HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-14Climate Smart Community Task Force
Minutes of the Nov. 14, 2019 Meeting
From 4-5 pm in Dryden Town Hall
Attendance:
Task Force members: John Kiefer, Joe Wilson, Ray Burger, Alice Green (Task Force
Coordinator), Osamu Tsuda (Cooperative Extension Energy Manager),
Public: Loren Sparling, Nancy Munkenbeck, Marie McRae, Chuck Geisler, Arin Griffin
Meeting convened: 4:02 pm
Celebration of Dryden’s achievement as a Bronze Level Climate Smart Community
Alice thanked Osamu, CSC Task Force members, and Dryden Town staff for all their work
documenting the 25 Climate Smart Actions that led to the prestigious designation. There are
only 34 bronze level CSC’s in New York State.
Next Steps Towards Silver Certification
Alice distributed a list of 16 additional action items that the Town could feasibly
take to achieve Silver Level certification, (included as addendum here). Osamu said there
are now only two Silver Level CSC’s in the state. Tompkins County is one. Many of the
actions that can garner credits for silver designation will be completed during the Town’s
update to its 2005 Comprehensive Plan. The Task Force agreed to continue to meet to
pursue silver status.
Osamu said these planning actions bolster the Town’s chances of receiving grants
when applying for state funding through DEC or NYSERDA. Alice noted that John Kiefer has
submitted an application for 50% funding for the cost of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan
update.
Discussion items:
Climate Resiliency/Hazard Mitigation Planning
John and Alice raised the question about whether the Town should use the planned
County-wide Hazard Mitigation Study results for its Comp Plan Update, (as advised by the
Town’s consultants) or do its own more Dryden-specific plan?
Osamu said he can forward John and Ray the RFP for the County study, so Dryden
can compare its goals with those for Dryden. They can follow up County Planner Scott
Doyle to see if Dryden might be placed early in the county process so data collected can be
part of the Town’s comprehensive plan development.
Osamu noted that the City of Ithaca is also planning to conduct its own community
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions study, which could inform Dryden’s work.
Joe asked whether these community GHG studies would include upstream emissions.
Osamu said he could check this and also see if the CSC program has any tools and research
available that can help with the inventory
Follow up on Town’s Housing Conditions Inventory to address retrofitting residences
for better energy conservation
John and Ray reported that following up on the Town’s recently completed housing
condition inventory, the Town is looking into residential housing energy upgrades and CSC
actions that could potentially lead to funding sources. They requested that CCE Energy
Managers research any funding sources available through CEC or NYSERDA.
Osamu said he can an action in the Climate Smart Communities Program Action
called “Financing Program for Building Energy Efficiency.” Options for such a program could
include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Establish an Energize NY Finance program, also known as property-assessed clean
energy (PACE) financing for privately owned commercial or non-profit buildings
• Use a qualified energy conservation bond (QECB) to implement an energy efficiency
financing program
• Establish an energy revolving loan fund
• Collaborate with local lenders to establish and promote energy-efficient mortgages
• Introduce on-bill financing
Green Building Code
Joe suggested looking at overlap between the City of Ithaca’s Proposed Green Building Code
and CSC building code guidelines. If the City’s code aligns with initiatives recommended by
Dryden’s comprehensive plan goals and initiatives, then using that model could save staff
and board time, and garner Climate Smart Community credit as well.
Community Education and Outreach
Loren said he is currently working at Ithaca High School, and would be willing to reach out
to students that might be interested in working with and becoming part of the
taskforce. Osamu said he could send him a new CSC factsheet designed for students.
Next meeting: To be scheduled by Google Poll in January.
Adjournment: 5:05 PM