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Minutes 09-18-08 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH GREEN TASK FORCE MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2008, AT 1:30 P.M. IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Nancy Byrne, Assistant Director of Development Mike Dauta, Warehouse Manager Debbie Majors, Grants Administrator Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent Christine Roberts, Assistant Director for Public works Chris Roschek, Engineering Manager/Utilities Mike Simon, CRA Development Manager Absent: Carisse LeJeune, Assistant to the City Manager Also Present: Steve Evans, Labs Supervisor Katy Swanson, Guest I. Open Meeting and Approval of August 21, 2008 and September 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes Minutes of August 21, 2008: Motion Ms. Rivers moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Dauta seconded the motion that passed unanimously. Minutes of September 4, 2008: The following correction was requested: “Mr. Evans” should be changed to “Mr. Roschek” in the Greenhouse Gases Inventory Update. Motion Ms. Roberts moved to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Majors seconded the motion that passed unanimously. Meeting Minutes Green Task Force Boynton Beach, Florida September 18, 2008 II. White Paper/Final Report Ms. Byrne provided a rough draft of the white paper for review by the team. It was noted Federal and State actions were incorporated in the paper. Some of the concepts included were intended to create dialogue among team members. Ms. Byrne suggested a public workshop be scheduled to review the white paper in its entirety and to ensure compliance with the overall plan to be recommended to the Commission. At present, the white paper did not provide any firm recommendations, but contained suggestions to determine the team’s political fortitude and the direction to be taken pursuant to the wishes of the Commission. The team would continue in some form after the Green Task Force sunsets. Ms. Byrne received inquiries from City staff expressing an interest in participating, which would provide an opportunity for expansion. Partnerships and alliances which engaged the public and local organizations would be discussed at a later date. Some of the formulations for the local plan would depend upon the partnerships and community alliances formed, how much the public wished to interact, and on what level. One of the chief recommendations to the Commission would be to obtain more feedback in order to create ordinances. It was noted many of the recommendations the team would have made had been superseded by the Governor’s recent legislation. It would be necessary to determine the kind of emission reductions required in order to comply with the Governor’s standard, as well as those mandated at the Federal level. III. Review Potential Funding Sources for Green Task Force Recommendations Ms. Majors provided a draft spreadsheet of potential funding sources recommended by various City departments and requested it be reviewed by the team to determine the relevance of the sources identified, and those that were not applicable. The spreadsheet identified Federal, State and local funding, whether a match was required by the City and the maximum amount that could be awarded. The document could be included in the white paper, possibly as an attachment, and would evidence the team’s efforts to locate funding sources. Ms. Majors recently identified potential funding sources that could provide assistance in the areas of affordable housing and energy reduction. The “eCivis Grants Network” software and database provided invaluable assistance and ease in locating new foundations and funding sources. The potential for drawing $55,000 out of Sembler funds was discussed at the last meeting. The funds could possibly be provided to the CRA to be designated for the greening of affordable housing. The City Manager would make the decision as to whether the funds remained as an open incentive for the City or were provided to the 2 Meeting Minutes Green Task Force Boynton Beach, Florida September 18, 2008 CRA. There would be additional recommendations in the white paper that addressed changes in theory on affordable housing and adding adaptability features to the Green Building Code. Ms. Byrne met with Debby Coles-Dobay, and it appeared the Arts Commission was moving closer to blending art with energy efficiency and greening of sites. She was currently working with Utilities to create an educational greening site that would go toward greywater. This may be the only true incentive monies the City would have to put towards greening development programs. IV. Briefing on Climate Communities Leaders’ Summit Ms. Byrne reported on the summit, and thanked the team for making the trip possible. She and other attendees discussed initiatives and how the legislation at the Federal level should be funded for monies coming back to local governments. She met Gainesville’s Mayor Hanrahan, who is also an environmental engineer, Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, St. Petersburg’s Local Sustainability Coordinator and officials from Miami-Dade County. Florida currently equaled Washington State in the number of representatives belonging to Climate Communities. The States of Virginia and Michigan had congressional leaders who were instrumental in getting some of the bills passed. There was much discussion on how to approach those leaders with regard to events occurring in their communities. The representative from Michigan noted while there were 140,000 job openings in Michigan, the automobile workers were so well paid and highly benefited that they would not accept the lower-paying jobs. On the funding level, approximately $10 billion in incentives would go directly back to local municipalities. Restructuring of several organizations on the Federal level was requested to better implement grant funding opportunities that were not eligible for local funding. V. Creating Local Partnerships This issue became part of the white paper as a result of the Communities Climate Leaders’ Summit. There were 34 communities requesting monies from the Federal Government. Nassau County, New York’s Representative Suozzi suggested local organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, be brought in to endorse the Green Task Force’s efforts. The benefit to the Chamber would be the provision of green job incentives. This would require energy on the part of the Green Task Force to garner support from the various organizations and networks to sign onto the blueprint to be presented to the Presidential Transition Team in December. She noted it would be necessary for the key alliances to be established quickly in order to facilitate interaction 3 Meeting Minutes Green Task Force Boynton Beach, Florida September 18, 2008 with residents, businesses and organizations who wished to assist in prioritizing local efforts. Also to be included in the white paper would be the inclusion of community involvement, which was crucial to completing the formulation of the Climate Action Plan. One of the recommendations to the City Manager, once he was directed to oversee staff activities, would be to allow the creation of a coalition within the City that could respond to the issues. VI. Landscape/Water Conservation Workshop (November 1, 2008) Mr. Evans reported he received requests for literature and WaterWise brochures. He met with a landscaper from the Native Plant Society who would be providing designs and setting up their display. Mr. Evans had been working on the rain barrel demonstrations. The barrels at the plant would not be suitable as they contained toxins, and another source for barrels would have to be located. Ms. Byrne volunteered to research this further. Reconditioned rain barrels were available from another source which were more suitable and less expensive. The quantity of rain barrels to be purchased would be determined. The question was whether to have barrels pre-made and given away, or to provide a demonstration where attendees would construct their own rain barrels. If the rain barrels were to be constructed, tools and work stations would be necessary. It was suggested educational pamphlets be provided for people constructing their own rain barrels. Mr. Hallahan was obtaining information from the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, and they would be providing free live Oak Trees and containers. The Florida Irrigation Society would provide educational literature on low-flow and WaterWise irrigation and might be able to provide a speaker and a demonstration design system. Mr. Hallahan was considering providing some type of meter display to tie in with irrigation practices. Florida Power & Light would provide handouts for the “Right Tree, Right Place,” and the South Florida Water Management District would provide WaterWise manuals. Planting demonstrations would be coordinated by staff. Mr. Roschek met with Messrs. Hallahan and Evans to discuss the logistics for the PowerPoint presentation. ITS could provide a large screen and PowerPoint Projector, and a tent and chairs could be set up. A “loop” between the Civic Center and Green Market was also suggested, and a schedule of the presentations could be prepared. “Go Green Boynton” recycled plastic consumer mugs were being designed and would be provided as giveaways. Information would be furnished with regard to reclaimed water. 4 Meeting Minutes Green Task Force Boynton Beach, Florida September 18, 2008 It was noted National Environmental Education Week would be recognized on April 12- 18, 2009, the Lantana GreenFest was scheduled for October 18, 2000 and Palm Beach Community College would be holding a Green Expo in October. Ms. Rivers would follow up with Mr. Segal with regard to the Green Task Force piggypacking on the Green Market’s advertising for its November 1, 2008 opening. Previous discussions pertained to targeting Homeowners’ Associations, and it was questioned whether invitations should be sent to these groups. It was noted currently the Homeowners’ Associations governed landscaping methods, and it would be a lengthy process to change their customs. It was believed it would be of greater benefit to work one-on-one with the Homeowners’ Associations. However, this would be given further consideration. VII. Palm Beach Gardens Resolution 69, 2008 Ms. Byrne noted Commissioner Ross requested the team discuss the Palm Beach Gardens resolution adopting the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. It was agreed that basic steps of planning were necessary prior to adopting an agreement in order to avoid failure. It was also noted in the Climate Communities’ white paper that a sampling of 10 communities, which signed onto the agreement, were about to fail as they had not taken measures to reduce their greenhouse gases. Ms. Byrne suggested the team recommend to Commissioner Ross that while they acknowledged more communities were coming on board, the team wanted to ensure reasonable levels of greenhouse gases had been reduced prior to adopting the agreement. The team concurred. VIII. FGBC Local Green Government Certification Commissioner Ross also requested the team discuss the Florida Green Government Building Coalition. The designation would require a $4,000 expense to the City for the application fee. Additionally, Ms. Byrne requested the departmental inventories be reviewed in order to determine how much staff time would be needed to marshal the necessary documentation. It would then be the decision of the Commission if they wished to endorse the expenditure of $7,000-$10,000 for staff time and the application fee in order to secure the designation. IX. New Business Ms. Rivers noted the City of Tamarac would be hosting a meeting of the Florida Recreation and Parks Association on October 22, 2008 and would provide a Florida Green Certification presentation. 5 Meeting Minutes Green Task Force Boynton Beach, Florida September 18, 2008 Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 2:37 p.m. () s~~~~n 0~ Recording Secretary 100308 , 6