Meeting Highlights:

1. SAB received and discussed “Climate in the Heartland” report on climate change impacts and adaptation from Eileen Horn, Sustainability Coordinator.

2. SAB discussed takeaways from joint meeting with Planning Commission in March.

 

Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) Minutes

April 13, 2016

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Dale Nimz, Sharon Ashworth, Michael Steinle, Scott White, Rachel Krause, Karen Lewis

MEMBERS ABSENT:    Adam Ritchie, Jackie Carroll

STAFF PRESENT:      Eileen Horn, Tammy Barnett

PUBLIC PRESENT:     Stanci March, Nathan Freehling, Steve Evans, Martin Koch, Logan Isaman, Theresa Wilke, Brett Holm

 

     I.        The meeting was called to order at 5:35 pm.

   II.        Motion and second to approve the February and March minutes. (Steinle/Ashworth). Minutes approved minutes unanimously.

 III.        Introductions of public attending who wish to be on SAB. There are two vacancies for three year terms.  Nathan Freehling, Steve Evans, Martin Koch, and Stanci March all attended and introduced themselves to SAB.

  IV.        Debrief/review of March 9th joint meeting with the Planning Commission.

The main goal of the joint SAB/FPC meeting was to get introduced to PC and their members and understand what they do. Several members noted that they thought the meeting was effective on that part. Eileen noted that the meeting opened up interesting conversation with PC and their staff. She’s now invited to weekly Plan Review meetings, and gets to see development plans earlier in the process.  Dale continues to meet with Penny Von Achen, Planning Commission member, but doesn’t think we’ll meet again as a full board with them for at least a year.

    V.        Presentation of Climate Change Adaptation Report by Eileen Horn.

Report was prepared for the Heartland Regional Network of USDN (Urban Sustainability Directors Network). The City partnered on this project to understand the real day to day impacts on changing climate and adaptation, such as dealing with Emerald Ash Borer and deciding which trees to replace Ash Trees – no longer is it only trees native to area, but also those that are drought and heat tolerant. Report was for Oklahoma City, Iowa City, Columbia, MO, Lincoln, NE, Lawrence. Historical data compared last three decades (1980’s to now) to last historical period 1890-1980. Forecasts are for two thirty year periods.

a.    Recent change in weather hazards, increase in frequency of warm nights, increase in number of days with extreme rainfall, overall temperature and precipitation increase. Freeze cycle will shorten by up to 3 weeks per year.

b.    With report, staff uses to consider how to address municipal concerns – yard waste pick-up, summer cooling centers, asphalt mixes to repair winter potholes, etc.

c.    Question – how to frame this info, which is different from previous talk of carbon/climate mitigation strategies (act now to prevent impacts). This report focuses on climate changes that will happen.

d.    Michael suggests looking at Palo Alto and how they’re messaging this as they are already addressing this.

e.    We can’t address this issue in Lawrence only and will need to be more regional. We can do the best we can, but planning for these changes and communicating the costs of these changes and why (ex. increased yard-waste pickups in late fall, early spring, even winter, and why certain resilient trees are chosen to replace the dying ash), can lead to behavior changes.

  VI.        SAB sub-committee reports:

a.    Energy conservation – no report.

b.    Water conservation – will be meeting in the next month. Still waiting on water rates report.

c.    Land use planning – Dale is meeting with Planning Commission member regularly.

VII.        City/County Sustainability Coordinator Report – Eileen went over the attached report.


Urban Ag Text Amendment will go before the city commission on April 26th for vote.

a.    As written, this amendment would allow bees, goats, sheep, urban farmer food-stands, and slaughter in city limits. Should be an interesting meeting.

b.    Common Ground is expanding with three new sites and one expansion.

c.    Bike-Ped Task Force to submit report to city on May 3rd.

d.    City staff are in contract negotiations with 360 Energy Engineers to be the Energy Service Company.

VIII.        Earth Day Celebration on April 23. Need volunteers.

  IX.        Public Comments –

a.    Therese Wilke wishing to have plastic waste added back to agenda. Asking us to keep working on plastic waste ban. Representative from LET-US, SAN, and her own interests.

    X.        Discussion of two vacancies on Board and the four candidates who showed up today. Board discussed possible pros and cons of each.

  XI.        Adjourned at 7:25 pm.  

Next SAB meeting: May 11, 2016 at 5:30 pm at Public Works Conference Room, City Hall.

 

Sustainability Coordinator Report to the SAB: 

April 13, 2016

 

ü  City/County Food Policy Council Projects:

 

·         Urban Agriculture:  The Urban Ag Text Amendment will go before the City Commission on April 26th for a vote. 

 

·         Common Ground:  We have three new sites and one expansion in 2016.

·         Food Assessment/Food Plan:  The FPC will be conducting a food system assessment in early 2016 to inform a Food Plan for the City and County.  This will be provided and incorporated by reference into Horizon 2020.  We would like to engage with SAB in this process.

 

ü  Bike-Ped Task Force:

o   Currently scheduled for May 3rd City Commission meeting to receive report and vote on recommendations.

ü  Energy Efficiency:

o   City staff are in contract negotiations with 360 Energy Engineers, the selected Energy Service Company.  Our goal is to start investment grade energy audits of 40 + facilities by May 1.

ü  STAR:

o   We are working to integrate STAR actions/outcomes as recommendation in Horizon 2020 to help achieve the goals of the Issue Action Report.

o   We have entered 50% of the available points and have 260 points – a 3 star.  We are aiming for 4 J  Our goal is to be submitting to STAR for verification in September.

 

ü  Miscellaneous:

·         The County is embarking on a landscape master plan for the Douglas County Fairgrounds, and we are looking at how to incorporate food production, an educational arboretum, etc.

·         The City received funding to conduct a Bike Share Feasibility study in conjunction with KU. 

·         The County’s wind energy zoning regulations were approved by the Planning Commission and came to the County Commission on April 6th for first presentation.  We are working on a May date for discussion and vote.

·         Parks and Recreation has selected GreenPlay, a national firm (with some local subcontracts) to conduct a Parks and Recreation Master Plan for all parks and facilities.  I’m serving on the steering committee, and will keep SAB informed.