2022-09-01 Citizens Climate Protection Committee MinutesCity of Edmonds - Mayors Climate Protection Committee ("CPC")
Meeting Minutes
September 1,2022
Mission of the CPC is to (7) 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:
Zoom:
Committee Members: Bryn Chighizola, Cynthia Pruitt, Pam Tauer, Angela Winzen
Staff: Sarah Brinkley, Tristan Sewell
Council Rep: Susan Paine
Committee Members: Steven Cristol, Dawna Lahti, Hank Landau
1. Call to Order, Review of Agenda, & Introductions
a. August meeting minutes approved.
2. Check -In
a. Continue with current meeting cadence. Evaluate if technology changes improved
Zoom experience at the end of meeting.
3. City Report
a. Tristan provided the Climate Action Plan (CAP) update. The consultants are
synthesizing feedback from the two workshops. Tristan shared the second
workshop was a better sampling of citizens and they were prepared to engage. The
attendees left the meeting feeling they were heard. The CPC feedback goes to the
consultants who are writing the CAP. Tristan will follow up with Kernen to ensure the
consultants have the consolidated CPC feedback.
b. Tristan gave an update on the solar grant effort. The focus has been creating a
scoring rubric which promotes equity focus while identifying successful projects. The
city realizes it will need to be pro -active and seek out potential applicants. Tristan
requested CPC feedback on scoring and criteria. He will post the solar grant work to
the CPC SharePoint. There is no target date for completing; however, the work effort
is being executed as soon as possible.
c. Sarah updated the committee that she is getting numbers from Edmonds refuse
companies on the amount of waste hauled out for the CPC consultants.
4. City Council Report
a. MCAC is sponsoring the Great October Blowout in conjunction with the Edmonds
Oktoberfest (September 24t" noon-4:30pm). Games include chasing pinecones and
leaves using electric blowers provided by Ace. The MCAC will be promoting the
Edmonds Climate Website at this event. This is the first time MCAC has sponsored an
education outreach program. The CPC may want to observe and/or volunteer to
learn from this program.
b. Susan shared she would like to see a legislative package as part of the city's updated
Climate Action Plan incorporated in the city's upcoming budget. Susan wants to see
subsidies for bus passes as part of the legislative package.
c. Community Transit will be launching on October 19t" an on -demand "app", like
Uber/Lyft paid for by using bus passes. Susan would like to see Edmonds in Phase 2;
Lynwood is in the Phase 1.
d. Community Transit will have new routes in 2024 to coincide with the new Lynwood
Light Rail Station. The opening has been delayed 6-9 months due to a cement
strike.
S. Outreach
a. Bryn asked each CPC member for ideas on outreach to include how we get citizens to
attend an event:
➢ Hank believes adding a controversial idea to agenda that garners positive and
negative comments gets the community engaged. Example, requiring all
residential homes to be off natural gas. Ask Shoreline what they would do to
engage more Gave example of sea rise in Ocean City, NJ — sea rise will get
people out.
➢ Steven said that food and entertainment can help bring people out. To add to
Hank's idea, a controversial topic to engage citizens could be banning fuel -
powered lawn equipment. We may need to build awareness. Jeffrey Linn,
artist, depicted what Seattle would look like if all the ice sheets melted. (i.e.,
Sea Needle, Green Lagoon). It was very impactful. Steven restated Angela's
point last meeting that we need to improve media outreach.
➢ Pam shared thoughts on a installing a visual depiction of sea rise along the
waterfront, which all residents enjoy and would impact the quality of life.
➢ Angela suggested interpretative signs "Did you know...". Signs could be
permanent rather than temporary to reduce waste.
➢ Cynthia had four ideas: 1) Experiment with different approaches for the CAP
and the Climate Champions, 2) Pop-up tables at different locations and get
restaurants to hand out vegan snacks — location ideas - bus stops, US Post
Office, 3) Focus on digital outreach (effective for remote workers), 4) Reach
out to the media — send out op ed pieces.
➢ Tristan recommends we leverage organizations that are partnering with us.
Also consider churches, organizations, community health center.
➢ Bryn finds she gets good information from school. Recommends posting flyers
in schools and sporting events.
➢ Angela suggested bus ads.
➢ Pam shared that people need actionable items to engage further
➢ Hank recommended engaging the Interfaith climate action group who has
been interested in working with the city.
b. Bryn asked the committee to email the CPC distribution list if there are more outreach
ideas.
6. Edmonds Climate Champions Project
a. Bryn reported that the Climate Champions steering committee agreed to conduct a
Climate Fair on Earth Day 2023. The group has brainstormed topics, community
partners, and event activities at the last meeting. Plan to provide short videos to
accompany the fair. Hank stated that the Puget Sound Express may be useful — they
have strong environmentalists. Next steps include refining our outreach
communication and begin contacting organizations.
7. Meeting Recap and Next Month Agenda
a. What will be the status of the CAP next month? Once all feedback has been reviewed
and incorporated, the CAP will be made public for citizen comment. Bryn requested
the CPC to monitor the public comments and propose responses.
b. Susan asked where the collective outreach resources and connections are.
c. CPC to email group on continued ideas on outreach approaches.
d. Zoom participants continued to have issues hearing discussion from those on -site at
City Hall. They meeting dynamics improved when on -site members went to the front
of the room, closer to the microphone. The October meeting will be held in a smaller
room which should improve the sound/volume problems.
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8. Meeting adjourned at 12:20pm. Next meeting is October 6