2024-05-02 Climate Protection Committee MinutesCity of Edmonds - Mayors Climate Protection Committee ("CPC")
May 2, 2024
Mission of the CPC is to (1) Encourage citizens to be a part of the solution, (2)
Encourage City staff and citizens to conserve current resources, (3) Work with the City
Council to implement ideas, and (4) Effectively address the future impacts of climate
change.
In Attendance:
On -Site (Brackett Meeting Room):
Committee Members: Angela Winzen (Co-chair), Pam Tauer, (Co-chair), Cynthia
Pruitt
City Staff: Mayor Nelson, Tristan Sewell, Jen Leach, Susan McLaughlin
City Council: Susan Paine
Community Members: Tom Hafford, Bill Alexander
Zoom:
Committee Members: Hank Landau, Bill Phipps
City Staff: Thom Sullivan
Community Member: Georgina Armstrong
1. Call to Order, Review of Agenda, & Introductions
a. The meeting was called to order at 11:01 am.
2. Meeting Minutes
a. The meeting minutes for April 4th and April 18th were approved with changes. Hank
asked a question about why the Climate Action Week needed to run the Earth Fair at
the same time as the Sno-King soccer. Angela responded that it is important to allow
for a revenue producing event that also pays for bathroom maintenance. It is
advantageous for us to overlap the soccer games to garner more people to the Earth
Fair.
b. Pam shared her experience at the Sno-Pud's Energy Block party EV rally.
c. Tom Hafford shared that at the Redmond EV rally dealers had cars that participants
could drive.
3. Public Comment
a. Georgina Armstrong shared CAB update. The CAB is filing for non-profit status which
is a 6-month process. The CAB sponsored a table at the EWC volunteer fair and had
16 people interested in helping and 13 participants that wanted to be kept up to
date. Georgina spoke about the Climate Smart Bainbridge Island efforts. Climate
Smart is a community member challenge to inspire and engage their community to
support and quantify greenhouse gas reduction. Georgina will send out information
on Climate Smart Bainbridge to CPC members. This may be a good group to ask to
speak to us.
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b. Jen Leach from Parks Commission introduced herself. Jen fields questions from the
community on how to get involved. Jen wants to get reacquainted with what is going
on in the city and can send folks our way.
c. Bill Alexander introduced himself and asked about initiative 2117 being financed by a
Redmond billionaire to overturn the Climate Commitment Act. Susan Paine reported
that the state legislature is not worried about the legislation to repeal the Climate
Carbon Act (follow up).
4. Council Update — Susan Paine
a. The City Council had the week off. Susan will attend a meeting with Community
Transit this afternoon. CT is talking about expanding their rideshare program to
smaller cities in the northern regions of the county. The intention of the rideshare
program is to drive community members to transit centers.
b. There is a public meeting of the Seashore Transportation Commission at 7:30am
tomorrow morning.
c. Susan just got a previously owned EV Polestar this week!
5. Mission Statement Revision
a. Pam provided an overview of the mission statement revision and where we are at.
She recommended we speak to each member regarding their input.
b. Hank stated that the CPC role has been to advise the mayor.
c. Mayor Rosen stated that the phrase "advise the mayor' is the "how". Why we exist is
the most important part of the mission.
d. Pam supported the statement without the "advise the mayor" verbiage.
e. Bill Phipps — good mission statements being discussed.
f. Thom shared as staff we work for the mayor and take advice from the committee. I
like the reduction in scope, it speaks louder.
g. Niall supports maintain "advise the mayor" and the simpler message.
h. Angela asked if we should add encouraging Edmonds to the mission statement. She
then asked the Mayor and City Council liaison for their input on our roles and asked
if we could get the charter and other documentation regarding the CPC.
i. Mayor Rosen stated that the CPC provides CAP accountability, advises the city,
advances the CAP plan implementation, and engages the community to support the
CAP. He has also requested that the city clerk review the archives for the requested
documents.
j. Susan Paine responded that everyone here has an interest in supporting and
advancing the CAP (CPC). As a council we can decide how policies can work better
k. Tristan sees the CPC as stakeholder group #1. Our relationship is a two-way street —
accountability and contribution.
I. Cynthia shared that reason why I am here is to "Reduce Edmonds' impact on climate
change and increase Edmonds' resilience to climate hazards."
m. Discussion ensued whether the CPC has the ability or authority to reduce GHG.
n. Hank agreed that the CPC does not have the authority to reduce climate impacts.
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o. Pam shared what the difference is in vision and mission. Vision is what we want for
the future and mission is the current state. Pam changed her vote to the mission
statement beginning "advise the mayor". She also asked if we should broaden to
"encourage community members".
p. The mayor shared that "advise the mayor" maintains the CPC relationship with the
city. "Encouraging Edmonds" could be any environmental group.
q. Cynthia changed her preference to the "advise the mayor" mission statement also.
r. Pam recommended a vote. All CPC members with one abstention voted to change
our mission statement to "Advise the mayor on actions to reduce Edmonds' impact
on climate change and increase Edmonds' resilience to climate hazards.
s. Angela suggested we next work on "Guiding Principles."
t. Georgina asked if roles and responsibilities could be written up. Tristan and Hank
have already found documentation that could assist the CPC in review and update of
roles and responsibilities.
6. Climate Action Week (CAW) Update and Feedback
a. Angela shared that Gayla had arranged for a musical event as part of CAW. Pam
provided details on Nelda Swigett and her support of climate activism. The mayor
stated that any cost associated with the event would have to be made by CPC
members or partners; the city cannot write any checks.
b. The group reported that a 4pm concert time works better than 7pm on a Sunday
afternoon.
c. Niall gave an update on speaker ideas. He has contacted Dr. Jansen who is a biologist
researching rediscovered salmon. With climate change, warmer waters are preventing
salmon smolting in the region's creeks. Niall also reached out to Dr. Alexander of the
University of Washington Program for Climate Change (PCC). Dr Alexander referred
Niall to their outreach member who has forwarded our request to their graduate and
post doc students for input and possible participation. Niall also summarized the
meeting had with Angela, Pam, and Ro Verdeja (UW Ted speaker coach and mentor
who is now working with event production at the convention center of Seattle.) Ro
inquired as to success factors and vision and provided the attending CPC members
so great ideas.
d. Cynthia recommended we pursue young folks suing governments for a potential
speaker event. She will research possible contact names.
e. Angela gave an update on the use of the Edmonds Theatre.
Angela has reached out to the Youth Commission. The problem is school is just starting
and it would be difficult to engage in such a short time.
f. Angela shared that we need experience with marketing. Cynthia said David Shafer
has some experience.
g. The mayor reviewed our CAW spreadsheet and saw 79 items, 49 with no name
attached. He is concerned we may be taking on too much. Angela clarified the
spreadsheet is a brainstorming sheet and only those with names attached are serious
options as of now
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h. The mayor appreciates our diversity of ideas and enthusiasm and apologized for the
lack of city money and resources.
i. Georgina is working with EWHS to present an art display in the manner of Cristo
which would be located near the sea level rise blue line on city property.
j. Hank asked whether there was more than one EV rally during CAW. The plan is to
host an EV rally on Saturday, September 21 at the same time as the earth fair. Hank
and Niall expressed concerns leading the EV rally due to inexperience. Angela
recalled that Nick recommended the EV rally concept and is quite knowledgeable.
Pam will work with this team to introduce her contact at Edmonds College.
k. Cynthia supported coordinating with Edmonds College; they could lead to a great
partner.
I. Susan M. recalled that last year there were concerns about the resources to pull off
earth fair. She suggested that we have hard and fast deadlines for volunteers to take
the lead on fair ideas/initiate communication with various collaborators or we axe it
from the list. She is concerned that the CPC may have too many activities planned.
m. Committee member commitment is still a problem.
n. Tom Hafford would like to join the EV rally. Same with Bill Alexander. Angela will
acquire email addresses.
o. Bill Alexander asked if we are going to address charging infrastructure.
p. Tristan shared an idea that we could sponsor an event for the opening day of the
new charging infrastructure.
7. Staff Updates
a. Tristan presented upcoming events. See presentation slide. The Planning Board will
get the Climate code package in June.
b. Susan M. asked the CPC to attend as support when the Climate Code Package
policies are presented. Pam asked the city to distribute the policy package to the CPC
so we could be knowledgeable.
8. Proposal to City Council for Signing the Fossil Fuel Nonproliferation Treaty
a. Move to June 6 agenda.
9. June 6, 2024 — Agenda & Action Items
a. Fossil Fuel Nonproliferation Treaty: ask for steps to get that before the city of
Edmonds for approval.
10. Announcements and General Public Comment
The meeting adjourned at 12:50pm
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