HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-09Dryden CSC Task Force Meeting Minutes
Monday March 9, 2020
5:00-6:30 pm Caldwell Conference Room/Dryden Town Hall
Attendance: John Kiefer, Ray Burger, Loren Sparling, Alice Green, Joe Wilson, Osamu Tsuda, Marie McRae. Absent: Nancy Munkenbeck, Chuck Geisler
Call to Order: 5:04 pm
Approval of January Meeting Minutes: No action due to staggered arrivals
Review of Progress on Action Items Dryden currently has 154 points; for silver status at least 146 more points are needed, in at least 4 pledge elements and 6 priority areas, plus a 20-30 point buffer. Applications are accepted three times each year. The next opportunity is July 3, 2020. Osamu explained that the state is no longer accepting applications that don’t add up to the full number of points required. Since the bulk of points that the Town can gain in the Comprehensive Plan Update process will not be completed till Fall 2021, it won’t be possible to apply until after that point. He also noted that some of the current action steps are under review, and others won’t be accepted after July 3. However CCE urged Dryden’s Task Force to keep working on actions.
Alice distributed a revised review of CSC actions that could lead to silver level designation. 1) Action Steps to be completed in Town’s Comprehensive Plan Update/ Points PE2 Action: Community GHG Inventory 16 Priority; funding available PE2 Action: Government Operations Climate Action Plan 12 Priority; funding available PE2 Action: Community Climate Action Plan 16 Priority; funding available PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements 15 Priority; funding available PE Action 7: Climate Vulnerability Assessment 16 Priority, fund available PE Action: Climate Resiliency Planning 6 Priority; funding PE Action 6.2: Incorporate Smart Growth Principles into Land-use Policies 7 And Regulations (Existing draft needs revision to include further detail) 88
2) Action Steps approved by the Town Board and already in progress: PE3 Action: LED Street Lights 10 PE3 Action: Energy Code Enforcement Training 5 PE 6.11 Action: Alternative Fuel Infrastructure 8 (2 EV charging stations scheduled for installation at Town Hall Spring 2020) 23
3) Actions that may be achieved by work on the Town’s new DEC grant: PE Action 7: Restoration of Floodplains & Riparian Buffers 2 PE7 Action: Conservation of Natural Habitats 16 (Each parcel needs to be “mentioned” in a prior planning document to receive credit. CCE recommends adding this to the Natural Resources Inventory) PE Action 7.17: Conserve Wetlands & Forests to Manage Stormwater, 2 Recharge Groundwater, and Mitigate Flooding (in process of revision) 20
4) Other potential Action Steps:
1. PE3.8 Action Green Building Standard for Government Buildings Passing a policy to require all new government building construction to have green building standards, either by creating their own, or adopting preexisting standards such as LEED, ENERGY STAR, ICC-IGCC 2012 or ASHRAE Standard 189.1. Points: for new construction 2 adopt a green building standard for existing local government buildings and facilities 3 both 5
2. PE3.11 Fleet Efficiency Policy to require the town to have a higher standard of fuel efficiency when purchasing new town vehicles. For more info on what this policy entails, visit: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ Specify a short-term deadline (within 2 years) by which a minimum percentage of new vehicles will be fuel-efficient or a medium-term deadline (within 5 years) for attainment of a minimum fleet fuel efficiency standards for the entire fleet 2 Require than 100% of new vehicles in local fleet are fuel-efficient by a certain year 1 Competitive funding available
3. PE 3.18 Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy for all municipality related purchases Points: one for each of the following: energy efficiency standards included in the policy; recycled materials standards included in the policy; locally produced/organic good standards included in policy; forest stewardship standards included in the policy up to 4
4. PE4.1 Green Power Procurement Policy to require your municipality to have its energy needs be met only through Renewable Energy Points: Adopt a resolution or policy to increase government use of renewable energy 2 Develop a plan or strategy for increasing the use of renewables 2
5. PE5.11 Construction and Demolition Waste Policy to set guidelines and procedures on how the town will manage their construction/ demolition waste in a more sustainable manner. Points: Adopt C& D legislation or policies 2 Implement a C&D program to support the reuse of C&D materials 4 Competitive funding available
6. PE 5.14 Conduct Waste Reduction Education Campaign to inform community members of how to recycle and how to reduce their overall household waste. This could be complimented with providing your community with compost bins (additional points) 2
7. PE 6.12 Implement Strategies That Increase Public Transit Ridership and 1
Alternative Transportation Modes (CCE First Mile/Last Mile Program ?)
8. PE 7.12 Restoration of Floodplain and Riparian Buffers – this may be covered by DEC grant
• Complete a new or revised assessment of floodplain and riparian areas, and identify and prioritize sites for conservation, restoration and reconnection of floodplains and conservation or re-vegetation of buffers. 1
• Conserve floodplains or vegetated buffers through conservation easements or land acquisition. 2
• Incorporate stream buffer protection into zoning or other land-use regulation 3
• Re-vegetate a floodplain or riparian buffer area for at least the mapped floodplain width or 100 feet and a length sufficient to reconnect existing vegetated buffer areas. 2
• Reconnect a stream to floodplain area. 2
9. PE Action 8.3 Develop a Town Green Economic Development Plan Points: are earned for this Climate Smart Communities (CSC) action by Incorporating baseline assessments, goals and objectives, and initiatives for developing green industries into new economic development plans or for updating existing plans with this new information. 4
10. PE Action 8.5 Conduct a Buy Local/ Buy Green or Energy Reduction Campaign Points: establishing a formal campaign with a brand for the community or region. The campaign should support local products and services, green products and services, or both. It could also focus on food and agricultural products or other significant segments of the local or regional economy that would benefit from such a campaign. Participation in a regional campaign (across several communities) will also earn points as long as the local government is playing an active role in supporting, promoting, or administering the campaign. 2
11. PE 9.4 Develop a town climate action website that documents the existing town efforts around climate change as well as the town’s future plans Points for submitting a link to at least one webpage that contains the three minimum components: 1) a description of the local government’s efforts related to local climate change mitigation and adaptation, 2) how local residents and businesses can participate in those efforts, and 3) a summary of actions that residents and businesses in the community can take to reduce their GHG emissions. These components can be on separate webpages. 4) In addition, provide a description of new content that was posted to the website within the past year. If available, also submit any staff training materials, user guides, and/or web policies. 3
Innovation: Innovative Approaches to Existing CSC Actions 5 Zoning code to encourage wind energy development in town?
Performance: Reduce GHG’s from Government Vehicles 15 (New vehicle upgrades bring reduction in fuel consumption overall)
Choose New Actions to Focus On These areas were discussed:
• Comprehensive Plan update (PE 6.1) Is it too late to apply again to fund this? After analyzing the timeline for the work already underway, it was decided that a grant would arrive after the majority of the work is completed.
• Fleet efficiency (PE Action 3.11) Ray suggested applying for funding to buy an electric vehicle for code enforcement officers.
• Green power procurement policy (PE Action 4.1). As John explained in an earlier email: According to the GHGI, about 90% of the Town’s emissions are from motor vehicle fuel which is not included in PE 4. The other 10% is from electric use in excess of what is produced by the Town’s two PV systems and natural gas used for heat in the Highway/DPW building. According to the GHGI the Town purchases about 300 MWH of electricity per year. Roughly half of that is from renewables/nuclear (NYS average). Wind power from NYSEG costs an extra $20/MWH or $3K per year to buy 150 MWH. Community solar or other green suppliers may be cheaper if it is available. Heat in the Highway/DWP building could be provided by air/ground source heat pumps. First step would be a resolution from the TB that the Town will take steps to increase use of renewables and requesting the CSC task force to take the lead. Next steps would be to (1) write up an RFP and get proposals for an engineering/concept development study for conversion of heat in the Highway/DPW building, and (2) develop alternatives for purchase of renewable electricity.
• Climate Action Plan (PE Action 2) Joe said the CSC’s Climate Action Planning guide appears to provide an excellent recipe/checklist for how to proceed on this part of the Comp Plan update.
• Restoration of Floodplain and Riparian buffers (PE 7) The Task Force needs more detail from DPW and the grant writer to identify how the DEC funded work might tie in with the requirements of this action
• Agricultural runoff/Town ditching processes. (PE 7.21 Right size bridges and culverts) Joe asked whether this “heartburn” issue might be a Task Force focus. The Conservation Board has had this as a long time goal. Loren said the Conservation Board plans to meet with the Highway Superintendent to urge him to adopt better ditch maintenance. Alice said this might be a cooperative effort with the CSC Task Force.
Next meeting set for 5 -6:30 pm Tuesday April 21
Adjournment at 6:35 pm