HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-24
TOWN OF DRYDEN CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES TASKFORCE MEETING June 24th, 2019
Present: Alice Green, John Kiefer, Joe Wilson, Ray Burger, Peter Davies, Osamu Tsuda (CCE)
Absent: None
Town Staff and Elected Officials: Ray Burger, Director of Planning ; Alice Green, Climate Smart Communities Coordinator & Town Council Member
>> Alice Green called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.
Introduction
A. Green gave a briefing on the overall agenda of the meeting as well as a general update on the Dryden CSC application. Based on current completed action items, the town currently has
131 points and has completed the required priority actions so that the application is technically ready for submission. Once all existing documentation has been submitted and the planned
actions completed, the town is expected to have over 160 points, which gives the town a good buffer, since the minimum required number of action points is 120.
O. Tsuda discussed the remaining action items that need to be completed which include Building Energy Management System (BEMS) documentation, documentation for the Natural Resources
Inventory (NRI) resolution, internal lighting upgrades, and one remaining conservation easement.
Discussion
J. Wilson questioned the general outcome and purpose of becoming a climate smart community and whether creating more planning documents will actually result in decreased greenhouse gas
emissions in the town. R. Burger explained that the purpose of these plans is to not just plan, per se, but to use these documents to guide actions, such as applying for future grants.
Many of the grants the town applies for require specific documentation to define needs. The Climate Smart Community work helps strategize and produce the necessary documentation.
P. Davies asked about the timetable and cost of the comprehensive plan. A. Green said that the town has issued an RFP to hire a private consultant to lead the process of completely updating
the 2005 comprehensive plan over the next two years. The cost may approach six figures. A DEC grant could provide up to 50% of the cost.
O. Tsuda gave an update on the current status of the town’s CSC bronze level application. He said that last month’s work has yielded more than enough points to apply for CSCS bronze
status.
A. Green said that that the town intends to approve the NRI as a planning document, rather than as town law. Tsuda said this meets the application requirements
R. Burger offered to take over the process of collecting some of the remaining materials for the planned action items, since Green will be on vacation after this meeting.
J. Kiefer said several specific CSC actions that have been completed so far by the town are required for the application is he preparing to seek DEC matching funding for updating the
town’s comprehensive plan. According to Tsuda, four of the five required documents have been developed and are available to the public.
A. Green reviewed the remaining action items and said that, based on the remaining time until the CSC application submission deadline; the town may not able to supply documentation of
water efficiency fixtures and BEMs. However, the town staff could submit additional conservation easements to get a total of 16 CSC pints to boost the application.
Closing Remarks
A. Green promised Tsuda to follow up with the remaining documentation he requested over email.
R, Burger said that the Climate Smart Resiliency Planning Tool might potentially need to be modified before submission and will send comments immediately after this meeting. Tsuda agreed
to make the changes accordingly, before the deadline.
>>Meeting Adjourned at 11:05am ET.