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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Minutes_3-21-12 (2)Bozeman Climate Partners Communications & Outreach Working Group Meeting Minutes March 21, 2012, 9:00am Bozeman City Hall, Madison Conference Room Members Attending: Jeff Moore, Jay Sinnott, Nick Bentley, Otto Pohl, Kathy Powell, Paula Beswick, Benjamin Bennett, Cyndy Andrus (Commission Liaison) Staff Present: Natalie Meyer (Staff Liaison), Emily Baker (Energy Corps Member) A. Call to Order B. Changes to the Agenda None. C. Approval of Minutes Minutes approved for meetings on 2/29/2012 and 3/7/2012. D. Public Comment a. Jeff Moore presented the group with brief information on activities of the MSU Weatherization Center, and distributed materials on energy efficiency in the home and building sectors to anyone interested. E. Special Presentation: Scott Christensen, Climate Change Program Director for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition a. Presentation on the effects of climate change specific to our region, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). i. Research of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition focuses on wildlife adaptation strategies, and ways we can facilitate their health. b. Brief background on climate change basics in the region: Observed Trends i. Since 1900, a 0.9 to 3.6°F increase has been observed at stations in the GYE. ii. The National Ecological Observation Network (NEON) is setting up ecological monitoring stations around Yellowstone National Park and the GYE. c. Whitebark Pine i. Pine beetle very visible effect of warmer winters, lower water summers. ii. Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences have been investigating causes for expansion of pine beetle killed trees; lack of early cold snap cited. iii. Interesting fact: if you pick up a beetle, hold it to your ear, and can hear it “screaming”, it’s a male. Females colonize a new tree first; males come after. d. Snowpack i. Declining for the most part in GYE, as known by Snotel sites and EPA Climate Change Indicators national map series. e. Water i. Earlier peak runoff ii. Lower flow in drought time iii. A study by Steve Running indicates that this is true for areas unaffected by human diversion for agriculture, municipal water, etc. f. Wetlands i. Slowly drying out. In a study conducted by GYC, wetlands in the GYE decreased in area by 50% during the ’92-‘93 to ’06-’08 study period. g. Ensemble Modeling: future species distribution i. The next up-and-coming study from the GYC’s ecological research team. ii. Models where species will go, given various models with different carbon emissions patterns for a changing climate. iii. Graphically shows issues of connectivity, decreased habitat area. iv. Addresses ungulates and access to winter range. v. Different mapping projects for different species. vi. Powerful tool for communicating and understanding the effects climate change will have on wildlife distribution in the coming years. h. Cities in GYE working to decrease their carbon footprints i. Red Lodge 1. Signed onto Mayor’s CAP Agreement in 2008. 2. Climate protection section in the city’s growth policy. ii. Jackson Hole and Teton County, WY 1. 2004 Global Warming Resolution 2. Website for the “triple bottom line” iii. Others include Missoula, Helena, Bozeman iv. Reservations could be potentially important partners 1. Upcoming conference on native perspective on Climate Change v. Madison Valley Project 1. Focusing on how to improve fish habitat to deal with reduced flows, increased temperatures. Focused on observable trends, not CC. i. Insurance companies are now calling for re-assesments of land zoning (e.g. flood zones) due to climate change. Interesting that they are emerging as a leading sector in the call for addressing how we will adapt to a changing climate. j. GYC’s reports on climate change in the GYE are available on their website; the current wildlife ensemble modeling is still 1 ½ yrs from being ready for publishing and public consumption. Other maps are available, such as for the sequoia. F. Action Items a. Updated timeline for Bozeman Climate Partners (BCP) presented by Natalie Meyer. i. Introduced the idea of a community workshop on the climate action plan, in conjunction with MSU, which we will host in the fall. ii. Jeff Moore pointed out that fall is a great time for weatherization as well. iii. Cyndy Andrus voiced that this end goal will help keep the group motivated, and focused on our next steps. She hopes we, the BCP, will be able to help the other working groups in the future. b. Logo and Branding Process i. Emily Baker presented on how a children’s art logo-contest could work. Parks and Recreation is totally behind the Bozeman Climate Partners on hosting an art project, as it would fit in with the goals of many of their summer art camps very well. These camps do not start until June. There are camps which start in April for the 5 and younger crowd. The library could be a good partner as well, and ArtSplot did not respond to my inquiry. The projected time to get a logo from this process would be early August. 1. Emily voiced that she thought some sort of art-project outreach to kids for the BCP is a great idea; she is not sure if we need to use it for a logo, however. Emily voiced support for a professional-looking logo that we could develop before August. ii. Nick Bentley presented the option of creating a logo through 99 designs. This would allow us to set our own price, and see what we get back. iii. Cyndy Andrus voiced support for using a local business, as we are the city, and focused on sustainability. iv. Paula Beswick voiced support for creating a professional logo, and using a kids’ art contest for some other sort of outreach, perhaps a calendar. v. Jeff Moore likes the idea of a calendar, has seen other good ones. It allows us to put BCP events on the calendar before putting it out! vi. Paula forwarded the motion to vote that the BCP make a professional logo, with a secondary kids’ art contest for some other outreach project. 1. Many seconds, from Emily Baker, Natalie Meyer, Otto Pohl, others. 2. No objections vii. Ben Bennett gave some background on what a designer will likely need from the BCP in order to create a logo for the group. 1. Professional logo will eat up our budget. 2. Cyndy Andrus said we can put an upper limit on our RFP. a. Paula said this has worked with things at the library. viii. Natalie talked about the process of the city commissioning a logo – an RFP. 1. Natalie Meyer and Cyndy Andrus will create an RFP to bring to the next meeting. c. Website Design i. Nick Bentley likes the focus on “action” in V1, with the “action plan” front and center. ii. Emily Baker asked for clarification; she felt that having the specifics contained within the Action Plan, like Waste, Transit, etc, front and center was more action focused. iii. Otto Pohl thought that V2 was more eye-catching. iv. Paula Beswick likes V2, thinks that the content would be easier to find, especially for busy folks who don’t have time to click around the website. v. Kathy Powell has ideas on the details; she leans toward the second option, as it engages the reader with long-term actions from the start. vi. Natalie Meyer asked for two volunteers for a website subcommittee 1. Subcommittee will be Nick Bentley, Cyndy Andrus, and Benjamin Bennett. 2. Jeff Moore asked to be involved with adding content, but will not give input on design of site. vii. Group was unanimous in deciding upon the second option, with the categories of potential action at the top as buttons. d. Next meeting will be April 4th, 9 am. G. Adjournment – 10:30 am.