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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-14 Bozeman Climate Partners Communications Working Group Minutes Bozeman Climate Partners Communications Working Group Meeting Minutes April 16, 2014, 9:00am-10:30am, 121 N. Rouse Ave., Bozeman City Hall, Madison Room Members Attending: Kristen Walser, Kathy Powell, Natalie Meyer (Staff Liaison), Cyndy Andrus (Commission Liaison) Guests Attending: Joan Montagne, Thaddeus Orosz, Heather Higinbotham 1) Call to Order -9:00am 2) Changes to the Agenda-Introductions 3) Public Comment – a) Kristen Walser updated group on Montanans for Climate Solutions. Event will include music, exhibits, speakers (Carson Taylor, Molly Cross, Greg Finley); and discussion on carbon tax. There will be numerous events across the state. b) Cyndy Andrus announced that Jim Robbins will be giving a talk on climate change at the Library on April 24th. 4) Approval of Minutes – 3/19/14 minutes approved 5) Non-Action Items a) Bozeman Business Energy Program i) Energy Conservation Technician Update-Heather Higinbotham was selected for the position and will start on May 5th. Heather ran the sustainability programs for Yellowstone Business Partnership for seven years, including UnCommon Sense and the GY Framework for Sustainable Development. She serves on the board of MT USGBC. Yellowstone Business Partnership is dissolving so she is seeking a new host organization for her programs. ii) ICLEI’s Green Business Challenge – Meyer received clarification that ICLEI is phasing out their software for the Green Business Challenge. She is looking for other options for tracking energy savings for Business Energy Program participants. Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance with the Killowatt Crackdown may have an option. Heather Higinbotham suggested checking with the Brendle Group. iii) NorthWestern Energy Intern- Heather Bellamy is looking at the possibility of hiring a summer intern for a Bozeman-based project. She is looking at project opportunities that would strengthen the partnerships between the City and NWE. Meyer asked for suggestions on possible projects. She was considering asking about automation of utility data for the energy smackdown and business energy program. Walser suggested having the intern do energy related outreach to summer camps, businesses that use energy in the summer, and neighborhood associations. Powell thought having the intern work through the privacy issues related to auto dumps would be most helpful. Depending on intern’s background, he/she could focus on marketing of the programs. Meyer will have a follow-up conversation with Bellamy to discuss these ideas. iv) Thaddeus Orosz asked if the Business Energy Program was a mentoring and energy management program. Companies such as his focused on light manufacturing need clear systems for learning how to improve efficiencies in their sector. He needs to be able to outline the financial benefit in order to make the case to his company. Organizations such as NIST exist, but information needs to be more readily available. Meyer indicated that it would be difficult for the City to advise businesses on specialized operations. However, it would be valuable to sit down with Thad and talk about the type of information that would be useful/motivating in the light manufacturing sector. b) Energy Smackdown i) Outreach: program has been advertised in the Bozeman Magazine, Outside Bozeman, and the Magpie. There have been stories on ABC Fox, Bozeman Daily Chronicle (x2), Bozeman Magpie (x2); First Interstate bank display for one week with Bozeman Clean Up Day. ii) Results: 135 people registered in program. Meyer will work on the analysis this week. (1) Heather Higinbotham noted that some businesses and renters apathetic about energy because the renter doesn’t see the bill; the owner isn’t concerned about passing the cost onto the renter. She wonders if a solution might be splitting the actual utility bill between renter and owner. (2) Kathy Powell says the energy smackdown has stimulated some action at her home. She says there could be more support in terms of figuring out the next steps to action. She is calling around for thermal imaging options. c) General Outreach i) MT Conservation Voters panel event, April 29th. Carson Taylor is moderating, Natalie is presenting on city actions; MSU and local businesses will also be presenting. It is 6:30-8 at the Bozeman Holiday Inn d) 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. Music with the Dirt Farmers, Food from Island Noodles; 20 or so sustainability it usually includes a band, food, and sustainability exhibits. Meyer has most of it under control, but could use a hand with the BCP table and photos. Sinnott had volunteered to help for a few hours at the table. e) FY15 Climate Action Goals & Budget i) The City Manager has asked all departments to offer some budget cuts in the General Fund. Meyer offered up $3k for the reusable bag effort and additional Idle Free outreach work. She listed utility tracking, the Business Energy Program, and the Energy Smackdown as her top priorities. f) FYI/Discussion i) NorthWestern Energy Hydro Acquisition Listening Session, April 15th (1) Walser provided a summary of the listening session. The $900M price is about one-third due to anticipation of carbon pricing. There was discussion of the age of the hydro assets and all risk passed to rater payers. NWE is indicating that there are competing offers and they will lose the opportunity if the contract is modified. People were generally supportive of the acquisition. ii) Investment Grade Audit (1) Preliminary Facility Recommendations were provided to the City and included an extensive list of possible actions, including the cemetery, Haggerty Lane Ballfields, building commissioning, LED streetlighting, and more. The next step is to refine the list and bring the best projects to full design, guaranteed maximum price, and guaranteed return on investment. iii) Sweet Pea Water Station (1) Station will be ready for Clean Up Day! iv) Next Regular Meeting May 21st. v) Meeting adjourned at 10:30.