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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-19-14 Bozeman Climate Partners Communications Working Group MinutesBozeman Climate Partners Communications Working Group Meeting Minutes March 19, 2014, 9:00am-10:30am, 121 N. Rouse Ave., Bozeman City Hall, Madison Room Members Attending: Kristen Walser, Kathy Powell, Jay Sinnott, Natalie Meyer (Staff Liaison), Cyndy Andrus (Commission Liaison) Guests Attending: Joan Montagne 1) Call to Order -9:00am 2) Changes to the Agenda-Meyer moved Clean Up Day to the beginning of the meeting at the request of Walser. 3) Public Comment – None 4) Approval of Minutes – 2/19/14 minutes approved 5) Non-Action Items a) Bozeman Clean Up Day & Sustainability Fair i) The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th and includes a city-wide clean-up of trash and recyclables; it usually includes a band, food, and sustainability exhibits. ii) This year, Citizens Climate Lobby is hosting the Montanans for Climate Solutions rally right after Clean Up Day. Fourteen other communities across the state will be hosting similar events. There are 45 organizations that have signed on in support of the rally. iii) The rally will include exhibits, a march down Main Street, and a series of speakers at Soroptimist Park or the Eagles, depending on weather. iv) Walser is organizing exhibits in conjunction with the Clean Up Day Sustainability Fair that will highlight the impacts of climate change and the solutions. As an example, MEIC will focus on powerplant emissions, Citizens Climate Lobby will focus on carbon fee and dividend. They will have a booth on impacts to water, a myth busters booth. v) They are also hosting a youth climate essay contest and hope to have the winner read their essay at the rally. They are looking for a climate comedian. vi) Montagne suggested that the Sustainability Fair should be a separate, larger event. She noted it could be as big as TedX talks in Bozeman. She referenced “Women of the Dirt, the Warming Center and Community Café as examples of sustainability in our community. At the Sustainability Fair there should be a large list of sustainability oriented organizations, initiatives, and programs. b) Bozeman Business Energy Program i) Meyer is to complete the resolution amendment related to increasing the Incentive Fund cap until all the program details are final. It would not be desirable to go back to the Commission with numerous amendments. ii) ICLEI Green Business Challenge (1) The City of Bozeman was not awarded the Green Business Challenge grant. The awardees have not yet been announced. If agreements with other communities are not successful, Bozeman may be an alternate. (2) Meyer is not sure if the software platform is the best option given that ICLEI does not have the best customer service track record. She will review this option when the new employee is hired. (3) Montagne asked if Zoot would be interested in developing a software program. iii) Energy Conservation Technician Update (1) We have several highly qualified applicants for the position. The hiring committee will be interview six people on Friday and one person on Monday. We hope to have somebody hired by the next meeting. (2) Meyer explained the new employee’s role in relation to the Business Energy Program. Powell noted the new person will interface with the business community and help interpret the energy audits so that it is more than just a piece of paper. c) Energy Smackdown i) Website & Outreach: The website is functioning. In terms of outreach, there has been an article in the Chronicle on Fox ABC. Meyer will do an interview on the Moose this weekend. We have regular social media posts going out on FB and Twitter. There was a utility bill insert. Meyer is now working on a participant newsletter and ads for the Magpie. ii) Sinnott noted this was better coverage than prior months iii) Powell commented that on the website it would be better if the line graph below the bar graph should be moved up so that there was less space between the two graphics. She said that you can easily miss the useful line graph if you aren’t looking for it. She also said that the “negative” savings indicating an increase in energy use was confusing. iv) Montange asked if we had engaged real estate agents in the marketing of energy efficient homes now that the recession is over. Meyer said that we have not previously received a great deal of interest from real estate agents, but there is more we can do to reach out to them. v) Meyer asked group to continue to test the Smackdown website d) General Outreach i) The quarterly newsletter went out March 4th to over 200 residents and there was a 30% open rate. Meyer wants to make sure we are getting this out every three months. The next should go out June 3rd. Please provide an story concepts by May 20th. ii) SWMBIA Home Expo is this weekend. Meyer will share information about the Smackdown and Clean Up Day at the City’s water/stormwater table. iii) St. James Episcopal Solid Waste Presentation, Wednesday March 26th at 6pm. Meyer and Kevin Handelin co-presenting on waste related topics. iv) Montagne pointed out that MSU has a very active sustainability group and wanted to know if they are invited to our meetings. Meyer explained that she participates in the campus sustainability meetings twice a month. We could formally invite a representative to our meetings, but does believe there is a good flow of information between the groups. e) FY15 Climate Action Goals & Budget i) In support of the FY 15 Climate Action Goals shared at the last meeting, Meyer submitted her budget request to the City Manager totaling $52,000. Projects include: the Bozeman Energy Smackdown, Bozeman Business Energy Program, Bozeman Clean Up Day, a Green Fleet Assessment, Idle Free Bozeman, Utility Tracking, Reusable Grocery Bags for general outreach, Bozeman Climate Partners general outreach and website, professional organizations memberships, professional development, and office overhead. f) FYI/Discussion i) Investment Grade Audit (1) Preliminary Facility Recommendations will be provided to the City next Thursday. (2) Meyer notes that the recommendations related to LEDs for parking areas and streetlighting will help the city develop a city-wide standard, as requested by the Commission. ii) 4-H Climate & Environmental Summit (1) The press release was recently sent from MSU. The teen youth are off to Jersey. iii) Sweet Pea Water Station (1) City ordered a mobile water station. The Sweet Pea Festival committee voted to contributed $2500 towards the effort in exchange for ongoing access to the station for Sweet Pea and Bit of Bozeman. (2) Powell commented that in addition to the waste message, we could also highlight the impact bottling water can have when municipal water is moved from one watershed to the next. Normally municipal water is treated, used locally, and somehow returned to the same watershed. This doesn’t happen when water is bottled and exported elsewhere. iv) Next Regular Meeting April 16th v) Meeting adjourned at 10:30.