HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-18 BCP Meeting MinutesBOZEMAN CLIMATE PARTNERS
MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 06, 2018
A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Bozeman Climate Partners Working Group was called to order at 2:00 PM on December
06, 2018 in the Madison Room of City Hall.
PRESENT
Heather Higinbotham-Davies, Ann Ready, Nicola Preston, Natalie Meyer, Jay Sinnott, Kristen Walser, Dan Perata,
Carson Taylor, Patty Howard, Uma Graham, Bethany, Joan Montagne, Susan Bilo (2:15)
B. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
None.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
1) Uma Graham from the MSU Thrive on Plants club spoke about recent efforts on campus to introduce plant-
based foods and encouraged the city to consider Green Mondays to promote vegan food choices. They discussed
the greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential related to a plant-based diet.
2) Dan Perata spoke about the impact of plastic bags and asked why the city hasn’t taken on the issue of banning
plastic bags.
3) Jay Sinnott commented that international climate talks were convening in Poland. 2018 global greenhouse gas
emissions are projected to be up at least 2.7% from 2017—the exact opposite direction we need to avert the worst
impacts of climate change. Increases are related to a cooler winter and hotter summer and increases in
transportation emissions (low fuel prices, people driving more in bigger cars).
4) Kristin Walser commented that the bipartisan Carbon Dividend Act was introduced to Congress. There will be an
informational session at the Library on Tuesday, December 11, 6-7pm.
5) Patty Howard from the Gallatin County Solid Waste Management District introduced herself as the new
Education and Outreach Coordinator. She encouraged us to reach out to her with ideas for reducing waste and
increasing recycling. She will be hosting a Fix-it Clinic in Belgrade in the spring. Her email is:
patricia.howard@gallatin.mt.gov
D. MINUTES
October 25, 2018 minutes-no discussion or vote
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. CITY REORGANIZATION-DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
The Sustainability Division has been moved from City Administration into a new Department of Strategic Services,
which includes the following departments: Facilities, GIS and asset management, and Sustainability. Jon
Henderson, formerly the GIS Manager, will lead the group as the Director of Strategic Services. Jon has been
weighing in on the climate action and resiliency plan update. Bozeman GIS has received state and national
recognition for their work in asset management. They have helped the City with important data, such as a process
to identify how much lead pipe is remaining in our infrastructure system and develop a process for replacement. C.
Taylor added that GIS assisted in development of Bozeman’s stormwater utility and inventory of failing of
detention ponds, and maintenance needs. The GIS program we have is a powerful tool for enabling smart cities
technology.
2. BOZEMAN PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER BOND APPROVAL
The voters strongly supported the new Bozeman Public Safety Center. The group discussed the city lawsuit. The
actual building is moving forward and there was a kickoff meeting with staff. The City will contract with the same
architect firm as previously, ThinkOne in Bozeman and Anderson Mason Dale from Denver. N.Meyer is currently
drafting the RFP for commissioning services for the entire process, to include plans, construction and post-
occupancy. The design team toured Norm Asbjornsen Hall and spoke with LEED consultant Kath Williams. They are
interested in transpired solar collectors, solar PV, and possible conversations with NorthWestern Energy about
solar + battery backup systems. The facility would likely still need a diesel backup. The estimated completion date
is February 2021. Construction starts this July. The architect and team plan to use 2018 IECC, even though the state
has not officially adopted this code yet.
1. STREAMLINE TRANSIT (TAYLOR)
C. Taylor shared about current work happening with Streamline, and the role of art in getting people to use transit
(evoking emotions to impact change). He stated that we will all have to make sacrifices if we want to bring our
emissions down. He challenged everyone to try riding Streamline between now and the next meeting. We need to
change to perception about Streamline users and encourage our friends to use the bus system.
There was a discussion on e-scooters and bike share programs. Montana State and the City of Bozeman released a
joint Request for Information for bike share programs. The general sentiment is that e-scooters cause more
accidents, and there is confusion about where they belong, on sidewalks or in bike lanes. The city is getting a new
transportation engineer on staff who may be able to assist with these new technologies. Anything the city
implements should be in conjunction with MSU because students are early adopters. MSU is improving its facilities
for bicycle parking.
F. OLD BUSINESS
1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY & STRETCH CODE POLICY DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
H. Higinbotham-Davies shared copies of the detailed energy efficiency checklists, which will be posted on the
website. The handouts include no-cost, low-cost, moderate-cost, and investment level residential energy and
water conservation. In addition, she has been participating in a year-long Rocky Mountain Institute national
collaboration around stretch codes that will conclude in January.
2. CLIMATE VULNERABILITY & RESILIENCY STRATEGY
The City of Bozeman hosted a third staff workshop in November to review a draft vulnerability assessment and
develop recommendations for the Climate Vulnerability & Resiliency Strategy. There were more than 30
individuals at the workshop representing a wide variety of departments. The focus is city infrastructure and the
anticipated impacts from climate change. The recommendations generated from the workshops and staff
interviews needs to be thoroughly reviewed before we share a draft.
3. Solar Energy Innovation Network Grant
N. Meyer recently attended a workshop in Colorado with the Montana Solar Powered Community Transportation
team at the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab. Based on a stakeholder engagement process,
Bozeman is specifically looking at options for electrifying transit. The University of Montana has two all-electric
buses and will soon be getting six electric buses for Mountain Line in July. Streamline will likely apply for two
electric buses from the VW settlement funding. The economic analysis we received from NREL shows a promising
economic scenario for electric buses. The group is outlining a pilot project primarily for Missoula’s electric buses
and building a roadmap for communities to accelerate transportation electrification.
3. REMARKS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Ann Ready noted the upcoming Montana Legislative session and a bill of potential interest related to Commercial
Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE). She discussed NorthWestern Energy’s rate case before the Public Service
Commission, which includes a new demand charge for net-metered customers.
G. NEXT MEETING – JANUARY 24, 2019
H. ADJOURNMENT – 3:30 PM by Natalie Meyer. The
next regular meeting will be at 2:00 PM on January 24, 2019.
Minutes submitted by: Natalie Meyer