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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-24 Cities for Climate Protection MinutesJanuary 24, 2007 Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection Program Committee Notes for Jan. 24, 2007 (Next Meeting - Feb 7d' at Town Hall) Committee Meeting 7:00 PM, present were Tracy Sopchak, Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, Ron D'Addario, Gina Snyder, Joan Boegel, Ray Porter and Daniel Blodgett. Guests were Tom Quintal (parking - committee), Michelle Mini (Eco Circle) Sue Harden (Burlington's recycling committee). Chair Gina Snyder opened the meeting and welcomed all present. A motion was made and seconded to approve the meeting minutes of the January 3, 2007 meeting. There was no discussion. The motion passed 5-0. Joan reported that the Austin Prep envirothon team is focused on their own school at the moment, but would likely be happy to volunteer for town efforts such as Earth Day. They are currently looking over plans for a possible school renovation project. The Cambridge Home & Energy Fair is a good opportunity to get ideas for our Earth Day event. Michele will check the availability of the cafeteria at RMLD for holding the event on either April 21 or 22. RMLD may also have one or two hybrid vehicles which can be on display during the event. Lexington has an interesting-looking event listed on the MCAN newsletter - March 31d, "Climate Change and the Arctic Marine Ecosystem" Ron will look into MCAN membership and whether we can join as a town. Sue mentioned about an upcoming MIP&L grant. Gina explained about a "greening a congregation" presentation to be given by the UU Church this Sunday at 8:30, at Parker. [AMENDED: the presentation time was 10"30, not 8:30] Ron spoke about the upcoming Ecocircle (reading group) sessions at the Senior Center, starting on the 27'b. The first meeting will be mostly book distribution ($15 cost), then 4 more meetings to discuss the readings - approximately 1 hour per meeting, then closing with a party in the final meeting. Michele will check the availability of Priscilla Gottwald (PR person from RMLD), for help with our Earth Day event. There was a discussion on some general ideas of what displays could be pursued. Specific display options can be discussed at a later meeting. We will consider a possible movie screening on An Inconvenient Truth, Who Killed the Electric Car, and/or Too Hot Not to Handle. A motion was made for the committee to hold Earth Day events. The meeting was seconded and passed 5-0. Committee members began sharing approximately three key ideas from other towns' climate plans. Williamstown is working to replace the municipal fleet with more fuel efficient vehicles, and is supporting the expansion of a regional bike path into Williamstown. Also, a non-transportation idea worth considering was a plan to have "phantom load detectors" available for check out from the library. Newton's plan involves enforcement of the existing anti-idling law, bicycle use by municipal employees during the work day, Transit-oriented design (TOD), and Community based social marketing (CBSM). Somerville is considering including transportation options information in Welcome Wagon materials (this is a new effort, and not part of a climate plan). Cambridge's plan includes replacing the municipal vehicle fleet with more fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles, a zoning ordinance (Parking and Transportation Demand Management) tied to parking lot size, and a campaign tying walking to health. Northampton's plan includes looped bus service, park & ride lots, and a free bikes program. Arlington's plan includes a program for walking, non-motorized transportation to school and a fuel efficient car choice program directed at residents. Keene's plan includes police on bikes, changing school buses to biodiesel, and lobbying for increased CAFE standards (corporate average fuel economy). Medford's plan includes changing the municipal fleet to more efficient/alt fuel/"right size" vehicles, supporting an alternative fueling station for the City fleet, controls for cleaner school buses, anti-idling enforcement, trip reduction program for city hall employees, incentives for employee vehicle trip reduction (VTR), designating a city contact for transportation options info, encouraging placement of Zipcars nearby, police bike patrol, ensuring bicycle safety with bike lanes, a walking school bus program, encouraging conversion of local transit & taxis to more fuel efficient vehicles, working with businesses to encourage transit use by employees, and a city wide VTR program. Burlington, VT's plan included preferential employee carpool parking at businesses, encouraging employers to offer transit subsidies and emergency ride home programs (ERH), encouraging placement of bike racks on the entire bus fleet, transportation demand management (TDM), park & ride lots, express routes and shuttles, and supporting policy at the state & national levels. Portland, OR's plan includes improving walking, biking, telework, transit, rideshare and carshare options, promoting city & county policies allowing flex time compressed workweek and telework for 25% or employees, reducing employee vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 20% through teleconferencing and bus travel, an area-wide internet based rideshare program, secure covered bike parking at schools & other key locations, optimizing roadway design for all modes, promoting telework, compressed workweek and flextime to residents, establishing neighborhood-level rideshare co-ops for commutes and other trips, making the cost of driving reflect the true costs (parking cash out, parking pricing, auto insurance premium by miles traveled, city permits based on GHG emissions with funds supporting encouraging better vehicle choices), City motor pool average fuel economy of 35 mpg, working with vehicle maintenance providers to educate drivers on how maintenance improves fuel economy, and smart growth/TOD strategies. More committee members will report on approx 3 key ideas from each of several more communities in a newly scheduled February 7'i' meeting. There was a discussion on how to achieve all that we would like to achieve in 90 minute meetings twice a month. Options are to either cut back on extra activities and focus on the core 5 steps, or to meet more often. The 2/7 meeting agenda will be limited to only the climate plan review/key ideas item.