emission and accepts
b100 Biodiesel which would make it 99% carbon neutral. The school district
would like to see the city adopt electric alternatives.
5.1.4. Shaff- Suggested a monetary incentive for retirement of commercial
use equipment to be replaced with electric-only options. Strongly
supports a focus on regulating the use of professional small engines and
incentivizing electric replacements at end of life. Public concerns
regarding noise and air pollution.
5.1.5. Bryan Sohl- opened discussion to see if regulation is another project
CEPAC wants to take on.
5.2. Home Energy Scores
5.2.1. Bryan Sohl- informed on different local vs. state inspectors who
can do home energy audits. Discussed cost and how it differs
across the state.
5.2.2. Cat Gould- Statewide work group with periodic meetings.
Connecting with Rogue Valley Realtors and inspector for the area.
Offered to be a representative of the CEPAC.
5.3. Prioritize Work Plan- Woodward to re-send out Doodle Poll to
determine schedule.
6. Wrap Up
7. Adjourn-7:30pm