HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.04.06 CEAP Minutes Minutes for the Climate and Energy Action Plan ad hoc Committee
April 6,2016
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MINUTES FOR THE CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLAN ad hoc COMMITTEE
Wednesday,April 6, 2016
Gresham Room, Ashland Public Library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd.
1. Call to Order
Councilor Rich Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Committee members Sarah Lasoff, Jim Hartman, Isaac Bevers, Louise Shawkat, James
McGinnis, Claudia Alick, Stuart Green, Roxanne Biegel-Coryell, Bryah Sohl, Greg Jones were
present. Committee member Marni Koopman arrived late. Staff member Adam Hanks was
present.
Rosenthal welcomed the newest members of the committee, Lasoff and Bevers. They each gave
some background information.
Comissioner Koopman arrived 3:35 p.m.
2. Approval of minutes
The minutes of both March 2 and 16 were approved as presented.
3. Public Input
James Stephens—His business, Electroquest, specializes in electric vehicles. He stated that Tesla
is now taking reservations for their new Model 3 car. He thinks this is the tipping point for
electric vehicles as this is at a much more reasonable price point, especially with all the
incentives available. He has been meeting with Mayor Stromberg to encourage him to consider
pre-ording a Tesla for himself.
4. Review of Public Involvement Plan
Hanks gave an overview of the timeline as presented in the packet. Cascadia will provide the
logistics and publicity for the first open house, tentatively scheduled for the week of May 23ra
Hanks and Shiplet are working on finding a venue. Group gave venue option suggestions.
Hanks asked group if any members want to work with him and Cascadia on outreach/publicity?
Alick, Sohl, McGinnis, and Lasoff offered to assist.
Group discussed outreach and open house invitation opportunities. Cascadia will directly contact
the previoiusly identified stakeholders, City staff and committee members will invite other
groups/persons and Cascasdia will do general publicity.
Group discussed whether an education component is necessary prior to the first open house.
There were concerns with the lack of time before the event. Agreed that while climate trend
information presented doesn't necessarily focus on the specific concerns of our community, a
teaser may be helpful and a good way to promote the open house.
Minutes for the Climate and Energy Action Plan ad hoc Committee
April 6,2016
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5. Update on Polling Partnership with Geos
Koopman informed the group that Geos is working with SOU to produce a poll to city residents.
They are using Eugene's pre-plan poll as an example. Most of poll will relate to level of support
for a plan. Current timeline is to have poll results in time for July update to Council on this
process.
Group discussed polling options and how to best balance scientific data with a more biased poll.
Determined it was best to start with the more scientific poll and later expand to on-line, likely
biased, information gathering. Group also agreed that the recent polling done at Ashland High
School could be used as an appendix to the final Action Plan.
6. Climate Plan Goals and Targets Discussion
Group discussed possible boundaries of the plan. Transportation is hard to track and can't be
easily regulated in a strong manner but it might be good to have community weigh in at the open
house as to whether they want to transportation as part of the plan.
Group discussed whether consumption should be part of the plan, as it can't be measured. Group
determined that education and, where possible, incentives should be in the plan, but consumption
should not part of specifical reduction targets. Group discussed concerns regarding creating goals
which are either unrealistic or lacking a mechanism to track. Also discussed concerns with being
too focused on carbons, and not on off-set options. Biegell-Coryell stated she wants to have
achievable targets and a clear understanding of where we can or can't achieve reductions. Bevers
stated that he wants this to not be just about setting a minimum threshold of what we should do
but wants it to be about what can have the biggest, possible, impact (be aggressive, but have
practical targets).
Group determined that we need some early wins to keep the community engaged but that
shouldn't prevent long-term, visionary goals from being included. Group would like a suite of
options to choose from, ranging from bottom-line state of Oregon targets and going up to
visionary, aggressive targets/goals. It is important, however, to keep the plan (and targets)
flexible enough to change with technological improvements. Also need to keep in mind how to
mitigate any potential negative effects on community members.
7. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be April 20 at 5:30 p.m. Group would like to continue the discussion of
goals and targets and check in on how the polling process is coming together.
8. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diana Shiplet, Executive Assistant