Sustainability Commission

SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC) Event Minutes: October 7, 2021 Attending: Daniel Kirk-Davidoff (Secretary, Outreach), Jason West (Energy Manager, non- voting), Gabriella Cebada Mora (Vice Chair, Water), Laura Gulfo (Office of Council), Andre Lake (Environmental Equity), Pete Sheehan (Energy), Bill Trudeau (Traffic Engineering), Lauren Alpert (Planning Department), Hyde Clark (Outreach), Scott Kellogg (Urban Agriculture), Harriet Lewis (Transportation), Joe Coffey (Water Department), Randy Milano (Engineering), Tina Lieberman (Chair, Zero Waste), Jackie Gonzales (Environmental Equity, Outreach), Frank Zeoli (DGS). 1. Regular Business ● Tina Lieberman called the event to order at 6:01 pm. ● Motion to accept the September 2, 2021 minutes is approved. ● Public comment period (meeting was open to the public via the Mayor’s Office of Energy & Sustainability Facebook page and the Sustainable Albany Facebook page and via emails to sac@albanyny.gov or Sustainability@albanyny.gov): No comments. 2. New business  Presentation and discussion with Megan Daly, Chief Commerce Office, Port of Albany. Megan Daly opens with a discussion of offshore wind, the Green Marine program and Community Engagement. Discussion of lay-out of Port and main cargo imports and export. Capacities (e.g.: 4700’ wharf length). The Port is a Public organization, and aims to maximize its contribution to the region’s economic development, not only to maximize its own profitability. The Port believes it has a $428M contribution to the local economy. The Port voluntarily participates in the Green Marine (GM) program, which involves self-auditing environmental impacts and implementing a plan to reduce those impacts. As part of the GM program, the Port has installed EV charging stations and solar panels in the molasses storage area. The port has various community partnerships (training, youth engagement). Discussion of the Eagle Island site for offshore wind development. The present plans with Equinor and Marmen/Welcon for a tower manufacturing facility are impressive: it would be the first offshore wind tower manufacturing facility in the US. Full operation is expected in 2024. Slides will be attached to the minutes. Many expressions from the Committee members of excitement for the scale of the proposed development.  Tom McPheeters, Co-Moderator of the South End Community Collaborative, spoke about a proposed “Green Hub” economic development zone in and around the Port of Albany. Review of diesel particulate pollution problem at Ezra Prentice Homes, near the Port. Residents in the neighborhood are concerned about increased truck traffic, and hopeful that conversion of trucks to electric motors will happen sooner than expected, but a bottom line is no increase in truck traffic through the Ezra Prentice Homes. Tom’s slides will be included in the minutes, along with a set of slides on the 1  connection between asthma and particulate pollution at the Ezra Prentice Homes. Following Tom’s presentation, Megan discussed the paid apprenticeship program (Albany Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program, MAPP) at the former Kasselman building in the South End, 29 Broad St. In response to Andre’s question about noise pollution in the area, Tom notes that the Ezra Prentice homes really should be moved, at least the ones on the railroad track side of South Pearl- it’s just not a good place to live.  New from the City: There will be a new Director of Sustainability position and a chief arborist position, adjacent to the Energy Manager (EV Charger installation, ensuring attainment of sustainability goals). Jason is working on getting an intern via NYSERDA’s program. Budget lines have been approved for sustainability activities as follows: o 2 new positions created: Director of Sustainability to work alongside Energy Manager and City Arborist to assist with planting of 2025 trees by 2025 for climate resilience and alleviating heat islands o Office of Sustainability budget -about 80K  40K match in unspecified grants  5K internship grant match for NYSERDA intern  30K marketing and community engagement - around Climate Change, Climate Resiliency and Clean Energy Communities Campaigns  2K Sustainability Advisory Committee - tabling supplies, printing etc.  3K Subscriptions and professional associations  Clean Energy Communities Campaign. Hyde reports on plans- there will be three main campaigns: Energy efficiency/Heat Pumps, Community Solar, and Electric Vehicles. Outreach and Energy subcommittees will need to work hard on both these campaigns.  Commissioner Reports o Joe Coffey (Water): EPA Administrator, Michael Regan visited Albany with Paul Tonko, to help us promote the lead water service replacement program grant; he also talked up the infrastructure bill in Congress. Water bill inserts and neighborhood association presentations will be forthcoming. The Beaver Creek project is ongoing, and there are very nice graphics about it on the Water Department website, showing progress connecting the lower and upper tunnels. Plans for cricket, baseball, soccer fields in lower Lincoln Park with fill from the Beaver Creek project. On the affordability of water, average bills here are about $500-$600 per year; Joe is looking into how this works out for affordability (percentage of median income) in each ward. Joe will be working on water bill assistance program ideas for people who are financially stressed. o Frank Zeoli (DGS): Big increase in enrollments for sidewalk composting program. Five hundred trees to be planted this year; working on programs to donate street trees in areas where residents can’t afford them. o Traffic Engineering (Bill Trudeau): Winding down the year, working on a few new contracts. Hopefully more to report in November or December on the Pedestrian Safety Plan. o Engineering (Randy Milano). Wrapping up a lot of projects in street construction and tree planting (complementing DGS). Collaborative projects 2  with water department wrapping up, planning new projects for next year, more to report in the future. o Planning (Lauren Alpert): putting together demonstration projects for the bicycle and pedestrian plan.  Subcommittee reports o Equity (Andre): Working on finishing the video series. Andre’s wife and David Hochfelder are doing a discussion of The Color of Law on Zoom, on October 13. He will send details. o Outreach (Dan):  Lukee and Howard talked to a bunch of people, but are waiting for people to get back to them (e.g. Jason Beekman, CDRPC, Jason West). Bethlehem is showing off stuff at the farmer’s market - EV Charge Station, electric buses. Schenectady is having an event this weekend. Jacob talked to VW dealership, they’re very much on board. They are considering possibilities for venues and dates, but might be aiming for March rather than sooner, given issues with EV supply right now.  Weatherization Volunteer Corps: I talked with Todd from CDRPC about his organization helping out with funds for weatherization training, and about possibly getting us into homes on their waiting list. Mary Ellen had a similar conversation with Tracy at Albany Community Action Program, who might be willing to recommend us to clients, but both were a little nervous about letting non-professionals into homes who'd signed up for their assistance. They wanted a pro to accompany the volunteers (but what pros are available??). This seems like a problem that might be eased as our crew gets out there and gets some work under their belts. I’m also in conversation with folks at Albany High School and getting volunteers from their students and with Tim Doherty of West Hill Refugee Welcome Center about helping out their clients with weatherization.  We have a name for the Corps: Albany Clean Energy Conservation Corps. We need a name for the event. Capital Area Conserve! Climate-Ready Capital! [Your idea here!] o Transportation (Harriet): She’s looking into appropriate EVs for fleets. Keeping up with progress at the federal level to see how funding might be available. o Energy (Pete): We had a good meeting on the scoping document for Hyde and others, will be helping get people signed up to work on the three areas discussed above. o Water (Gaby): Subcommittee met, working on a number of topics. Will send out details soon. o Agriculture (Scott): Saturday, November 13, sometime in the morning will be the community forestry/tree planting day in the South End. Will send a press release along. This is funded by DEC’s community urban forestry grant. Frank Zeoli wants to support this however he can. 3  o Zero-Waste (Tina): subcommittee has been tabling all summer and getting people excited about the curbside/backyard composting program. 3. Adjournment: Event adjourned at 7:30 pm. Next meeting is Thursday, November 4, 2021, by Zoom. Minutes prepared by Daniel Kirk-Davidoff, October 7, 2021 4