HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.08.12 Climate Policy Minutes Minutes for the Climate Policy Commission
August 12, 2021
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MINUTES FOR THE CLIMATE POLICY COMMISSION
Thursday, August 12, 2021; Held Electronically
1. Call to Order (item starts at approximately 3:00 on the meeting video)
Chair Rick Barth called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Commissioners Chris Brown, Bob
Kaplan, Ray Mallette, Gary Shaff, and Jeff Wyatt were present. Council liaison Tonya Graham
and staff liaison Stu Green were also present.
2. Consent Agenda
2.1. July 9, 2021 Minutes (3:06)
Shaff/Kaplan moved/seconded approval. Ayes: Barth, Brown, Graham, Kaplan, Mallette, Shaff,
and Wyatt. Nays: none. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Announcements
3.1. Next Meeting: September 9, 2021
3.2. Council Update (4:23)
Graham gave an update on the following items:
• USDA Zero Interest Loan Application
• New Interim City Manager and Interim Finance Director
• General Fund Financial Study Sessions
3.3. Staff Update (11:32)
Green gave an update on the following items:
• Conservation Division is now supervised by the Electric Director
• Electric vehicle (EV) car share
• USDA Zero Interest Loan
• Positive feedback on the induction cooktop incentive
• Northwest Requirement Utility upcoming presentation on the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) contract
Graham added in the Council's discussion on a standard policy for Commissions to choose to
meet in-person or virtually. Graham will attend a webinar series designed for elected officials
who want to learn more about the power grid.
3.4. Other Announcements from Commissioners (18:3 5)
Wyatt stated that the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) will release a zero emission vehicle
report in September. A conference call will also be set up with Breach Collective who are
working with the City of Eugene on legal options for regulating natural gas.
Shaff stated that the Council had approved and forwarded the comments from the Commission
on the climate-friendly rulemaking from the Department of Land Conservation and
Development. He will send out a webinar link for the task force to the Commissioners.
Brown talked about the Housing Capacity Analysis report which did include the Climate Policy
Commission's (CPC) recommendations. He will distribute the report to the Commissioners when
finalized. Mallette will add this into the formal planning tracking sheet.
3.5. Reports from Representatives of Other Commissions
None
Minutes for the Climate Policy Commission
August 12, 2021
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4. Public Forum (22:49)
Barth noted that Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) submitted testimony asking
CPC to reconvey the priority of the climate action in Ashland's current strategic planning
process and invited Commissioners to a webinar on rethinking streets.
5. Old Business
5.1. Action Items Volunteer(23:28)
Mallette volunteered for this month and Kaplan volunteered for next month.
5.2. Commissioner Recruitment (23:45)
Barth spoke with an interested applicant. There are still voting positions and two student
positions vacant.
5.3. Formal Planning (24:11)
Mallette gave an update on the following:
• The Talent Ashland Phoenix Intertie (TAP) and the Stormwater and Drain master plans
were removed from the Council Look Ahead.
• Stormwater Municipal Codes will be updated this year.
• Transportation System Plan update will go to Council for approval of the consultant
contract.
• Ten Year Electric Study is still on the list.
• The Pool renovations got delayed due to funding.
Kaplan asked if adaptation was included in the feedback for these plans in addition to mitigation.
Mallette said yes and an example was looking at resiliency for the Ten Year Electric Study.
5.4. Transportation Commission Coordination (32:29)
Barth mentioned the correspondence from the Transportation Commission regarding them being
the lead on all Transportation issues. The Commissions discussed the issue. It was decided that
when asking for feedback from other Commissions, CPC will designate a representative to offer
to present to the other Commissions.
5.5. Rethinking Streets (48:26)
The Commission was asked to sponsor this webinar hosted by the Ashland Climate Project and
the Ashland Bicycle Advocates group. The Commission cannot sponsor an event without
Council permission.
5.6. 2021 Legislative Session Review (51:01)
Wyatt highlighted ODOE's legislative report on the current State legislative bills. Mallette asked
if any follow up was needed from the City on any of the bills or grants available. Green said he
will stay up to date on the status of programs being developed.
5.7. CPC Update 2021 (56:57)
Barth explained what he would like to accomplish for the update. The Commissioners proposed
changes to the CPC Update 2021 document. Barth, Wyatt, and Kaplan were designated to make
changes in the document and create the presentation. The Commissioners reviewed and updated
the goals listed in the document. Barth asked initiative leads to email him before the next
meeting so he can include the next steps for each initiative in the CPC look ahead.
Minutes for the Climate Policy Commission
August 12, 2021
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6. New Business
None
7. Wrap Up
Chair Barth adjourned the meeting at 6:3 0 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Taylor