Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.09.08 CEAP Minutes Minutes for the Climate and Energy Action Plan ad hoc Committee September 8,2015 Page 1 of 3 MINUTES FOR THE CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLAN ad hoc COMMITTEE Wednesday, September 8, 2015 Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 1. Call to Order Chair Rich Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room. Committee members Louise Shawkat, Bryan Sohl were present. Staff member Adam Hanks was present. Committee members Roxane Beigel-Coryell and James McGinnis arrived late. 2. Public Forum None. 3. Climate Plan Kick Off Event Rosenthal stated that what we need to discuss is what deliverables are expected, how that information is compiled and delivered to us. Committee members James McGinnis and Roxanne Beigel-Coryell arrived 1:05 p.m. Kick Off Planning Committee members Marni Koopman, Hannah Sohl and James McGinnis described their initial plans for the event. They are proposing it will be done world-cafe style, with booths prior to provide information and to record some of the public's ideas. At the world cafe the main idea will be to connect each section to the questions; what can you do and what can we do as a community. They described a typical process for world-cafe events. The group asked how the agenda for overall day would proceed. Currently the plan is to start with speakers, then have food, concessions, and information booths followed by the world-cafe events. In general, it will be focused mostly around energy to keep it simple, rather than the broader"climate change" topic. Also, this is only the first in a series of longer-term events and discussions. Group discussed whether the community will have enough base knowledge regarding energy in order to participate effectively or get much out of the event. McGinnis stated that information would be going out starting the month prior with presentations to service organizations, churches, non-profits, etc. and will continue through the lead-up week's activities and into the actual kick-off event. Group discussed what questions need to be asked at the kick-off event. Want to use a focus on Simple, Solvable, and Serious for community takeaways. Group would like questions around whether or not the community wants to be in-step with State efforts or whether they want to be a leader i.e. how aggressive and approach is still doable for the community and Council. Rosenthal gave an overview of the requirements laid out in the contract with Geos. Bryan Sohl would like us to use the areas of focus from the Fort Collins plan for questions, including (but not limited to): Minutes for the Climate and Energy Action Plan ad hoc Committee September 8,2015 Page 2 of 3 • Energy • Green built environment • Transportation • Waste reduction • Energy sources • Energy creation styles • Adaptations Group discussed the possibility of using this to create a vision of Ashland in 2030 or 2050 (time to be determined). The three steps of the world-cafe process could be 1) what's your vision of Ashland's future? 2) what can be done to achieve that vision? 3) what are the barriers or challenges to achieving that vision? They would like the participants to consider how Ashland may or may not have stepped up to the challenge of climate change 20 years from now. Group discussed the importance of being more general in order to not be in conflict with other larger, developed plans such as the Transportation System Plan. Hanks reminded the ad hoc committee that this is just one event and is not intended to provide all the information the ad hoc committee may need during its process. Other public forums or events will be required, with specific focuses as this process moves forward. Group discussed the possibility of using the speakers from cities who have developed plans (Fort Collins, Eugene, etc.) to kick off the world cafe. Perhaps by doing a panel to describe what their cities did and take questions from participants. Other panel members could be City representatives to explain what Ashland already has in place. Group discussed the need for written surveys as well as the world-cafe input, as not everyone is good with verbal communication. The planning group agreed that they were intending to have a written component. Hanks reminded the planning group that a big portion of their contract requires they to provide names and contact information for everyone involved in the process (from all the events) in order to keep the community connected to the public engagement portions of the plan creation. Group agreed that through the whole event planning process everyone needs to consider what will best benefit the Council so they can make good decisions. A clear hierarchy of community desires is helpful and can focus this group as well as they process as a whole. Hanks stated that if the planning group wants staff or Council members involved at all they need to make those requests early, as that would involved over-time, and scheduling, and possibly notifications and minute-taking if Council speaks as a group (i.e. Councilors can participate as individuals, but not as a group without it being an official meeting of the Council requiring notification and minute- taking.) Staffing requests need to be made of the City Administrator soon. 4. Climate and Energy Action Plan RFP Hanks stated he had not yet received any input from committee members to clarify what they want in a consultant. He will continue to build the RFP based on other communities who have Minutes for the Climate and Energy Action Plan ad hoc Committee September 8,2015 Page 3 of 3 done plans and previous discussions with the Conservation Commission but would like the ad hoc Committee members to give their preferences and opinions. The draft will be available for approval at the September 30th meeting. Group requested copies of the Fort Collins and Eugene RFPs to help them understand the scope of work. Hanks agreed to give those to the group. 5. Approval of Minutes Beigel-Coryell/Shawkat m/s to approve the minutes of September 2, 2015 as submitted. Voice Vote: all ayes. Motion Passes. 7. Agenda Items for Next Meeting Group agreed that it would pretty much be the same agenda as today. Rosenthal thanked the group for the good start to this process and appreciated the work already done by the Kick-off Event's planning group. 8. Public Input#2 Hannah Sohl—encouraged group to have an ad hoc committee member who could be a voice for low-income residents. 9. Adjournment Meeting adj ourned at 2:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diana Shiplet Executive Assistant