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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.07.27 Conservation Commission Minutes Minutes for the Conservation Commission July 27,2016 Page 1 of 3 MINUTES FOR THE ASHLAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION Wednesday,July 27, 2016 Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 1. Call to Order Chair Bryan Sohl called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room. Commissioners Mark Weir, Marni Koopman, Cara Cruickshank, Jamie Rosenthal, and James McGinnis were present. Councilor Rich Rosenthal was present. Staff member Adam Hanks was present. Commissioner Roxane Beigel-Coryell was absent. 2. Consent Agenda Weir/Cruickshank m/s to approve the minutes of May 25, 2016, as presented. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion Passes. 3. Announcements The next commission meeting will be August 24, 2016. J. Rosenthal informed the group that Recology is working with both the Talent Harvest Festival and the Bear Creek Salmon Festival, both of which will occur on October 1, 2016. 4. Public Forum Jeff Sharpe: Donated two copies of the book, "The Great Transition," to the commission. He handed out to the commissioners an information sheet regarding the 10% locally-produced electricity by 2020 ballot initiative. He read aloud some of the details of the initiative. He requested that the Commission encourage the Council to skip sending the initiative to the ballot and instead agree to adopt the ordinance. Group discussed the typical ballot initiative process and why they are hesitant to request Council not send the initiative to the ballot, particularly in light of the current Climate and Energy Action Plan(LEAP)process, which will likely have actions similar to the proposed initiative. 5. Reports/Presentations/Updates City Council Update—Councilor Rosenthal stated that at the August 16th Council meeting there will be a discussion of the 2016 water supply strategy. This item has to do with the order in which staff selects TAP vs. TID water to supplement the City's water supply. He also informed the group that currently scheduled for the September 19th study session, is a discussion of the in- process Electric Cost of Service study. This study may be interesting in light of the CEAP process and how those two processes need to work together to determine rate structures. City Conservation Programs and Operations—Hanks gave an update regarding new BPA information on how to implement energy efficiency programs. About 70% of the funding we use for our efficiency programs comes from BPA, which we supplement with City funds (particularly to reach frequently under-served multi-family units). BPA's new programs include a reduction in residential programs but an increase in commercial programs. Additionally, there have been changes in the NW Energy Star programs implemented recently regarding new construction and the Conservation Division has updated its new construction program, called Minutes for the Conservation Commission July 27,2016 Page 2 of 3 Smartbuild, to address these changes. Lastly, Avista is now a part of Energy Trust which may confuse Ashland residents, as City of Ashland electric customers aren't able to use Energy Trust programs (though City programs are equal or better)but now gas customers can for natural gas efficiency/conservation projects. Group asked questions regarding the recent alteration to the Verde Village development agreement and how that may have changed their energy efficiency requirements. Hanks gave an overview of the requirements in the agreement. Staff is pleased with the high level of efficiency requirements in the approved agreement. 7. Old Business Sneak Preview Column—The group discussed upcoming month topics: September—Living With Wildlife, written by Cruickshank October—Get to Know Your Commissioner, Hanks will send all commissioners a list of 5 questions to be answered and will use that for the article. November—Limiting Holiday waste, written by J. Rosenthal December—CEAP update. Climate &Energy Action Plan — Sohl stated that the presentation at the July 191h City Council meeting went well. He was glad that most of the committee were present for the presentation and got the impression that Council received the information well. He gave an overview of the seven recommendations for the plan that were presented. Group discussed how they came to using sector-based emissions reduction, rather than sector-based and consumption-based. Group discussed the continued desire of many to have an ordinance approved by Council prior to the completion of the action plan. Group also discussed the possible desire to have representatives from Eugene attend an upcoming CEAP meeting to discuss their ordinance. Councilor Rosenthal departed the meeting at 7:20 P.m. 7. New Business Discussion of Commission Charter—Cruickshank stated that she was curious if the group had recently reviewed the charter and if they still felt that it is both appropriate and reflective of what the commission is actively working on. She raised concerns that nowhere in the charter does it state anything about climate change. McGinnis agreed that the charter was old and it probably should state in some way climate change. He ultimately hopes that all commissions and committees have climate change reflected in their charters. Weir stated that there was a previous effort by the commission to update the charter but the Council at that time was not receptive to the change. He feels that the current charter ultimately reflects everything the commission could want to do, as climate change is a part of all the topics named in the charter. Group determined that it should do a goal setting session soon to establish updated goals and projects. They recognize that lots of the actions coming from the CEAP process will likely require the Commission to have a new charter, goals and projects list once the action plan is approved. Group decided to hold off on any further discussion until early next year to tie in with the CEAP process. Minutes for the Conservation Commission July 27,2016 Page 3 of 3 Commission Annual Report to Council—Hanks agreed to put together a list of all the Commission's accomplishments from the past year. Sohl and Cruickshank will determine which of those to highlight at the meeting and will present it together at the August 16th Council meeting. 8. Wrap Up Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diana Shiplet Executive Assistant