2006-09-13 Cities for Climate Protection Minutes

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September 13, 2006 Reading. Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection Program Committee Notes for Sept 13, 2006 (Next Meeting September 27 (After Rotary Lunch scheduled for Sept. 25)) Present were Ron Daddario, Michele Benson, Ron Daddario, Gina Snyder, Tracy Sopchak, Dan Blodgett and Ray Porter (and photographer for first part of meeting) The minutes for August 23 were accepted unanimously. Discussed Chamber of Commerce breakfast Oct 11 at 7:30 AM Hillview Country Club, North Reading. Ray is scheduled to speak, Michele spoke to the char n" oard of directors to prove e t em with our draft pledge in order to get feedback prior to presenting to membership. Other connections with the pledge would include transit oriented design, such as is being considered by the MF Charles developer. Rotary lunch, Ray will be speaking also, is Sept. 25`h. Stephanie will check into options for a decal for the Reading Climate Leader with logo and year. Michele will mock up some awards that could be framed for participants. Maybe have board review prior to full Chamber of Commerce (October at Hillview) or Rotary (September luncheon, Michele will check date and location). Our website is www.ci.reading.ma.us/climate this could be used on business cards. Gina will check on how to make with Avery labels. Tracy has installed the pledge display in the Town Hall and the Library but no one is taking them after about a month at Town Hall, and some have taken them at REI, but haven't handed pledges in. Concern about confidentiality, Dan has changed display at REI so that customers can hand in at Customer desk. Committee continued discussion of the matter of continuing to get new information to display (e.g. seasonal displays for Halloween (along with the kids page discussed in July 26 meeting) and Christmas, e.g. LED Christmas lights). Committee will plan on outreach at Tree Lighting ceremony November 26`h - the next opportunity to reach townspeople. Town Meeting is too rushed an usy to ave a table and get attention. Ron will touch base about Altantic display and funding_m_o_re bags - Stephanie will check on pricing to let Mr. Ruben of the Atlantic know the costs. CCP Data collection is moving forward slowly, with data on gas and oil use each month, but no cost data as yet for town buildings. Michele has data for DPW vehicles fuel use but no cost, and will use RMLD data on cost. Michele will again ask Kim for help with Keyspan, evidently they provided information for other MA towns, but left Reading out. The Keyspan contact will not return Michele's calls. Ron asked about what we might put on the warrant for November„Tgw,u.LQeting. The committee liked the idea to have Town Meeting support a retro-fit oTa town-building. Ron will arrange a meeting with Peter, and Michele will check with RMLD on what it would tak te_ assess lighting, for example, at Town Hall Concept of getting a CFL program in place with GE, Home Depot, Wal Mart or RMLD was discussed, and continued to a later meeting - also continued concept of CFLs as school fundraiser instead of candy. Dan provided an overview of Energy Star program and recognition. The range of sizes is definitely wide enough to include any building in Reading. Categories with lots of benchmarking info include Schools, Office Buildings, and Grocery Stores. There doesn't seem to be a category for Retail. There are 75 labeled buildings in MA, but the difference is that to get a "Label" the building must be at or above the 75th percentile. For example, there are 20 schools in Boston (out of about 150) that are Energy Star labeled. We will need to coordinate with the school department (e.g., Mary DeLai, Director of Human Resources and Finance ((78.1) 670- 2509) with whom Michele has been working to get our data) and they are going to have a committee including teachers and custodians (a need pointed out at the Energy Forum hosted by congressman Tierney). The committee would like to engage with the Energy Star program, Natalie Hildt is organizing web-based training and a, message has been forwarded to the committee so anyone can sign up. Stephanie will work with Michele to get materials for kindergartners. The committee agreed to try to develop weekly articles for the newspapers, the Chronicle and Advocate. The committee members and advocate (Steve Goldy) will work in teams, so that the whole committee won't need to review every article, but that no one will have to go to press without omeone to proof the article. Eight people makes 4 teams, each person therefore involved one week a month. Tracy offered to work with Ron to develop an article on`riving tips -including air pressure recommendations from t e car manu acturer. Committee needs to brainstorm a name for the column and topics - via email. - Ron will set up a meeting with Peter to review our current activities, town meeting article, our participation in the Tree Lighting ceremonies, and Town building lights analysis.