2009-04-02 Mayor's Climate Protection Committee AgenCitizens Committee on U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreemen
Mission:
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
4. Effectively address the future impacts of climate change
Committee Members:
t
Members: Steve Bernheim, Carolyn Chapel, Wes Gallaugher, Wayne Grotheer,
Hank Landau
City Staff. Mayor Gary Haakenson, Steve Fisher, Sally Lider, Noel Miller,
Rob Chave, Jen Machuga, Jim Stevens, Linda Carl
Meetin9 Agenda
April 2, 2009
1.
Presentation by Art Arneson, PUD Executive Accounts Mgr.,
re: PUD's energy initiatives
Art Arneson
2.
Update on Earth Da /Climate Conversation — April 22
Bob/Steve F.
3.
"GHG Emission Reduction Proposal"
Steve B.
4.
Miscellaneous
All
5.
Next meeting date — Thursday, May 7
Meeting Notes
March 5, 2009
1. Update on Earth Day/Climate Conversation, April 22
Linda has reserved the Brackett Room for April 22 and registered with ICLEI for Edmonds to
host a National Conversation on Climate Action event. Bob Freeman reported that
Sustainable Edmonds is still willing to work on planning the event and asked who else would
be willing to help. There is a lot of flexibility on what we can include, and many resources
and ideas online at climateconversation.org. A subcommittee was formed for this purpose,
composed of the Freemans, Steve Fisher, Sally Lider, Strom Peterson, and hopefully others
will join the effort to plan an event. The first meeting will be Monday, March 9 at 10 a.m. A
solid plan needs to be in place by the end of March.
Other activities were discussed that will make up a "Sustainable Month."
• March 28 at 8:30 pm is Earth Hour. Mayor Haakenson will issue a proclamation in
support of turning out the lights all over the city for one hour.
• April 8 the crew of the Junk Raft that went from Los Angeles to Hawaii taking water
samples will stop in Edmonds and make a presentation on their way bicycling from
Vancouver, B.C. down the coast. Strom is working on setting up the presentation for the
evening in City Council chambers. More information on their voyage is at junkraft.org.
• April 25 Rotary Clubs are doing a highway cleanup early in the morning and then some
will join the Spring Beach Cleanup with Parks and Recreation at Olympic Beach at
10:30.
ClimateProtection/MeetingNotes030 509.doc
2. Update on The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment
Rob Chave interpreted the Executive Summary of The Washington Climate Change Impacts
Assessment issued by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group. The assessment
focuses only on the impacts, not on any actions to reduce greenhouse gases. This report
contains the best available information right now, according to Rob, but it is still a work in
progress. The group chose low- and medium -range climate models and applied them to
Washington to predict a range of possible events. Rainfall patterns are the most drastic
changes predicted for our state. The next step is a higher -level analysis taking into
consideration the synergistic effects of all the variables.
3. GHG Emission Reduction Proposal
Steve Bernheim was not present, so the discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
4. Volunteer/educational opportunities with SCALLOPS
Bob Freeman reported on the opportunities with SCALLOPS (Sustainable Communities All
Over Puget Sound). This nonprofit network has grown to now include 72 small
communities. There will be an opportunity for volunteering to help at the SCALLOPS booth
at Seattle Green Fest March 28-29 at the Seattle Convention Center. The group will hold an
educational retreat at Seabeck Conference Center, April 4-5. If anyone would like more
information on these opportunities, they should email Bob at freemanrjgw-link.net.
Miscellaneous
Janice announced the topic for the next Sustainable Edmonds meeting is "Edible Garden."
The meeting will take place Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m. at the Port of Edmonds. The focus
will be on growing food in your garden as a local solution to global warming. This started a
discussion about pesticide use, which then led to a discussion of the ways and means of
persuading the public to change to more sustainable behaviors. Jerry mentioned that public
education is a requirement for the City's NPDES permit and that he will be meeting with a
new group called STORM to help design and implement a program to get people to stop
using pesticides and other chemicals that pollute stormwater. Strom mentioned the success
of anti -smoking campaigns with kids that led to them putting pressure on their parents to
kick the habit. Everyone agreed that with yard care as well as food choices, people need to
change their perception of beauty — Is an apple with spots OK to eat? How about a field of
dandelions instead of a lawn or rose garden? Janice suggested a new focus for Edmonds in
Bloom that recognizes the beauty of landscaping that isn't dependent on chemicals.
Hank reported on attending a meeting with PUD representatives. He learned that a program
has been started for businesses to assist financially with lighting improvements. He said that
PUD will pay 100% of the cost up to $15,000 if a business does their own work, or 70% if
they hire an approved contractor to do the work.
Val Stewart reported on the Sustainable Building Advisor program that she attended. One of
the speakers had a very good presentation on energy savings that businesses can realize from
using sensor -controlled plug strips and other devices. Val will give the PowerPoint slides
from this presentation to Steve Bernheim.
ClimateProtection/MeetingNotes03O 509.doc