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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-16 BCP Meeting MinutesBOZEMAN CLIMATE PARTNERS MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 28, 2016 1) CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Bozeman Climate Partners Working Group was called to order at 2:01 PM on January 28, 2016 in the Madison Room, City Hall by Natalie Meyer. PRESENT Natalie Meyer, Heather Higinbotham, Carson Taylor, Robin Crough, Jay Sinnott, Kathy Powell, Susan Bilo, Joan Montagne (arrived at 3:00 PM) 2) CHANGES TO THE AGENDA No changes to the agenda. 3) PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. 4) MINUTES S. Bilo requests the following change to the minutes from 1/7/2015: • Specify that her comment regarding working with Brit Fontenot to see if any businesses are interested in utilizing recycling by-products, she was speaking specifically about glass. K. Powell asks if the current Joint Law & Justice Center process is GC/CM, and not CM at risk? Unclear from S. Bilo’s presentation last week. C. Taylor and N. Meyer confirmed the process is GC/CM. Since the minutes are correct, C. Taylor recommended not going back and adding a clarification, as they are a record from the initial meeting. S. Bilo moves to approve the minutes from 1/7/2016 pending the aforementioned change. K. Powell seconds. Minutes from 1/7/2016 are approved pending changes. 5) NON-ACTION ITEMS A) WORKING GROUP MEMBER UPDATES K. Powell gives an update on the Inter-Neighborhood Council (INC) and the State of the Neighborhoods, presented to the City Commission on January 25, 2016. Currently, 18% of the city’s population is located in a Neighborhood Association, and more are looking to form. The State of the Neighborhoods discussed the priorities of the INC in the coming year, and K. Powell brought attention to priority 6: Preserve and protect the community’s natural resources to ensure their enjoyment and quality of life. This officially links INC and the Climate Partners verbally, as well as in action as both groups work for the same goal in the future. This provides an opportunity for Neighborhood Coordinator Jessica Johnson to work more actively with the two groups together, as well as communicate the collaboration to the Commission. S. Bilo provides some follow-up from the BCP meeting on 1/7/2016. She spoke with Jim Whaley, the Bureau Chief of the State of Montana’s Design & Construction Bureau. He indicated that if someone wanted to use performance-based design build in the state, he saw no reason why that wouldn’t be allowed, they would just need to justify that procurement method in the appropriate channels. It is essentially a matter of leadership pursuing this approach in their projects. N. Meyer adds that this in action would not be dramatically different from how City Management approached the City Commission regarding the Rouse Justice Center GC/CM. Discussion then focused on what the process would be for having sustainability goals considered for future City of Bozeman projects. C. Taylor emphasizes that it would be very meaningful to have a good understanding of these alternate processes as the City approaches future buildings, in order to get ourselves ready and in position. B) NWE SOLAR PROJECT & COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WORKING GROUP N. Meyer states that the project is moving along well. They have an agreement almost ready to go for the City Commission to approve on February 8th. Concurrently, an RFP is being pulled together for contractors, to be ready to go out to bid on February 9th. Everything looks positive, assuming the City Commission agrees to license the land. C. Taylor adds that NWE seems to have the intention to build and grow the project in the future, N. Meyer confirms. H. Higinbotham asks about the timeline for the project. N. Meyer states that the RFP process will take approximately 4-5 weeks, then add 8-12 weeks for actual planning with the City. She anticipates construction to begin in August, with it completed by the end of September. J. Sinnott inquires as to whether the energy goes to the Water Reclamation Facility or into the grid. N. Meyer confirms that it will enter the grid only. NWE has budgeted approximately $700,000 for the solar project, with the balance of $300,000 to go into the smart meter project, interconnection, and additional research. Discussion centered on the good precedent, example, and opportunity for education and increased awareness provided by NWE with this project. C. Taylor added that this possibly provides an opportunity for NWE to work with the School District as well if roof usage was pursued, complemented by Project Green Schools. This would be timely in Bozeman. C) MSU WX & EXTENSION BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKSHOP SCHEDULE N. Meyer informs that H. Higinbotham will be presenting and providing an update to the City Commission on February 1st. H. Higinbotham apprises that all dates for the workshops have been set and speakers are confirmed. Food will be provided, and SWMBIA is sponsoring beverages, so they are hopeful to get a good turnout. They are very purposefully starting out the workshop series with recycling. J. Sinnott is interested in knowing the carbon footprint of shipping glass. N. Meyer mentions that she is still pending hearing back from Dave Leverett regarding some specific recycling questions asked by K. Powell at an earlier date. K. Powell then requests any information that Sustainability can provide so she can send it on to the BWAG group, as she has received some requests. Discussion then focused on education and outreach, as the time is right. N. Meyer states that at this point the most appropriate next step is to have the basic transportation calculation to distribute. K. Powell adds that a literature review might be helpful too. D) 2017 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS & BUDGET PRESENTATION N. Meyer shows that Sustainability currently has 55% of its FY16 budget committed or remaining. The FY17 budget request will be due at the end of February. N. Meyer needs to propose what she needs for existing programs as well as new initiatives. Last year was more “stay the course” for current projects. Most current projects will be ongoing into FY17, but there is opportunity for some new initiatives. N. Meyer provides a handout with twelve potential future programs. She asks the group to personally rank their top five choices, so that at the next meeting CAP can rank and vote for the budget. Discussion/clarification of some items of note followed. N. Meyer states there is no shortage of good work to do, but at this point no one knows what climate change will mean for Bozeman, so Bozeman is not comprehensively prepared for it. A resiliency/adaption plan is will be an important piece in the future. Is this something accomplishable in the next year? No, but Bozeman needs to start talking about it. An adaptation plan is where most cities are going, and Bozeman needs to go there too. It may be worth the effort to also integrate this into the City’s upcoming strategic plan. N. Meyer’s recommendation to the Mayor and the group is that an adaption plan be completed within three years. Patrick Lonergan in the Fire Department also fits into this. The group also asked for clarification of aerial thermal imaging. N. Meyer states that this can identify leaky roofs. If this item is chosen by the group as a priority, she would like to see some indication that such imaging can translate into action. She is unsure of costs off the top of her head, and it likely depends on whether it can be concurrent with the City’s current GIS overhead imaging. J. Montagne joins at 3:00 PM. H. Higinbotham leaves at 3:11. S. Bilo provides further information on Solarize MT. Missoula has a successful program, and Helena will likely be the next city to participate. N. Meyer will send out a link with more information on the program in the coming week. Discussion comes up regarding whether any proceeds from a potential gas tax that is being discussed. C. Taylor provides some details, clarifying that it can only be approved at the county level, and capped at 2 cents. Additionally, the revenue can only be spent on very specific things, so a gas tax would could not be used to fund charging stations, etc. Many parties are interested in bringing the issue to the 2017 legislature. N. Meyer reminds the group to please get any additions of possible new initiatives to her by Tuesday, 2/2/16. She will send a revised list at that point, with more information. After that, each member should send her their top five priorities by the end of the week. She will share the results with the group, and a week before the next meeting, she will provide a document with the final priorities. N. Meyer reiterates to the group that she will need to have the final list and budget approved AT the meeting so she can present it to the city manager the following day. 6) UPCOMING EVENTS S. Bilo asks when the next public Joint Law & Justice Center meeting is. C. Taylor will follow up and distribute to the group when determined. He will make a concerted effort to keep the group informed of L&J updates. 9) ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 3:45 PM by N. Meyer. The next meeting will be Thursday, February 25th from 2-3:30 PM, in the Madison Room of City Hall at 121 N. Rouse Ave. Minutes submitted by: Robin Crough