HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-08-12 Bozeman Climate PartnersIdle Free Bozeman Working Group
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Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2012, 2:00pm
Bozeman City Hall, City Commission Meeting Room
Members Attending:
Berk Knighton, Elin Hert, Phil Cameron, Carson
Taylor,
Nick Bently, Katie Noland, Wendy Weaver, Lisa Ballard
Staff Present:
Natalie Meyer (Staff Liaison), Emily Baker (Energy Corps Member)
Call to Order
Changes to the Agenda
Public
Comment
None
Group Introductions
Special Presentation – Phillip Cameron, Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition
Y-T Clean Energy Coalition is the regional designee of the Department
of Energy’s Clean Cities Initiative, with a region that encompasses all of the Greater Yellowstone area, including Bozeman.
Who are they: people promoting fuels, technology and strategies
to reduce petroleum use.
Presentation on Jackson’s efforts to pass an anti-idling ordinance
Ordinance eventually killed by the city commission, in favor of a more educational and less
restrictive approach.
This was a surprise for those forwarding the measure, but was then ultimately embraced as the best way to minimize idling in Jackson.
Grassroots approach, though
Willie Neal Fund.
Ultimately, radio ads appeared, and 120 signs were put up.
Efficacy was measured by recording instances of idling before and after signs were placed at local hot-spots
like the library and post office.
Group discussion and questions
Role of fleets such as UPS is important; UPS has an anti-idling policy, as do Streamline and specific school buses.
Special Presentation – Aidan Lenz
and Rhett Hays, from Tasha Kirby’s 3rd Grade Class at Emily Dickinson Elementary: idle-reduction campaign and research findings
Aidan Lenz and Rhett Hays presented on their class’s research
into idling behaviors of different people in Bozeman.
The class handed out surveys door-to-door, handed out information to the general public, and encountered many friendly people, as
well as some empty houses and some less-friendly people.
They found that the group of high-profile people they surveyed, such as the Mayor, City Commissioners, fire fighters, and their
principal idled their cars less than others they surveyed.
Their next step will be to deliver 30-second timers to their parents.
They might be interested in teaching other students in
classes around Bozeman how to conduct similar surveys and studies of their own.
Action Items
Working Group goals were discussed by Natalie Meyer. Goals:
Compile facts about idling.
Survey
citizens to discover current local practices and behavior.
Develop and implement an outreach plan.
Analyze results and make recommendations to the City Commission.
Working Group process
was discussed.
We will meet once monthly, with sub-committee action occurring between meetings.
The Working Group discussed our internal organization.
Natalie Meyer voiced that she thought
Wendy Weaver and Emily Baker could effectively co-chair the group.
Nick Bentley forwarded the motion that Wendy Weaver and Emily Baker become group co-chairs.
Elin Hert, Katie Noland
, and others seconded the motion. None opposed.
Group discussion on whether we might support a resolution or an ordinance
Much support was voiced for the idea that convincing people
that they ultimately want to comply is much more effective than punishing a few people who don’t. Revolt and protest against an unpopular law can create a worse situation than before
anything was ever done.
Leaving an unattended vehicle idling is currently illegal in Montana.
Phil Cameron reported that this is true in Wyoming as well, and the town considered trying
to move the offense from a moving to a parking violation, so that parking enforcement officers could ticket idling vehicles. Has not happened yet.
Berk Knighton voiced that the process of convincing people not to idle needs to be about convincing them it is a good choice. An effective process will be similar to campaigns which
brought seatbelts and recycling into common use. The grass-roots, bottom-up kids and parents are the key.
Elin Hert said that she thinks that in Bozeman, education should go a long
way towards changing behavior
Further group discussion on how best to foster a grassroots approach.
Timeline and Subcommittees
Group discussion on responsibilities of two subcommittees
decided on two subcommittees: one compiling idling facts, and the other conducting a survey to learn about current local behavior. Self-selected to committees.
Idling Facts: Elin Hert,
Nick Bentley, Phil Cameron and Natalie Meyer.
Survey of Idling Behavior: Carson Taylor, Lisa Ballard, Nick Bentley, Katie Noland, Wendy Weaver, and Emily Baker.
Group timeline will be
developed at the nest meeting; meeting time will be set through a Doodle Poll, at suggestion of Natalie Meyer. Group communication will occur through a Yammer group, which Wendy Weaver
will create.
Adjournment – 4:00 pm