HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-4-26 CEPAC Minutes
Climate and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (CEPAC)
Draft Minutes
April 26, 2023, 3:00-5:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER - Committee Chair Sohl called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm.
1.1. COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT: Bryan Sohl, Keeley Reiners, Jamie Rosenthal, Kip Barrett, Rick Barth,
Gary Shaff, Becs Walker; ABSENT: None; OPEN POSITIONS: 5
1.2. City Council - Bob Kaplan (Council Liaison)
1.3. Staff - Chad Woodward (Staff Liaison), Cobi Glick (Staff Minutes)
2. INTRODUCTIONS
2.1. Bryan Sohl started brief introductions for committee members, city council
members and staff. Sohl introduced Jess Grady Benson from Rogue Climate
and Liaison to RCAT. Sherry Dohrman and Cat Gould were also present as
potential committee members.
3. PUBLIC FORUM - None
4. CONSENT AGENDA - MOTION: Approve 3/22/2023 Minutes by Rick Barth.
Seconded by Becs Walker. No Discussion. Motion approved unanimously.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.1. Council Update- Bob Kaplan
Approval of the Capital Improvement Plan: Includes Public input about
protecting bike lanes. Adding bike lanes on Hersey St. and making B Street
a bicycle boulevard as part of a two-year plan.
The city has chosen to move forward with an inventory of all city owned
facilities to determine energy efficiency and the state of its gas
infrastructure.
5.2. Staff Update- Chad Woodward
Two new letters of inquiry submitted. First, the Bonneville Environmental Zevi
Grant which would allow EV incentives to be at $1500 instead of $1000 level.
Second being the AmeriCorps Rare Inquiry. If granted, this is a 1700-hour
internship with 4 areas of focus: USDA Retrofit Loan, Home Energy Score
Program, Electrification Pursuits, and Small Engine Initiative.
Clean fuels program annual and quarterly reports submitted.
Incentive for Hotels to swap out their existing heating units with a $600
Bonneville Power Incentive available.
Info about SOU car share going out with City bills.
Looking at new grant opportunities. Community Climate Investment Entities
Initiative through DEQ, and Federal EV charging infrastructure grant.
Electric Bus Grant opportunity shared with the School District (1 billion/year
over 5 years) due August 2023.
5.3. Other Announcements from Committee Members
Becs Walker discussed the Federal EV Charging Grant that Woodward
mentioned previously. Walker explained that there is a substantial amount
of money available for charging infrastructure within 1 mile of the I-5
corridor.
Gary Schaff discussed how surrounding cities are integrating bicycle
improvements.
Jamie Rosenthal announced that Recology and Ashland Fire are having
their first Wildfire Preparedness Day on May seventh at the transfer station
on Valley View Road. Residents can drop off their fire fuel on this day.
Bryan Sohl has been interviewing potential CEPAC members. Kaplan and
Sohl submitted a list of possible candidates to Mayor Graham. A School
District representative for CEPAC is still needed.
5.4. Reports from Representatives of other Committees
Cat Gould from the tree committee is present with Mike Oxendine to ask
CEPAC to write a letter of interest to the council in support of Oxendine’s
NGO grant. Oxendine’s not-for-profit, Oregon Urban, Rural, and Community
Forestry, will be mapping all public trees to document at-risk species,
identify under-planted areas, and potential canopy improvement in lower-
income neighborhoods with a focus on data collection and monitoring.
MOTION: Garry Schaff motioned that Brian Sohl write a letter to City Council to
endorse Oxendine’s grant application. Seconded by Rick Barth. No discussion. Motion
approved unanimously.
6. Old Business
6.1. Proposed Ordinance (to prohibit natural gas connections in newly
constructed buildings) discussion:
Bryan Sohl introduced the Students from Ashland High School as well as
representatives Suzie Garcia and Jess Grady Benson from Rogue Climate.
Sohl mentioned various stakeholders who should be consulted as part of
the community outreach process. Becs Walker discussed what needs to be
advanced in policy development. Rick Barth discussed how decisions
made in other cities, as well as the ninth circuit court’s ruling could affect
this ordinance moving forward. More information is needed and
information gathering will continue.
6.2. CEPAC Future Meeting Date and Time: A brief discussion of options.
MOTION: Becs Walker proposed a motion to schedule future meetings on the second
Wednesdays of the month at 3pm-5pm. Seconded by Jamie Rosenthal. 5-2 in favor
of adopting. Yes: Barrett, Walker, Rosenthal, Shaff, Barth. No: Sohl, Reiner.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1. CEPAC Work Plan:
Shaff and Rosenthal shared a list broken down by current work efforts,
some possible projects to restart that have been paused and some
potential new projects. There was a brief discussion of whether to plan the
future work on past efforts/plans or to start anew as a new committee, with
no obligation to the past.
8. WRAP UP - CEPAC work plan can be a focus at the next meeting.
9. ADJOURN - The meeting was adjourned at: 5:00 pm.