HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-5-24 CEPAC Minutes
Climate and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (CEPAC)
Updated Draft Minutes
May 24, 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: Piper Banks, Cat Gould, Sidney Brown, Sherry Dohrmann, Colin
Bishopp, Jamie Rosenthal, Bryan Sohl, Becs Walker, Keeley Reiners, Rick
Barth, Gary Shaff, Kip Barrett; ABSENT: None; OPEN POSITIONS: 1
1.2. City Council - Bob Kaplan (Council Liaison)
1.3. Staff - Chad Woodward (Staff Liaison)
2. INTRODUCTIONS
2.1. Brief introductions by committee members, city council members and staff.
Sohl introduced Jess Grady Benson from Rogue Climate and Liaison to RCAT.
3. PUBLIC FORUM - None
4. CONSENT AGENDA - MOTION: Approve 4/24/2023 Minutes by Rick Barth.
Seconded by Keeley Reiners. No Discussion. Motion approved unanimously.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.1. Council Update- Bob Kaplan
At the CEPAC’s request, Oregon Urban Rural Community Forestry
presented to the City Council Study Session and the City Council
authorized the mayor to sign a letter endorsing the grant request.
7/8 scheduled budget meetings have been completed. Discussed
resources available in the electric fund for energy efficiency and
conservation programs.
5.2. Staff Update- Chad Woodward
ZEVI and AMERICORP grants both came back negative.
Resolution building inquiry incomplete but a priority. Chad shared the
facility assessment document and discussed table values as well as
steps he is taking to complete the resolution.
Oregon Department of Energy meeting to gain knowledge about home
energy scores.
Oregon Department of Transportation rebate application. $150,000
grant to expand our city EV charging.
5.3. Other Announcements from Committee Members
None
5.4. Reports from Representatives of other Committees
None
6. Old Business
nd
6.1. CEPAC Meeting Time Moving forward- 2 Wednesday of the month from 3-5
PM.
6.2. Ashland Electrification: A brief discussion of options.
Piper Banks discussed three options for moving forward with
electrification ordinance after the ninth circuit court decision last
month.
Bryan Sohl discussed the ordinance that RCAT previously brought
before the council that looked at banning gas in residential and
commercial new buildings, while the current options are only new
residential.
MOTION: Rick Barth proposed CEPAC recommends to City Council and the City
Manager the following:
1. that they direct appropriate City Staff and City Attorney to review the
document entitled “Ashland Electrification & Clean Air Policy: Proposal
for Ashland CEPAC” as contained in the file “RCAT Proposal for CEPAC
5_22_23.pdf”,
2. that appropriate City Staff and City Attorney in collaboration with
CEPAC draft a) an ordinance related to Electrification and Clean Air in
new residential construction and b) a resolution to study further
potential actions on electrification and air quality of new buildings and
remodels of existing buildings, and
3. that appropriate City Staff in collaboration with CEPAC perform
stakeholder engagement using the “Proposed engagement process”
contained in the cited document as a basis.
Seconded by Keeley Reiners. Vote 10-1 in favor of motion. Yes: Reiners, Sohl,
Barrett, Rosenthal, Walker, Gould, Brown, Dohrmann, Bishopp, Barth No: Shaff.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1. CEPAC Work Plan: Woodward discussed climate change categories and how
they apply to the CEPAC work plan. Discussed how the categories could be
affectively divided between the group and how the committees work would
reach the community.
8. WRAP UP – Follow up meeting next week with a subgroup to discuss work plan
and funding further. All members were encouraged to research and bring back
their own ideas, so everyone has a say in the priorities of the group.
9. ADJOURN - The meeting was adjourned at: 5:00 pm.