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Home My WebLink About120507 Climate Task Force Minutes.pdfMinutes of the Climate Protection Task Force Bozeman, Montana Wednesday December 5, 2007 Meeting Location and Time: Bozeman Public Library, 626 E Main Street, 6:00PM Members Present: Steve Bruner, Collin Moore, Peter Belschwender, Greg Pederson, Matt Madden, David Boggeman, Scott Bischke, Otto Pohl, Mel Kotur Members Absent: Pat McGowen, Martin Knight, Dean Williamson, Petrus Martens, Molly Cross, Mark Johnson, Other Attendees: Commissioner Kaaren Jacobson, Angela Patrode, staff liaison Hattie Baker, minutes taken by Lea T. F. Warden Meeting began with Jacobson relaying her recent experience at The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Summit held in Seattle Washington November 1-2, 2007. Overall the conference was inspiring. Seattle is considered a national leader followed by other large cities such as NYC, Miami, Newark, and Minneapolis. Conference stressed that mitigating carbon dioxide emissions from buildings (construction and physical plant) as important as reducing auto emissions. Jacobson stated her commitment to implementing a climate action plan for Bozeman as she recognizes the seriousness of climate change. She encouraged the Task Force not to dismiss potential recommendations due to complexity or costs. She noted that when Bozeman joined the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2006 there were only 160 cities involved now there are 740. Believes more education is needed and would like to see schools taking the initiative to both increase awareness reduce impact of their physical plant. Jacobson mentioned President Bush’s climate fund and will research how to access available funds. Recent fire and police levy will perhaps allow city to fund climate protection projects. A discussion between Jacobson and members followed. Kotur: believes city should create a coordinator position to implement initiatives and work collaboratively with city departments Jacobson: agreed and would also like CPTF present recommendations directed at specific city departments; mentioned the impact public hearings have on Commissions decision making Pohl: mentioned the importance of noting that some initiatives will include monetary costs but that many will bring a return in investment while others will reduce operating costs outright; stressed the importance to educate constituents and provide accurate information Jacobson: cited that many corporations are seeing the economic benefits of green policies; posed idea that BZN require builders to install energy star appliances, include some levels of LEED standards, but does not want to create a community of extremes Page 1 of 5 Boggeman: mentioned an instance when the bike board worked to include wider streets in a project proposal, noting the regulations for pathways existed but that in the end Commission buckled and did not enforce the regulations Jacobson: it is important to have an organized effort when presenting to the Commission Belschwender: consensus needed within CPTF to influence the new Commission; clear numbers and facts are important Jacobson: it is important to get the momentum started to keep recommendations/CAP moving through successive terms Pohl: What is the timeline for this group and CAP? Jacobson: unsure on how to dictate a timeline Discussion moved to area schools MSU and city schools are not included in first phase of CAP Jacobson: initiative should come from them Kotur: District 7 has made a large effort to go green Patrode: meeting with Superintendant in a few weeks to discuss actions schools could take Boggeman: bike group working to develop safe bike routes to school Group Moved to Agenda Items I. Keene, NH CAP • Include construction costs in addition to energy use o More contributing factors • Graph on page iii- effective bar graph • Chp 1 &2 informative and helpful • Not worthwhile to prove global warming o Need background for legitimacy • Include local impacts • Include production not just conservation • Adaptation- what do we do in the face of water losses • Cost Analysis effective o Prepares you for backlash from organizations: FREE o Engineers for WWTP will have figures • Include programs already in place in Bozeman o #’s given by water department adds more credibility to data Page 2 of 5 • Increase parking spaces = increase car ownership • Include benefits of bike paths, trees, & sidewalks • Mixed use, high density, alt transportation • All roads are subsidized----bus is no different! Limitations • Gave CO2 for sewage but did not provide information Group asked to comment on what they learned from the Keene CAP and what they would include or improve upon for BZN CAP Bruner: Keene CAP address energy use of buildings but did not seem to include construction and remodeling; BZN plan should include all three areas; bar graph iii at the beginning helpful; asked who is ultimately going to look at this report; Chp. 1 & 2, which provide background information and state overall reason for CAP, are good to include if public at large is going to read CAP Pederson: noted that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) executive summary is a good source for introductory material; he also has Montana related climate change information which would be important to include Bischke: it is not the mission of CPTF to influence public opinion but to make recommendations based upon the current information Boggeman: data does provide legitimacy to recommendations Executive summary of Keene CAP clearly states the role of project, its purpose; BZN CAP should also include a clear statement of purpose Bruner: Keene’s list of 10 things residents can do is weak and BZN recommendations should be more challenging or less mundane Pederson: BZN should back more green power; increase growth using the same energy system will hamper any emission reduction recommendations; reducing energy consumption and going green does not reduce emission overall if still coming from fossil fuels Pederson: climate change is already occurring and money is currently being spent to mitigate problems occurring today and in the future Madden: recommendations with numbers are more effective; should show how money spent will reduce later expenditures; CPTF should point out the cost saving efforts already being made in city departments Pederson: CPTF and Commission should be prepared for a backlash to spending; have a clear numbers and make sure residents are aware and understand Page 3 of 5 Bischke: city waste water department working on methane recapturing projects and sees CPTF work as essential to gathering funding Hattie: EPA looking a methane recapturing project at Bozeman landfill II. Overarching Strategies of Bozeman CAP • Cost effectiveness • Ethical implications • Based on goals of 15% reduction • Plan is more holistic than just a few strategies • Break into sectors • Focus on larger users • Outreach- chronicle op-ed piece • cost‐savings vs tax spending Bischke: BZN overall theme should reflect ultimate goal of 15% reduction below 2000 CO2 emissions by 2020. Population growth not considered when examining municipal operations. Impact of WWTP on baseline to consider. Overall goal is emission reduction then move to recommendation directed at largest contributors—waste water plant and city buildings Jacobson: BZN plan should include successes such as mixed use, high density zoning and Streamline bus system III. Letter to the Editor To increase public awareness about CPTF and CAP, group encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letter should be presented as coming from the entire group not any one individual. Boggeman offered to write one and will submit letter to group to review. Hattie asked group if meeting minutes should be placed online. Members said yes. IV. Appointments Pohl and Bischke volunteered to be dual co-Chairs and will present a report at the beginning of the next City Commission meeting on December 17th at 6pm, Gallatin County Courthouse 3rd floor V. Sustainability Coordinator Update BZN has adopted U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement but there has not been a formal resolution; Task Force could recommendation a formal resolution; Hattie provided resolutions Page 4 of 5 Page 5 of 5 from Billings, Missoula, and Helena. Also handed out information on Billings Energy and Conservation Commission and Missoula Greenhouse Gas Energy Conservation Team Josh Jane (MSU student) will be interning with the city and assisting with sustainability/climate action plan tasks. MSU will be hiring a sustainability initiative coordinator. Hattie is working on organizing an Earth Day event in Bozeman; has spoken with Greenglow Productions a green event organizing company Task Force subcommittees are welcome to write-up their own recommendations or give necessary information to Hattie to compile recommendations for subcommittee review VI. Planning/ Building/ Energy Committee Updates No updates at this time VII. Transportation and Land Use Committee Updates Committee started an outline with three main categories: road standards, public transportation, and pedestrian and bike paths VIII. Waste/ Water & Recycling Committee Updates Met with employees of waste water treatment plant and took tour of facility; discussed improvement plans already underway and how committee can help promote the funding for projects Meeting concluded at 8pm