HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20-13 Bozeman Climate Partners Minutes
Bozeman Climate Partners
Communications Working Group
Meeting Minutes
March 20, 2013, 9:00am-10:30am, 121 N. Rouse Ave., Bozeman City Hall, Madison Room
Members Attending:
Jeff Moore, Jay Sinnott, Kristen Walser, Kathy Powell, Paula Beswick, Cyndy Andrus (Commission
Liaison),
Staff Present:
Natalie Meyer (Staff Liaison)
Guests:
Rob Evans, Kate Wright, Wendy Weaver
1) Call to Order -9:06
2) Changes to the Agenda-None
3) Approval of Minutes – Minutes from February 20th approved.
4) Public Comment – None
5) Chasing Ice Screening
a) Kate Wright helped organize the Chasing Ice screening. She reported that 2,000 people
viewed the screening, including out-of-town guests. A philanthropist in Dallas was inspired
to plan a similar youth-oriented event back home. She is now working with the High School
and other groups to identify ways to maintain the energy and momentum generated after
the film.
i) Sinnott noted that there were letters to the editor following the film, but no Chronicle
articles. Evans pointed out that only people who are already concerned about climate
change would actually attend the film.
ii) Suggestions for action included: taking the film on a road show around Montana, getting
people to think about weatherization and the associated careers. Specifically, Moore
discussed the Gallatin College workforce training program. He would like to bring solar
hot water demonstrations to the high school.
iii) Weaver mentioned that MT USGBC’s Green Apple Day of Service is coming up and she
will share more information as the date approaches.
iv) Beswick announced that One Book, One Bozeman for April would be: Last Stand: Ted
Turner’s Quest to Save a Troubled Planet. The focus would be on math and science and
they are planning an event with E.O. Wilson. Don’t forget we are invited to display
information on the May bulletin board. There may be opportunities for Bozeman
Climate Partners to participate and promote our work. The program may offer a good
reason to host Green Drinks.
v) Meyer & Wright will discuss specific opportunities related to the Gallatin Earth
Celebration
6) SWMBIA Home Show
a) Reviewed event coverage and logistics. Beswick, Powell, Walser, Sinnott, & Moore all
volunteered for 2-3 hours time slots. Meyer will be present at start and end of each day and
check in throughout event.
b) Campaigns covered include: Energy Smackdown & Home Energy Solutions for All, the May
11 Compost Bin Sale, Idle Free Bozeman, and relevant recycling information.
c) Moore plans to bring IR camera with screen, as well as a model home to demonstrate leaks
and pressure in a home. These items are from the Weatherization Center and must be
approved by their Director, Mike Vogel.
d) Powell, Beswick, Sinnott, and Moore would like to help with booth set-up after 2:00 on
Friday.
7) Gallatin Earth Celebration
a) Earth Day coming up fast and Meyer is in the process of working with MSU and other
community groups to design a community-wide poster of Earth Day related events
throughout the month of April.
i) All of our partners from the past have moved on from their position or are unable to
help this year, so the City is taking a very central role in the process. We anticipate a
high volume of community events.
b) Clean Up Day, April 20th, is the city’s primary responsibility. Bozeman Climate Partners
should have a booth at the Sustainability Fair. The Weatherization Center will likely have
their mobile weatherization trailer at the event to help launch the Energy Smackdown.
i) Contact Meyer if you are interested in participating.
8) Be a Partner
i) During outreach events, a few people asked about how businesses could become
partners. This was a conversation we had discussed in the past, but decided to press
forward with website launch and table the topic. The group discussed whether or not to
establish criteria for businesses to become Bozeman Climate Partners and all agreed
that we should take the opportunity to encourage and recognize business. We currently
have a very low “level to entry” to become a Partner as an individual, but we previously
discussed the need to raise the bar for businesses if they want recognition.
ii) Our group previously looked at the business program for Green Spot from Columbus,
Ohio. This programs offers businesses a long list of sustainable practices and they check
off the practices that they are doing and those that they aspire to do.
iii) Beswick suggested that we offer an open-ended questionnaire asking businesses to
submit something from their mission statement or internal policy that outlines their
environmental commitment. They could also sign a 2-4 sentence pledge resolving to
make sustainability part of their business model.
iv) Any program must be easy to administer. We do not want to audit businesses and we do
not need to duplicate existing efforts, such as YBP’s UnCommon Sense program.
v) Andrus stated that we need more time to discuss the program and Sinnott suggested
that we review three alternatives at the next meeting to debate and refine.
vi) Evans asked if only Bozeman businesses can become partners. Several people voiced
that we should aim to be inclusive. The rules and guidelines will be discussed during the
next meeting.
9) Website
a) Link from Bozeman.net is fixed, but more work needs to be done with a landing page.
b) Banner revision
i) Many have commented that it is difficult to identify that Bozeman Climate Partners is
city-affiliated. Meyer asked Brad Bunkers and the City web-designer to suggest design
changes to the banner that would clearly identify our affiliation. Bunkers submitted a
design with a small phrase “City of Bozeman Sustainability” across the top near the logo.
The City web-designer used the magnet design and put the City of Bozeman seal left of
our logo on the banner.
ii) Group voted that they would like to use the city seal because it clearly establishes the
group as an official city-based group. However, the group would like to see some other
design options with the seal. Meyer will follow-up with Brad Bunkers.
10) FYI-Discussion
a) Meyer reviewed the budget she submitted to the City Manager for FY14. The request
includes funding to maintain existing programs, such as general communications &
outreach, Idle Free Bozeman, utility tracking, GEC, and composting/recycling outreach.
There is a request to fund the Energy Smackdown, which includes funds for professional
services from Rocky Mtn. RC&D to help administer the program. There is also a request to
fund a Renewable Energy & Conservation Master Plan, which would be an engineering
assessment of applicable energy and conservation measures that the City can pursue. The
assessment would provide cost, NPV, and emissions reduction potential.
11) Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 (Note Correction)
a) Meeting adjourned at 10:45am