2023-09-07 Climate Protection Committee MinutesCity of Edmonds - Mayors Climate Protection Committee ("CPC")
September 7, 2023
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: Cynthia Pruitt (Chair), Angela Winzen (Vice Chair,
Zoom:
Absent:
Substitute Minutes Keeper), Hank Landau
City Staff: Tristan Sewell (first 10 minutes)
Council Rep: Susan Paine
Citizens: Georgina Armstrong, Nick Maxwell
Committee Members: Steven Cristol, Dawna Lahti
Citizen: Nancy Johnson
Committee Member: Pam Tauer (Minutes Keeper), David Schaefer (on sabbatical)
1. Call to Order, Review of Agenda, & Introductions
a. Tristan informed that he would not be able to stay due to being directed to attend
the Staff Appreciation Picnic. He shared that the RFP for the sea level rise art
installation as part of the Climate Champions series had gone out earlier this month.
He also reported the other Climate Champions series events were currently up in the
air and shared that there is a staffing issue in the Planning Department due to the
Manager David Levitan and a planner leaving in the next two weeks, resulting in the
department being 3 people short due to Brad Shipley also leaving earlier in the year.
b. Angela requested to know if the art installation is temporary, and Tristan confirmed
that it will be. She also asked about the amount of money being used and if it would
be the full budget for Climate Champions. Tristan said it was $15K and he believed
that was the full budget, but he would confirm.
c. Angela reported that the committee had completed writing the recruitment ad for
new members and asked to whom she should submit that. Tristan responded that
she should send it to Carolyn and him via email. Angela requested that in addition to
an ad in My Edmonds News, she hoped there could also be a poster made and hung
at Frances Anderson Center, as that was how she had been alerted to the opening for
which she applied. Tristan took a quick survey of how members were recruited and all
present said they saw it advertised in My Edmonds News except for Angela, who saw
the flyer at FAC. Tristan then left for his event.
2. August Meeting Minutes
a. The August meeting minutes were approved with no modifications.
3. Public Comment
a. Nick reported that the Snohomish Electric Vehicle Association held an EN rally in a
neighborhood in Mill Creek and they were successful at engaging passersby. He
suggested this as something the CPC could look into recreating in the Edmonds area.
He said he would send contact information through for the Snohomish EN
Association.
b. Nick also shared concerns that our permit department holds up permits for heat
pump installation due to a misnomer that heat pumps are louder than central a/c
units. Susan Paine shared that she would be speaking with Susan McLaughlin and
Tristan about this.
c. Georgina said that she would support an E/V rally here in Edmonds to which
members of the Committee agreed.
4. Council Update
a. Susan reported that budget information is coming soon. She is not sure how much
money we can add toward the city as general funds are feeling pinched. She shared
she is promoting the following positions be added to the general budget:
i. Grants Manager
ii. Recycling Coordinator
iii. Climate Action/Resiliency Manager as part of the mayor's office
b. Susan also shared that we need to bring Robert Knoll from PSE to the December
meeting after the budget is determined to discuss encouraging lowering our natural
gas footprint with promotions.
c. Susan shared that the City Council is currently focused on the Landmark 99
discussion, but they will be discussing budget end of September/early October.
d. Steven requested to get grant writing support sooner. Susan said that Public Works
has good staffing and perhaps we can provide them with grant ideas. She
recommended Steven send grant applications to Tristan and herself with the
message to ask Public Works how we (CPC) can help.
e. Georgina requested to know how much the Grants Manager she is proposing for the
budget would be able to focus on climate. Susan said she could not answer that as it
would be for the whole city and that money is needed all across the city. She said the
City Council will hold two public hearings on our budget and she encourages us to
send emails to City Council and she confirmed that CPC members may give public
comment. Susan said the Grants Manager will work with each department as a city
employee. Georgina wondered if the city would consider a consultant to focus on
Climate and Susan said it depends on the budget. She said she likes the idea, but
inflation has hit us hard. Hank shared that the Edmonds Bicycle Group (in the past)
took the lead and went to the city to get endorsements. He shared that the Hazel
Miller Foundation and Verdant have both provided grant money.
5. Committee Roles and Responsibilities
a. Cynthia suggested we develop a 2024 Calendar for the CPC and have a brainstorm
session focused on "What exciting and energetic things we want to be sure we do in
2024" and invited all in attendance to contribute.
a. Nancy: Assist the population in electrifying homes using Inflation Reduction
Act funding
b. Steven: Get youth more involved with a Creative Climate Competition
c. Angela: Writing Adaptation Plans, deferring to Georgina to explain more.
Georgina: Consider what should an adaptation plan look like. What informs it
is a Climate Vulnerability Study
d. Susan: In section 3.4/Transportation in the CAP: adapt streets to promote
walking; have walkable weekends
e. Hank: support implementation of the CAP
f. Cynthia: Report to the City Council
g. Hank: Two key discussions: Outreach to the Port and the Railroad
h. Nick: Holding E/V Rallies; Have a table at the Farmer's Markets; Partner with
vendors and Verdant to demonstrate heat pumps and weatherization in a
mobile walk-in space
i. Steven: Create a digital simulation of Sea Level Rise
j. Georgina: Hold a speakers' series
k. Angela: Our responsibility is to educate and inform, so a speakers' series
would be great for that. How often? Monthly? We would need grants written
to fund it.
I. Nick shared support for a speakers' series
m. Georgina: induction stove loans from the library; plant -based food
demonstrations
n. Nick: Finding families eligible for free heat pumps and weatherization who fall
into a middle -income bracket
o. Hank: City sponsorship of a program like "Trees for Life" where trees would be
planted "in memory of" with a plaque in trade for a substantial donation to
causes we would like to see supported (talk to Tree Board); connectivity with
surrounding communities—Woodway in particular)
6. Public Comment
a. Georgina gave a "Climate 50" meeting update:
i. A group of climate activists in Edmonds from various groups (Edmonds
Marsh, Sierra Club, Interfaith, and Climate Advisory Board, to name a few) met
last week with Susan McLaughlin, Tristan and the Mayor to discuss the
progress of CAP implementation
ii. She is hoping they will meet quarterly and invited all in attendance today to
attend a future meeting, letting her know they would like to attend and be
added to the email list
iii. She confirmed that the Mayor will be putting a Climate Action Manager into
the budget
iv. She reported that three people would soon be meeting with Susan
McLaughlin to discuss what the plan is to achieve the priorities and how the
CAP should be budgeted next year.
7. Action Items
a. Angela to submit recruitment ad to Tristan and Carolyn with request for flyer in
addition to MEN ad submission
b. Cynthia will email Carolyn and Tristan to get agenda packets set up with past
presentations and public comments added to previous meetings
c. Angela to finalize letter of support (with CPC members) to use the 2010 CAP
implementation plan and the hiring of a Climate Action Manager and submit to City
Council
d. Steven will share the two current grant opportunities with Tristan and Susan Paine at
which time Susan will ensure each of them reaches the appropriate places (one to
Susan M and one to Public Works)
e. Hank will look to see if there is money available for the Department of Ecology Grant
for Steam Restoration
f. Susan Paine will attend the Puget Sound Regional Council and King County Seashore
Transportation Agenda forum and report what comes out of Climate updates. Next
topic: fleet electrification
g. Next month's meeting agenda:
i. Thom Sullivan will brief on Public Safety Building Solar Project
ii. Robert Knoll from PSE will be invited to speak at a meeting in the future
iii. CAB (Climate Advisory Board) report from Georgina
iv. Brainstorm list to calendar dates
v. Determine who will provide public oversight on CAP implementation in the
absence of a Climate Commission
Meeting adjourned